Chapter Eleven

It took Nicole about two seconds to recognize the intruder sitting in their kitchen. He certainly had a lot of nerve showing up here at this time on a Saturday morning—as if the world revolved around him. And from the look of things, it probably did. Joshua sat across from him eating his breakfast like they had been doing this every day for the last four months. Was it possible Joshua had already adjusted to having his father around?

“Good morning, Miss James. I trust you had a pleasant night?” Sam said as slick as a piece of butter.

His gaze traveled over her and she had to resist the urge to fix her unruly hair or tug at the ends of her long T-shirt. Her insides heated up with un-Christian-like anger, but no matter how much she tried to turn the fury down, she couldn’t. Showing up here so early on a Saturday was a show of pure dominance. From her point of view it seemed Sam did what he pleased and expected everyone to be okay with it. Squaring her shoulders, she walked over to the kitchen counter and poured herself a cup of coffee.

“I slept just fine. And you, Dr. Morgan, did you sleep well?”

His eyes flared and she had her answer. He’d tossed and turned just as much as she had. She wondered if his worries were about Joshua or the fact he had to spend more time in town because of her threat to go to social services.

“Had a great night. Thanks for asking, Miss James.”

Nicole slid into a chair next to Joshua, hoping to hide her baggy lounge pants. “To what do we owe this early morning visit?”

“Sam forgot it was Saturday and thought to come by and help us out with the preschoolers,” Regina said, plopping a full plate of eggs in front of Nicole.

Sam, Sam, Sam. Was everyone in the town on a first-name basis with this man?

Everyone except her.

Regina’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Forgot it was Saturday. I don’t know anybody else who would forget when the weekend came. Maybe the heat in Guatemala scorched your brain a little.”

He grinned and Regina gave him a hearty smile back. The black coffee in Nicole’s stomach swirled around like oil.

Regina filled up Nicole’s cup. “You feeling all right? You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine.” Nicole quickly bowed her head and said grace, though she didn’t really feel all that thankful at the moment. “Dr. Morgan, I think you should—”

Joshua drained the orange juice from his glass. “Can I be excused?”

She couldn’t blame him for wanting to leave the kitchen. You certainly couldn’t feel the love in there that morning. “Of course. You go wash up and I’ll be there in a bit to help you make your bed.”

The child stood and dropped his dishes into the kitchen sink then took off without giving Sam another glance.

Hurt glinted briefly in the doctor’s eyes as his son ran out of the room and for a split second, Nicole felt sorry for him…

It must be awful to know his son didn’t want to be with his father.

Regina sat down with her plate. “So tell us, Sam, is it tough working in Guatemala?”

He dabbed his mouth with a paper napkin. “We do the best we can, but we don’t always have the supplies and medical expertise we need. The toughest thing is making the decisions about who gets help and who doesn’t. You have no idea how heartbreaking it is to turn away a child you know could be helped in the States, but can’t be helped there because we don’t have the right equipment, supplies or doctors for the job.

“Like what?” asked Regina.

“I can fix cleft palates, straighten teeth, remove decaying jaw tissue…but there are some maxillofacial surgeries that take more. Many times we have to wait for a plastic surgeon and other specialists. When they are able to visit we do as many complicated surgeries as we can in a very short time.”

Nicole glanced away. Until he said the words she’d not considered the good he was doing in Guatemala and she was hit by a wash of guilt. How many people wouldn’t get help because he was being forced to stay here in Golden Ridge?

She straightened her spine and knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, knowingly. And she had to be sure about Joshua’s well-being before letting him leave.

Oh God, please help me to see if I am doing the right thing.

Sam started describing a particularly tricky case when the front doorbell rang. Nicole excused herself and went to the foyer. Without a thought she opened the door, expecting to find another battered woman on the porch, a common thing on a Saturday morning. But instead of a woman, she was greeted by a tall, stately, well-dressed man, near Sam’s age but not quite as handsome. William Pendleton, attorney at law stood there in all his imposing glory. Nicole resisted an eye roll.

“Good morning, Miss James,” he said. “Do you mind if I come in? There is something I need to discuss with you.”

She kept a firm hand on the door handle. “Oh, this really isn’t a good time. We’re just having breakfast and I haven’t even had time to get dressed.” There was no way she would ever invite this man into Grace House. His ex-wife had to get a court order to keep him away when she lived there a few months ago. Lately, Nicole thought she might have to do the same if he kept harassing her. “Some other time perhaps.”

She began to close the door, but Pendleton stuck his foot out to stop it. “I heard you had a little excitement yesterday.”

Nicole gave a small laugh that she hoped sounded carefree. “Oh it was nothing we couldn’t handle.”

Who told him? This wasn’t the first time he’d found out about what was going on at Grace House. She’d suspected the informant must be one of the mothers who used the preschool. In the future, she would have to be more careful who she confided in.

