For a few seconds she thought about telling him how her miscarriage had affected her, but that she hadn’t given up hope she would have a family one day—just as soon as she worked her way through her grief.
“I do, too, that’s why—”
“Katie, get down from there. You’re gonna fall,” Madison shouted from behind the shed, a frantic ring in her voice.
Chapter Six
Liam leaped to his feet and, with a quick visual sweep of the yard, took in Madison standing near a large crab apple tree, holding two kittens and staring up. Nana, holding two other kittens, approached his eldest niece. As he charged down the steps, he couldn’t see Katie or the fifth one in the litter.
“Where is Katie?” he shouted when he was halfway to Madison.
Turning to him, she pointed to the crab apple. Tears streaked down her face. “One of the kitties got away from us, and she went after it. I didn’t know it was up in the tree.”
As Sarah joined Liam, he scanned the flowering branches and spotted Katie near the top. His heartbeat thumped rapidly against his chest for a few seconds before he went into firefighter mode, as if an emergency was part of his life every day.
“Katie, stay where you are.” He headed toward the base of the tree, glancing at Madison. “She’ll be okay and so will the kitten.”
Sarah slipped her arm around Madison, who leaned against her, still crying.
“But I can’t get to Blackie. She’s scared,” Katie said over the cries from the stuck kitty. “Uncle Liam, she’s the one I like the bestest.”
“I know.” The crab apple was nearly thirty feet tall and twenty-to twenty-five-feet wide. Liam assessed the weight the branches between him and Katie could take. “You come down, and I’ll get Blackie.”
“I can’t. She’ll get scared. She’s shaking.”
All he saw for a moment was the fear in Katie’s eyes, her teeth digging into her lower lip. “Stay still, then. I’m going to get a ladder.”
“Please hurry. I don’t want her to fall. I was paying attention to another kitten and didn’t see her leave.”
He had a ladder at home, but maybe Sarah had one. “I’ll be right back.” Liam motioned to Sarah.
She slipped her arm from Madison and hurried to him. “There’s a ladder in the garage that I use to clean the gutters. It might work,” she said before he could ask.
“Can you keep an eye on her? I’ll get it and be right back.” He already started for the back door, knowing that both of his nieces were in good hands with Sarah.
He quickly found the twelve-foot ladder, hoisted it against his side, punched the garage door open and hastened around to the backyard. Gabe sat between Nana and Madison, who moved closer to the tree, all of them talking to Katie.
As he reached the tree, Sarah sat on the bottom limb, a few feet closer to Katie. “I got stuck in a tree once. A kid dared me to go all the way to the top. I got halfway and a branch I held snapped off. I clung to the tree until help came.”
Liam settled the ladder against the other side of the crab apple where it fit better as Katie asked, “Did you ever climb trees again?”
“Yes, but only when I was sure it was big enough for me. That’s why I’m staying on this bottom branch. The upper ones might not hold my weight like it will for you.”
The fear he’d seen in Katie’s eyes had faded as she held on to the main trunk of the crab apple. The kitten’s cries still filled the air, spurring him faster before either one did something dangerous. From his side he climbed a few feet higher as his youngest niece’s gaze latched on to him.
When he reached the last rung of the ladder, he smiled at Katie. “It’s been a while since I’ve been up in a tree. It’s like looking out your bedroom window on the second floor.”
Katie turned her head from side to side. “I don’t like it. Too high.”
“I’m going to help you scootch around to the ladder. Once you’re on the ground, I’ll get Blackie.”
“She’s scared like I am.” Inch by inch Katie came around to the other side of the tree then set one foot on the branch near the ladder.
While Sarah and Madison held the ladder steady at the bottom, Liam poised halfway on the ladder and the biggest limb nearby. “Give me your hand.”
Katie clutched a close branch while she reached for Liam’s fingers. When he clasped her, she edged forward.
“You’re almost there. A few more inches,” he said, guiding her toward the ladder.
Katie grasped the top rung, swung around and placed one foot on it. Liam adjusted his hold so if she slipped he could grip her better and prevent her from falling. Katie glanced down, and her eyes widened.
“Katie, look at me. Sarah is holding the ladder still. Put your other foot on it then your hands.”
Slowly his niece did as he said and clung to the ladder.
“I knew you could do it. Now go down to Sarah, and I’ll get Blackie.”
When Katie was close to the ground, she hopped off the ladder and shouted, “I did it. Get Blackie, Uncle Liam. Please.” Then she fell into Sarah’s arms and hugged her.
Liam’s gaze linked with Sarah’s and for a brief moment the world fell away and they were the only two people around. He wanted to get to know her better. Not only did animals respond to her, his nieces did, too. She had so much to offer.
“Uncle Liam,” Katie called out, pulling away from Sarah and peering up at him, “don’t forget Blackie.”
He blinked several times and swiveled toward the kitten on a thin branch about a yard away from him. He held out his hand and said in a coaxing voice, “Come on, Blackie. You can get down.”
The kitty looked around then issued a loud cry.
