A Mom's New Start (Love Inspired)

by Margaret Daley

  “That’s Sadie. She’s been with us for ages. Daddy found her after the hurricane and saved her life. You like her?”

  Brady rose. “She gets around pretty good for only having two legs.”

  “I had to amputate the back ones or she would have died,” Nathan said as he came out of the barn with Cody and Hannah.

  Sadie sniffed Brady’s hand dangling at his side and nudged it until he rubbed her behind the ears, but he kept his attention trained forward, not making eye contact with the animal.

  “She’s just now getting a handle on how to get about.” Nathan held open the gate while the rest of them went into the pen with Carly and Brady.

  “Do you see a dog you’d like to adopt?” Maggie scanned the rest of the animals—two goats and another curly white-haired dog no more than a foot tall—in the twelve-by-twelve pen.

  “I don’t want a pet.” Brady took a step forward.

  “We’ve got more out back in some other pens.” Carly danced about, going from one animal to the next. “I can show you.”

  Sadie rubbed herself against Brady’s leg, then nosed his hand. He glanced down, opened his mouth as though to say something but instead snapped it closed and knelt again at Sadie’s side, petting her.

  “Aren’t you a cute one,” Hannah said, stooping to pick up the fluffy white ball.

  “Don’t even think it, Hannah. Our apartment complex doesn’t allow pets.”

  “Really? That’s such a shame. She could use a home, too. You know, one of the first things I got when I was on my own was a cat.”

  Cody shot Maggie an exasperated look.

  She chuckled. “I know that Mrs. Abare owns that small complex. I have a feeling, Cody, you could change her mind with some logical arguments in favor of the animal. She has a soft heart. Appeal to her sense of helping victims of the hurricane.”

  “A lot of times people don’t realize animals are victims of disasters, too.” Nathan settled his hand on Carly’s shoulder. “I’ve been working on a way for Sadie to get around well. I’m almost finished making it.”

  “You should see it, Brady.” Carly grabbed his hand again and began pulling him toward the gate.

  Brady jerked away from the little girl. “Stop it.” He tore past his cousin and slammed open the gate, then hurried toward the pasture.

  Not sure what to do, Maggie just stared as her son planted himself at the fence at the end of the drive, leaning against the wooden slats. Words swam around in her mind, but she didn’t know what to say to Brady. His body language screamed anger. At her for suggesting he get another pet? At what he had said in the car coming to the farm? Before she could move, Cody strode from the pen and headed toward her son.

  She ran after Cody and caught up with him partway down the drive. “I appreciate what you want to do, but I have to be the one to talk to Brady. Once he gives Sadie a chance, he’ll want her. I know my son. He loves animals. He used to help Nathan when he could, especially in the summer.”

  “I don’t know if you should force Sadie on Brady.”

  “Spoken like a person who hasn’t had a pet. They’re therapeutic. You said so yourself.”

  “So you think Brady will be fine after he bonds with Sadie?”

  “He’ll focus on her problems, not his own. It works for me.”

  “Problems catch up with you if you don’t deal with them.” Intensity poured from Cody, his arms straight at his sides, his hands opening and closing.

  “It sounds like you’re talking from experience.”

  “Aren’t most life lessons learned from our own mistakes?”

  She peered toward her son, whose shoulders hunched forward, his head hanging down. “We’ll have to debate this another time. I have a son to talk to.”

  “Don’t just talk to him, listen, too.”

  “I know how to listen.” Grinding her teeth together, she stalked toward her son. When she reached him, all words fled her mind. Lord, I need Your help. What do I do? What do I say?

  “It’s okay to be sad about Frisky. I miss him, too. He was a good pet.”

  “The best. No animal can replace him,” Brady mumbled, his head bowed.

  “You never really had time to grieve him. The hurricane struck and things got chaotic. I get that. Sadie doesn’t have to replace Frisky in your heart. We have room to love many people, animals.”

  “Like God loves us?”

