Once Upon a Family (11 page)

He wound his arms around her and pressed her against him. Swept away, Laura met his response with her own. His strength surrounded her, tempting her with his safe haven. All she had to do was give in to what he offered and maybe she wouldn’t be so alone.

A moment of sanity pricked her bubble. But would she be her own person? Would she come to depend on him as she had on Stephen? Look what had happened there! The need to end it grew, and she pushed away. Drawing ragged breaths into her lungs, she backed up a few feet.

“It’s getting late. I’d…” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“I understand.”

Do you? Because I’m not sure I do.
“Thank you for dinner. But next time I’ll have to invite you here to eat. That way you can’t pull a fast one over on me.”
Next time? One minute I’m pulling away from him, then I turn right around and imply there’s a future that has nothing to do with just being friends.

“Mom, the kitchen is cleaned.”

She smiled. “Duty calls.”

“I can let myself out. I’ll talk to you later.” He hesitated for a few seconds.

She did, too. His gaze seized hers as though there was a link between them that couldn’t be broken.

“Mom!”

Until her son shouted again. She blinked and hurried toward the kitchen. She didn’t think she could write about this to Cara just yet. How could she put her feelings down when she didn’t know what they were?

“Joshua, you’re in charge of the rabbit, and Matthew, you’ll have Digger.” Peter led Bosco into the nursing home on a leash while the boys hugged their animals against them.

Laura took up the rear. “Don’t squeeze them too tightly.”

Peter let the twins go ahead of him into the rec room while he hung back with Laura. He was glad she had decided to accompany them today, not because he couldn’t deal with her sons but because he wanted to see her whenever possible.

The other night when he’d kissed her and held her, he felt as if it was the most natural thing in the world, as though he had come home. There were a lot of obstacles in their way, and he knew that he might be setting himself up to be hurt again. He wasn’t even sure if he should consider getting serious. His marriage had left him leery of his own judgment. It was hard to trust it when he’d been so far off base with Diana, so betrayed by her.

“Are you sure they should be holding the animals?”

Laura’s question pulled him away from his thoughts. “No, but the cages are too big to bring inside.”

“How about a carrying tote, like a cat’s?”

“Let’s see how this goes. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll have to consider purchasing some.” He noted the boys
heading straight for a circle of older people in wheelchairs in the center of the large room. “But Joshua and Matthew still need to learn to handle the animals because the beauty in this is being able to hold on to and love the pets. That’s kinda hard in a carrier.”

“How did the planning session go yesterday? Sean didn’t say much when he got home.”

“For starters we’re pairing kids from the shelter with members of the youth group. They’ll help with taking some of the animals to day cares, nursing homes and hospitals. Also they’ll help with the care of the pets.”

Laura watched Joshua put the rabbit in a woman’s lap. “How are they going to get to the places?”

“I’ll drive some. I’m also recruiting volunteers. I know of several church members who have expressed an interest.”

“I’ll help when I can.”

“Great.” He looked toward Matthew who had given the ferret to a man, bent over in a wheelchair. Digger curled up into a ball.

Matthew grinned at his brother. “My pet is better than yours.”

Joshua screwed his mouth into a frown. “No, it isn’t!” He let go of the rabbit, still sitting in the lady’s lap, and took several steps toward his twin.

The old woman’s frail grasp on the hare slipped off, and it sprang from her. It hopped across the room toward the couch. Peter darted after the pet at the same time Joshua realized what had happened and pursued it to the sofa.

“You get at that end and I’ll drive it out.” Peter knelt and peered underneath the couch.

Before he had a chance to do anything, the rabbit darted out and raced around the rec room. Joshua gave chase. One woman shrieked while another giggled. The man who held the ferret grumbled there was too much commotion, but he grinned from ear to ear.

By the time Peter had the rabbit cornered by the piano, he was out of breath and seriously questioning his wisdom in bringing two seven-year-olds to the nursing home. With large brown eyes, the hare stared up at him as though gauging its chances of making it across the room to the wide-open door. Peter reached toward the panting animal. At that moment Joshua drove toward it. Peter’s grasp came up empty as the rabbit headed for the hallway and freedom.

Laura blocked its escape and slammed the door closed. She scooped up the furry beast before it could turn and race in the opposite direction.

“We haven’t had this much excitement in months,” the woman who had held the rabbit said.

