Tuesday's Child (3 page)

Movement from the door caught her eye. She glanced behind Nate to see Vianne waving at him. “…we come visit, please, Uncle Nate?”

A shadow filled his eyes as he gazed at Vianne. When he turned back, Adeline realized she’d missed part of what he was saying. “…taken up enough of your time. Thank you again.” He moved to the door.

Vianne got to her feet and took his outstretched hand. She looked directly at Adeline as she spoke. “Thank you for having me, and thank you for fixing my knee, and for looking after Amelia Jane.”

Adeline smiled. “You’re welcome.” The light flashed to signify the door opening and as it closed, she looked down at Ben. “Well, I guess he had a bad day at work. He never seems that sad or grumpy in church.”

Jasmine came into reception, pulling on her coat. She looked at Adeline, signing as she spoke. “Everything’s locked up tight. Was that Nate Holmes I just heard?”

“Yes.” Adeline signed rapidly in response. “How do you know him?”

“Other than from church, he’s Dane’s partner. He’s also one of the elders. You’ve seen him serving communion, just probably never realized he’s a cop. It’s not something he tends to advertise. Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine. He came to pick Vianne up. You know, she didn’t take the hat off once, despite it being soaking wet.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never seen her without a hat.”

“What about school?”

“No idea, have to ask Jodie. They’re in the same form. Hey, what are you doing Sunday?”

Adeline thought for a moment. “Nothing as far as I know.”

“Come with us for dinner after church.”

“I’d love that. I’ll bring dessert. See you tomorrow.”

“Sure, but no dessert. I’ve got that covered. Night.” Jasmine opened the door and headed into the fine drizzle.

Adeline reached down and petted Ben. “Shall we go home?” She smiled as he licked her hand. “I wonder what made Sgt. Holmes so sad. We’ll pray for him tonight, see if that helps.”

She shivered as something touched her heart, a heaviness she knew all too well—a pressing need to pray for the man who just left. A burden that wouldn’t wait until later, and a heaviness that wouldn’t lift until she’d done what the Lord wanted. Locking the front door, Adeline turned back towards her office, not knowing what to pray, just knowing she had to and had to do so now.

2

Saturday, unlike the day before, was blistering hot. Even with the fan on and the windows wide open, Adeline’s shirt was damp and sticking to her overheated skin. She was what her grandmother called a grease spot.
Oh, the joys of an English summer, where you dress for the day and not for the season
.

Ben lay under the desk, panting hard, despite the bowl of water by his side. He still managed to tap her foot as the door opened.

Adeline leaned down and patted his head, and then looked up. She smiled a welcome. “Hi.”

Vianne skipped across reception to the desk, the pink and white striped dappy hat pulled down over her ears, braids swinging on either side. “Hello, Dr. Adeline. We’ve come to visit Amelia Jane.”

“Sure. Susie will show you through.” She smiled as Vianne tugged free of her uncle’s hand and skipped after Susie. Adeline turned her attention to Nate. Dressed in a simple white tee shirt and beige slacks, he looked even more handsome than he had yesterday in his suit, tie and overcoat. Shivers ran down her spine, and her heart flip-flopped.

“Would you like some coffee while she’s visiting?”

“Coffee would be great, thank you. I have two sugars, no milk, please. And the invoice, if you have it done.”

“I did it this morning.” Adeline pulled it from the drawer and handed it to him.

Nate glanced down the sheet, his lips moving as he read.

Adeline kept her smile to herself, knowing he hadn’t intended her to pick up on his immediate thoughts.

His head jerked up and his gaze held hers. “Her eyes?”

Adeline nodded. “Vianne asked me to look at them as the doll was blind. They were easy to fix. They’d simply come unattached.”

“Oh, right. It’s a very old doll, belonged to her mother when she was a child.” He looked down again. “Do I pay now or…?”

“When you pick her up is fine.” She turned her attention to pouring the coffee.

His scent overpowered even the strong coffee she loved. He smelled of musk and spearmint. Did he know how captivating it was? Every nerve ending tingled with his nearness. She glanced down as Ben touched her foot, then back to Nate.

“…place is set up.”

Extrapolating quickly, Adeline guessed what he was asking. “I’ll give you a tour if you like.” She offered him the mug.

