A soft glow enveloped the sanctuary where Leah sat straight-backed, holding tightly to Collin’s hand. The last strains of “Amazing Grace” faded, and the purple-robed choir members seated themselves in the choir loft. The elderly pastor walked to his place behind the pulpit, opened the enormous black Bible that lay there, and smiled out at the congregation.
The pastor greeted the congregation and began to say something about the new addition to the building, but Leah was having trouble hearing him through the loud beating of her heart.
“Mom!” Her son’s desperate whisper drew her attention, and she looked down and realized she was gripping his hand too tightly. She gave him a tremulous smile and released it.
“Sorry,” she mouthed silently.
“It’s okay,” he mouthed back, grinning.
She glanced over at Max, who sat at the end of the oak pew on Collin’s other side. He smiled, then turned his attention back to the pastor.
Leah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Calm yourself down, Leah, she lectured herself silently. It’s just a church service. You’ve been to hundreds of them.
She realized suddenly that everyone was standing, and she quickly rose to her feet and bowed her head as the pastor began to pray.
“Our heavenly Father, first of all we would like to thank You for all the many blessings You have bestowed upon us. Thank You for supplying our daily needs and for guiding us in our walk on this earth. We also thank You, Father, for the boys that You have brought safely home to us. It is such a blessing to see these beloved faces that have been absent from our midst. But, Lord, some of our brave boys didn’t come back. We can only accept Your will and ask You to comfort their families and friends. Help us to remember, Lord, they are with You in a better place.…”
Is Bob with You, God? Is he really with You? Will we see him again some day? I can hardly remember what he looks like. When I think of him, I see a tall, handsome man in a blue suit standing by me in our wedding picture. But I can’t see the twinkle in his eyes or his smile anymore. He loved You. And he taught me to love You, too. But I’ve strayed away. I can’t remember the last time I read my Bible. Does he know about that, God? Does he know I’m not only forgetting him, but that I’ve just about forgotten You, too?
Leah started as people began to take their seats again. She sat down, wiping tears from her eyes.
The aroma of roasted chicken filled the kitchen as Leah took the lid off the roasting pan. The potatoes were browned to perfection. The salad was already on the table. She put the chicken on a platter and surrounded it with the potatoes and carrots. After placing it on the dining room table, she stepped back and looked everything over one more time. Perfect.
Max and Collin didn’t even hear her come into the living room. They were stretched out on the floor putting together a model airplane that Leah had unsuccessfully attempted to help Collin with. From the looks of things, it was pretty much completed.
“Hey, anyone hungry?”
Two heads turned and smiled up at her at the same time. Leah blinked hard in an attempt to stop the tears that were rising unbidden to her eyes. Collin’s face was radiant. Leah hadn’t realized how much he had missed male companionship.
They both scrambled to their feet.
“I’ll say. I’m starving.” Collin headed for the dining room, then stopped. “Oops, guess I’d better go wash up.”
“Me, too.” Max grinned and followed.
Leah shook her head and laughed softly.
The conversation at dinner was light and fun. Leah loved watching the camaraderie between Mr. Reilly and Collin. The boy glowed. It was obvious he had found a new hero.
“Collin, I’d say you are about the luckiest young man in Chicago,” quipped Max.
“Why’s that, Mr. Reilly?”
“Because, you’re mother is the best cook in Chicago, that’s why.”
Leah blushed and started to speak, but Collin interrupted.
“Yeah, but if you think this stuff’s good, wait until you taste the dessert.”
Leah shook her head as she watched the two of them clean up a plate of molasses cookies.
Finally, Max gave an exaggerated groan and pushed back from the table.
“You were right, Collin. I’ve never tasted cookies that good before. Okay, point me to the kitchen sink.”
“That’s not necessary, Mr. Reilly,” Leah said quickly. “I’ll just clean up in here while you and Collin finish the model.”
“No way, lady. You worked hard preparing this delicious meal, and this fellow pays for his supper. Tell you what—I’ll wash, and you dry.” His eyes danced as he tossed her a smile that just about took her breath away.
