by JoAnn Durgin
“You have to remember that Dean hasn’t been a teenager for a few years. He’s trying to understand you, but it’s not exactly easy for him. From what he’s said about you, I know he respects you a great deal, Felipe. He’s a practical man, a logical man. Emotions and feelings are harder for a man like that sometimes. I think this work camp is good for him in being away from work. He’s been stressed lately, and he’s relaxing a little more and seeing there’s other things in the world besides work.”
“You mean like Mrs. Morris?” Shaking his head, Felipe laughed.
“Yes, now that you mention it.”
“What do you mean about him being stressed at work? He hasn’t said anything to me.”
“That’s because he keeps it inside. Let’s just say there’s someone who works for him who’s hurting the business.”
“Yeah, I think that manager in the San Antonio store is stealing from him.”
Sam turned to Felipe. “Why do you say that?”
“I help him in the store on the weekends.”
“That’s good,” Sam said. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
“I heard Paul—that’s his name—on the phone. He was on the computer in the office and talking with somebody about transferring funds from the store’s general account into some other account. Only thing was, the other account was in his own name. I figured Paul would get mad if he knew I was there, so I stayed until he left. He didn’t leave until like three hours later. It was torture.”
This might be evidence that could help Dean. It certainly couldn’t hurt. The only question was, would Felipe tell Dean or would Sam need to tell him? “I hope you’ll allow me to pray for you.”
Felipe snapped up his head. “What? You mean right now?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“We don’t have to hold hands or anything weird, do we?” The boy cast him a wary glance.
“No. You don’t even have to bow your head or close your eyes. I spend a lot of time in prayer when I’m driving, when I’m lying in bed, and even when I’m in the shower.”
“That last one’s too much information, man.” The tiniest hint of a grin creased Felipe’s lips.
Sam chuckled. “Well, I’ll tell you what. It helps keep me from stinking in more ways than one. My point being that God hears your prayers no matter when or where you pray.”
“I don’t even know how to pray.” Felipe’s words were spoken so quietly that Sam had to strain to hear them.
“Just talk to God like you’re talking with me right now. Like you talk with Angel.”
“You know, I think I might be ready to try that prayer thing now, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Angel about it.” He held up one hand. “No offense.”
“None taken, trust me. Will you do me a big favor, Felipe? You’ve done a lot of great work here, but go now. I’d like you to think about telling Dean what you told me. You might be able to help him.”
“Yeah? How’s that?”
“He’s ready to hire an expensive accountant to prove Paul is stealing from him. He needs evidence, and what you told me might be just what he needs.”
“Hey, I could probably hang around and get some more goods on the scumbag, too.”
“Could be. Go talk to Dean. Now.”
“Is that an order?”
“Yes.” When Sam grinned, Felipe did, too.
“Okay, but I’ll come back and do more painting after lunch.”
Sam nodded. “Fine. I’m proud of you, son.”
Felipe turned away but not before Sam caught the overwhelming emotion in his expression.
“Is something wrong?”
“Nah.” Felipe wiped beneath his eyes. “No one’s ever called me son before. See ya, Mr. Lewis.”
~~♥~~
Marta sat across from Eliot at the lunch table as they finished their lunch. She found it endearing how the others left them alone these days. They knew how close they’d grown during the mission. They also understood that Eliot would be flying off to points unknown as soon as the mission was over. That thought pained her more than she would have expected. She wasn’t ready to say good-bye to him. Wasn’t ready to let him go.
“Let’s go take a walk before you go back to the church,” she said. “I’m taking the kids out to the spring one last time.”
“How about I tag along? It sounds like fun. Although there’s still work to do at the church, the majority of the big jobs are done. I’m not scheduled for security duty this afternoon. I’m sure I can arrange it. What do you say?”
“Sure, I’d like that,” she said. His black eye was completely healed now, and she could sit and stare at him for the rest of the day and be completely happy. “Did you bring a swimsuit?”
