19

Chris was waiting on the porch of his mobile home with his hands in his pockets when Ben stopped his patrol car in the drive. He ran down the steps as Ben got out and opened the back door for Olivia. As soon as her feet touched the gravel, Chris snatched her up in his arms, holding her head against his shoulder with one hand and inhaling the sweet, soapy, sweaty fragrance that was Olivia.

“Don’t you ever, ever do that again,” he murmured into her hair. “Never. Do you hear me? Never.”

“She’s in pretty good shape for a stowaway.” Ben slammed the back door of his car and leaned against it. “By the time she’d gotten herself to Deming, she was rethinking the whole operation and was ready to come home. We had us a good talk on the way back, didn’t we, girl?”

Olivia nodded against Chris’s shoulder and sniffed. She had grabbed his neck in a vice-like grip and had yet to let go.

Shifting Olivia’s weight to his left arm, Chris reached past her to grip Ben’s hand. “Thanks. I just . . . Thanks.”

He stopped to clear his throat, and Ben just waved as he walked around the car and got back in. “Glad it worked out like it did. You stick close to home from now on. You hear me, Olivia?”

She nodded again without looking around, and Chris stood in the drive until Ben’s taillights faded into the distance before carrying Olivia inside. He sat down on the sofa with Olivia in his lap and tenderly pried her hands from around his neck. When she still would not meet his eyes, he gently raised her face until she was looking at him.

“What were you thinking about, running off like that?”

She just shrugged and looked away.

“Where were you going?”

“Florida.”

“Oh, Livvy.” He held her close and gently rocked her in silence for a few minutes. Finally, he spoke. “You know, I think that the moment that I knew you were gone was absolutely the worst moment of my life. I was so afraid.”

She leaned back so she could look up at him. “You were afraid?”

“Honey, I’ve never been so scared. All of the bad things that could have happened to you just filled my head all at once. I couldn’t think. I could hardly talk. All I knew was that you were gone, and I didn’t know where you were.”

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was tiny.

“Just promise me that you’ll never, never do that again, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Were you going to Florida so you wouldn’t have to go back to school Tuesday?”

She nodded against his chest.

“Well, it’s not going to be easy, I’ll give you that. But I have a message from Miss Juanita for you.”

“I know. She said I needed to be good, like Emma A.”

“No, that’s not what she said at all. First she said to give you a big hug, so here’s a hug from her. Then she said, I think, that you should just go in there with your head held high, and not let anybody get you down, and decide you’re just going to be good like Olivia.”

She looked up at him again. “Really?”

“Really. At least I think that’s what she said. It’s kind of hard to know just what she means sometimes.”

“Yeah, I know.” She leaned against his chest again.

He rocked her in his arms, feeling her body gradually relax against him, and listened as her breath slowed to a measured rhythm. When he was sure she was asleep, he carried her back to her room and laid her on her bed. She didn’t wake up when he took off her shoes, and for a long time he sat next to her watching her sleep. In repose, she had no anger in her face, no defiance, no suspicion. She was just a seven-year-old, like any other. He ran a finger over her cheek and kissed her forehead before quietly stepping out and closing the door behind him. If only there were a way to see that expression of childish innocence and vulnerability when Olivia was awake—but he was afraid it was gone for good.

Chris leaned against the counter in his kitchen cradling a mug of coffee in his hands and watching the sun crest the mountains in the distance and flood the desert around his mobile home with light. Last night, when Olivia was still gone, he had given himself until dawn to find her before he called her mom in Florida. He hadn’t even been able to articulate the unthinkable to himself. What in the world would he have said to his sister? But it was dawn now. And Olivia was asleep in her own room. Thank you, God.

“I’m still dressed.” Olivia wandered down the hall, frowning down at her jeans and T-shirt as if she’d never seen them before.

“Well, you fell asleep before you got your pajamas on. Want some orange juice?”

She shook her head, curled up in a corner of the sofa, and closed her eyes again.

