Precedent: Book Three: Covenant of Trust Series (6 page)

”
David, I’m sorry to hear that,” Bobbi said. “I didn’t realize Dr. Craig was that ill.”

“
It’s been a battle, and Mom doesn’t drive anymore so I left Jan home with her.”

“
Give her our love, and tell her thank you for thinking of us,” Bobbi said. Once David had left, Bobbi looked to Chuck and said, “Donna must be getting close to eighty by now.” She shook her head. “Listening to David makes me feel old.”

“
You don’t look it,” Chuck answered with a smile.

“
Looks can be deceiving,” Bobbi replied.

Chuck saw John Isaac slip in, and even though his split with Kara had been amicable, he hung back, waiting for his opportunity to speak to them privately. Bobbi smiled and extended her hand to him.

He took her hand and leaned in to hug her. “I’m really sorry about Brad.”

“
Thank you,” Bobbi said.

Chuck shook John’s hand and said, “Good to see you, John. Thanks for coming.”

“
You know, I’ve always thought the world of you and Bobbi,” John said, glancing past. “When Kara and I couldn’t work things out, I felt like a real failure considering what you all were able to overcome.”

“
It takes both of you,” Chuck said.

“
Yeah, I don’t think we had the energy to do what it was going to take to rebuild things.” He glanced around the room again. “I should speak to Joel, and the rest of my family.”

“
John, take care,” Bobbi said, reaching for his hand again. “You’re still one of us.”

“
Thank you,” John said quietly, with a gentle smile. “You’re in my prayers.”

John stopped and talked to Rita and Gavin briefly, then Joel, before moving on to see his girls. “I miss him,” Bobbi said just loud enough for Chuck to hear her.

“
I think Kara is too much like her mother,” Chuck said with a wink.

“
Granted, but like you said, it takes two to reconcile.”

* * *

Jack spent the evening eavesdropping as partners, clients and coworkers from his dad’s law firm, schoolteachers, doctors, classmates, church members and extended family all offered condolences and shared memories with his parents. He hung on every word, but each story deepened his sense of loss. Needing a break, he found a chair in the corner and slumped into it, resting his elbows on his knees, with his face in his hands.

“
It’s a lot to process, isn’t it?”

Jack looked up slowly. Joel had pulled up a chair next to him. “Yeah,” he said. He leaned back and stretched his legs out. “This wasn’t part of my plan.”

“
I doubt it was part of anybody’s plan, even the shooter.”

“
Yeah, but I mean, I planned on following Brad to seminary, and maybe the mission.” His eyes began to brim with tears. “What do I do now?”

Joel turned to face him. “Jack, you won’t hear this right now, but file it. You’re Jack, not Brad. God’s got something for you that only you can do. Find that.”

“
How?”

He grinned broadly. “The same way the rest of us figure that out. The hard way.”

“
Thanks,” Jack said with mock aggravation.

“
Looks like everybody’s gone home.” Joel stood and stretched.

“
Finally,” Jack said with a sigh.

“
It’ll be easier tomorrow.”

“
In theory.” He saw Shannon look his direction, then turn her back. “Joel, I gotta check something. Thanks, man.” He crossed the room and tapped his sister on the shoulder. “Shannon?”

“
What?” She whipped around to face him.

“
Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me for something?”

“
Jack, do you understand what happened here tonight? You’re the whole reason Brad was out on that street.”

“
You think I don’t know that?” Jack jabbed at his temple. “I haven’t slept because I can’t get that out of my head.” Then he added quietly, “I wish it had been me instead.”

“
Brad gave his life to protect
you
.”

“
I know, I know.” Jack glanced at his parents, thankful they were talking to Rita and Gavin, unaware of their conversation. Shannon must have seen him.

“
Of course, it’s Dad’s fault you were even born,” Shannon said with disgust.

“
You wouldn’t have been born either if Dad hadn’t had the affair.”

“
You don’t know that.” Shannon leaned in close to him. “But
you
certainly wouldn’t have, and if your mother hadn’t been such a head case, we would have never had to take you in.” Shannon walked away, leaving Jack feeling like he had been punched in the stomach. Did his mom and dad feel the same way? Did everybody else?

Did Brad regret throwing him down and out of the line of fire? He shuffled over and stood at the foot of the casket, almost afraid to look. It was Brad’s idea to follow the old man, wasn’t it?

“
Son, are you ready to go?” His dad put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. He still hated that.

Jack sidestepped him. “Do you think Uncle Gavin would give me a ride home?”

“
Why don’t you want to ride with us?”

“
Can we talk about it later? It’s a long story.”

“
Did somebody say something or do something?”

“
Dad, please. Not now.”

* * *

Against his better judgment, Chuck gave in and sent Jack home with the Heatleys. When Bobbi questioned him about it, he gave her the same answer he’d gotten—we’ll talk about it later. Shannon, alone in the backseat, never gave the slightest indication that she knew anything about it, but Chuck suspected she was the instigator. He’d seen the two of them talking moments before he approached Jack.

Later that evening, Chuck knocked on Shannon’s bedroom door. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” After a long pause, she opened the door without speaking to him and climbed back on her bed. “Is something going on between you and Jack?”

“
Is that what Jack said?”

“
I asked you,” Chuck said firmly.

Shannon fixed her eyes on him and spoke with uncharacteristic deliberation. “Jack and I had a discussion about Brad’s murder.”

“
And?” She was holding something back.

Shannon sighed. “Okay, this was gonna come out sooner or later anyway.” She twisted around and sat up on her bed, facing him. “Dad, what happened the night Brad died?”

“
What are you getting at?”

