18

 

“Gerard.” Nila woke up in a cold sweat as realization dawned. The name claimed by Hayley’s new friend belonged to Nick’s father.

The mean drunk who had beaten Nick daily until he was big enough to fight back. The man Nick had sent to the hospital. Nick’s first abuser and victim.

It had to be Nick. What kind of warped game was he playing? And how did Hayley fit in?

Nila looked at her alarm clock. Three o’clock. Too early to phone Hayley, and what would she say, anyway? What if she was wrong? She didn’t think so, though.

She slipped out of bed and onto her knees. “Dear God, please keep Hayley safe from Nick. I don’t know what his plans are, but I know they’re not good. I don’t know what to do. Show me, Father.” She picked up her Bible and turned to Psalm 1. She kept reading through the book of Psalms until she heard Dave and Lydia moving about upstairs. Wrapping a robe around her, she climbed the stairs as though walking into an ancient Roman arena.

An hour later, fortified by coffee and prayer with her landlords, Nila made her call to Hayley. The phone rang several times. Nila was preparing to leave a message when a groggy voice answered.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Hayley. I’m sorry if I woke you. It’s Nila Black.”

“What do you want? What time is it?”

Nila glanced at the clock on the stove. “It’s eight o’clock. I need to talk to you about your friend, Gerard.”

She heard some shuffling sounds as though Hayley was sitting up in bed.

“Good grief, what’s so important that you had to phone at this time of day?”

Nila took a deep breath. “You may be in danger, Hayley. I remembered where I’d heard the name Gerard. My ex-boyfriend, Nick Parnell, is a dangerous man, and his father’s name is Gerard. I think Nick might be using his father’s name for some warped reason.”

She heard a loud huff on the other end. “You are some piece of work, Nila Black. You already stole Will from me, and now you woke me to tell me some wild story about your ex-boyfriend taking his father’s name? Why? Why would he, and what is it to you anyway?”

“Hayley, please listen to me. I’m afraid for you. Do you ever watch the news?”

An exaggerated sigh sounded through the phone. “Why would I? I’ve got a life, you know.” Another dramatic sigh. “Have you seen a doctor about this anxiety issue of yours?”

Nila bit her lip in frustration. “Just humor me, OK? Look up Nick Parnell on the Internet. Check for news reports from the last four months. I’m sure you could find a photo of him from the trial. If your friend is Nick, you have to get away. He’s dangerous. Go back home early, if possible. Do whatever you need to save yourself. Please.”

Hayley was silent for several heartbeats. Finally she yawned loudly into the phone and said, “Nila, I feel sorry for you. That’s one pathetic story, and I’m going back to sleep now. Good-bye.”

The line went dead.

 

****

 

Will struggled to focus. He’d promised to phone Nila once he had the first coat of mud on the wall, but at the rate he was going, it would take him all day. He yanked off a crumpled piece of drywall tape and threw it on the floor. It wasn’t working. If only he was more experienced at finishing drywall. He didn’t want to fail at this, too.

The dream that had kept him tossing and turning all night resurfaced. He leaned against the wall and gave in to its torment.

He wiped the sweat from his brow as he went back in time to the British Columbia Rockies where he’d been hired to plant seedling trees on logged and burned-out sections of the mountains. Sweat was the norm there. While he’d battled steep slopes, pouring rain, and rocky ground, he’d fallen hard for a girl who wouldn’t even trust him with her real name.

She called herself Vixen. He’d known she was a flirt, but it didn’t matter. That one time she’d let her mask slip, he’d identified with the deep pain in her eyes. He’d wanted to save her. He’d offered his heart, but it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t enough.

Will sagged against his basement wall under the weight of his memories. Pain twisted his heart as the scene concluded. One evening he’d been laughing and dancing with Vixen, and the next she was dead of a drug overdose. He’d failed to save her.

But in last night’s dream, time and time again, Vixen’s face had morphed into Nila’s. He rubbed his face, desperate to dispel the haunting images, but they replayed. Over and over. Finally he dropped his trowel and trudged upstairs.

Coffee. Maybe that would help.

He paused halfway up the stairs as the familiar sorrow pushed his shoulders down. He never even knew her real name. And he couldn’t protect her. She was dead because he’d failed.

He straightened his shoulders. He couldn’t fail Nila, too. He just couldn’t.

 

****

 

“I take it that didn’t go as well as you’d hoped?” Lydia held out a fresh cup of coffee to Nila.

Nila shook her head as she cradled the mug in her cold hands. “She didn’t believe me. Just like that cop.”

Lydia patted the chair beside her in the breakfast nook. “We’ll keep praying for Hayley. You did what you could, honey. Try not to fret about it, OK?”

Nila nodded as she sat. “I hope I’m wrong, that Gerard isn’t Nick. But something inside me says he is.” She nibbled her lower lip. “I’m afraid for her.”

Lydia placed her warm hand on Nila’s. “Is God still in control?”

Nila considered that. And nodded. “Yes.”

“Can He handle this?

She sighed. “Yes, He can. I get it.”

“So what are your plans for the day?”

Nila stretched her back as a smile warmed her face. “Will’s getting his truck back this morning, and then he’s taking me to get my learner’s license. He said I shouldn’t wait until spring. I should learn to drive in winter weather.” She glanced out the window. “Since we get so much of it.”

