Lost and Found Faith

by Laurel Blount

  “That’s okay, buddy,” Neil said quickly. “I’ll share your light.”

  Oliver looked at his flashlight lovingly, then at Neil. “Okay,” he agreed after a long second. “We share.”

  “Wonderful, Oliver.” The teacher gave him an approving smile. “Now, does everybody have their lights on? Good! Put the flashlight in the box and close the lid.”

  The children obeyed with soft thumps and rustles.

  “Can we see the light now, children?”

  A negative murmur. No, they couldn’t see the light anymore.

  “Is it still on?” the teacher asked.

  There was a difference of opinion. Some of the children said no. If they couldn’t see the light, it must not be on. Others, like Dex’s brother, Rory, maintained that the light was on inside the box.

  Neil watched Oliver closely, but the little boy didn’t commit either way. He just watched the teacher warily, clutching his precious box with both hands.

  “Let’s see!” the teacher suggested. “Lift the lid just a little and peep inside.” There were happy noises as the children discovered their flashlights still burning.

  “God’s love for us is a little bit like this. It lights up our lives,” the teacher explained. “Sometimes we forget about Him, and that’s like putting a flashlight in a box. Then we can’t see the light, but that doesn’t change God. He still loves us just the same, doesn’t He?” She nodded solemnly, and all the preschoolers followed suit.

  Except for Oliver. He was still peering into his box, looking at the cheap flashlight faithfully burning. Something about the awed expression on the child’s face made a lump rise in Neil’s throat.

  Maybe he didn’t share this faith anymore, but still, if church brought comfort and joy to people like Oliver and Maggie, then it was worthy of Neil’s respect, if nothing else. There was far too little comfort and joy in this world to quibble over where it came from.

  Oliver must have felt Neil’s gaze, because he held the opened shoebox over for him to peek into.

  “See, Neil?” the child murmured, his voice soft with wonder. “See? Owiver gots God. In a box.”

  That did it. All the feelings prickling in Neil’s throat snorted out in a laugh. Maggie, Oliver and the teacher all shot him concerned looks, but he couldn’t help it. He tried. He covered his mouth in an effort to stop the noise, but it didn’t do much good. He laughed until tears streaked down his face.

  Vacation Bible School might not be so bad after all.

  Chapter Twelve

  The following Friday, Cedar Ridge Christian Church was gearing up to celebrate the end of its best-attended VBS ever. After a fabulous and exhausting week, all the volunteers and participants were looking forward to the long-anticipated finale—the legendary slip-and-slide.

  Maggie studied the scene with a rising sense of panic. There was a good reason the slip-and-slide that capped off each VBS was considered epic. The church perched on a hill, and every year, volunteers smoothed a straight path down the steepest part, removing all the rocks and debris. Then they unrolled an incredible length of heavy yellow plastic and turned on the hoses, creating a homemade water slide that even adults found thrilling.

  Maggie had done her share of sliding since coming to Cedar Ridge, and it had always been her favorite part of VBS. But when she thought about Oliver going down that massive thing... Well. That was another matter altogether.

  She bit her lip and slanted an uncertain glance at Neil. “Does that look safe to you?”

  He stood beside her, Oliver in his arms, looking worried. “Are you kidding me? A little kid’s supposed to go down that?”

  Oddly, Neil’s concern made Maggie feel better. She wasn’t being overprotective after all.

  “Ah, a scared first-time mommy.” Vivien, the preschool teacher, paused to give Maggie’s arm an understanding pat. “I can always spot ’em. Don’t you worry. All the little folks have to go down with an adult. We haven’t had any injuries yet.”

  “Okay.” That information probably should have made her feel better than it did.

  A teenage boy was first down the slide, yelling gleefully. When he hit the bottom, a huge wave of pooled water splashed up and the crowd cheered.

  Oliver cheered, too. “Swide!” He pointed urgently to the line of kids waiting their turn. “Swide!”

  “All right.” Maggie took a shaky breath. “Miss Vivien says we go together, Oliver. I’m not sure how exactly, but I guess somebody will show us. Come on, and we’ll get in line.”

