He folded her hand in his and led the way through the tables. “You had no trouble finding it?” John asked the older man.
“No. We came straight here.”
John nodded and glanced at Sharee. “Well, this is Sharee. Sharee, this is Tom and Lorraine Wicker.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” She swallowed and tightened her fingers on John’s.
Lorraine Wicker stood, too. Sharee felt dwarfed when she did. Tom Wicker’s height came with a solidness that outweighed John’s, but Lorraine’s tallness was accentuated by her thinness. Realization hit her. Janice had been tall, too. No wonder John had teased her about her height when they first dated.
The man indicated the chairs across from them. He smiled at Sharee. “John has told us a lot about you. Have a seat. We’re glad you came.”
John pulled out a chair for her. She lowered herself into it, glancing across at Lorraine Wicker once more. What could she say to these people?
Lorraine, her caramel-colored eyes smiling now, leaned over as John sat down. She reached out and touched his hand. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.” Her eyes shifted to Sharee. “You’ve kept him busy.”
“I…We’ve had a lot going on since he came back.” Her mother’s guilt trips had never had the edge that this one did.
“I hope you don’t feel too awkward.” Lorraine’s focus shifted from her to John again. “John has been a part of our family for so long that we felt we had to meet you.”
“Thank you.”
John’s hand gave hers a reassuring squeeze. “Was it a long drive from Orlando?”
“Well, you know how I-4 is.” Lorraine said. “Always harrowing. Whether afternoon, evening, or night, I still think it’s a nightmare. Of course, Thomas drove today. He’s much more patient than I am.”
“We didn’t mind the drive.” Tom Wicker leaned forward. “We’re just glad to see you. And to meet Sharee. You told us about the accident—someone trying to run you down. That seems incredible. You’ve recovered from that? And Sharee from hers?”
“We’re both doing better,” John said. “Sharee’s back has improved. I still have an air cast and the crutches, although I don’t wear them as I should. I do some walking, but I’ll be glad to start jogging again. Cooper misses the jogging.”
“You still have that dog?” Lorraine smiled. “I remember when you and Janice got him from the SPCA. He was so cute and wiggly. So little at the time.” She stopped, blinked, and glanced at Sharee.
Sharee bit her lip and fought to keep her face expressionless. She’d never thought about when or where John had acquired Cooper. So many things she didn’t know about him. His former in-laws knew him better than she did. These three had shared life and death together. What was she was doing here? Did she belong at all?
“Yes, Cooper is doing well. He’s big these days. Not that squirming puppy you remember.”
The waitress stepped forward, setting menus down in front of them, along with an assortment of soft rolls in a basket.
“What would you like to drink?” The waitress asked and handed them each a large menu. After they gave their drink orders, she left and quiet settled over the table.
“So, what do you recommend?” Tom asked.
“I’ve always liked their sandwiches, and the Greek salad is a favorite.” John focused on Lorraine. “You like pastrami on rye. It’s very good here.” He took a roll from the basket, tore it in half, and handed half to Sharee.
She nibbled on it but couldn’t quite get it down. Glancing up, she caught Lorraine watching her and managed a smile. Sharee lifted the basket of bread and offered it to her.
“Did you look at their desserts as you came in? They’re so delicious, but there’s never enough room for them after you eat.”
The woman shook her head but didn’t answer. Great, Sharee. Can’t you think of anything better to say?
She heard John question Tom about his work. Quiet stretched between the two women.
Sharee couldn’t get past the thing that was on her mind. “This must be really hard for you. I’m so sorry about…your daughter.”
Lorraine had been looking down at the table. She didn’t move.
Lord, please help. Now I’ve really upset her.
After a minute, the older woman raised her head. Her expression was blank. Her eyes darker than before. “It is hard,” she said. “Thomas felt this was something we had to do.”
Sharee reminded herself of what John said about closure. Lorraine stared past her then turned to John.
“Are you going to continue working at the church or planning on something else?”
John paused a moment before he said, “I’ve thought about going for some more schooling.”
