Kitabı oku: «Apprentice Father», sayfa 3

“A man by the name of Clay Adams.” She quickly filled them in on the situation.

“Poor man,” her mother murmured.

“It might be better to go for a more permanent position,” Mark offered as he helped himself to a second serving of roast chicken.

Her older brother had always been the most security-conscious sibling, and Cate wasn’t surprised by his response. In light of his legal training, she also expected him to give her the third degree about Clay—unless Rob beat him to it.

“Sounds like this man could really use your help, though,” her grandfather chimed in.

“The timing is perfect, too, since you’re free now, anyway,” her father added.

“It’s odd how it worked out.” Cate’s face grew pensive. “I mean, he could have gone to any church, but he picked ours. And if he hadn’t spoken to Pastor Bob, I would never have gotten involved. It’s funny how a chance meeting can have such an impact.”

“I’m not convinced it was chance,” her mother declared. “I think it’s all part of God’s plan.”

“Does this guy’s story seem on the up-and-up to you?” Rob interjected.

“Spoken like a true police officer,” Cate teased her younger brother.

“Hey, you can’t be too careful these days.”

“True. But he offered to put me in touch with the police department in his sister’s hometown and her pastor.”

“That’s a good sign,” Rob conceded. “If you ask me, I think you ought to help the guy out. He’s new in town, has no family around and is trying to juggle what sounds like a demanding job with the needs of two kids. Speaking from the perspective of a single male, I imagine he’s in way over his head and sinking fast.”

“I think that’s a fair assessment.” Cate propped her chin in her hand and toyed with her mashed potatoes. “And the children are wonderful. But they need a lot of love and attention.”

“Do you think it might be too much for you?” Her mother gave her a worried look.

“A challenge, maybe. But not too much.”

“You’d be perfect for them,” Michelle declared. “And I could help in a pinch, if things get crazy. It would be good practice.” She patted her swelling tummy.

At her sister-in-law’s comment, Cate smiled. “I think you’re going to have other things on your mind for the next few months. But I appreciate the offer.” She surveyed the table. “It sounds like the family consensus is that I should take the job.”

“It would be the Christian thing to do,” her mother said.

“What do you think, Cate?” her grandfather asked.

She sent him a grateful smile. Her opinionated family could be rather overwhelming, but Pop always managed to inject a subtle reminder that her decisions were, in the end, hers. They’d always been close, and the spry older man had been her staunchest ally when she’d decided to buy a condo despite the protests of her parents and her overly protective brothers.

“I’m going to pray on it a bit, but I think I’m going to do it. I sense a real need here. Besides, like Mom said, it would be the Christian thing to do.”

“Whatever you decide will be the right thing.” The conviction in Pop’s tone ended the discussion. “Now where’s that homemade apple pie?”

As the conversation shifted, Cate looked around at her family, the support system that had gotten her through the tough times. She’d always known she could count on them to lend a helping hand. That was a great blessing. One Clay Adams didn’t have.

Perhaps, as her mother had suggested, their “chance” meeting today hadn’t been chance at all, but part of God’s plan. If it was, her decision seemed clear. But it couldn’t hurt to ask for guidance.

Lord, if You don’t think I’m the best person for this job, please let me know. And if You do want me to take it, I ask for strength and wisdom as I deal with these traumatized children. Because helping them heal, giving them a sense of security, bringing joy and laughter back into their lives, will be the biggest challenge of my career. And I don’t want to fail.

Chapter Three

“We’re going to the park tomorrow to fly a kite,” Emily told Clay as she handed him a dinner plate to add to the load in the dishwasher.

He rinsed the plate. “We don’t have a kite.”

“Yes, we do. Cate stopped at the store today and got one.”

Clay frowned. He’d told Cate to keep track of expenses, but ten days into the job she’d only requested reimbursement for groceries. Although he hadn’t asked her to take on shopping and cooking chores, he was grateful she had. His kitchen was now stocked with fresh vegetables, healthy frozen entrees and home-cooked casseroles.

But if she was buying other things—like kites—for the children, he needed to pay her back for those, too. He made a mental note to discuss it with her.

Clay picked up the plate of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies from the table…another perk of Cate’s employment.

“Emily and me helped make those,” Josh offered.

