Heart's Haven

by Lois Richer

  “I think he got talked into it and he didn’t know how to get out of the situation, or he didn’t have enough confidence.” She fell silent as he negotiated the streets toward her house. “I think he resents me.”

  “You?” He laughed mirthlessly. “Jack adores you. You’re his poster girl for perfection. He can’t stop talking about you.”

  “Really?” Cassidy preened a little. “I’ve never been a poster girl for anything.” She caught his droll look and blushed. “He finds it easy to talk to me.”

  “He certainly doesn’t find it easy to talk with me. In fact, most of the time, he seems like he can’t stand me.” Ty pulled up in front of her house, switched off the engine. “I’m not sure my decision to take on the Haven was the right one.”

  “Don’t get discouraged, Ty.”

  “Discouraged?” He laughed. “I’m a little beyond that today.”

  “Why? It was a stupid thing for him to do, but I think Jack’s learned his lesson.”

  “Maybe too late.” Ty tilted his head back as if to ease some soreness in his neck. “The manager at the planetarium store took my name down, threatened to contact Elizabeth’s foundation about Jack’s actions. Apparently an expensive kit is missing and they suspect Jack passed it off to the others. Since Jack didn’t return it with the book, the guy was very angry. He even threatened to call the newspapers and name Jack as the ringleader if he didn’t bring back that kit.”

  “What did Jack say?”

  “That they didn’t take it.” Ty met her gaze. “What else would he say?”

  “Maybe it’s the truth. Maybe someone else stole it.”

  “Yeah. Maybe.”

  “Please, let things settle for a day or two. God brought you this far. He’s not going to abandon you now.”

  “No.”

  Cassidy heard no assurance in the word.

  “I’ll take whatever flack I have to, protect him the best I can. Raising Jack is my responsibility.”

  “But?”

  “But I won’t allow our actions to negatively impact the Haven.”

  “Meaning?” A sense of foreboding filled the car and it wasn’t due to the onset of night. Cassidy shivered. She wasn’t cold, but Ty’s voice, the way he said that—“What are you saying, Ty?”

  He shook his head, smiled.

  “I’m not saying anything. I have to think things through, that’s all.” He touched her hand, smiled. “But that’s not your worry. You’ve been great, Cassidy. You listened to my troubles, spoke up to Jack, even took on Red. Thank you.”

  “I didn’t do anything but be a friend.” She hoped he’d say she was more than that, but Ty only smiled.

  “A very good friend,” he murmured. Then he leaned forward and kissed her.

  Before Cassidy could respond, he’d pulled away and was opening the car door.

  He walked her to the house, waited till she’d unlocked the door.

  “I could throw together a sandwich, if you wanted to stay for supper.”

  “Thanks, but I think Jack and I need to spend the evening at home. It’s so busy during the week that there isn’t much time for him.”

  “Anytime,” she told him. “Don’t give up, Ty. Not with Jack. Keep trusting God. I do.”

  “I’m glad for you.” He studied her for a moment, sighed. “I have to go. See you tomorrow?”

  “Of course.”

  Cassidy stood in the doorway watching, until the taillights disappeared down the street. She flicked on the lights and went inside. After a light supper, she turned on the television for a while, but the face she kept seeing was Ty’s.

  Cassidy flicked off the television, closed her eyes.

  “I trust You, God,” she whispered. “Or at least I’m learning to. Tomorrow, I’ll mail the letter to my dad and wait for You to tell me the next step. Your will be done. Is it Your will for me to love Ty? Because I do. Please, please, won’t You help him? And Jack?”

  She sat there a long time, waiting for God’s peace to fill her heart. When it didn’t come, Cassidy found her Bible and reread the promises she’d underlined in red.

  The Lord your God is with you,

  He is mighty to save.

  He will take great delight in you,

  He will quiet you with His love,

  He will rejoice over you with singing.

  She repeated the verse over and over until spring’s dawn pushed its way into the room.

