“Juliane, sorry to be so late. I thought I’d never get here.” Lukas’s voice startled her from her thoughts.
Trying to pretend she wasn’t bothered by his late appearance, she turned and smiled. “Oh, that’s okay. We’ve been doing fine without you.”
His head lowered, an older man with thinning gray hair stepped from behind Lukas. “It’s my fault, miss.”
Juliane peered at him. Somehow he looked familiar, but she couldn’t pinpoint why. Then he looked up. “Ferd, what are you doing here with Lukas?”
“Juliane!” Ferd smiled.
Stepping closer to her, Lukas knit his eyebrows in a frown. “You know my grandfather?”
“Ferd is your grandfather?”
Lukas nodded. “You asked about him at choir practice, and I told you my grandfather is Ferdinand Engel. Did you forget?”
“No.” Juliane glanced from Lukas to his grandfather, then back at Lukas. Although Ferd was much shorter than Lukas, they shared the same startling blue eyes. “I know your grandfather from the senior center, but only as Ferd, not Ferdinand. I volunteer there one morning a week.”
“You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here,” Ferd said.
“Sorry.” Juliane hugged the older man. “I’m so surprised to see you here. I didn’t recognize you at first.”
“And I did not realize when Lukas told me he was meeting a woman from church that he was meeting Juliane from the senior center. I was expecting someone much older and not so pretty.” Ferd winked and made a sweeping motion with his hand. “I’m here to help, too.”
Lukas laid a hand on Ferd’s shoulder. “Grandpa, I didn’t say you were here to help.”
Shaking his head, Ferd wagged a finger at Lukas, then turned to Juliane. “He thinks he has to babysit me.”
Juliane didn’t miss the look of exasperation on Lukas’s face. “We can always use another hand, especially at halftime.”
Ferd grinned at Lukas. “See. I told you so. Just because you think I’m a useless old man. Juliane knows I’m a big help at the senior center.”
Pressing his lips together in a grim line, Lukas looked as though he was forcing himself to say nothing. Juliane could only guess what might be going through his mind. Did she dare offer an opinion in this family dispute? Probably not, but she could turn the discussion in another direction. She couldn’t believe she was actually trying to help Lukas. “Let me make some introductions.”
Lukas’s expression appeared to change from exasperation to relief. “Sure.”
First, Juliane introduced them to Carol Donovan, then to the rest of the crew. Carol immediately gave Ferd a job filling bags with popcorn. She asked Lukas to help Juliane cover the drink station.
After Ferd started his task, Juliane checked to make sure there was a good supply of cups near the soft drink fountain. She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake by inviting Lukas to join the boosters.
As she worked, Lukas came up beside her. “Is there anything specific you’d like me to do?”
“Take drink orders. These are for fountain drinks.” She held up a large plastic cup, trying to ignore the way his nearness made her pulse quicken. This close, she could tell that there was no trace of alcohol on his breath. Had he really changed? It was too soon to tell. Still trying to get a grip on her emotions, she picked up a foam cup. “These are for the hot drinks that are over here.”
Lukas followed her to the back of the concession stand to a table where two large urns sat—one labeled Coffee and the other Hot Chocolate. “Looks like everything’s in order.”
“It’s pretty easy. We’ve been doing this for years. We have a lull now, but starting just before the end of the first quarter, we get a steady stream of customers. Then it gets a little crazy at halftime.”
As a roar went up from the crowd, Lukas leaned closer to her and whispered, “Thanks for helping me with my grandfather.”
“Glad to help. Your grandfather is a very nice man.” She tried not to let his closeness affect her, but he set her emotions on edge. She didn’t want to think for one instant that her reaction had anything to do with a romantic interest in the man. She’d spent nearly her whole life helping her mom deal with her father’s drinking. How could she possibly entertain a fascination with a man who had the same problem?
“Yeah, but he can be stubborn sometimes.”
“Can’t we all?”