“Thank you. That would be great.”

Adeline led him through the door to the right. “Most of our work is done here. As you can see it’s laid out as you’d expect a workshop to be. Sometimes we have to order in parts, but most of them we have here already.”

Nate glanced around. “How long has it been here?”

“We’ve been on the High Street about a year. We moved from the original site in Datura Drive where we’d been since Dad started it thirty years ago. I’ve been running the place four years, since Dad retired.” She pushed open another door. “And this is the ward.”

Nate’s expression became one of amazement much the same way Vianne’s had the day before as he glanced around. “Well, you certainly have lots of patients, Miss Monroe. Or should that be Dr. Monroe?”

“Dad always used Doctor for the kids, since we were making their toys better. It seemed natural for me to do the same thing. But I prefer Dr. Adeline or Dr. A.”

Nate sipped the coffee. “I owe you an apology for the way I spoke to you yesterday.”

“Don’t worry about it. I put it down to a bad day in the office.”

Nate nodded. “It wasn’t one of the best. But that’s no excuse for being rude. I should know better. I’m sorry.”

“You’re forgiven. I prayed for you last night.”

He looked completely gobsmacked. “You…you did?”

“I always pray for the pastors and elders, but last night God laid you on my heart, especially.”

“Thank you.” His eyes softened, making a huge difference to his face. “I appreciate it.”

She smiled at him. “You’re welcome.”

Nate walked with her to the office.

“So how do you manage if you can’t hear?”

“I read lips and sign.”

“How come you speak so well?”

“I got the measles when I was five and lost my hearing, then. My mother insisted I carried on speaking and learned both lip reading and sign. She made the whole family learn. But Ben is my best asset.” She glanced at her faithful friend by her heels. “He’s my hearing dog. He tells me when the phone rings or the doorbell chimes or when the smoke alarm goes off. Or when someone wants my attention, and I haven’t noticed them.”

“So a guide dog for the deaf, then?”

“Yes. I’d be lost without him. He’s two now. I’ve had him six months.”

Nate settled into the chair by her desk, his long legs stretched out. One hand rested on his thighs, the other held his coffee. He fixed his gaze on her, a long lazy smile curving his full lips. “I don’t remember the last time I just sat and did nothing.”

“You should do it more often.”

“Bit hard in my line of work. Especially with the case I’m currently involved in.” He took a long drink. “There are no leads, just—” He broke off. “You don’t want to hear this.”

“If you want to talk, I’m happy to listen.” She smiled, waiting for him to catch the little joke.

It took him a second. He grinned, at ease, and then his expression sobered. He took a long drink of his coffee, indecision playing over his face. “Thanks, but I really shouldn’t. It’s an ongoing investigation.”

“All right. I’ll keep praying. And if you should change your mind, I’m here.”

“Thank you.” He ran his fingers around the rim of the cup. “Have you done any kind of self-defense classes?”

“I have Ben.”

Nate took in the way Ben sat by her heels. “And as fierce as he is, a backup plan might be an idea. I run a self-defense course in the church hall on Monday evenings at seven. You’d be welcome to join us.”

“Thank you. I’ll think about it.”

Nate finished his coffee. “I should take Vianne home. I have a thousand and one things to do around the house today. Thanks for the coffee. And the prayers, Miss Monroe.”

Adeline smiled. “You’re welcome, Sgt. Holmes.”

He got to his feet, his tall frame not in the least bit imposing. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

For a moment her heart leapt, then she realized he meant in church and a shaft of disappointment filled her. “We’ll be there.”

****

Walking down the aisle to her usual seat in Headley Baptist, Adeline was amused to see that Ben adopted his church attitude almost as soon as they entered the building and walked sedately. She smiled at Holly and Kyle and said hello as she passed them. They really did make a beautiful couple. Who’d have thought God could work such a horrid situation for good the way He had with them?

She slid into the pew and Ben settled at her feet.

Chrissie and Matt sat in front of her. They’d announced their engagement only recently. It seemed as if the church would soon have a spate of weddings.

Glancing down the order of service, her attention was diverted by a hand on her arm. She looked up into a pair of bright eyes and beaming smile under a wooly hat. This time the dappy hat was florescent yellow. “Hey, Vianne.”

