Missionary Daddy (14 page)

E
ric thought he might actually survive.

In the Saturday-morning sun, he and Sam walked across the concrete parking lot to the Youth Center. He hadn’t slept much last night, having spent most of the night praying and trying to understand, but this morning he didn’t notice the lack of sleep.

He credited a lot of that to the woman at his side.

Last night she’d been there for him. They’d even prayed together, an act that had thrilled him to his soul. The hurt of losing his sons would take a long time to heal, but with Sam by his side, he would make it. He only hoped his boys would be all right.

Not that he intended to completely give up. He would file an appeal and write letters to the South African government.

He reached for Sam’s hand, pulled her against his side. On the way to the youth center, she’d been telling him about her plans to appear on
Afternoons with Douglas Matthews.
He knew how hard the decision had been and he was incredibly proud of her.

“Douglas Matthews has a big following. You can reach a large audience and do a lot of good. You’ll be awesome.”

“I’m anxious about it,” she admitted, raising big gray eyes to his.

“Understandable. But the talks you’ve had with my Sunday school class were a huge hit.”

He gazed down at her, thinking of the way she’d openly discussed her eating disorder with the Sharpes and then come to his rescue last night, putting her own worries aside. Sam Harcourt was a lot more than a pretty face.

Today she reminded him of the first time he’d seen her. Pale hair whipped back into a ponytail and covered with a hot-pink baseball cap. Khaki shorts with a hot-pink T-shirt tucked neatly into the waistband. She wore no jewelry other than a pair of small black-and-silver earrings.

“A television show is a lot different,” Sam said, still fretting about the upcoming appearance.

“You’re accustomed to the lights and cameras.”

“But not to sharing my shortcomings and failures with total strangers.”

Their athletic shoes reverberated in the long, empty hallway. From inside the main meeting room, a chorus of voices could be heard. The kids were already here and raring to go.

“You didn’t fail, Sam. Don’t think that. Failure would be not using your experience to help others.”

She squeezed his waist. “Thank you. You’re a big reason why I decided to do this.”

“Yeah?” He liked the sound of that. He liked everything about Sam Harcourt.

The realization that he was in love with her filled him with happiness. After years of prayer and waiting on the right woman, he’d found her. His instincts in Africa hadn’t failed him. The Lord had sent the love of his life all the way across the ocean and then orchestrated their meeting again here in Chestnut Grove. Eric didn’t believe either meeting was a coincidence.

Nikki, Tiffany and the other kids stopped talking the moment the adults walked in. To forestall the usual round of moon-eyed glances, Eric dropped Sam’s hand.

This morning the kids had more than matchmaking on their minds, however. Two of their own were missing. Jeremy and Gina.

“How’s Gina?” they asked all at once.

“We heard she passed out,” Tiffany said, a chocolate doughnut in hand. “And you took her to the hospital.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Nikki demanded. “Is it bad? Is she dying? Her mom wouldn’t let any of us talk to her on the phone.”

He supposed they should have called the kids yesterday and filled them in, but he’d had a few other things on his mind.

He held up one hand. “Hold on and I’ll fill you in.”

Even though he wanted to protect Gina’s privacy, he knew she would need the help and encouragement of trusted friends. He gave a brief rundown of Gina’s eating disorder, encouraging each one to be supportive in the coming days and weeks. The kids listened, their jovial mood replaced with a more somber one.

“Scary,” Billy said when Eric finished talking. “Why do girls do that?”

“It happens to boys, too,” Nikki said. “I read about it. Not as often, but it happens.”

Billy looked as if he didn’t believe a word. “Weird.”

“I get hungry just talking about it,” Dylan said, his joke lightening the mood a little.

“Should we call off the float trip?” Nikki asked.

Eric shook his head. He’d expected that question and had even considered it himself. “No point. Gina’s getting great care and she’d feel terrible to think she spoiled your day. The best thing we can do is go on with our plans.” He held up a digital camera. “And take lots of photos to share.”

By the time the ten teens and two adults arrived at the Float Shop, the mood of adventure had returned. In advance, each pair had packed an ice chest and picnic lunch in preparation for the three-hour canoe trip.

