That warm smile of his touched his mouth again. “Josh doesn’t just have Down’s syndrome, he has something else wrong with him, doesn’t he?”
Her grip tightened until her knuckles turned white. “Yes. He has spina bifida. His spine isn’t developed. The doctors told me that he would never walk, talk or do anything.”
“I’m sorry. That has to be hard on you.”
Rebecca stared into his troubled gaze for a long moment, then shoved away from the table and draped the washcloth over the edge of the sink. “It’s harder on Josh,” she finally said as she headed for the living room.
She came to a stop in the doorway, aware that Gabriel was right behind her, looking over her shoulder. Peter clasped Josh under the arms and was helping him across the carpet. Tears returned to block her throat. Every night Peter practiced “walking” with Josh. Her oldest son was determined that Josh would one day play sports with him. That, according to the doctors, would never happen, and she didn’t have the heart to tell Peter.
Gabriel set his hands on her shoulders and leaned close to whisper, “You’re lucky to have such a nice family.”
The wistful tone in his voice made Rebecca ache for what he must have lost when his wife died. His words helped her focus on what was right with her life. “Yes, thank you for reminding me of that.”
When he dropped his hands, she immediately missed the warmth of his touch.
* * *
Through the fog of sleep, Rebecca heard the doorbell ringing. She dragged herself out of bed, slipped on her robe, then hurried to the front door. She peered out the peephole and saw Gabriel Stone. Why was he here at this hour? Then a thought struck her, and she quickly opened the door. Standing next to the police chief was Peter, for a second time in one day wearing a defiant expression on his face.
“Sorry to bother you at such a late hour, but I found your son running from a house that had just been egged.”
“Whose house?”
“Mine.”
“Peter Michaels, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Her son looked away, his frown deepening, his mouth pinched as though he wouldn’t say a word no matter what.
A chill swept her. Rebecca pulled her terry-cloth robe tighter about her and stepped to the side. “Please come in. I don’t want to discuss this out on the porch for the whole town to hear.”
Gabriel made sure that Peter entered the house before he came inside. “I’m willing to forget this incident. Since tomorrow’s Saturday Peter can come by my house to clean up the mess.”
“He’ll be there. And when he’s through cleaning up the eggs, he can do some other chores for you.”
“I’ll take care of my mess, but that’s all.” Peter crossed his arms over his chest, his features arranged in a stubborn expression.
Rebecca drew in a deep, bracing breath, so tired from no sleep and unpacking that all she wanted to do was collapse into a chair to have this discussion with her son. She gripped the banister, using it to support her weight. “That’s not debatable.” She looked toward Gabriel. “What time do you want us there?”
“Eight will be fine, if that’s not too early for you.”
“Are you kidding? I’m up at the crack of dawn with Josh.”
“You can’t make me!” Peter shouted, running up the stairs. “I won’t go!”
Rebecca’s first instinct was to hurry after her eldest, but when she heard his bedroom door slam shut, she winced and decided it wouldn’t do any good. She might say something she would regret, because at the moment her patience was worn thin.
“I’m sorry, Rebecca. I hated to have to bring him home this way and at such an hour.”
She shook her head. “You did the only thing you could. I didn’t even know he was gone. He’s never sneaked out before.” She attempted a smile that she knew faltered. “At least not that I’m aware of. I’m afraid lately I don’t know what my son is thinking or doing.” She ran her hand through her hair, suddenly conscious of the fact that she must look a mess.
Gabriel smiled. “He’ll come around when he gets used to Oakview. It’s hard moving to a new town.”
“We used to be very close until…” Rebecca couldn’t finish the thought. She was tired of thinking about the past and what used to be.
“You don’t have to come tomorrow morning. I’ll make sure Peter does what he needs to do and I’ll put him to work after he cleans up the eggs.”
Rebecca straightened from the banister. “Peter’s my problem, not yours. We’ll be there tomorrow morning at eight sharp.”