“Have you? But not to USF?”
“No, I’ve got my BA, and what I need is not at the university.”
“Such as?”
“I’m thinking of a private technical school.”
“A technical school?” Lorraine brow wrinkled. “Didn’t you do that before? Why go four years to college and then to a tech school? What do you want to study?”
“Mechanics.”
“Mechanics?” The woman’s brow wrinkled. She tilted her head to the side. “Why would you want to take mechanics?”
John hesitated. Sharee turned her head to look at him, questioning.
Lorraine shifted in her seat. “You mean aircraft mechanics.”
“Yes.” His assent dropped into dead air.
Lorraine’s eyes went to Sharee. “You want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“Yes.” His voice sounded as forced as Lorraine’s, but he went on. “I have to know how to fix the plane in case there are problems overseas.”
Sharee sat, not understanding the undertones for a full ten seconds. Then the knowledge of what they were discussing hit her. They were discussing Janice’s death.
Tom turned to her, pain evident in his eyes. “So you and John are planning on going overseas after you marry?”
“Yes, we…” She glanced at John. “We both want to do ministry, and this seems to be how God is leading us.”
Again, the awkward pause, and Sharee remembered John telling her how he and Janice planned to do ministry work together. Heat rose in her face and fanned her body. Why do I keep saying the wrong things? I’ve got to have a few minutes, and they need a few minutes—without me. She pushed back her chair and started to rise. John’s hand went to her arm. She hesitated but didn’t look at him.
“Sharee?”
His phone rang, startling them all, breaking the tension. John gave a gentle tug on her arm, and Sharee lowered herself back into her chair. He pulled the phone loose from its belt clip.
“Sorry. I forgot to change it to vibrate.” He glanced at it and frowned. “I need to take this. Give me just a minute.”
“Alan?” he questioned and turned away from the table. “What’s up? What? Mark? You’re at the church? Where’s Alan?” He listened a moment. “And Don’s not there either? Okay. Is there a problem? An alligator?”
Sharee leaned forward. John’s expression changed to amusement.
“Well, how big is it? That sounds pretty large for that pond. Look, he’s not going to bother anyone if you leave him alone. Who else is there? Well, tell everyone to stay away. What? Her new one? Tell her to keep that pup away from the edge of the pond. He’d look like dinner to a gator.”
He lowered the phone and glanced from Sharee to Tom and Lorraine. “Mark Thornton with the youth group. They’ve seen a gator in the pond.”
He moved the phone. “What are you all doing there today? Waiting for Bruce? Okay. But where’s your brother?” John’s smile changed, and he straightened. “Ted Hogan is there? Are there any other adults there? Okay, look, I’m on my way there. Do me a favor. Get everyone away from the pond. See if the fellowship hall is open. I’ll be there ASAP.” He powered the phone off and looked at Sharee.
“Matthew is talking with Ted. D
on’s not there, and Bruce is running late.”
“Ted’s at the church?”
John’s glance jumped from her to Tom and Lorraine. “I’m sorry. I have to get out there.” He rose. Sharee picked up her purse and rose, too.
“Where?” Lorraine asked.
“The church. An alligator is one thing; Ted Hogan is another. There might be trouble between him and Matt. I need to go. I’m sorry.”
“Go on,” Lorraine said. “We have a GPS system. We can find our way to the church later if everything is okay.”
“That might work. I’ll call you. Sharee?”
“I’m ready.”
They slipped out the door and ran to the truck. Sharee strapped herself in as John backed out and sped down the road.
“Why is Ted there?”
“Who knows? Mark said Matthew spotted Ted and went to talk with him. I don’t like the sound of that—after the threats Ted made. I wonder why he’s there. Usually no one’s there this evening. I wonder… Call Alan and Detective Shepherd, will you?”
Sharee dialed Pastor Alan’s number. No answer. She left a voice mail. The call to Detective Shepherd had the same response. She left another message.
“Should we call the police for a patrol car to be sent out? Something?”