“Can we come and sit with you?”

“Sure. Mind you don’t trip over Ben.”

“I won’t.”

Adeline swung her legs to the side so Vianne and Nate could move past her. She got a delicious aroma of musk and spearmint as Nate brushed past—the small touch of his legs on her knees sending a blast of heat through her.
Really, in church, too
she scolded herself.

He smiled as he sat and her insides followed her heart in a storm of butterflies and thudding.

Anyone would think I was twelve.
She smiled back. “How are you, Vianne?”

“I’m OK,” Vianne replied making sure to look at her. “How do you say that in sign?”

Adeline showed her. “This is ‘how are you?’ This is ‘I’m well’ or ‘I’m sick’.” She smiled as Vianne copied the signs flawlessly. “Very good,” she said, signing as she spoke.

Vianne tilted her head slightly. “So, how does this work? When you can’t hear what’s happening?”

“I read the lips of whoever is speaking in the pulpit, and I can feel the music.”

“Feel the music?” she repeated, her eyes widening.

“Yes. The sound the organ makes sends vibrations though the air. And if I watch Pastor Jack, I can see when he’s singing, so I know when to start if it’s one I know.”

“That’s clever. Does Ben tell you, too?”

“He puts his paw on my foot when it’s time to stand and sing, but as everyone else stands then, it’s easy to figure out.”

Nate tapped Vianne’s arm. “Shh, now.”

Adeline turned her attention to the front, following Pastor Jack’s words relatively easily. It was a standing joke between them that even if the PA system failed, he’d have to carry on preaching as she’d be able to tell what he was saying even if no one else could hear him.

After Vianne left for Sunday School, Nate slid up the pew next to her, and she found herself overwhelmed by his clean scent and aftershave.

Lord, help me here. I am meant to be worshipping You, not acting like some teenager with a crush because some man…a very handsome man…is sitting next to me. I can feel my cheeks burning. Maybe I should have worn something else. I look like mutton dressed as lamb. What must he think? Just listen to me going on like this.

Ben knocked his paw against her foot, and she stood with everyone else for the hymn.

Keep my mind focused, Lord, and if it does wander again, then I’ll pray for him.
She stood with the others, reciting the words of the hymn in her head, aware of Nate’s hand inches from hers. For a moment she wondered what it would be like to have a man hold her hand in church, the way Matt had just grabbed Chrissie’s, or to have someone look at her with love.

So many of her friends and people around her had found their soul mate now, that she couldn’t help but wonder if there was someone out there for her. Someone like Nate, who wasn’t just outwardly handsome, although he was undeniably good looking, he shone with an inner beauty that came from loving the Lord. If she ever found love, it had to be with someone who shared her faith.

Adeline managed to keep her mind focused on the sermon, which she knew was entirely thanks to the Lord and nothing to do with her. She was far too easily distracted when left to her own devices. Keeping her eyes on Pastor Jack until the benediction finished, she sat down and closed her eyes, a heavy burden coming over her again.

Why did she feel so led to pray for Nate? Surely it wasn’t simply the fact that he was sitting next to her? Or was it? His presence filled her senses, but as she prayed, the burden she felt eased and the peace of the Lord descended like a dove.

Lifting her head, she found Ben curled in her lap, concern in his eyes. Had she been that engrossed in prayer she hadn’t noticed him jump up? “I’m fine,” she told him, petting his ears. Long, slim fingers touched hers and she followed the arm to Nate’s worried face. Fire radiated from his touch, sending ripples of warmth throughout her body.

“Are you all right?” Anxiety filled his eyes.

“I’m fine. Why?”

Nate waved his hand and Adeline glanced around, suddenly realizing the church was empty apart from the two of them. She looked back at him.

“…on the verge of calling an ambulance.”

Confusion filled her as there was no one around. “Who needs an ambulance?”

“Pastor Jack was going to call one for you in a few more minutes. First we thought you were sleeping, then unconscious, but Ben didn’t seem unduly concerned.”

“Oh.” Heat flamed in her cheeks and nausea filled her. “I didn’t mean to worry everyone.”

A waft of aftershave and movement from the pew in front made her turn. “Pastor Jack, I’m so sorry to cause such a fuss.”