Luck Be an Angel

by Liza O'Connor

  “Then what’s wrong?” Joshua asked from the front seat.

  Ethan pulled the car over one block from the Hodgkins. “I have something to tell you, and if after hearing it you don’t wish to remain in this car, then to get to the Hodgkins, walk to the end of this block and turn left.”

  Colby laughed. “Must be a big one.”

  Ethan nodded and looked at Joshua. “I have lied to you. The night you overheard my phone call, I lied by omission.” He turned to Colby. “I’ve been lying to all of you by omission.”

  Joshua’s eyes darkened. “You were sent here to get a story, weren’t you?”

  Ethan nodded. “I was. I planned to get my story and leave within a week.”

  Joshua snorted. “Missed your deadline.”

  Ethan flinched at the anger in the boy’s voice. “I’ve spent most of my life going ‘undercover’ to get the story no one else could. And I’ve never failed to keep my professional distance before.” He shook his head. “But with you boys, I never saw it coming.”

  Colby’s eyes narrowed. “You make us sound like a danger you failed to escape.”

  Ethan shook his head. “I’m not saying this well. The danger was to my job. The danger was that I’d stop caring about my assignment—which is exactly what happened. I haven’t told my boss yet, but he’s not getting his cover story.”

  Joshua shook his head in disbelief. “Then why is there all that equipment in the back seat? Why didn’t you just tell your boss you weren’t going to do it when you were on the phone?”

  “Because we still need to know who’s doing this to your mother, and the moment I officially quit, my boss will send someone else. I hoped to delay that as long as possible…at least until I could gather up the courage to confess what I had done.”

  He noticed Colby was wiping his eyes. “I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. I wish you never had to know this.”

  Joshua frowned. “So you’re planning to stay with us?”

  “I would like to, but that really depends upon you boys and Sara. This is a huge betrayal.”

  Colby tapped Joshua’s shoulder and nodded to the sidewalk. Joshua glared at him. “We’re going to walk back, but don’t go confessing nothing until we have a chance to think this through—not to Ma, nor that man on the phone.”

  Chapter 14

  Later that evening, Colby and Joshua knocked on his door after everyone else had gone to sleep. He offered to let them in, but Joshua preferred trolling the woods for bears rather than speaking in the safety of their house.

  Alert to every snap of a twig, Ethan followed the two boys to the burnt mill. He balked at climbing up its crumbling surface. “If your solution is for me to die in the woods, then let it be on ground. I’ve no doubt some wolf or bear will oblige me in a short while.”

  Colby tried to hide his laugh by coughing.

  Joshua glared at him. “You changed your mind then? Decided you don’t like us after all?”

  “I will love you boys for the rest of my life,” Ethan said. “I’ve just reconciled myself to the impossibility of the situation. I believe Sara will forgive me, but you won’t. One on one, I might be able to sway a few of the younger boys, but you’d turn them back in short time.” He stared in Joshua’s eyes. “Until you forgive me, I haven’t a chance…and I could see it in your eyes at dinner. You’re set against me.”

  “We have decided against you,” Joshua insisted and looked at Colby.

  Colby hesitated and then shook his head ever so slightly.

  Ethan forced a faint smile, despite the pain that tore through him. “You decided, Joshua. You’re the man of this family. You have to make the hard decisions. You have to protect your mother.” He sighed and pressed his hands to the mossy stonewall. “Unfortunately, there is no scenario where your mother isn’t hurt. I’ve left no painless solution.”

  Joshua shattered a rotting log in a release of silent fury.

  Ethan turned and found a rotted stump of his own to kick.

  “I wish you would’ve never come!” Joshua yelled.

  “Then Mrs. Delfin, with much self-righteousness, would have come with state police on Friday and carted you boys away. And a broken trust would have been the least of your troubles.”

  “He’s right,” Colby whispered.

  Joshua glared at him. “Then I wished they had sent someone else.”

