by Jill Kemerer
He blinked, his mouth opening and shutting. She checked back over her shoulder and saw a man with a camera jogging around the corner of the dentist office, where bushes swayed. Had that man just taken their picture? She thought back to what Wyatt and Drew had said about reporters.
Fury boiled her blood. How dare they? How could anyone sneak around and hide to take an innocent little kid’s picture? Weren’t there laws about this?
If there weren’t, there should be.
“Come on.” She held his hand tightly. “You do not have to worry about some jerk taking your picture. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“Wh-what are you going to do?” His voice shook, and his fingers seemed so small in hers.
“First, we’re going to the police. Then we’re telling your uncle Drew.”
Wyatt wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her as if he never wanted to let her go. She stroked his hair, her heart hurting that some insensitive photographer would prey on a wounded child to make a buck.
“It’s okay, Wyatt. You’re safe with me.”
He looked up at her through scared eyes and whispered, “Thanks.”
She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. How could she make a statement like that? You’re safe with me? What if he wasn’t?
She’d have to do everything in her power to back that statement up.
I don’t have to do this alone.
For months her prayers had been sporadic. Sure, she’d prayed for Wyatt a few minutes ago, but how long had it been since she’d opened her Bible? Attended church? She might pray now and then, but she wanted more.
And right now she needed power. God’s power.
This was for Wyatt, and she refused to let him down.
Lord, please protect Wyatt from predators and give me the strength and wisdom to protect him, too.
* * *
Drew leaned his forehead against his forearm propped against the wall in the locker room. This morning felt an eternity away. When they’d arrived at Tony’s uncle’s house, the man had shown clear signs of a heart attack, but he was alive. Drew immediately went to work. They followed protocol, stabilizing him and getting him to the emergency room in record time. Last they’d heard he was recovering from an emergency angioplasty. Tony had stayed at the hospital with his aunt, and the station had called Amanda to fill in for him.
He wanted to drop on the couch and forget today had ever happened.
It had been packed with one call after the other, including a minor car accident and an interior fire, where he’d treated an elderly woman for smoke inhalation. The firefighters had gotten her out quickly, but she’d been unconscious. He and Amanda had done everything in their power to clear her airways and get her breathing, but she’d been pronounced dead at the hospital.
An electrical short. A seventy-eight-year-old woman.
He couldn’t make sense of it. The fire department had gotten to the scene within minutes. The search-and-rescue unit made it in and out with no problems. Her 1940s bungalow had survived with minor damage.
Why had she died?
Why hadn’t he and Amanda been able to save her?
“Drew, there’s someone here to see you.” One of the guys stood in the doorway of the locker room.
“Be right there.” He rubbed his face with both hands, straightened and took a deep breath. He tried to clear his head as he strode down the hall, but the woman’s sunken cheeks, closed eyes and frail body hooked up to oxygen kept invading his thoughts.
He’d failed that woman.
Lauren stood in the kitchen, a lighthouse against a stormy sea. Without a thought, he closed the distance between them and took her in his arms. He held her tightly, pressing his cheek against her soft golden hair.
“What happened, Drew?” Her concern drove through his muddled brain, forcing him to step back. Reluctantly he let her go.
“It was a hard day.” Pressing his finger and thumb into the bridge of his nose, he scrambled to get his emotions in line. Get it together, Gannon. “Why are you here?”
“You look awful.” Lauren ran her hand down his arm. “I wouldn’t bother you, but... Is this a good time to talk? Or is that allowed?”
He looked at his watch. Almost five. “Now’s a good time.” Only then did he realize Wyatt wasn’t there. “Where’s Wyatt?”
“He’s at my parents’ house.”
Drew gently took her arm and led her down the hall and outside to a nearby bench. “What’s going on?”
“Wyatt and I were walking from the library, and we saw a man with a camera across the street.” She sat and shifted to face him.
Her words filled his gut with dread. “I take it he wasn’t a tourist?”
She shook her head and tendrils of hair escaped her ponytail, framing her face. “Tourists don’t usually creep around the bushes of the dentist office.”
Things clicked into place. Chase hadn’t talked to the press in months, but the fact that he was speaking to People magazine had probably gotten leaked, bringing out the bottom-of-the-pond suckers who made their living taking pictures to sell to tabloids. He brought both hands to the back of his head and leaned back, trying not to freak out. “And Wyatt? He saw the guy?”
She nodded.
“Then what?”
“He was shaken up. We marched to the police station, and I talked to an officer.” Her gray eyes grew darker than storm clouds, and her pretty chin tipped up. “If you think I’m going to let some scumbag prey on Wyatt, you are wrong. You should have seen his face, Drew. He was terrified. I can’t stop fantasizing about finding that guy and slapping him upside the head and telling him exactly how I feel—” Her eyes widened, and she frowned. She lowered her voice. “Sorry. Got carried away there. I’m just not putting up with anyone scaring Wyatt. He has enough to deal with.”