“If you need any help—”
“I appreciate the kind offer, but I’m fine.” Rebecca walked to the front door and opened it.
Gabriel paused in the entrance and turned to say something but stopped when he saw her standing so proud and untouchable. She didn’t know how to accept his help, and he wouldn’t make things worse by saying anything else to her. She had enough to deal with. But it didn’t stop his desire to wipe the sadness from her eyes.
He nodded, murmured, “Till tomorrow,” and strode away from her house.
He climbed into the squad car and sat for a few minutes staring at a light in one of the upstairs bedrooms. The silence of the night soothed him, and he bowed his head. “Please, Lord, give me the guidance I need to help Rebecca and her children.” He closed his eyes, drawing strength from the knowledge that He would be with him, that He would show him how to help Rebecca, Peter and Josh.
When Gabriel started the car, he felt calm, at peace as he always did after he communicated with God. He started to back out of the driveway when the radio sounded in the quiet. He responded to the call from the station, knowing it wouldn’t be good.
“Stone here.”
“There has been some vandalism at the school baseball field. Thought you might want to know, sir. I called your house, and when there wasn’t an answer, I thought you might be out.”
“Thanks, Bob. I’ll head over there and take a look.”
When Gabriel arrived at the baseball field, he immediately noticed the large window on the side of the main building was shattered. Taking his flashlight, he checked the area outside before shining the light through the smashed window, glass shards glittering on the concrete floor. Relieved to find the inside undisturbed, he headed for the front to have a closer look around. By the door he stepped on a broken egg in the gravel.
Peter Michaels. Of course, he had no proof the damage had been done by the boy, but he would stake his career on it. Peter might not realize it, but Gabriel could tell when someone was crying out for help and he intended to give the boy that help, starting first thing tomorrow morning.
* * *
Rebecca pushed the bell again and heard its blare so she knew it was working. Suddenly the door jerked open, and she automatically stepped back. Gabriel with messed-up hair and a day’s growth of beard greeted her with a puzzled look.
“What time is it?” he asked, combing his fingers through his conservatively styled black hair.
“Eight.” She curled her fingers around the handle of the stroller that held Josh, staring at the overpowering man who had haphazardly dressed in a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt but no shoes.
Gabriel glanced at his watch. “I must have slept through my alarm. Sorry. Got to bed later than usual last night. There was a break-in at the baseball field.” He directed his gaze toward Peter, who stood next to Rebecca.
She looked from the man to the boy, wondering if something was going on. Could Peter have been involved with the break-in? She hoped not, because if that was the case she had a bigger problem than her child not liking Oakview. “Peter, did you do anything else last night besides egg Chief Stone’s house?”
The boy’s bottom lip stuck out, and he stared at a point by his shoes. “What do you think I am? Stupid?”
“No. On the contrary, I think you’re very smart,” Rebecca replied, realizing her son hadn’t answered her question. From his expression she also real
ized she wouldn’t get an answer out of him.
“Come inside while I put some coffee on. I have to have at least a cup before I can start functioning in the morning.” Gabriel moved to allow them entrance into his home.
Rebecca hesitated. She had only come with Peter to make sure he showed up. After a confrontation in his bedroom, she couldn’t be sure of anything with her son.
“My coffee isn’t as good as Rose’s, but it’s not too bad.” Gabriel waved them inside.
Rebecca picked up Josh and followed Peter into the house, trying to dismiss her eldest son’s anger. When she’d grounded him for shouting at her earlier, he had laughed as though what she had said meant nothing to him.
“Have you all had breakfast?”
“Granny won’t let anyone leave without a proper start to the day, as she refers to breakfast.” Rebecca held Josh close, comforted by his presence.
“Has she fixed you her cinnamon rolls yet?”
“Last Sunday. When I woke up, the house smelled of cinnamon and baking bread.”
“What a wonderful way to start the Lord’s day.”
