by Jayna Morrow
But he didn’t let her go. He brought her hands to his mouth and kissed them softly. “Thank you. For everything.”
~*~
When they returned, the smell of meat cooking on the grill permeated the air.
Gabriel wasn’t exactly in a mood for a cookout, but Holden seemed to be having the time of his life. Slade lounged in a sun chair on one side of the deck. He was smiling. Gabriel couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a smile on his son’s face. He welcomed the sight.
“First barbeque of the season.” Holden beamed. “I don’t have the opportunity for this sort of thing. Reminds me of when we were young. I think we had grilled hot dogs at least five days a week.”
“I remember.”
“Dad, did you decide if you’re gonna let me live with Uncle Holden?”
Gabriel frowned. “You’re calling me Dad and asking for permission? Who are you and what have you done with my son, Slade?”
Slade chuckled but stopped abruptly. “Ouch! Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”
It was Gabriel’s turn to laugh. Nice. He hadn’t laughed with Slade in too long.
“I’ll go get what we need for...what are we having for lunch?” Sparrow asked.
“Hot dogs,” Holden replied, aghast, as if no other food could be grilled.
“Hot dogs. Perfect. I’ll go get what we need for hot dogs, while you all have a chat about living arrangements.” She disappeared into the house.
“I don’t think living with Uncle Holden is the answer.”
Slade’s face reddened. “This is not fair. Come on.”
Holden turned and pointed his grill tongs at Slade. “I agree with your dad. I told you that same thing yesterday at the hospital. You seem to think you have everything all worked out.”
Gabriel jerked his head in his son’s direction. “Oh, really? Let’s hear your plan.”
Slade was careful not to move much as he spoke. “Uncle Holden will get me a personal attendant to help me while I recuperate and a tutor to help me finish the school year. There’s not much left, anyway. My broken collarbone means I won’t be able to finish the season, so I don’t have to worry about baseball. There you go.”
“What about Sparrow’s window? Where does that factor into your plan?”
Slade clenched his jaw. “I’m trying to change. What do you want me to do with a broken collarbone?” His tone was sharp.
“You could start with an apology.” Gabriel gestured toward the sliding door.
Sparrow eased through and set down a tray of items on the picnic table. Her gaze darted from person to person as she set out the paper plates, buns, napkins, shredded cheese, mustard, relish, and four cans of soda. “Why do I get the feeling I walked in on something serious?”
Holden brought a plate of hot dogs and set them down on the picnic table. “Because you did. I think Slade wants to talk to you.”
“Oh?” Sparrow slid onto the bench. “What’s on your mind?”
Slade lowered his chin to his chest. “I’m sorry for breaking your window. And for acting like an all-around jerk.”
“Slade, you’ve made some poor choices, but you’re a good kid.” She reached over and patted his forearm. “I accept your apology.”
“Now can I go live with Uncle Holden?”
“No, son.” Gabriel leaned forward and rubbed his hands on his knees. His mind ran through so many things he could or should say. “You’ve been disrespectful, you don’t care about your grades, and you’ve put yourself and others in danger. An apology is only the beginning. Once you’ve healed, you’ll have to figure out how to make amends for that window. And you’re certainly not living in the lap of luxury with Uncle Holden. That could, however, be your reward if you prove you’ve turned your behavior around.”
“How long is that gonna take?”
“That’s up to you.”
Slade shrugged and then winced, not yet used to limited movement. He laid his head back and closed his eyes. Then, he nodded his head.
Gabriel wasn’t convinced. “You’re a great kid, and I love you. I know I should have told you that more often.” His chest tightened, and he looked at Holden for support. “How about those hot dogs? Have they gotten cold?”
“No. I kept them warm under some foil.” He peeled back the aluminum sheet. “Dig in.”
Holden took Slade a hot dog with mustard only, opened his drink, set it close by, and then returned to the table. “Speaking of keeping stuff warm, here.” He pulled a folded paper out of his pants pocket and handed it to Sparrow. “Please use the money for whatever the school needs.”