“Come on, Livvy.” Chris poured the juice anyway and set it on the counter. “You need to wake up. You have to shower and have breakfast and get ready for church.”

She gave a whimper of protest and flipped so her face was buried in the back of the sofa.

“Liv, come on.” He walked over and gave her a light swat on the seat of her jeans. “Get up.”

She sat up and brushed her hair from her face. “Is everybody going to be mad at me?”

“Nobody’s going to be mad. In fact, I’m pretty sure everyone’s going to be very glad to see you. We were all really worried.”

She didn’t say anything, and he sat in a chair across from her and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Why’d you do it, Livvy?

She wouldn’t look at him. “I was trying to find my mom.”

“Florida’s a pretty big place. Finding her might have been hard. Do you think we should talk to her and tell her you want to come live with her?” Sending Olivia to live with her mom and that Jase guy under who knows what circumstances would all but kill him, but keeping a little girl from her mom might be even worse. What did he know, anyway?

Olivia looked up and met his eyes. “But I don’t want to live in Florida. I want her to live here with us. I was going to go get her. But not Jase.”

Chris nodded. Maybe Olivia had something there. Although if Last Chance wasn’t ready for a simple menu change, he was pretty sure it wasn’t ready for Kaitlyn Reed. “Well, you can ask her about that when you talk to her next time.” He reached for her hand and tugged her to her feet. “You know we’re going to have to tell her about your little trip to Deming, don’t you?”

“Why?” Olivia slumped into a chair at the kitchen table.

“Because she’s your mom. And she cares what happens to you.”

Olivia didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. The cynicism in her face said it all. Chris opened his mouth to contradict her but closed it again. What would be the point?

He set a skillet on the stove. “So, scrambled eggs sound okay for breakfast?”

They ran into Elizabeth Cooley and her family in the church parking lot, and Olivia was passed from one to the other for gentle scoldings and hugs. Olivia bore it all with the slightly jaded expression Chris had learned she used to cover the discomfort of too much attention. But when Elizabeth held her at arm’s length and just looked at her, Olivia’s face crumpled, and Elizabeth enveloped her in a big hug and whispered something in her ear. Olivia stood with arms at her side until Elizabeth let her go, then slipped her arm around Elizabeth’s waist.

As they walked toward the front door of the church with their arms around each other’s waists, Sarah and Chris fell in behind them.

Sarah let Elizabeth and Olivia get far enough ahead to be out of earshot. “So, did you find out what this was all about?”

“Yeah. She was going to find her mom.”

“Poor kid. Was she running away because of the suspension?”

“Well, actually, she was going to get her mom to come back with her and yell at everybody.”

“What?” Sarah laughed.

“I heard the whole story over breakfast. It seems no matter what trouble Olivia ever got into, her mom took her side. Teachers, neighbors, other kids’ moms, Kaitlyn took them all on. And knowing Kaitlyn like I do, I can see her doing it.”

“You know, that does explain a lot.”

“Yeah, well, the plan was for Kaitlyn to come yell at Emma and Sue Anderson, Mrs. Martinez, and even you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, for taking her to the principal’s office in the first place, but since you had been so nice to her, Olivia was planning on sticking up for you.”

“Good, I guess.”

Elizabeth and Olivia as well as Lainie and Ray had already gone inside by the time Sarah and Chris reached the church steps. He stopped and looked down at her. “I am so out of my league here. Did I let Olivia down by not standing up for her more? I mean, my feeling was that she had broken the rules and had to suffer the consequences. Should I have done something different?”

“Nope, I can’t think of a thing. You don’t need to stick up for someone to stand by them. And as far as I can see, you are right there with her—no shame, no blame.” She took his arm as they mounted the steps. “And for my part, Tuesday I’m starting a unit on verbal bullying called ‘Words Can Hurt.’ Think that will get me off the hook with Kaitlyn? I really hate getting yelled at.”

