Life could knock your feet out from under you with a moments notice, she thought. You could have it all, do everything right, pray diligently and live your faith, and tragedy could still happen.
She tightened her arms around the little girl who might have to grow up without her daddy, and she tried not to wonder what awaited her family, the people she loved.
William Corey could see the womanAubreythrough the garden window. His opinion of women was shaky these days, due to his experience with the gender. But he could see how this woman was different.
Maybe it was the soft, thick, golden fall of sunlight through the glass that diffused the scene, like a filter on a cameras lens. That soft brush of opalescent light touched her blond hair and the porcelain curve of her heart-shaped face, making her look like rare goodness.
Or, maybe it was the child in her arms, clinging to her with total trust and need. Whatever the reason, she looked like innocence, pure and sweet.
Stop staring at the woman, William, he told himself and shook his head to clear away all thoughts of her. He popped the crew-cab door of his truck. Sweat dampened the collar of his T-shirt and the black knit clung to his shoulders as he lifted the wrapped frame from his rig. Across the street, a miniature dachshund came racing down from its front porch to bark and snarl, teeth snapping. It halted at the edge of the curb, glaring at him with black beady eyes. Someone shouted for it to shush and the little fellow kept barking, intent on driving William away.
Yeah, I know how you feel, buddy, he said to the dog, who only barked harder in outrage. William didnt like strangers, either. Hed learned how to chase them with off with a few gruff words, too.
As he circled around to the open garage, he caught sight of the woman in the window, framed by the honeyed sheen of the kitchen cabinets. Washed with light, caught in the act of kissing the little toddlers downy head in comfort, she looked picture perfect.
His fingers itched for his camera to capture the moment, to play with light and angle and reveal this pure moment of tenderness. It had been a long time since hed felt this need to worksince Kylies death. It took all his will to drag his gaze from the kitchen window and force his thoughts away from the woman. His days of holding a camera in his hands were over.
So, mister. The boy stood in the open inner door between the garage and the house, a lean, leggy little guy with too-big Bermuda shorts and a shocking-green tank top. His brown hair stuck straight up as if hed been struck by lightning. Tear tracks stained his sun-browned cheeks and had dampened his eyelashes. Thats a present, huh?
For your mom. William softened the gruffness in his voice. He liked little kids, and he figured this one had enough hardship to deal with.
He leaned the framed photograph, carefully wrapped, against the inside wall safely away from the garbage cans and the lawn mower. Ill just leave it here, alright? You make sure your mom gets it, okay? With all youve got going on in your family, it might be easy to forget this is here.
I never forget nuthin. The little boy said with a trembling lip. He gave a sigh that was part sob, sounding as if he were doing his best to hold back more tears. My daddys sick in the hospital.
Im real sorry about that.
Me, too. The kid sniffed once.
William had questions, but he didnt know exactly what to ask. An illness? That didnt seem right; Jonas was the type of guy to hit the gym three times a week without fail. Not that William knew him well.
The little boy looked so lost, holding on to the doorknob with one hand, as if he were hanging on for dear life. What on earth should he say to him?
William stood in the shadows of the garage, as still as the boy, feeling big and awkward and lost. Hed been alone too long, out of the world so long that he wasnt used to making small talk with adults, much less a little boy.
I miss my daddy. You havent seen him, have ya?
No. Sorry. William could feel the kids painit seemed to vibrate in the scorching heat. The silence stretched until it echoed in the empty rafters overhead. How long has he been in the hospital?
A l-long time. The boy scrubbed his left eye with his free hand. For-ev-ever.
William had a bad feeling about this, a strange reeling sense of the present lapping backward onto the past. How old are you, kid?
Im gonna be this much. He held up his whole hand. Daddyll be well, cuz hes takin me to the f-fair. He prom-mised.
William studied the fat gleam of two silver tears spilling down the boys cheeks and felt the sorrow of his own past. Things didnt always turn out well, stories didnt always end happily, and ill loved ones didnt always recover.
Maybe that wouldnt be the case for Jonas.
Faintly, from inside the house, came the womansAubreysvoice. Tyler, close the garage door and come try to finish your supper, okay?
Tyler hung his head and didnt answer. His pain was as palpable as the shadows creeping into the garage and the heat in the July air.
