“It is for Joshua and Matthew.” Through her weariness she began to see the humor in the prank. Not that she would ever say anything to Alexa. “Still, I can’t let them think they can get away with it without some kind of consequence.”
“What are some things they hate to do?”
“Doing their chores, cleaning their room.”
“Then have them do Alexa’s chores for the time it will take for the markings to totally disappear.”
“I like that.” Peter should be a father, she thought, not for the first time. “They won’t like that.”
She strode toward the door with Peter following her into the house. Shouts from the kitchen quickened her steps. When she entered the room, she found Alexa shouting and squirting her brothers with a red liquid from a spray bottle as they ran around, giggling.
“Alexa! Stop!”
Red droplets covered her tile floor with a few dripping off her twins. Alexa’s wet hair—Laura hated to think what had made it wet—hung down into her face.
Peter came up behind her and clasped her upper arms, squeezing them briefly, silently giving her support. “This, too, shall pass.”
“I caught them sneaking up on me with this.” Alexa brandished the bottle. “They put red food coloring in some water. They wanted to see if my hair would turn red.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Laura saw her twins creeping toward the door. She rounded on them. “Don’t you two move a muscle. Alexa, go on upstairs and clean up.”
“But, Mom—”
“I’ll take care of Joshua and Matthew.” She forced a sternness into her voice as well as into her expression.
When her daughter had slunk from the room, Laura stared at her boys for a long, long moment, daring them to move. Like statues, they stayed still.
“You will clean up this mess. I’d better not find one drop of red anywhere, and for your sakes you’d better hope nothing is permanently red. Then tomorrow you’ll be doing all of Alexa’s chores until there isn’t any evidence of your artwork left on her arms and in her hair.”
“Yes!” she heard Alexa shout from the hallway, then the sound of footsteps running up the stairs.
“Aw, Mom, we were just having some fun. There was nothing on TV—”
She cut Joshua off with a wave of her hand. “There is no excuse for what you two did. You should have been in bed. It’s ten. Now clean this mess up, then go straight to bed. No detours.”
As she left the kitchen, Laura heard her sons’ grumbling and smiled. Good. Maybe they would think twice before doing something like that again. Who was she kidding? Matthew and Joshua weren’t going to change anytime soon. They took constant watching to keep in line. The very thought exhausted her further, but this was so much better than a year ago when her twins had been scared to do anything for fear of Stephen’s anger. Although he’d never gotten physically abusive with the kids, during the last year of their marriage, he’d begun to belittle them, too, no longer confining it to just her.
In the middle of the living room Peter tugged her close, brushing his fingertips across her forehead, smoothing her creases. “We need to get them involved with the Shepherd Project. They need an outlet for all their energy. There’s still seven weeks until school starts after Labor Day.”
Concentrating on his words, not his touch, she said, “I thought the project was going to be for older kids.”
“No, for all ages. Whoever needs it. The youth group is coming to the ranch tomorrow to start getting things organized. I’ve arranged to take a few animals to Twin Oaks. I’m gonna have the kids run the program with the nursing homes and the preschools.”
“Sean hasn’t said anything about going to your place tomorrow. Did he sign up to do it?”
Peter nodded. “I think he’s coming with Chad early so they can check on their lambs.”
“He won’t appreciate the twins being there.”
“I agree but I can take them with me on Sunday afternoon to the nursing home, if that’s okay with you?” Peter rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
“That’s fine.” The urge to snuggle against him overwhelmed her. She clamped her teeth together and with a supreme effort remained where she stood.
His eyelids slid half-closed. His look sent her heart hammering. So loud was it beating, she wondered if he heard its quickening pace. His fingers trailed upward and delved into her hair. Cupping her head, he brought her closer. His lips hovered over hers as though he was giving her a chance to pull away if she wanted.
Their earlier conversation intruded into her thoughts. What was their relationship really? Her mind declared only friends while her heart screamed much more. His breath tangled with hers as he lowered his head even more. When his mouth settled over hers, she didn’t care what their relationship was or about the war raging inside her. All her senses centered on his gentle, coaxing touch, his clean, fresh scent, his taste of peppermint. His kiss rattled her to her core and awakened a feminine reaction that she had thought died with her husband.
He wound his arms around her and pressed her against him. Swept away, Laura met his response with her own. His strength surrounded her, tempting her with his safe haven. All she had to do was give in to what he offered and maybe she wouldn’t be so alone.
A moment of sanity pricked her bubble. But would she be her own person? Would she come to depend on him as she had on Stephen? Look what had happened there! The need to end it grew, and she pushed away. Drawing ragged breaths into her lungs, she backed up a few feet.
“It’s getting late. I’d…” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I understand.”
Do you? Because I’m not sure I do. “Thank you for dinner. But next time I’ll have to invite you here to eat. That way you can’t pull a fast one over on me.” Next time? One minute I’m pulling away from him, then I turn right around and imply there’s a future that has nothing to do with just being friends.
“Mom, the kitchen is cleaned.”
She smiled. “Duty calls.”
“I can let myself out. I’ll talk to you later.” He hesitated for a few seconds.
