Читать книгу Second Chance Family - Margaret Daley - Страница 10

Whitney automatically glanced down at her wrinkled attire, dirty from moving all day, and frowned. When she found herself finger-combing her hair, her anger rose. Why did she care how she looked? She looked like a person who had been working hard.

She wrenched the door open, ready to tell Shane she was too tired for company. The instant she saw his smiling face, then Jason next to him, both holding containers of what appeared to have food in them, the words fled her mind. Even covered, the aroma wafting from the dishes made her stomach rumble.

“We saw Noah leaving while Jason and I were going for our bike ride. He said you moved in today and grumbled something about you didn’t have much food yet, so how did you think you were going to eat tonight? So here we are with your dinner. Aunt Louise always makes too much for just us to eat.” Shane held up his casserole dish. “It’s pot roast with vegetables. And Jason has a salad. If you aren’t hungry right now, it can hold until tomorrow.”

At that moment her stomach growled. “I guess that’s your answer. I’m hungry. Come in, you two.”

“I don’t want to impose. I just wanted to bring by a welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift.”

Jason finally peered up at her, his gaze lighting up when it encountered her hair, which she’d taken down from her ponytail a while ago. “Pretty.” Moving into the apartment, he touched the strands that had fallen forward over her shoulder.

“Well, I guess we’ll come in.” Shane crossed the threshold, taking the container from his son. “Where do you want these?”

“Kitchen.” She gestured toward the area off the living room while making her way toward one of the few places she could sit in the apartment.

When she settled on the sofa, Jason took the seat by her and occasionally grazed his fingers across her hair. When the boy’s gaze fell upon Calico perched on a box, he leaped to his feet, hurrying toward the cat. Her pet watched the child’s quick approach but remained put. Jason picked up Calico, burying his face in her fur.

“Is that okay?”

“Sure, Calico loves kids. She had to learn fast when she was at the refuge and with Noah’s children.”

Empty-handed now, Shane approached her. “We won’t stay. It wasn’t that long ago I moved into our house and know how tired you have to be.”

“You two have had dinner?”

“Yeah, before we headed out on our bike adventure.”

Jason caught sight of a box with some yellow lettering on it. Hopping up with the cat cradled in his arms, he made a beeline for the container and traced the colored words on the cardboard.

“I noticed Jason wasn’t in class on Friday when I stopped by.”

“We’re taking it a little bit at a time. I’m hoping I’ll be able to leave him sometime next week.”

“You sound like you expected it to go faster.”

“I can always hope. He’s been doing well with his therapist, and there are even times he can handle a little change in plans.” Shane lounged back against some boxes stacked along the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. “But I know this isn’t a little change. He needs a reason to want to stay.”

“I could meet you on Monday and escort you two to the classroom, maybe distract him while you leave. What else does Jason like besides yellow and cats?”

“Actually any kind of animal.”

“That’s wonderful. Mrs. Bradley told me she was getting a rabbit over the weekend for the class. Maybe I could get him involved with the rabbit.”

“That might be enough.”

“Has he ever gone out to Stone’s Refuge to the barn with the animals?”

Shane shook his head.

“You ought to take him. Peter and Laura have a wonderful collection of all kinds of animals, mostly abandoned and in need of love.” Was that the reason she was drawn to Stone’s Refuge and the barn? There had been so many times in her life she’d felt that way. Stone’s Refuge was a place where children for whom the state couldn’t find foster parents were placed.

“I’ll have to ask Peter about visiting with Jason when I’m out there next time.”

“Do you go often?” She’d never seen him there even though she’d known he worked with some of the kids.

“Occasionally, especially when I want to see a child I’m counseling in his normal environment.” Shane pushed to an erect stance. “We’d better let you eat. It’s getting close to Jason’s bedtime and his ritual takes a while to get him ready to go to sleep.”

Whitney stood. “It sounds like routines are important with Jason.”