“Well, all right, if you insist.” Leah stood up and started to clear the dishes from the table. She stopped suddenly and stared as Max removed his coat. Muscles rippled beneath the white dress shirt as he reached forward to hang the jacket on his chair. Leah felt heat rising to her face as he turned and saw her watching him.
His eyes deepened to near blue-black as he stared at her. She stood mesmerized as his hand reached out toward her hair. Leah jerked around quickly and picked up another plate, almost dropping it. She cleared her throat, hoping she could speak normally. “Kitchen sink is right this way, sir.”
After Leah filled the dishpan with hot, sudsy water, she handed Max an apron, which he donned with a flourish.
He turned around, flashing a grin at her over his shoulder. “Afraid you’re going to have to tie this. I’m not used to wearing aprons.”
Shaking her head firmly, she said, “No way, Mr. Reilly. Your arms can reach behind to those ties quite nicely.”
He laughed heartily and tied the apron, then plunged his hands into the suds. After the dishes were done, they joined Collin, who had disappeared to the living room when he heard the word dishes.
Leah watched wistfully as Max helped Collin with the model. It would be wonderful for Collin to have a father. And a husband for Leah wouldn’t be bad, either. Especially if that husband was someone like Max Reilly.
He left late in the afternoon, and as Leah followed him onto the wide front porch, he apologized for staying so long.
“Oh no, don’t apologize, please. It was so lovely to have you here. I mean for Collin’s sake. And, Mr. Reilly, if your kind offer still stands, I see no reason to object to your spending time with my son. He obviously likes you, and you seem to be very comfortable with him.”
Max’s eyes lit up, and he smiled broadly. “I’m so happy to hear that. Collin is a great kid. I’m going to enjoy this as much as he does.”
They stood looking at each other silently for a moment, and then Max smiled again.
“By the way, now that I’m going to be a friend, and not just the headmaster, don’t you think you could drop the ‘mister’ and call me Max?”
“Well, I suppose that would be all right. Then I guess you should call me Leah.”
He took her hand. “Thank you for a delicious dinner, Leah, and a wonderful afternoon. I can’t remember when I’ve had such a good time.”
Leah watched as Max’s car pulled away from the curb. There was no denying the attraction there. Her heart raced every time they were in the same room together.
Leah sighed. She had to think about acquiring a job and taking care of Collin. She didn’t have time for distractions. Even if this particular distraction did have the most appealing smile she had ever seen.
She went inside and sat on the worn, overstuffed sofa. Her Bible lay on the side table, where she’d set it after this morning’s service. The sermon today had touched her in a way she hadn’t felt in years. The words of hope and love that had come forth from the gentle lips of the pastor had pierced her heart as words of condemnation never would have.
Leah reached for the small black book and opened it. Now where was the passage Reverend Hollingsworth had read that morning? Romans, she thought.
“Hi, Mom. Hey, are you reading your Bible? I’ve been reading mine, too. I looked up the part that the preacher was reading today. I wrote it down.”
“Oh, Collin. I’m so glad. It was in Romans, wasn’t it? Can you tell me the chapter number?
“Sure. Romans, chapter 8. Starting with verse 38.”
“Thanks, honey.”
Leah leafed through the pages until she found the appropriate verses.
As she read the words of Paul the apostle, hope began to take birth in her heart for the first time since she had received the news about Bob’s death: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Max whistled a popular tune as he drove away from the Halliday home. He had been telling the truth when he’d told Leah he couldn’t remember when he’d had such a good time. Collin was a joy to be with. He wondered what it would be like to have a son like him. And a wife like Leah to come home to every day. His eyes gleamed as he recalled the little dimple that appeared next to her mouth when she smiled. And how he would love to run his fingers through the smooth, silky waves that hugged her shoulders.
Suddenly Max sat up straighter and gripped the steering wheel. What was he thinking? He needed to be careful not to get too close to her. She was bound to start asking questions. He couldn’t afford for the scandal to rear its ugly head again.
He pulled into his driveway and sat without making a move to open the door.