“No, but I have shorts. That’ll work fine. Did you bring one?” He lifted his eyebrows up and down, making her laugh.
“No, so don’t get your hopes up. I have a tank top and shorts, but I hadn’t actually planned on going in the water.”
“I don’t believe that for a second,” he said. “You’re a self-acknowledged fish. If there’s a body of water, Marta Holcomb will be in it.”
“You know me well.”
“You know it. And I want to get to know you even better. Let’s go.” Shoving away from the table, Eliot gathered their trash and tossed them in the can.
“I wanted to tell you that I talked with my mom last night,” she said as they walked toward the dorms. “And then Thom and Paine. I told them about you and about your offer to help find Dad.”
“And?”
She looked up at him. “We’re all in agreement. We’d like you to find him.”
Eliot nodded. “What I need you to do is write his vital information on a piece of paper for me. I’ll need his full name, place of birth, birthdate, social security number, names of parents, those types of things.”
“I’ll do it tonight.” She sighed and looked past his shoulder. “I understand the answer might come easy, but the acceptance of what we find may never be easy. In my heart, I know what you’ll find. It’s just filling in the gaps, and knowing the details, that will help with closure for the family. If you can give us that, I’ll be forever indebted.”
“I don’t want you to be indebted to me.”
Her eyes searched his. “Then what do you want, Eliot?”
“To chase the dream across the sky. With you, Marta.”
~~♥~~
Dean was surprised when Felipe sauntered into the men’s dorm after lunch. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I was working with Mr. Lewis over at the church before lunch. I told him I was ready to pray. No offense, but I was looking for Angelina, but she’s gone off to town with a couple of the ladies.”
“Sorry I’m a second choice, but I’ll be happy to pray with you.”
“Aw, man, I didn’t mean it like that.”
An apology? He’d take it. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Dean, you remember when I came home really late from the store that one Saturday night a month or so ago?”
“Yes.” He’d grounded Felipe for a week. “You didn’t come home until after two in the morning.”
“There’s a reason, and I guarantee it’s nothing like what you probably thought.”
Dean scooted over on his bunk and indicated for Felipe to have a seat. “Try me.”
“Okay. Well, I was in the office and Paul was on the phone. He was talking about transferring funds from the store’s general account. At first, I figured it was boring business stuff, but then he said a few things that seemed a little weird.”
“Like what?” Dean’s pulse picked up. Unwittingly, Felipe might have stumbled on the solid evidence he could use to prove Paul’s embezzlement.
The more Felipe told him, the more he grew excited that this could, in fact, be a breakthrough. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” There was no sense in getting mad at Felipe. He’d told him now, and that was the main thing. Felipe couldn’t have realiz
ed how important that information was to him.
Felipe shrugged. “I was mad at you. Like everything else, you were quick to jump down my throat and accuse me. Once a juvenile delinquent, always a juvie, right, Dean? Isn’t that the way you operate?”
When he started up from the bed, Dean put a hand on his arm. “Wait. First of all, you might be able to help me save thousands of dollars. Are you willing to tell a police officer or detective the same things you just told me? They’d record or videotape the conversation.”
“I guess so. You really think it could help?”
“I know it could. But I don’t want you to feel that you need to prove anything to me. I’m sorry you feel that I treat you like that, Felipe. Maybe I do, but I assure you it’s not intentional. I’m asking you to forgive me.”
The teenager met his gaze and held it for a long moment. “Wait. You’re apologizing to me?”
Dean nodded. “I can admit when I’m wrong, and I’ve been wrong about you. I’m sometimes quick to judge, and I’ve been a little on edge lately with the funds disappearing from the store. I talked with an attorney before I left San Antonio, and we have another big meeting coming up next week. I want you to come with me.”
“Is it during the week? I’d have to miss school. My guardian probably wouldn’t approve.” From Felipe’s tone, Dean could tell he was teasing.