“Okay, then I’ll come up there.” Liam inspected the branches surrounding Blackie and decided one was thick enough to hold his 180 pounds. He hoped.
He reached for a limb above to help steady him as he climbed. Then he looked around for another so his weight would be distributed. When he found one bigger than a pinkie finger, he started his ascent. As he searched for a foothold, he put more downward pressure on the branch he held in his right hand.
Snap.
He teetered on the limb while grasping for another one to hold.
The sound of gasps drifted up from below.
“I’m okay.” He stabilized himself and took a deep, composing breath.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Katie sobbed the words, ripping his heart in two. “Honey, you have nothing to be sorry about.” He glanced down at her to reassure her. Both girls’ arms were wrapped around Sarah while Gabe and her grandmother kept an eye on the other four kittens.
He hated to think how the girls would take it if something happened to Blackie. Lord, I need Your help. Please.
He reassessed the path he needed to take. At least Blackie was terrified enough that she wasn’t moving. Again he began talking to the kitten in a soft, soothing voice as he shifted direction and scaled the tree from the other side. Finally he made it to within an arm’s length of Blackie.
“See, I told you I would get you. Stay still while I reach for you.”
Blackie quieted her cries and listened as Liam continued to reassure her while at the same time leaning toward her and plucking the kitten from the branch. Sagging with relief, he cradled the soft ball of fur to his chest.
An idea popped into his head. He unbuttoned his shirt partway and placed Blackie between it and his chest. He felt the sharp dig of the kitten’s claws and stroked his hand down her back.
“You’re okay. Stay there and we’ll both be on the ground in a minute.” He prayed his calm words would convey the right message.
As he scrambled to the ladder, Blackie settled down and retracted her claws. When his feet touched the ground, his
nieces swarmed him. He withdrew the kitten from under his shirt and knelt in front of Katie, putting the kitty into her hands.
She took Blackie then plastered herself against him. “You are the bestest, Uncle Liam. Thank you.”
“Sweetheart, next time come get me.”
“I will. I promise.” Katie gave him a kiss on his cheek and then took Blackie to see the others.
Sarah stepped to his side. “I’m glad that lady is coming this Sunday to take one of them. Less to keep an eye on. That happened fast.”
“With kids it often does—at least, that’s what I’m discovering.” His right hand hurt, and he looked at it. “I didn’t even realize I’d scraped my hand on a branch.”
Sarah took hold of him. “Let me get something to clean that.”
“You don’t have to. We need to leave soon, anyway.”
“It’s no problem. It’s the least I can do. You’re helping me with these kittens.” She started for the house. “Be back in a sec.”
Inside Sarah closed the kitchen door, leaned back against it and dropped her head. She stared at her shaking hands. When Liam had slipped and had to catch his balance, her heart had plummeted. Seeing him almost get injured only reinforced in her mind that she wasn’t ready to put herself out there emotionally again to marry. She didn’t want to lose another man she loved.
As she made her way to the bathroom to fetch the peroxide and a Band-Aid for his palm, she couldn’t stop visualizing him falling out of the tree and hitting the hard ground. She gripped the counter and stared at her reflection: white as a sheet, a haunted look in her eyes. She could love this man if she wasn’t careful. When she’d first met Peter in high school, she’d known they would marry.
She shook the thoughts from her mind. She’d just met Liam last week.
She grabbed her first-aid supplies and hurried to the backyard.
When she stepped onto the deck, Nana was talking with Liam. Next to Katie, Madison jumped to her feet.
“You are such a baby. How can you be so stupid?” Madison screamed, her hands clenched at her sides.
“No, I’m not,” Katie yelled back, tears streaming down her face.
Liam turned toward Madison. “Maybe it’s time for us to go.”
Madison glared at her uncle. “I hate you all.” She ran toward the gate.
Sarah tried to stop her, but she didn’t move fast enough. “I’ll go get her.”
Halfway across the yard, Liam said, “It’s my problem. I’ll find her.”
As he passed her she touched his arm and whispered, “I’ll calm Katie down.”
“I appreciate it. Right now I don’t know what else to do for Madison.”
The defeat in his voice tore at her heart. She cupped his hand and looked into his sad eyes. “Love her and be there for her like our Lord is for us. Be the father she needs.”
He squeezed her hand then continued his trek toward the gate.
Sarah sent up a prayer for Liam. He needs You, God. Help him say the right words to Madison.
As Sarah joined Katie, still sobbing, Nana held four kittens in her lap with Gabe sitting in front of her. Katie had Blackie cradled against her chest.
Sarah sat cross-legged on the ground next to the little girl and put her arm around her shoulders. She didn’t say anything as Katie struggled to stop crying.
“She’s mean,” the child said between sniffles. “I wish I didn’t have a sister.”
“You know, I always wanted a sister. It got kinda lonely being an only child. I had to play by myself a lot.”
“Yeah, we used to play together all the time.”
“What happened?”
Katie shrugged. “She’s always mad now.”