  Ty was sincere, trustworthy and honorable. Now she understood the strange connection she’d felt with him on that first day. She’d waited, she’d watched, and he’d proven to be a man she could love.

  Cassidy believed God would heal Ty.

  God had allowed her to learn about love from a man who gave it freely, a man who wasn’t afraid to open his heart to those who were hurting. A man willing to put his own life on hold for an orphaned nephew. A man she could trust.

  If only Ty could love her.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Hi, Peter. Nice of you to return my call, even if it is two days late.”

  Ty tilted back in his chair, cheered by the sound of his college roommate’s voice.

  “I never return calls on April Fool’s day. Anyway, I’m a new papa, remember? Spare time is hard to come by.”

  Congratulations given, Ty waited for his old friend’s counsel.

  “I did some checking as you asked. The shrinks who specialize in working with kids are of the same mind as me. Get the boy out of that situation. I know you wanted to make Gail’s dream come to fruition, but Jack clearly is at a vulnerable age and has to come first.”

  “Yes.” It felt so good to confide in someone who knew the details of his past and understood his fears. “Jack’s already moved on from shoplifting. Yesterday his teacher contacted me about vandalism at school. She insists Jack’s involved.”

  Peter whistled. “He’s going down the wrong road fast. How is it between you?”

  “I’d thought we were doing better. He’s been bringing some of his buddies up on the roof to get my help on a science project they’re doing.” This was so hard to admit. “I just don’t seem to have what it takes to be a parent, Pete.”

  “Most of us get on-the-job training when they’re too little to talk back. You got tossed in with no warning. Don’t be too hard on yourself. My friends say he’s at a bad age.”

  “I’m not sure it’s just the age. He seems to hate me.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  “Jack flouts every rule I make. He’s rude. Even Cassidy can’t seem to make him see reason lately.”

  “Cassidy?”

  Ty explained about the woman who filled his heart.

  “She’s had a great relationship with Jack, always seemed to be able to reach him when I couldn’t. I was pretty jealous of that for a while. But now he’s pulling away from her, too. It’s a tough area, Pete, and there are lots of temptations. I’m afraid for him.”

  Silence, then…

  “For him, Ty? Or afraid the past will repeat itself and you won’t be able to stop Jack from self-destructing, the way you couldn’t stop Donnie?”

  “Both,” he admitted grimly.

  “Then you have to get him out of there.”

  If only Ty could. Cassidy was here. They’d just begun to explore their relationship. Ty didn’t want to walk away from her.

  But Jack was his primary responsibility.

  “If you were teaching the kid science, I’m guessing you’re still hooked on astronomy. That’s good. How’s the PTSD?”

  “Not good.”

  “Still the flashbacks, nightmares? You’re startling at loud sounds?”

  “All of that and then some.”

  “You’re under too much stress, Ty. Your brain needs to relax.”

  “Not so easy to do right now.”

  “It could be if you’d come into practice with me.”

  “Join your practice?” The idea intrigued him.

  “Why not?” Pete
r began listing benefits. “There are lots of private schools in New York that specialize in reining in kids like Jack. You could set your own hours, gradually move back into practice. And you’d have the option of selecting your own clients. Nothing too stressful or demanding at first.”

  “Military school might work.” A noise in the hallway caught his attention. Ty called for the person to enter. When no one did, Ty returned to his conversation. “Where would we live?”

  “Easter’s coming up. Why not fly out here, look around and see what’s available.”

  “I can’t. Our grand opening is on Easter Saturday. That’s less than two weeks away. Elizabeth is coming, and I want everything perfect for her. I’m going to be snowed under.”

  “What about right after that? Get everything up and running, find a replacement and then make your move?”

  “Find a replacement?” Anyone could do his work. Ty hated handing off Gail’s dream, but Jack was more important and getting him away was the best option. “I wouldn’t have a clue where to look for somebody to take over the directorship of this place.”

