There it was againthat assumption that she was here to stay.
Youre not planning to go away, are you? Her silence must have lasted too long, and her mother looked so dismayed that she couldnt possibly do anything but deny it.
Not now, but I have a job possibility at Children of the Day. Im supposed to go for an interview with the director tomorrow. Its only part-time, but I dont want to burden you
Children of the Day? Thats wonderful. Her mother interrupted her with a hug. Youll love it there. Im so pleased.
The hug strengthened. Caitlyn hugged her mother back, but the feel of her mothers arms was like fragile, yet strong threads tightening around her, trying to bind her to this place.
Welcome to Children of the Day. I hope youll enjoy your work here. Anna Terenkov, the founder and director of the charity, rose from behind her desk after the briefest of interviews, extending her hand.
Caitlyn blinked for a second before she stood to shake the womans hand. Shed met executives who prided themselves on quick decisions before, but Ms. Terenkov had them beat by a mile.
Ms. Terenkov
Please, call me Anna. A smile banished her businesslike expression. Were all on a first-name basis here, volunteers and staff alike.
Anna. She tried to grasp a situation that seemed to be sliding away from her. Isnt there anything else youd like to ask me about my qualifications?
The director waved that away. Ive seen quite enough to know youll be an asset to the organization. And, frankly, were in need of a capable person to step into the care coordinator position. Thats one job I dont want to lay on a volunteer, and our last coordinator had to leave quite suddenly.
That sounded ominous. Anna seemed to read her expression and laughed.
Nothing bad, I assure you. Her husband was transferred to a post in the Northeast, and naturally she and the children went with him.
He was in the military, I gather.
Anna nodded. Almost everyone in town has some connection to Fort Bonnell, in one way or another. Now she rounded the desk let me show you our facility and get you started.
She hadnt imagined being hired that quickly, let alone starting, but she followed the petite blond human dynamo out of her office for a whirlwind tour of the building.
Children of the Day was housed in a gracious slate-blue Victorian on a quiet side street just off Veterans Boulevard, Prairie Springss main drag. Sheltered by shrubbery and a white wrought-iron fence, the charming Victorian looked more like an elegant private residence than a nonprofit foundation.
As you can see, the first floor is dedicated to the organization. Anna waved at the volunteer who was seated behind a desk in the welcoming lobby area. The kitchen downstairs is for the staff and volunteers, so dont hesitate to use it. My mother and I have our private apartment upstairs.
Is your mother involved with Children of the Day also?
Anna smiled. My mother does a little bit of everything, all with great enthusiasm. Youll see where I get my energy when you meet her. She also runs the grief center at Prairie Springs Christian Church. I think she mentioned that your nieces are involved in her childrens program.
Something else Caitlyn hadnt known. Shed have to ask her mother about that. At least the twins were apparently getting some professional help.
Anna led the way to the next room. This is Laura Dean. Laura, meet Caitlyn Villard, our new care coordinator. Anna paused by a desk in the room behind the lobby.
Its nice to meet you, Caitlyn. The slim young blonde flashed a welcoming smile. Especially since Im sure youre going to take some of the load off my shoulders.
Laura is officially our secretary, but like everyone else, she does whatever needs to be done. And she does it very well, by the way.
Anna was out of the room before Laura could respond, but Caitlyn guessed Laura was probably used to that.
This will be your office. Anna ushered her into a high-ceilinged room with windows looking onto a side lawn. It had probably once been a modest parlor, with its small fireplace and beautiful molding, but was now furnished with a computer desk and file cabinets. Several maps were pinned onto a bulletin board on the wall.
Anna waved at the small blue pins that dotted the map. Those are places where we have programs. We provide food, shelter, medical care, educational programsanything we can to alleviate the suffering of those touched by war. Annas passion was impressive.
Its a big job.
A huge job, Anna agreed. Those projects are ongoing, and theyre already established and running well. What I need you to do is coordinate the kinds of services we provide for individual special needs that arise frequently.