  “Fair enough. My boss told me who he’d send if I did not go. The guy is a slimy bastard. He would have gone straight after your mother, and if she refused him, he would have forced himself upon her.”

  “That wouldn’t have happened!” Joshua shook his head. “We guarded her door for the first weeks, until we were certain we could trust you.”

  “Then let us say you were successful at protecting your mother,” Ethan said. “The reporter, Carlton, would have grown bored with his assignment, fabricated his story from his lurid imagination, and left. Whatever he wrote would be lies and to your family’s detriment. And once he was gone, a hundred photographers and trash reporters would have descended to feed off the lies he began.”

  Ethan kicked a new stump hard enough to explode it into fragments. “And then Mrs. Delfin would come to ensure you poor boys were put in better homes.” Ethan snorted. “Have you ever known anyone in a foster home?”

  The boys shook their heads.

  “All too often, children prefer to live and die in alleys rather than stay with people who only keep them for the money the state provides.”

  Ethan locked eyes with Joshua. “I, at least, came here determined to find the truth. And when I discovered a loving mother and happy boys, I wanted the world to see that, to understand that just because your life was different, it didn’t mean it was bad and needed rectified. I wanted to disclose the harassments your mother endures on a weekly basis from the ‘good people of Briarville’.” He knelt and picked up a piece of mossy log. “I wanted the world to love you, as I love you.”

  “I thought you said you weren’t going to report on us?” Joshua challenged.

  “That was a recent change of mind. I was discussing my feelings after I first met you.” He stood up and stared at Joshua. “Life may seem black and white right now, but you’ll come upon your own grey decisions someday. The only advice I can give you is don’t be a coward and avoid facing the music as I’ve done. Now, if you don’t mind, this place terrifies me. I’d like to return to my room. I’ll be packed and gone before morning. You can tell the boys and your mother whatever you want.”

  Since neither boy seemed inclined to lead him home, he headed out in what appeared to be the correct direction.

  “Stop! You’re headed off into the bog again,” Colby warned.

  Ethan stopped. “There’s an alternative. I could drown in the bog.”

  Colby grabbed his arm and pulled him through the trees. “I don’t think you’ve done anything so wrong as to wish you dead.” He glanced back at his brother. “In fact, you seemed to have done us a lot of good. You prevented this Carlton fellow from coming, you’ve kept Mrs. Delfin at bay, you’ve made learning so interesting that we’re all several grades above our ages, and you figured out Mike wasn’t stupid; he just needed glasses.” He glanced back again at his brother following behind them. “That hardly seems a reason to kill you. In fact, if you were to die, our ma would hurt for months. You’re the first friend she’s ever had.”

  Colby trudged on. “So what if you came here for the wrong reasons? You still helped out from the very first. And, yes, when the other boys learn of this, they’re going to look to Joshua to know their response. But you’re right about Ma. She’ll forgive you at once. She’ll weigh all your goodness to this one lie and kiss you on your head and tell you not to worry.”

  When they arrived at the house, Colby released his arm. “Don’t leave. Mrs. Delfin would hear of it and pounce in a second. If you are really sorry for your lie, then stay here and wait for Joshua to come around.”

  Ethan nodded and squeezed Colby’s shou
lder. The boy was right. He had to stay and see this through.

  Chapter 15

  Ethan woke on February 13th with much to do. He waved goodbye to Sara and the boys and tried not to worry for their safety. This was the first time in three months they had gone to Fayetteville without him.

  Colby and Joshua had promised to keep her in town at least until two p.m. That gave him seven hours to install and hide the equipment. He hoped even a novice could achieve so little in so much time.

  He wished he’d dare bring an expert in to assist, but he couldn’t risk that the expert would also be a budding reporter willing to write his own exciting story when Ethan failed to produce the story of a lifetime.

  As if sensing treason on the horizon, Jacobs called.

  Ethan considered not answering. His editor could detect a slight of hand as well as any shyster. Yet, if he didn’t answer, Jacobs would only continue to call, and might possibly send in Carlton to ensure he had a story. He had no choice but to answer.