  Where did that come from? “Is that what’s wrong? You think the Lord has stopped loving us?”

  He flailed his arms about. “Look what He did to Hope.”

  “And Hope is coming back better. We will be stronger.”

  “Until the next hurricane.” Tears shone in her son’s eyes.

  Maggie stepped close and started to embrace him, to give him her love and comfort.

  “Don’t.” Brady jerked away from her and stormed back toward Nathan’s house.

  He passed Cody who spoke to him, but Brady ignored him and kept going. Maggie sank back against the fence, thankful it was there to support her. Brady’s anger still surrounded her in a viselike grip. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths that didn’t really fill her lungs. The pressure about her chest squeezed even tighter.

  “Maggie?”

  She looked into the kindness in Cody’s gaze and nearly went into his embrace. Grasping a slat of the fence to keep her still, she swallowed away the lump in her throat and said, “He’s mad at God for the hurricane.”

  “I’ve heard that before. It doesn’t surprise me. It can be hard to understand why the Lord lets bad things happen to good people.”

  “Why does He?”

  “Because this life is a time for us to learn and grow in our faith.”

  “And we learn through our pain?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “All I know is that I hate seeing my son like he is, and I’m gonna do all I can to help him.” She shoved herself away from the fence and marched back to Nathan standing with Hannah and Carly outside the animal pen. “I’d like to adopt Sadie.”

  * * *

  Sunday afternoon Maggie spied Nathan’s truck coming down the drive toward Bienville. She hurried from the upstairs gallery to wait for her cousin. Brady was holed up in his room, immediately going there after nibbling on his lunch until he managed to eat about a third of the sandwich. Sadie was the answer. She knew it in her heart. Cody didn’t know her son as well as she did.

  Nathan pulled around to the back of the house and hopped from the cab. “Since Carly went to a friend’s after church, I finished the two-wheel cart for Sadie, so I could bring her over. I got another two animals yesterday after y’all left, so I’m glad you can take her early.” He opened the back of his truck and jumped up into the bed to get the crate with Sadie.

  When he handed it to Maggie, she placed it on the ground and let out their new pet. Sadie hung back in her crate. “C’mon, girl. This is your home now.”

  Nathan leaped to the ground, holding the two-wheel cart. “She doesn’t like changes. It might take a while for her to come out. Just put the crate in a room and leave the door open. She’ll exit eventually. Do you need my help getting her into the house?”

  “I can do it. I know you have to pick up Carly. You two are welcome to come back for dinner. We’re having our first dinner in the dining room this evening.”

  “It’s a nice feeling having your house put back together.”

  “Yeah. You don’t realize it until your place is a mess for months and months.”

  Nathan grinned and opened his door. “I appreciate your help and invitation, cuz, but I’m going home to eat in our dining room for the second time since Hurricane Naomi.”

  “See you later.”

  Maggie carried the crate and the small two-wheel cart through the back door into the newly renovated downstairs kitchen. Setting Sadie’s carrier on the floor next to the contraption that Nathan made for the dog, she scanned the room. With all the rooms except one restored and Kim married to Zane and living
with him, the house seemed almost empty. It would be good having a pet again. Maybe even another one after Sadie adjusted. She was so glad Uncle Keith loved animals, as well.

  She knelt in front of the crate and tried to coax Sadie out. The dog hunkered down in the back with her tail wagging, but not budging. After getting a bowl of water and placing it right outside the carrier, Maggie washed her hands and started her Mexican chicken casserole for dinner.

  Half an hour later while the chicken was boiling, she stirred the sauce on the stove, blending together the cream of chicken soup, onion, tomatoes and chilies.

  “What’s that doing here?”

  She turned toward her son in the middle of the kitchen, staring at the crate with Sadie curled up in it. “I told you I wanted to give Sadie a home.”

  “But you didn’t bring her home yesterday. I thought you meant later. And what’s that?” He waved his hand at the two-wheel contraption.

  “That’s what Nathan made to help her get around better.”

