Читать книгу The Courage To Dream and The Power Of Love: The Courage To Dream / The Power Of Love - Margaret Daley - Страница 9

“What now?” Rebecca Michaels pulled back from the peephole, a frown marring her tired features.

When she opened her front door to the large policeman, tension whipped down her length. Standing next to the stranger was her son. The policeman’s solemn expression told her the next few minutes wouldn’t be a welcome-to-the-town exchange. She braced herself. “Is there something wrong, Officer?”

“Ma’am, is this your son?”

She nodded, her throat tightening.

“I found this young man behind the grocery store, loitering. He should be in school.”

“That was where he was supposed to be.” Rebecca directed her attention to her nine-year-old, whose features were set in a sullen expression. “What happened, Peter? You left an hour ago for school.”

He dropped his gaze. “I didn’t wanna go.”

“That’s not an option.” Rebecca looked toward the policeman. “I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you. I’ll make sure he gets to school when my baby wakes up.”

The man stuck out his hand. “I’m Gabriel Stone. I haven’t had the opportunity to welcome you to Oakview yet. Sorry it had to be this way.”

Rebecca shook his hand, comforted by the firm feel of his fingers around hers. His handshake conveyed an impression of directness and no-nonsense that was refreshing. “I’m Rebecca Michaels.” She relaxed the tense set of her shoulders.

“Well, ma’am, if you don’t mind, I can take your son to school for you.”

“I wouldn’t want to put you out.”

“No problem. That’s part of my job, making sure the kids stay in school.”

Grateful for his offer, she smiled. “Then great. My other son, Josh, just went down for a nap, and I hope he sleeps for a while.”

The policeman returned her smile, the lines at the corners of his eyes deep as if he smiled a lot. “If you need any help, don’t be a stranger. I live on the next block. I’ve known your grandmother for years.”

As her son and Gabriel Stone turned to leave, Rebecca called, “Come right home after school, Peter. We need to talk.”

The pout that graced her son’s mouth made her wonder if she would have to go out looking for him after school. She started to say something further when Gabriel Stone said, “He’ll be here. I’ll make sure of that, ma’am.”

Rebecca leaned against the doorjamb and watched her son and the policeman walk to the squad car. Gabriel Stone might bring Peter home this afternoon, but who was going to give her the strength to deal with this new problem? She squeezed her eyes closed and wished for the wisdom she would need to handle her eldest. He hadn’t wanted to come to Oakview. He’d let her know that he hated his new school and wanted to go back to his old school in Dallas.

Had she made a wrong decision about coming to her grandmother’s to live? She hadn’t had much choice after her husband walked out on her and the children. Taking a deep breath of the spring-scented air, she relished the quiet of the moment, only the occasional sound of a bird in her grandmother’s large oak tree breaking the silence.

“Rebecca, who was that?”

“Gabriel Stone.” She closed the front door and turned toward her grandmother, who came from the back of the house, her cane tapping on the hardwood floor. She stopped, and with her shoulders hunched leaned on her cane, something she only did when she was really tired. Granny had been up part of the night with her and Josh. The doorbell must have awakened her. “Everything’s okay. You should go back to sleep, Granny.”

“I needed to get up. I never sleep past seven, and here it is nearly nine.”

“You probably never stay up to all hours of the night, either. I’m sorry Josh was so fussy.”

“My child, never apologize for that.” Her grandmother waved her hand toward the door. “I wish you had asked Gabriel in for some coffee. I don’t get to see him nearly enough, especially now that he’s the new police chief.”

Police chief? She’d had no idea she had been talking to the person who ran Oakview’s small police department. He hadn’t said a word. “He’ll be back this afternoon.”

“Did he come over to welcome you to Oakview? That would be just like the boy.”

“No.” Rebecca wished that had been the case. “Peter skipped school.”

“I knew he wasn’t happy, but I never thought he would do that.” Rose Bennett headed for the kitchen. “I think you could use a cup of coffee. You’ve been up quite a while with Josh.”