“
Brad and Jack were out on the street in that neighborhood because they were on some ridiculous search for Jack’s grandfather. It’s Jack’s fault they were there. It’s Jack’s fault that Brad is dead.”

“
You’re wrong, Shannon,” Chuck said sharply, his voice rising. “You’re upset, and you’re trying to find some way to deal with it, but Brad’s death was an accident.”

“
Of course,” Shannon said, rolling her eyes. “Poor Jack could never do anything wrong. He’s had such a hard life. His mother was crazy—”

“
What?”

“
Dad, you’ve always made excuses for Jack. It’s like—”

“
We’ve never expected any less of Jack than we have from you.”

“
Whatever,” she muttered.

“
Give me an example.”

“
I am not arguing with a lawyer. Thanks anyway.” She leaned back against the headboard. “Brad was innocent. If it wasn’t for somebody else, he’d still be here.”

“
What about the guy with the gun? How can you ignore him and just blame your brother?”

“
That guy was not after Brad. Jack put Brad in that position. And he knows it was his fault! Why do you think he’s avoided us for three days?”

“
Grief.”

“
Guilt. And you let him ride home with Uncle Gavin.”

“
That’s . . . This is ridiculous. I don’t want to hear any more about this.” He pointed directly at Shannon, his jaw set. “You don’t mention this to your mother, and you lay off Jack.”

“
You’re mad because you know I’m right.”

“
I’m not mad, and you’re absolutely wrong. I’m going to overlook your disrespect because of the circumstances, but we don’t need this undercurrent running through our family. I’m not going to put up with it.” Shannon glared at him but said nothing. “Good night,” he said at last, leaving her alone in her room.

* * *

“
So what’s going on?” Bobbi asked when Chuck returned to their bedroom.

“
Nothing,” he said, untying his tie. “Teenager stuff.”

“
Look me in the eyes and tell me that.”

“
Both kids have very strong emotions right now. It will all blow over, and I don’t think you should worry about it.”

“
Shannon is blaming Jack for this, isn’t she?”

Chuck smiled and sat on the bed beside his wife. “Do they know you can do that?”

“
No, it’s my secret weapon. I’m right?”

“
Completely. How’d you know?”

“
Shannon is cut from the same fabric as Brad, Rita, and my mother. Somebody has to be responsible. There has to be someone to blame, someone to punish. Remember how Brad was after your affair? He just wanted you to pay.”

“
Yeah . . . and Jack is all too ready to take that blame.”

“
It’s a dangerous combination.”

“
So what do we do?”

“
Reassure him. Let her vent. Keep telling her it’s not Jack’s fault, but she’ll have to come to that realization by herself.”

Chapter 5

Erosion

Friday, June 20

Bobbi sat out on the deck as the late afternoon sun lengthened the shadows creeping across the backyard. In a long, strange week, the four of them rarely passed each other. Chuck coped by staying busy, so he spent the week settling Brad’s affairs. He closed Brad’s bank account, scheduled the utilities to be shut off at the end of the month and terminated his lease. Today he was at the apartment again, sorting through Brad’s personal things.

Shannon and Jack kept to themselves, making few appearances outside their respective bedrooms. Bobbi encouraged them to do something, anything, but she found it difficult to take her own advice. Her only accomplishment for the day was throwing out all the remaining food well-meaning friends and family had dropped off.

Joel stopped by daily, usually with Abby and Ryan. Rita and Gavin called or visited and the Dillards checked in a couple of times. Bobbi appreciated their concern, but the visits were so awkward for all of them. She hoped everyone would get the sympathy out of their systems soon.

“
Mom?” Shannon pushed the sliding door closed and took the deck chair next to her. “It’s hot out. Wouldn’t you rather be inside?”

Bobbi shook her head. “I was starting to feel trapped, you know?”

“
Exactly. If it’s okay with you, I think I’m gonna go to Katelyn’s and spend the night.”

“
At Kara’s or John’s?”

“
Her dad’s.”

“
You have plans?”

“
Not really. We may catch a movie.”

Good. Good girl. Getting out. She needed that. They sat in silence for a moment, watching a rabbit hop across the yard and squeeze through a hole in the fence. “Are you still mad at Jack?”

“
How’d you know? Did Dad tell you?”

“
I told Dad. I’ve been a mom for a long time. You’re not going to get much past me.” Bobbi smiled at her daughter, then she grew serious. “Shannon, blame is a dangerous game.”

Shannon never moved her gaze from the back fence.

It was too soon. Bobbi wouldn’t press her now. She turned to face Shannon and waited for her daughter to look at her. “Dad and I decided to give Brad’s car to Jack.”

“
Of course.”

“
What does that mean?”

“
It’s what I expected.”

Shannon was lying. She saw some injustice in giving Jack the car. “Did you want Brad’s car? Because—”

“
Mom, no. Just . . . it’s okay.”

“
That means you can have the little Ford all to yourself.”

“
So can I drive it tonight?”

“
I don’t see why not.”

“
Great. I’m gonna go ahead and go.”

“
Dad will be home soon. Don’t you want to wait for him?”

“
I’ll see him later.”

* * *

Jack heard the gentle knock at his door but couldn’t find the will to get up and open it.

“
Dad’s home. Why don’t you come down for dinner?”

What excuse would his mother buy? Then he heard the squeak as the door opened.

“
Jack?”

“
I don’t feel like eating.” When in doubt, go with the truth.

“
I don’t either. Would you please, for my sake?”

The last thing he wanted to do was to make things harder on her. He pushed himself up to sit on the bed. “And I guess I’ll go back to work at the store Monday. I talked to them today.”