“You did a great job, buddy.” Clay smiled and took another cookie. “They’re the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. Did you see how many I ate?”

“Bunches,” Josh said.

The corners of Clay’s mouth hitched up. “Too true. Emily, are you finished with your milk?” He reached for her glass.

“No!” Her hand shot out, knocking the glass over and sending a stream of white liquid surging across the kitchen table. Anxiety tightened her features, but at least she didn’t cringe as Josh had when he’d spilled his milk the day after they’d arrived. Clay hoped that meant he was making progress toward his goal of convincing the children that not all men reacted with anger to mistakes, like their father had. But it was slow going.

“I’m sorry.” Emily’s words came out hesitant and soft.

Clay sopped up the spilled milk with a dish towel, dropped into a chair to put himself at her level—a technique he’d picked up from Cate—and held out his hand. He’d discovered that quick movements caused the children to recoil in fear and had learned to let them make the connection.

“It’s okay, Emily. It was a mistake. Easy to fix. We have plenty of milk.”

After considering his outstretched hand, she inched hers across the table. As she made tentative contact, he enfolded her small fingers in his and gave them a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

“Tell me about this kite flying.” He refilled her glass and set it in front of her before sitting back at the table with his cup of coffee.

“We saw some kids flying kites in the park today, and we asked Cate if we could do that, too. She said she was a little…” Emily squinted in concentration, trying to remember the word.

“Russy,” Josh supplied.

“What does that mean?” Emily sent Clay a quizzical look.

“I think she probably said ‘rusty.’” Clay tried to stifle his smile. “It means out of practice.”

“Oh. Anyway, she said she was a little rusty, but we’d give it a try. We stopped at the store and got a kite on the way home.”

“I’ll show it to you.” Josh scampered into the bedroom, returning a minute later with an inexpensive kite kit. “We have to put it together.”

“Do you want to do that now?”

“Can we?” Josh asked eagerly.

“Sure.”

Fifteen minutes later, Clay held the bright red kite aloft for the children to admire.

“Wow!” Josh regarded it in awe. “Cate says we have to run like the wind to make it fly.”

Even though Cate had put her cane aside and was moving much better than the day they’d met, her limp was still apparent. And the children’s legs were too short to allow them to run fast enough to get the kite airborne. How was she planning to get this aloft? Clay wondered.

“When are you going to fly it?” he asked.

“Cate says before lunch.” Josh touched the kite in wonder.

“I’m finished with my milk now.” Emily handed Clay her empty glass.

He added it to the dishwasher. “Okay. Bath time.”

The bedtime ritual was still too unfamiliar to him to be done by rote, but once the children were settled, Clay’s thoughts returned to Cate rather than the unfinished work he’d brought home. He hadn’t known her very long. And he didn’t know her well. Their exchanges had been confined to a few words in the morning and evening, and a quick hello at church on Sunday. But he admired her. Not only for her kindness and consideration with the children, but for her strength and endurance. Despite the harsh, unfair blow life had dealt her, she’d managed to make her peace with it and move on. And she didn’t let it stop her from living as normal a life as possible.

That’s why he was worried. If she wanted to fly a kite, Clay was certain she’d find a way to do it.

But he didn’t want her to get hurt in the process.

Cate knotted the last piece of colorful cotton cloth onto the kite’s tail and held it out for the children to inspect. “What do you think?”

“It’s pretty.” Emily touched it with reverence. “Do you think it will fly?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” She handed it to Pop. “Are you ready to do the honors for this inaugural flight?”

“I haven’t flown a kite in years, but I don’t think I’ve lost the touch. Emily, why don’t you hold the kite. Josh, you take the tail.”

Caution suppressing their enthusiasm, they did as he instructed in silence. Cate was glad she’d asked Pop to help today. Clay had assured her the children’s father hadn’t hurt them, and her own gentle probing with them had led her to the same conclusion. But it was clear they’d been afraid of him. And they’d transferred that fear to all men.

They were better now with Clay. She could see their tension slowly easing when they were around him. Enough that she’d decided it was time to expand their horizons. And Pop was the perfect next step.

“Okay, I think we’re all set,” he declared.