Massaging the tight cords of her neck, Rebecca followed her grandmother into the most cheerful room in the house. Sunlight from a large bay window bathed the kitchen. The yellow and powder-blue flowered wallpaper, the white cabinets and the polished hardwood floors lent a warmth to the room that Rebecca loved. She remembered spending a lot of wonderful childhood days in this very kitchen, listening to her grandmother’s stories of her family during the Oklahoma land rush. If she could, she would spend most of her time in this room, cooking. She rarely had that kind of time anymore.

Granny retrieved two mugs from the cabinet and brought them to the pine table situated in front of the bay window. “Sit before you collapse. You look exhausted, my dear.”

Rebecca started to argue, then realized her grandmother was right. Weariness clung to every part of her. She could easily slump over on the table and go to sleep. She needed the caffeine to keep her awake so she could finish unpacking. Even though they’d been in Oakview for two weeks, they were still living in boxes. Peter would never feel as though this was his home as long as he had to get his things out of cardboard boxes. She was determined to have them settled completely as soon as possible. Then maybe they would begin to feel like a family again.

Granny poured coffee into the mugs, then took a seat next to Rebecca. “First, how’s Josh? You must have finally managed to get him to sleep.”

“You know Josh. He rarely complains. But his ears are still bothering him. He eventually went to sleep, I think out of pure exhaustion. I worry that his ear infection will spread to his lungs. You know the problems he can have with his breathing.”

“He’s such a sweet baby.” Granny sipped her coffee. “Of course, I’m not sure he’s considered a baby any longer. He’ll be two soon. I wish I could help you more with him.”

“Granny, offering to let us stay here has…” Rebecca swallowed hard, but the tears returned to plague her.

“Child, this is your home, too. Always will be.” Rose patted Rebecca’s hand. “You’re family, and next to God, family is the most important thing in our lives.”

“I wish Craig thought his family was important.” Rebecca remembered a time when their small family had been important to Craig—before Josh was born. When they had been first married, he’d wanted children, but over the years his feelings had changed.

Rose pinched her lips and snorted. “That man will regret leaving you one day, only by then it’ll be too late.”

“We’ve been divorced a year yesterday.”

Rose placed her hand over Rebecca’s. “I know, child. I’m sorry. With faith and time the pain will go away.”

The feel of her grandmother’s small, gnarled fingers over hers comforted Rebecca. “Time might help, but I don’t know about faith, Granny. I think God stopped listening to my prayers long ago. I’ve tried so hard to keep this family together. My sons need…” She couldn’t continue. The heartache of the past few years overwhelmed her, robbing her of her voice and capturing her breath in her lungs.

“It may seem that way, child, but He hasn’t. He has a plan for you. You just don’t know what it is yet.” Rose squeezed Rebecca’s hand. “You’re here with me now. Things will start to look better.”

Drawing in a shallow gulp of air, Rebecca swallowed past the tightness in her throat, determined to hold her family together somehow and reach her eldest son. “Peter’s so miserable. He has never been openly hostile and defiant to me until lately. He used to love school. Now, I have to force him to go.”

“Wait until he makes new friends. He’ll forget all about Dallas.”

Rebecca took several sips of her lukewarm coffee, wishing she had the faith that her grandmother had. When Craig had walked out on them eighteen months ago, she had prayed for help and guidance. None had come. Josh had to have surgery on his heart. The bills stacked up and Craig was slow to help pay for his children’s upbringing. She had to sell the only home Peter had known and finally admit she couldn’t make it in Dallas by herself. She’d returned to the town she’d grown up in Oklahoma.

Rebecca reached to pour herself another cup of coffee when she heard Josh’s crying. Glancing at the time, she realized he hadn’t slept more than half an hour. She pushed to her feet. “I’ll see if I can’t get him back to sleep.”