Dave had popped into the kitchen for a coffee refill and heard her response. “That’s good news. I agree wholeheartedly. Smart young man you’ve got there.” He winked at Nila.

Heat crept up her neck into her face. She sipped her coffee and smiled. “I already booked my lessons. They start the third week of January.”

Dave patted her shoulder with his broad hand. “Good for you. Does that mean you’ll want to buy a car soon, too?”

She shook her head. “I hadn’t even thought about it until Will and I talked about it. I just figured I’d wait until spring for that.”

He sat opposite her and rubbed his chin. “Well, I might know of a good deal if you don’t mind an older sedan. Mrs. Gorman doesn’t drive anymore, and she wants to sell her ten-year-old Civic. Her price seems reasonable, and she told me it’s never given her any trouble.”

Nila felt as though her world had suddenly expanded. A car? That meant freedom to come and go as she pleased. Independence! She jumped up and wrapped her arms around Pastor Dave’s shoulders. “Thank you.” She stepped back just as quickly, but she couldn’t resist returning his grin. “How soon can we look at it?”

“I’ll give her a call. She’s an early riser, and I imagine she would love to have company this morning, if you have time.”

She looked at the clock. “Will won’t be here for at least two or three hours. If this works out, I could learn to drive in my own vehicle.” She lifted her face. “Thank you, Jesus.”

Dave picked up the phone. “I’ll phone her right now.”

Her feet barely seemed to touch the floor as she skipped down the stairs. Her license and a car? She could hardly believe it. Her dreams of independence were finally coming true. She stumbled and had to grab the handrail. No, not all her dreams. A vision of a cozy apartment appeared and immediately faded. Would she ever feel ready to get her own place?

Was Nick holding her back? Or fear?

If only she had Lydia’s kind of faith.

She nibbled her lip as she continued to descend.

 

****

 

Will saw it as soon as he drove up to the Harris home. Did they have company? He didn’t recognize the car.

The front door flew open as soon as he parked, and Nila waved while stepping into her boots. Before she got her coat on, she nearly danced down the steps.

“Did you see it? Isn’t it great? I can’t believe it’s mine.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the silver Honda Civic.

“You bought this? Where’d you get it? It’s pretty cute.” He touched her nose with one gloved finger. “Not nearly as cute as you, though.”

She laughed and patted the hood of the car. “Mrs. Gorman sold it to me. Now I have to get my license.”

“Are you ready?”

“Absolutely.”

A few minutes later, Will stopped for a red light. “I’m really glad you got your car, Nila. I’ll bet you’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without it. Daniel’s truck is great, but it’s good to have my own wheels again.”

“I’m glad you got your truck back, too.” Her legs fidgeted, and she nibbled her lip.

Will pulled into the Saskatchewan Government Insurance lot and turned to Nila. “Are you nervous?”

“A little.” She followed his gaze to her legs. She held them still with her hands. “I’ve just about memorized the Drivers Handbook. And I found my papers from Driver’s Ed.” She took a deep breath and opened the truck door. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Half an hour later, she clutched her Class 7 license in her hand as she and Will returned to his truck.

“That was easier than I’d thought.” She smiled up at him. “Thanks for making this happen. Now I’m counting the days until the twenty-fourth of January. I can’t wait to actually drive.”

He couldn’t help it. He pulled her close and touched her rosy mouth with his firm lips. “I knew you could do it,” he whispered. “You just needed a chance. And now you’re one step closer to that independence you crave—and deserve. With this and your new car, nothing can stop you.”

Her eyes were huge as she gazed up into his. “Thank you.”

“For the ride or the kiss?”

Nila’s face bloomed a dark rose.

He relented. “Guess I shouldn’t tease. But I’m not sorry I kissed you.”

She touched one gloved finger to her lips. “Me, neither.” Then she moved her hand onto his arm, stopping him before he could open the truck door. “Getting my learner’s means an awful lot to me.”

He kissed the top of her head and opened the door for her. “My pleasure, ma’am,” he drawled. He studied her profile as she fastened her seatbelt.

She glanced at him and cleared her throat.

“What?”

She fidgeted and nibbled her lower lip. “I…you’ve already done so much for me.” She turned to face him. “May I ask one more favor?”

“Of course.” Pleasure warmed him. He reached over and touched her cheek. “Anything.”

She took a deep breath. “I need those professional driving lessons, but I wondered if you would get me started. The more comfortable I am driving my car, the easier the official lessons will be.” She smiled, her eyes dancing. “Besides, I just can’t wait to get behind the wheel of my very own car.”

“We could start tomorrow if you want.”

“Really? Will, you’re the best!”

His heart swelled, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling her into his arms. He began to lean toward her, but his tight seatbelt restrained him. He grimaced and started the truck. “Yeah, I must be.”

Once they were headed toward the store, Will glanced over at Nila. “Do you have any ideas about paint colors? I got two coats of drywall mud on, so the walls are almost ready.”

“I do.” She cleared her throat and continued, “I think a warm beige would work well with blue and green accents. That’s masculine enough for you and should work for Hannah when she comes. What do you think?”

“I think I’ll leave that to you. I don’t know how you put colors together and make it all look good.” He glanced at her again and savored the sparkle in her eyes. “That’s why we make such a good team. You’re great with all the finishing touches, and I’m…well, I must be good for something.”

She laughed, a carefree sound that echoed in his heart.