“Quite a show, young man,” another lady added.

Joshua and Matthew took a bow as though they had planned the whole little episode. Several of the old folks clapped, and one yelled he wanted more.

“That’s all we need. My sons encouraged to do more of that,” Laura whispered when she came up to Peter.

Winded from his mad dash about the room, Peter breathed shallow gasps and leaned close. “Especially since it was an accident. I’m afraid next time it won’t be. I had visions of us chasing that rabbit all over the nursing home.”

“One way to get our exercise.”

Peter crossed to the nearest resident and let her pet Bosco. “Next time we’ll have to make some kind of pro vision so the animals don’t run wild.”

“That’s easy. Don’t take my sons.”

The laughter that laced her voice spoke to him on a level that scared him. He could get so used to being a part of her family. But Laura sent off warning signals. Only lately had he really begun to see how deeply hurt she was from her marriage. Her husband had been gone just a year. He remembered how confused he had been that first year after his divorce. And until recently he had thought he’d put his divorce completely behind him. Now he wasn’t so sure.

With Laura escorting her sons around the circle to make sure the animals didn’t get away, they stayed another half hour. A few continued to request more antics so by the time Peter rounded everyone up and they headed for his truck, an idea began to form in his mind.

Settled in the cab, he switched on the engine and backed out of the parking space. “Anyone for ice cream?”

Two yells from behind him confirmed their next destination. Five minutes later, he pulled up to a store that sold mostly ice cream. “Let’s go inside. My treat.”

The boys were out of the cab in a flash and racing toward the building. At a more sedate pace Peter entered with Laura. Joshua pressed his face up against the plastic shield to get a good look at all the varieties while Matthew gave his order of a double-dip chocolate ice-cream cone. After Joshua told the cashier his more
exotic choices of raspberry, lemon and bubble gum, Peter motioned for Laura to go next.

“After this afternoon I’m treating myself to a double-dip caramel sundae.”

The eager expression on Laura’s face rivaled her sons’.
Today has been a good one,
Peter thought and realized he looked forward to the times he was with Laura and her family. He felt alive, needed, as though the Lord had brought them into his life for a purpose.

“I’ll have the same as her,” Peter said to the cashier. “But add a healthy amount of chocolate syrup, too.”

A few minutes later, he sat across from Laura at a table for two because Joshua and Matthew had selected a similar one and had proceeded to snicker and throw them secretive glances.

“Should we be worried they’re plotting something?” Peter savored the first bite of his delicious sweet.

“Yes. They’re up to something, and I have a feeling it’s directed at us. They keep looking over here. We’d better be on the lookout. No telling what they will do.”

“I can’t be too angry with them. Because of your sons, I’ve come up with a great idea. We can take using the animals to entertain the kids and old folks one step further.”

She slid her spoon into her mouth and sighed. “Nothing’s better than this. I love caramel. I’d take it any day over chocolate.” She took another taste before saying, “From that gleam in your eye, I’m almost afraid to ask. What’s your great idea?”

“We’re going to come up with a comic routine to en
tertain our audience just like today. There are some in the youth group who are into the theater at school and would be great. Brandon is a fine actor and class clown according to some of his teachers.”

“We could even use a clown with the children’s groups. This has possibilities.”

“Then you’ll help me?”

“Sure.”

Her answer made his day. Working with her was so easy. She was efficient and very capable. “We’ve got the paperwork completed and turned in to the government. I’ve got a reporter lined up to do an article on the Shepherd Project.”

“Sadie, Tory and I have had a lot of success getting donations for the auction. I’m feeling good about this.”

“Yeah, isn’t it amazing how this is coming together?” Peter finished his sundae. “It’s a God thing how this has all worked out.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve worked hard. I know this is summer vacation, but you’re at school almost every day then come home and put in long hours on getting the foundation off the ground as well as the Shepherd Project up and running. When do you sleep?”

He captured her hand near his and drew her full attention to him. “This would never have been possible without the Lord. He’s giving me the inspiration and desire to make this happen.” He brushed his fingers across her knuckles, enjoying the connection. “He brought you into my life and see what you’ve done so
far for the foundation? I don’t know the first thing about organizing a fund-raiser. You have quite a gift.”

She lowered her gaze, patches of red spotting her cheeks, but she didn’t pull her hand back. “You’d have figured it out. You’re a smart guy.”