“What about you?”
“At her.”
“Anyone else?”
Katie tilted her head toward Sarah, her forehead wrinkled. “This boy at school. He teases me on the playground.”
“Why are you mad at her? Anything else besides yelling at you today?”
“She’s always telling me I’m stupid.” Katie lifted her chin. “I’m not stupid.”
“No, you aren’t. When a person is mad, she sometimes will say things she doesn’t mean to someone she loves.”
“But why?”
“Because she’s upset about something.”
“Daddy?”
“Maybe.”
“She cries about him, especially at night.”
“Have you told your uncle about that?”
Katie shook her head. “She’ll get more mad at me.”
“Why don’t you try this? When Madison gets mad at you, ask Jesus to help her.”
“Will He?”
“Yes. He doesn’t like seeing people hurting.”
Katie grinned and cuddled against Sarah, whose heart swelled at the warmth from this sweet girl. In that moment Sarah realized how much Katie and Madison meant to her.
* * *
In front of Sarah’s house, Liam looked up and down the street. Where would Madison go when she was upset? Home? Aunt Betty’s? Then he remembered a place at the park she’d discovered on Monday while putting up posters and thought would be a perfect fort to play in. He would check there first then the other two places.
Five minutes later he spied the large shrubbery and jogged toward it. When he reached it, he knelt and stuck his head through the opening. Madison huddled in a corner, her legs drawn up and clasped against her chest.
“Go away.”
“No.”
“I’m not gonna talk to you.” She set her mouth in a stubborn line he knew all too well.
“That’s okay.” Liam crawled under the vegetation, perfect for kids to fit through, not so much for a man six foot four. He hunched his shoulders and settled in the widest space across from Madison.
She laid her head on her knees and peered away for five minutes before she straightened and gave him a glare. “Ever since you came, my life has been—” tears welled in her eyes “—awful. Daddy’s gone. Everything is different.”
Liam sighed. Madison admitting this out loud was a step in the right direction. Usually she told him he wasn’t her father and stomped away. And each time his own grief over his brother’s death pierced his heart as it did Madison’s.
“I know how you feel.”
“How? You aren’t me.”
“Since I got the call about his death, my life has changed. Your daddy was my brother. I loved him very much. When we were kids, he was my best friend. He was only a couple of years younger—like you and Katie.”
Madison chewed on her bottom lip. “She could have hurt herself bad today or...” She swiveled her head to stare through the branches.
“Were you worried she’d die?”
She nodded but wouldn’t look at him.
Then he saw the tear roll down her cheek. “I imagine that was the way your dad felt when I knocked myself out doing tricks on my skateboard at the park. Good thing he saw me. He ran and got help like you did today with Katie.”
She peered at him. “You should have been watching her better.”
“You might be right, but no parent can be with a child all the time.”
“You’re not a parent.”
Although the words hurt, he chose to ignore them and continued. “There comes a time a child has to make good choices. Think of the consequences of her actions. Like today, you hurt your sister’s feelings because you took your anger out on her.”
She started to protest, but he held up his hand, palm outward.
“Fear can drive a lot of emotions, especially anger. Once my dad told me that yelling at Gareth because he’d done something dumb wasn’t going to solve the problem. He asked me instead to be an example for my younger
brother. I tried, and we became closer. When either one of us had a problem, we knew the other would be there to listen. Sometimes that’s all a person needs to know—that someone cares enough to listen to her problems.”
“I listen all the time to Katie.”
“Good. Have you shared your problems with her? It works both ways.”
“She’s six. What problems?”
“Age has nothing to do with it. Everyone has them. It’s the relationship between you that counts. She loves you. That’s why today she was so upset when you yelled at her. You hurt her. I have a feeling she already realized there was a better way to deal with Blackie than her climbing the tree.”
She frowned. “Maybe.”
“My dad told me that day that because I was the oldest, I had to be the one to show my younger brother what was right.”
Madison blew out a large breath and set her chin on her knees as she stared at the ground between them. “I wish everything was the same. I miss Daddy.”
“I do, too.”
Silence hovered between them. Liam wasn’t sure what else he could say to make a difference.
Finally she lifted her head. “I’m sorry.”
“Tell your sister that and why you were upset. Share your problems with her.”
“Maybe.”
“Are you ready to go back to Sarah’s?”
She nodded and crawled toward the opening.
Liam followed her out, stood and dusted off his pants. “I see what you mean about this being a great fort. Your dad and I had a tree house. We spent a lot of time up there, playing and talking.”
Halfway back to Sarah’s house, Madison looked up at him. “Why doesn’t Katie miss Daddy like I do?”
“Maybe she does. People mourn in different ways.”
“Why did God take my daddy away?”
How do I answer her, Lord? I asked You that very question.
“I don’t know, Madison. It was his time, and he’s with the Lord now, keeping an eye on you. He loves you very much. That won’t ever change.” As he said that to Madison, he’d been talking about his brother but realized the words also applied to God.
The Firefighter Daddy Page 8