It was late on Wednesday night. Claire’s hands were shaking.
Please don’t take my dad. Not yet. He doesn’t know You.
Thankfully, Mom had called 911 before barging into Claire’s apartment to tell her through broken sobs that Dad had collapsed in the dining room and was unresponsive. Every first aid video Claire had ever watched had flooded into her mind. She’d started chest compressions without knowing if she was doing them correctly, but the paramedics had assured her she had done everything she could. Mom had gone along in the ambulance.
Claire focused on the phone in her hand and on Mom’s anxious voice on the other end. “The doctor is saying he may not make it. They rushed him inside and tossed around the words heart attack. I can’t be here alone. I need you, Claire.”
“Mom, Alex is sleeping. He has school tomorrow.”
“Can’t you wake him up and bring him with you? This is his grandfather.”
“Let me see what I can do. Okay? Calm down, Mom. Take some deep breaths. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
There were only so many people she trusted and knew well enough to ask to take care of Alex. Her cousin Jason was one of them, but after Dad had chewed him out over his coverage of the mayoral race, Jason had decided to take a week off to visit his mom in North Carolina. Kendall wouldn’t get back from her honeymoon until Friday night, which was still two nights away. The Holcombs were always willing to watch Alex, but it was eleven on a school night and Jenna’s ill father lived with them, so Claire wasn’t going to call them at this late hour.
She stared at Evan’s number on the screen. Would he still be awake? They hadn’t seen each other since Sunday. Evan was backlogged with furniture orders he’d put off the week before in order to dedicate time to planning the 5k event, and he’d signed Stella up for doggie obedience classes. All the mayoral challenges, besides the speeches they would give directly before the polls opened, were done. They’d exchanged a few polite texts wishing each other good days, but that had been the extent of their contact.
She pressed the Call button before she lost her nerve.
He didn’t answer.
There was no one else. She’d have to pray that her father made it through the night so they could make their peace. So she could try one last time to tell him about God.
Her phone started vibrating. The screen displayed Evan’s name. She fumbled to press Accept and was finally successful.
“Sorry I missed your call,” Evan explained. “I was taking Stella outside one last time before bed. How are you?”
“Ev... Dad’s in the hospital. They say it might be a heart attack. He and I fought yesterday. We haven’t made up. What if, what if—”
“Are you home?”
“Yes.”
“I’m on my way over.” Keys jangled. “Go ahead and keep talking. Stay on with me until I get there, okay?” A door slammed.
She sank down the wall and curled her knees into her chest. “I’m going to switch you to speaker real quick so I can text my mom.”
“Do whatever you need. I’m here.” His truck chirped, unlocking. “I’m on my way.”
be there soon. leaving house in 10.
“I sent it. I’m back.”
The music from his radio filtered over the line for a few seconds until his wireless signal connected and the phone switched to his speakers.
“What happened?”
“Mom said she found him hunched over in the dining room. I don’t know much else.”
“I meant, you said you fought yesterday.”
“I confronted him with everything you told me the other night. About him blackmailing you.”
“And?”
“He accused you of lying.”
“What did he say I lied about?”
“Well, he admitted to cornering you with the debt and offering to pay it, but he said you turned around and blackmailed him back. That you said you would go marry me and ruin my life unless he paid for Brice’s college expenses on top of all the other things he’d promised. He said you had always planned to use me to get something from him.”
The only reason that boy pursued you was to get to me. If you can’t comprehend that then you know nothing about how this world operates.
“I didn’t—”
“I know.”
* * *
Evan sat in one of the chairs in Claire’s apartment playing a game on his phone to pass the time. He probably should have tried to catch a few winks on the couch, but his mind was spinning, and frankly, he was mad.
Sesser had caused so much damage in his life, in the lives of his family members, in Claire’s life, and it sounded like he was causing problems for Alex, too. The man continued to destroy and manipulate, and a righteous anger blazed through Evan’s chest. If only he could go give Sesser a piece of his mind he’d—
Sesser was dying. If not that, then he was very ill.
Evan’s anger leaked away slowly, a pinprick in a well-worn tire.
It was strange being in the Atwoods’ home after all these years. He’d never been allowed beyond the gated entrance, let alone stepped foot inside. Everyone knew the Atwoods were wealthy to the extreme, but he hadn’t understood what that meant until now. It made all his successes feel so little and paltry. And that rankled him, too.
Sesser shouldn’t have the power to make Evan feel small when the man wasn’t even around.