She opened the check and gasped. “Holden, this is too much.”
“It’s nothing. I already made it out to the school.”
She looked at Gabriel, her eyes imploring. “I’m actually not allowed to accept personal checks. Could you take it, and donate it through the proper channel?”
“Sure,” Gabriel said.
“Glad that’s settled.” Holden took an obnoxiously large bite of his dog, getting mustard on both corners of his mouth. “I can’t remember the last time I had a hot dog. The best ever food, really.” Holden’s smile was giddy like a child’s. The man-child, trapped in a millionaire’s body.
Gabriel swiped his hand over his face and then looked at Slade. His son struggled to eat his food with one hand.
“Do you need some help?”
“No thanks, Dad.”
He took a sit of his soda. It would be a long recovery.
After they cleaned up lunch, Holden made his good-byes short and sweet, and then drove away in his tiny sports car to catch a ride on his private helicopter.
Gabriel turned around, only to find Sparrow gone. In the midst of their good-byes, she’d started back home. He resisted the urge to take off after her. Once she was safely inside her own home, he entered his house. Music drifted down the hallway from Slade’s room. His son had apologized to Sparrow, but had he really meant it?
13
Glen Church didn’t make it through heart surgery.
Gabriel was having dinner with Sparrow at the little Italian restaurant downtown when he got the call from Cherie. She sounded like any person who’d just lost the love of her life—sad, hollow, defeated.
The insurance on the rig would pay for a new one, but his employee wasn’t so fortunate. Glen hadn’t had an insurance policy that would make things right for his family on a financial level. God hadn’t let Gabriel get by with a prayer in passing either. It was pressing upon his heart to do something, so he’d sent a payroll check to Glen’s wife. She’d keep receiving payroll checks for the time being until he decided what else to do.
He would also issue the family Glen’s quarterly bonus, but it didn’t feel like enough. He wanted to ask Sparrow’s advice. “What do you think?” he said. “Maybe we could get a trailer from Holden. There’s a nice one sitting on his property, not being used anyway. I have to check with Holden, but I’m sure it’ll be all right.”
“I think you’re doing the right thing.”
When they left the restaurant after dinner, they drove to the Church home. On the way, he called Holden about the trailer. As he had hoped, his brother was happy that someone could make use of it. He parked under the carport and left the engine running. He wanted Sparrow to come in with him, but she felt he should handle the situation on his own.
Gabriel was surprisingly at peace. Slade was recovering, and Glen had passed on…yet he hadn’t felt this kind of calm within himself in a long time.
Bradley answered his knock and invited him in.
“Mr. Hearth! We didn’t expect you here this evening. Mom will be glad to see you.”
“That’s who I came to see if she’s able.”
Cherie entered the living room at that moment. “Mr. Hearth, it means so much to me that you’re here. Please have a seat.”
He chose the recliner next to where Cherie sat on the couch, his heart pinching at the lost look on her face.<
br />
“I don’t know what I’ll do without him. We’ve been married almost thirty-five years.”
“There’s nothing I can say that’ll make things easier in that respect. But God has laid a couple of things on my heart, and I hope you’ll allow me to follow through with them.”
Her red-rimmed gaze met his, and she nodded her head.
“You should be receiving Glen’s check in the mail tomorrow or the next day, Cherie. I plan on continuing those checks in your name for the time being, until you can stand on your own.”
Cherie pulled in a deep breath. Her hands flew to her face, and she sobbed into them. Her shoulders shook.
Bradley brought her a handful of tissues.
“I know this is a hard time, but I want you to be able to bury your husband without worrying about what will happen afterward.”
Cherie wiped at her eyes and tried to get control of her tears. It was a hopeless cause that left her unable to speak.