“I guess.” Lukas chuckled. “I didn’t plan to have him come with me until I stopped by his house on my way home from work. He was down in his basement and could barely make it up the stairs. He couldn’t get his breath, so I was afraid to leave him alone.”
“You were smart to bring him.” Juliane’s opinion of Lukas rose a notch. He really cared about his grandfather.
“He doesn’t like to admit he needs help.”
“Lots of people are like that.” Juliane couldn’t help thinking of her father. Maybe Lukas, too. But she had to admit that so far he showed no signs of his wild past.
Before either of them could make another comment, a group of folks approached the concession stand, and time for conversation ceased. But questions about Lukas popped in her mind like the popping kernels in the nearby popcorn machine. Her worry about him showing up drunk had been laid to rest. Was he on the wagon all the time now, or did he have relapses similar to her dad’s?
Her dad wouldn’t have a drink for months, but without warning, she would find him at the store passed out, slumped over his desk in his office. Other times she and her mother would discover him passed out in his recliner at home. The images tore at her heart and made her sick to her stomach. She hated dealing with this problem, but she’d learned to live with it.
Time and time again her father broke her heart. She couldn’t imagine the anguish that his drinking had caused her mother. Juliane had made a vow that she would never live like her mother—imprisoned by her husband’s drinking.
Juliane had prayed for years that God would somehow help her father, but he’d never changed. Sometimes she wanted to blame God, but deep in her heart she knew nothing would change until her father wanted God’s help. She couldn’t blame God for her father’s troubles.
Juliane glanced at Lukas, who laughed and talked with the customers as he waited on them. She had to admit that he had a way with people. She had recognized his ability to relate during choir practice and later at the coffee shop. His outgoing personality probably made him a wonderful plant manager. He knew how to work with and manage people.
The puzzling thoughts continued to plague Juliane while she waited on customers. The squeal of sneakers, the thud of a dribbled basketball on the hardwood and the cheers of the crowd did nothing to lift her spirits even though the hometown team was winning. She couldn’t reconcile the Lukas she’d known with the one who looked after his grandfather and who laughed and talked with customers as if he’d been a part of this crew and community for years.
As the end of the game drew near, Juliane started to help Carol with the cleanup. Lukas and the rest of the boosters helped the remaining customers whose ranks had grown slim. Finally, the time came to close the concession stand. The impending meeting with Lukas loomed ahead. Despite her agreement to meet with him and her prayers that she would be able to survive their one-on-one talk without letting old prejudices color her thoughts, she wasn’t ready. Could he possibly call off the meeting because of his grandfather?
“Juliane?”
Her stomach lurched at the sound of Lukas’s voice. Glad he couldn’t read her mind, she forced herself to turn slowly. He stood directly in front of her. “Yes?”
“I’d still like to have our meeting, but I need to take my grandfather home. Let’s meet at his house instead of going to the coffee shop, okay?” His blue eyes held a pleading look.
Juliane didn’t want the meeting at all, but she was stuck. She’d been stuck from the moment Val had asked the two of them to organize the banquet entertainment. Maybe in one quick meeting they could s
ettle it all. Then she wouldn’t have to deal with the confusion he caused her anymore. Wishful thinking.
Shaking his head, Lukas motioned toward Ferd. “I know this wasn’t part of the plan, but…”
She forced a smile. “That’s okay. We might as well get it done.”
“Great. He lives on Oak Lane. You know where that is?”
“There aren’t too many places in this town that I don’t know.”
“Good. Here’s the address.” He handed her a slip of paper.
Taking it, Juliane glanced in Ferd’s direction. The feisty older man seemed to have lost all his energy. “We’ll be done here in a bit. I’ll meet you there.”
“Sure.” He turned to look at Ferd, who sat on a nearby stool. “I’m going to go ahead and take him home now. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Okay.” Juliane watched Lukas assist his grandfather out of the concession stand. Lukas Frey was making a whole new impression on her. She was almost beginning to like him, and that was way too dangerous.
