A Time to Love (39 page)

“Threatened? Of course not.” He put his arms around her, squeezing Billy between them, and looked deep into her eyes. “I feel no threat, darlin’, because I know you love me.”

She raised up on tiptoe and kissed his lips. “Sweetheart, you couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”

Blake kissed the tip of her nose and said, “And I’m not going to try.”

L
EWIS
C
ARTER LANDED A JOB
at the local lumberyard. He also began attending the same church where the Barretts had their membership. Blake and Linda introduced him as a friend of theirs, and Lewis was treated well by the pastor and the people.

Soon, Lewis began dropping by the Barrett house about once a week to be sociable, and he always came on Saturdays or on the evenings when he knew Blake would be home. Each time, he eyed little Billy with admiration and spent time playing with him while Blake and Linda looked on with trepidation.

On his fourth visit, Lewis was at the door with a package under his arm. It was a Saturday morning. Blake smiled and said, “Come in, Lewis. A present for me?”

Lewis laughed. “Sorry, Blake. This is for my little pal, Billy.”

Both men could hear Linda laughing in the parlor, and Billy giggling and squealing happily. When they walked in, Linda was running from Billy as he chased her around the room. She glanced at them, then swept up the giggling child in her arms. “Mommy’s big boy sure can run fast!” she said as she kissed his little cheeks. “Look, Billy, Uncle Lewis is here! Can you say hello?”

Billy smiled and said, “Hi, Unca Woois!”

“Hi, little buddy.” Lewis held out the package. “Uncle Lewis brought his little pal a present!”

Billy clapped his hands and giggled.

When Linda put Billy down, she flicked a glance at Blake and saw him hunch his shoulders.

Lewis dropped to his knees and set the package in front of Billy.
“Okay, lets see if you can open it. Uncle Lewis will take off the string. Let’s see if Billy can get the paper off.”

While Billy began ripping the paper loose with Lewis’s help, Linda moved next to Blake, wringing her hands. He put an arm around her shoulder and gave her a tight squeeze as if to say, “I’m afraid, too.”

The gift was a miniature hay wagon, complete with a team of perfectly carved wooden horses. Billy clapped his hands excitedly, and Lewis showed him how to play with his new toy.

On the following Saturday, Lewis arrived in midafternoon when the Barretts were sitting on the front porch. Billy was playing in the yard with some neighbor children about his age.

“Come sit down, Lewis,” Blake called as Lewis watched Billy.

Lewis flicked a glance at Blake and said, “After I get my hug!”

Billy turned from his friends long enough to run, arms outstretched, to Lewis, who held the boy for a moment, then put him down so he could return to his friends.

Linda leaned close to Blake and whispered, “Should we ask how long he thinks it will be till he takes up his search for Janet?”

“I’ll do it, honey,” Blake said.

“That’s some boy you’ve got there,” Lewis said as he climbed the porch steps and took a seat beside the Barretts.

“I sure would agree with that,” Blake said. “He’ll grow up to be a fine man someday.”

Lewis nodded. “That he will.” Noting that Linda had not spoken, he smiled at her and said, “How’s Billy’s mommy today?”

“I’m fine, Lewis,” Linda responded, pressing a smile on her lips.

Lewis set his eyes on the children and quietly watched their happy activity.

Blake waited a few minutes, then said, “Lewis, when you take up your search for Janet, where are you going to start?”

“I have a hunch she’s still in California. And the first place I’m going to look is San Francisco.”

“Why San Francisco?”

“Because it’s known for its saloons and night spots. I’ve got a hunch those famous places on the Barbary Coast drew her like a magnet.”

“So … ah … when do you think you’ll have enough money to head for San Francisco?”

Lewis’s eyes remained on Billy. “What say Blake?”

“I was wondering when you figure you’ll have enough money saved up to head for San Francisco.”

“Oh. Well, I’m looking at about another month. Then I should have enough to take up the search again.”

Linda’s heart sank. “Lord,” she said, silently moving her lips, “I need Your help. I can’t take another month of this torture.”