He led the way to the open field, positioning Emily with her hands aloft, lifting the kite into the wind, while Josh took up the rear, holding the tail above the ground. Unwinding string as he walked, he moved a few feet away.

“Okay. On the count of three, let the kite go, Emily. You too, Josh. One, two…” Pop started jogging, “three!”

As Cate watched from a bench, Emily and Josh released the kite and tail, and it soared for a brief glorious moment.

Then it crashed to the ground.

Pop stopped and rewound the string as he worked his way back to the kite. “Don’t worry,” he assured the disappointed children. “They don’t always fly the first time. Let’s give it another try.”

Their second attempt produced the same results. Three tries later, after adding some additional tail and moving to a different spot, they were no closer to getting it aloft. But their less-than-successful efforts had broken down the barriers between the children and Pop. The three of them were now chatting like old friends.

Cate watched as Pop examined the kite. He was in great shape for his age, but she didn’t want him to overexert himself.

“Maybe it’s not a good kite.” Josh examined it in disgust.

“Kite’s fine,” Pop declared, huffing as he checked it over. “Must be the pilot.”

Stepping in, Cate reached for the kite. “Go rest for a minute while I take a look at it.”

He handed over the kite, shook his head and planted his fists on his hips. “Can’t figure it out. Wind’s good. Kite’s strong. Should have flown.”

“Go sit.” Cate grinned and gave him a firm push. “Let the expert take over.”

The twinkle in his eye mitigated his indignant tone. “Expert, huh? I’ll have you know I was a champion kite flyer in my younger days.”

“Okay, okay, you can try again in a minute. In the meantime, go sit.”

“I’ll be back,” he told the children. “We’ll get this baby up yet.”

As he headed for a nearby bench Emily leaned toward Cate and spoke in a whisper. “I don’t think it’s going to fly.”

Cate considered the kite. In general, she didn’t attempt any activity that required her to run, but her leg felt strong today. She wouldn’t have to go far. A few steps, at the most. She was sure she could get the kite to soar with very little effort. The temptation to give it a try herself was too strong to resist.

Ignoring the warning that began to flash in her mind, she turned to the children. “Emily, you hold the kite again. Josh, you take the tail. Let’s show Pop who the real champion kite flyers are.”

The children’s eyes lit up. Cate saw Pop rise from the bench, but she ignored him. “Okay. One, two,” she began to run, “three!”

Emily and Josh released the kite, and Cate ran as she hadn’t run in years. Not with her old grace or speed. But she was running. And it felt great!

Until she stepped onto an uneven spot in the ground and pitched forward.

As Cate fell, she released the kite string and tried to brace herself for the impact. But the new spring grass didn’t offer much cushion from the hard ground. When her hands connected with the earth, a shaft of pain shot up her left arm.

And she knew she’d made a big mistake.

Clay consulted his watch, took off his hard hat, and stuck his head in the door of the construction trailer. “I’m taking an early lunch today, Becky. I should be back in an hour.”

The office manager grinned. “Hot date?”

“Yeah. With a kite.”

“Huh?” She sent him a puzzled look.

“The kids got a new kite yesterday. They were going to fly it before lunch. I thought I’d run over to the park and surprise them.”

“They must be getting under your skin.” She gave him a smirk.

He quirked a brow and ignored her comment. “See you later.”

But she was right, he acknowledged as he drove to the park. The kids were getting under his skin. He enjoyed their innocent questions, took pleasure in eliciting their smiles. And it gave him a good feeling to watch their haunted look fade day by day—thanks in large part to Cate’s gentle ministrations.

He hadn’t had a chance this morning to talk to her about reimbursement for the kite, or quiz her about how she planned to get it aloft. He’d had an emergency page from the job site as she’d arrived and had flown out the door the instant she’d stepped inside. The crisis had kept him busy all morning. But he’d blocked out time to take an early lunch and go fly a kite with them instead of letting Cate put herself at risk.

As he pulled into the park, he slowed his speed, scanning the grounds. He didn’t see Cate, but the movement of an older man rising from a bench caught his attention. His tense posture put Clay on alert, and he followed the man’s line of sight—to Cate and the children.

She was holding the kite, and as he pulled into a parking space he saw the children grasp it. They backed up, and a tingle of apprehension raced down his spine. He set the brake and climbed out of his truck, striding toward the small group as Cate started to run.