  “I might. I’ve got an in with some college profs. I’ll see if they know anyone who might be available to step in.”

  The more Peter spoke, the better Ty liked his idea.

  But at the bottom of every scenario there was Cassidy.

  “You could set up a practice in Chicago, but it would be too easy for Jack to connect back with those kids, and you’d have to build up your client base. You could walk right in here.”

  “It’s very generous of you, Pete.”

  “Actually, you’d be doing me a favor. I’m turning people away because of my hospital work. Think, pray. Toss it around with Jack. You’re always welcome here, Ty. You know that, right?”

  “I do now. Thanks, Peter.”

  A few minutes later, Ty hung up the phone feeling more hopeful than he had in weeks.

  New York. His own clients—he’d be able to stick to what he knew instead of offering temporary fixes to situations so desperate it seemed no amount of counseling could help.

  There was still Cassidy to consider, but her goal was to open a restaurant. Surely she could do that as well in New York as in Chicago?

  Private school would free Ty from those miserable confrontations with Jack. The boy wouldn’t like it, of course. But they would be someone else’s rules and someone else would dole out the punishment. Eventually Jack would realize it was for his benefit.

  Who was he kidding?

  Ty needed to get out of this place as much, or more, than Jack did.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Cassidy had fended off the feeling for the past three days, ever since the debacle at the planetarium, but the feeling persisted, a cloud of apprehension that seemed to hover over the Haven.

  She flicked open her ringing cell phone.

  “Hi, Elizabeth. No, I haven’t put a deposit on the space yet. I can’t explain why. I don’t understand it myself. It’s as if something is holding me back from committing.”

  Jack wandered into the kitchen. She smiled, waved a hand and pointed to the tray of chocolate-chip muffins.

  He nodded, flopped down on a stool, but didn’t immediately attack the food. That shocked Cassidy. She tried to concentrate on her conversation.

  “I still have almost three months here. To tell you the truth, I’ll hate to leave. I love working here. Starting up my own restaurant—I don’t know. It seems like a dream, while the Haven is real and very satisfying.”

  Closer examination of Jack’s face told her something was wrong. Cassidy cut short the conversation, promised to call that night.

  “Hey, honey. Tough day?” She poured a big glass of milk and set it in front of him, then poured herself a cup of the tea she’d just made. When he didn’t answer, she pulled her stool closer to his. “Talk to me, Jack.”

  “I got an A on my proposal for my science paper.”

  “All right!” A surge of happiness billowed inside. “Your uncle is going to be thrilled.”

  “Is he?” Jack kept looking at her, as if he was willing her to see something.

  “What do you mean? Of course he will. He’ll be thrilled if you ask him for more help.”

  “I don’t think Uncle Ty cares much about what I do, as long as I don’t make waves.” Jack dunked the muffin three times before part of it broke away and plopped on the table. “He’s got all this stuff about the grand opening going on. And you, of course.”

  Cassidy frowned.

  “What do you mean, ‘and me’?”

  “He’d rather spend time with you than me any day of the week. Not that I blame him.” Jack’s grin flashed for an instant. “I’d rather spend time with you than him, too.”

  He’d meant it to be flattering, but Cassidy didn’t feel glad. All she’d wanted was to bring the two closer together, yet somehow she’d managed to get between them.

  Help me, God.

  “I like being with both of you. You’re my two favorite men.” Cassidy hoped he’d smile, but Jack didn’t.

  “I can take care of myself.”

  What did that mean? She opened her mouth to ask him but Jack was already at the door.

  “Library. See you later,” he called before he disappeared up the stairs.

  Something really was wrong.

  Cassidy finished her preparations for the evening meal with a heavy heart. But then she remembered she wasn’t alone and did her best to leave the problem in God’s hands. What else could she do?

  She’d hoped to discuss Jack’s nonappearance at dinner with Ty, but when the last helper had left for the night, neither uncle nor nephew had appeared. She went looking for Ty and found him on the rooftop.