He wedged a shoulder through the entry. “Sounds to me as if it was downright dangerous. You know I’ve always had some concerns about having children stay at this old place. Perhaps you should cut that oak down.”

Not if she could help it. “Thank you for your advice. I’ll keep that in mind.” She tried to push the door closed, but he wouldn’t budge.

“Can I be of assistance?” Sam came up behind her. Good grief, the Lord was certainly putting her to the test.

Nicole stilled and so did Pendleton, right before a shifty, albeit misguided smile shone on the attorney’s face. “Is Grace House open to men now, Miss James?” She didn’t like what he implied. It was totally out of line.

“Mr. Pendleton this is not what you thin—”

“Hello, Bill what brings you here?” Sam leaned a hand on the door frame—a little too close to her.

She shifted to her left to put distance between both men and, sure enough, William Pendleton pushed his way in.

He held out his hand to Sam. “Well, Sam Morgan, as I live and breathe. I heard you were back in town. I didn’t know you were a friend of Miss James.”

Heat rose up her neck as Sam chuckled and shook his head as if being a friend of hers would be worse than death. It didn’t make sense, but she actually felt a little crushed that he was so forthright about his lack of care, which was absurd, considering she didn’t want him around either.

Sam knew Pendleton. Didn’t that just fit perfectly. Nothing was predictable, even when she planned. Sam had the right to see his son, every day if he wished. She could see William pumping Sam for daily information. This could be disastrous for Grace House. If the house was forced to close, where would other woman in Golden Ridge go when things got tough at home?

Oh Lord, please don’t let any of the plaster fall off the walls while they’re here. Don’t let anything happen that will give William Pendleton or Sam Morgan the ammunition they need to shut down Grace House.

She knew everything was in God’s hands and He had it all under control. She didn’t have the right to ask…but she couldn’t help wondering what He was thinking by allowing these two to meet there.

* * *

The minute Sam heard Bill Pendleton’s voice he knew Nicole was in trouble. Pendleton wasn’t known for his integrity. At least not since he’d become a rich man.

The night before, Sam had met his old dental partner, Alistair Lincoln for dinner at DeAngelo’s, one of his favorite Italian restaurants. Vanessa Pendleton came in with a friend and sat at the table next to them. She told Sam about her recent breakup with Bill, though she didn’t give a reason. Sam figured it had to do with some kind of abuse.

“Miss James was a big help with Joshua while I was in Guatemala.” Sam stepped forward and shook Bill’s large hand, a hand that could make a very big fist.

A few years back Vanessa had required emergency surgery for a cracked jaw. Sam had been called in on the case because she’d lost four teeth. Vanessa claimed she had fallen down the stairs at home, but Sam hadn’t bought it and neither had the plastic surgeon. They both reported their suspicions, but Vanessa swore up and down her injuries were caused by the fall. In the end, the case was never pursued. Perhaps Bill, being a lawyer, had persuaded her to back off, or pulled some strings.

The previous night, Vanessa had gushed on about Nicole and Regina, how they’d taken Vanessa in and supported her and given her the confidence she needed to break free of Bill. Obviously Pendleton wasn’t happy with the divorce or he wouldn’t be standing in Grace House’s foyer scowling. Sam wasn’t really a fan of Nicole’s, but that didn’t mean that he would stand by and let Bill try to bully her.

“So I hear your boy is still living here?” Bill’s gaze skated around the foyer and peeked into the parlor.

Sam wondered who told Bill that piece of information? Miguel had promised to keep it as quiet as possible, but in a small town one peep could go a long way. Sam’s jaw tightened. This town could use a few less gossips. “Is this a social call or do you have some business?”

“I heard the Jensen boy got stuck up in that big oak tree out back; just wondered if everything was okay. Perhaps there are other safety issues the preschool parents should know about?” His gaze traveled around the room. “These walls have a lot of cracks. You know, many of these old houses have structural problems. When’s the last time a building inspector was in here?”

Nicole’s face went white.

Bill had no right to bully her like that—for doing her job.

“We’re a little busy right now,” Sam said, stepping into the lawyer’s personal space and enjoying watching his discomfort. “I’m sure if you make an appointment, Miss James would be glad to answer some of your questions. Isn’t that right, Miss James?”

She grabbed the top of her shirt and cleared her throat. “Well, I don’t—”

“Let’s talk outside shall we, Bill?” Sam didn’t want Nicole to protest too much. Sam pushed Pendleton through the door before Nicole said something to give him cause to stay. “Nice morning. They say it might hit eighty today.” Sam kept walking toward Bill’s red Volvo. Luckily the lawyer followed.

Bill took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off, his face. “Looks like summer is here.”

“Sure is.”

“I bet you’re used to hot days. Where is that clinic mission again?” Bill swiped the cloth over the back of his neck.