  “Wait.” Neil shot her an embarrassed look. “Would it be okay if I went down with him first?”

  Maggie had held out her arms, but she dropped them to her sides with a sense of relief. She hadn’t felt any too confident about her ability to hold on to Oliver, but Neil surely could. “You don’t mind? You’re not wearing trunks. You’ll get soaked.”

  “I don’t care.” He paused. “Do you?”

  She shook her head. No, she didn’t. For the first time, she was actually happy to let Neil take over. “Go ahead.”

  “Here.” He pulled off his glasses and handed them to her. “Hang on to these, will you?”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks.” His unguarded eyes met hers, and Maggie’s heart stuttered. Seeing Neil without his glasses for the first time felt strange. Sort of...personal.

  She watched as the two of them went to join the line. Oliver bounced excitedly in Neil’s arms, talking up a storm. He must have said something funny, because Neil rumpled his hair and laughed.

  Maggie’s lips curved. They looked so comfortable together. They easily could have been taken for a father and son.

  Her smile started to fade, but she jerked up her chin and refused to let it. Today was a happy day. They’d had a wonderful week, and it was silly to spoil it by wishing for something more.

  Oliver was doing much better. Although he still preferred Neil, he turned to Maggie more and more. Neil tried to encourage that, always giving her a chance to provide what Oliver needed instead of jumping in to do it himself.

  That strategy was paying off. Just today, Oliver had been working on a craft involving a paper monkey with movable arms and legs, and he’d needed help opening the brads that fastened the pieces together. For the first time ever, he hadn’t even asked Neil. He’d gone right to Maggie. After she’d opened the metal pieces for him, she and Neil had shared big, goofy grins and a surreptitious fist bump.

  That was about all they’d shared since their talk in the prayer garden—smiles over Oliver’s progress and polite conversation. Maggie wasn’t sure what Ruby had said to make Neil change his mind about VBS. Ruby wouldn’t say. Whatever it was, it obviously hadn’t changed anything else. Neil behaved as if their kiss had never happened.

  Which, given Neil’s disappointing stance on faith, was a good thing, Maggie reminded herself firmly. She couldn’t afford to mess things up—especially right now. Mrs. Darnell had been well pleased with Oliver’s progress at her last home visit.

  “He’s not there yet,” she’d said, “but he’s much closer than he was. You’re officially licensed for foster care now, so we can formally transfer Oliver from Ruby’s care to yours. And if things keep moving in this direction, I’ll feel confident recommending the adoption.”

  That was exactly what Maggie had been praying for. She should’ve been over the moon with joy. And she was.

  Mostly.

  It was just that sometimes, when she remembered that kiss, she had a feeling she’d missed out on something awfully special. She’d been trying not to think too much about it, but the feeling lingered heavily underneath her happiness about Oliver’s progress.

  “You’re not going down?”

  Startled, Maggie turned to find Logan standing beside her, dressed in his uniform.

  “In a minute, maybe. I’m doing the nervous-mom
my bit first.” She pointed to Neil and Oliver, who were now almost to the front of the line. “You’re up-to-date on all your first-aid training, right?”

  “Yeah, but I think you’re good.” Logan narrowed his eyes as Neil and Oliver settled at the top of the slip-and-slide. “I may not know much about that guy, but I read people well enough to tell you one thing. He’ll protect that kid or die trying.”

  Maggie blinked. There was a grudging admiration in her brother’s tone, and Logan handed that out sparingly.

  Looking back at the top of the hill, she saw Neil’s muscles tense as he wrapped his arms around Oliver’s small body.

  Logan was right, she realized, her gaze fastening on Neil’s determined expression. Oliver was safe in his care. As the two of them pushed off, Maggie relaxed and her mouth actually tipped into a genuine smile.

  They whizzed past, and she heard their voices mingled in a shout. “Whoooaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

  Maggie laughed. Boy, how the two of them loved that silly word. Oliver said it constantly now. It nearly drove her bananas, because every time he said it, it reminded her of Neil.