  “Why the hell haven’t you reported in?”

  “I’m trying to get this equipment installed,” Ethan explained.

  “What equipment?”

  “The surveillance equipment.” Jacobs forgetting the plan was nothing new. The man was remarkably inattentive to details. Once when he’d sent Ethan to Afghanistan, and Ethan complained about his ‘jacket’ being too thin, Jacobs chided him for being a fashion Betty. When Ethan explained that he was talking about a bulletproof vest and by thin, he meant it wouldn’t protect him from the weapons being used in this part of the country, Jacobs paused and took this information in. When he spoke, his voice betrayed true concern. “You’re still going to get the story, aren’t you?”

  Ethan could detect the same concern in his voice this time as well.

  “Right. How are you doing that with so many eyes about?”

  “Sara and all the boys have gone into Fayetteville. Hopefully, that will give me sufficient time.”

  “It can’t be that hard. Hell, even I can run a computer now.”

  Ethan rolled his eyes. “This is more like putting together your TV and sound system.”

  “Oh…you should have asked for help. Is there someone in town you can hire?”

  “No. I don’t want to contaminate the findings, or possibly scare off the father.”

  “Good thinking. Just don’t screw this up. If you had asked in time, I could have gotten you professional help, so your job is on the line here for failing to reach out.”

  Ethan couldn’t remember an assignment where eventually his job wasn’t on the line. “Have I ever failed you?”

  “Not yet.”

  That response usually pissed him off, but today it made him smile. Soon this SOB would be right in his dire predictions. Ethan would fail him spectacularly and finally Jacobs could follow through on his threat.

  “I’ve got to get back to work here. I can’t talk and read tiny print at the same time.”

  “Should have read it before. Should have asked for help. I swear Ethan, if you bungle this, your ass is gone.”

  “Gotta go save my ass then.” Ethan closed his cell phone. That was exactly what he’d said every time before. He prayed nothing alerted Jacobs to the change in his heart.

  Ethan enjoyed learning a new skill. Or perhaps he was so light-hearted because Joshua had slowly warmed to him and the brightest of futures looked feasible again. Studying the monitor he tucked in the upper shelf behind the extra detergent, a new worry formed. What if this guy, once caught, decided he wants to be part of the family?

  He shook his head. No, any SOB who would go this long without doing his duty wouldn’t change now. The scumbag would more likely leave the country and start raping some new girl in a foreign land.

  At least the bastard wouldn’t impregnate Sara again. This was it. Sara was stopping at seventeen children. Then with Ethan’s help, the boys would grow up, get scholarships and have successful lives. Over time, their family would whittle down to a manageable size.

  Just thinking of the newest born, Julius, brought a smile to his lips. God, he loved that baby. He paused. Hell, he loved all the boys. Had they been his own blood, he couldn’t have loved them more.

  ***

  When they arrived home, Sara was excited because she’d won an in-home installation of satellite Internet service and free service for two years.

  Her eyes sparkled with delight as she told Ethan her good news. “Now you won’t have to drive into town to use the Internet.”

  Ethan cupped her radiant face within his hands. God, how he wished he could kiss her. But he dare not let his feelings progress until he knew for certain he’d be allowed to stay.

  As he helped the boys bring in the groceries, Joshua pulled him aside. “Everything set?”

  Ethan nodded. “Tonight, we find out the truth.”

  Chapter 16

  Only the youngest boys behaved as if this were a normal night. All the boys from age seven and up were tense with worry. They had all made the connection and knew that somehow in the wee hours of Valentine’s Day, their mother became pregnant.

  Oscar watched Joshua, Colby, and Ethan carefully through dinner. When dinner was over, he sat down with a hand calculator that Sara had won as a door prize. Ethan knew the boy’s homework didn’t require a calculator, but said nothing. When he made his rounds to check on each boy’s progress, Oscar handed him a small, folded note.