He’d tried not to gawk when Claire met him at the door. They hadn’t said much once he arrived. He’d given her a hug and told her to drive safely and take as long as she needed. If she wasn’t home in the morning he’d see that Alex got ready for school and onto the bus.
Evan eventually nodded off some time after midnight, but he jolted awake when he heard a door creak. Was Claire home? He blinked and swiveled his head in the direction of the front door. It was closed and there was no sign of her.
“Whoa,” Alex said. “You jumped pretty high.”
“Buddy.” Evan yawned and sat up. He rapidly blinked to clear his contacts so he could focus on the digital screen near the television. Three in the morning. “What are you doing up?”
The kid’s black hair stuck out like a wing on one side. “Why are you here?”
If Alex had grown up with Sesser as a loving grandfather, Evan would have danced around the question, but from things both Claire and Alex had said, it sounded like Alex didn’t have a good relationship with him. Blunt and honest was probably the best way.
“Sesser had an emergency. Your mom and grandma are with him at the hospital right now.”
“But not me? It is because I’m not their family.” Alex’s shoulders slumped. “They say I am, but I’m not.”
Evan fought the urge to go over and hug the kid. However, Claire had explained that the psychologist they were seeing thought Alex might have an attachment disorder. If he did, physical contact wasn’t always for the best. Evan also knew that if it was true, Alex struggled with feeling alone, unloved and unworthy.
Give me words.
“Hey, you’re family. Your mom talks about you all the time.” He’d focus on Claire, because he didn’t know the dynamics of how Sesser treated Alex. “You’re her son, Alex. She loves you so much. That’s pretty clear.”
The boy dropped down onto the couch. “They could send me back, if they wanted. They could do it tomorrow.”
Evan shook his head hard. He brought his leg up, turning to face Alex on the couch. “That’s not going to happen. You don’t send back someone you love.”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “Mom said you did. I asked her why she looks at you strange and she said because you used to love her but don’t anymore.”
Evan tightened his gut out of reflex. “When did she say that?”
He shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe after she found out we knew each other. You said you loved her and then sent her back. That’s what she told me.”
That’s how Claire had explained it? Maybe something had been lost in translation.
“Well, listen.” Evan relaxed his arm across the back of the couch. “Let’s clear some things up here. I love your mom. I want to be with her and never send her back. Understood?”
“But she said—”
“I messed up big-time with her. I’m human, Alex. I sin. I regret it and I’ve begged her forgiveness for it. God’s too.”
Alex’s chin trembled. He looked away, studied the lines on his palms. “But I like you, and if you can do something like that then my mom could, too.”
“Do you love your mom?”
“Yeah, she’s cool.” He traced his toes back and forth over the shaggy rug in front of the couch and kept his gaze trained on them. “I just... I don’t want to...”
“You’re afraid of getting attached and losing her.”
He worked his toes deeper into the shaggy rug.
Evan finally put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Are you a Christian, Alex? I mean, I know you come to church with your mom. But do you believe in Jesus?” He tried to find the file in his brain that would help him speak in terms a seven-year-old could understand. Evan had attended training for his roles at the church. “Do you know that once you tell God that you’ve chosen to be on His team, God will never let you go? It’s impossible. He promises that in the Bible.”
“You’re sure?” Alex’s feet stopped moving. He peeked over at Evan.
“I’m positive.”
“If you hold a crocodile’s mouth shut you give them lockjaw. They’re very powerful, but they can’t open their mouth or do any damage. I thought of that when you said God doesn’t let us go.”
Evan considered trying to use the crocodile as an example, but decided against it. Still, he needed to speak on Alex’s level. “It’s interesting, but I think Mr. Woolly is a better fit here.”
“Crocodiles are cooler than caterpillars.”
“No doubt.” He gave a smile he hoped transmitted warmth and acceptance. “But remember how Mr. Woolly does what he knows he’s supposed to do without getting the outcome we all think he should get, but he’s faithful, anyway? God doesn’t forget Mr. Woolly. When God created animals he set it up so Mr. Woolly would be different, and even after fourteen years, God doesn’t forget him or what Mr. Woolly is supposed to become.”
“I’m a caterpillar?”
“You’re far more important than a caterpillar. If God cares about Mr. Woolly so much and keeps promises to him, just imagine the love He has for you. He loved you so much that He picked Claire to be your mom. He knew you belonged with her. You’re exactly where you were always supposed to be. You’re home, buddy.”