She did, too. His gaze seized hers as though there was a link between them that couldn’t be broken.
“Mom!”
Until her son shouted again. She blinked and hurried toward the kitchen. She didn’t think she could write about this to Cara just yet. How could she put her feelings down when she didn’t know what they were?
“Joshua, you’re in charge of the rabbit, and Matthew, you’ll have Digger.” Peter led Bosco into the nursing home on a leash while the boys hugged their animals against them.
Laura took up the rear. “Don’t squeeze them too tightly.”
Peter let the twins go ahead of him into the rec room while he hung back with Laura. He was glad she had decided to accompany them today, not because he couldn’t deal with her sons but because he wanted to see her whenever possible.
The other night when he’d kissed her and held her, he felt as if it was the most natural thing in the world, as though he had come home. There were a lot of obstacles in their way, and he knew that he might be setting himself up to be hurt again. He wasn’t even sure if he should consider getting serious. His marriage had left him leery of his own judgment. It was hard to trust it when he’d been so far off base with Diana, so betrayed by her.
“Are you sure they should be holding the animals?”
Laura’s question pulled him away from his thoughts. “No, but the cages are too big to bring inside.”
“How about a carrying tote, like a cat’s?”
“Let’s see how this goes. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll have to consider purchasing some.” He noted the boys heading straight for a circle of older people in wheelchairs in the center of the large room. “But Joshua and Matthew still need to learn to handle the animals because the beauty in this is being able to hold on to and love the pets. That’s kinda hard in a carrier.”
“How did the planning sessi
on go yesterday? Sean didn’t say much when he got home.”
“For starters we’re pairing kids from the shelter with members of the youth group. They’ll help with taking some of the animals to day cares, nursing homes and hospitals. Also they’ll help with the care of the pets.”
Laura watched Joshua put the rabbit in a woman’s lap. “How are they going to get to the places?”
“I’ll drive some. I’m also recruiting volunteers. I know of several church members who have expressed an interest.”
“I’ll help when I can.”
“Great.” He looked toward Matthew who had given the ferret to a man, bent over in a wheelchair. Digger curled up into a ball.
Matthew grinned at his brother. “My pet is better than yours.”
Joshua screwed his mouth into a frown. “No, it isn’t!” He let go of the rabbit, still sitting in the lady’s lap, and took several steps toward his twin.
The old woman’s frail grasp on the hare slipped off, and it sprang from her. It hopped across the room toward the couch. Peter darted after the pet at the same time Joshua realized what had happened and pursued it to the sofa.
“You get at that end and I’ll drive it out.” Peter knelt and peered underneath the couch.
Before he had a chance to do anything, the rabbit darted out and raced around the rec room. Joshua gave chase. One woman shrieked while another giggled. The man who held the ferret grumbled there was too much commotion, but he grinned from ear to ear.
By the time Peter had the rabbit cornered by the piano, he was out of breath and seriously questioning his wisdom in bringing two seven-year-olds to the nursing home. With large brown eyes, the hare stared up at him as though gauging its chances of making it across the room to the wide-open door. Peter reached toward the panting animal. At that moment Joshua drove toward it. Peter’s grasp came up empty as the rabbit headed for the hallway and freedom.
Laura blocked its escape and slammed the door closed. She scooped up the furry beast before it could turn and race in the opposite direction.
“We haven’t had this much excitement in months,” the woman who had held the rabbit said.
“Quite a show, young man,” another lady added.
Joshua and Matthew took a bow as though they had planned the whole little episode. Several of the old folks clapped, and one yelled he wanted more.
“That’s all we need. My sons encouraged to do more of that,” Laura whispered when she came up to Peter.
Winded from his mad dash about the room, Peter breathed shallow gasps and leaned close. “Especially since it was an accident. I’m afraid next time it won’t be. I had visions of us chasing that rabbit all over the nursing home.”
“One way to get our exercise.”
Peter crossed to the nearest resident and let her pet Bosco. “Next time we’ll have to make some kind of pro vision so the animals don’t run wild.”
“That’s easy. Don’t take my sons.”
The laughter that laced her voice spoke to him on a level that scared him. He could get so used to being a part of her family. But Laura sent off warning signals. Only lately had he really begun to see how deeply hurt she was from her marriage. Her husband had been gone just a year. He remembered how confused he had been that first year after his divorce. And until recently he had thought he’d put his divorce completely behind him. Now he wasn’t so sure.
With Laura escorting her sons around the circle to make sure the animals didn’t get away, they stayed another half hour. A few continued to request more antics so by the time Peter rounded everyone up and they headed for his truck, an idea began to form in his mind.
Settled in the cab, he switched on the engine and backed out of the parking space. “Anyone for ice cream?”
Two yells from behind him confirmed their next destination. Five minutes later, he pulled up to a store that sold mostly ice cream. “Let’s go inside. My treat.”
The boys were out of the cab in a flash and racing toward the building. At a more sedate pace Peter entered with Laura. Joshua pressed his face up against the plastic shield to get a good look at all the varieties while Matthew gave his order of a double-dip chocolate ice-cream cone. After Joshua told the cashier his more exotic choices of raspberry, lemon and bubble gum, Peter motioned for Laura to go next.