That night, as Lewis sat in his room at the boardinghouse, he relived the events of the day. He kept thinking of Billy as he played in the yard with his little friends. There was something about the boy’s smile and the way he laughed.

In the middle of the night, Lewis jerked awake and sat up in bed. He had been dreaming about Billy and why his smile seemed so familiar.

It was Thursday evening when Lewis found himself in the Barrett home once more. He had studied Billy on Sunday while at church, and again during the midweek service on Wednesday. He had to see him again to be sure.

The Barretts and their guest were in the parlor, and Billy was on the floor, playing with his toy hay wagon. The adults were talking when suddenly Billy gave a shrill cry.

One of the wheels had come off the toy wagon, and Billy was in tears. Blake left his overstuffed chair and dropped to his knees beside the boy. Patting Billy’s head, he said, “Don’t cry, son. Let’s look at the damage. Maybe Daddy can fix it.”

A quick examination told Blake it could be easily repaired. All he
needed was a screwdriver. He picked Billy up and said, “Daddy will fix it, son.”

“Need my help?” Lewis asked.

Blake shook his head no. “Thanks, but it’s quite simple. Billy and I will go out to the kitchen and fix it. We’ll be right back.” Blake picked up the toy and left the parlor with Billy still sniffling.

Lewis looked at Linda and said, “Billy’s such a fine boy. I hope he grows up to be a real asset to society—a preacher, a banker like Blake, or a doctor, lawyer, or merchant.”

Linda pressed a smile on her lips. “I’m sure Billy will make his mark in the world.”

Lewis nodded, waited a few seconds, then said, “Linda, there’s something about Billy I need to ask you …”

Linda’s heart froze. She’d observed Lewis studying Billy more and more on his visits. She had hoped against hope that this moment would never come, yet the resemblance between Billy and his real father was visible enough that Lewis was bound to see it.
Oh, Lord,
came her silent plea,
give me strength and wisdom.

“What’s the question, Lewis?” she asked as butterflies flitted in her stomach.

He held her gaze with steady eyes. “Was Janet pregnant when she showed up here two years ago?”

Linda’s throat went dry.

Before she could come up with a reply, Lewis said, “Is Billy my son?”

The fear inside her took control, and she cried, “No, Lewis. Janet wasn’t pregnant when she came here. Billy is our son!”

At that instant Linda became aware of Blake’s presence as he carried Billy and the toy wagon into the room.

Blake had heard her words. He flicked a glance at her, then placed the boy on the floor with his wagon and said, “There you go, Billy. All fixed.”

Lewis continued to stare at Linda as Blake went to her and took her hand.

She looked up with tears brimming in her eyes and said, “I … I’m sorry, Blake. I just couldn’t—”

“Tell me the truth?” cut in Lewis.

Keeping a firm grip on Linda’s hand, Blake looked at Lewis and said, “Billy is indeed your son. Janet gave birth to him three months after she arrived here. She told us you didn’t know she was pregnant.”

Linda began to breathe in gulps as she tried to keep from breaking down completely.

“Linda,” Lewis said, “I’m sorry to upset you. But I had to know. I’ve been seeing little things about Billy that look like me. He even laughs like me. Please understand … I had to know.”

Linda was so choked up she couldn’t respond.

“We both understand,” Blake said. “We knew you might see the resemblance. But please try to understand our situation. Janet was anything but a mother to Billy. Except for feeding him, she totally ignored him. It was Linda who took over the role as his mother.”

Lewis looked pained.

“On top of that,” Blake said, “Janet stole several hundred dollars from us and disappeared. She left Billy behind without a word. Linda has now become attached to Billy as if she were his natural mother. You can understand that, can’t you?”

Lewis nodded solemnly. “Yes. I certainly can.”

“And it’s the same with me. I’ve become attached to this precious little boy as if I were his natural father. Linda and I love Billy with all our hearts, and we’ve given him a good home. As you can see, we clothe him well and we see to it that he eats well. Whatever he needs, we take care of it.”

Lewis was biting his lower lip.

“And I think you can see that Billy adores us. And as far as he knows, we’re his parents.”

Without a word, Lewis left his chair and knelt down beside Billy as he played with his wagon. Extending his hands to him, he said, “Would Billy let Uncle Lewis hold him?”