All Lauren’s righteous indignation drove out the defeat he’d been feeling earlier. He not only liked this warrior side of her; he needed it. Needed her strength right now. With her flushed cheeks and flashing eyes, he could picture her confronting a photographer. He could almost feel sorry for the guy if it ever happened.
“You are terrifying.” He dragged his gaze from her lips.
Chin high, she sniffed. “Are you making fun of me?”
His lips curved upward. Her nervous glance his way only made his grin grow. “I’m not. I’m admiring you.”
“Well, don’t.” Her back stiffened all prim and proper. One little tug and she’d be in his arms. What a mistake that would be. He had to stop thinking about her in a more-than-a-babysitter way.
“What did the police say?” His voice sounded husky, and he didn’t care. He knew what she was going to say—he’d been to the police many times on Wyatt’s behalf.
She folded her leg so the knee was on the bench between them. Her face grew animated. “Get this. They told me there isn’t anything they can technically do. It’s legal for anyone to take Wyatt’s picture when we’re out in public. I told the officer that was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard. I asked about stalking laws and privacy and you name it.” She rolled her eyes.
“Thank you.” Her hand was on her knee, and he took it in his, tracing her thumb.
“For what? I’m so frustrated. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Keep him chained in the house? At least the police were willing to help a little bit.”
He frowned, confused. The police hadn’t been willing to help him back in Detroit.
“The sheriff is friends with my dad. He’ll let us know if anyone sees any suspicious people hanging around town.”
Ahh...that makes sense. Drew patted her hand. “It’s the tourist season. There will be a lot of people hanging around town.”
Lauren sighed. “I know. But it’s something.”
“You did good.” He wanted to close the inches between them and hold her. Not in a brotherly or thankful way. No, her maternal-lioness instincts attracted him, made him want to be in her protective circle. Not that he needed protecting—it just was great having someone care enough to fight on Wyatt’s behalf, too. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”
His words were out before he thought them through. They were true. But was it wise to put them out there?
Lauren’s lips opened slightly as she mulled over them. To his disappointment, she withdrew her hand.
“I’d better get over to my parents’.” She uncurled her legs, and he rose with her.
More than air stood between them. Awkwardness. Attraction.
He wasn’t ready for it. He doubted she even felt it.
It was time to reclaim his role. To be strong. “Thanks, Lauren, for telling me and for going to the police. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. Nothing’s going to happen to Wyatt.”
Her shy smile warmed him. She turned, strolling to the sidewalk leading to the parking lot. Once she was safely in her car, he went back inside. A group of guys, including Ben, stood around in the kitchen.
“I wish Lauren Pierce would drop by to see me sometime.”
“Like she’d ever look twice at you, Miggs.”
This was usually where Drew buried his irritation and pasted on a grin to show them all he was a good sport. Not today. He just couldn’t do it today.
“A photographer was snooping around town taking pictures of Wyatt.” His voice sounded loud and harsh even to his ears.
A hush fell over the kitchen.
“What are you going to do about it?” Ben asked, widening his stance.
“There’s not much I can do. It’s not illegal for them to take his picture if he’s out in public. We had to deal with this in Detroit, too. It’s one of the reasons I moved back here.”
Ben pushed his chest out, cracked his knuckles and looked dead serious. “Taking pictures might not be illegal, but that doesn’t mean we have to roll out the welcome mat for anyone bothering the kid.”
“That’s right,” Miggs said. “I’ll ask my cousin Marie to let me know if anyone starts nosing around the Daily Donut.”
“And we’ll put the word out to our friends and families,” Ben said. “I have two sisters. They know everything around here. If they hear about someone snapping pictures of him, we’ll know within three seconds.”
Drew fought back emotion. All of these guys who’d given him such a hard time since his first day had his back. They were his brothers. He could depend on them.
“I won’t forget this.” He made eye contact with each of them.
“You’d do the same for us.”
“I would. Anything.”
An ordinary day had gone from bad to worse, but the past ten minutes had blessed him unexpectedly.
Thank You, God, for sending me help. Lauren. My coworkers. I don’t deserve it, but I’m thankful for them.
Chapter Nine
Sunday morning Lauren arrived early at church to gather her thoughts. She found a seat and soaked in the quiet peace. The space was bright and smelled of flowers and wood polish. Welcoming. Comforting. Exactly what she needed.
The past four days had been quiet. No one had seen any photographers around town, and for that she was glad. She’d finally pressed Send on the online application to be a high school counselor. Every time she thought about it, her stomach got upset, though. She’d purposely put it out of her mind as much as possible. But there were two things she couldn’t get out of her mind no matter how hard she tried.
Drew. And Treyvon.
She had no idea why she couldn’t get Treyvon off her mind. She’d been drawn more to Jay. Hadn’t known Treyvon all that well. But he pressed against her heart more and more...
Then there was Drew. Why her brain fixated on him wasn’t a mystery. He devoted his life to helping others. He loved Wyatt. He was spectacularly gorgeous.
He’d told her about how his coworkers at the station had rallied around him to protect Wyatt. What a blessing to have a community to rely on in times like this. And Drew made her feel special, like she was better than she believed. It was a heady feeling.
