North Country Mom

by Lois Richer

  “Giselle!” Alicia screamed. She broke free and rushed to kneel beside this child she’d gladly give her life for. “Wake up, sweetie.” She kept repeating it until Giselle blinked and looked at her through bleary eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “Leave the brat. You’re coming with me.” Mr. Parcet grabbed her arm, but Alicia was no longer afraid of him. She’d lost Jack. Giselle had been hurt. There was nothing else to save. She broke his grip, looked him straight in the eye as her heart prayed for help.

  “I’ll go with you,” she said quietly. “Just let me call her dad.” Without breaking her stare she hit speed dial and as soon as she heard Jack pick up, she said, “You do know who Giselle is, don’t you, Mr. Parcet?”

  “What do I care who she is?” he snarled. “Come on, we’re leaving.” He dragged her to her feet and pulled her toward the door.

  “Sure.” Alicia pretended nonchalance. “But I think you do know her dad. Jack Campbell. That’s Detective Jack Campbell from Vancouver.” She watched his face whiten. “I take it you remember him.”

  “Why you—” Mr. Parcet hadn’t dragged her three steps when an ice-cold snarl sounded from outside.

  “I’d advise you to let go of my fiancée and step back, Jeremy.”

  “Your—” Mr. Parcet gave a hoot of derisive laughter. “You’re engaged to her?” A string of horrible words streamed from his mouth.

  “Shut up.” Jack stepped forward, his fist clenched.

  “He hurt Giselle,” Alicia said, shamed by Parcet’s awful words but desperate to insure Giselle was okay. Besides, she was afraid for Jack. She didn’t want him hurt because of her.

  She didn’t know where the fiancée thing came from. It gave her goose bumps to imagine being engaged to Jack, but she’d daydream about that impossibility later.

  “Giselle? Hurt—” Jack didn’t finish his sentence. With precise movements he dialed his phone as he hurried inside the sod house. “Send someone to make an arrest,” she heard him say. “A man has assaulted my daughter at the sod house. His name is Jeremy Parcet.”

  Jack wrapped Giselle in his arms. Alicia listened to the loving exchange between father and daughter. Moments later she followed them outside, to see Mr. Parcet’s retreating figure.

  “He’s getting away,” she said.

  “So? Where’s he going to go?” Jack asked, one eyebrow raised, a glint sparking in his blue eyes. “This is Churchill after all.” He wrapped his arm around her waist. “You’ve got some explaining to do, Alicia.” His gaze burrowed into her.

  “Alicia protected me, Daddy.” Giselle’s voice grew stronger with every word. “She was like a mother bear protecting her cub. I never knew she could sound so fierce.”

  “I think there are a lot of things we don’t know about Alicia.” Jack squeezed Alicia’s shoulder and whispered in her ear, “But I, for one, am eager to learn more.”

  “You won’t like what you hear,” she murmured. “It’s not a pretty story.”

  “I don’t care.” He stopped, grasped both of her arms and faced her, eyes blazing with some emotion she didn’t understand. “I’m not running from the tough parts anymore, Alicia. I’ve got God on my side. He’ll help me face my fears and work through them. But I’m going to need your patience.”

  She didn’t understand what had happened to him, but she knew this lighthearted attitude would disappear when he heard her story. Still, it was time to tell it.

  “You and I need to talk,” Jack said.

  With a grim smile, Alicia agreed. It was time he knew the whole truth. Then her fairy-tale dream of being loved would be over. Once he knew the truth, Jack would want to get as far away from her as he could.

  *

  The sun was setting when Alicia and Jack finally left the medical center. Giselle was fine, but Jack had insisted she stay overnight just in case. Though Giselle protested, Tim Brown, the town’s newest doctor, took one look at her daddy’s fierce face and agreed she should stay.

  Alicia would have left, but Jack insisted she stay with him to comfort Giselle as she repeated the afternoon’s events over and over. Alicia marveled at the silent flow of mutual understanding she shared with Jack; they knew Giselle needed to talk out her feelings in order to deal with them. When the girl was finally worn out and her eyelids drooped, they still sat together, waiting for her to find the dreamless sleep that would heal her.

