Aubrey kept an ear to the open inside door, where she could hear the drone of the cartoon version of A Christmas Carol that Tyler watched over and over again. Knowing he was safely riveted in front of the television, she waited as the bright yellow drivers-side door swung open and Ava emerged. Her sister Ava was chaos as usual, her enormous purse slung over her shoulder, thick and bulky and banging her painfully in the hip. Yep, she was definitely on her cell, and judging by her shining happiness, she was talking to her handsome fiancé, Brice.
Madison stirred drowsily between wakefulness and sleep, and Aubrey patted her back gently and returned to rocking again. She watched as her sister gave her a welcoming wave, shut her SUVs door, then opened it and extracted her keys from the ignition.
Oops. Ava grinned, keeping her voice quiet as she shut the door. Youve got Madison half-asleep.
Working on it. Aubrey kept rocking, full of questions that would have to wait for later, she thought. Even if Tyler was momentarily distracted, any long discussion would have the little boy hurrying to come listen. But not all of her questions had to wait. I take it that Dad and Dorrie are with Dani?
Yep, so the rest of us figured wed let the parents stay with Danielle through the night, and well take turns relieving them tomorrow. Ava dragged her feet in exhaustion as she came closer. Brice said he can take the kids in the morning, so at least thats taken care of.
See? I told you. Youve got a great guy.
Hes the best guy. She said it with confidence, as if she no longer had a single doubt.
And why would she? Brice was absolutely perfect. Happiness for her sister warred with the sadness she felt for her family and the odd aching sorrow that William left behind. Which reminded her. Do you know a friend of Jonass named William?
Nope. Then again, why would I? I cant keep my own name straight some days. Ava rolled her eyes and leaned close to reach for Madison. She transferred the sleepy child into her arms. Im taking over. Youre officially off duty.
When it comes to family, there no such thing as off duty.
Stop being stubborn and go home
To an empty apartment?
For a moment they both paused in their lifelong habit of interrupting each other and finishing the others sentences. Aubrey knew what Ava stopped short of saying. Theyd spent their whole lives together. Even when theyd pursued different career paths after high school, theyd still been practically attached at the hip.
They talked throughout the day, all day long, thanks to the invention of cell phones. They met for lunch and dinner, and they shared an apartment. They spent their free time together as they always had. But Avas marriage would change that.
Aubrey loved her sister with all her heart, and there was nothing more important than her happiness, but she knew she was going to miss spending so much time with her twin. When she looked into the future, Ava would have a home and a husband, children. Thats where her time and energy should lie. Absolutely. But all Aubrey saw for herself was a long stretch of lonely evenings and weekends. Even now, without Madison in her arms, she felt lonely.
Not that she was going to be sad for herself for a second, because look at all the wonderful blessings the Lord put into her life with each and every day. But still, it was a change. And a big one.
Tylers watching one of his DVDs, she said with the most cheerful voice she could muster under the circumstances. Maybe Ill just crash with him on the couch.
Hey, whats that? Nothing got past Ava. She pointed with her free hand to the wrapped gift.
No idea. That William guy I mentioned dropped it off. Its an anniversary gift from Jonas to Danielle.
Ava looked sucker punched. Thats just about the saddest thing Ive heard today, and its been a day with a whole lot of sad in it.
Tell me about it, she said over the sound of the garage door ratcheting closed. She stared at the package wrapped so neatly and noticed, for the first time, there was a business card tucked beneath the intersecting twine. Its hot in here. Maybe I should take that in.
Good idea. Its probably something really nice, knowing Jonas.
A beat of silence passed between them when they said nothing at all. Aubrey knew Ava was thinking, too, of how devoted Jonas had been to their stepsister. Now what would happen? She could tell by Avas face that whatever the doctors had told them tonight hadnt been good, which could only mean one thing. Danielle would need her family more than ever.
Ill see to this. Aubrey broke the silence. You get Madison inside.
Ten four. Ava looked on the brink of tears as she dragged her gaze away from the gift, which was clearly some kind of a wall hanging. Did you get anything to eat?
Aubrey shook her head. Not that she was hungry.