Driving down Oak Lane, Juliane searched for the address Lukas had given her. She barely touched her foot to the gas pedal as her car crept passed tiny houses with snow-covered lawns. Finally, she saw the numbers on a white bungalow illuminated by the nearby streetlight. Lukas’s tan, mid-size sedan sat in the driveway. Even his choice of cars surprised her. She’d expected him to drive a fancy sports car like he’d had in college.
As she exited her car, Lukas flew out the door and charged down the front walk. “Something’s terribly wrong with my grandfather. I’ve called nine-one-one. They’ll be here any minute.”
Juliane took a shaky breath. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes. Please wait out here and watch for the ambulance, so they can find the right house.”
“Okay.”
Lukas barely waited for her answer before he raced back up the walk. A lump formed in her throat as she watched him take the front steps in one bound. Swallowing the lump, she looked heavenward into the starry night and whispered, “Lord, please help Ferd. You know what he needs.”
While Juliane waited for the ambulance, she pulled her BlackBerry from her purse and called her mother. When she answered, Juliane told her about Ferd. “Mom, can you get the church prayer chain started?”
“Absolutely. Call me back when you know more.”
“I will.” In the distance, sirens wailed. “The ambulance is almost here. I’ll talk to you later.”
As Juliane ended the call, she saw the flashing red and white lights. Stepping off the curb, she waved her hands above her head. The ambulance slowed and pulled into the driveway behind Lukas’s car. With hurried efficiency, the paramedics wheeled a gurney across the snowy yard and into the house. Juliane followed behind them.
The reassuring voices of the paramedics floated from the bedroom down the hall, as she listened from the living room. She wasn’t quite sure what to do. Should she leave or stay? She supposed she should at least stick around until she found out how Ferd was doing.
While she stood there, Lukas came into the room. He looked her way, worry coloring his face as he approached. “Thanks for your help.”
“What’s happening? How is he?”
“They’re preparing to take him to the hospital.” Lukas ran a hand through his hair.
“Did they say what’s wrong?”
Shaking his head, Lukas paced back and forth. “We’ll find out once we get there.”
“I said a prayer for Ferd and called my mom to start the church prayer chain.”
“Thanks.” Stopping mid-step, Lukas knit his eyebrows as he looked at her. “I knew something wasn’t right, but he wouldn’t tell me anything.”
Before Juliane could reply, the paramedics pushed the gurney with Ferd aboard toward the front door. Lukas rushed after them, and she followed. She stood on the front walk as the paramedics carefully put the gurney into the back of the ambulance.
After locking the front door, Lukas joined her. “I’ve got another favor to ask.”
“What?”
“I’m going to ride in the ambulance with Grandpa. Would you mind driving my car to the hospital?” He reached into his pants’ pocket and pulled out his car keys. He held them out to her.
Déjà vu. Juliane stared at him in the dim light, her pulse pounding all over her body. She pushed the bad memories aside as she took the keys. This was for Ferd. She could do this. “Okay, I’ll be glad to help any way I can.”
“You’re a lifesaver.”
“I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“Thanks again.” He waved, then sprinted to the ambulance and hopped in.
Juliane hustled to Lukas’s car, the keys biting into her hand. As she opened the car door, she watched the ambulance drive away, lights blinking and sirens wailing. Her concern for Ferd overrode all her thoughts about Lukas and the past for the moment, but she knew that would change.
Driving through the quiet streets toward the hospital did nothing to calm her mind. By the time she reached the hospital, her stomach was tied in knots and her head throbbed. The ambulance pulled away from the entrance as she parked the car in the nearby lot.
She shivered in the cold night air that reminded her of that night eleven years ago. Her mind fought against the unpleasant memories. She wouldn’t think about them, not tonight. She had better things to do than dredge up the past.
Juliane shook the disconcerting thoughts from her mind as she entered the emergency waiting room. The place was filled with people of all ages, most of them looking tired and grim. An antiseptic smell permeated the air while the laugh track from a television sitcom blared over the muted conversation. Lukas sat on one of the molded plastic chairs, his head in his hands. When he glanced up, weariness and worry radiated from his eyes.