Her grandmother caught her arm to stop her. “Honey, when God closes a door, He opens a window. Moving back to Oakview is a fresh start for you and your family. This is a wonderful town to raise your children in.”

Rebecca leaned down and kissed her grandmother’s wrinkled cheek. “If that’s correct, then you’re my window, and I appreciate you opening your home to me and my children. Ever since my parents died, you have been my anchor.”

Josh continued to cry. Rebecca hurried upstairs to her bedroom, where he slept in a crib next to her bed. She looked at her youngest who had managed to turn over—finally, after twenty months. His face was beet red, and his short arms and legs were flailing.

“How’s my little man?”

He turned his head toward her, his big brown eyes, slightly slanted at the corners, filled with tears.

“Nothing can be that bad,” Rebecca said, scooping her son into her embrace. He fit in the cradle of her arms, his length no more than a one-year-old’s.

Tears misted her eyes. Blinking them away, she began to sing Josh’s favorite song. He cuddled against her, sleep slowly descending. She would not feel sorry for herself or Josh. That was wasted energy—energy she couldn’t afford to waste.

Gabriel entered the clothing store and strode toward the elderly woman, sitting in an uncomfortable-looking chair with a young man standing over her with a scowl on his face.

When Ben Cross saw him approach, he waved his hand toward the white-haired woman and said, “I want her arrested. She tried to take a watch.”

The elderly lady bristled. “Nonsense. I was admiring the watch, stuck it in my pocket to buy after I had looked around and forgot all about it.”

“Ma’am—” Gabriel began.

“Bess Anderson. You can call me Bess, Officer. All my friends at the home do.”

“Shady Oaks on First Street?”

“Why, yes. You know the place where I live?” She straightened her shoulders, clutching her purse handle with both hands.

The elderly woman reminded Gabriel of a typical grandmother of yesteryear. She was dressed in a floral print dress with sensible walking shoes and a felt hat on her head. All she was missing were white cotton gloves. “Ma’am, how—”

“Bess, please. Ma’am makes me sound so old, which I refuse to be.”

“Bess, how did you get here?” Gabriel ignored the glares Ben was sending him.

“Why, I just walked out of the building and headed for town. I like to shop and haven’t been in a while.”

“Then let me take you home.” Gabriel turned away from Bess and whispered to Ben, “I think this was all a misunderstanding. I’m inclined to accept her word that she just forgot about the watch being in her pocket. Is that okay with you?”

Ben pursed his lips, his eyes pinpoints.

“She’s at least eighty. I can’t see locking her up, Ben.”

The young man sighed. “Okay. This time. This better not happen again.”

Gabriel escorted Bess Anderson to his squad car. While the elderly woman gave him a rundown of her afternoon outing, he drove her the few blocks to the Shady Oaks Nursing Home. As he walked her toward the main building, the director came out the front door, worry carved into her expression.

“We’ve been looking all over the place for you, Bess. Is everything all right?”

“My goodness, yes. I just had a lovely stroll into town, and this nice gentleman offered to bring me home.” Bess continued past the director.

Gabriel shook his head as he watched the old woman disappear into the building. “Bess Anderson is certainly an interesting character, Susan.”

“And a handful. She’s only been with us for a few weeks, and this is the second time she has walked away from the home. I don’t know how she gets out. Thank you for bringing her back. Do you want to come in for some tea? It’s almost four. We were about to have it in the main lounge.”

“I’ll take a rain check. I have a date with a young man at the school. In fact, if I don’t get moving, I’ll be late.”

Quickly Gabriel headed toward the elementary school. He pulled into a parking space just as the bell dismissed the children for the day. He climbed from the squad car and leaned against it, his arms folded across his chest, and waited for Peter Michaels to appear. Gabriel waved to several students coming out of the school, but he kept his gaze focused on the door. He wouldn’t put it past the boy to try to sneak away. Peter hadn’t been very happy this morning when Gabriel had deposited him in the principal’s office before having a brief word with the man.