I see. She didnt, but surely she was going to get more explanation than that.
Anna bent over the desk for a moment and brought up a file on the computer. Heres the project I want you to start with. Theres very little information yet, but youll read everything we have.
Yes, of course.
Ali Tabiz was orphaned and injured in the fighting. Weve been contacted by Dr. Mike Montgomery, a surgeon with the army currently stationed in the Middle East. Weve worked with him for a while. Little Ali may need heart surgery, and Mike wants him brought here to see a pediatric cardiac surgeon. Thats your job.
So she was supposed to get a minor foreign national out of a war-torn country and bring him to Texas for treatment. She couldnt even begin to ask the questions that flooded her mind.
Dont panic, Anna said. She pulled out a black three-ring binder. Our last coordinator was very organized, and weve done this sort of thing many times. Shes outlined a step-by-step process with all the things youll need to do.
Caitlyn grasped the binder as if it were a life preserver and she were sinking under the waves. Good. Im going to need it.
Youll be fine. And Im just across the hall. Come to me with any questions. She frowned slightly. Dr. Mike is usually in touch via e-mail, but sometimes things get pretty hot where he is.
You think thats why you havent received any other information? That must mean that the child was in a dangerous place, as well.
Probably, but we wont waste time. You can start by alerting the medical facilities and personnel we normally use that well have a case coming their way. Once we know more, you can get the details nailed down.
Someone tapped on the frame of the open door, and Caitlyn turned to see Sarah, the kindergarten teacher. Anna, youre needed on the phone. Its some CEO who wants to make a donation and wont talk to anyone else.
Okay, Ill take it. Never turn down an eager donor. Anna was gone in an instant, leaving Caitlyn with her mouth still open to say goodbye.
She looked at Sarah, who stood there smiling, probably at her expression. You didnt tell me she was a whirlwind.
Sarah laughed. How else would she get everything done? Dont worryyoull get used to it. She waved and disappeared, leaving Caitlyn staring blankly at the computer screen.
She found she was still clutching the binder. All right. She could do this. She needed a job, and here it was. She wouldnt let anything keep her from succeeding at it.
She found she was still clutching the binder. All right. She could do this. She needed a job, and here it was. She wouldnt let anything keep her from succeeding at it.
An hour later she was feeling far more confident. As Anna had said, her predecessor had been organized.
Shed already made several calls, and shed been pleasantly surprised by her reception. The physicians and hospital administrators had obviously worked with Children of the Day in the past and were perfectly ready to jump into the new project. As soon as she had some more information
That was the sticking point. No one could do anything until they learned a bit more about the case. She checked the e-mail inbox again, feeling a flutter of excitement at a message from Dr. Montgomery. Maybe this was what they needed.
She clicked it open, and a small face appeared on the screen. This, clearly, was Ali Tabiz.
Big brown eyes, short dark brown hair, an engaging smile. According to the brief statistics attached, the little boy was five, the same age as the twins, but he lookedwhat?
She grappled for the right word. He was small, maybe suffering from the shortages that went along with having a war in your backyard, and there was a bruise over one eye. But he didnt look younger than the twins. In a way, he looked older, as those dark brown eyes seemed to hold a world of sorrows.
Cute kid. The voice, coming from behind her without warning, startled her so much that her hands jerked from the keys, and she swung around. It was Steve Windham again, this time in uniform. Somehow it made him seem even taller, his shoulders even broader. Or maybe that was because she was sitting down.
She shoved her chair back, standing. Steve, hello. She noted the bars he wore. Or should I say Captain Windham?
He shook his head, giving her that easy smile. Im Chaplain Steve to everyone. Since were old friends, Im just Steve to you.
She wouldnt, she decided, exactly call them old friends. First the elementary school, now Children of the Day. Are you following me?
His grin widened. Afraid not. Not that thats not a good idea.
Maybe it was safest to ignore the comment. What are you doing here?