  This, Alicia decided as they left the hospital, was what real parenting was about—being there for your kid. And she’d missed it all.

  As if he understood her sadness, Jack’s shoulder bumped hers as they walked toward the beach. He seemed to know she needed the sound of the waves over the graveled sand to bring some measure of peace to her heart. He chose a massive boulder, sat down and patted the space beside him. When she was seated he took her hand and held it.

  “Tell me,” he said, his eyes brimming with something Alicia had only ever dreamed of.

  So she did. She told him about losing her parents, about moving to a city where she felt lost, alone and so vulnerable. She told him about the misery of not being able to understand and how no one seemed to care. She told him how hopeful she’d been the day she entered Mr. Parcet’s remedial class and of how he’d paid her special attention.

  “I thought he wanted to help me,” she whispered, too ashamed to look at him. “I didn’t understand that he wanted—” She couldn’t say it.

  “He raped you.” She sensed he held himself in very tight control as he waited for her nod. “You didn’t report him?”

  “I didn’t think anyone would listen to me,” she whispered, staring at him, trying to make him understand. “He berated me so badly. By then I didn’t know anything except that I couldn’t go back to his class. I couldn’t let it happen again. So I ran away.” She bowed her head, stared at their joined hands. “I lived on the street. I was terrified I’d get caught or beaten up, or worse, but it was better than being near him, letting him…” She peeked at Jack, winced at his dark glower and couldn’t continue.

  “You did the right thing, Alicia.” His voice came so gentle, so reassuring. His fingers tightened around hers. “Tell me all of it.”

  “I started getting sick.” The fear rushed back, blocking her throat. She drew several calming breaths. “I heard about this place you could go and see a doctor. I met Nancy and Harold there.”

  “You were pregnant?”

  “Yes.” She gulped. “I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I was only fifteen. I couldn’t care for a baby.” She let the tears fall, so tired of being strong. “Nancy and Harold took me in, loved me, cared for me. They taught me that God loved me, that I had a future.”

  “Tell me about your baby.” Jack’s quiet voice held reassurance but Alicia knew he’d soon change.

  When he heard what she’d done, he’d look at her with loathing and disgust. But it had to be said. She had to tell him everything, even though it would cost her his respect.

  “I gave him away,” she blurted out. She had no way to stop the tears. They dripped down her face, onto their hands, a steady flow of misery, sadness and regret. “I knew I had to. He deserved a chance, a life and an opportunity to be the best he could be. I knew he wouldn’t get that with me so I gave him away. I signed a paper saying I’d never look for him.”

  Jack didn’t say anything.

  “I gave my child away,” she repeated, filled with shame. She tipped her face up, staring through the blur of tears at Jack’s beloved face, trying to make him understand. “That’s who I’ve been looking for. My son. I had to make sure he was safe, that Mr. Parcet—”

  “Could never get his hands on him.” Jack pulled her to his chest, his arms wrapping around her. “What courage you have, Alicia. Parcet is a powerful man to go against. He has money and, until recently, his father to get him out of scrapes.” He smiled at her surprise. “My friends on the force keep me informed. I tried to get him twice for assaulting his coworkers but he slipped away both times. Yet yo
u’ve managed to thwart his plans. He’ll never inherit now.”

  To Alicia’s utter astonishment, Jack Campbell kissed her. Finally she came to enough to kiss him back, thrilled to the depths of her soul but mystified. When he drew away, she frowned at him.

  “Aren’t you shocked? Don’t you hate what I did?’ she whispered, unable to decipher the look on his dear face, the glow in his blue eyes.

  “Why? Because you were such a strong mother that you’d rather give your child to someone so he could have a happy life than selfishly keep him?” he asked, shaking his head. “Because you did what you had to in order to keep that child away from a man who would have hurt him?” He cupped her face between her palms. “Because you were a loving mother?”