When the last student filed out of the school, Gabriel straightened and decided to head inside to see if Peter had given him the slip. He took two steps and stopped. Coming out of the building at a slow pace was the child in question. The sullen look on his face underscored the reluctance the boy felt.

Gabriel relaxed against the car and waited. He had a lot of patience, and he had a feeling he would need every bit of it to get through to Peter.

“Glad you could make it,” Gabriel said, and opened his car door.

“This is dumb. I can walk home. It’s only two blocks.”

“I told your mother I would give you a ride.”

The boy’s frown deepened as he rounded the back of the sedan and climbed inside.

Gabriel started the engine and slanted a look toward Peter. He stared straight ahead, defiance stamped in his features. No small talk on this trip, Gabriel thought, and backed out of the parking space.

A few minutes later Gabriel pulled into Rose Bennett’s driveway, and Peter jumped from the car before Gabriel could even switch off the engine. The boy raced for the house and disappeared inside so fast that Gabriel had to admire the child’s quickness. He would be great on the baseball team. An idea formed and grew as Gabriel ambled to the house to pay his respects to Rose and maybe get to see Rebecca Michaels again.

All day he had been unable to shake the image of her wide eyes as she had stared at him. Deep in their blue depths he had glimpsed a vulnerability that touched him to the core. He hated to see someone hurting, and Rebecca was definitely in pain.

Even though Peter had left the front door open, Gabriel knocked on the screen, not wanting to ring the bell since her baby might be sleeping. He heard the sound of Rose’s cane tapping against the floor as she shuffled toward him.

“My goodness, Gabriel, why are you standing out there? Come in. Are you through for the day?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I just made a fresh pot of coffee, and I know how much you like my brew.” Rose reached into the mailbox at the side of the door and retrieved several envelopes.

“No one makes it quite like you.”

He stepped inside and glanced about him at the warmth of the house. Rose was determined to bring the outdoors inside. In every room there were vases of cut flowers from her garden and pots filled with green plants. The house’s clean, fresh scent reminded him of a beautiful spring day.

“Now, that will definitely get you a second cup. I was in the kitchen trying to decide what to fix for dinner. Since Rebecca’s moved in with her boys, we eat early. Why don’t you stay and eat with us tonight?”

“I don’t—”

Rose paused at the entrance to the kitchen, clasping both hands on the cane, her sharp, shrewd gaze directed at him. “I won’t take no for an answer, son. I know for a fact you usually go home at night and eat by yourself in that big empty house of yours. Tonight you can eat with me and my family.”

“Put that way, I can’t refuse. I’ll stay on one condition. You let me help with dinner.” He enjoyed being a policeman in this Oklahoma town. The people had taken him into their hearts and made him feel a part of Oakview when he had moved here ten years before. They had comforted and shared in his pain, too. He would never forget their support.

“I’ll let you share cleanup duty with my granddaughter. Cooking is one of my favorite things. Cleaning up isn’t.”

“It’s a deal.”

Gabriel sat at the kitchen table while Rose retrieved a blue mug from the cabinet and poured him some coffee. The aroma filled his nostrils, easing some of the day’s tension. There was something in Peter’s rebellious expression that concerned him, causing a warning to go off in his brain.

“I noticed you brought Peter home,” Rose said, slipping a look at him while she stood at the stove and browned some ground beef. “Did he say anything to you?”

“Not a word.”

“That’s what I was afraid of. That child doesn’t say much, and when he does he’s always angry.”

“Yep, that about sums up my experience with him.” Gabriel took a long sip of his coffee, relishing the delicious taste of the rich brew as it slid down his throat.

“I’ve been trying to get him to church, but last Sunday I think he deliberately made himself throw up so he didn’t have to go. I don’t know what to do about him, and Rebecca is as lost as I am.” Rose placed the wooden spoon on the counter and began cutting up an onion.

