What about me?
He set down his toolbox against the entryway wall. You sure you ought to be in here working like that? Your mother isnt gonna be happy if she and the kids come back from the grocery store and see that you arent taking it easy like she told you to.
Im fine, Dad. Really. She smiled to prove it to him. You know me. Im not happy unless Im busy.
He shook his head slowly from side to side and, judging by the squint to his friendly blue eyes, he wasnt fooled one bit. Jonas resting?
He fell asleep on the couch. He had a tough physical therapy session. Not to mention the doctor appointment before that. Let me get you something cool to drink, Dad. Its a scorcher out there.
Looked like it was trying to storm to me.
Storm? That couldnt be good news. She hadnt had time to check any weather report. Apparently shed been too busy trying to get a start on dinner prep to look out the big garden window over the sink and counter.
Now that she did look, she saw thunderheads were gathering on the horizon. Huge ones. That might not bode well for their backyard picnic. And for her not to have noticed, well, it only went to show how tired she felt.
Great. She squared her drooping shoulders and put down the peeler. Ill get you some iced tea.
Ill do it myself, missy. Dad ambled her way, still a big man despite the fact that hed passed retirement age. But I will take one of those brownies. They smell awful good.
Danielle reached for a clean knife and joined him at the opposite counter to cut him a generous piece. Youre going to spoil your appetite.
Yeah, I know. Dad was smiling as he tore a paper towel from the dispenser and held it to use in place of a plate. No one anywhere makes a better brownie than you. You even got Ava beat.
One of her younger sisters, Ava, was a professional baker. A high compliment, but one shed heard before. Plus, Dad was generous with compliments. She kissed his cheek. Why dont you go put up your feet? If you dont want to disturb Jonas, you can use the TV either in the basement or in our room.
No, I dont mind bothering Jonas. Dad winked as he strode out of sight. The faint rumble of his voice in the living room told her that Jonas must have woken up.
When she peered around the corner to check on him, he had straightened up on the couch. Now sitting up, he was sleepy-looking and pale, but he seemed glad of the company. That had to be a good sign, right? She worried about the evening ahead. Her familybless themhad dearly wanted to see Jonas again. But was he up to so much at once?
Well, they would find out. She hoped so. She wanted him to see that he wasnt as alone as he had to feel. She leaned her shoulder against the archway to watch as Jonas talked with her father, someone else he didnt remember. But within moments they were both smiling and talking like old friends.
Great. She blew out a breath of relief and went back to her carrots. The mens voices rumbled pleasantly as she finished peeling and dug the pitcher of iced tea out of the refrigerator.
The house was relatively quiet without the little onesMom had taken them with her on her grocery run. She missed Tylers constant motion and Madisons constant chatter underfoot. And thinking of the kids made her remember how it used to behow Jonas would always hang around the kitchen and help her, grazing on whatever was handy to snack on.
Hard to imagine, since Jonas and her dad had once been close.
There was a knock at the front door, a few quick, no-nonsense raps and then a key turned in the lock. Spence, the oldest of the clan, poked his head in. Hit the garage door opener for me, would ya? Ill get the front yard mowed before Dad thinks of it.
Thank you, Spence.
Dont mention it. He shut the door firmly.
The oven timer chose that moment to beep. She hit the off button, snagged an oven mitt from the closest drawer. She knelt to lift the casserole pot of baked beans from the oven and onto a trivet on the counter. While she heard Dad and Jonas talking, she tried not to focus on her husbands halting wordsthat halting was worse when he was tired, shed learned. She ached for him.
This was not fair. She had to lay aside her anger at the desperate gunman who had fired that shot. Jonas hadnt deserved that, and yet it had happened just the same. She rushed around to the inside garage door and caught sight of him on the couchstruggling to find the right words while Dad waited patiently.
No, she thought, her heart heavy. This was not fair. Surely there was some good that would come out of thissome good the Lord would find in all this hardship. But for the life of her Danielle couldnt figure out what. She yanked open the inside door and hit the button.
The churn of the openers engine drowned out the sound of her husbands voice. As the door lifted, there was Spence, in T-shirt and denims, storming into the garage like a hulk. His grimace was hardly a grimace at all, which meant he must be in a very good mood. He grabbed the lawn mower and wheeled it out into the driveway. The roar of the engine coming to life echoed in the garage.
