Chapter Fifteen

The woman wearing a baseball cap had been in the group of women with whom Kate had just spoken. She was either incredibly shy or didn’t want to be recognized, as she’d avoided eye contact and kept her face hidden the entire time. Even now, with her head down, the brim of the cap hid most of her face. She was shorter than Kate by about five inches, making it even more difficult to get a good look at her.

“Um...this is yours.” The woman extended her arm and handed the bag to Kate. “I found it in the Dumpster this morning.” She had a distinctive Spanish accent.

“Thank you.” Kate took the bag, thrilled to see that her phone, wallet, and credit cards were still in it. The only thing missing was the cash, which came to around fifteen dollars.

Kate almost felt sorry for the guy who’d gone to so much trouble to take it.

“You’re the one who spoke to Marie, aren’t you?” Kate’s gaze fastened on the woman’s cap as she willed the woman to look up.

“Yes. She isn’t usually like that.” Finally the chin lifted, and the woman made eye contact. “She’s been through a lot. We all have.”

Kate gasped. “Aleeda? Aleeda Wells?”

Aleeda ducked her head again, her coffee-brown eyes filled with tears.

Kate’s arms automatically went around the woman. Aleeda turned her face into Kate’s shoulder and sobbed.

“I’m so sorry. I promised I would not cry.”

Kate didn’t know her well and couldn’t remember seeing her in a while, but she’d been a member of Faith Briar and had even volunteered to work in the Faith Freezer Program once a month. She also knew that Aleeda, a single mom, worked at the Hamilton Springs Hotel and that she had two boys.

“I am sorry.” Aleeda backed away. “I try to be strong, but sometimes it is so hard.”

“You’re living out here?”

Aleeda nodded.

“Can you show me?”

“Um...it’s just my car.”

Kate’s heart broke for her. “How did this happen?”

“The hotel has been having financial problems. About two months ago, they laid me off. I’ve been trying to find work, but...”

“So, you have no money?” Kate’s mind was racing. She had to help Aleeda, but how?

“I had some savings, but that’s almost gone. I couldn’t pay the rent and feed the boys, so I came out here. I have no family in the US.”

Kate took her hand and said softly, “I wish you had come to us, Aleeda. The church is your family.”

Aleeda didn’t look up. “I did not want people to know.”

“Aleeda, being homeless isn’t anything to be ashamed of.” In that instant, Kate knew what she had to do. “Where are the boys?”

“In school. I take them every day, and most of the time, I look for work until I have to pick them up at three.”

“But you stayed out here today?” Kate continued to form the plan in her mind. Could she do something like this without talking to Paul first?

“I went with two of the others to get food last night. Oh, Kate you would not believe what the stores throw away. We take turns gathering what we can at night and share.”

Kate nodded. “Aleeda, I have an idea.” Aleeda met Kate’s eyes. “I could use some help around the house. Would you be willing to work for me in exchange for room and board?”

Kate knew she should talk to Paul before inviting a family into their already small home, but she felt such a strong sense of urgency. This was one of their parishioners. Besides, Paul would probably do the same thing.

Aleeda looked doubtful. “Are you sure?”

Kate nodded, praying that Aleeda would accept. “You would be doing me a favor. I’m sure staying at my place will be much easier for you and the boys than camping out here.”

“Sí.” Aleeda stepped forward and gave Kate a hug. “Gracías, Kate. Thank you so much.”

Kate returned the hug. “You’re most welcome. How soon can you be ready to go?”

“Ten minutes.” Her dark eyes glistened as she smiled. “When your car is your casa, you don’t have a lot of packing to do.”

“Good. I’ll find Renee and meet you at the parsonage.”

Kate spotted Renee through the trees near the creek, sitting on a bench with Kisses on her lap, surrounded by at least six laughing children.

Kate approached them slowly so as not to interrupt. Renee’s back was to her, and Kate managed to listen as an animated Renee told the kids a story. “Kisses stood at the edge of the cliff. He was trapped. Looking back, he saw Bruno the pit bull running full speed toward him. Knowing that pit bulls ate teacup Chihuahuas for snacks, Kisses did the only thing he could. He jumped off the cliff.”

Renee must have sensed Kate’s presence, since she twisted around. The glee in her eyes diminished, and she looked like a kid with her hand caught in the candy jar. “Oh, Kate. I was just entertaining the children while you were talking to their parents.”

Kate grinned. “And doing a good job of it. Renee, you have these kids mesmerized.”

“They like hearing stories about Kisses.”

“Then what happened?” one of the children asked.

“Well,” Renee turned back to the children. “Kisses ducked his head and rolled like a ball down the hill. He landed in the soft sand by the creek and was able to float across the water on a stick.”

“Tell us another story, please.” A little girl pleaded.

“That’s enough for now.” Renee settled Kisses into her tote and strode out ahead of Kate. “It’s about time.” She huffed.

Kate couldn’t believe the change in Renee. She’d been perfectly content, and now she’d turned back into the old Renee. The children didn’t seem to notice her changed demeanor and asked her to come back.

“We’ll see.” She waved and began walking toward the car. Kate followed, and the children began role-playing, with two of them getting on their knees and barking.

Once they were in the car and heading back to Copper Mill, Kate glanced at Renee, who hadn’t said a word since they left the children. “The kids enjoyed your story.”

Renee patted her salon-perfect hair. “Well, someone had to keep the little rug rats out of the way while you talked to their mothers.”

Kate smiled. “Come on, Renee, you were having as much fun telling the story as the kids had listening.”

Kate spotted a Mona Lisa smile. “What’s wrong, Renee?”

“They’re homeless, Kate. Those poor children have nothing.”

Kate nodded. “I know. It’s heartbreaking.”

“Do you really think we can make a difference?”

“We have to.”

More than ever, Kate felt an overwhelming desire to help these people. She was taking Aleeda and her children in, but what about the others? How many more families were there?

Kate dropped an unusually quiet Renee off at her house and headed home. Aleeda hadn’t arrived yet, so Kate pulled into the garage and hurried in to make coffee. The empty container was a stark reminder of her to-do list.

She put water on for tea instead, then pulled leftover soup out of the refrigerator, emptied the container into a pan, and set it on the stove to heat.

When Aleeda arrived a few minutes later, the soup and hot water were ready.

While they ate, Kate thought about the sleeping arrangements. Aleeda would sleep in Paul’s study, which doubled as a guest room. The boys would easily fit in the large living room on the blow-up mattress she had stored in the garage.

Aleeda broke into her thoughts. “Are you sure you want to do this? I am so thankful, and the boys will be so happy, but—”

“Don’t give it another thought.” Kate touched the woman’s shoulder. “I have a feeling this will work out well for both of us.”

Aleeda nodded briefly and ducked her head, but not before Kate saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes. “Can we talk about how I can help you?”

“Sure,” Kate said. “Let’s clear the table and grab another cup of tea. We’ll make out a list. Then I have to go into Pine Ridge to run a few errands.”

Kate set their dishes in the sink. Glancing out the patio window, she spotted a familiar hat. “Oh dear. Claire has been out walking again.”