“I wish I knew. Call Bruce and see what his story is. Mark said he’s taking Don’s place tonight, but he’s running late.”
She punched in the number. The voicemail came on. Frustrated, she tried again.
“Yeah?”
“Bruce? You’re at the church?”
“Just got here. John with you?”
“Yes. We’re on our way.”
“Good.” His voice was even. “I’ve got a bunch of kids here and Ted Hogan.”
“Do we need to call 911?”
He was quiet for a minute. “Wait. I think he’s leaving. Okay, yeah, he’s leaving. I’m glad I got here when I did. Matthew lit into him about his mom… Look, I’ve got to check on the rest of the kids. Someone said something about a gator.”
“Okay. We’re coming.” She clicked off her phone and glanced at John. “Ted’s leaving. Evidently, Matthew had some words with him about Marci.”
John nodded, his jaw tight. “I wonder where he’s been hiding. If the police haven’t been able to find him…”
The road to the church seemed long. When they pulled into the drive, John drove to the back parking lot. Bruce and the youth were in a group by the pond. They scrambled from the truck and strode down the cement path.
The path ran from the parking lot around the field, past the pond and back. Sharee hadn’t liked John’s proposal for it back in January, but once it was completed, many in the congregation now used it for jogging. Bruce practiced racing his wheelchair on it.
“I’m glad you got here.” Bruce said, rolling toward them. “Matthew mentioned a few moments ago that he’d seen Ted in the office and then in the fellowship hall, which is where he was when Matthew confronted him. No one knows why the office was open. Mark called you from there, right?”
John nodded. “Yes, I thought it was Alan at first. So you’ve talked with Matthew?”
“He thinks Ted must have a key to some of the buildings.”
“Well, if so, we’ll need to do something about that. We can get all the locks changed. We need to talk with Alan first. Perhaps he left the office open by mistake, and a lot of people have keys to the fellowship hall. They’re not always careful about locking up. What else did Matt say?”
Bruce’s face lightened. “He told him to stay away from his mom.”
“Well, good for him. But Matthew shouldn’t have tackled him on that—it could be dangerous. In fact, this whole thing with Ted is volatile.”
“I agree.”
“Sharee left a message for Detective Shepherd. We’ll see what he has to say when he calls. I’ll get in touch with Alan and see what he wants to do.” They all turned as the voices from the teens climbed louder.
“Gator,” Bruce remarked, shaking his head. “Well, let me get back over there before we have one of them wading into the pond trying to wrestle it.”
Sharee slipped her hand in John’s. They fell behind as Bruce sailed his wheelchair up the path. She gasped as he braked on the edge of the concrete walk right before it dropped into the pond.
John chuckled. “Don’t worry. He’s got a disc brake that really grabs.”
“Disc brake or not. He might be wrestling that gator himself if he flies off the path.”
He squeezed her hand. As they neared the group, Sharee could feel their excitement.
“Seen him yet?” John asked. “Mark says he’s at least eight feet.”
Bruce grinned. “If he’s five feet, I’ll be surprised.”
Behind them, they heard a car’s engine. Sharee glanced around. A blue Ford Focus pulled into a parking space. Tom and Lorraine Wicker climbed from the car.
“Oh.” The one syllable came with surprising emotion. Why had they come? John had said he’d call.
John glanced her way. “Listen, stay with Bruce. I’ll talk with them.” He made an about face and limped back to the parking lot.
Sharee bit her lip. His foot must be hurting. Bruce’s head turned her way, but he said nothing. Then the teenagers circled them, laughing and pointing and talking over each other.
“We were going to feed it Ryann’s dog, but she wouldn’t let us…”
“You are so full of it, Mark. I can’t believe….”
“Hey, Ms. J, you come to see the gator?”
“I don’t think it’s any eight feet…”
“It isn’t! Mark couldn’t tell the size of a…”
Bruce held up his hand. “Wait. Wait a minute. Just where is Ryann’s dog?”
“Matthew’s got it now. He and Mark almost had a fight over it.” Laughter from the group.