Would the shadow of that incident with Claudia haunt him for the rest of his life? Would he have to live with this fear hanging over him forever? Why should he have to continue to suffer for something he hadn’t done?
Not only could he not pursue a relationship with Leah, but also if the scandal resurfaced, she wouldn’t let him near Collin. He had to do something. He hit his head against the steering wheel in frustrated agony. But what?
Making a sudden decision, he fired up the engine. He had tried, unsuccessfully, to talk to Jake about this before, but Jake wouldn’t even speak to him, much less listen to reason. Of course, he was going to believe his wife over his brother. Max couldn’t help but wonder, though, how Jake could be so blind to Claudia’s lack of morals.
He drove through the gate and parked in front of the huge brick mansion. His father would object to his not pulling into the garage, but he didn’t plan to be here that long anyway.
He found his father in the library polishing a rifle from his collection of antiques.
Max stood just inside the door, inhaling the familiar smell of leather and old books.
“Well, Max, to what do I owe the honor of this rare appearance?”
“Sorry, Dad. I’ve been busy lately. Is that a new one?” He walked over and put his hand on his dad’s shoulder.
James Reilly held up the rifle by the stock, looking at it proudly.
“I have a certificate of authenticity stating that it belonged to Annie Oakley. It’s a rifle she used in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.”
“Hmm, interesting. Where’s Mother?”
“She should be here. So busy running around to her charity functions, she forgets charity begins at home. I could use a little of her tender loving care myself.” He ran his hands through his thinning hair in obvious frustration.
Max laughed. Everyone knew that Celia Rosemont Reilly doted on her husband and spoiled him rotten.
“Now, Dad, you just can’t stand it if she’s away from you for an hour. Admit it.”
He laughed as his father threw him an indignant glance and placed the rifle back in the oak cabinet.
“Ring for Helen, son. I could use some strong coffee. How about you?”
Only after they had settled into chairs by the fireplace with hot drinks in their hands did his father turn to him with expectation written across his lined face. “All right, Max. Out with it.”
Max buried his head in his hands and moaned.
Taking a deep breath, he looked up.
“It’s the thing with Claudia. I have to get out from under this, Dad.”
A shadow of pain crossed the older man’s face, and he surveyed his son. “I don’t think anyone believes that old story anymore.”
“Some do. You know they do. And most important, Jake believes it. As long as he believes it of me, believes that I could do such as thing … well, his attitude gives credence to it. Not just to those who want to believe the worst. It puts a niggling of doubt even in the minds of people who don’t want to think it of me.”
A log fell in the fireplace, and Max stared at the sparks as they danced and popped around the blazing wood.
“Dad, I was thinking. Do you suppose it would do any good for me to try to talk to Jake again? Surely after all this time, he has gained some insight into Claudia’s character.”
“They’ve gone on vacation. I thought you knew. They left on a riverboat last month for New Orleans and places unknown. Claudia’s idea, I’d say. Jake never did like to travel. He wanted to take an airplane, but Claudia is afraid to fly. And besides, riverboats are more interesting.” He snorted and curled his lips in derision.
“Well, that’s that then.”
“What brought this on all of a sudden? I thought you had put it behind you. The board knows all about the situation. You don’t need to worry about your job, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
“They know?” A sense of shame invaded Max at the very thought of the board members of the school knowing about the tawdry accusations against him.
“Of course they know. Did you think they had their heads in the sand? They, however, also know me and know that I wouldn’t try to cover up for you if it had been true. So stop worrying.”
“Well, there are a few other reasons…. Oh, never mind. I just want my name cleared.”
His father gave him a hard look. “It’s a woman, isn’t it? Who is she? Why haven’t you brought her home to meet us?”
“It’s not like that, Dad. She’s just a friend.” He squirmed in his chair. “The mother of one of the boys at the academy. His father was killed in the war.” He smiled as he thought of Collin. “You should see that little fellow. He’s great.” He ran his hand through his hair. “And she’s raised him by herself since he was six.”
James Reilly took a sip from his cup, peering at Max over the brim. “I see.”
And Max knew that his father did see, way too much.