Bradley stepped in for her. “Thank you so much, Mr. Hearth. Mom’s been worrying about making ends meet. The dairy paid Dad a good salary, but he never saved for the future. Him and mom both had health issues and the medical bills piled up. Mom hasn’t been able to work for several years. I help as much as I can. It may not seem like it, but those are tears of joy.” He put his arms around his mother and squeezed.
“It’s the right thing to do, and I want to do it.” Gabriel shifted in his seat. “Quarterly bonuses don’t go out until June, but I’ll send Glen’s out early. Hopefully, it will help with funeral costs or whatever you need. I thought of Glen as a friend. He called me Gabriel.” He swallowed hard, determined to keep it together. “I’d like you to do the same.”
She nodded, still overcome. “Thank you...Gabriel.”
“There’s something else. I don’t want you to think of this as charity. It’s a gift from one friend to another. Glen mentioned y’all currently rent.” Again she nodded. “I don’t want your family to have to worry about paying rent anymore. My brother, Holden, has a nice mobile home that he no longer uses. He wants to give it to you, free and clear, if you have a place to put it.”
Cherie buried her face in her son’s shoulder.
The young man spoke up. “I actually have a small piece of land that I use for hunting. I was going to sell it to pay for Dad’s funeral. I sometimes stay out there in a camper. I put in septic and electrical, and there was a well already there, so it has all the hookups for a real home.”
“Would you be able to keep the land if we set up the mobile home there?”
Bradley nodded. “We could afford it if we didn’t have to pay rent.”
“That’s good. Then we’ll get to work on setting everything up.”
~*~
“I’ve never helped anyone to this extent this before. It feels good.”
Gabriel’s deep voice held more life, more excitement than Sparrow had ever seen or heard in him before.
The mobile home had finally been moved to Bradley Church’s property, set on a cement foundation by a professional crew that Gabriel had hired. Another crew hooked up all the utilities according to local ordinances. Gabriel was obviously reaping the spiritual blessings of giving.
School was almost out for summer vacation, so Sparrow had more and more time to help with the project.
They’d spent a couple of days moving Cherie’s things into the new place, but the women had decided moving wasn’t enough. They wanted to decorate and make everything beautiful as they went along. They pitched in to help Cherie make the rooms feel like home. The men who came to help did the heavy lifting.
Slade hadn’t been released for any heavy lifting, so he stayed at home to rest.
Gabriel drove this evening, so Sparrow relaxed in the passenger seat, giddy now that the work was complete, and the Church family was on the road to recovery.
“I had a nice conversation with Cherie today,” Gabriel finally said. He’d been quiet while Sparrow filled him in on the final details.
“Oh, really? What about?”
“Do you remember me telling you how I felt drawn to this family in a way I never had before?”
“Yes.”
“Cherie told me that for the past several years, they’d had a bad run, all kinds of problems. She’d been unable to work and contribute to the household due to an injury, had given up on anything better in life and was about to give up on God. On the day Glen passed and I visited her, she had reached her limit. I wish I’d known while he was alive. For some reason, he never let on that there was any struggle at all.”
The air rushed out of Sparrow’ chest as her brain made the connection. “Praise God. I knew everything would work out.”
This man didn’t have to continue sending Glen’s paychecks to his wife or cut her a check for her deceased husband’s quarterly bonus. He didn’t have to get his brother to donate a home. And he didn’t have to see things through to make sure everything was set up right. He’d listened to his heart. Finally. What was his heart telling him to do about her? With the thought, her mood wilted.
They rode in silence for several miles until Gabriel spoke again. “How about dinner? We’ve spent so many evenings working on Cherie’s place that it feels like a century since the last time we went out. I want to find a restaurant where we can look at the stars and have dinner, too.” His eyes lit up at the thought. “I know the perfect place. Do you like Mexican food?”
“Of course.”
“Chico’s downtown has a rooftop patio. We can have dinner under the stars.”
“Let’s go.” She nodded. “And speaking of dinner. Don’t forget about Micara’s birthday party. I attached the invitation with all the information on your fridge with a magnet.”
