The Orphans' Blessing

by Lorraine Beatty

  He’d wanted to comfort her. Learning she couldn’t have children had stung him to the core. Why would that happen to a woman like her? Someone so kind, so loving and so perfect for motherhood? It was a shame.

  He turned away. He should get back to work. How was he supposed to concentrate on light fixtures when he was hurting for his friend? No. Somewhere along the way, she’d gone from relative to friend to more. He cared for her deeply. The realization sent a shard of ice through his veins. It was a new sensation. An emotion he’d never attached to a woman before.

  She stirred a lot of strange emotions. Most he couldn’t even name, but he always felt oddly cut off, adrift when she wasn’t around. Holding her close had set off a whirlwind of feelings so quick and intense he’d been unable to process them. He’d looked into her eyes and the world had shifted in a direction he’d never known. He’d wanted to draw her closer and kiss her.

  But instead he’d backed away, not sure what to do with his feelings. He wasn’t sure what he’d said after that. He’d babbled some platitudes but his words had clearly upset her.

  He huffed out a low grunt. Women. Who could figure them out?

  “Hey there, Zach old boy.”

  “Hank. What brings you by?” His friend’s unexpected appearance was like a blessed reprieve from his thoughts.

  “I wanted to see if there was anything I could do around here. I’ve got some free time so I’m available. And also, there’s a charter schedule for tomorrow. It’s a quick up-and-back I thought you might like to take. It’s a bit unusual but I’ll explain that later.”

  “Okay. Sounds interesting. I’m ready for a break from all this ground work. You want a drink?”

  “Sure.” Hank wandered through the old building before rejoining Zach in the breakroom. He was carrying Sophie’s sketch pad when he returned. “Whose is this?”

  “Oh. That’s Sophie’s. She must have forgotten it when she left.” The book was open to the birthday drawing.

  “She’s very good.”

  Zach nodded. “The mayor invited her to enter the bicentennial poster contest.”

  “She could win. She captured the family perfectly.”

  “You think so? I mean, the kids are good but that doesn’t look anything like me.”

  Hank took another look at the sketch and chuckled. “It looks exactly like you.”

  Zach made a dismissive gesture. “Aw, come on. My jaw isn’t that sharp and I never have a cocky smirk on my face. Why would she draw me that way?”

  Hank leaned in and tapped the sketch with one finger. “You really are clueless, aren’t you? She probably drew this with her heart.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Figure it out, pal.” Hank chuckled and waved him forward. “Let’s get those fixtures installed.”

  Zach studied the sketch several more times after Hank left. Whatever his friend was trying to tell him was lost on him. The kids were drawn to perfection, but why would Sophie draw him like a handsome hero? It made no sense. He’d done little heroic since her arrival. To be truthful, he’d acted anything but heroic.

  “Hello? Anyone here?”

  Zach hurried to the front of the store. He recognized that voice. It was Alice Smiley, the heart of the Blessing Community Church. “Miss Alice. So nice to see you. What can I do for you?”

  “Well, I wanted to see the progress but I was hoping Sophie would be here. At eighty-five years young, I can’t do much to help with the remodel, but I can surely hang and tag clothes.”

  “I’m sure Sophie would be grateful for your help.”

  “It’s a wonderful thing she’s done here. All of you. What a shame Madeline couldn’t see it all come together.”

  Zach could only nod. Words wouldn’t come through his tight throat.

  “Well, I won’t keep you. I’ll call Sophie. Do you have her cell number?”

  “Yes.” Alice handed him her phone, and he punched in the number. When he handed it back, Alice was looking at the family sketch.

  “Very nice.” She grinned and winked. “Whoever drew this has a big crush on you, young man.” She slipped her phone into her purse and waved goodbye.

  Zach studied the drawing again. What was it that everyone saw but him? Sophie was talented. More than he’d realized. Her sketch of the birthday party was amazing. She’d captured every kid perfectly, each little nuance and quirk. She’d been more than flattering to him, giving him a square jawline, eyes filled with joy and a crooked smile that made him look like a rascal.