Rebecca glanced around at the house as she walked toward the back. His living room looked comfortable, with a navy and burgundy plaid couch, large pillows and stacks of magazines and books. She pictured him stretched out in his navy blue recliner, reading a book while a fire blazed in the fireplace and soft music played in the background. His home reflected the man, comfortable and laid-back.
“Have a seat while I put the coffee on.”
Rebecca settled herself at the kitchen table, made of sturdy oak with enough chairs to seat a family of six. She placed Josh on her lap, pleased to see her youngest son show interest in his surroundings. Light streamed through the large window over the sink. She smiled, thinking it was appropriate for a lawman to decorate in red, white and blue.
* * *
Peter remained by the doorway into the kitchen, such anger on his face that Gabriel wished again for a magic answer on how to help the Michaels family. Keep the faith. God has His own timetable, he reminded himself as he sat across from Rebecca. The answer will come when the time is right.
“If you want to get started on the cleanup, Peter, I have a bucket and a scrub brush in the garage through there.” Gabriel pointed toward a utility room.
Peter shot Gabriel a look full of anger, then stomped toward the garage, muttering something that Gabriel was glad he wasn’t privy to. There was a limit to every person’s patience, and with Peter he was afraid he would need an extra dose.
Gabriel looked at Rebecca, who was watching her son leave. The sadness in her eyes contracted his heart. “Physical labor will help him get rid of some of that hostility.”
While her gaze connected with Gabriel’s, Rebecca hugged Josh closer, as though he could shield her from heartache. “He’s so full of anger. I’ve tried talking to him about it, but he won’t say anything.” Again the scene in her son’s bedroom swamped her with feelings of inadequacy. Peter was a different child from the year before.
“Have you tried counseling?”
“Yes. He just sat there, determined not to say a word to the woman.”
“How about the minister of your church?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Ours is very good with young people.”
“No.” She answered so quickly she surprised even herself. “I’m sure he wouldn’t respond to a stranger,” she offered in explanation.
Gabriel noticed the firm set to Rebecca’s mouth, the tension transmitted in the rigid lines of her body, and knew she would reject any coaxing to get Peter or herself to talk with Reverend Carson. “Then let me try to help.”
“I can’t accept—”
Gabriel held up his hand to stop her flow of words. “I’m worried about Peter. I think he might have vandalized the baseball-field house. I found a broken egg by the front door. I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Rebecca closed her eyes for a few seconds. She adjusted Josh in her arms and kissed the top of his head, drawing strength from her youngest. “He might be innocent. You don’t know he did anything.”
“What do you think in your heart?”
She rubbed her cheek against Josh’s hair, then peered at Gabriel, her eyes glistening. “What do I do?”
“Let me help. I’ve dealt with troubled children before, and not as a lawman.”
Again she shifted Josh in her arms, looking away from Gabriel.
“May I hold Josh?” The need to hold the child ran deep in him. Gabriel had missed so much with his own son.
Her gaze returned to his, confusion deep in her eyes. She hesitated, then rose and handed Gabriel her child. Josh’s big brown eyes focused on his face. A tightness threatened to close his throat as he stared at the small boy in his embrace. He supported Josh in the crook of his arm. Smiling at him, Gabriel found himself making silly faces to get the child to grin. And when Josh did, Gabriel’s heart swelled with pride.
“How are his ears today?”
“Last night he slept through the night for the first time in several weeks. I think the medicine is finally working. At least I hope so.”
Gabriel tore his gaze from the child and looked at Josh’s mother. Holding Josh only underscored for Gabriel what he was missing. The emptiness inside pushed to the foreground.
“So do I. It’s not easy going without sleep,” he finally said, realizing an awkward silence had descended.
She sighed. “Something I’m quickly finding out.”
“What are your plans now that you’ve moved to Oakview?” He had dealt with his loss and didn’t want to renew the feelings of anguish.