“All things have a purpose. They may not always be our purpose. Look at today with the rabbit getting loose. They loved it. It will be a great addition to our program, and the kids will enjoy doing it.”

“They say laughter is the best medicine.”

“I know I like hearing you laugh.” More and more she was laughing as well as relaxing and smiling.

For a fleeting moment he considered talking with Sarah and finding out what had happened with Laura and her husband. He’d thought the vulnerability he’d glimpsed from the beginning was due to the recent death of her husband. Now he didn’t. Something else had happened. An affair? Some kind of abuse?

No matter how much he wanted to know so he could help Laura more, he wouldn’t ask her aunt. Laura had to tell him in her own time or it wouldn’t mean anything. And he wanted it to mean something. He wanted more from her. That realization surprised him. He’d come to realize Laura wasn’t ready to become romantically involved with another and she might never be. But then the same went for him. Or so he’d thought—until recently.

Cara, I’m so glad to hear Mason is responding to his treatment finally. I’ve been worried as I know you have. I will continue to pray. I’m happy to hear Mason will be leaving the hospital tomorrow. I know how hard it is on all three of you with Mason being in and out of the hospital these past few months. Give him—both your guys—a hug for me.

Remember me telling you about how enraged my daughter was at her brothers for marking her arms while she slept? I wish I could sleep as soundly as she does? Well, you would think she would have scrubbed and scrubbed to get the marks completely off. This is six days later and she still hasn’t really washed her arms like she should have—ever since she heard the boys had to do her chores as long as the markings stay on her.

I heard them plotting about jumping her and one of them holding her down while the other scrubbed her arms. I put a stop to that, but I had a hard time not laughing at their predicament. Maybe they will
think twice before doing something like that again—or not.

On a more serious note I’m still trying to process the weekend with Peter. I can’t believe I broke down with him a second time. What has gotten into me? Peter is becoming more than a friend, and I don’t know how to change it back to the way it was because I can’t see me getting serious about another man.

I missed the abusive signs with Stephen. What if I did that again? I can’t put myself through that again nor my children. I know. I know. The signs were there, but hindsight is always twenty-twenty. Stephen was controlling. Things had to be his way or he got angry. I couldn’t even work except in his business and then only until it got going. I didn’t have a life outside the home, and Stephen wanted it that way. And I’m finding I like a life outside the home. It makes me feel I can stand on my own two feet. I’m still relishing Peter’s words about how good an organizer and planner I am. Please pray I do the right thing. Love, Laura.

A
fter hurriedly sending the e-mail, she scrambled to get her purse and head out to the car with her twins in tow. Alice had just called and said she needed to see her right away. Before she could find out what was wrong, Alice hung up. Suspicion lurked in the back of her mind. What was Alice up to?

Fifteen minutes later Laura pulled up in front of the apartment building only to discover Alice waiting on the sidewalk, tapping her foot impatiently. The second she
saw Laura’s car, she scooted toward it faster than Laura had seen her move.

“We did it!” Alice waved the letter in front of her. “
More Than Dreams
is going to build not one but two homes for the foster children. I received the letter today by special courier and they also called shortly afterward. Peter doesn’t know yet. We’re gonna tell him.”

Laura slid a gaze toward Alice getting into the passenger seat of her car. “I’m glad we’re officially on the board of the foundation or they might have contacted Peter first.”

“The producer was so sweet. He gave me a number to have Peter reach him after we spoke with him.” Alice turned around to her twins in the back and added, “Not a word to Peter when we get out to the ranch.”

Both Joshua and Matthew said, “Yes, ma’am,” at the same time.

“You, Laura, have such sweet boys.”

Laura threw a wide-eyed look at Alice. “They have their moments.” On more than one occasion she had caught her twins whispering and sending her and Peter furtive glances.
I’m afraid that Alice’s and Aunt Sarah’s matchmaking has definitely spread to my two youngest. I’m afraid to turn my back on them. No telling what they will do.

“I’m so glad you could come pick me up. I want this to be a total surprise to Peter.” A huge grin curved Alice’s mouth.

Laura turned her vehicle down the gravel road that led to the barn. “Well, we’re here.”

“Are you sure he’s at the ranch? It’s Thursday and he’s usually at school until two or three in the summer.”

“He’s taking a few vacation days. He had some things to do around the place before school starts again. I only dropped Sean off an hour ago. Peter told me he and some of the kids from the youth group had a lot of work to finish. They’ve received several more animals.”