  She nodded slowly as the spark of hope began to flicker inside. “All of those,” she whispered.

  “I’m proud,” Jack told her, tracing her forehead, her eyes, her nose and finally her lips. “I am so proud to know you, Alicia Featherstone. You remind me of a polar bear— fiercely protective, doing whatever you have to in order to keep your precious cub safe, no matter what the danger.”

  The spark flickered and caught. Was that admiration she saw in his eyes?

  “The thing is, we’re all your cubs, aren’t we?” He brushed her nose with his lips. “You fight for all of us, the Lives boys, Giselle, your people, the town. You’ll take on anyone or anything. I love you, Alicia.”

  She couldn’t believe it, and yet, there in the depths of those gorgeous blue eyes burned a truth she had to accept. Jack Campbell cared about her.

  “But how? When?” she whispered, not quite ready to trust his words.

  “When did I begin to love you?” He shook his head, his smile self-mocking. “I don’t know. I guess you just grew on me from the first time we met. You’re so incredible, so strong. I’ve never known anyone like you.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her until Alicia was breathless, but she knew there was something more he needed to say so she drew back and waited.

  “I loved Simone. I grew up loving her. I never imagined anything but a future with her and when it ended, I decided I’d never love anyone again because losing hurt too much.” He traced her cheekbones, then let his finger trail to her hair and the braids she wore. “I was determined. But then you came along. You became part of my life. But I was afraid. I needed to have control.”

  “What changed?” she whispered, loving his touch and the gentle smile that tipped his so-kissable lips.

  “I was sitting in the church this afternoon and I heard you yell. And I thought, What if I never get to tell her how much she means to me? Losing someone you love hurts, Alicia, but never loving them would hurt so much more. I knew I’d never stop loving you.” His mouth tightened. “Then I saw Parcet and you said Giselle was injured and I knew I couldn’t control the future. I couldn’t control anything. All I could do was trust God with my future. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “Just like that?”

  He nodded, then tilted his head to one side and gave her a quizzical look. “Do you feel anything for me, Alicia?” he asked. The fear couched in those words was her undoing.

  “I love you.” He would have kissed her, but she held him back. She needed to say this. “I don’t know anything about love, Jack. I’m not the kind of person you should love.”

  “What?” His nose wrinkled as it did when he was confused.

  “I’m…used. I can’t read and I had a baby. I—”

  “Love you,” he finished. “That’s all you have to say. I love you. I don’t care about anything else.”

  “You might one day,” she worried. “People will talk when they find out.”

  “People will always talk. But you and I know the truth.” Jack smiled when a frown furrowed her forehead. “You are a very precious child of the most high God. He loves every detail about you, that’s why He made you this way. To Him you are great.” He grinned. “Isn’t that what you were preaching to Adam that day? ‘Your Father made you perfect.’ That’s what I care about, not what others say.”

  Alicia stared into his face, bemused, afraid to believe. Jack didn’t care about her past, she realized. He truly didn’t care, because he loved her. And she loved him.

  He must have noticed something had changed, because he grasped her hands in his, knelt on the hard, cool rock and stared into her eyes. His voice brimmed with tenderness.

  “Do you love me, Alicia? Will you marry me?”

  “I love you very much, Jack. More than I ever imagined.” She gave a yelp as he threw his arms around her. But then he kissed her and she could think of nothing to say for a very long time.

  The sun had long since set by the time he took her home.

  “We’ve talked about everything, my darling,” Jack said, holding her, his chin resting on her head as they stood beneath the streetlamp. “But you never answered my question. Are you going to marry me?”

  Alicia tilted her head back and stared into the face she’d never grow tired of.

  “I don’t know… You likened me to a polar bear,” she chastised him, tongue in cheek. “Polar bears are huge.”

  “Polar bears are sleek, beautiful creatures. So strong, so powerful. Especially to the Cree,” he said, eyes twinkling. “I would be honored to be married to a woman with the spirit of a polar bear.”