The aromas of cooking meat and fresh coffee reminded Gabriel of the home he used to have when his wife was alive. Now he usually heated up frozen dinners or grabbed something at the diner in town by the police station.

“What’s he angry about?”

“He didn’t want me to move to Oakview.”

Gabriel peered over his shoulder at Rebecca, who stood in the doorway, that haunted look in her eyes again. His natural curiosity was aroused by this woman as he took in her petite build. Short brown hair framed an oval face, and her smooth, creamy complexion was devoid of any makeup. She wasn’t beautiful, but there was something pleasing about her appearance.

“What did Peter say about skipping school?” Rose added the onion to the ground beef and stirred.

“Not much.”

“Is Josh asleep finally?”

“Yes, but I don’t know how long that will last. I hope the antibiotic takes effect soon.”

“What’s wrong?” Gabriel asked, finishing his coffee.

“An ear infection. Can I help, Granny?”

“No. I asked Gabriel to dinner, and he’ll help you clean up. Sit and relax for a few minutes. You’ve been going a mile a minute since this morning.”

Rebecca followed her grandmother’s advice and took the chair at the opposite end of the kitchen table from Gabriel. Closing her eyes, she rolled her head and moved her shoulders. “Well, in between taking care of Josh, I did manage to empty a few more boxes. Only a dozen left.”

Gabriel walked to the coffeepot and filled his mug. The scent of cooking onion saturated the air and made his stomach rumble. “Are you staying long?”

“I’m not sure what my plans are.” She picked up the mail and flipped through the stack of letters.

“Did you receive your check?” Rose turned toward Rebecca, concern in her expression.

Frowning, Rebecca tossed the letters on the table. “No. He’s late again. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Is there something I can help you with?” Gabriel took the seat across from Rebecca, an urge to protect inundating him. In his line of work he often helped strangers, but this was different. He didn’t like to see distress dull her eyes and wished he could erase it.

“No.” Her gaze found his. “There isn’t anything that you can do. My ex-husband is late with his child support. That’s all.” She shrugged as though it were nothing.

Gabriel seriously doubted it was that simple, but he saw the do-not-trespass sign go up and he didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, he said, “I’d like to have Peter come out for the baseball team. I think he has potential.”

“Baseball?”

“He’s quick, and the guys on the team are a great bunch of kids. I help coach a Little League team after school.”

“I doubt you’ll get him to agree. All he wants to do lately is stay in his room and listen to music.”

“Does he like music?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe he could join the church choir. I’m the director. The children perform at the early service and the adults at the later one.”

Rebecca stiffened, her jaw clenching. “You sound like a busy man. When do you have time for yourself?”

“Baseball and music are things I do for myself.”

“Rebecca, you should see the children perform at church. Ever since Gabriel took over a few years back, the crowd of people attending our service has doubled. The choir is wonderful, and Gabriel’s quite a singer. Rebecca used to be in her church’s choir in Dallas.”

He dropped his gaze from Rebecca’s face, feeling the heat of a blush tinge his cheeks. He had never been comfortable with compliments. Singing was a gift God had given him, and he wanted to share it with others, use it to spread His word. God had been his salvation when he had hit bottom after his wife and child died.

Gabriel shifted in his chair. “We could always use another voice. Even if Peter doesn’t want to sing, you’re certainly welcome to join the adult choir.”

Rebecca came to her feet. Feelings of being railroaded into doing something she wasn’t ready to handle overwhelmed her. She had forgotten about how small towns were. All she wanted to do was hide and lick her wounds. She was afraid people like Gabriel wouldn’t allow her to. “I think I hear Josh crying,” she murmured and rushed from the room.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Gabriel said, frowning, not sure what had just happened.

Rose opened a can of kidney beans and one of tomatoes, then dumped the contents of both into the skillet. “I guess I shouldn’t have pushed. Rebecca’s faith has been shaken ever since Craig left her. I know I’m supposed to forgive that man for what he did to my family, but I’m having a hard time. He walked out on Rebecca, Peter and Josh when they needed him the most. All he left her was a note on her pillow. She woke up one morning, and her marriage of twelve years was over.” Rose snapped her fingers. “Just like that.”