  The image of him was far too handsome and attractive. It was like she’d drawn him the way she’d like him to be or the way she saw him. Could that be what Hank meant when he said she’d drawn him with her heart? Did Sophie see him like this? Kind, heroic, appealing? He was none of those things. He was just a thirty-three-year-old single guy trying to make sense of his new world and failing miserably.

  However, it did beg the question, did she have feelings for him?

  His thoughts drifted to the moment she’d backed into him and he’d held her close. Was that what he’d seen in her eyes? What had scared him off? If she did have feelings for him and he for her, what happened next?

  No. It was too ridiculous. Sophie only cared for the kids. It was all about the nieces and nephew. Nothing more.

  So why did he want it to be more?

  Chapter Eight

  Sophie stretched her fingers, working out the cramps from holding her drawing pencil so long. She hadn’t seriously considered entering the poster contest, but then she heard her aunt’s voice in her head urging her to try something new. She needed a distraction, some time in her safe zone.

  Her mind was so cluttered with confusion and doubt, it was difficult to think clearly. The closet project kept her occupied during the day. There were so many details to attend to now that the building was almost ready. The evenings were filled with the children and Zach. Her most confusing issue. Then when she went to her room at night, her thoughts turned to Maddie and all those missing years and the reasons behind them. Working on the poster kept her mind occupied.

  She was pleased with the rough sketch she’d done for it. She’d tried to incorporate all the things she’d come to love about Blessing, starting with the Blessing Bridge. She’d placed it in the center, then added the white steeple on the historic church and the courthouse clock tower. Next she’d included a section of the ruins of Afton Grove Plantation, visible through the trees at the bridge. Finally she sketched a collection of Main Street stores and the pathway in Riverbank Park that hugged the scenic Silver River.

  The more time she’d spent exploring the town, the more she’d fallen in love with her temporary home. It was the kind of small town everyone dreamed of living in, and a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Columbus, Ohio. It would be so easy to live here. She could understand why Maddie had been so happy here.

  Sophie glanced around the master bedroom. Had Maddie been so happy here that she’d forgotten all about her younger sister? Why would she let everyone think she had no family? Mostly, Sophie wanted to know why Maddie had walked away from her family fifteen years ago and never returned.

  Forcing those questions aside, she turned her focus to the sketch. Tomorrow she’d visit the local art shop she’d seen in town and pick up watercolor supplies to finish the poster. The deadline was looming and she was determined to enter.

  Setting aside her drawing, she headed to the bathroom to prepare for bed.

  Linney’s shrill screams froze her in place. The girls’ room was right above the master. Heart pounding, she hurried from her room and up the stairs.

  DJ was leaning against the doorjamb of Linney and Katie’s room as she approached. He glanced over his shoulder. “Linney had another nightmare.” His tone was sour but his eyes said something else entirely. He was worried about his sister and probably grieving himself.r />
  Sophie stepped in the doorway and looked in. Linney’s sobs were heartrending.

  Zach was already sitting on the bed, holding Linney in his lap, rocking back and forth in a comforting manner. The little girl clutched his shirt in her fist.

  “I want them back. Why can’t they come back?”

  “I want them back, too, sweetie. I miss them.”

  Katie scooted out of her bed and joined her uncle. “I miss them, too, but they’re really happy in heaven with Jesus.”

  “I want them happy here with us.”

  Katie’s attempt at comfort only resulted in more sobs. Sophie kept out of sight, not wanting to intrude on the moment. Zach had the situation under control and was doing a good job. The girls obviously drew comfort from their uncle. They loved him and he loved them deeply.

  Linney had finally stopped crying. “You won’t go anywhere, will you, Uncle Zach?”

  “I’ll be right here to take care of you and your brother and sister. I promise.”

