A Father's Pledge

by Eleanor Jones

His deep brown eyes lit up a little, and he nodded. “I want to look in the flotsam and jet—jet...”

  “Jetsam,” she said, finishing for him.

  “I want to look in the flotsam and jetsam for something really special,” he said. “Like magic.”

  “Well, we can only try,” she said, thinking happily about the little horse and the silver heart.

  Ben shrugged, scowling. “Magic never happens to me.”

  “Maybe it will today,” Kat told him. “Magic happens to everyone sometimes... It’s just that we don’t always notice it. You always have to be on the lookout. Come on. The others will be waiting for us.”

  Sure enough, when Kat and Ben arrived in the spacious entrance hall at the bottom of the sweeping staircase, the others were waiting impatiently. Little Tammy Nelson ran eagerly toward her, blue eyes bright with excitement. It warmed Kat’s heart to see the little girl so enthusiastic. Even in the short weeks she’d been counseling her, she’d seen such a difference in Tammy’s behavior. According to Mike, when the little girl first arrived at Flight six months earlier, she would barely communicate with anyone. It was Gwen, he said, who’d made a difference by taking her under her wing and including her in everything she did to make her feel like she belonged. All Kat had done was talk to Tammy, about life and love and laughter, filling her in on all the other children at Flight and helping her to build normal relationships. Now she was becoming quite outgoing and enthusiastic.

  “Will we be able to go in the water, Miss?” she cried, grabbing Kat’s hand. “Pleeeease?”

  “We’ll see,” Kat promised. “As long as the sea is calm and no one tries to swim out too far.”

  “Like Ben did last time,” nine-year-old Johnny Cartwright reminded them, glaring at Ben.

  “That was last time,” Kat said. “He knows better now...don’t you, Ben? And I’ll tell you all here and now—if there is any sign of squabbling or troublemaking, we’ll all have to come back to school. And no fighting, Johnny. Remember, we don’t do fights here.”

  “Don’t like fighting no more,” he responded and she smiled.

  “Glad to hear it. You must be finally growing up.”

  He fell into step beside her as they headed down the steep path to the sea. Ben ran ahead with Tammy and Jack, an eight-year-old who was new at Flight and completely out of his comfort zone. “I’m pleased you’ve stopped fighting,” she told Johnny. “And will you do me a favor?”

  He looked up at her with pride in his eyes. “Sure, Miss.”

  “I wondered if you might help Ben to settle in here. I think he could do with a friend.”

  Johnny shrugged. “He doesn’t like other kids and we all think he’s weird. He never talks to anyone, and his dad actually works here but he doesn’t even talk to him. I asked Ben about it and he just said he doesn’t know him and to shut up.”

  “All the more reason to make friends with him, Johnny. That sounds very lonely for Ben.”

  “Well, I don’t have a dad, but if I did, I’d talk to him all the time. He’s lucky.”

  “Everyone’s lucky in some ways, and unlucky in others,” Kat said. “And all you children are lucky to get to go to the sea today, so please be nice.”

  “Okay,” he said cautiously. “I guess I can try.”

  By the time they reached Cove Road, Kat was pleased to see that the two boys were walking side by side. Johnny was doing all the talking, but at least it was a start.

  The first thing Kat asked the children to do was look for living creatures that were native to the coast: crabs, fish stuck in rock pools, sandworms and shells. They were all amazed by the varied species, each busy in their own lives, doing what they were supposed to do in so many different ways.

  “Like all of you, really,” she explained now, sitting on some rocks with the children in a semicircle around her. “Each one of you is from a different kind of life in a different kind of place—none of them right or wrong. As long as you take pride in who you are, never be critical of other people and always try to be kind, you will go on to be someone very special.”

  As she spoke, the kids suddenly seemed distracted by something just over her left shoulder. Ben’s expression hardened, and she knew at once who was there. “I didn’t know you were attending my therapy course today,” she said, turning.

  “I was just passing,” Luke responded. “I heard what you were saying to the children.”