Ill heat something up for both of us, Ava decided as she headed inside. The snap of her flip-flops echoed in the empty garage, leaving Aubrey feeling sorely alone.
Okay, call her curious, but she snatched the business card from its secure place beneath the string. The name William Corey was printed in small letters in the lower right-hand corner, in block script. Photographer.
Jonass friend was the William Corey? Thats where Ive seen him before, Aubrey thought, a little shocked. Shed shelved so many of his books at the bookstore over the years, she should have known him on sight. His picture was plastered on the back jacket of his bestselling collections of inspirational photography. How did Jonas know the famed photographer? And why had someone of Williams stature mowed the lawn?
No, that couldnt be right. Could it? Aubrey tucked the card back into place and carefully lifted the wrapped package. It certainly felt like a framed photograph, she thought as she shut the garage door and headed down the hall. It was a good-size picture. Not that Jonas could afford an original, but William Corey was Danielles favorite artist. She had a book of his in the house.
Aubrey took care with the package and leaned it against the wall in Danielles bedroom. There was a small wooden bookcase in the corner with a collection of devotionals and inspirational books.
There, on the bottom shelf, Aubrey found what she was looking for. A hardback book with William Coreys name on the spine. She tugged it from its snug place and turned the volume over. A mans image with jet-black hair and dark eyes stared up at her.
Yep, it was the same high cheekbones and ruggedly handsome look. William Corey.
It was a nice photograph, she thought, but it didnt look like the man shed met tonight. His features were the same, yes. His look was the same. But the man in the picture seemed at ease, with a relaxed half smile on his face, standing in a mountain meadow with rugged peaks in the background. He was vital and alive and full of heart. Not at all the man whod stood in the garage, looking lost in the shadows.
Aunt Aubrey? Tyler came up to stand beside her. Im lonesome. Will you come watch TV with me?
Sure thing, pumpkin. Aubrey put the book back on the shelf, but she couldnt put away her thoughts of William Corey as easily.
She took her nephews small, trusting hand and let him lead her down the hall.
In the stillness of his mountain retreat, William was comforted by the echoing scuff of his slippered footsteps. He was back in his space, where he was safe from life and the way it made memories tug at the sorrow in his heart.
She took her nephews small, trusting hand and let him lead her down the hall.
In the stillness of his mountain retreat, William was comforted by the echoing scuff of his slippered footsteps. He was back in his space, where he was safe from life and the way it made memories tug at the sorrow in his heart.
Hours had passed since hed driven away from Jonass house. Hed slapped a sandwich together and called it dinner, then hopped on the Internet to scan through the online version of the local paper. He found a small article saying only that Trooper Jonas Lowell had been shot at a routine traffic stop and was in critical care. Nothing more. Hed tried the hospital, but they werent releasing any information.
Maybe tomorrow, hed try harder to see what he could find out and if there was anything he could do to help. After what Jonas had done for him, it was the least he could do.
Troubled, William watched the sun turn bold crimson in the hazy dusk and told himself he didnt long for his camera. He had no desire to capture the light of the sun and the haze of descending twilight. Really. Or, thats what he told himself as the long-dead desire grew razor sharp.
It was that woman Aubreys fault, he decided as he bent to turn on the lamp at the bedside table. There had been something about her, probably just the trick of the light, that made the dead place inside him come to life. For a moment, he wished for the things that would never be for him againlike innocence and trust and hope.
It had been a long time since hed prayed. His knees felt stiff as he knelt beside the bed, resting his forearms on the soft, cool percale of the turned-back sheets. The shadowed darkness in the room seemed to deepen and grow; the low-watt bulb in the table lamp wasnt strong enough to keep it at bay.
Maybe it was the shadows within him that seemed so dark. He thought of Jonass little boy and the promise made. William might have given up believing in nearly everything, but he was not the kind of man who went back on his word, especially to a child. So, he bowed his head and, while no words rose up prayerfully from his forgotten soul, he did find the words that mattered.
Help Jonas to recover, for his familys sake. Please.
It felt as if he were talking to no one. He was certain he was alone in the room, that God wasnt leaning down to listen to his prayers. That only made the darkness bleaker and the iron-hard place inside his soul harder.