“After this afternoon I’m treating myself to a double-dip caramel sundae.”
The eager expression on Laura’s face rivaled her sons’. Today has been a good one, Peter thought and realized he looked forward to the times he was with Laura and her family. He felt alive, needed, as though the Lord had brought them into his life for a purpose.
“I’ll have the same as her,” Peter said to the cashier. “But add a healthy amount of chocolate syrup, too.”
A few minutes later, he sat across from Laura at a table for two because Joshua and Matthew had selected a similar one and had proceeded to snicker and throw them secretive glances.
“Should we be worried they’re plotting something?” Peter savored the first bite of his delicious sweet.
“Yes. They’re up to something, and I have a feeling it’s directed at us. They keep looking over here. We’d better be on the lookout. No telling what they will do.”
“I can’t be too angry with them. Because of your sons, I’ve come up with a great idea. We can take using the animals to entertain the kids and old folks one step further.”
She slid her spoon into her mouth and sighed. “Nothing’s better than this. I love caramel. I’d take it any day over chocolate.” She took another taste before saying, “From that gleam in your eye, I’m almost afraid to ask. What’s your great idea?”
“We’re going to come up with a comic routine to entertain our audience just like today. There are some in the youth group who are into the theater at school and would be great. Brandon is a fine actor and class clown according to some of his teachers.”
“We could even use a clown with the children’s groups. This has possibilities.”
“Then you’ll help me?”
“Sure.”
Her answer made his day. Working with her was so easy. She was efficient and very capable. “We’ve got the paperwork completed and turned in to the government. I’ve got a reporter lined up to do an article on the Shepherd Project.”
“Sadie, Tory and I have had a lot of success getting donations for the auction. I’m feeling good about this.”
“Yeah, isn’t it amazing how this is coming together?” Peter finished his sundae. “It’s a God thing how this has all worked out.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve worked hard. I know this is summer vacation, but you’re at school almost every day then come home and put in long hours on getting the foundation off the ground as well as the Shepherd Project up and running. When do you sleep?”
He captured her hand near his and drew her full attention to him. “This would never have been possible without the Lord. He’s giving me the inspiration and desire to make this happen.” He brushed his fingers across her knuckles, enjoying the connection. “He brought you into my life and see what you’ve done so far for the foundation? I don’t know the first thing about organizing a fund-raiser. You have quite a gift.”
She lowered her gaze, patches of red spotting her cheeks, but she didn’t pull her hand back. “You’d have figured it out. You’re a smart guy.”
“All things have a purpose. They may not always be our purpose. Look at today with the rabbit getting loose. They loved it. It will be a great addition to our program, and the kids will enjoy doing it.”
“They say laughter is the best medicine.”
“I know I like hearing you laugh.” More and more she was laughing as well as relaxing and smiling.
For a fleeting moment he considered talking with Sarah and finding out what had happened with Laura and her husband. He’d thought the vulnerability he’d glimpsed from the beginning was due to the recent death of her husband. Now he didn’t. Something els
e had happened. An affair? Some kind of abuse?
No matter how much he wanted to know so he could help Laura more, he wouldn’t ask her aunt. Laura had to tell him in her own time or it wouldn’t mean anything. And he wanted it to mean something. He wanted more from her. That realization surprised him. He’d come to realize Laura wasn’t ready to become romantically involved with another and she might never be. But then the same went for him. Or so he’d thought—until recently.
Chapter Nine
Cara, I’m so glad to hear Mason is responding to his treatment finally. I’ve been worried as I know you have. I will continue to pray. I’m happy to hear Mason will be leaving the hospital tomorrow. I know how hard it is on all three of you with Mason being in and out of the hospital these past few months. Give him—both your guys—a hug for me.
Remember me telling you about how enraged my daughter was at her brothers for marking her arms while she slept? I wish I could sleep as soundly as she does? Well, you would think she would have scrubbed and scrubbed to get the marks completely off. This is six days later and she still hasn’t really washed her arms like she should have—ever since she heard the boys had to do her chores as long as the markings stay on her.
I heard them plotting about jumping her and one of them holding her down while the other scrubbed her arms. I put a stop to that, but I had a hard time not laughing at their predicament. Maybe they will think twice before doing something like that again—or not.
On a more serious note I’m still trying to process the weekend with Peter. I can’t believe I broke down with him a second time. What has gotten into me? Peter is becoming more than a friend, and I don’t know how to change it back to the way it was because I can’t see me getting serious about another man.
I missed the abusive signs with Stephen. What if I did that again? I can’t put myself through that again nor my children. I know. I know. The signs were there, but hindsight is always twenty-twenty. Stephen was controlling. Things had to be his way or he got angry. I couldn’t even work except in his business and then only until it got going. I didn’t have a life outside the home, and Stephen wanted it that way. And I’m finding I like a life outside the home. It makes me feel I can stand on my own two feet. I’m still relishing Peter’s words about how good an organizer and planner I am. Please pray I do the right thing. Love, Laura.
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