  “And?”

  “And it made a lot of sense.”

  “Oh...” She looked up at him, and he dropped down beside her.

  “Just because I think some of your methods are dangerous doesn’t mean that I disapprove of your reasons,” he told her. He was close, too close, and all the children were watching expectantly...except for Ben.

  “Having a good time, Ben?” Luke asked. The little boy just shrugged, refusing to meet his eyes.

  Kat jumped up. “Right,” she said, her voice forcedly bright. “Isn’t it nice that Luke could join us, kids? Maybe he’ll learn a thing or two.”

  “I’m going to be someone,” Ben announced out of the blue. “Someone special.” He glared at Luke. “You’re not special.”

  Luke’s jaw tightened and Kat’s heart constricted, but before she could intervene, he cut in. “I agree, Ben,” he said. “I’m not special...but I know you will be someone special one day—in fact, you already are.”

  Ben didn’t reply but his whole face brightened.

  “Come on,” Kat said. “It’s treasure time. We’re going to look for treasure on the beach, and we’ll try and guess where the things we’ve found have come from.”

  “Can I come?” asked Luke. He directed his question at Ben.

  The boy hesitated then gave a little nod. “I guess so...if Miss doesn’t mind.”

  “Do you mind, Miss?” asked Luke, with laughter in his eyes.

  “No, as long as you stay quiet and behave yourself,” she told him sternly.

  The children ran along the beach and Kat kept her eyes on both them and the sea. The tide wasn’t due in for a while, but there were always other hazards to address.

  “Follow the flotsam-and-jetsam line,” she called. “And don’t go too fast or you might miss some treasures.”

  Luke strode beside her. “Do you really think they’ll find anything? And shouldn’t you tell them to be a bit more careful? There might be glass, or even jellyfish, washed up by the tide.”

  “I said that you could come along, not criticize,” she responded, her hackles rising. “If you don’t like it, go back to Flight. Ben might be your son but he’s in my care today. And they will find some treasures if they look carefully. I’ve already checked it out.”

  “What, you mean you’ve planted things?”

  “No, of course not. I just scouted them in advance.”

  Remembering the silver heart, Kat realized she was stretching the truth; it did come from the shore, though, so it wasn’t really deceitful. She just hoped Ben would be the one to find it; he so wanted some magic to happen, and it would give him confidence to find such a treasure.

  “How are you doing, kids?” she called, hurrying to catch up.

  “Look, look, Miss!” shrieked Tammy. “It’s a beautiful horse!”

  Everyone flocked around to see what she’d found, and Kat took the opportunity to suggest to Ben that he investigate the unusual pieces of driftwood farther ahead. Preferring to be on his own, Ben charged off, with Luke following behind at a discreet distance.

  “And I’ve got a red ball,” Billy announced, throwing it up high into the air and neatly catching it. “I think it sailed here all the way from Spain.”

  “I’ve found a crab,” cried Robbie.

  “I think that’s the first demonstration of enthusiasm Robbie’s shown since he arrived here last wee
k,” Luke said.

  Kat glanced at him in surprise. “I didn’t think you had much to do with the children.”

  “Not with their therapy or schooling, but I’m always in on the discussions with Wayne, Tim and Mike. We meet two or three times a week. Since I’m kind of in the background, the kids don’t take much notice of me, so I keep an eye on how they’re behaving as I’m going about my usual jobs and report back if necessary. It doesn’t work with Ben because he’s too aware of me.”

  “Kind of like a secret spy,” Kat said. “I’d never have known.”

  “It’s got massive claws!” Jack was jumping up and down.

  “Well done, Jack,” she called. “Careful it doesn’t nip you, though.”

  Luke went to take a look. “Don’t worry,” he said. “It won’t be nipping anyone anytime soon.”

  “It’s dead,” Jack announced.

  All the children, including Ben, raced over to see the dead crab, and Luke eventually suggested that they should put it back into the sea that was its home. “Like a funeral,” he told them.