“I’ll get it arranged. Same as I did for his mission trip.” Dean smiled. “I want to pray with you, but first I want to tell you a little story about me and Mama Rose.”
As he suspected, that got Felipe’s attention. He adored his mom, and Dean couldn’t blame him. She was pretty awesome, and she’d done a better job getting to know Felipe than he had. He could learn a lot from her. When he returned to San Antonio, he’d have a long chat with her.
“Mama Rose makes the best cinnamon crown rolls in the world. Hot and fresh from the oven, you can’t beat them.”
“Yeah. I’ve had them, and they’re awesome,” Felipe said. “Thanks. Now I’m going to be craving them.”
Dean chuckled. “You and me both. You probably know the rolls form a circle, and you peel them away from the outside. One day when I was six, I stole a candy bar from a store. It was the first time I’d ever done it, on a dare from a friend of mine. My cousin Luis saw me and ratted me out to my mom before I got home.” He raised a finger. “But the important thing here is that I didn’t know until later on that she already knew.”
Felipe drew his knees up to his chest, and Dean could tell he had his full attention.
“About an hour after I came home from the store, I smelled the fresh cinnamon rolls and went into the kitchen. She casually invited me to sit at the table and have some of the delicious hot rolls with a glass of milk. Mama Rose, bless her heart, didn’t scold me. She didn’t say a word. Then she started talking about how it wounds Jesus every time we do something that goes against His teachings. She peeled away a roll and told me how every time we sin, it takes a part of our soul, and how it grieves God. Then she peeled away another roll and told me how if we don’t confess our sins to the Lord, it rots away at our insides. And then she kept going on with things like that until I broke down and confessed my crime. I squealed like a squirmy little pig and told her I’d stolen that candy bar. On purpose. Not because I wanted to eat it, either, but because I wanted to see if I could get away with it.”
“So, you stole something, too.”
“Yes,” Dean said. “No matter the motivation, it’s the fact that I took something that wasn’t mine without paying for it. You’re never too young or too old to learn that lesson. I don’t consider stealing a candy bar any less important than stealing a car. In God’s eyes, big or little, it’s still sin.”
“Right.” Felipe stared straight ahead, but he was listening.
“I became a Christian that same night, Felipe. It’s easy to say the words to become a Christian, but you have to mean it in your heart. It doesn’t mean you become a better person overnight. It doesn’t mean you automatically know every Bible verse and have all the answers to life’s problems. It’s admitting that you’re a sinner and need forgiveness. It’s asking Jesus to come and live in your heart and acknowledging that He died for you.”
“Will you pray with me, Dean? I’d like to tell Angel that I’m one of you before the end of this mission.”
“You shouldn’t do it to get Angelina to like you better, either. Or because you think she might date you or whatever.”
Felipe frowned and Dean worried he’d stomp off in anger. Please, Lord, don’t let me have driven him away again.
“I’m not. I’ve seen the way Sam and Lexa and everybody here treat other people. They’re the best people I’ve ever met in my life. They want to help and they give to others not because they want something out of the deal, but because that’s what makes them happy. There’s a difference when you have Jesus in your life, and I’d like to have that, too.”
Sitting on the bunk with him, Felipe prayed and asked Jesus to become the Lord of his life. When they finished, he smiled. “I don’t feel any different.”
“You’re changed inside,” Dean said. “You’ve got the Holy Spirit in there now.”
“You’d better explain that one to me. Later.” With a wave, Felipe departed. A changed man.
Chapter 41
~~♥~~
“Welcome to the first annual TeamWork Talent Show. I’m Joshua Alexander Grant, your Master of Ceremonies for the evening.” Lexa laughed at the way Josh spoke in a deeper, radio announcer worthy voice into a small, handheld microphone. Winnie had managed to convince her husband to wear the ugliest tuxedo Lexa had ever seen—maroon and garish with a stiff-looking white shirt featuring ruffles trimmed with black piping. His hair was slicked back with enough gel for three men, making Josh appear tacky and completely ridiculous. Still, he managed to look handsome. Winnie must be so proud.