Considering her lameness, he was surprised at how fast she could move. His step slowed as his appreciative gaze followed her willowy, jeans-clad form across the spring grass. And the radiant joy on her face took his breath away.

But in the next moment, what little breath remained in his lungs came out in a whoosh as she stumbled and fell. Headlong and hard. His heart stopped for an instant, and then his adrenaline surged, propelling him forward.

Seconds later he was beside her, well ahead of the children or the older man he’d noticed earlier. She had rolled to her side and lay curled into a ball, cradling her hand.

Dropping down on one knee, he touched her shoulder. “Cate?” Her name came out in a hoarse whisper.

She blinked up at him in confusion. “Clay? What are you doing here?”

“I was going to help you fly the kite. I see I’m too late.” She struggled to sit up, but he restrained her. “I’m not sure you should move until we know if you’re hurt.”

“I’m okay.” She shrugged off his hand as she sat. “I just twisted my wrist. I’ll be fine.” She looked over his shoulder and managed a shaky smile. “We almost got it up, didn’t we?”

He turned. Emily had grown pale, and Josh was huddled beside her. The older man stood behind them, a comforting hand resting on each of their shoulders.

“It-it flied real good for a minute.” Josh’s words were quavery.

“Did you hurt your leg again?” Emily sounded close to tears.

“No. It’s okay.”

She attempted to stand, and again Clay restrained her. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He kept his volume low. Partly because he didn’t want to further distress the children. And partly because he didn’t trust his voice.

Angling her head toward him, she opened her mouth to speak…but nothing came out.

Staring into her gorgeous eyes mere inches away, Clay misplaced his voice, too. Fringed by long, sweeping lashes, their green depths were flecked with gold, he realized. And that wasn’t all he noticed. Beneath his fingers, her shoulders felt delicate and soft. A capricious breeze ruffled her hair, and without stopping to think, he brushed it back from her cheek, letting the silky strands drift through his fingers as his mouth went dry.

The older man cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “You okay, honey?”

With an obvious effort, Cate directed her attention behind Clay again, a slow flush creeping across her cheeks. “Yes. I’m fine.” Her breathless reassurance, however, wasn’t at all credible. “Pop, this is Clay Adams. Clay, my grandfather.” As she did the introductions, she glanced at Clay briefly.

Forcing himself to break contact, Clay rose and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise.” Pop’s grip was firm, his eyes shrewd and discerning.

As Cate began to stand, Clay turned to support her. She leaned into him, cradling her wrist, a grimace of pain pulling her features taut.

“We need to have that checked out.”

“No. I have some ace bandages at home that will take care of it.” She tipped her chin up to look at him, her eyes anxious. “Sorry about this. I know my limits, and I try not to take foolish chances, but once in a while I forget. In most cases, I live to regret it. Like today. It doesn’t mean I can’t take good care of the children.”

“I know that.” At the conviction in his voice, the tension in her face eased. Good. He didn’t want her worrying about his confidence in her.

Next, he addressed the children, who were still too subdued and quiet. “Why don’t we all go out to lunch?”

“Could we get hamburgers?” Emily asked, brightening.

“And French fries?” Josh added.

“Sure.” He turned to Cate’s grandfather. “You’re welcome to join us, too, sir.”

The older man, who had been watching the exchange with interest, shook his head. “Make it Pop. Everyone else does. And I’ll take a rain check on the burger. The garden club meeting starts in an hour and I have to swing by the house and pick up a few things.” He bent down to the children, hands on knees. “We’re not going to give up on this kite. On the next windy day, we have a date.”

Emily and Josh sent Cate an uncertain, but hopeful, glance.

“That sounds good,” she agreed with a smile. “And next trip, I’ll stay on the sidelines. I promise.” She aimed her final remark at Clay.

“Maybe I’ll come, too,” he said.

“Our daddy never did anything like that with us.” There was a hint of melancholy in Emily’s tone.

Clay dropped down to balance beside them on the balls of his feet. “That’s too bad. He missed a lot of fun.” Squeezing her hand and ruffling Josh’s hair, he rose. “Okay, let’s see about that lunch.”

As they walked toward the parking area, Clay realized Cate’s limp was more pronounced than usual. But he knew she was making a valiant effort to hide it for the sake of the children, trying to reassure them everything was okay.