“How’s Ferd?” she asked, knowing that no matter what had happened in the past, God didn’t want her to hold it against Lukas now.
“I’m not sure. They’re still examining him.” Lukas stood as Juliane drew closer. Her hair gleamed in the light cast from the florescent fixtures. Why was he noticing how great she looked when he should be thinking about his grandfather?
“Did they tell you anything?”
Shaking his head, Lukas sighed. “The doctors are getting him stabilized.”
“Here are your keys.” She held the key ring on one fingertip of her outstretched hand.
Staring at the keys for a moment, he had the oddest feeling that they had some connection with a set of keys in the past. He gave himself a mental shake to clear his mind of the crazy thought. When he took the keys, the cold metal brought the gravity of his grandfather’s situation into full focus. “Thanks for driving. I appreciate your help.”
“I’m glad to help Ferd any way I can. He’s a dear man.”
Lukas noticed she’d said nothing about helping him, only his grandfather. Did she still have an unfavorable view of him based on his past? He wished he could change that, but something told him he’d have a lot of work to do on that account.
He’d been sober for nearly six years, and he thanked God every day for sending Bill Martin into his life to show him God’s love and a way out of the bottom of a bottle. Despite his mentor’s unconditional acceptance and his assurance that God forgives and Christians would, too, Lukas was never quite sure he believed that Christians would accept his past. Juliane had probably witnessed his drunken state enough times to convince her that he was probably not a very reliable man. Could he convince her otherwise? And why did it seem to matter so much to have her approval and acceptance?
Right now he needed a friend. He wanted her to stay, but that was a lot to ask of her. Did he dare? Looking away, he gathered his courage, then returned his gaze to her. “I hope you don’t mind staying for a while. I could use some company.”
Silently, she stared at him with those caramel-colored eyes. Was he imagining the panic in them? His heart sank. She wanted to leave. He couldn’t blame her. She barely knew him
, and what she knew didn’t give her a favorable impression.
Then, without warning, she sat on the chair next to the one where he’d been sitting. “Sure. I can keep you company. Hospital waiting rooms can be lonely places.”
“Thanks.” He tried not to let her see how much her willingness to stay meant to him as he returned to his seat. “If it gets too late, I’ll call a cab to take you home.”
“No need for that. I can call my mom. She’d be glad to pick me up and take me to get my car.” Juliane unzipped her purse and pulled out her BlackBerry. “I’ll call and give her an update.”
While Juliane talked, Lukas closed his eyes for a moment and said a silent prayer of thanks. God had sent him a friend—a somewhat reluctant one from all appearances, but still someone who was willing to help. And best of all, her presence would help keep him safe from his own bad instincts.
A crisis could trigger the urge to find comfort in a bottle—something Lukas hadn’t felt in a good while, but he knew the danger lurked. He was very aware that the feeling could strike at any time. The Lord knew just what he needed—that extra assistance to escape from temptation.
As Juliane ended her conversation, one of the emergency-room doctors made an appearance. Lukas stood as the doctor approached. “How’s my grandfather?”
“We’ve done our initial evaluation, and we have him stabilized. I’m ordering some more tests to determine his condition.”
“What tests?”
“First, we’ll do a chest X-ray, then a catheterization to determine whether he has any blockage in his arteries.” The doctor motioned toward the exam room. “You can see him for a few minutes before they start.”
“Thanks.” Lukas turned to Juliane. “Do you want to come?”
“If you think it’s okay.”
Lukas glanced at the doctor for confirmation, and he nodded before Lukas turned back to Juliane. “I know Grandpa would like to see you.”
“Okay.”
Lukas let Juliane go ahead of him as they entered the room. His eyes closed, Ferd lay on the hospital bed. “Grandpa, how are you?”
Hometown Promise Page 4