Lexa clapped and smiled while some of the others assembled in the dining hall whistled, stomped, and cheered. Josh was going to ham it up to the hilt, and it promised to be a fun evening. Their crew needed this. For coming up with the idea, Winnie, Marta and Gayle deserved the flowers they’d be presented with at the end of the show.
“First,” Josh announced, “we want to thank the One Nation Church for providing the security detail tonight so we can all be here. They’ve done a great job to help watch over our camp during the mission and we thank the Lord for the friendships that we’ve developed as we’ve worked together over at the church. Secondly, it’s time for me introduce you to my two lovely assistants. It’s my honor to present Miss Marta Holcomb and Miss Gayle Ferrari. Put your hands together and give it up for them, ladies and gentlemen!”
The kitchen door started to open and whispers could be heard behind it. That door hadn’t been closed the entire trip, but now it served to separate the main dining hall from what Winnie termed the “staging area.” No wonder Winnie had been a chief costumer and worked on set design for high school plays. Mother Hen would prove very adept at keeping everyone in line tonight, just as she did with the catering business.
“I think our ladies need a little encouragement. I guarantee they’re going to knock your socks off, if you’re wearing them,” Josh said, darting a quick glance around the room. He signaled to Dean who raised an Applause sign in the air and then to Eliot, who raised a sign that said Make Some Noise.
Marta appeared first from behind the door. Wearing the same lavender gown she’d worn to the TeamWork banquet where they’d honored Sam, she was gorgeous. Her hair was freshly styled and she wore a hint of makeup to highlight her naturally radiant skin and features. Lexa moved her gaze to where Eliot sat beside Dean and Sheila. As expected, he stared at Marta, slack-jawed with unabashed admiration. Recovering quickly, he stuck his fingers in his mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle.
And Gayle? She looked nothing short of spectacular in a green satin gown. Lovely enough to make Lexa wish another single TeamWork guy were on t
his mission trip. She’d been praying for a man to come into Gayle’s life, but Gayle was a whole lot more patient than either she or Winnie in that regard. Her career as a portrait artist was taking off, and it was only a matter of time until Gayle left Doyle-Clarke Catering.
In God’s will and His timing, Lexa.
Marta’s cheeks colored pink while she and Gayle waved like beauty pageant contestants and then stepped to the side of Josh. Trading amused glances, both ladies focused on the Master of Ceremonies.
“Next, we have a little surprise,” Josh said. “We’ve—meaning me and Sam—have decided we’d like to present a few prizes at the end of the evening. To help us do that, would you please give a rousing TeamWork welcome to the lovely Miss Angelina Morris and my own Miss Chloe Grant.” He motioned to where they stood to one side of the room. Chloe giggled and Angelina smiled as she darted a glance in Felipe’s direction.
“What do you say, let’s get started,” Josh said. “For our first act, we have Kevin and Rebekah Moore. Kevin will be singing, I’ve Got a Crush on You, and Rebekah, my twin sister, don’t you know, will be sitting on a chair looking extremely pretty, a talent unto itself.”
Lexa’s eyes misted as she listened to the sweet song. Kevin exaggerated the lyrics and made comical facial expressions while Rebekah batted her eyelashes and gazed adoringly at her husband. Beck had been taking it easy—at everyone’s insistence—but she’d watched over the kids and helped to make the curtains and other items for the Sunday school rooms. The few times she’d tried to help in the kitchen, she’d become a little queasy.
“Okay, enough of this sap,” Josh teased as they finished. “This next act is definitely one for the guys and you’ll only see it here, folks. I got a sneak peek, and you’re in for a real treat, let me tell you. Marc Thompson, Mitch Jacobsen, and Landon Warnick, come on out! They’ll be performing a Three Stooges routine. Ladies, if you didn’t like the Stooges before, I think you’ll change your mind as you watch these buffoons…uh, stooges.”