Читать книгу Take My Hand - Ruth Scofield - Страница 12

Early the next morning, Alexis shoved her feet into her running shoes, tied the laces, then twisted her ponytail under a royal-blue baseball cap. Bending, she engaged in a few stretches. Walking the less than two miles to school wasn’t normally a problem. She’d done it several times last autumn, skipping through bright leaves while dreaming of her wedding plans. Plans that, over the winter, had fallen apart like a handful of dry sand tossed into the wind.

Lately she’d done no more than a desultory lunchtime stroll around the school playground. She had checked her personal disappointment at the door, hiding it behind bright smiles and teasing encouragement as she sauntered among the children. She drew the line at letting her negative emotions affect her school performance. Her kids needed all her positive energies.

Past time to put all that behind her, she mused, and to move on with her life. The physical exercise was good for her. She revved up her resolve. Last night’s half-mile walk home from Mrs. Nelson’s had been a snap.

It’s a good time to talk with You, Lord…. she prayed now.

Switching a few items from her purse to a fanny pack, she tossed her cell phone on her bedside table. No outside distractions today. No chattering children nor classroom demands.

Changing seasons always reminds me of Your design for our personal changes, Father. I’ve been lax in my devotions lately. Please forgive me and help me know which direction You want me to pursue now that I’m single again. This is the second time I’ve nearly married the wrong choice for me. With all the mistakes I’ve made in choosing the wrong men in my life, I don’t think I know any longer.

Sunshine drifted through budding trees to dapple the old sidewalk with shadow lace. It caught her fancy, bringing a smile to her lips. Alexis felt her heart lift in appreciation of the morning’s beauty. Unable to help herself, she dawdled and admired the blossoming crocus in the yard nearest the school.

On this lazy spring Saturday, she expected most people to have a late start to their day. Finding J.D. in the school parking lot before her surprised her.

She quickened her step. His long, lean back was bent over her motor, and she could see only the curve of his face. He wore a dark, aged T-shirt that stretched along his shoulders and biceps as he moved. It stirred her senses. He reminded her of a calendar she once had in college that featured gorgeous blue-collar males. Firemen. Cops. Construction workers. All clothed and tastefully done, but nonetheless shining examples of male beauty.

Swallowing hard, she silently lamented, Lord, this isn’t helping. Why can’t I see attraction in the right man for a change? I didn’t even think Ron was this cute at first, and he had a few of the qualities I’ve been looking for. This guy is so off-the-mark for me….

From what she could see, he didn’t fit a single thing she wanted in a life mate. Short-tempered. Short on advanced education. Limited horizons.

Although to be fair, she didn’t think J. D. Sullivan short on intelligence—he just didn’t apply it to help himself much.

She had a mental list of the qualities, interests and goals she wanted—hoped and prayed—to share with a husband. Truth be known, she had a written list, too, one she’d made out at twenty. And revised at twenty-five. Now she’d have to look at it again, she supposed.

But all in all, there was something different about this man. J. D. Sullivan had an element she had yet to put her finger on.

He glanced up at that moment. In the sunlight, his brown eyes glinted with golden sparks. His mouth moved. Not in a smile exactly, but with an involuntary acknowledgment of her presence.

It was quickly hidden before he said, “Almost got it done.”

She glanced away, letting her gaze rove the school yard. “Where’s Cliff? I thought he’d be here with you this morning.”

“He’s right—” J.D. stopped what he was doing and shrugged. After glancing around, he let out a disgusted breath. “Well, he was there a minute ago. On his skateboard.”

He stuck his head back under the hood, mumbling. “That boy is just asking for it. I’m likely to lock him in his room and throw away the key if he keeps this up. Told him to stay close by, but he keeps disappearing on me. Kid can’t seem to follow the simplest orders.”

A flare of irritation shot up her body. She tried to tamp it down, realizing she did not know the circumstances of their situation. This adjustment was extremely difficult on both of them, and it touched a sympathetic chord in her. But…how dare J.D. treat his son with such flippant lack of concern? Didn’t he love the child at all? Didn’t he care what the boy got himself into? Where he went?