“I won’t forget.”
A large fountain graced the entryway at the restaurant. Bright murals covered the walls.
Sparrow glanced around the quiet interior, glad they’d arrived after busy hours and found the place practically empty.
A narrow stairway led up to the rooftop dining area. Their table nestled near a small, potted tree and a statue of a glittery, golden sun. Gabriel wanted stars, and the sky obliged, twinkling with an entire host of sparkling lights. The two-page menu featured classic Tex-Mex dinners with celebrity names. Sparrow decided on a plate named after Elvis.
Gabriel reached across the table and took her hand. Then he brought it to his lips.
With fingers laced, she smiled at him…and everything in the background—cicadas and crickets calling, occasional traffic noise, the wind blowing—faded away. She never wanted this moment to end.
The waitress had other plans. “Here’s your drinks. Just water, right?”
They nodded.
“And do y’all know what you want to order yet?”
“I do.”
“I’m ready. You go first.” Gabriel grinned.
“I’ll have the Elvis Presley platter.”
“That looked good to me too. I’ll have that, as well.”
“They always bring such large portions,” Sparrow spoke up since they were ordering the same thing. “Do you want to share? Maybe order a bowl of queso to go with it?”
“Good idea.”
“OK, then.” The waitress pocketed her order pad. “I’ll put your order in and bring out an extra plate. You two have a nice dinner.”
Gabriel took a sip of his water, but Sparrow couldn’t stop grinning long enough to do the same.
“What are you smiling about?”
“It’s silly.” She blushed but decided to go for the gusto. “I’ve always wanted to have a date I could share food with. Maybe that’s a girl thing.”
He chuckled. “I haven’t ever thought about it before, but I like it. It’s sentimental and practical at the same time. I’m happy to share my food with you, Sparrow.”
She took a few sips of water, trying to think how to broach a subject she hadn’t had the nerve to bring up until now. Maybe now wasn’t the best time, but sh
e really wanted to know. When in doubt, ask anyway. Though she wasn’t sure this saying referred to nosing into other people’s business. She touched his hand. “Tell me about Slade’s mother.” There. She’d said it. The mood went from sunshine to torrential rain in an instant.
Gabriel stared down at his glass of water for so long she thought he wouldn’t answer.
“I first laid eyes on Angie on a bright summer night filled with stars.”
Sparrow looked up at the stars shining now through the dark night.
“We were young. We thought we were in love. Then she got pregnant and decided to give the baby up for adoption. I was all for it. I was too young to be a dad, but my parents wanted the baby.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “They made a deal with Angie’s family. We would raise Slade, and they wouldn’t have to do anything.” Ice tinkled against the sides of his glass as he fidgeted with it.
This was not Gabriel’s normal demeanor.
“Angie’s father was an attorney up north. They only spent a few weeks each summer in Sweet Home. He drew up the papers, and then they returned home for Angie’s pregnancy. When Slade was born, my parents and I flew there to pick him up. I got to name him. I remember giving him the coolest guy name I knew. Slade was the lead singer of my favorite band at the time.” His gaze grew distant. “Then we brought Slade home, and I haven’t made contact with Angie’s family again. They didn’t even come back to visit anymore.”
The waitress arrived with their food, queso, chips, and an extra plate.
“Everything looks delicious.” Gabriel surprised her by remembering the niceties, even in the midst of what was obviously a painful memory. “Thank you.”
“Let me know if you need anything else.” The girl smiled and left them alone.
Sparrow started dividing the food. The Elvis dish was a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n roll with crunchy and soft tacos, cheese and beef enchiladas, items that contrasted each other. She thought it a little symbolic as well.
Gabriel picked up his fork and dug in.
Sparrow’s first bite of cheese enchilada melted in her mouth. She eagerly tasted each item on her plate. Probably the best Mexican food she’d ever had. Of course, food always tasted better after working so hard.