“Guatemala.” Sam figured the faster he got this man into his car, the faster he could get back to his breakfast and his son.

Bill looked up at the sun and then at Sam. “Things sure are different now, aren’t they? I mean from when we were boys.”

Sam remembered a skinny kid, who looked malnourished and always seemed to have bruises on his skin or a black eye. How the quiet boy turned into a ruthless, abusive man wasn’t hard to see. His father had beaten him regularly and like the experts say… “What one child learns seems to travel to the next generation.” Sad, but oh so true.

“I heard you were all ready to leave when Nicole threatened social services on you.”

Sam leaned against the car and casually crossed his legs. As far as Sam knew, Regina and Miguel Lopez were the only ones who knew about Nicole’s threat to call social services. Sam didn’t think either of them would spread such gossip around. Had Nicole told someone else?

“My personal life isn’t open for discussion. What do you really want here, Bill?”

Even though beads of sweat clung to Pendleton’s forehead, he stuffed the handkerchief back into his pocket. “I’m just saying I know you aren’t happy with how things are going.” He pointed a finger toward the house. “And I’ve learned, from experience, that woman in there might be young and pretty on the outside, but on the inside she’s old and mean. She’s a man-hater. Heard she got jilted by some guy back in St. Louis and now is on a mission to make everybody as miserable as she is. Be careful. She could cause you harm.”

Sam was all for turning the other cheek, but Bill sure had a way of trying a man’s patience. “Aren’t you being a little harsh?”

“Harsh? I’ll tell you what’s harsh: her filling my Vanessa’s head with all those lies. I’d never hit my wife.”

Sam stood up. He’d heard enough. “I’ve gotta go. I promised to take my son to the park.”

Bill put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Hold on. I got something you might want to hear. You know Grace House is exactly two houses from the corner of Third and Main.”

Instead of pushing Bill’s hand off his shoulder he paused. “So?”

“So maybe we could work together.”

Uneasiness settled into Sam’s gut. “What are you talking about?”

Bill dropped his hand to his side. “This old house stands in the way of me making a lot of money. A client of mine is interested in buying the whole corner for redevelopment. He wants to put in some fancy shops and make Golden Ridge a real resort town.”

The heat must be getting to Bill. “A resort town?”

“That’s right. Do you know how many people drive down from St. Louis to vacation at Big Golden Ridge Lake every year? Hundreds. And quite a number are starting to go to Little Golden Ridge Lake too.”

Sam had always thought of Golden Ridge as a flat dusty spot between two fairly respectable lakes. Golden Ridge as a vacation spot? It would be the last place he would want to vacation, but he had lived here all his life. Still, Golden Ridge didn’t seem trendy enough to make people want to stay and hang out. Most just came to fish and swim at the lakes.

“Would do a lot of good for this town in these tough times… Bring in jobs.”

“I’m all for economic progress. But I’m also concerned about the how and the why. There are plenty of other streets off of Main that are in worse condition than this one. Is it your investor that wants this corner or is this your own personal vendetta?

“What difference does that make? Look, you and I want the same thing. If Grace House couldn’t stay open, you’d get your boy back now. I’d be able to get the land for my client, and busy-body, Miss James, might just leave town. A win-win situation if I ever saw one.” Bill put his hand back on Sam’s shoulder. “So what do you say, are you in?”

There was no denying it. Shutting down Grace House had a certain appeal. “In? As in, how?”

“Since you’re able to get into that house, maybe you could do a little investigating and take a few pictures with your cell phone when you see something that might injure a child. If we can prove that place isn’t safe, we can get rid of that shrew mighty quick.” Bill reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a cigar, offering it to Sam.

Sam shook his head. “I don’t smoke.”

“Suit yourself.” The attorney put the cigar into his mouth and lit it. He puffed clouds of gray smoke into the air. “Maybe you could get your son back by the end of next week if you could find a serious danger in the old place.”

Sam’s eyes smarted as a layer of smoke wrapped around him, clouding his judgment.

“You know a woman without a home wouldn’t be able to keep a young boy.”

Sam sighed inwardly. Little Billy no longer existed. Yet he had to admit Bill’s offer was mighty tempting and would be the answer to a lot of problems. Sam should say no and send the attorney on his way.

Instead, Sam nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

Bill gave him a wiry smile and punched Sam in the arm. He took one last puff of his cigar then went around to the driver’s side of his car. “You do that. I’ll be in touch.”

Sam stood by the curb and watched the man drive away. Was getting Joshua back worth destroying Grace House and possibly Nicole’s life? On the other hand, wouldn’t it be wrong to leave his son in a home that might be unsafe? If Nicole lost the home would he get his son back faster? A small voice inside him said yes. As much as he hated to admit it, the price for his son might be to cast misery on Nicole James. Could he do that?