  “Hi.” Her heart gave a bump of excitement when he twisted away from the telescope, smiling as if he was happy to see her. “I brought you something to eat and a drink.”

  “You didn’t have to.” Ty peeked under the foil covering, grinned. “But I’m glad you did. Thank you.” He leaned over and brushed his lips against her forehead.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I don’t know what I’d have done without you all these months, Cassidy. You’ve kept me going, cheered me up, pushed me to try harder, aim higher. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to work with.”

  She curtsied.

  “Thank you, sir. Right back atcha.” She sat down beside him on the bench, watched as he began eating the taco salad she’d prepared. “That sounded a lot like a farewell speech.”

  “Wasn’t meant to. I just realized how seldom I say thank you.” He complimented her on the food. “Are you leaving now?”

  “Pretty soon. I thought I’d carry those down when you’re finished. Mac and the new guy you hired seem to enjoy each other.”

  “Uh-huh.” Ty stared straight ahead. He seemed far away, as if he wanted to be alone.

  But Cassidy couldn’t ignore her misgivings.

  “Jack didn’t come for dinner.”

  “Probably out with his buddies.” Contempt laced his voice. Ty set aside the plate, tasted the dessert then left it, also. He rose, walked over to the telescope. “He’ll come back when he’s ready and not one second before.”

  “But—aren’t you going to look for him?”

  “I have a job to do here, Cassidy. I can’t run off every time Jack doesn’t show up.”

  “You’re not working now,” she pointed out.

  He wheeled around, stomped across the roof and glared at her.

  “No, I’m having a break. I started at five-thirty this morning. I got called away during lunch and I had to schedule another counseling session for Irina and her husband during dinner. I think I’m allowed to spend five minutes alone, without having to sort out someone else’s problems, aren’t I?”

  Stunned by the seething anger underlying his words, Cassidy picked up the dishes.

  How could his words hurt so much? “I’ll leave you alone.”

  She’d almost mad
e it to the door when she felt his hand on her arm, his whisper next to her ear.

  “Don’t go, Cassidy. Please?”

  “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “You’re not. I’m sorry. Please stay.” Ty took the tray of dishes from her and set it down, grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, truly. I’m just—in a foul mood. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it isn’t.” He pushed the hair from her face, cupped her chin in his palm and bent to press his lips against hers. “I’m sorry,” he kept whispering between kisses.

  Cassidy wound her arms around his neck and returned his kisses, reveling in the love that poured freely from her heart. She didn’t have to guard it, she didn’t have to be afraid he’d hurt her. Ty was honest and trustworthy. He wouldn’t fail her.

  “It doesn’t matter.” She pulled back to study his face. She noticed how thin he’d become, the fan of lines around his eyes, the pronounced jut of his cheekbones. “I love you, Ty. I want to help if I can. Don’t shut me out.”

  He stared.

  “You love me?”

  “Very much. I never knew I could love anyone this much.”

  He smoothed her eyebrows, traced a line down her nose and over her lips. Then he kissed her again.

  “I love you, too,” he told her, his voice clear and rich. “I think I loved you that first day when you started making your list.”

  “You were furious at me,” she corrected with a laugh. He loved her! Her heart nearly burst with joy. “You thought I was too bossy.”

  “I thought you were perfect,” he insisted. “You dug in, got on with your job and made me realize I was sitting back, not doing my part. I couldn’t have done it without you, Cassidy. You’ve made everything fun and interesting and worthwhile. You cleaned up, put things in order and took over this place—including my heart.”

  Cassidy reveled in his embrace, delighted with the way he was opening his heart to her. Evening darkened as they huddled together, sharing hushed whispers and loving words. Soon twinkles of light appeared above them.

  “There’s the North Star.”

  “Ah, you remembered.” He snuggled her against his side, pointed out Pleiades, Orion’s belt, Cassiopeia. “It’s so clear tonight. Too bad Jack isn’t here to see how they lie across the sky.”