  Sophie winced. She couldn’t help but worry about that, especially if he insisted on a flying career.

  Katie patted her sister’s shoulder. “You can sleep with me if you want to.”

  “Okay.” Linney nodded, clutching her bear to her chest as she crawled into Katie’s bed. Zach covered them both up with the blanket, kissed them and told them he loved them.

  Sophie moved away down the hall, her heart aching for the children. She knew what it was like to lose her parents. But she’d been a teenager when it happened, and had understood the concept of death. These little girls were too young to comprehend.

  “Sophie.”

  She stopped when Zach called her name and slowly turned to face him.

  “I didn’t know you were there. Did you hear Linney?”

  “I heard her scream, but when I got up here, you were already with her.” She looked into his eyes, still filled with sadness for their nieces. “You were wonderful with Linney. Does she get like this very often?”

  “Not so much anymore.”

  “They love you very much. I just wish...that you hadn’t promised to never go away. You can’t promise that. None of us can.”

  “It’s what she needed to hear. And I’m not going anywhere. The Lord wouldn’t take me away, too, and leave them with no one.” He held her gaze a moment. Then went down the hall to his room.

  Sophie made her way back downstairs to the master bedroom and crawled under the covers. If she’d harbored any lingering doubts about Zach’s devotion to their nieces and nephew, they had been banished tonight. They belonged together. While she was uncomfortable with his careless promise to them, she had to face the truth of the matter. He was the perfect person to be their guardian.

  Secretly she’d held the belief that she was more qualified than Zach to raise the children. But after tonight, maybe she should learn to be content as the aunt who visited a couple times a year.

  Tears stung her eyes and she slid deeper under the covers. How could she be satisfied with only seeing them now and again when all she wanted was to be with them every minute?

  * * *

  Zach slipped his phone into his pocket, smiling. Hank had lined up a very special charter for today, something unusual and definitely not his normal passenger. He appreciated the quick turnaround since the charity closet was nearing completion and he had a list of details to take care of. DJ had become his welcome shadow and Zach thoroughly enjoyed teaching his nephew carpentry. He’d even started to enjoy working with his hands again. Nothing would take the place of flying, but he’d been surprised at the sense of satisfaction he’d gained from woodworking and the remodel.

  The look of joy on Sophie’s face each time he completed a cabinet or finished a construction project filled him with a sense of accomplishment and pleasure. He realized he liked making her happy.

  He strolled into the kitchen where the kids were eating breakfast. “Morning, everyone. What big plans do y’all have for today?”

  Sophie poured herself a glass of juice, then sat down at the table. “I have a long list of phone calls to make.”

  DJ glanced up. “I’m going to help Mr. Buck repair the damaged bricks on the outside of the store.”

  Sophie smiled and nodded. “The girls are going to paint the fitting rooms. They’re very excited.”

  He could well imagine. He smiled at the mental picture of them slopping paint all over the place. “Who do you have in charge of clean up and repainting?”

  “I get to use a little roller like the big ones the grown-ups use,” Linney declared between bites of toast.

  Katie looked at her uncle. “What are you going to do today, Uncle Zach?”

  Sophie turned her smile on him and his heart did a funny jump inside his chest. Her smile was more brilliant than her sister’s. It always made him feel as if someone had turned a light on inside of him. He cleared his throat and gathered his thoughts. “I’ve got a charter flight to New Orleans today.”

  The warmth in Sophie’s eyes dimmed. “Will you be gone long?”

  “No. It’s a down-and-back. No layover.”

  “Are you going away again?”

  The tension in Linney’s voice concerned him. “Just for a few hours.”

  Her lower lip began to wobble and her eyes grew moist. “No. You can’t. I don’t want you to go! You have to stay here!”

  He exchanged glances with Sophie. “I have to go, sweetie. It’s my job.”

  “Nooo!” The word came out as a long wail. “What if you don’t come back?”