Sam had volunteered to prepare a picnic for herself and Eric. In exchange he had furnished the small ice chest of drinks. Sam had lovingly made Eric’s favorite Virginia baked ham and Colby cheddar sandwiches and had even included a pack of his favorite peanut-butter cookies. She might even eat one, too. Today was meant for fun with Eric and the teens, and she planned to enjoy it to the max.

Along with a half-dozen other adventurers, they loaded the shuttle and headed toward the launch site. On the way, a guide gave out instructions for safety and proper handling of the boat.

When they reached the river, the summer sun glistened on the slow-moving water. They’d purposely chosen one of the easy float trips for safety concerns, although most of the kids had paddled canoes before.

Manned with a river map and wearing life jackets, they separated into pairs. An air of suppressed excitement simmered through the teens. Occasionally, one of them cast a funny look at another and they’d both grin. Sam wondered, but decided they were still matchmaking.

Poor kids. They had no clue.

Sam questioned her motives for coming today. She’d promised the kids after the Noble Foundation Picnic that she would accompany them on this float trip. At that time she hadn’t known all that would transpire to this point. Now that she was here with Eric, listening to his wonderful laugh, watching him tease the kids and draw out even the most timid, her heart hurt like crazy. Eric was too fine a man, too special, too everything to be stuck with her.

Putting on her model’s smile, Sam said, “I think we’re ready.”

“Everybody have their equipment?” a guide asked, checking and rechecking.

At the chorus of nodding heads, Eric swept a hand toward the rows of waiting boats.

“Choose a canoe, guys, and mount up.” He rubbed his hands in anticipation. “Time to get the party started.”

En masse, the group headed for the shoreline. “You first, Eric. We’ll help you and Sam cast off.”

“Can’t refuse an offer like that.”

Sam reached for the ice chest but Dylan whipped it away. “I got it. You jump in.”

“Why, thanks, Dylan. I appreciate that.”

The boy responded with a moonstruck grin she recognized too well. Even though these kids had spent lots of spare time with her, they still reacted as if she were special.

As Eric helped Sam into the tottery canoe, the teens gathered around. All wore silly, puzzling grins.

One of the older boys leaned over to brace the boat. “Watch your step.”

The boat tipped sharply and Sam gave a nervous laugh. “Am I sure I want to do this?”

“Chicken?” Eric asked, eyes dancing.

She pointed at him. “You’re going to eat those words, Pellegrino.”

Holding to either side of the aluminum boat, she gingerly positioned her body at one end while Eric took the other, facing her. An oar in each hand, he used them to push against the shore while Billy, Dylan and the other boys sloshed through shallow muddy water, and with one mighty shove, launched the canoe toward deeper water.

Cries of victory went up as Eric and Sam floated away from shore. With strong muscled arms, Eric smoothly guided the boat.

“Come on, guys,” he yelled to the kids onshore. “We can’t wait all day.”

But instead of heading to their own boats, the teens began a celebratory round of high fives, whooping like victors at a hometown football game.

What was going on?

“No need to wait,” Nikki called, waving. “We’re not coming.”

“What?” Eric stopped paddling. “Come on now, quit fooling around.”

“No fooling. We’re going for burgers. Be back later.” One of the older boys jangled the car keys high above his head. “And don’t worry. Caleb is meeting us in town.”

“Caleb knew about this?” The boat drifted farther from shore while Eric and Sam sat in stunned inactivity.

“Yeah. I think it might have been his idea.” Nikki’s kohl-rimmed eyes sparkled. “He canceled our reservations. You and Sam have fun.”

And before either Sam or Eric could further protest, the teens hopped back on the shuttle. Grinning faces pressed to the windows, they waved as the bus pulled away.

For a minute Eric and Sam sat unmoving in the small boat. Given her decision, Sam didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But she had to hand it to those kids. When they set their minds to a task, they were amazingly creative.

“I think we’ve been had,” Eric said, still wearing that stunned expression.

“And beautifully done, I might say.”

“Did you see this coming?”

“Not at all.”

“Me either.”