“I need to get a job soon.”
“You know I might be able to help you with that.”
A closed expression settled over Rebecca’s features. “You’ve already done enough.”
“Nonsense. What are friends for? Let me ask around. What are your qualifications?”
When she laughed, there was no humor in the sound. “I don’t have any.”
“Everyone has qualifications.”
“I’ve been a mother and wife for the past ten years. I suppose I can clean houses, chauffeur and organize PTA meetings.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, and I have some computer skills. We had one at home.”
“What will you do with Josh when you go to work?”
She cocked her head. “Frankly, I don’t know. I can’t keep staying at Granny’s house and not contribute to the finances.”
“I’m finished. Can we go now?” Peter announced from the doorway into the utility room.
“You still owe me some of your time.”
Peter folded his arms. “How much?”
“I’ll take you home in the early afternoon.” Gabriel glanced at Rebecca to make sure that was all right with her.
She nodded, then stood to take Josh from Gabriel. “We’d better be going. I want Josh to take a nap in his own crib.”
“I have baseball practice this afternoon, so Peter should be home by two. I’ll feed him lunch.”
“Fine,” she mumbled as she started for the door. When Gabriel rose to escort her, she added, “I can find my own way out. Finish your coffee.”
Peering at his mug, he realized he hadn’t taken a sip of his cold coffee. He dumped the brew into the sink and poured some more into his cup, steamy whiffs of the hot liquid wafting to him.
“What do I have to do?” Peter asked in a surly voice.
Gabriel brought the mug to his lips and took a long sip of the coffee, purposefully waiting a good minute to answer the boy. “This is my Saturday to do yard work at the church. You’re going to help me.”
Peter opened his mouth to reply, then snapped his jaws together, his teeth making a clicking sound.
“Why don’t you go check on Lady out back?”
“Lady?”
“My dog. She has puppies. See if there’s enough water for them while I get ready.” Gabriel watched the child stalk to th
e back door and yank it open, anger in every line of the boy’s body. The next few hours could be very long.
* * *
“Peter, this is David Carson. He’s going to help us.” Gabriel opened the door to the church’s shed and went inside.
“You’re the new kid at school,” David said with a wide grin.
“Yeah. What of it?”
David’s smile vanished. “Nothing. Just making conversation.”
Gabriel heard the wonderful start to the exchange between the two boys and wasn’t so sure it was a good idea to have David here helping. He had thought introducing Peter to some nice kids his age would make the situation easier.
Gabriel handed David a plastic lawn bag. “First, we need to pick up any trash, then pull weeds in the gardens.”
Peter crossed his arms and refused to take the bag Gabriel held for him. “I don’t pick up trash.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” Gabriel stood his ground.
Peter narrowed his eyes and stuck out his lower lip. Then when Gabriel thought Peter would run away, he yanked the bag from Gabriel’s hand and stomped off toward the nearest garden.
“What’s his problem?” David asked, jerking his right thumb toward Peter.
Gabriel watched Peter yank up a plant that wasn’t a weed. “He needs a friend. I thought you might help me out there.”
David’s eyes grew round. “Are you sure? At school he isn’t very friendly. Keeps to himself.”
Gabriel clasped David on the shoulder. “You’ve grown up here. Everyone is familiar to you. What do you think it would be like if that wasn’t the case?”
“I guess, scary.”
“My point exactly.” Gabriel squeezed David’s shoulder briefly, then added, “Let’s go see if we can save some of the plants.”
Two hours later Gabriel stepped back to inspect their work, pleased. He had managed to save most of the plants, and the gardens looked great. He took pride in maintaining these beds as though it was his statement about the glory of God to the world. The flowers showcased the beauty He was capable of.
“Let’s take a break and go inside to get some sodas.” Gabriel took the plastic bags from the two boys.
David headed for the door. Peter stared at the church, hesitating.
The Power of Love Page 3