Talk about a reliable guy. Danielle loved her brother. She couldnt have a better oneor a better family, and she thanked the Lord for them every day. Shed just hoped there would be less need for their help after Jonass homecoming. Theyd done so much. They had to be exhausted, too.
She heard the air conditioner click on and felt the swirl of cooled air against her ankles and shut the door, leaving it unlocked so Spence could find his way in after his mowing. She remembered the kitchen work awaiting her. She wanted to get it done so that her mom didnt have any choice; she couldnt help with dinner because it would already be done. Mom had done more than her share already.
It was Jonass voice, low and sonorous, that made her stop halfway to the kitchen. Seeing him so changed still hit her hard every time.
Is that right, John? Yellowstone, you say?
Yep, Dad was saying. Always brief on words but long on heart. You said the RV drove real fine. Yep, real fine.
Im sure it did. Dont remember it.
Well, it did.
Jonas noticed her standing there and it was hard to tell by the look on his face if he was glad to see her or not. When he looked at her, he had to feel more pressure to remember. And that was the last thing she wanted. He had pressure enough.
Dani. Dad turned in the chair and winked at her. Im gonna take Jonas with me.
What? Where? Jonas looked confused. Maybe a little panicked.
He might not remember that she was always on his side. That she would never forsake him, even when it came to her own family. Dad, Jonas might not be up to working with tools yet.
Tools? Jonass eyes widened in surprise.
He could not know that it was a family thing, he and Dad and Spence, always eager to fix what was broken. He would not remember how it used to be, that when Dad assumed Jonass help in all kinds of family construction projects, Jonas would find a moment to come up to her and lean close so that only she could hear. He would say in that affable way of his, I dont remember getting my draft notice.
No, Jonas did not have any idea how they would chuckle quietly together before he would go off to help her dad.
Now, Jonas seemed uncertain, but when he looked down at his hands she realized why. After so much nerve damage, he could not handle carpenter tools. What could she do to reassure him? Dad, you give Jonas a rest on this one. Hes recuperating. He can watch if he wants to and keep you company, but it might be better if he rests.
Now, Jonas seemed uncertain, but when he looked down at his hands she realized why. After so much nerve damage, he could not handle carpenter tools. What could she do to reassure him? Dad, you give Jonas a rest on this one. Hes recuperating. He can watch if he wants to and keep you company, but it might be better if he rests.
Yep. Gotcha. Dad nodded once and rose to his feet as if that were settled. Well, what do you say, Jonas? You want to come keep an eye on me?
You need it. Humor glinted in his hazel eyes, and his lopsided grin could not be dearer.
Danielle felt hope buoy her. Ill bring back some tea for both of you.
Thanks, missy. Dad scooted Jonass walker closer within reach. Cmon, son, weve got work to do.
Yes, sir. Jonas struggled to his feet and winked at her over the top of her dads head.
Danielle practically floated to the kitchen, full of gratitude that her whole family was together again.
Chapter Four
Over the noise at the dinner table, Danielle heard her grandmother lean over to Jonas and say, How is it that you are still so handsome?
A blush pinkened his cheeks, making him even more good-looking. Just luck.
That made Gran chuckle in that light, joyful way of hers.
Danielle looked up from cutting Madisons hot dog, and her pulse turned heavy, as if she had peanut butter in her veins. Could he be remembering? Just luck. That was what Jonas always used to say whenever Gran would ask that question. Wouldnt that be perfect if he did remember? If he did defy the doctors dim prognoses for his memory loss, too?
Mommy? Madison tugged on her sleeve to get her attention. I wanna biiig piece of cake. Pleeeease?
No, not yet and you know it, princess. Danielle scooped a generous spoonful of the potatoes au gratin that Katherine had brought. I know you want these.
Taters! The little girl agreed cheerfully and flashed her dimples, confident that she was adorable and had more than one persons attention at the table.
Katherine peered around Madisons head on her other side. Let me take over for you. I would love to and Im closer to the taters.
Thanks. Danielle handed over the cartoon character, child-sized fork.