  A whimper from the carrier pulled Brady to it. He squatted down and looked inside. “You’re okay, girl.” Reaching in, he rubbed Sadie behind her ears. “C’mon out. You can’t stay in there.”

  Sadie inched forward but still remained in the crate. While Maggie switched off the burner with the pot of sauce, Brady patted the floor right outside the carrier. Sadie crawled a little more toward him, stopping half a foot from the opening.

  Brady rose. “Why won’t she come out?”

  “She’s scared. This is all new for her. She’s gone through a lot since the hurricane. She needs help.”

  Brady went to the refrigerator and grabbed an apple and a soft drink. “I know what you’re doing. It won’t work. Sadie’s your pet. You wanted her so you can get her out.” Then he started for the back door.

  As he left, Sadie pulled herself out of the crate and toward where Brady was going. By the time she reached the door, Brady had left. Sadie looked up at the exit and barked.

  Minutes passed, but Brady didn’t return.

  A pressure in her chest made Maggie doubt her decision to bring the dog home. Was Cody right? And yet, she remembered all the times her son had played with Frisky. He’d instantly bonded with the Lab when he’d seen him at the old vet’s practice years ago, left abandoned on the doorstep of the office. “Sorry, Sadie. It may take some time for him to come around.”

  Whimpering, Sadie lay on the floor near the door, her gaze glued to it. Maggie stroked her hand down the length of the mutt’s back. But the dog didn’t even turn to look at her.

  “Brady’s just mad at me right now. He’ll get over it in a day or so.” I hope. There was a time when she would have been sure of that, when the bond between her and Brady had been strong. Now she didn’t know.

  After washing her hands, Maggie removed the corn tortillas from their package and turned on the burner to finish the sauce.

  I don’t know if you should force Sadie on Brady.

  Cody’s words taunted her. She wasn’t forcing Brady really. Just giving him an opportunity to fall in love with Sadie.

  But what if it wasn’t the right move? What if Brady never came around? She glanced at the dog waiting for her son to return. At least she was out of the crate. Sadie turned her head toward Maggie as she moved the crate to the laundry room with the dish.

  Her big brown eyes snagged Maggie’s attention. She paused at the sadness she glimpsed in the dog’s face. Sadie needed Brady as much as he needed her.

  Chapter Six

  Waving at Maggie from across the grassy lawn in front of City Hall, Hannah hurried toward her, with a smile on her face. Cody trailed behind his sister, stopping to talk to a couple people on the way. Maggie stepped out from behind the booth she manned at the Ultimate Garage Sale to give Hannah a hug. Cody’s sister glowed with happiness.

  “You look great.” Maggie backed away to take a look at the young woman, wearing shorts and a T-shirt with sandals and a broad floppy hat to protect her fair skin. “Hope has been good for you.”

  “Zane hired me and I started work this past Wednesday. When I can’t do electrical work anymore, I’ll work in his office until after the babies are born. I’m working in Biloxi on a hotel. I know I owe it to you and Cody.”

  “Me?”

  Hannah laughed. “Don’t pretend you didn’t say something to Zane. I know Cody did, too.”

  “Zane wouldn’t hire someone for a construction job unless they’re good at what they do.”

  “Getting a chance to meet him on the Fourth made me feel at ease when I went into the interview. That helped a lot. Thanks for at least inviting Cody and me to join you guys on the boat.”

  “That was Zane’s doing.” Maggie’s gaze linked with Cody’s as he approached them.

  “What can I do to help?” Hannah took in the rows of tables with stacks of books and items donated for the library fundraiser. “People have really supported this.”

  “I’ve been amazed. So many lost their belongings, and yet they have found a way to help the town either with time or items. This has been advertised all along the coast. I’m in charge of the book section. I could use some extra help.”

  Cody came to a stop next to his sister. “You’ve got it. It’ll give me time to peruse the books for any mystery ones. I want to pick out a good one for you to read.”