The pianist had just begun the introduction to the first hymn when Sarah and Chris entered the sanctuary. Down front, in the third pew on the left, Olivia sat between Elizabeth and Lainie. Sarah slipped into a spot near the back and Chris followed her. He found he liked standing next to her in church, and when she found the page in the hymnbook, he found he liked holding one side while she held the other. He really liked the fragrance of the curly dark hair at his shoulder, and when they sat down, he found he even liked her absorbed expression as she listened to Brother Parker.

Even those who had arrived at church not knowing about Olivia’s midnight trip had learned of it by the time the service started, and a small group gathered around Elizabeth and Olivia after the benediction had been pronounced. Chris could see the top of Elizabeth’s head, and before she was blocked from his view, he could see Olivia standing next to her, Elizabeth’s arm around her shoulders.

“Makes me think of my first Sunday.” Lainie and Ray had worked their way though the crowd and had joined them in the back.

“Yeah, as I heard it, you had quite a little crowd gathered around you too.” Ray grinned.

“Why?” Sarah stepped out of the aisle so people could get by.

“Well, I hadn’t been to church in, like, ever, and I was mad that Elizabeth was making me go, so I thought if I put on some really short shorts, she’d let me stay home.”

Sarah laughed. “Wrong.”

“Yes, well, I found that out the hard way. But Elizabeth did just what she’s doing now. She stood beside me, just as pleasant and sweet as she could be, introducing me to people. She didn’t say a word about what I was wearing and almost dared anyone else to. She is one amazing lady.”

“See?” Sarah turned to Chris. “That’s what I mean about standing by someone without excusing conduct. Gran has made it an art form.”

“Here you all are. I wondered where you had gone.” Elizabeth, her arm still around Olivia’s shoulders, joined them. “Chris, why don’t you and Olivia come have dinner with us? We have plenty, and we’d love to have you.”

Chris looked down at Olivia, who had left Elizabeth’s side and come to lean on him. Her eyes drooped. He smiled and shook his head. “I’m afraid I need to get Livvy home. I think a nice quiet afternoon, with maybe a nap, is what we both need. I thank you, though.”

“Another time, then.” Elizabeth patted Olivia’s back. “But you’re probably right. It doesn’t cure everything, but there’s not a whole lot that doesn’t look better after a Sunday nap.”

Sarah was considering a nap of her own when there was a tap at her front door, and she opened it to find Lainie on her front porch.

“Hi. Are you busy?”

“Lainie.” Sarah smiled as she opened the screen door. “I’m not a bit busy. Come on in.”

“Elizabeth’s taking her nap, and Ray’s gone to check on his studio at the ranch, so I thought I’d pop over and see if anyone else in town was awake. I’d almost forgotten how quiet things can get in Last Chance on a Sunday afternoon.”

“I’m glad you did.” Sarah led the way to the kitchen. “Want some tea? I was just about to make a cup.”

“Love some.” Lainie followed and slid into a chair at the kitchen table. “I really love how you’ve done your house. It’s so bright and happy.”

“Thanks. Bright and happy was what I was going for.” Sarah looked around her kitchen in satisfaction. Her newest find, a black cat clock with a pendulum tail and eyes that moved from side to side with each tick, hung on the wall over the table. “I’m afraid most people around here think it’s just odd.”

“Well, I like it. We’re still coming to a meeting of the minds at our house. If Ray had his way, our place would look like a museum. You know, old carvings, pottery, weavings and stuff.” She rolled her eyes. “But my heart just sings when I go into the housewares section of Target. Everything is so cheerful and colorful, and you can decorate the whole house for what one of those carvings Ray loves would cost. I know. That makes me pitiful.”

Sarah laughed and put a plate of cookies on the table. “No, it doesn’t. I like Target too. But I can see the problem.”

“Well, right now the problem is being solved by finances. Ray’s paintings are doing well, but not so well yet that we could afford to buy one.”

“And you? What are you doing these days?” The teakettle whistled, and Sarah got up to brew the tea.

“I’m working part-time at a restaurant near the plaza. And I’m going back to school.”

