5
Maven attempted to lift the picture frame from its hangers on the wall. As it began to slip from her hands, she called out. “Too heavy. Paul, can you give me a hand? Quickly.”
Paul, her neighbor, set the trunk down and rushed over. He took the other side. They walked it from the bedroom to the garage. “Stop trying to do everything alone. I don’t mind helping, Maven.”
“I know. I know. Sometimes, I’m too independent for my own good.”
“Well, try to remember that the next time you need help. There’s no reason to hurt your back when I’m right here.”
“OK. OK.”
Everything that had been in the room was now in Maven’s side of the garage.
“Why are we doing this again?” Paul asked.
“I suspect the boy might be autistic. The less stimuli around him the better. I thought he’d be more comfortable in a simple room instead of the archaic room I decorated.”
“But you have no idea how long he’ll even be with you. This is a lot of work considering he might not be with you next week.”
“True, but he might be. Most of these things are antiques. I’d hate for him to break them or ruin them somehow.”
“How exactly would he do that?”
Maven shrugged. “Who knows, but better safe than sorry.”
He twisted one way and then the other to stretch out his back.
“Is your back hurting?”
Paul grinned. “What? Are you thinking about feeling guilty about that now?”
“No, I just—”
“Stop it. My back is fine. I’m not as young as I used to be. I get a little creaky now and then.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. This workout plan with Lizzie is going to kill me.”
“Maybe, but it must be working, you look great. Not that you didn’t look great before.”
She flushed at his compliment. “Now, whose mouth is working overtime?”
“We’re quite the pair, aren’t we? Are you sure you’re up to being a foster mother to a special needs child?”
“Not in the least. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m not up to the task.”
“Then, why are you doing it?”
“You weren’t there. When he touched my hand, my heart went all ooey-gooey. It was a God moment. I’m sure of it. I couldn’t turn my back on him after that.”
He arched his brows. “Even so, this will be tough.”
“I know, but sometimes God calls us to do the tough things.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Paul nodded. “But you’ve had your share of tough things, Maven. It’s all right to take the easy road now and then.”
“I know, but I’m sure God wants me to do this. And besides it’s only temporary.”
“Or so you think! What time is he coming?”
Maven looked at her watch. “Lizzie said she’d call me after they got all the paperwork done, but I’m not sure when that will be.”
“I can’t believe they approved you so quickly.”
“It’s an emergency situation. And since I’ve already done the BCI fingerprints and background search for my teaching license, it speeded things up considerably.”
“Just goes to show you, the Man can get things done when He wants to.”
“If by the man you mean God, then you’re right. And Lizzie, of course. She is a force to be reckoned with when she sets her mind on something. And she’s determined the boy wouldn’t have to spend another night at the emergency shelter for children.”
“That’s Lizzie, always taking care of business.”
“I think she was as worried about the caretakers as for the boy. It wasn’t easy on any of them.”
“You can’t keep calling him the boy.” Paul held the screen door open as they walked back into the kitchen.
“I know, it’s sad. Imagine, not to be able to even tell someone your name. But we can’t just make up a name for him.”
“Why not?”
“It might confuse him even more.”
“I suppose. That sort of makes sense, but I still think he needs a name. Everyone needs a name. How about a glass of water before I lug out that heavy monstrosity?” He pointed at the antique trunk sitting in the hallway.
“Talk about giving me a guilt trip.”
“Just kidding.” He grinned at her.
“Not a problem. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you helping me.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
A friend? There should be a better name for someone who’d saved her life, but a friend he was. A good one.
“Well, once again you’ve gone beyond the call of duty, Officer Paul.”
When the trunk had been lugged to the garage, Paul looked at her. “I know you’ve got a lot going on right now, and I hate to add to it. But I made myself a promise.”
She smiled, knowing it was more of a smile than a grimace. In spite of developing Bell’s palsy more than a year before, God wasn’t finished with the healing. Her recovery was slow but sure. Her speech was much better even if her lips didn’t move quite the way they were supposed to. “Well, it’s important to keep promises. Even to yourself. So how can I help?”
“I promised myself that before I got a year older I would ask someone out on a date. I haven’t been on one since my wife died. And since tomorrow’s my birthday, I only have today left if I’m going to keep that promise. How about it? Want to go out for dinner tomorrow?”
Maven stared at him. Their friendship was important to her. But that’s all it was—a friendship. There was no way she wanted to be involved in a romantic relationship with anyone. She’d been blessed with a wonderful husband. Now that he was gone, that part of her life was over.
“I don’t think so, Paul.” She had an easy way out of this sticky situation. “There’s no way I can leave my foster child alone so soon after getting him. I don’t want him to think I abandoned him.”
“He can come with us. I don’t mind.”
“I don’t think so. You have no idea what kind of a fuss he might make at a restaurant. And neither do I.” Maven’s phone rang and she ran to the living room to grab it, thankful for the interruption. “Hi, Lizzie. What’s going on?”
“Nothing good.” Lizzie sounded cranky and disappointed.
“The judge won’t let him come live with me?”
“I have no idea. He’s reviewing the case and said he’d make a decision tomorrow, but I’m sure he’ll agree with our request.”
“Well, can’t he come and stay for the night under the emergency care act?”
“Not since he’s been with us for three days now. The judge said to keep him where he is until he reviews you and the case. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have made a promise I couldn’t keep.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Paul walked into the living room.
Maven had wanted to talk to Lizzie privately about his invitation.
“This judge is such a stickler for the rules. If I’d been able to get hold of Stanley Biddle instead, it would have been a done deal.”
“Don’t worry about it. This will work out better, anyway. It gives me time to go shopping tonight. I need to pick up some toys, clothes, and furniture for his room. And food.”
“Furniture? You don’t need to go overboard, Maven. He may only be with you for a few weeks.”
“But I want him to be comfortable while he is.” Everyone deserved a place to call their own.
Paul gave her a thumbs-up.
That made her feel better. Hopefully, it meant he wasn’t mad at her for saying no—or too hurt. Good thing. She’d need his truck.