They floated along in silence for a few seconds. The other boaters had pulled away by now and a rumble of distant voices drifted over the softly rippling water.

“Do you want to go back?” Eric asked.

“Do you?”

“There won’t be another shuttle down here for at least an hour.”

“I guess we’re stuck.” Although
stuck
was not the way she ever felt with Eric, she wondered about the wisdom of spending an entire afternoon in a romantic canoe with a man she loved but shouldn’t encourage.

Eric glowered, but his chocolate eyes twinkled. “Not sure I like the way you said that.”

She relented. “You know what? We’re here. The weather is beautiful. Might as well enjoy it.”

“My sentiments exactly.” He dipped a paddle into the water. “So sit back, m’lady, and enjoy the ride.”

“I can help paddle. I’m not a total wimp.”

As she reached for an aluminum paddle, Eric gave her a fierce stare. “And ruin my reputation? No way. Wimp or wonder woman, it doesn’t matter. I paddle. You provide the inspiration. Just like in the movies.”

They grinned at each other across the length of boat. And Sam thought why not. Why not relax and have fun together? Life afforded few enough days as beautiful as this. And Eric desperately needed the distraction that physical exercise and the beautiful setting could provide. She couldn’t give him much, but she could give him today.

“I haven’t been in a canoe since I was a teenager,” she admitted, leaning toward him, hands folded over her knees.

“The last boat I paddled was a leaky old wooden canoe with my oldest brother, Shane. We were bass fishing in a watershed lake.”

“Catch anything?”

“Considering that I was ten years old, I can’t say I remember. I do remember Shane chucking me overboard once and tossing me a float ring.”

“Seriously? Your brother pushed you out of the boat?”

White teeth flashed. “I was a pain. He had a girlfriend. Mom made him take me along as chaperone.”

“Wise mother.”

“Not so wise if Shane had drowned me.”

“Did you tell on him?”

“Are you kidding?” He looked aghast. “Brothers don’t squeal. Besides, if I had, he would have drowned me in the kitchen sink.”

They both laughed at the silliness.

“How did you survive two brothers?”

“And don’t forget the sisters. I’m the baby. They made me play dolls when I was too young to know better. My brothers never let me live that down.”

They talked on, sharing childhood stories. Sam seldom talked this candidly with another human being. Never with a man. As the big sister, even with Ashley she was always guarded to a certain degree. In the crowd she frequented there was always the jockeying for position, the posturing, the facade. But with Eric she could be the real Sam Harcourt.

The morning breeze over the river was a whisper. The soft
splish
of paddle against water and the lap of crystal current against the canoe was gentle, restful music. Samantha breathed in the humid, fertile scent of summer from the thick Virginia forests lining the shore.

After a bit, they floated, sometimes paddling, sometimes not, but always talking, talking. Sam leaned back in the slender boat, stretching in the warm sunshine, content to listen to Eric’s deep baritone all day.

Eric loved his family. That much was clear. He was a family man all the way to his soul.

Sam trailed her fingers in the cool water, wishing, dreaming, but knowing wishes didn’t come true. Was she playing with fire? Too weak willed to make the break when she knew good and well they could have fun, but no future?

The phrasing grabbed her. That was her life. Sam Harcourt, successful cover model. Fun but no future.

Her gaze drifted to Eric. Strong hands gripped the paddles; broad shoulders flexed as he stirred the water. Beneath a tattered baseball cap, his darkly tanned skin shone with a light sheen of perspiration. All man. That was her Eric.

Her
Eric. Dangerous thoughts. Other than a friend, he could not be her anything. Not forever anyway. She wasn’t that selfish.

By now they had made a bend in the river and not another boat was in sight, only more trees and thick, tangled underbrush.

Eric brought the paddles inside and let the canoe drift. A dragonfly buzzed low over the boat, hovering as if curious about the people aboard. Gossamer wings glistened in the sunlight.

Eric leaned forward to waggle the toe of her tennis shoe. “Can you imagine what it was like for the first settlers who saw this place?”

She sat upright. They’d come to a narrow slice of river banked with heavy, close-growing timber. The hardwood trees cast a dark shade over the water and blotted out the sun.