“Yes, but then with most children they are, just more so with him.” Shane turned toward his son. “Jason.” He didn’t continue until he had his child’s attention. “We need to go home, buddy.” Shane strode to the front door and opened it, then waited for Jason to put down the cat.

Reluctantly, his son let go of Calico and hurried out of the apartment and down the stairs.

“Good night, Whitney, and welcome to the neighborhood.”

“Thanks for the dinner.”

Shane followed Jason who paused next to Whitney’s car and ran his hand along its length.

Swinging around and backpedaling, Shane looked up at her. “Was it fixed okay?”

“Yes. Actually I think it runs even better,” she said, leaning against the wooden railing on her small porch.

“That’s wonderful. At least something good came out of what happened on Monday.” Shane faced forward and took his son’s hand before heading across the street toward his house.

Whitney watched them until they disappeared from her view, the dim light of dusk settling over the neighborhood. The August heat of an Oklahoma day still lingered in the air. A cardinal chirped in a nearby maple, its bright red coloring vivid among the green foliage. The scent of the honeysuckle bush beneath her porch along the side of the garage sweetened the warm breeze that blew.

The move today had made her aware of just how much her life was changing—like Jason’s. Maybe they could help each other through the change.

Returning from the grocery store after coming home from church, Shane drove past Whitney’s apartment, his gaze straying to it. Was she busy unpacking? He remembered all the unopened boxes stacked in her living area the night before. Did she need help? Was her family going to help today?

He had to agree with his son about her hair. The color was a rich, deep gold. It fell in thick waves about her shoulders, inviting a person to caress it as if it were a waterfall of sunshine.

And why in the world was he even thinking about her? She had a Do Not Disturb sign hanging around her neck. She didn’t trust others. He knew that in his gut because he had recognized the defensive signs, a certain wary look in the eye, an “I want to do everything myself” attitude, because trusting meant putting yourself out there to be hurt.

He also knew a little about not trusting. When Becka, his pregnant wife, had been killed in a house fire, he’d gone through a period where he’d backed away from family and friends. Then Aunt Louise had appeared at his doorstep and shown him the importance of trusting in the Lord. Once he had turned to Him, the rest fell into place. Yes, there were times he was disappointed in others or hurt by them, but the alternative was worse—cutting yourself off from people, especially the ones who really cared about you. But having been deeply in love with his wife, he never wanted to feel that kind of loss ever again.

He was perfectly content to focus on Jason. He’d grown to appreciate his son and his unique perspective on life. Jason was his life now.

So why couldn’t he stop thinking about Whitney?

Pushing the question from his mind, he parked in his driveway and climbed from his vehicle. He grabbed the sack with bread and strawberry jam he’d gotten at the store for his aunt so she could fix Jason’s lunch and headed toward the front door. Inside silence greeted him. Too quiet. Usually the radio in the kitchen was going or the television in the den. Or Jason was jabbering to his aunt or one of his toys.

Had Aunt Louise taken Jason out? Shane moved toward the kitchen, his aunt’s domain and where she spent a lot of time. Just inside the door Shane glimpsed his son in the den, sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor, rocking back and forth with a broad grin on his face. Shane’s gaze swept the kitchen. No Aunt Louise.

Moving toward the den, he scanned that room. His gaze came to an abrupt halt a foot from his son. Hidden from his earlier perusal Aunt Louise lay on the area carpet.

Shane raced to her and felt her pulse. He breathed a sigh when he got one. Digging in his pocket for his cell, he punched in 9-1-1 while he looked over at his son to make sure he was all right. Jason still smiled, as though nothing was wrong. In his mind it wasn’t.

After giving the operator the necessary information and asking that the siren not be used within a few blocks of the street, he turned to his son again. Sirens, like thunder, would upset Jason.

“Why don’t you go watch Animal Planet in my bedroom?” Shane didn’t want him to witness the EMTs taking Aunt Louise away.

“Can Auntie watch?”