Lauren crossed one leg over the other. She didn’t trust feelings like that. Oh, she trusted Drew. How could she not? But the way he made her feel special, their closeness—she couldn’t deny it—those were the things she didn’t trust. Drew was seeing her good side. What would happen when he saw the bad side? The one who unintentionally hurt kids in her care?
He’d be done with her. He wouldn’t look at her like she was special anymore. That’s why she couldn’t succumb to the lure of him. He probably didn’t know he was alluring.
Families and older couples filed into the pews around her. She flipped through her bulletin but couldn’t focus. Which brought her thoughts back to Treyvon.
Fifteen. So young. And he’d tried hard to stay out of the gang life before his grandmother fell ill. Lauren had studied the reports from school. He’d gotten good grades. Was never tardy. Had excellent attendance.
Yet he was in juvenile detention until he turned eighteen.
And then what?
Where would he go? What would he do? Who was counseling him? How had Jay’s death affected him? She didn’t want to think about these things, but there they were. Whispering. Shouting.
He’d made a terrible mistake, but didn’t he deserve a chance at a good life?
Would he have that chance?
Her chest tightened at his reality. No support system. No money. Nowhere to go after his sentence was served.
Organ music began to play, and her parents shuffled in beside her.
“You’re here.” Mom beamed, sitting next to her. “I’m so glad you came.”
Dad sat next to Mom and leaned over to wink. “Good to see you, sweetheart.”
“How’s Wyatt been?” Mom whispered. “When you brought him over the other night, my heart broke at how pale he was. Dad and I want to help in any way we can. Maybe we could all go to a water park or take the boat out or something. Get his mind on fun stuff again.”
“Thanks, Mom. That’s a good idea. I stayed with him Friday. He’s still not himself. He barely talked and seemed withdrawn.” Lauren frowned. He wasn’t just withdrawn. He’d been spending a lot of time by himself, and it bothered her.
Mom patted her hand. “That’s understandable. The poor dear.”
“Tell him I’ve got the telescope out,” Dad said. “He can come over and look at the stars any night he wants.”
“He’ll like that. You busy tomorrow night?”
“We’re not busy, but it’s supposed to be cloudy. He wouldn’t be able to see much.”
“We’ll figure out another time later this week.”
The pastor opened the service, and Lauren sank back, ready to worship. The opening hymn was a favorite of hers.
“Have you ever had someone say the exact thing you needed to hear?” The pastor stood at the pulpit. “Maybe you were nervous about a child or a performance review, and, randomly, you ran into someone who unwittingly calmed your fears with their words. In First Thessalonians, chapter five, we’re told to ‘encourage each other and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’”
Is that why Treyvon had been on her mind? She’d thought not being his caseworker was the end of her season with him. But maybe she’d been wrong. Could she help him, not as a social worker but as a friend?
Did she even want to?
The service continued, and the sense of not having closure about Treyvon grew. Was it too late to make an impact on his life?
She clutched her hands together until the knuckles turned white. Would he want to hear from her? How would she g
o about it? It wasn’t like she could show up at the detention center and demand he speak to her. She didn’t want to demand anything. She wanted...
She wanted his forgiveness.
His forgiveness?
She loosened the grip on her hands. She’d told herself Treyvon was to blame for Jay’s death, but she’d blamed herself, too. And she’d blamed God for letting it happen. And Jay for sneaking out late at night in a dangerous neighborhood. And his mother for being a drug addict. And his grandmother for dying.
Lord, I’ve blamed everyone except the garbageman, and I could probably find a way to blame him, too. None of them shot Jay, though. I want to let go of this.
The strains of another hymn flowed, and she grabbed the hymnal to join in. She didn’t let her thoughts wander the remainder of the service.
Soon she followed her parents out of the church to join everyone on the lawn. Her breathing hitched when she caught sight of the back of Drew’s dark head. She craned her neck—yep, Wyatt was with him. She hadn’t realized they attended her church.
“Oh, there are Drew and Wyatt. Let’s go say hi.” Mom bustled in their direction.
“Lauren and I were just talking about you,” Dad said, addressing Wyatt. “You know the telescope I mentioned? I found it in the shed and set it up. Lauren will bring you around sometime this week if you want to see the moon and stars up closer.”
Wyatt’s face lit with a smile. “Really? That would be cool.”
Lauren met Drew’s eyes. Appreciation glittered within.
“Well, I have an idea.” Mom tapped her chin with her finger. “Why don’t you all come to dinner at our house Wednesday night? Drew, are you working that night?”
“I have Wednesday off.” Drew smiled. “We’d love to come over. If it’s not too much trouble...”
“No trouble at all. Bill will grill some burgers, and we can have a bonfire. How does that sound, Wyatt?”
Wyatt nodded happily. “And we can look through the telescope then. Lauren, can we go to the library and get books out about constellations?”
She was taken aback by his animation. “Of course. We’ll go tomorrow.”