It was wonderful to see her sister so happy. Marriage suited her, and Jack was the right kind of husbandgood, strong and loving, a man who always did the right thing. It was another of her prayers answered. And as she scanned the table, she saw nothing but a testimony to that wondrous power. Katherine wasnt the only newlywed sister at the table.
There were her younger twin sisters. Ava had Brice at her side, chattering away to him and to Tyler. Amusement and love mixed together as Brice watched her with a besotted grin on his face. Theyd married in the spring, and Ava was always the happy sort, but she practically shone like the sun these days. Love and married life had transformed her.
Aubrey, although identical to Ava, couldnt have been more different. She was quieter, and so was her husband-to-be, William. Their love was a tacit statement that still waters ran deep. Their wedding was coming up soon, and they had included the kids in their wedding party.
Lauren, home now from California, was finishing her masters in business at the local campus. She and Caleb had married last month in a sweet May ceremony that had been as low-key and as lovely as Lauren herself.
Mommy! Guess what? Tyler called out across the table.
She blinked, drawn out of her thoughts. She focused on her little boys face and recognized that wide-eyed excited expression. Ava and Brice had been talking about their dog to him. What?
If I had a dog, do you know what? Then Rex wouldnt be lonesome when he came over here.
Rex, the mentioned golden retriever, popped his head up from beneath the table to shine his puppy dog eyes on her.
Help, she wanted to plead silently to Jonas, but that bond between them was no longer there. She couldnt look at her husband and have him know instinctively what she needed. He would not be coming to her rescue. She sighed, lonely. How could she be otherwise? She missed her husband. Well talk about a dog later, cutie.
Yeah, butI gotta lot of reasons why we should get a dog. Tyler looked so hopeful.
I know. You keep making that list, okay?
Yeah. He breathed out a long sigh. It was hard being a kid and dogless.
Across the table, Spence nodded to her, as if in agreement. He was not fond of dogs, especially near the table. Poor Spence. He had a good heart but had a hard time letting it show. It was no surprise to his family or anyone who knew him that he hadnt found a woman who could look past the gruffness to the sweet man inside. And, if he kept going, she was afraid he never would.
But it was the empty chair next to Spence that troubled her. Rebeccathe youngestwas late. Again. And, as experience had taught them all, that could only mean one thingtrouble with that boyfriend of hers, Chris. What if this serious relationship took a more serious turn? It was something that turned Danielles stomach cold. Chris was the kind of young man who seemed nicethere was never anything specifically hed done that made her dislike him. Except for the fact he was not entirely nice to Rebecca.
Rebecca, who saw only the good in everyone, couldnt see it.
Grans merry voice broke into her thoughts. Jonas, they tell me you arent remembering things so well. Youre not alone, boy. It happens to the best of us. Do you remember me?
Nope. Not a thing.
Then you dont know how you and Dani met.
N-no. I do not.
Danielle plainly read the shame on her husbands face. She placed her hand on his shoulder, still so wide and strong. Gran likes to think shes the reason were together.
Jonas quirked his brow. That so, Gran?
The elderly woman, so rosy and dear, chuckled warmly. Your marriage is a testimony to the power of prayer. My husband was still with me back then, and one night, when we were just back from snowbirding in Scottsdale, we met with Ann and Silas Donovan, Brices grandparents. We were all in the same boat. We had grandchildren but no great-grandchildren. I saw this as a totally unacceptable situation, so I decided to take it to the good Lord and start praying.
Is that so? Jonas didnt seem to understand that it was their marriage, and their firstborn son, whod been that long-awaited great-grandchild.
Youd just moved into the rental house on Calebs grandparents property just down the road, Danielle explained, remembering that sweet summer theyd met.
That so? He grinned. I lived down the road from Gran?
You did. Hed always called Gran by her first name, Mary, but she didnt correct him. She reached for his knife and began to cut into his barbecued chicken. It was this nice little two-bedroom house with a perfect view of Grans horse pastures, where I rode with Aubrey every morning.
I see. He still couldnt tell the twins apart, and looked at Ava, who was giggling away at something Tyler was saying. Its my guess I took one look at you and decided to take you to dinner.
And you were awfully confident about it, too. Danielle felt the cold places within her warm like that June morning. She wished he could remember how that day had changed both of their lives for the better.