Found (28 page)

“I’m fine. Just a little thirsty.”

Ashley exchanged a look with Brooke. In a whispered voi she told her sister, “Check on him. He doesn’t look good.”

Brooke stood and followed their dad into the kitchen.

Ashley continued her story. “Anyway, he was in town a f days before the filming to see Katy Hart.” She didn’t miss a sin detail, explaining how Dayne had introduced himself usin; false name and said he was Katy’s friend. “At first I let him thi I didn’t know. But come on, Dayne Matthews? Of course I kn who he was.”

A couple of the guys rolled their eyes, but the atmosphere v lighthearted, upbeat.

When Brooke and their dad returned from the kitchen, looked better. A little more color in his face. He sat down, but stayed unusually quiet.

“Okay, so tell us.” Reagan was on the edge of her seat. “Dc he look like Luke in person?”

“That’s what I was getting at.” Ashley paused, allowing buildup. “The resemblance is definitely there, but it was son thing else. His mannerisms, maybe. Half the ride home I had I feeling I wasn’t with Dayne at all but that Luke was in the < with me.”

227

“You know what they say-” Luke shrugged-“everyone has a twin out there somewhere.”

The conversation shifted. They talked about Ryan’s coaching and Kari’s new job teaching three days a week at Jessie’s preschool. Brooke and Peter explained that Hayley was making tremendous progress, and only then did Ashley notice her father being finally drawn into the conversation.

“That little girl’s a walking miracle,” he said. “No one at the hospital can believe how well she’s doing.”

“That’s for sure.” Peter raised his glass in the air. “Proof oi God, if nothing else is.”

Maddie obviously understood the conversation was about her little sister. She leaned over, pulled Hayley’s face close to her own, and planted a big mushy kiss on her sister’s cheek. “Hi, miracle girl.”

“Hi!” Hayley grinned so big everyone around the table smiled.

Reagan shared that life was getting a little cramped living with her mom in the apartment in Upper Manhattan. She and Luke weren’t sure how long they’d stay.

“The place is big enough.” Reagan made a mock nervous face at her husband. “But it still feels like we’re playing house.”

A memory flashed into Ashley’s mind. The horror of September 11 and the knowledge that Reagan’s father’s office had been at the top of one of the twin towers. His death had changed everything for Luke and Reagan, and in the end God had used Ashley to help Luke see that he needed to go to New York and find the girl he loved. It all seemed like a lifetime ago. “How is she, your mom?”

“She’s okay.” Reagan looked at Luke. “Should I tell them?”

“Sure.” He took a bite of salad.

“Mom’s dating.” She said it with a hint of embarrassment in her tone, as if it were somehow wrong for her mother to be seeing someone.

At the head of the table, Ashley’s father set down his glass.

228

“I think that’s normal.” He seemed to avoid Ashley’s face as he spoke. “It’s been several years.”

“That’s what I told her.” Luke nodded. “But every time her mom’s friend comes around, Reagan wants to leave.”

“I’ll admit it.” For the first time tonight, Reagan looked more serious. “It’s hard. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see Mom with someone else.”

Ashley’s heart beat harder than before. She looked from Reagan to Luke and back to her father. What had he meant by that? By saying he thought it was normal for Reagan’s mother to date? Was he saying that he felt the same way, and maybe he was thinking of dating too? Was it some way of softening them up so they wouldn’t be horrified when he spent time with his friend Elaine Denning?

Another clap of thunder shook the house. Landon seemed to sense that Ashley was getting uptight. He reached for her hand and gave it a few squeezes. She felt herself relax. No, her father couldn’t mean anything by it. He had already explained that Elaine was only a friend, nothing more.\

Ashley sat back in her chair. Tomorrow night her dad planned to tell her siblings about their older brother-the one none of them knew about but her. A realization came over her. No wonder her father was looking strange, acting strange. He’d kept the secret about his firstborn son for decades.

But after tomorrow every one of them would know the truth.

229

The conversation was lively and in full force the first night at the Baxter reunion. But John barely heard any of it. His heart and his breathing were both off rhythm, the way they’d been since earlier this afternoon.

Reagan was saying, “It isn’t only her new friend. I think you can only live with your mother-in-law for so long, right, dear?”