Cliff must feel the loss of his mother keenly. How could the child cope with a father who rebuffed him?

Alexis felt so blessed. She’d had a loving set of parents and two older sisters to nurture her through childhood. They accepted her completely. Plus she had a plethora of extended family to fill her life. There never was a time when she hadn’t felt wanted and cherished. Even after her recent breakup with Ron, she’d never doubted her family’s love, nor her Lord’s.

She leaned against the car door, silently praying, Father, give me patience…and wisdom….

Perhaps that was the major problem. Just maybe neither of these two felt loved. According to the paperwork she had, this father and son had only each other. And since they’d just been reunited after a five-year absence, they were near strangers. Perhaps J.D. didn’t know how to love his son. Or even know what it was to love.

You’re the teacher….

Her breath came sharply and lodged uncomfortably just under her breastbone. J.D glanced her way, his expression quizzical.

“Cliff is probably on the other playground,” she said abruptly. Turning on her heel, Alexis went to search for him. “I’ll find him.”

She sprinted around the building to the small playground in back of the original section of the school. Then she rounded the corner, seeing no one. She wasn’t surprised. This field was seldom used anymore because most of the classes found it too small.

She heard children’s voices and noisy activity from up the way. Crossing the street, she hurried along the old broken sidewalk. Still yards distant, she spotted three boys.

It wasn’t a friendly scene.

Skateboard raised high above his head, Randy Brown’s irritated voice floated out to her. Alexis remembered him from last year, her first year of teaching in Sunny Creek. The boy was two grades higher than Cliff, half a head taller and a bit of a bully. He was yelling in strident tones, “You don’t know nothin’, brat, so just stuff it.”

Jason Kell, also two years older and even taller than Randy, stood with arms crossed, glaring at Cliff.

When she strolled up to them, he rolled his eyes in distaste, letting her know his opinion of the younger boy.

Cliff had his back to her. He didn’t seem to notice their ire. He was talking a mile a minute. “I do so. I can do lots of tricks. I watched how they do it out in California. They’re better’n any of you guys. They have a monster track. I’m going to be a champion and stuff, just like them. You wait to see.”

Her first instinct was that she’d arrived just in time. It was clear that Cliff had worn out his welcome.

As she smiled at the older boys, she saw recognition of her teacher’s status flash across Randy’s face.

“Hi, guys.”

They mumbled a hello. Cliff kept talking.

“Cliff?”

He glanced over his shoulder impatiently. “Yeah?”

She held out her hand. “Let’s go. Your dad wants you.”

“He’s busy doing something else,” he protested. He dropped his skateboard, stepping up and pushing off to ride the length of the concrete drive. Away from her.

“Yes, but he wants you now.” She firmed her tone. “Come along, we need to go.”

The skateboard hit a bump and tipped. Cliff jumped off awkwardly, barely avoiding a fall. Randy and Jason snickered.

Cliff glared with all the ferocity of a wolf pup.

Alexis hid her sigh. Cliff already sported skinned knees, so she suspected he’d taken a number of recent falls. She didn’t see much of his father’s grace in the boy’s movements. He would have to grow into that, she supposed. It might take a while.

Meantime, he was ripe for all the teasing grief he’d already encountered. If only he didn’t invite it.

She casually moved toward him, not wanting to cause alarm. Yet her movement held command.

“I don’t see why I have to leave.” Cliff’s tone was contentious. “He’s looking at your car.”

“That’s right. But he’s almost through and he needs you.” She tipped her head, giving her statement additional authority. “Now, let’s go.”

Cliff’s face took on all the aspects of the proverbial Missouri mule. But after a moment, he picked up his board and followed her up the terrace to the playground. “I don’t see why I can’t stay here…”

Out of earshot of the other boys, she slowed her step to let him walk alongside of her. “I know you like to ride your board, Cliff,” she said in sympathy. “There will be other times when you can practice.”

“But I wanted to show those guys.” His eyes, even darker that his dad’s, took on a soulful, puppy dog despair.

Feeling a rush of compassion, Alexis reached out and ruffled his hair with affection. “Maybe you will. So…how long have you had your skateboard?”