* * *
Evan’s boots thumped along the shined floors of the heart wing of the hospital. If he paused outside Sesser’s door he risked losing his gumption, so he strode right in.
“Get. Out. You’re not welcome here.” Sesser’s scowl almost made Evan turn tail and run.
Almost.
“I know.” Evan came a few feet into the room. That was far enough.
“My wife was in here earlier. Singing your praises.” He spat and dragged the back of his hand over his mouth. His fingers trembled. “I never thought I’d hear that fool woman ever speak of your kind like that.”
Claire’s mom had hugged Evan after they’d returned, and thanked him for watching Alex. He and Claire had speechlessly watched her head up the stairs after that. The kindness from Mrs. Atwood had bolstered Evan’s idea to try to make peace with Sesser. If her parents could accept him, it would make life easier for Claire in the long run.
“Sir, I know you don’t like me.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“And you never wanted to have to deal with me again.”
“I don’t and I won’t.” Sesser tapped his IV. “If they didn’t have me tied to this bed with tubes I’d bull rush you out of here myself. Don’t think I couldn’t.”
“The problem is I love your daughter.” Evan widened his stance. “And I’m not going anywhere, not when it comes to Claire.”
“I will have you arrested!” Sesser’s voice rose. “I’ll come after your house. I’ll start by kicking you out of your business.”
“On what grounds?” Sesser owned the building Evan rented in town for Goose Harbor Furniture, but he could find another. He would. Claire was worth a setback in his business. “I love her and if she wants me, I’ll spend the rest of my life being there for her. I wish you could see that all I want is what’s best for Claire.”
Sesser shook his head, his jowls jiggling like a bulldog’s. His cheeks and a wide patch of hairless scalp at the top of his head flashed red. “I know what’s best for my daughter, and it’s not you!”
“I’m sorry you feel that way but—”
“I dated your ma. Didn’t know that, did you?” Sesser shoved his hands against the bed rails to hike himself up higher. “Mason was chasing her, too, and she ended up choosing him. Look at how well that worked out for her. Sheryl had a good life waiting and she tossed it away on a worthless no-good. He professed love, too. She hates him now, doesn’t she? Wishes she had stuck with me. Think how different her life would be.”
Evan tried not to show how Sesser’s words affected him, but his insides felt as if someone had shoved them into a slingshot and let them fly. His mom had dated Sesser? No wonder she had so much anger toward Brice. She’d made no secret of the fact that she was stuck with their dad because she’d gotten pregnant with Brice. She must have watched Sesser’s life from afar and known that it could have been hers all along.
Sesser’s grin turned wicked. He knew he was getting to Evan.
How would life be different if his mom had married Sesser?
“Claire wouldn’t exist.”
Sesser waved his hand in the air. “I wouldn’t know to miss her.”
Evan curled his fingers into fists. The man was impossible. How could he regard his only child so flippantly? “All I wanted was for us to come to a civil understanding. I just want peace.”
“You’ll get peace from me when I’m dead.” Sesser thumped his chest and then winced. “How’s that for understanding?”
Evan’s phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and saw Claire was calling. “I have to take this.”
“If you go after her, you’re no different than your pa, hear me?”
Enough. Evan strode out of the room and walked down the hall. He was done listening to the man’s poison.
“Evan?” Claire’s voice sounded off. Tears?
He put some distance between himself and Sesser’s room before finding a wall to lean against. “Everything okay?”
“Alex told me you talked to him about God last night. Ev, he just asked me to pray with him. Alex just became a Christian.”
“That’s wonderful!” Evan was a grown man, but he wanted to jump up and down. If he’d been home or at work, instead of in the middle of a hospital, he would have. “I can’t wait to see him.”
“Thank you. You...you reach him in a way that I can’t.”
“Not true.” He made his way down the hallway to the elevators. “There’s a reason he came to you for the most important part. He loves you, Claire. He just has a hard time knowing what to do with it.”
There was a long pause.
“Tomorrow’s our speeches.”
“Big day.” The bell rang above the elevator.
“I was thinking...only if you wanted to, of course...” Was she nervous? “We could meet beforehand and go in side by side. Take the stage together and present a united front. Kind of, no matter who you choose to vote for on Monday, we’ll both work toward improving Goose Harbor. Do you think that’s silly?”
“I think it’s brilliant.”
“Meet me at the swing set then? Where Jason took our pictures.”
“I’ll be there. But Claire?”
“What is it?”
“I’m looking forward to after the election far more than the speeches tomorrow night.” When they could talk about the possibility of them.