  She gave him a genuine smile. “I would be honored to be married to you, Jack Campbell,” she whispered. “Honored and amazed and humbled and so, so happy.” She kissed him, reveling in the burst of feelings she’d only ever dreamed about. “To think that God knew this would happen, even way back when we were both suffering.”

  “He’s quite a God.”

  “He certainly is.”

  Epilogue

  The wedding of Alicia Featherstone to Jack Campbell took place two days before Christmas. Alicia’s friends rallied around her, helping her plan every detail. Perhaps that’s why she felt so relaxed as Giselle and Laurel fussed over her white satin wedding dress.

  “I wasn’t going to wear white,” she murmured. “I’m not sure—”

  “Purity of heart is what matters,” Laurel said. “Jack says you’re the purest bride he’s ever known.”

  “Do you think he’ll like this?” Alicia smoothed a hand over the lovely fabric.

  “Of course. But he loves you. And you love him. The dress is just a bonus.” Laurel helped her put on her veil. “I’ve got to check on the boys. Are you okay with Giselle?”

  “I’m fine with Giselle.” She held out her hand and Giselle took it, her face beaming.

  When they were alone, Giselle pulled an envelope out of her tiny handbag.

  “You’re going to be my mom, Alicia, and I couldn’t be any happier. I love you. I think you and Daddy are going to be so happy.”

  “I think we are, too,” Alicia said.

  “This is my wedding present to you,” Giselle whispered as she held out the envelope. “Please read it.”

  Alicia slid the paper out. Dear sweet Jack had found a teacher familiar with teaching people with dyslexia. Every night he helped her review the lessons and because of that Alicia was finally learning to read. Of course, she could only read a little so far, but she had years to learn. She studied the words carefully, hoping she wouldn’t embarrass herself. Shock filled her. She read the paper twice, a third time, not because she couldn’t understand, but because she was afraid to believe.

  “It’s from your son,” Giselle whispered. “I wrote the adoption agency and told them your story. I begged them to give you some information so you could stop worrying about him.” She gulped, brushed away a tear. “His name is James. He has two brothers and one sister and he’s very happy in his home.”

  “He says they taught him about his heritage and he’s very proud to be part Cree.” Tears rolled down Alicia’s face. “He thanks me for loving him enough to give him a family.”

  “The adoption agency said he told them that you’re welcome to vi
sit him anytime,” Giselle said, her face glowing. “He wants to meet his mom.”

  “Oh, Giselle, thank you. I’ve never had such a lovely gift.” They were still hugging and crying when Laurel returned.

  “Jack wants to know what’s taking so long,” she said as she helped Alicia repair her makeup. “He’s afraid you’re backing out.”

  “No way.” Alicia smoothed her dress, took her bouquet from Giselle and grinned. “Let’s get me married!”

  She moved to the back of the church, her gaze drawn to the tall, commanding and very dear man whose face transformed when he caught sight of her. Jack grinned as Laurel led the way down the aisle. He smiled at his daughter when she followed, but his attention remained focused on Alicia from her first step until she was standing by his side.

  “Like I said,” he whispered. “Beautiful as a polar bear.”

  Alicia couldn’t suppress her chuckle. Then Rick began to speak—beautiful, moving words about God’s plan for love and the bonds it forged. Jack’s fingers curled around Alicia’s when the Lives’ boys led the kids’ choir in an Aboriginal song about the Creator and His love. Then she and Jack said their vows.

  “My darling Alicia, this is the first step of our walk together with God. I will always love you, always be there for you, support you and want the best for you. Together we will seek and do His will. You are my heart.”

  Alicia accepted the plain gold ring on her finger, overwhelmed by the love she saw in his eyes, love for her. She tipped her face up.

  “Jack, I thank God daily for sending you into my life. You are everything I dared to dream of. I am the most blessed of women because of your love.” She slid his ring in place, holding his gaze, letting her eyes say what she could not find words for. Vaguely she heard Rick pronounce them man and wife.

  Jack’s eyes flared as Rick said, “You may kiss your bride.”

  “I love you, Alicia,” he whispered, his lips inches from her.