  Suddenly, the disappointment she’d been trying so hard to ignore for the past several days took a sudden stab at her heart, and her laughter broke into silly, snuffling tears.

  “Told you,” Logan said as a huge plume of water crested over Neil and Oliver at the base of the slide. “They made it fine. They’re—Hold on. Are you crying?”

  Maggie waved him off. “I’m fine.”

  Her brother leaned in close, his face creased with concern. Then, “Hamilton!” he boomed.

  Neil was walking up the hill, soaking wet, a dripping Oliver chortling in his arms. At Logan’s shout, he broke into a jog.

  “Everything okay?” he asked as he neared them. He looked at Maggie and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “You tell me,” Logan said. “Any particular reason my sister should burst into tears when she looks at you?”

  “Logan!” Maggie said, feeling her cheeks redden.

  “Swide,” Oliver said, pointing urgently toward the line at the top of the hill. “Again, Neil. Again.”

  “Okay, buddy. Just a minute. Maggie, are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She glared at Logan. “It’s just nerves. Somebody needs to mind his own business.”

  “Sorry, Mags.” Her brother shook his head. “Boyfriend or not, a guy makes you cry, he becomes my business.”

  She froze as her eyes and Neil’s connected. “Logan, Neil and I aren’t...” She trailed off, trying to think of the right way to say it.

  “Maggie and I aren’t together.” Neil said it for her.

  “Oh.” Logan looked from one to the other. “From what Ruby said, I thought—” He stopped short. For once in his life, he didn’t seem sure what to say.

  “Down!” Oliver demanded irritably.

  “Okay, bud. Hold your horses.” Neil set the toddler down on the grass.

  “Oh.” Maggie suddenly remembered the glasses she held in her hand. She held them out. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” Neil settled them on his nose and blinked at her, his expression worried. “Good thing I got you to hang on to them for me. Going down that thing’s like jumping into a pool.” As he spoke, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Uh-oh.” His expression changed to horror.

  “What is it?”

  “I forgot about my phone.” He pulled a dripping cell phone out of his pocket.

  “Oh, man.” Logan leaned in, looking at the device. His face was sympathetic, but Maggie had a hunch that her brother was as grateful as she was for the distraction. “It got soaked, all right. Is it still working?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Neil! Swide! Pwease?”

  “Sure, buddy,” Neil said. “Hold on just a second, okay?”

  “Now!”

  Neil pressed a button, and the screen lit up. “It still works,” he muttered. “But maybe I should—”

  “Owiver swide,” the toddler announced impatiently.

  “I’ll take you—” Before Maggie could finish the sentence, Oliver darted away from them, stepping onto the slick yellow plastic.

  Her heart jammed in her throat. “Oliver, wait!”

  He halted in the center of the slide just as a teenage boy launched himself from the top of the hill.

  Neil was the first to react. He dropped his phone and lunged forward, Logan and Maggie right behind him. None of them were quick enough.

  The teen did his best to put on the brakes, but there was nothing he could do. He slammed into Oliver at full speed, knocking the little boy sideways.

  * * *

  Neil dropped to his knees beside Oliver. The toddler lay flat on his back at the bottom of the slide, perfectly, terribly still.

  “I’m so sorry!” The dripping teenager hovered nearby, his face pale. “Is he okay?”

  “Oliver!” For one awful second, Neil’s heart stopped. Then Oliver jerked upright, sucked in a breath and began to yell at the top of his lungs.

  “Good sign,” Logan muttered. “When they can howl like that, I always feel better.” He checked the little boy over with careful fingers. “I don’t think anything’s broken, but that was a pretty hard knock. Probably should run him over to the emergency room just to be on the safe side. You carry him up to the parking lot, Hamilton, and I’ll bring my car around.”

  “Come here, buddy.” Neil moved to scoop up Oliver, but the sobbing child looked past him and held out his arms entreatingly.

  “Maggie! Maggie!”

