Chapter Fifteen

Kate arose at her usual early time in the morning. As the days grew shorter and winter approached, it was quite dark until well after six, and she had the quiet house to herself while she began her day with prayer and Bible reading.

Just as she finished, Paul and Andrew staggered blearily out into the living room. Paul was completely dressed.

Andrew had his sneakers in his hand. While Paul waited, Andrew sat down on the floor and put them on. “Ready?” he asked his father.

Paul nodded. “Anytime.”

“All right.” Andrew yawned hugely as he got to his feet. He came to Kate’s side and bent, kissing her cheek. “Morning, Mom.”

“Good morning,” Kate said softly. What a delight it was to see her son first thing in the morning.

Andrew said, “I want it on the record that I made this sacrifice for my father, despite the fact that I am on vacation. I could be snuggled happily in my warm bed for another hour, but no, I play the part of a dutiful son and accompany my father on a training run. I was really looking forward to skipping my runs for a couple of mornings.”

“Slacker,” Paul said, grinning.

“Slave driver.” Andrew punched him in the shoulder as the two men went out the door, leaving Kate smiling after them.

THE MEN WERE BACK shortly before eight. Paul rushed off to get a shower, and then came to the kitchen still knotting his tie. Kate made silver-dollar pancakes and heated maple syrup for breakfast. Andrew joined Paul at the table. Rachel was sleeping in, Andrew explained, and Ethan and Hannah wouldn’t be up before nine unless they were awakened.

Kate hadn’t eaten earlier, and her stomach let her know that it was not okay to wait for a meal more than two hours after rising.

She sat down at the table with Paul and Andrew after pouring juice and coffee. The three of them clasped hands, and Paul offered a heartfelt prayer, thanking God for the safe arrival of his son and family, whom he’d missed very much. Kate and Andrew echoed “Amen,” and then they picked up their forks.

“Thanks, Dad,” Andrew said, and Kate was surprised to see the faintest glimmer of tears in his eyes. “It’s good to be here.”

Paul nodded, gazing into his son’s eyes. “It’s good to have you here,” he responded.

The talk at the table was family-oriented. Kate caught Andrew up on his sisters’ lives, and then Andrew shared stories about his children’s recent doings. Ethan was playing soccer; his team was the only undefeated team in its league, and Andrew had several stories about the matches they had won. Hannah wanted a dog, Kate knew from their telephone conversations, but Andrew explained that it had to be a black dog with a white spot on its chest. And its name was going to be Banksie.

Kate and Paul said, “Banksie?” in unison, and Andrew laughed.

“That’s exactly what Rachel and I said. I have no idea why. When we ask her about it, she just says she likes the name.”

Soon afterward, Paul rose from the table and carried his dishes to the sink. “Thanks for running with me today,” he said to his son. “You’re welcome to join Eli and me tomorrow.”

“I don’t know, Dad,” Andrew replied. “You made me look bad today.”

Paul chuckled. “That is highly debatable.” He came around the table and bent down to kiss Kate on the cheek. “See you this afternoon,” he told them both.

“Have a good day,” Kate replied as he headed out the door. The moment the door closed behind her husband, Kate turned to Andrew. “So, tell me, how is he really doing with the running?”

Andrew hesitated. “It seems to me he’s doing pretty well. I mean, he didn’t have any trouble keeping up with Eli, and he did everything Eli suggested or asked him to try. But I’m no marathon runner, Mom, so I couldn’t say for sure. Why?”

“Just checking,” Kate told her son. “Until recently, he was concerned that he’s not going to make it...that he’s not in good enough shape.”

Andrew’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t think there’s any danger. He’s in amazing shape and he’s running really well.”

Kate nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”

“If anything,” Andrew went on, “I got the sense there was a bit of competition involved. Not from Eli as much as Dad.”

“Competition!” Kate’s mouth fell open. “He’s supposed to be doing this for charity, not as a way to proclaim his youth and fitness.”

Andrew began to laugh. “Can I listen when you tell him that?”

LATER IN THE MORNING, the telephone rang as Kate was playing a game of Parcheesi with her grandchildren, who turned out to be a pair of übercompetitors themselves. They came by it honestly, she thought.

“Hold on a sec,” she said to the kids. “Nobody rolls until I get off that telephone.” She reached for the receiver as the children giggled. “Hello?”

“Katie, I think we have a problem.”

Kate’s heart nearly stopped. “Paul, what’s wrong?”

There was a silence on the other end of the phone. “I think you’d better come over to the church when you get a chance.” His voice was very serious.

“Now? Are you all right?” Her heartbeat picked up as concern rose.

“I’m fine,” Paul said. “Honest. But I do need you to come over here. It won’t take long.”