How could a man walk out on his family? Gabriel wondered, continually surprised by how easily some people discarded their children and wives when he would give anything to have a family. Memories of his loss engulfed him. Pain constricted his chest, making it difficult to breathe. In a few seconds, three years before, his whole life had been changed because a man had decided to drink and drive.

Gabriel started to say something when he heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. When Rebecca entered, she held a baby in her arms close to her chest. She placed the child in a swing set up in the corner, adjusted some tiny pillows to prop the boy up, then started it. When Gabriel saw Josh’s features, he knew something was wrong.

Rebecca caught him staring at the child. “My son has Down’s syndrome. His second birthday will be in six weeks, and yet he doesn’t look a day over one.”

Gabriel didn’t know what to say to her announcement. She made it sound almost a challenge. Was the child the reason her husband had left? If so, how could he turn his back on one of God’s creations? He would have given anything to be able to hold his own son, to cradle him to his chest. That wasn’t possible, never would be.

“I hope you’re planning a big party. Birthdays are important to children,” Gabriel said, as though he was an expert on children when he had never really experienced the joys of fatherhood. His son had only lived a few hours. A tightness gripped his throat.

Rebecca went to the cabinet to get bowls. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’ve been a little preoccupied lately with the move and all.” She heard the defensive tone in her voice and winced as she withdrew the bowls and closed the cabinet door.

“If you need any help—”

“No, I’m fine.” She cut in, not wanting to hear his offer of assistance when she had never been able to get Craig even to change Josh’s diaper. Again she experienced the stifling need to be alone to deal with the emotions threatening to overpower her. If it had been possible, she would have been better off staying in Dallas where she could get lost in a crowd.

“Rebecca!” Granny turned from the stove with the wooden spoon in her hand and a frown of disapproval on her face.

Rebecca immediately regretted her cool interruption. She attempted a smile that she knew didn’t reach her eyes and said, “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“Go get Peter. Gabriel will set the table for us,” her grandmother interjected.

Thankful to escape the kindness she glimpsed in Gabriel’s dark eyes, she rushed from the kitchen and didn’t slow her step until she was upstairs and outside Peter’s bedroom. Pausing, she inhaled a steadying breath, then knocked on his door.

All she heard coming from the room was the blare of music. She knocked again, louder.

The door swung open, and Peter scowled at her. “I’m not hungry.”

“Then you don’t have to eat. But you do have to come down to dinner and sit while we eat. We have a guest tonight.”

“Who?”

“Chief Stone.”

Her son set his mouth in a firm line. She didn’t know if she had the strength to fight him if he refused to come downstairs. She did need help, but she was alone in this world except for her grandmother whom she didn’t want to burden with her problems. Granny wasn’t in the best of health, having suffered a mild stroke several years before.

Peter pushed past her and stomped down the stairs. Rebecca released her pent-up breath, then took a deep breath and blew it out through pursed lips. She needed to believe everything would work out, but each day she felt the weight on her shoulders growing.

Tears sprang into her eyes. She swiped at one that rolled down her cheek. She didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself. Both Josh and Peter depended on her. Somehow she would hold this family together.

When she entered the kitchen and saw Gabriel sitting at the head of the kitchen table, she came to a halt inside the doorway. He looked at home, holding Josh, supporting his small body in the curve of his arm. Her heart slowed, then began to race at the sight of him smiling at her son. Josh smiled at Gabriel. The large, muscular man dwarfed her son, but the picture of the two of them seemed so right that Rebecca blinked as if she had been caught daydreaming the impossible.

For a few seconds Rebecca allowed herself to wonder how it would feel to have a man like Gabriel Stone supporting her emotionally, loving her children. She shook the thought from her mind. She could only depend on herself to keep this family together.