Youd better go, William said, ambling toward the cement driveway, where birdsong lulled and leaves lazed in the hot breeze and the dog across the street was still yapping with protective diligence.
Mister?
The little boys voice drew him back. William stilled. Even his heart seemed to stop beating.
You could p-pray for my daddy so he can come ho-me. Tyler scrubbed his eyes again, took a step back and closed the inner door.
Leaving William alone in the heat and the shadows with an ache in his chest that would not stop.
Chapter Two
Aubrey breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the inside door snap shut and Tyler plod across the linoleum. One problem down, and now shed move to solving the next.
Just eat something, she said softly to him, brushing her fingertips through his hair as he wove past her.
Okay, he said on a sigh and halfheartedly climbed back up onto his chair.
Madison gave a hiccup and relaxed a little more. Good. Aubrey stood in place in the center on the kitchen, gently rocking back and forth, shifting her weight from her right foot to her left. The stinging tracer of pain fired down her left femur, as it always did when her leg was tired, but Aubrey didnt let that stop her, since Madisons breathing had begun to slow. She became as limp as a rag doll. Her fingers released Aubreys shirt, so the collar was no longer digging into her throat.
Aubrey sent a prayer of thanks winging heavenward and pressed another kiss into the babys crown of fine curls. Somewhere outside came the growl of a lawn mower roaring to life. Aubrey didnt know if it was cruel or comforting that the world kept on turning in the midst of a tragedy. That lawns still needed to be mowed and housework done. The gift Jonas had ordered for Daniellenow that was getting to her. She tried to swallow down the hot tears balling up in her throat.
The lawn mower was awfully loud. Either that, or awfully close. Aubrey eased forward a few steps to peer outside, careful not to disturb the sleeping toddler in her arms. The lawn had gone unmowed. Since everyone in the family was so busy juggling kid care and sitting with Danielle at the hospital, there wasnt any time left over for much else.
Not that she minded at all, but she hadnt been to the stables to ride her horse or able to work on her ceramics in her studio. There hadnt been time for normal livingonly working at the bookstore and helping Danielle out afterward. But now that her dad and stepmom were flying in, they wouldnt all be stretched so thin.
Not that she minded at all, but she hadnt been to the stables to ride her horse or able to work on her ceramics in her studio. There hadnt been time for normal livingonly working at the bookstore and helping Danielle out afterward. But now that her dad and stepmom were flying in, they wouldnt all be stretched so thin.
Then she saw him. William. He was wrestling with the mower at the far end of the lawn, lining it up for the next pass. Dappled sunlight gilded his strong profile and broad shoulders as he guided the mower out of sight. For a moment she didnt believe her eyes. He was mowing the lawn?
She knew he was, and yet her mind sort of spun around as if it was stuck in neutral. She could only gape speechlessly at the two strips of mowed lawn, proof of a strangers kindness. A tangible assurance, small but much needed, that Gods goodness was at work. Always.
Dont worry, Aubrey, she told herself. This will work out, too.
She took a deep breath, watched William stride back into her sight, easily pushing the mower in front of him, and she knew what she had to do.
William wiped at the gritty sweat with his arm, but it still trickled into his eyes and burned. He upended the final, full lawn-mower bag into the garage waste bin. It was hot, and although the sun was sinking low in its sky, the temperature felt hotter than ever.
All he wanted was to get into his rig, turn on the air-conditioning full blast and stop by the first convenience store for a cold bottle of water. He gave the heavy bag a shake to make sure all the cut grass was out and a dust cloud of tiny bits of grass and seed puffed into his face. He coughed, and the tiny grit stuck to his sweat-dampened skin. This was why he had a riding mower, not that it would be practical for Jonass patch of lawn.
Jonas. In the hospital. It had to be an extended stay, since William had been leaving messages for the past week and a half or so. Which meant it was a serious deal. Sick at heart, William reattached the bag to the mower and wheeled it against the far wall, out of the way. Every movement echoed around him in the carless garage. There was the photograph, wrapped and propped carefully against the wall. The photograph hed sold to Jonas for practically nothing.
He closed his eyes, and there was the memory, as vivid as real life. Jonas grinning, still in his troopers uniform after a long shift. He was standing in front of the Gray Stone Church, where the united church charities in the valley met for their monthly meetings. Hed produced a hardback book of Williams photographs for his signature.