Luke gave her a patient smile. “Your mom’s been very gracious.” He looked at John. “I got a raise, but we can’t afford New York City. The firm wants to keep me until I finish law school, and then they want me full-time.”

John stirred his fork through what was left of his casserole. It didn’t taste the same as when Elizabeth made it. Besides, how could he eat? His emotions had been all over the map since he’d stepped out of the van at the airport. First, there was the swelling emotion of seeing his children all together again and the thrill of meeting his new granddaughter. Then the awareness that the children were growing up, changing, and the knowledge that his wife would never, ever be part of the group again.

230

if

But when Kari brought up Dayne’s movie …

In what amounted to the acting job of his own life, John had focused hard on chewing his meal and pretending like nothing was wrong as his kids switched topics from the movie to the way Dayne and Luke looked alike. The whole time he wanted to stand up and shout, Of course they look alike. They’re brothers.

And that was the part that made him feel sick to his stomach. He would tell his kids they had an older brother, yes. But he could never tell them who their brother was-not as long as Dayne didn’t want to be a part of their family. The knowledge would only bring pain and heartache to his beautiful family-something he and Elizabeth had agreed they would never do.

But then Ashley revealed that Dayne had given her a ride home. His mind had been racing ever since. Dayne had hired a private investigator. He knew the Baxters were his family, and he knew they lived here in Bloomington. So chances were he knew when he gave Ashley a ride home that he was actually sharing a car with his sister.

The whole thing was stranger than John could fathom. Was it a test of some kind?

Had Dayne wanted to get as close as he could to their family without actually making a connection? Or was it only a coincidence-Dayne visiting Katy Hart at rehearsal and Ashley needing a ride home? Maybe Dayne had fought the whole thing but had had no choice without making a scene.

He could picture Katy working late, knowing Dayne had a car, and asking him if he wouldn’t mind taking her friend Ashley home. Even so, Dayne had to have known that the Ashley who was Katy’s friend was the same Ashley in the notes his PI must’ve given him.

John’s mind spun and raced and took him down paths he couldn’t find his way back from. No wonder Ashley had asked him if he was okay. Half the night felt more like a crazy dream than the very real first night of their reunion.

When dinner was over Ashley helped her sisters make cookie 231

dough ice-cream sundaes for the group-something a few of their husbands had requested.

Two hours later the dishes were done and the adults were sitting at the cleaned-up dining-room table. Ryan and Landon made coffee, and the conversation turned to the events of the weekend.

“I checked online.” Peter frowned. “Thunderstorms and tornado conditions all week.”

“What about tomorrow?” John wrapped his fingers around his steaming mug. It felt good to have a distraction. “We’re doing the picnic at Lake Monroe in the morning, aren’t we?”

“Right.” Ashley rested her hand on her abdomen. “I read in the paper that tomorrow’s supposed to be clear until the afternoon.”

“That’s what weather.com said too.”

“Good.” Landon gave a light tap on the table. “Looks like the picnic’s a go.”

There was commotion in the next room, where Erin was overseeing all the children except Malin, who was asleep in her baby carrier on the floor next to Reagan.

None of them at the table paid much attention to the kids, except to raise their voices so they could hear each other.

“Tomorrow night?” Brooke looked around. “Back here for Chinese food, is that okay?”

John swallowed hard and stared into his coffee cup. Tomorrow night. How soon it would be here, and he’d have to tell them the truth. God, please… be with us.

We’re going to need You every moment when they hear the news.

Kari was giggling. “Chinese food was my idea. Less time in the kitchen-” she grinned at her sisters-“more time talking.”

Ryan chuckled and swapped a look with Landon, Luke, Peter, and Sam. “As if they need that.”

Peter was saying something about a movie night during the week for the group when the big kids appeared in the doorway

232

of the dining room. Their faces were lit with ear-to-ear smiles, and Jessie was bouncing all around, her hands clasped together. In the middle of the group was Hayley, anchored on either side by Maddie and Cole. Erin stood behind them, little Heidi on her hip. There were tears in Erin’s eyes.

John turned his chair so he could see better.

Cole stuck out his chest, his eyes dancing. “Hey, we have something to show you.”