  “I’m here, sweetie. I’m right here.” She knelt and gathered the toddler into her arms. “It’s all right. Uncle Logan’s going to take us to the doctor in his car with the flashy lights. Won’t that be fun?”

  Neil cupped a hand under Maggie’s elbow and helped her struggle to her feet, Oliver nestled against her chest. “I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

  Maggie looked at him, her eyes stricken. “Thank you.” The short whoop of a siren summoned her, and she stumbled toward the parking lot.

  As Neil watched her go, the weight of what had just happened settled heavily over him. Why had he been worried about his phone? He should have been holding Oliver’s hand. If he’d been paying attention, like he should have been, this wouldn’t have happened.

  “Here.” Ruby appeared at his elbow, offering a beach towel. “Wrap up so you don’t drip all over the waiting room. I’d go myself, but they don’t need all of us, and I got a feeling Maggie’d rather have you. Tell her I’ll be praying up a storm. Now, go on.” She gave him a firm push. “Get. She’ll feel heaps better once you’re there with her.”

  Would she really? He wasn’t sure, but if she would, then he’d be there. He nodded shortly. “I’ll call you and tell you what the doctor says.”

  “You do that.” Ruby patted his arm.

  As he jogged toward his Jeep, someone called behind him. “Iceman! Wait up!” Dex hurried in his direction, carrying Rory in his arms.

  “Dex, I’m sorry. I can’t talk right now. I’ve got to go—”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. Here.” The teen held out Neil’s phone. “You forgot this. I thought you might need it over at the hospital.”

  “Thanks.” He accepted the phone with a wince.

  “That’s all right.” The boy clapped him on the arm and gave him a man-to-man look. “Kids, bruh. They’ll scare you to death sometimes. Tell Maggie not to worry, though. We’ll all be praying for Oliver.” For once, there was no suspicion or reserve in Dex’s face, only a sympathetic concern that Neil found touching.

  “I’ll tell her.”

  “God’s got this,” the boy said with a nod. “Tell her that, too. Tell her I said so.”

  “I will.”

  As Neil drove to the small local hospital, his brain
weighed his guilty concern over Oliver against Dex’s words.

  God’s got this.

  Dex had sounded so sure, and like Maggie, he’d seen plenty of tough times.

  As Neil waited out Cedar Ridge’s lone traffic light, he cleared his throat awkwardly. “God,” he said aloud, trying it out. “You know how I feel about You, but if it’ll do any good, You can add my prayers for Oliver in with the rest of them. Please, just let him be all right.”

  He found Logan pacing the emergency waiting room, talking on his radio. He glanced up when Neil entered.

  “They already took him back.”

  “Can I see them?”

  “Sure. That’d be okay, wouldn’t it, Donna?”

  The blonde nurse behind the counter shook her head without looking away from her computer screen. “No visitors in the back, Logan. You know the rules.”

  “Make an exception. This guy’s my sister’s—” Logan gave Neil an uncertain look “—good friend,” he finished finally. “The boy’s really attached to him.”

  The nurse glanced up and sighed. “Oh, all right. If the sheriff vouches for you, I guess that’s good enough for me.” She nodded toward the door to her left. “Exam room three.”

  Just as he reached the door, a doctor came out. Neil’s gaze shot over the man’s shoulder and zeroed in on Maggie’s face, trying to read her expression.

  She looked relieved. Everything must be okay. Neil’s tense muscles relaxed so fast that he had to brace himself against the frame.

  “He’s fine,” Maggie announced cheerfully. “No broken bones, just some bruises. We’re waiting on some paperwork, and then we can go home.”

  “That’s great news,” Neil said. Oliver, snugly wrapped in a striped hospital blanket, was cuddled in Maggie’s arms. He looked up sleepily as Neil leaned closer. “Hiya, buddy.”

  “Neil.” Oliver yawned. The toddler nestled closer to Maggie and closed his eyes with a little sigh.

  “They gave him a children’s pain reliever.” Maggie stroked Oliver’s hair. She glanced at Neil, and he read her thoughts—as clearly as if she’d spoken aloud.