“Are you? Well, good for you.”

“Yep. I had more or less promised Elizabeth I would last winter. That idea had to be shelved when I had to run the Dip ’n’ Dine for Fayette, but now, if I can keep up with the program, I’ll be a high school graduate within two years.”

Sarah held up her hand for a high five. “Couldn’t be prouder, cuz.”

“Thanks. So, what about you? Do you love teaching as much as you thought you would?”

“I sure don’t have all the answers like I thought I did, but I do love it. The kids are great, most of the time, anyway.”

“Yeah, when they’re not pounding the stuffing out of other kids on the playground.” Lainie smiled.

“Oh, Olivia. Well, that was a onetime thing, and I hope it stays that way. For all our sakes.”

“Hey, I love Olivia. I was Olivia. I can’t tell you the number of fights I got into. It sure wasn’t a onetime thing with me.” Lainie sipped her tea. “Of course, I didn’t have an uncle like Chris either.”

“Ah, Chris. Yes, he’s good for Olivia, all right. He really cares about her.” Sarah tried to keep her face expressionless as she changed the subject. “Tell me more about your classes. What are you taking?”

It didn’t work. “No, you tell me more about Chris. What’s going on between you two?”

“Nothing’s going on. We share a concern for Olivia, but that’s all.”

“Come on, Sarah. I’ve only been in town three days, and even I can see that you’re way more than just his niece’s teacher to him. You really don’t see that?”

Sarah sighed. “Well, it’s complicated. He took some getting used to, but, yeah, he’s nice. Really nice. But there’s Brandon.”

“Brandon? Is he still in the picture? I thought he was moving back east somewhere.”

“Chicago. He’s there now, although he was supposed to be here this weekend. As for whether he’s still in the picture, I don’t know. Maybe. I guess we’re trying to figure that out. At least, I told him that I’d give it another try.”

Lainie was quiet for a few minutes while she considered all Sarah had said. Finally, she shook her head. “Well, it’s your life.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound all voice-of-doom-ish.” Lainie grinned. “I really don’t know either of them that well. But Chris seems like such a nice guy. He really, really cares about that little girl. I can tell he cares about you. And he can cook.You can’t beat that.”

“Brandon has his good qualities too, you know.”

“Really. So tell me about Brandon’s good qualities. I just met him once at the ranch last Thanksgiving, and to tell the truth, they didn’t exactly shine forth. He seemed a little standoffish, like nobody was quite up to his standards. But maybe he’s shy and just comes across that way.”

Sarah laughed. “Brandon shy? Uh, no. I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone more confident or sure of what he wants. And he likes my family and all. He just doesn’t think he has a whole lot in common with them.”

“Has it occurred to him that if you guys do get married, your family will be his family, like for the rest of your lives? That’s a whole lot of Christmases and Thanksgivings spent playing solitaire on his phone while everybody else has a good time.”

“Well, I’m sure things would change with time.”

“Oh, Sarah, you don’t plan a life with someone hoping things will change with time. Even I know that.”

Sarah avoided answering by refilling their mugs of tea.

“Okay, I’ll mind my own business.” Lainie sat back in her chair. “But I want to say one thing first. Last Thanksgiving was the first time I met you too. And, sorry, but I thought you were timid and a little short on personality. It wasn’t until I saw you without Brandon around that I realized those were the last words to describe you. I’m just saying don’t do anything without putting a whole lot of prayer into it. This is not something you want to mess up.”

“You thought I was timid?” Sarah stopped in midpour.

“Well, let’s just say awfully concerned about whether Brandon was enjoying himself or not. Any time he blinked twice, you were there to see what he wanted, laughing at any lame comment he made as if it were the wittiest thing anyone had said all day.”

“You make me sound pathetic.”

“Not pathetic. Just worried about making him happy. And truthfully? He seemed to think that’s the way things should be.”

“Well, we’ve talked about it and he recognizes that he was a bit controlling. He’s asked me to give him a chance to prove himself, and that’s all I’ve done—given him a chance.”