Only then did John notice something. Hayley didn’t have her walker.

Brooke must’ve noticed it at the same time, because she rushed to her feet and started toward them. “Maddie, you know she can’t be up without her-“

Maddie held up her hand. “Wait, Mommy. Sit down.”

“Please, Aunt Brooke!” Cole pleaded with her.

“Yeah, please, Aunt Brooke!” Jessie jumped in a small circle and then looped her arm through Cole’s. “We have a ‘prise for everyone.”

‘“Prise, Mama.” Hayley grinned. Her speaking skills were still slower than they would’ve been if it weren’t for her near drowning. But she understood what was happening around her, and every month she sounded more age appropriate.

“Maddie …” Brooke looked doubtful, but Peter took her hand and slowly she settled back into her seat. “Hold on to her tight. I don’t want her to fall.”

“She won’t, Mommy.” Maddie sounded calm, confident. “Me and Cole taught her a trick.”

“Yeah.” Cole nodded. “She’s really good at it, Aunt Brooke.”

The adults at the table seemed to hold their breath. Erin nodded at Brooke and smiled. There were still tears in her eyes, but her smile told them that whatever was about to happen, the kids were right. Hayley would be okay.

Cole bent around and looked right at Hayley. “Ready?”

233 r

KAREN KINGSBURY

“Ready.” Hayley bit her lip and focused hard on the floor in front of her.

“Okay, here we go.” Cole straightened and looked at Maddie. “One … two …

three … go!”

At the same time, he and Maddie-moving very slowly-let go of Hayley’s hands.

They stayed beside her, ready to catch her. But Hayley was steady, steadier than she’d been since her accident.

Brooke gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “She’s standing by herself.”

“Mommy, wait.” Maddie held her finger to her lips. “That’s not the trick.”

Jessie stopped jumping. “Go on, Hayley. Show’em your’prise.”

With Cole and Maddie beside her, Hayley took two steps and then stopped. She grinned at Brooke and Peter. “Walk, Mama. Hayley walk.”

John brought his fist to his mouth, and his eyes filled instantly.

“Dear God … thank You!” Brooke’s words were a whisper. She leaned into Peter, her face pinched, eyes locked on their daughter. “She’s walking!”

Peter couldn’t speak. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He rose from his seat, ready to dart across the room and catch her. But there was no need.

“See …” Cole stayed an inch from his cousin’s elbow. “I told you she was okay.

Me and Maddie taught her how.”

Maddie, on Hayley’s other side, whispered at the group, “I taught her first.”

This time, Cole didn’t argue. They were all too busy watching Hayley. She fixed her eyes on Brooke and walked around the table with slow steady steps.

Brooke stood and crouched down, her arms open.

Hayley walked the rest of the way and practically ran the final steps into Brooke’s arms. “Mama!”

234

Cole and Maddie did a high five.

Everyone was in shock, sitting motionless, silent. Hayley had been without a heartbeat of her own for half an hour after her drowning accident. In the weeks that followed, her doctors had explained to the family that Hayley would probably never get out of bed again. By their assessment, she would be blind and brain damaged the rest of her life.

Only here she was, walking and talking on her own.

John looked at Brooke, rocking Hayley, crying tears of gratitude while Peter and Kari and Erin and Ashley did the same.

“That’s a good trick, don’t you think, Mommy?” Maddie skipped over and put her hand on Brooke’s shoulder.

“Yes, honey.” Brooke wiped her tears. “Yes, it’s a very good trick.”

Suddenly John realized what had just happened. Never mind about the pain the next day would bring, about the understanding he could only hope his kids would have in regard to their older brother. Today he had asked God for a sign, proof that He was indeed with them, working in their midst. And God had delivered.

Because here and now-in a way none of them could yet begin to believe-their precious little Hayley could walk.

235

The Friday night full-company Narnia rehearsal seemed like a waste from the moment it started. Al and Nancy Helmes were on a brief trip to the West Coast to see the birth of their seventh grandchild. As a result, the group had no music, and with lightning and thunder flashing outside and the building shaking from the wind, it was all Katy could do to keep the kids under control.

“Guys, come on,” she heard herself say repeatedly. “We need every minute of rehearsal time.”