Linda’s heart was banging against her ribs. Lewis Carter had every right to take Billy from them.

Billy complied by holding his arms toward Lewis and saying, “Unca Woois ho’d Billy.”

Lewis took him in his arms and rose to his feet, holding him close. There were tears in his eyes as he laid his head next to Billy’s.

Blake and Linda looked on, heartsick.

As he set Billy on his feet, an openly emotional Lewis said, “I’ve got to think this situation over. I want to thank both of you for what you’ve done for my son. You’ve been wonderful to him. I’m sorry Janet turned out to be such a horrible mother. I … I’ll be going now.”

Linda stayed with Billy while Blake walked Lewis to the door.

Lewis stepped out on the porch and said, “Blake, I really mean it. I’m so grateful for what you and Linda have done for Billy. I’ll never forget it.” With that, he walked off the porch and headed up the lane toward the road.

When Blake returned to the parlor, Linda was on the sofa with Billy in her arms. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. “Mommy cwy,” said Billy. “Mommy cwy.”

Blake sat down beside them and said, “Honey, only the Lord will be able to keep Lewis from taking Billy with him when he leaves here. Pray with me about it.”

They both put their hands on Billy as they bowed their heads.

“Lord,” said Blake, “You know our hearts, and You know what’s going on in them right now. You also know what Lewis is feeling. We both want what’s right for Billy, Lord. And as far as Linda and I can see, this precious child would be far better off with us than with Lewis as things stand right now. Billy needs a mother. We would love to see Lewis find Janet, and we’d love to see her saved. But unless that happens, Janet isn’t going to be a fit mother … ever.

“We can’t wish Billy to be with her the way she is. And if Lewis is even able to find Janet, what about Billy during the time he’s trying to get her saved? And if Janet never gets saved, then what? Lord Jesus, it isn’t right that this little guy has to grow up without a mother’s love and care. Please keep Your hand on Billy. We don’t want to be selfish, but we do want what’s best for him.”

Suddenly, Linda burst into sobs. This startled Billy, and he began to
cry. She quickly stifled the sobs, not wanting to frighten him.

He whimpered for a moment anyway, but soothing words from both Blake and Linda caused him to stop crying.

“Honey,” Blake said, “we’ve got to trust the Lord in this. When I was in prison and you were married to Haman, it all looked pretty bad. But the God who put Romans 8:28 in the Bible got me out of prison and let us be together. We must trust Him in this crisis, too.”

“I know, darling,” she said, wrapping the little boy tighter in her arms. “I know.”

That night, Linda lay awake after Blake had fallen asleep. Moving her lips soundlessly, she said, “Dear Lord, would You give us this precious child only to take him away from us? I don’t think I can bear the pain of it.”

Even as she prayed, Linda felt the physical pain that heartache brings.

The next day, Linda was doing some light yard work while Billy played on the lawn nearby. She heard the familiar rattle of the mail delivery wagon and watched it roll down the lane.

She walked to where the mailbox stood and smiled at the driver, who had only been her mail delivery man for a few weeks. “Hello, Mr. Forbes. How are you today?”

“Just fine, ma’am,” said the elderly gentleman, tipping his hat. “And how’s that husky boy of yours?”

“Billy’s doing wonderfully.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

Forbes reached into a wooden box next to him and lifted up a small bundle of mail tied with a string. “Here you go, ma’am. Didn’t you tell me you’re originally from Boston, Massachusetts?”

“Yes, I did,” Linda said, accepting the bundle.

“There’s a letter in there from Boston, in case you’d like to start with it. You’ll notice I put it right on top.”

Linda glanced down at the return address. Looking back at Forbes,
she said, “Thank you. The Forrests are my parents.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sure you’re eager to read the letter, so I’ll be on my way. Good day to you.”

“Same to you, Mr. Forbes.”

The old gentleman waved at the little boy. “Bye, Billy! Take good care of your pretty mother!” With that, he snapped the reins and drove away.

Linda went to the porch, untied the string, and laid the rest of the mail down. She tore open the envelope and began reading her mother’s handwriting: