Through His Grace (6 page)

“I’m a counselor at Lawton High. That’s good, because I have the same day schedule as the kids will, and I’m off on the same holidays so I won’t need to find day care.” Her smile showed how happy she was at the prospect.

“That’s good.” He ignored the memories of his past that threatened to revive. “The more time spent with family, the better.”

“Yes.” A shadow crossed Grace’s lovely face. “I need to take Jake and Lizzie to visit their grandfather. Things have been so hectic that we haven’t made the time yet.”

Their grandfather
… Nickels remembered Miss Chesterton saying he’d been too old and forgetful to take care of the children. “It’s good of you to keep family members involved. He’ll be glad to see them.”

“I’m hoping it won’t be awkward.” She reached into the freezer and pulled out a carton of vanilla bean ice cream. “So have you…” Her voice trailed off as she caught his longing look.

“That’s my favorite ice cream,” he admitted. “To tell the truth”—he lowered his voice so he could lean in closer—“I had kinda hoped it would be on Sondra’s list.”

“Is it?” Grace peered at the paper in his left hand.

“Nope.” He tried to look as hangdog as possible.

“All right, all right.” Grace put up her hands in mock surrender. “Jake gets that same look. I’ll tell you what—we’ll be sure to have sundaes after lunch this Saturday.”

“Great!” Nickels perked up.
I get to spend time with her and the kids and get an ice cream sundae? And am I crazy, or did she mention lunch, too?
“What can I bring?”

“Um…” Grace gave the contents of his cart a sideways glance. “Maybe you ought to leave the food to me. You just bring the chicks.”

“You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Did I just invite him to lunch? I don’t invite hunky men anywhere. I don’t even invite not-so-hunky men anywhere
. Grace rubbed the bridge of her nose in bewilderment.

Lord, You know I’ve prayed about my singleness for a long time. I’ve striven mightily to come to peace with the idea that I’m not meant to have that kind of love in my life
. It was why she had poured herself into her work…loving the students she worked with. When she turned twenty-nine without ever having a serious relationship, she gave her love life to God and accepted that the kids at the high school were the closest she’d come to having children of her own. It was so hard to admit that—a true test of faith that probably took her longer than it should have.

So when I gave up my hopes and dreams and devoted my summer to the orphans of Guatemala, why did You change everything? I know we didn’t have any specifics laid out, but I thought we’d pretty much settled how things were going to be
. She had come home to find she’d lost her cousin and his wife, who also happened to be two of her closest friends, and gained two children to raise as her own in their memory. In a few hours her world had tilted on its axis, and she followed the Lord willingly. Abandoning Lizzie and Jake never even occurred to her…she knew immediately that He intended her to take them.

As if that change weren’t big enough, now it seemed He was bringing a God-fearing, thoughtful, intelligent, and attractive man to her door. A man whose smile brightened her day. How would she handle this? Her heart still grieved for Jim and Lisa. She prayed her weakness would not destroy her new family.
Can’t we compromise, Lord? I’ll do my best to care for Jake and Lizzie while You protect my heart. Please be close to me on Saturday!

Grace looked at her own shopping list. The sheer volume of groceries she bought these days astounded her.

Orange juice, bananas, peanut butter, bread, apples, string cheese, spaghetti, granola bars, peas, applesauce
… The list looked as if it could feed an army, but Grace had learned it was better to stock up now than come running back for a few things every other day. Finding healthy choices the kids would actually eat had proved something of a challenge. Pudding, cookies, potato chips, and ice cream were their favorite snacks, but growing children needed good nutrition. Grace picked up a bag of baked potato chips and the half-gallon of ice cream.

Grace had too many charges at Lawton High whose eating habits and subsequent weight gain contributed to depression, diabetes, social awkwardness, and fatigue. She’d promised to be careful with Jake and Lizzie and make sure they didn’t need to turn to empty calories for comfort. Striking a balance between favorite treats and health would be a continuous struggle.

That being said, she grabbed a bag of chocolates for herself before heading to the checkout.
Some things a woman just can’t compromise on
.

“Wait just a sec!” Nickels rushed out of the kitchen when Grace pulled the ice cream from the freezer. He strode to his truck and picked up the bulging supermarket bag from the floor before returning to the house.

“What’s that?” Grace eyed him.

“Yeah, what’s in there?” Jake’s query held significantly more enthusiasm.

“I brought a few things for the sundaes.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a bunch of bright yellow bananas. “Ta-da!”

“May I have a banana split, Auntie Grace?” Lizzie begged with wide eyes.

“Of course you can” Grace winked at Nickels, and he felt about ten feet tall. “The more fruit, the better.”

“I’m not finished yet.” He plunged his arm back in the sack and came out with a jar of maraschino cherries.

“And I can have a cherry on top!” Jake chimed in.

“One more thing…” Nickels made a show of groping around, heightening the anticipation before emerging with—

“Chocolate syrup!” Grace grinned.

“I think we’ve found your auntie Grace’s weakness,” Nickels whispered loudly to Jake.

“Huh?” Jake didn’t take his eyes from where Grace was dishing out ice cream.

“She likes things as sweet as she is.” He grinned when he saw her stop short before finishing her task.
I’ll be sure to bring chocolate regularly
, he told himself.

A few minutes later the kids dug into their fantastic-looking, chocolate and cherry covered banana splits. He stepped next to Grace, watching as she drizzled a thin ribbon of chocolate on top of her ice cream.

“I guess your hand must be tired from all that scooping.” He raised his eyebrow. “You’re not squeezing the bottle hard enough.” He covered her hand with his own and added pressure. Her soft gasp as chocolate poured over the ice cream made him smile. He plunked a cherry on top at a rakish angle. “Now
that’s
a sundae.”

“No,” she said as she dipped her spoon in the river of chocolate. “This”—she raised the bite to her lips and savored a taste—“is decadent. Mmm.”

Finding his mouth inexplicably dry, Nickels took a heaping spoonful of ice cream. He barely tasted it but welcomed the cool sensation as it slid down his throat. It had become suddenly warm in the kitchen.

“Can we give some to the chickies?” Jake wanted to know, loudly slurping some of his melted dessert.

“Ice cream isn’t meant for birds,” Lizzie told him. “Right, Mr. Nichols?”

“Right.” He nodded. “But it’s perfect for humans on a Saturday afternoon. The chicks will get their treat when I have them back on the ranch.”

“Okay.” Jake smiled and finished his ice cream.

Such a thoughtful boy. Good with animals. He should have a pet of his own
. He sneaked a glance at Grace.
I wonder
… But now wasn’t the time to ask Grace about adding a furry friend to her burgeoning family. He could wait.

Grace couldn’t wait until next Sunday. The babies in the nursery filled her heart with joy, but she needed the replenishment of the main service. It would be nice when this rotation was over and she’d be back with the adults. She loved the children dearly, but she could use some grown-up communion and conversation.

Grace finished changing the last diaper and gave the baby a quick tickle. When his mama came for him, she’d spray the place down with disinfectant and pick up Lizzie and Jake. She snuggled Matt for a moment, reluctant to put him down. He was already sitting up at six months, but he seemed so small. Besides, he was sweet and cuddly soft.

“It won’t be long before you’re crawling around, will it, baby?” She rubbed his back.

“About three months, at least—that’s what the doctors say is typical.” A tiny woman with glossy auburn hair and sparkling green eyes came through the child-locked gate and reached for the baby.

“‘Bye-bye, Matt,” Grace whispered as she transferred him to his mother’s arms. “I’ll need your number.”

“Here you go.” The young woman looked at her name tag. “Grace.” She waited a moment while Grace signed Matt out. “All set.” Grace handed her the baby’s diaper bag.

“Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Willard, would it?” “Yes,” Grace admitted hesitantly.

“I’m so glad to meet you! I’m Sondra Ward.” Sondra grasped Grace’s hand and shook it. “Nickels has told me so much about you!”

Sondra…she doesn’t look pregnant
. Grace remembered Eric’s mentioning that Sondra was his boss’s wife. Dylan Ward ran the Curly Q Ranch, but she didn’t know Sondra.

“Not much to tell,” Grace said. “I’m glad to meet you, too.” “Not much to tell?” Sondra rolled her eyes. “I heard about Jim and Lisa.” Her tone lowered. “I’m so sorry about that. I hear they were good people. It’s so good of you to take their children…Lizzie and Jake, is it?”

Grace nodded.
Eric really has told her a lot, and I don’t know all that much about him
.

“Well, we’re both new to raising children! What are your plans this afternoon?”

“I’ll need to fix lunch for the kids,” Grace began.

“No, you don’t. Why don’t you bring ‘em on over to the Curly Q? I know Nickels’ll be glad to see you.”

Did she just wink at me? Surely she didn’t just wink at me
, Grace argued with herself.

“He’s a fine man—it does him a world of good to focus on something other than cattle. Nickels stays pretty close to home.” Sondra shifted Matt to her other hip. “That’s why I had to find out what he was up to on Saturday afternoons.”

No doubt about it. She definitely winked. This kind woman has the wrong idea entirely
.

“I’d hate to impose,” Grace said.
Do I want to spend two days in a row with this man, getting to know his friends and coworkers? Didn’t we just discuss this, Lord?

“Not at all. We have all the ranch hands, so there’ll be plenty of food—baking is one of my passions. And, to tell the truth,” Sondra said earnestly, “I could use some female company and conversation.”

Hearing Sondra echo the same thought she’d had minutes ago clinched it. Grace gave in.
I’m slightly wary of where this is going, Lord, but I know when I’m beat
.

“We’ll be there.”

“Great!” Sondra gave her directions and a cheery wave before leaving.

Lord, I have every confidence that You know exactly what You’re doing and where this is going. I just wish You’d let me in on the plan a bit more
. As it was, she felt as if she were playing a precarious game of hopscotch, second-guessing every move she made as she jumped from one stage to the next. Creating a stable life for Lizzie and Jake had thrown her off balance.
I’ll follow Your lead, Lord—help me have the faith to do it right!

“Hey, you two!” Grace called to Lizzie and Jake as they played on the swings in the churchyard.

“Coming!” Lizzie pumped her legs one last time, soaring high into the air.

Grace’s heart stopped as she watched the little girl let go of the chains and leap from her lofty perch, flailing her arms as she rushed to the ground. She ran to Lizzie when she hit the earth.

“Lizzie! Are you all right?” Grace ignored the wood chips snagging her pantyhose as she checked for broken ankles.

“I’m fine, Auntie Grace!” Lizzie giggled and stood to her feet.

“That’s dangerous!” Grace had difficulty catching her breath. “You could’ve been hurt!”

“Naw—it just looks cool. The trick is to jump off when you’re close to the ground.” Lizzie patted her on the back. “Everybody does it.”

“I don’t want
you
doing it!” Grace suddenly realized she had no idea how to get health coverage for Jake and Lizzie. Could they be covered under her insurance since she held custody? She would have to check on that first thing Monday morning.