I coordinate all the military volunteers who work with Children of the Day, so Im in and out of the foundation office all the time.
Painting at the elementary school, volunteering here, counseling the grievingsurely a chaplains not expected to do all that.
All that and more. He shrugged. An army chaplain has a surprising amount of autonomy. His or her duties are what he or she makes of them, outside of regular services. I follow where the Lord leads me to minister, and He led me here.
Which meant shed be tripping over him, apparently. Hed been right to remind her. Prairie Springs was a small town.
He nodded toward the computer screen. Is this little guy your first project?
Yes.
He lifted an eyebrow. Its not a state secret, you know. Tell me about him.
Look, Steve, Im not trying to kick you out, but I have work to do. I just dont see why you need to know about my project. It was her project, after all.
If that child has to be brought to the States from a war zone, then I need to know. Now his smile had developed an edge. I also coordinate any military involvement in Children of the Day projectswhich probably will mean getting that child out.
Sorry. That didnt sound very gracious, did it? I am sorry. I didnt realize that you were involved to such an extent.
He shrugged. Now you know. So, are you ready to tell me about him now?
Of course. She managed a smile. I dont know much yet. His name is Ali Tabiz, and hes five years old. He was referred to Children of the Day by a Dr. Mike Montgomery.
He nodded, his eyes intent as he studied the face on the screen. I know Mike. If he wants our help, he has good reason.
I suppose so, but he hasnt gotten back to us with much information on the boys condition yet. Its apparently a heart problem that may need surgery. Oh, and we do know hes an orphan.
Poor little guy. Steve reached out and touched the screen. What do you say we send him a message?
A message? Well, I suppose we could ask Dr. Mike to tell him something.
We can do better than that. He nodded to her desk chair. If youll let me use your computer for a minute, that is.
In an effort to seem more congenial, she slid out of the chair and watched as he started an e-mail. But the letters that appeared on the screen were Arabic.
Her mouth was probably hanging open in surprise. How did you do that?
He grinned. All the computers here are equipped to switch to an Arabic alphabet. Its necessary, given where the greatest need is at the moment.
But how do you know Arabic? Steve seemed to be full of surprises.
He shrugged. I have a knack for languages, I guess. And I was in the Middle East in an earlier offensive.
I didnt know.
An awkward silence followed, making her wonder what war had been like for a chaplain.
He frowned at the screen. Since hes only five, hes probably not reading much yet, so lets keep it simple and say we love him and want to see him.
That sounds good. It did, and she was touched that Steve had thought of something that hadnt even occurred to her.
There we go. Steve addressed it to the doctors e-mail address and hit Send. Mike will see that he gets it and that somebody reads it to him.
I wish the doctor would get back to us. Theres not much more I can do until I hear from him.
You can trust Mike to do whats right. Weve worked with him before. Hes one of the good guys.
She was beginning to think that Steve was one of the good guys, too. But that didnt mean she wanted him taking over her job.
I have a few more things to do before I go home, so if you dont mind
He nodded, getting up from the computer. I know. Its your job, not mine.
Well, yes, I guess thats what I mean. Id like to show my new boss I can do it.
He stood watching her for a moment, and she almost thought there was a shadow of disappointment in his blue eyes.
Not alone, he said. Nobody around here is a solo act. It takes all of us to make this work.
Im sure cooperation is important, but
But youre staff, while Im just a volunteer?
I didnt mean that. She wasnt sure where this tension between them had come from.
He shrugged and started for the door, but before he reached it, he turned back toward her. Keep me posted on Ali, will you?
All right.
He didnt seem convinced that she meant it. Dont forget that Im your military contact, Caitlyn. Youd better get used to working with me.
Chapter Three
Steve went in the side door of Children of the Day, hearing a hum of conversation from the lobby. Something must be going on, as it always was, but with a little luck he might be able to corner Anna for a private chat.
He had some information for her that might be helpful, but that wasnt his primary reason for turning up. The truth was that he was curious to see how Caitlyn was working out.