  “You’ll have to say a prayer,” Ben said determinedly, looking directly at Luke as if it was some kind of test.

  Luke picked up the crab, took it to the water’s edge and placed it carefully into the rippling tide.

  “Dear God, please bless and take care of this crab and let it rest in peace in the place it loves.”

  Kat caught Luke’s eye. “Thanks,” she murmured, unexpectedly moved by the little ceremony. When he smiled at her, his smile was slightly crooked; it made him seem more accessible, that imperfection.

  After half an hour of foraging, all the children had found some special items ranging from the colored balls and the horse to sparkling stones and strangely shaped pieces of wood. Only Ben hadn’t found anything of his own. On Kat’s suggestion, he headed back yet again to look around the driftwood; hopefully, she thought, he would find the silver heart this time. He walked slowly, his shoulders hunched despondently. Kat didn’t have favorites when it came to the kids, but Ben needed more help than some of the others. Luke was trying, there was no doubt about that, but the mistrust built up after years of absence undone in an instant. At least Ben was accepting his father’s presence now.

  Watching Luke shadow his son, Kat realized he still hadn’t quite figured out what Ben needed. Instead of hanging back, Luke should try to join in the search, be his son’s friend and earn his trust. Sometimes, it almost seemed as if Luke was afraid... Perhaps he was.

  Her heart tightened. Luke acted so tough and strict, but maybe underneath that show of bravado he, too, was a lost and lonely little boy crying out to be loved.

  Gathering the other children, she shepherded them along the shoreline. Eventually, they persuaded her to let them take off their shoes and wade into the rippling foam that swished up and back down into the sea again and again. The tide was slowly starting to come in, but the water was still shallow enough for safety.

  “Miss!” Ben jogged over to her, waving the silver heart in the air. “Look what I’ve found! It’s magic, like you said.”

  “I don’t know how he did it,” Luke announced, a broad smile lighting up his face. “But he appears to have struck silver...with help, perhaps?”

  “Actually, no,” Kat objected. “It really was washed up by the sea. Well done, Ben. Why don’t we start guessing where everything came from while we have our lunch.”

  “He didn’t help me, you know,” Ben said, glaring at Luke. “I found it all by myself... If it’s magic then it might bring Granddad back. I think I’ll give it to him.”

  “Your granddad doesn’t need magic,” Luke told him firmly. “You found it and you should keep it.”

  Kat frowned but said nothing. Giving was good; it would make Ben feel useful and needed. She would have to try to make Luke understand that, but now was not the time. “It’s yours, Ben,” she said. “What you do with it is up to you.”

  The other children were screaming with laughter as they ran in and out of the sea. “All right, kids,” called Kat. “I’ve got some towels here. Get your shoes on and we’ll go have lunch.” Tammy and Jack ran back to where they’d left their shoes, well above the waterline, but Johnny was still knee-deep in water. When Kat called to him he started yelling, screaming that he was stuck.

  Kat raced toward him, trying not to panic. “I can’t get out,” he cried. “The sand... I’m sinking!”

  She dropped to her hands and knees the moment she reached him, clawing at the sand that had him trapped up to the ankles. Suddenly he pulled free, knocking her facedown in the foaming tide. She clambered up, pushing her hair back from her face, to find everyone laughing at her antics.

  “So this is a part of your therapy, is it?” Luke asked.

  “What do you think?” she responded.

  He raised his eyebrows, making the most of the moment. “Well, you did kind of do the same thing last time,” he remarked with laughter in his eyes.

  Kat blushed. “A bit of water never harmed anyone,” she said lightly, wishing Luke Travis was a million miles away. Oh, why did he always seem to see her at her worst...and why did she care?

  She mustered as much authority as she could. “Okay, kids, you’ve all had a good giggle. Now let’s go and get lunch.”

  Ben fell in beside her as they all trooped back to the patch of grass where they’d left their bags. “That wasn’t very nice of Billy, was it, Miss,” he said.