Although still pouting, Cliff seemed to relax. After a moment, he moved closer, making an effort to match his step with hers while he chattered about the thrills of skateboarding.

As they arrived at the car, J.D. wiped his hands and glanced up. His bright gaze questioned, but he asked nothing about where she’d found the boy.

“Is it ready?” Alexis asked.

Cliff let his board clang to the asphalt and shot away.

“Nope. Needs more than just a new water hose. You should have it checked over thoroughly before you drive it.”

“Oh…” Disappointment washed over her. She’d have to arrange for a few rides until her car was running again. She couldn’t afford to trade this one in just yet. “What’s wrong with it now?”

“Don’t know for sure. But Bill, from the car repair over at Fifth and Main, most likely can tell you. Reckon you can get a loaner from him if you need to.”

“Oh, well. That will have to do, I guess.”

“I’m hungry,” Cliff complained, coming up to them. “You said we’d eat real soon.”

“You haven’t had breakfast?” Alexis asked.

“Nothing in the house but boring old cereal,” Cliff complained.

“Better than nothing, Cliff,” J.D. stated. “If you were really hungry, you’d eat it.”

Alexis glanced at her watch. Almost nine. Around them, the neighborhood activity had begun to pick up.

“Are you late in opening your shop?” she asked J.D. What did those initials stand for, anyway?

“Not really.” He picked up the last of his tools and slammed the hood closed. “Don’t open till ten most days in the off-season. Come summer, I’ll open at nine on Saturdays.”

The day yawned before her, long and empty. Oh, there were always household chores and laundry to do. School papers to grade. But she’d counted on driving to the outlying shopping center to find a new spring outfit, and now that she couldn’t do that, she felt she couldn’t stand to be indoors on such a fine spring day.

“Then, let me buy you two breakfast,” she offered impulsively. “It’s the least I can do to thank you.”

J.D.’s mouth tightened as he bent to his toolbox. He took out some cleaning gel and squirted a dollop into his palm. “That’s not necessary. Just helping you out.”

“I appreciate that, to be sure.” Alexis watched J.D. rub his palms together, then smooth the gel over his fingers. He took particular care around his nails, she noted.

“But I’m hungry, too,” she insisted. “And Cliff has worked up quite an appetite, I’ll bet.” She turned to the boy. “Do you like pancakes?”

“Uh-huh.” Cliff gave her a curious look, bright with anticipation.

“Then, how about the Pancake House in the old part of town? They offer steak and eggs, too. A hearty breakfast to last the day is always good. I’d say you earned it.”

She waited for J.D.’s answer, noticing the gleam in his eyes, and wondered what she’d let herself in for. But what could it hurt? It was only breakfast, and they all needed to eat. Besides, this was for Cliff as much as anything. If she could do something to make Cliff’s adjustment to his new environment easier, then she helped herself as well, right? He’d do better in class.

“Sounds okay by me,” J.D. said. He flashed a smile that sent her tummy into a wild, dancing dip. Oh, mercy… What had she gotten herself into?

There was no way she could back out now. She’d feel a fool. She’d simply make the best of it.

J.D. closed his toolbox and placed it in his truck. Then he held the door wide. “Hop in. After breakfast we can run by Bill’s place and see when he can work on the car.”

Whether the truck was ever meant to accommodate a small person, Alexis had no idea. The step up left her no dignity, she mused as she stared at it. But at least this time she was better prepared.

His hand came under her elbow, lifting her into the front seat. Cliff climbed in beside her, his thin body taking more space than she’d suspect. J.D. slid in under the wheel, his shoulder brushing hers as he turned the ignition key. A masculine fragrance tickled her nose, making her wonder what soap he used.

She tried to scoot closer to Cliff’s side of the bench seat, but there wasn’t much room.

“That’ll do it.”

That’s what she was afraid of….

“By the way…” she began, unable to help herself as he paused before pulling out on the street. “Just what does the J.D. stand for?”

This time his grin held a definite impish tilt. “Why, it’s James Dean, ma’am. After that fifties movie star best known for his rebel roles.”