“Can’t you two keep a lid on it for two minutes?” Bruce questioned the brothers in mock severity.
“Do you see it, Ms J? It’s on the other side of the pond, near the trees.”
Sharee felt their infectious laughter and smiled. “Yeah, I see it. But its head is pretty small. Sure it’s not just three feet?”
“Ah, Ms. J, you gotta be joking.” Mark’s expression made her laugh. “It’s at least six feet.”
“Well, it certainly ain’t no eight, Bro.” Matthew stepped up. He held Ryann’s puppy in his arms.
“Keep a good hold on that mutt,” Bruce said. “One gator took a dog off its leash the other day. You hear about that?”
“I did!” Ryann popped her head forward from the back of the group. “I told Matt, too. Ms J, you going to help Bruce tonight? I think he’s going to need it. I’ve got the dog to watch, and China’s not here.”
Sharee laughed again. “Well, I hadn’t planned on it.”
“We have another church’s youth group coming in about two hours. They’ve planned a mini-concert. Don had something hold him up, so he called me.” Bruce looked at her. “I could use your help until he gets here. Yours and John’s both.”
“I can’t speak for John, but I’ll be glad to help.”
“Good, come on then. We’ll head to the fellowship hall and order pizza for everyone.”
Sharee turned. Lorraine Wicker stood just behind her. “Oh. Hello.”
Lorraine smiled. “The men were talking, so I came over to see the alligator.”
The students were walking past her. Bruce halted and turned his wheelchair back towards the pond. “Don’t worry, Sharee, if you can’t do it.”
“Oh, no, I…” She hesitated for a minute. “This is Lorraine Wicker, Bruce. Lorraine, this is Bruce Tomlin. He’s working with the young people tonight.”
A questioning look passed over Bruce’s face. He rolled forward.
Lorraine stared across the pond at the gator. Its head and a ridge of tail rose just above the water. “It doesn’t look that big. But this pond’s not deep either, right?”
“Not right here,
on this side, but a few feet out it drops off to about eight feet.” Bruce said. “And the muck on the bottom is like quicksand. But the gator will find lots to eat. See that black bird perched on that tree limb? With its wings spread? Well, that’s an anhinga, like a cormorant. It dives into the water for fish. There are lots of fish here... little brim. Some people call them sunfish. Lots of turtles, too. That gator will find enough to satisfy him before he moves on.”
“Well,” Lorraine said, “we’ve been in Orlando for a while. On the north side, away from Disney. The area has numerous ponds and lakes, but I never learned to swim, so I stay away from them. I can do without gators and snakes.”
Bruce grinned. “I can understand that. Well, I can’t leave those kids for long.” He turned his wheelchair around, waving. “When you can, Sharee…” He almost ran into Tom and John who were walking his way but were engrossed in conversation. He swerved, and with another wave of his hand, went towards the fellowship hall.
John was smiling at something Tom said as he came up to Sharee. He planted a kiss on top of her head. She turned to look up at him, glad to see his smile return. He gave her a brief hug and turned to glance over the pond. “Oh, yeah,” he said with his customary amusement, “eight feet long. Not quite. What do you think, Tom, more like five?”
“If that. Well, you know what boys are.” His tone was amused too.
“The kids are a handful, but I appreciate all the energy they have.”
“You would be good with kids, John,” Tom observed.
“Oh, he’s good with them, all right,” Sharee said. “Sometimes he forgets he’s not one himself.”
Tom laughed. “Yes, I can see that. Well, Lorraine, we’d better go.”
Sharee turned to find Lorraine studying her.
The older woman dropped her gaze. “Yes, we left the restaurant without eating. Is there somewhere near here where we can eat?”
John focused a look on Sharee before replying. “Yes, just down the road. I’ll go with you.”
Sharee squeezed his hand. He’d read her uneasiness with Janice’s parents. “I just told Bruce I would help him with the teens. They have about two hours here before a group from another church comes. For a concert.”
As Long As You Both Shall Live: A Christian Contemporary Romance with Suspense (Dangerous Series Book 2) Page 17