Knowing Jason, when someone’s eyes were closed, he would think she was sleeping, not hurt. “Maybe later.”

As his son left the den, Aunt Louise’s eyes fluttered open. She stared at Shane, her forehead wrinkling. “What am…” She tried to rise to a sitting position but instead wilted back against the carpet. “Why—am I—on the floor?” she murmured, bringing her hand to her head and covering her eyes for a few seconds.

“That’s a good question. You don’t remember?”

Her hand slid away from her face. “I—No.”

A few minutes later when the doorbell rang, Shane sighed. “That’s the paramedics. I called 9-1-1. Be right back.” He hurried to the front door and let the two EMTs inside. “She’s in the den. She’s awake now but groggy.”

“What happened?” the tall one asked.

“I don’t know and neither does she.”

“Is she diabetic? Have a heart condition?”

“No, not that I know of. The only thing she’s had problems with is arthritis in her knees.”

Shane hung back while the EMTs worked on Aunt Louise and put her on the stretcher. Before they wheeled her out the door, Shane took his aunt’s hand. “I’ll be right behind the ambulance. They’ll take good care of you.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m in the Lord’s hands.”

The second the ambulance pulled away, Shane went to get Jason. He’d rather not take him to the hospital, but he didn’t want to take the time to find a babysitter. What if his aunt had had a heart attack and had another one before he could get there? He didn’t want her to be alone. He owed her so much.

When Shane went upstairs and into his bedroom to round up Jason, it was empty. He checked the master bathroom, then went to Jason’s room across the hall. Again his son was nowhere in sight. Trying to remain calm, he hurried through the rest of the house, calling his son’s name over and over.

Fifteen minutes later, frantic, he headed out the kitchen door to see if Jason was in the backyard. The phone rang, the sound jerking Shane back around and into the house. He snatched it up while glancing out the bay window in the breakfast nook.

“Shane, this is Whitney. Jason showed up at my apartment. He was downstairs touching my car. I figured you didn’t know he came over.”

He collapsed into the chair nearby, dropping his head in relief. “No, I didn’t. I’ll be right over.”

When Whitney opened the door to reveal Shane on her stoop, her heart twisted at the sight of the man, pale, his hair tousled, his expression drawn and worn.

“I called you as soon as I saw him.” Whitney stepped to the side to allow him to enter.

“I really appreciate that. This hasn’t been a good day.” Shane’s gaze slipped from her to find his son on the couch, writing on a yellow pad while Calico pressed up against his thigh.

“He’s drawing a picture of my cat for me.” Whitney closed the door and moved toward her kitchen area, the sound of Jason’s pencil strokes and Calico purring echoing through the apartment. “I know it’s almost one, but do you want some coffee?”

“No, I can’t stay. Aunt Louise was just taken to the hospital in an ambulance.”

The love and concern for his aunt filled Shane’s eyes and tugged at her. That was what she and her brother were beginning to develop. “What happened?”

“I came home from going to the store and found her on the floor in the den, passed out. I don’t know what happened, and when she came to, she didn’t, either.” Shane stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I sent Jason into another room so he wouldn’t see the paramedics take my aunt away. He left the house instead. I didn’t even hear the front door opening. When I couldn’t find him…” What little color he had leached completely from his face.

The urge to comfort strong, Whitney placed her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry. I can only imagine the horror of finding your child gone.” And he still had his aunt to see about. “Let me help you. I can watch Jason while you go to the hospital if you want.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. Look at all you have to do.” He gestured at the stacked boxes.

“First, you didn’t ask me. I’m volunteering, and I don’t volunteer unless I want to. Second, I have to go to Stone’s Refuge today, and I think Jason would enjoy it. I want to show him the animals in the barn.”

“You’re going to the farm when you have all this to unpack?”

“I do every Sunday afternoon, and this will be here when I get back. It isn’t going anywhere.” She grinned, remembering how neat and tidy his home was and wondering if it was Shane more than Aunt Louise.