When Kate hung up the telephone, her grandchildren were regarding her expectantly. “Come on, Grandma, it’s your turn!” called Hannah. “Ethan just sent you home again.”

Kate groaned. “It’ll take me forever to roll another two or five.”

“Sorry, Grandma.” But Ethan didn’t sound sorry at all, and he was grinning.

Kate laughed. Then she said, “I’m going to have to find a substitute. Your grandfather needs me at the church.”

“Right now?” Ethan asked in disappointment.

Kate nodded. “Sorry, buddy. We can play again later if you like.” She stuck her head into the living room, where Rachel was curled up in the big overstuffed chair with a book. “I hate to interrupt, but Paul needs me at the church. Could you take my place in the Parcheesi game?”

Rachel groaned. “Do you care who wins?”

Kate’s eyebrows rose. “I take it the correct answer is no?”

Rachel smiled as she got to her feet. “I can’t remember the last time I won a Parcheesi game when I played with those two.” As she passed Kate on her way into the kitchen, she gave her mother-in-law a hug. “You are going to owe me so big.”

Kate laughed as she grabbed her handbag and a jacket. “Shoe shopping, darling girl, next time I come up to your city. Just you and me. And that’s a promise.”

It only took her a couple of minutes to reach the church. She parked the Honda and went straight to the office.

“Hi, Millie,” she said to the secretary. “Paul’s in his office?”

“Yeah, and he’s got a trustees’ meeting in thirty-five minutes,” Millie warned in her scratchy voice that sounded as if she’d been puffing on cigarettes for years.

“I won’t be long,” Kate said, hoping she wasn’t fibbing. She went into Paul’s office. It reminded her of a cozy den, with walls of bookshelves and toasty cocoa paint. It was perfect for Paul.

He was sitting behind his desk, and he looked up when she walked in. “Hey,” he said.

“Hey. What’s going on?” She hadn’t seen him smile, hadn’t noticed even a glimmer of amusement or humor in his warm blue eyes. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” he said slowly. “But there’s something here you need to see.” He got up and walked out from behind his desk, proffering a plain white envelope.

Kate took the envelope and sank into a chair opposite the desk as Paul leaned a hip against it. “What’s this?” She opened the flap and pulled out a single sheet of paper. Quickly, she skimmed the printed message, reading out loud:

Reverend Hanlon,

If you love your wife, you must see how much potential she has as an artist. She needs time to pursue her passion. At the moment, her energies are far too focused on caring for your church and your congregation. That is your job, not hers, and you should not continue to monopolize her time with the inconsequential matters your position creates.

“Paul,” Kate said, outraged, “you know who wrote this, don’t you?”

Paul nodded. “Just as well as you know.”

Kate leaped to her feet. “I’m going over there right now and—”

“No,” Paul said, grabbing her hand when she would have flown out of the office. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Katie.”

Kate flopped back down in the chair she had just vacated as her husband’s calm demeanor recalled her to her senses. “Oh, Paul, what am I going to do?”

“I could tell that Emmaline felt very entitled to your company,” Paul said soberly. “But I didn’t realize she felt quite so...obsessed with you. That’s what it is, Kate.” He flicked a finger against the envelope Kate had tossed onto a nearby table.

“Do you think she’s dangerous?” Kate’s insides had begun to quiver as the reality of the ugly letter sank in. Emmaline had sent that note to Kate’s husband, the love of her life for almost thirty years. Was Emmaline mentally disturbed? The short answer: yes. Undoubtedly. Could she prove it? Probably not.

Paul regarded the letter. “I don’t know if she’s dangerous.” He shrugged. “I hope not. I want to believe she’s just sad, that’s all. Maybe I’m naive.”

“But I love you that way.” Kate stood and came over, wrapping her arms around Paul’s waist. He smoothed her hair, and they stood silently, drawing comfort from each other. After a time, she asked again, “What am I going to do?”

“What are we going to do?” Paul corrected. “We’re a team. Never forget it.”

Kate smiled as she leaned against his shoulder. “Thank you for reminding me.”

“I think we should ignore it,” Paul said.

She drew back and looked up at him. “Really? Because I was thinking of contacting the police.”

Paul nodded seriously. “I understand your concern. But Kate, read the letter again. There’s no threat voiced, no threat implied. It’s a lecture. Delivered in rude, unkind language, it’s true, but that’s not illegal.”

Kate fell silent again, looking away. Technically, he was correct, but it didn’t make her feel any less angry and violated, any less protective of the wonderful, beautiful person with whom she was lucky enough to share her life.

It took a great effort for her to consciously begin to release the knot of emotion in her chest. Many...deep...breaths.

Finally, she looked up at Paul again. “Would you like to offer a prayer for Emmaline?”

“I think it’s the very best thing we can do,” he said.