  “This might help,” he whispered.

  Ethan opened the paper. It read ‘2:31 am.’

  Oscar had worked back from the birth of Julius to conception and believed that was the exact time his father arrived. Ethan patted the boy’s head. Unfortunately, no one could predict the exact length of gestation, certainly not to the minute. He nodded his appreciation, all the same.

  By eight p.m., all the boys in the nursery were asleep. By nine, Tom, Paul, Oscar, and Tyler went to bed. By ten, the remaining eight boys kissed their mom goodnight and went upstairs to bed, leaving Ethan and Sara alone.

  “Can I get you some tea, Ethan?” Sara asked as she fluttered nervously about the room.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  She continued to fuss, searching for something else to occupy her time. He suspected she was frightened beneath her cheery demeanor.

  “Sara, please come and sit down. I want to talk to you.”

  She sat down beside him and chewed her bottom lip.

  “You have nothing to worry about,” Ethan assured her.

  “I’m not worried,” Sara replied.

  Her head tilted to one side as she stared at him in confusion. He saw the flicker of another emotion. Disappointment. His attempt to soothe her had created disappointment. Why? Then the fleeting moment of disappointment was gone and all he could see was her sweetness.

  He squeezed her hand, wishing he could tell her how much he loved her, but he had no right to speak of his love until she knew of his betrayal.

  “I’m not a perfect man, Sara.”

  Her smile widened. “You seem so to me.”

  Her answer pained him. “I’ve done things…”

  She covered his hand with her free one. “Don’t matter none.” She then touched his chest. “You’re a good man here. That’s all that matters.” When that didn’t rally Ethan, she added. “You love my boys, and that makes you perfect to me.”

  When her arms slipped around his waist and she pressed her head against his chest, Ethan gasped as if released from hell. “Oh, Sara. If only you knew…”

  “I do know,” she murmured into his chest. “I’ve known for some time, but you wouldn’t say anything, and I thought it’s the man’s place to say something, so I’ve tried to be patient.”

  Ethan kissed the top of her head. “Sara…” he whispered as his hands caressed her back. God, she felt wonderful.

  He held her in his arms, in perfect bliss, for almost a half hour.

  Finally, Sara eased herself from his arms and stood. Against his wishes, he releas
ed her. Of all nights to admit his love, he’d have to choose the one night he needed her to go to her bed alone.

  For a moment, she looked shy and uncertain, but then a stubbornness took over. She grabbed his hands and pulled him up from the couch.

  When he realized she was leading him to his bedroom with full intention of joining him, he pulled back. “Sara, we can’t.”

  He could see pain in her eyes.

  “Because I have so many boys?” she asked.

  He stroked her face and then pulled her to his chest. “I love your boys. It’s just that I’ve got to resolve certain matters before we take this next step.”

  She looked up at him in confusion. “Are you married or something?”

  “No.

  After a deep sigh of relief, she relaxed. “Nothing else don’t matter.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I’m hoping that’s true.”

  Stepping back so she could look him in the eye, she replied. “Oh, it’s true.”

  God, she was enticing. “Sara, you need to go to bed now.”

  She tilted her head to one side as if trying to understand him. Only she didn’t seem to be making much headway.

  Touching her beautiful face, he said, “I need to make some matters right before we go further.”

  “Okay then. I can wait. I’ve waited all my life. I can wait a bit longer.”

  ***

  He entered his room and closed his door. Turning on the monitors, he watched Sara slowly undress in the laundry room. Beneath her shapeless frock, she had regained her hourglass figure and it sent his blood racing. No woman had ever looked as beautiful to him. He breathed a sigh of relief when she donned her sleeping gown and crawled into bed. He feared with much more enticement, he might ruin everything by joining her.

  The monitor outside her room showed Joshua resting against the door. Because the laundry room had no windows, Colby was in the kitchen making tea.

  At midnight, he brought Ethan a cup. “I’ll spot you at the monitors if you need to take a piss.”