“I can’t imagine living out of boxes for more than a day. I don’t do well with chaos.”

“And I have acquired more chaos than I thought possible this past year.” Because her brother had showered her with gifts until she’d had to cry uncle. “Chaos, that is, if I emptied every one of these,” her arm swept toward the stacks in the living area, “and didn’t put anything away. However, a little chaos is okay sometimes.”

He arched an eyebrow. “If you say so.”

“Has Jason eaten?”

“No, in fact, that’s why I made an emergency run to the store. He had gotten into the jam and bread sometime since yesterday so there wasn’t any for a sandwich for him.”

“What does Jason like to eat?”

“Two things. Peanut butter and strawberry jam or a hamburger from Lucky’s Drive Thru.”

“Oh, he has good taste. Nothing beats Lucky’s hamburger. Don’t tell Noah I said that.”

“I’m trying to expand my son’s tastes to other foods, but I’ve not had much success yet.”

“That’s all he eats?” Whitney again looked over at the boy who was still happily doodling on the yellow pad.

“For lunch. He’ll only eat certain dishes for each meal.”

“Interesting. I don’t know much about autism.”

“Routine and order is very important to him.”

And to Shane? Her life had never had much routine or order to it. Since coming to Cimarron City, however, she’d acquired some of both.

“I’d better be going. I told Aunt Louise I would be there for her.”

“Go. If I run into a problem, I’ll let you know.”

“If anything happens, I can be there in twenty minutes.”

“It shouldn’t. We’ll go to Lucky’s then Stone’s Refuge. We’ll be there most of the afternoon.” She covered the few steps to her door while Shane strode to his son and knelt in front of him.

Clasping both upper arms, Shane waited until he had Jason’s attention. “I need to leave for a while. Whitney is going to watch you. She’s taking you to Lucky’s for a hamburger then to see some animals at a farm. Okay?”

His son peered at her. “Like yellow hair.” Then he dropped his head and began drawing again.

Shane came toward her. “I think everything will be all right. Call, if it’s not. Aunt Louise will understand if I have to leave.”

“Will do.” Whitney stepped out onto the stoop with him. “Don’t worry about him. If he loves animals, he’ll enjoy the farm.”

“Thanks.” He glanced toward the entrance. “Are you sure about this?”

“My brother keeps telling me I need to learn to accept help. Guess what? You should, too.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, my aunt tells me that. I’ve had to learn with Jason.”

She turned him around and gently pushed him toward the stairs. “Go. Make sure Louise is all right.”

Down below Shane peered up at her. “What if this takes longer—”

“Dr. McCoy, goodbye. I’m going inside.” She determinedly pivoted away from him and headed back inside, but before closing the door, she glimpsed him jogging away. What happened to Shane’s wife? How had she died? There was a lot about him that was appealing and attractive. Were Jason and his problems the reason Shane hadn’t remarried? Or something else? It was clear he hadn’t moved on after five years because he still wore his wedding ring. Did he use it like a suit of armor to protect himself?

She wouldn’t ask those questions aloud. It wasn’t her business. But that didn’t stop her from wondering about them.

The second they entered the barn at Stone’s Refuge, Jason saw a large mutt near the tool room, eating his food from a metal bowl. The boy raced toward the dog before Whitney could grab him and hold him back. Plopping down on all fours by the animal, Jason stared at it. The mutt fixed his gaze on the child, only a few inches separated their noses.

Whitney started forward to get Shane’s son before the dog bit him. A hand stopped her. She glanced back at Peter Stone, the man who had founded Stone’s Refuge for children in the foster-care system. He and Noah had bonded while they lived together in a foster home as teens.

“Wait, see what the dog does. He’s been gentle and good so far with the kids here.”

“I didn’t see him last week. How long has he been here?”

“About five days, but you should have seen Jacob’s son hanging off him yesterday. Took it like he’d been doing it all his life.”