He understood her motivation. He felt the same need to protect the kids. While it was a new feeling for him, he found it surprisingly appealing.

Even more surprising, however, was the protective feeling he felt about Cate. That, too, was appealing. But scary. Very scary.

Suddenly she stumbled, lurching against him, and his arm shot out to steady her. She murmured a soft thank-you and tried to move away, but he slipped his arm around her shoulders again.

“Relax and lean on me,” he said close to her ear. “There’s no sense putting any extra strain on your leg.”

For an instant, she stiffened. But in the end she complied—leading Clay to assume she was hurting more than she’d let on. Cate didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who leaned on people very often.

There was no opportunity to analyze her response, however, because all at once Clay felt small fingers slipping into his other hand. Josh looked up at him, one finger in his mouth as he trotted beside his uncle, ready to jerk his hand free if his overture met with a negative reaction.

A wave of tenderness washed over Clay, and he tried to blink away the hot tears welling in his eyes. Mere weeks ago this little boy had been too traumatized to speak, isolating himself from everyone but Emily. While much work remained to be done, Clay knew Josh’s reaching out, testing the waters, was a sign of great progress. That the healing had started. And with the help of the woman beside him, it would continue.

Once in the parking lot, Pop lifted a hand in farewell. “We’ll get that kite up yet,” he promised the children.

As Pop slid into his car, Clay looked at Cate. And tried not to drown in those green pools she called eyes. “Why don’t we take my truck to lunch?”

Cate moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, drawing his attention to them. Once more, his mouth went dry.

“Okay.” Her reply came out in a throaty voice he’d never heard before.

They set off toward his truck, and when Josh tugged free to climb up, Clay felt bereft without the boy’s small hand tucked in his. It was also time to remove his arm from Cate’s shoulder, Clay knew.

But for a man who valued his independence and had avoided commitments for his entire adult life, the oddest thing happened.

He didn’t want to let her go.

It was time for more aspirin.

With a slight moan, Cate swung her legs to the floor and peered at her bedside clock. Three in the morning. She had to be back at Clay’s in four and a half hours, and so far she’d logged no more than two hours of sleep.

Shuffling toward the bathroom, cane in hand and aching all over after her kite-flying caper yesterday, she tried to attribute her sleeplessness to her physical discomfort.

But she knew that was only part of it.

The bulk of the blame rested on Clay.

As she rummaged bleary-eyed through the drawers in the bathroom vanity, she tried to analyze why a man she hadn’t even known existed three weeks ago could wreak havoc on her sleep, filling her nights with restless dreams that left her feeling unsettled come morning.

Early on, she’d attributed her reaction to chemistry. But that didn’t quite ring true anymore. Not that the chemistry wasn’t there, though. Despite the fact that Clay wasn’t the type who usually attracted her, she couldn’t dismiss that stomach flutter thing. It happened every time he was around. Nor could she ignore the way her nerve endings tingled whenever he came within three feet of her.

But it was more than chemistry.

For whatever reason, the rootless, commitment-averse engineer who had zero tolerance for religion and came from a dysfunctional family had touched her heart.

She supposed his innate kindness, demonstrated in simple gestures, played a role in her reaction. Like the rubber toys she’d found propped on the edge of his bathtub. And the Disney night-light he’d installed in the room—his room—where the children slept. And the way he listened to their prayers at night, despite his own feelings about religion. Emily had told her about that.

His unselfishness touched her, too. He slept on an uncomfortable couch. He brought unfinished work home instead of staying late at the office, toiling on it long after the children went to bed. He never failed to take them to church.

There was a lot to like about Clay.

And if things were different…

Shaking the aspirin into her palm with more force than necessary, Cate ruthlessly cut off that line of thought. Things weren’t different. There was no way anything could ever develop between them, no matter the chemistry. For two very good reasons, she reminded herself, as she downed the aspirin in one gulp and headed back to bed.

First, a man like Clay could have his pick of women. He didn’t need to settle for one who was disabled.

Second, even if by some remote chance he was attracted to her, he’d made it clear he had no interest in a serious, committed relationship.

And as far as she was concerned, that was the only kind worth having.

End of story.