  Maggie snapped her finger. “That reminds me.” She ducked behind the table and produced a thick romance book. “I loved this story. Let me know what you think after you finish it.”

  “Before the day’s over you’ll have your book to read.” He scanned the rows of paperbacks. “I’m sure I can find something here.”

  “The mystery ones are over there.” Maggie gestured toward the end of the table near her. “Have fun digging around in them. The money goes to a good cause. I’ve categorized a lot of the books by genres, but I haven’t finished.”

  “I can help with that. Just point me to the pile you need me to look through,” Hannah said.

  Maggie waved her hand at three boxes she hadn’t finished emptying. “If you could do those that would be great. I’ve got the sections labeled.”

  As Hannah moved to the cartons, Cody stepped closer. “Where’s Brady?”

  “Good question. He disappeared about an hour ago. Said something about looking around. The last time I saw him he was checking out the video games.”

  “How did it go with Sadie and Brady?”

  “When he’s downstairs, she follows him around. When he leaves the house, she lays by the door waiting for him to return. She’s wearing him down. He’s now petting her and actually spending some time playing with her, but most of his time is spent in his room. Sadie can’t climb the stairs, so she doesn’t see him much.”

  “Do you regret bringing her home?”

  “No. She needed a family, and I think Brady will accept her eventually. I hope sooner than later. I don’t like him spending so much time in his room, especially since I’m at work and Uncle Keith is gone more and more. In a couple weeks, Brady is supposed to help with Vacation Bible School at church, and he’s complaining about that. He usually does a lot of activities, but he isn’t this summer. I can’t get him enthusiastic about anything. Not even fishing. That’s a first.”

  “I’ll find him and see what he’s up to.”

  “I’d appreciate any help you can give me with him.”

  “Let me see what I can do.” He started to leave but stopped and swung back to her. “I’m going to let you keep this book for me.”

  “Chicken. You don’t want to carry the romance around?”

  His eyes narrow on her, he turned the book over and over in his hands. “Is this a test?”

  “I think of it more like a challenge.”

  “Then no problem.”

  The warmth of his expression wrapped about Maggie, and for a few seconds she forgot her problems with Brady and focused totally on Cody. When he left to search for her son, the romance clasped in his hand, she cou
ldn’t take her gaze off him until he disappeared into a busload of people from a large retirement community in Hattiesburg north of Hope.

  Several of them headed for her tables. She greeted them and helped them find what they wanted. Thirty minutes and twenty customers later, she spied Cody threading his way through the throng toward her. A frown alerted her that something was wrong.

  “Hannah, can you help this couple?”

  Cody’s sister nodded and took over while Maggie met Cody a few yards away.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t find Brady. I’ve looked all over, and no one has seen him. Keith saw him about fifteen minutes ago sitting on the bench under the live oak over there.” He indicated a tree away from where the garage sale was.

  “He knows not to leave the grounds of City Hall.” But she remembered Brady’s threat to walk home. She fumbled in her pocket for her cell and then punched in the phone number at the house. After the fifth ring, she left a message.

  “He must be around here.” Anxiety rumbled in her stomach, a nauseated feeling taking hold. She turned back to Hannah, lowering her voice so others didn’t hear. “Cody and I are going to search for Brady. If he comes here, please have him wait for me.”

  “If I see him, I’ll call Cody’s cell.”

  “Great.” Maggie joined Cody again and gestured to the left. “I’ll go that way. You go to the right. Let’s meet by the live oak.”

  As she scanned the area and stopped several people to see if they’d seen Brady, Maggie’s heart began to beat faster and her breathing became labored as though she was stuck in a small space with no way out. Normally she wouldn’t be concerned, but with her son lately she didn’t know what to expect.

  * * *

  Cody paused at the table Kim manned for the garage sale. “Have you seen Brady?”

  “No, but let me see if Anna has.” Maggie’s cousin waved toward her daughter talking with some of her friends a few yards away. When Anna came to the table, she asked, “Do you know where Brady went?”