Alice tsk-tsked. “That boy doesn’t know how to take it easy. Vacation means no work or at least more play than work.”

“He’s really thrown himself into the Shepherd Project and the Henderson Foundation. He told me once the foster home is built the kids staying in it will take over the project with the animals.”

“You talk to him a lot?”

The twinkle in Alice’s eyes told Laura to tread lightly with her answer, especially with two little boys in the back seat, unusually quiet, listening to every word. If she gave the woman any encouragement, Alice would be sending out the wedding announcements this week. “Although I’ve ended up heading the fund-raiser, I like to keep Peter informed of what’s going on. This is his idea. The rest of us are along for the ride.”

Alice chuckled. “Even back in high school he always had the big ideas. Why, I can remember—”

“Hold that thought.” Laura loved hearing stories about Peter growing up, but she’d pulled up beside the barn and Peter was striding toward them.

Peter came around to Alice’s side of the car. “What brings you all out here?”

“Help an old lady out of the car and I’ll tell you.” Alice motioned with her hand for him to open the door
wider while she clutched the notification letter in one hand and her purse in the other.

As her twins raced toward the barn, Laura climbed from her car and rounded it while Peter assisted Alice to her feet. His gaze lit upon the paper in his foster mother’s hand.

Curiosity took hold of Peter. “What do you have there?”

“A dream come true!”

The joyful glee in Alice’s voice rang out, vying with the hammering coming from the barn. “Alice got a brilliant idea and today it paid off.” Laura’s own delighted excitement mirrored Alice’s.

“With Laura’s help I applied to that show—
More Than Dreams
—to build you the foster home you wanted on this ranch and they have said yes, not to one, but two! This is a blessed day!”

Peter’s eyes grew round. “You did what?”

Alice thrust the official registered letter into Peter’s hands. “They sent a letter as well as called me this morning. Read it. The head producer wants you to phone him as soon as you receive this. So come on. Let’s go up to the house and make that call.” She tugged on Peter’s arm.

His eyes even rounder, Peter looked up from reading the letter, shaking his head. “I don’t believe this. This has got to be a joke.”

“No, it isn’t. I would never joke about something as serious as this.” Alice hooked her arm through his. “Besides, I talked to the sweet man.”

Peter turned toward Laura. “You were in on this and you didn’t say a word?”

She smiled. “It wouldn’t have been a surprise if I had.”

His shock transformed into wonderment. “You know what this means?”

“The money we raise in September can go toward staffing the houses and other things that will be needed.” His awestruck expression was the best payment for her time filling out the application, Laura decided.

“The suspense is killing me, Peter. Come on.”

He laughed at Alice’s eagerness. “I can’t leave the kids. They’re finishing up making another pen for some goats.”

“Goats! When did you get them?” Laura peered toward the entrance into the barn where her twins had disappeared five minutes before.

“These weren’t left on my doorstep. The FFA teacher donated them to the project. Goats are good for petting. The younger children will enjoy them.” He patted Alice’s gnarled hand on his arm. “Let me see if Sean and Chad will keep an eye on everyone until I can get back. I know how much this means to you. Be right back.”

“We’ll come with you. I haven’t seen the inside of your barn since all your animal additions.”

“Alice, that’s not a bad idea. I want to check on the twins and make sure they aren’t getting into too much trouble. This past week they have been awfully quiet and well behaved.” Laura strode with Peter and his foster mother into the barn’s cool interior.

Sean pounded a nail into a board while Chad held it straight. The two boys chatted but stopped when they saw them coming.

“Hi, Mom. You weren’t gone long. We have at least another two hours of work.”

“That’s okay. Where’s Matthew and Joshua?”

Sean nodded toward the second stall from the end. “They’re playing with the new puppies. We’re gonna try to find them homes or at least most of them when they’re older. Maybe we could—”

Laura hurried to cut off his request before the twins heard. “One dog is enough right now.”

Peter scanned the area. “Where are the others?”

“They went on out to start working on the fence that needs repairing.” Sean positioned another nail and drove it into the board.

“We’re going up to the house for a while. If there’s a problem, come get me. I’m leaving you in charge, Sean, Chad.”

“You are?—I mean, great. Chad and me will finish up in here then help with the fence.”