  “I’ll come back. Honest.” He almost added, Promise, but caught the warning in Sophie’s eyes. “It’s a quick trip. Nothing to worry about.”

  “But Mommy and Daddy didn’t come home.”

  Zach’s heart shredded. “I know, but I’m a really good pilot. The very best, so there’s nothing to worry about.” He had supreme confidence in his abilities, but that didn’t prevent his mind from conjuring up all kinds of things that could go wrong, even with a skilled pilot.

  Sophie put her arms around the little girl. “Don’t worry, Linney. Uncle Zach will be very careful. Maybe he could call you from New Orleans and let you know he arrived safely.”

  Zach nodded, thankful for her idea. “I’ll do that. Then you won’t have to worry.”

  “No. You need to stay home. Please. I don’t want you to go!”

  Zach lifted her into his arms as her sobs increased. “It’s all right, sweetie. Don’t worry.” He carried her into the family room and sat on the sofa, trying his best to comfort the little one. He couldn’t find words so he simply held her and let her cry. Finally she calmed down.

  “I have to fly today, Linney Bug, because I have a very special passenger. It’s a doggie.”

  Linney wiped her eyes. “A puppy?”

  “Well, no, she’s fully grown but she was lost and someone here found her and I’m going to fly her back home to be with her owners.”

  Linney’s eyes were suddenly wide with interest. “To her mommy and daddy?”

  He hugged her. “Yes, so you see, I have to take her home, but I promise I’ll call you when I get there and I’ll be home before you know it.”

  Sophie joined them and offered her a cookie. Linney took it, taking a bite between the hiccups that had started.

  “Come on. Let’s go get dressed.” Katie took her sister’s hand and led her upstairs, reminding her of the fun they would have at the clothes closet today.

  Zach rested his elbows on his knees. “Maybe I should tell Hank to find someone else,” he said to Sophie.

  She sat on the coffee table facing him. “No. You need to go. Linney has to learn that people can go away and come home again. It’ll take time, that’s all. I’ll talk to her today and see if I can reassure her.”

  “Good, because I never know what to sa
y. Talking has never been my thing.”

  Sophie grinned. “I’ve noticed. Was that true, what you told her about the dog?”

  “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t lie to her. Hank helps out an organization called Pilots and Paws. They volunteer their time to fly animals around the country.”

  Sophie raised her eyebrows. “For vacation?”

  He laughed. “No. Mostly it’s returning lost pets or pets that have been adopted online and need to be transported to their new owners. Sometimes it’s an injured dog that needs to go to a specialized veterinary facility.”

  A warm light appeared in Sophie’s eyes, turning the hazel to a soft shade of green. “That’s so very sweet. Have you done this before?”

  He shook his head. “It’s my first. I never had the time to help out before. It’ll be a new experience having a passenger who barks.”

  “At least you won’t have to talk to it.” She winked at him as she walked away, leaving him feeling giddy.

  But Linney’s reaction to his flight lingered in his mind the rest of the morning, intruding into his preflight check. It was all he could do to focus and complete the safety check.

  Thankfully his furry passenger arrived on time and he was able to lose himself in flying the Citation. Being in the air, above the clouds, defying gravity freed his mind from all problems. He always felt a need to pray, to express his gratitude for the blessings the Lord had given him. Having the chance to raise his brother’s kids was an honor and he wanted to do the best job possible. He had a lot to learn, but he knew the Lord would be there to help guide him.

  Surprisingly, Sophie had become his guidepost, as well. She pointed out things he could do to deal with unexpected situations. Like calling Linney when he arrived in New Orleans; he wouldn’t have thought to do that. She really was amazing with the kids.

  She was amazing in a lot of ways.

  * * *

  Sophie’s cell rang early the next morning before she’d even dressed. The name on the screen made her smile. Angela. They hadn’t spoken in a while and Sophie quickly accepted the call, eager to hear her friend’s voice.