The mutt and Jason assessed each other for a good three minutes before the dog buried his head in his bowl and ate his food. Still down on all fours, the boy just watched and waited. When the mutt finished with his meal, he swung toward Jason and licked his face. The child laughed.

That sound, loud and robust, wormed its way into Whitney’s heart.

“Are you going riding with the kids today?”

Since the spring when Peter had taught her to ride a horse, she’d been going with a group of children from the refuge each Sunday afternoon and whenever she could work some time into her schedule. “I don’t know with Shane’s son here.”

“I can watch him. Shane goes to my church, and I’ve been around Jason for the past several years. But maybe he’ll want to go riding, too.”

“Does he know how?”

“Not that I know of. He’s never been here, and Shane’s hasn’t said anything to me about it.”

“Then is that a good idea?”

Peter nodded toward the child. “It’s obvious he loves animals.”

Jason patted the mutt, rubbing his face against the dog’s.

“You know how good animals are therapeutically. Why do you think I keep so many? The kids here respond to them, often before they do with an adult at the refuge.”

“Yeah.” She’d known personally how they were for her. There was a connection between her and certain animals she couldn’t explain. Being with them was calming. When she rode, she didn’t think about her problems. She just enjoyed the experience. And Calico was whom she told all her troubles to.

“You don’t have to go far from the barn. The other children won’t mind. You’re taking the younger ones today.” Peter started toward a stall. “We have some time before the other kids arrive. Let’s see what Jason does on a horse.”

A minute later Peter brought a small chestnut horse out into the main part of the barn and put a saddle on it. The movement caught Jason’s attention. Still on all fours, the boy’s eyes followed everything that Peter did.

Whitney covered the distance between her and Jason. “Would you like to ride with me in the paddock?”

His large brown gaze fastened onto her. He took her hand and led her toward the horse.

“I guess that’s a yes,” she said with a laugh.

Whitney quickly retrieved the gray mare she always rode from a stall and prepped her. She’d fallen in love with Princess Leia the first time she’d come to the barn last December. The mare’s previous owner had abused the horse, but with a lot of love, Whitney had won the animal over. After securing the leather straps around her middle, she dug into her pocket and removed the carrot she’d brought to give to Princess Leia. They were kindred spirits.

Whitney scratched her behind her ear, something she’d discovered the mare enjoyed. “Are you ready? I’ve missed you this week. I didn’t get to come see you Wednesday evening. I was helping out at a cottage. Hannah was short staffed.”

When she looked toward Peter to see if Jason had mounted and was ready, she discovered the child’s gaze focused on her, taking in everything she did. She smiled at the boy who still hadn’t gotten into the saddle.

“Okay, Jason. Let’s get you up on Big Red.” Peter moved to help the child mount.

Jason scrambled to Whitney’s side and clung to her. “Let me see if I can get him up. He doesn’t know you.” There was a part of her that was amazed she said that as though she really knew Jason well.

She led the boy back to Big Red and patted the gelding’s side. “Jason, you can pat him, too, just like Calico.”

Tentatively the boy reached out and brushed his fingertips over the chestnut’s coat. Jason giggled and looked up at Whitney. Her hands about the child’s small waist, she lifted him onto the horse.

Clutching the saddle horn, Jason squealed with delight, never taking his eyes off Whitney. She swung onto her mare.

As she rode next to Jason around the paddock, she held the reins to his horse. He wouldn’t let go of the saddle horn, but he beamed with a huge grin and occasionally laughed. As before, the sound was sweet like the mockingbird in a nearby tree. A breeze kicked up, cooling the warmth of the summer sun.

When she came to a halt by the gate into the paddock, she shifted in the saddle toward Jason. “Do you want to go riding in that field?”

He glanced toward where she pointed. “Go, horsie.”

Four children, ranging in ages from seven to eleven, accompanied her and Jason on their ride to the stream. Shane’s son stuck right next to her. He never let go of the saddle horn, and when they arrived at the brook, he wouldn’t dismount.