William climbed from his knees, sank onto the mattress and buried his face in his hands. Unable to make sense of the broken pieces his life had become, he lay in the dark, alone.
Chapter Three
In the antiseptic scent of the hospitals early-morning waiting room, Aubrey searched her fathers face for signs of the latest news on Jonass condition. Even in the harsh fluorescent lighting, John McKaslin looked suntanned and robust for a man in his sixties, but there was no smile in his violet-blue eyes.
Danis in with him. Theres no good news. Heavy sadness weighed down his voice. Youve lost weight, pumpkin. You look tired.
Its nothing. And that was the truth. Doing what she could for her family wasnt a hardship, it was a privilege. What was a little sleep lost compared to that? I stayed to help Ava with the kids, and Madison had a rough night.
Im so glad to be here to help out. Ill take over tonight, dear. Dorrie wrapped Aubrey into a caring hug and then held her at arms length to appraise her. Your dads right. You look exhausted. If only we could have come back sooner. John, the girl is exhausted.
Dad shook his head. We should have come sooner. Spence said Jonas was doing better and to keep on with our cruise.
He had been. For a little while, it seemed as if Jonas would be fine, and they had all breathed a sigh of relief. Dad and Dorrie had been starting a cruise and Danielle had convinced them to stay on it. That had been before the coma, of course. Aubrey thought the long trek standby from St. Barts and the night at the hospital had to be taking a toll on her parents. Ill stay here, if you two want to head home.
All right, then. Ill get some shut-eye. Dad leaned to kiss Aubreys cheek. You call if there are any changes, you hear?
Yes, sir. It was good to have her parents back in town. Shed missed them both so much since theyd moved to Scottsdale. Youre okay to drive? You must have been up most of the night.
I got a few zs in, dont you worry about me. Dad gave his wife a kiss. Are you coming? By the look of you, Id say youve made up your mind to stay.
Dani needs me, no matter how tired I am.
You need me to grab you breakfast before I go?
No, dear, but how about I walk as far as the cafeteria with you? Dorrie turned to Aubrey. Ill be right back. Youll keep an eye on Dani?
You know I will.
Aubrey watched her parents amble down the hall, hand in hand, shoulders touching. They had found a good marriage, and it had deepened over the years. Somehow, watching them made her heart ache with loneliness, and what kind of sense did that make?
None. Absolutely none. She ought to be feeling less lonely because her parents were back in town. She wasnt sure what that said about a woman in her late twenties, that she was used to spending so much time with her parents. But she was a homebody. Her family had always been her life and she knew they always would be. It wasnt as if eligible bachelors were exactly knocking down her door. In fact, not one had ever knocked on the door for her.
For Ava. Yes. Absolutely. Her twin had that adorable charisma that made everybody love her. But Aubrey, well, she knew she was a wallflower, the kind of girl men passed by.
It was simply a fact that shed learned to deal with. Besides, she had so many wonderful blessings in her life, how could she feel right about asking for more?
There was hot water for tea next to the coffeepot in the pleasant little waiting room, so she started in that direction, but something stopped her. A movement out of the corner of her eye. She recognized the gentleman far down the hall at the nurses station. A tall, broad-shouldered, austere-looking man dressed all in black. Why did she know it was William Corey without him having to turn so she could see his face?
Maybe it was the way his wide, capable shoulders were set, as if he were confident he could handle anything. Perhaps it was the shadows that clung to him in the harsh fluorescent light. Whatever the reason, her attention turned to him automatically, as if she had no say at all.
One of the floor nurses pointed their way, and Aubrey watched William turn toward her. Recognition sparked in his dark eyes, and something elsesomething she couldnt name, but she saw his guard go up. His entire being, body and spirit, stiffened. He marched toward her like a soldier facing a firing squad.
He didnt seem comfortable. He didnt look happy to see her again.
I was going to give you a call later this morning, she explained. You didnt need to come down.
I wanted to. He jammed his hands into his jeans pockets. They wouldnt give me any information because I wasnt family, but I wanted to talk to Jonass wife, when she has a minute.
No welcoming greetings. No small talk. He wasnt the most extroverted man. Maybe thats why she automatically liked him. She was introverted, too. Im not sure when that will be.