  Kat looked down at him in surprise. “No, it wasn’t very nice.”

  “Did you see my silver heart?”

  “It’s beautiful. You were very lucky to find it.”

  “Do you think I’ll be able to go and give it to Granddad soon?”

  Kat swallowed the lump in her throat. “No harm in trying,” she said.

  “We’ll have to get Mike to sort it out,” Luke said, catching up to them. “He’s in charge of that kind of thing, visits and such.”

  Ben nodded eagerly. “Can I go tomorrow?”

  “Well, perhaps not quite that soon...” Luke said.

  A frown creased Luke’s forehead, and he pushed impatiently at the lock of hair that fell across his eyes. He seemed to be deciding what to say next. At least he was trying, Kat thought. Suddenly, he smiled. “Perhaps we could go see that bike on Saturday,” he suggested.

  Disappointment flickered across Luke’s face when Ben looked up at her. “Can we?” he asked, tugging at her shirt.

  “It’s not my decision, Ben,” she told him, feeling awkward.

  “But you will come with us?”

  “That’s not my decision, either. I will if your dad wants me to.”

  For a moment, Luke looked at her and then he shrugged. “If that’s what you want, Ben, I guess that’s what we’ll do.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  KAT WOKE EARLY on Saturday morning, as dawn was peeping through her window. All night she’d tossed and turned, slipping in and out of sleep. Was she getting too involved with Ben? The question hounded her; she cared about all the children she counseled, but Ben had found a special place in her heart. Or was it his dad who was getting under her skin? Either way, she had to stay professional. She’d woken up several times, determined to back out of the trip to town, but Ben needed to build up a relationship with his father and today would be their chance to start bonding. Plus, she couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing him, of being yet another adult to let him down. And that truly was her professional opinion, she told herself.

  Besides, maybe Ben would open up to her more today about his granddad and let her in on what was at the root of his problems. If she knew the circumstances she could find a way to help him.

  Rummaging through her wardrobe, she settled on skinny jeans, a bright blue T-shirt that brought out the color of her eyes and a pair
of comfortable, open-backed sandals, before applying a touch of mascara and a pale pink lipstick. Not that what she looked like mattered. Today was all about Ben.

  Luke had offered to pick her up at the end of Cove Road, and she was there at nine, fifteen minutes early. The sun was shining, making the whole bay sparkle right up to where it met the cool blue sky, but a blustery wind made Kat pull her jacket more closely around her, and she took shelter behind an old wooden shed.

  The shed had a faded sign on the front that she hadn’t noticed before—EMM’S. It reminded her of her landlord, Elsa May Malone Evans—EMM’S without the Evans. They must be her initials. What had she used it for? Kat wondered, peering through the grimy window.

  The shed was larger inside than she’d expected, quite spacious in fact, and it had shelves all around as if it had been a shop. An idea began to form, vague but definitely hopeful. She put it aside to focus on later and ran across to Luke’s blue pickup truck, which was just pulling in on the other side of the lane. Ben was waving excitedly, and Kat smiled in response, waving back; she’d never seen him so animated.

  “Morning, boys,” she called, thinking how nice it was to see them so relaxed together.

  She scrambled into the passenger seat.

  “Right, then,” Luke said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  “Show on the road?” Ben repeated solemnly, confusion in his eyes.

  Kat spent the next few minutes trying to explain what the phrase meant, which broke the ice nicely.

  “So where’s this shop?” she asked. “And what color bike are you going to go for, Ben?”

  He and Luke replied at the same time, and then laughed at the mistake. “It’s in Kendal,” Luke repeated.

  “Red-and-silver,” cried Ben for the second time. “Or blue.”

  “Or yellow or green or—”

  Ben cut off Luke in midsentence. “No, not yellow or green. It has or be red or blue, with silver. I get to choose, right?”

  Luke nodded. “Yes, it’s your belated birthday present after all,” Luke said. “It was your birthday just before you came to Flight, wasn’t it?”