Lainie swirled the tea in her mug and stared into it. Finally she looked up at Sarah. “I know control. I lived with it. And even though Brandon and Nick, the guy I tried to leave behind in California, are miles apart in every other way, I see that same need to hold the strings. And what I see is you here in Last Chance doing things the way Brandon, who is in Chicago, wants you to do them.” She smiled, as if to soften her words. “I started out by saying I was going to mind my own business, didn’t I? Sorry. So I’ll just repeat what I said earlier. Pray and keep praying. Marriage lasts a long, long time. And frankly, you don’t do timid all that well.” Lainie looked at her watch and got to her feet. “I’ll bet Elizabeth is awake and wondering where I am. Are you coming over for waffles this evening?”

“Of course. The edict was issued today after church.” Sarah tried to smile as she walked Lainie to the door, but she was feeling more than a little shaken. Timid? Short on personality? Was that how people saw her when she was with Brandon?

“Good. But you should know that Elizabeth has talked Chris into coming and bringing Olivia so she can show Ray her drawings.”

“Oh, I’m so glad that Ray’s going to look at her pictures.” Sarah couldn’t help smiling. “She’s so proud of them. And they’re good too. I hope he encourages her. I know Chris does, but Ray’s the artist. It will mean so much coming from him.”

“I’m sure he will.” Lainie leaned over and gave Sarah a hug. “And I have just one more observation before I really start minding my own business. We talked a whole lot about Brandon, but the first time your face lit up was when I mentioned Chris and told you Ray was going to look at Olivia’s pictures. Think about that a little bit.”

Sarah watched Lainie head back down the sidewalk to Elizabeth’s. Her face didn’t light up when Chris’s name was mentioned. She would know if it did. If Lainie noticed anything, it was just Sarah being pleased that Ray was looking at Olivia’s pictures. That’s all it was.

When her phone rang late that night as Sarah was getting ready for bed, she was almost surprised. She and Brandon had not ended his last call last Wednesday on the best of terms, and she had not heard from him since.

“So am I out of the doghouse yet?” She could hear the coaxing smile in his voice.

“Is that where you’ve been?”

“It sure feels like it, and it’s not my favorite place, I’ll tell you that. But I did get a lot done this weekend.”

“So it was all worth it?” Sarah wasn’t quite ready to let him off the hook.

“Short term? Not even close. There’s no place I’d rather be than with you. You know that.”

“Then why weren’t you? You had the plane tickets.”

“Because I’ve got the long term to think about.” Brandon’s voice went from gently teasing to serious. Sarah could almost see the intense, eager expression he always wore when he talked about the future, their future. “Sarah, the level of commitment you have to have to get anywhere in this company is unreal. I was ready to work hard, but these guys are something else. I don’t think they know what a weekend is.”

Sarah gave up with a sigh. She’d been trying to get her feet on the ground in a new job too. It wasn’t easy. “Well, you were missed.”

“I’ll make it up to you at Thanksgiving. Promise. I’ll work so hard between now and then that they’ll be ordering me to take some time off.” Brandon sounded as if he were trying to inject some enthusiasm into his voice, but mostly what Sarah heard was exhaustion.

“Well, don’t kill yourself. We’ll have plenty of opportunities.”

This time there was no mistaking the relief Sarah heard. “That we will. So, other than you, what did I miss? How did the chile-jazz thing work out?”

Sarah sat cross-legged on the bed. “It was amazing. Of course, things got really exciting, terrifying actually, when Olivia went missing. But, thankfully, she was found safe in Deming, of all places, after just a few hours . . .”

As she went on, Brandon’s comments became fewer and shorter, and finally she realized he wasn’t responding at all.

“Brandon?”

Silence.

With a half smile, Sarah hit End. She couldn’t blame Brandon for falling asleep. It was past midnight where he was, and he had worked hard all weekend, so he said. But one of these times, she was going to tell about her day first, just so she could finish.