I really appreciate this, Will, Jonas had said in all sincerity. My wife loves your work. Its a gift for our anniversary. Itll be seven years.
Seven years, William had said while hed scribbled his signature on the title page. Isnt that said to be one of the most critical years?
Sure, Ive heard of folks talking about the seven-year itch or whatever, but I dont get it. Ive got the best wife in the world.
William had remembered, because hed believed Jonas. The man had actually planned for his wedding anniversary a month in advance. Hed been telling the truth about his feelings for his wife. That was rare, in Wills opinion. After all, he knew. Once, the blessing of marriage had happened to him.
Maybe thats why hed offered one of the photographs from his personal stash. He liked to think that the things hed lost in life still existed somewhere. That there was a reason to hope, although hed lost that hope right along with his faith, and a lot of other things.
Standing in the baking heat of Jonass garage, William pulled out his wallet and searched through it until he found a battered business card, which he tucked around the string that held the brown paper wrapping in place. He thought of the little boys sorrow, his request for prayer, and vowed to honor that request tonight. It had been a long time since hed said a nightly prayer.
As he turned to go, the inside door opened. The sisterAubreystood framed in the doorway, one slender hand on the doorknob, poised in midstep. She hesitated, as if she were a little shy, and she made a lovely picture with the child asleep in her arms.
The painful lump was back in his throat. A ghost of memory tried to haunt him, but he wrestled it down. The trick was to keep your heart rock hard.
Oh, good. Im glad I caught you, she said in a voice as soft as grace. Its ninety-six degrees out there in the shade. I have a bottle of cold water, or lemonade. I didnt know which youd prefer.
Sure enough, shed managed to wrap her fingers awkwardly around two plastic bottles, and still cradled the sleeping baby lovingly against her.
Waters fine. Somehow he got the words out.
Thank you for doing this. She stopped to deposit one of the bottles out of sight and breezed toward him with a careful step. You have no idea how much we appreciate it. You must be a good friend of Jonass.
Hes a good man. William glanced behind her at the open door, knowing his voice might carry to the little boy inside. I didnt know he was sick.
Hes not. That was the best way to explain to Tyler. Her answer came quietly. He was shot on duty.
While it hadnt occurred to him, the possibility had been there, in the back of his mind, William realized.
He was doing better, but he suffered something like a stroke a few days ago and now hes in a deep coma.
Not good.
No. Pain marked her face and weighed down that single word. She said nothing more.
She didnt have to. He knew too much about comas. Wished he didnt. Is there anything more I can do for his family?
Prayer. Gods grace is the only thing that will help him now.
What could he say to that? It was the truth, and from his experience, a deep coma was a death sentence. William moved forward to take the bottle of water she offered. He tried not to brush her fingers with his or to notice the stunning violet-blue of her eyes or the shadows within them. He would not let himself think too much on the soft feminine scents of shampoo and vanilla-scented lotion or her loveliness. It wasnt something he ordinarily noticed anymore.
Thanks. He held up the bottle, ice-cold from the refrigerator, and kept moving. Be sure and turn on the sprinkler after I leave. Oh, and I left my number with the package. If his condition changes, will you call me? Leave a message on my machine?
Yes, I will. Thank you again.
He didnt look back or acknowledge her as he strode straight to his vehicle, all business, and climbed in. He didnt look at her as he backed into the residential street or lift a hand in a goodbye wave as he drove away.
Aubrey watched the gleam of his taillights in the gathering twilight and couldnt help wondering who was this Good Samaritan? He hadnt exactly been friendly, but clearly hed thought enough of Jonas to have pitched in with the lawn mowing.
He seemed distant and not exactly friendly. She felt as if shed seen him somewhere before, like in church or in the bookstore her family ran. The look of him was familiarthough not the personality he radiated. That hard steel and sorrow would be memorable.
At a loss to explain it, she went to hit the button to close the garage door and noticed the bright yellow SUV whipping down the curve of the cul-de-sac and into the driveway. Behind the sheen of the sinking sun on the tinted windshield, she could see the faint image of her twin sister busily pulling the e-brake, turning off the engine and gathering her things, talking animatedly as she went, which meant she had to be yakking on her cell phone.