As Peter and Alice started for the entrance, Laura lingered. “Please watch out—”

“I know, Mom. Watch Joshua and Matthew. They won’t do anything wrong. They know if they do they won’t be able to come out here and help with the animals.”

Since when had her son gotten so wise? Only a few months before he would have yelled at them and told them not to do anything wrong or else. As she hurried to catch up with Peter and Alice, Laura was struck by the revelation that Sean in the past had only been emulating Stephen. Now, though, he had seen how Peter interacted with people who had messed up. Peter didn’t
fly into a rage as her husband had. Peter dealt with most situations with patience and understanding.

So much in her family was changing and mostly because of the man next to her. She’d known Peter for almost five months, and his impact on her life left her facing the fact that she was probably in over her head.

The second they reached Peter’s house, he went straight for the phone in his kitchen and punched in the numbers listed on the letter while Alice eased down onto a chair.

Laura held her breath while he was switched to the producer. Every muscle tensed in excitement as she watched Peter converse with the person on the other end of the line.

Thank you, Lord. Peter is a good man and deserves this. Better yet, the foster children deserve a good home.

Peter hung up, his hand lingering on the receiver, his stare fastened on the phone.

“Peter! Give us the details.” Alice’s raised voice brought him out of his stunned state.

“There was a part of me that even as I was waiting to be put through to Mr. McGraw figured this whole thing was a hoax.” He swung fully around to face them. “It’s not. It’s going to happen the last week in August, less than a month away. We’ll be one of the first shows on next season.” He drew in a deep breath. “They decided to move a few shows around so they could slot ours early.”

Joy sent Laura across the room and into his arms. She kissed him on the cheek. Then embarrassed by her impulsive reaction, she stepped back. “Everything is hap
pening so fast.”
In more ways than just the show building the homes.
She could barely grasp who she was becoming. Her feelings for Peter were quickly changing, evolving into something she wasn’t sure she could handle.

“Yeah, Mr. McGraw told me that he was a foster child and he couldn’t pass up this opportunity. He thinks the Henderson Foundation sounds great. A couple of the production people from the show will be here in a few weeks to start things rolling.” Peter shook his head. “This is unbelievable and it wouldn’t have been possible without you two.”

“It really was all Alice’s doing. She came up with the idea. I just helped with the application.”

Alice’s face reddened. “Nonsense. It was both of us.”

Peter looked first at her then his foster mother. “I don’t care how it came about. Thank God the kids will have homes months before I ever imagined.”

“Amen.” Alice lumbered to her feet, swaying toward the table. She clutched its edge.

“Are you all right?” Laura rushed to her side and grasped her arm to make sure she was steady.

Peter came up on Alice’s other side. “Are you eating enough?”

“I’m eating fine. Whatever made you ask that?”

“I saw your refrigerator a few weeks ago.”

“And you brought me some food.” She tapped his chest with her index finger. “I’m okay. Quit worrying about me. We have too many other things to think about. A lot is going to happen in the next month.”

Peter laughed. “And in the middle of all that, school will start.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.” Out of the corner of her eye Laura caught something red flashing by the window. Matthew? He had on a red shirt. No, why would he be up at the house?

She walked to the back door and stuck her head out to see what was going on. She saw someone small wearing a red shirt ducking into the barn. It could only be Matthew. Her mother alarm went off.

“I think we should get back to the barn. Matthew is up to something. The back of my neck is tingling. That’s a dead giveaway.” Laura didn’t wait for Alice or Peter but headed across the yard.

Inside the deserted structure she searched the shadows, but Matthew was nowhere to be seen. She strode toward the back and found all the members of the youth group working with both her youngest sons in the middle, helping, too. Thankfully, she overreacted—this time.

Several weeks later with coffee in hand Laura went out onto her porch to get the newspaper and nearly tripped over the vase of flowers sitting before the door. She caught herself before falling, but the hot liquid sloshed over the rim of her mug and onto her hand. She dropped her cup, and it shattered into tiny pieces all over the wooden slats.

Having been up late working on the fund-raiser, she tried to blink the gritty feel from her eyes so she could focus better on the array of multicolored flowers before
her. But exhaustion clung to her like sweat on a hot, steamy day. She picked up the vase, examining it. A bright white card stuck out of the floral arrangement. She plucked it out, and setting the vase back on the porch, she read the cursive writing that looked familiar.