03_A Family To Call Her Own (16 page)

If
he was willing to take a second shot at it. And that, of course, was a big
if,
she knew. He said he still liked her. But
like
and
attraction
were two different things, she realized. She just hoped she hadn’t killed the latter by her performance the other night. But only time would tell.

When Rebecca opened the door in answer to Zach’s ring the next night, her eyes widened in surprise at the bouquet of pink tulips, daffodils and baby’s breath that he held out to her.

“I thought you might like these,” he said with a disarming grin. “You mentioned once that you enjoyed gardening, so I figured you must like flowers.”

She reached for the bouquet, smiling in pleasure even as she protested. “Oh, Zach, this is too extravagant!”

“Hardly. Consider it a thank-you for dinner—and for everything you’re doing to help with Isabel.”

“Well…thank you,” she said, a delicate flush tinting her cheeks. “Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Can I do anything to help?” he asked as he followed her inside.

“No, thanks. Isabel and I took care of everything, didn’t we, sweetie?”

Isabel looked up from the table, which she was setting with great precision and care. “Yes. We’re having spaghetti,” she informed Zach.

“Mmm. That sounds good.”

“I haven’t had spaghetti before, but Rebecca says I’ll like it,” she informed him.

“I think Rebecca is right.”

Half an hour later, after watching her demolish a salad, a hearty helping of spaghetti and four pieces of garlic bread, Zach turned to her with a chuckle. “So what did you think?”

She considered the matter seriously. “I think Rebecca cooks real good.”

Zach smiled. “I’ll second that.”

Rebecca’s face flushed at the compliments, and she stood up to clear the table. “Well, I’d say it’s time for some brownies,” she remarked. “Isabel helped me make them,” she informed Zach over her shoulder as she headed toward the kitchen to put on the coffee.

“I didn’t know you knew how to cook, Isabel,” Zach said in mock surprise, turning to the little girl.

“I’m not very good yet,” she replied seriously. “But Rebecca said she’d teach me. She has a restaurant, you know.”

“Yes, I know.”

“She’s also very nice,” she added in a conspiratorial whisper, leaning close.

“I know that, too,” he replied, also lowering his voice. “And I know something else. See that bag over there by the door? I think there’s something in it for you.”

She looked at him wide-eyed. “For me?”

“Uh-huh. Why don’t you go over and take a look?”

She jumped up and scampered toward the door, peeking into the bag eagerly, her eyes lighting up as she withdrew a video of a popular animated children’s film. “Is this really for me?”

“It sure is.”

She hugged it to her chest, her eyes awed. “Oh, thank you, Uncle Zach. Can I watch it now?”

Zach sent a quizzical look to Rebecca, who was depositing the plate of brownies on the table.

“Well, if your Uncle Zach says it’s okay, I guess you can take your brownie into the living room just this once.”

“Can I, Uncle Zach?”

“I don’t see why not,” he agreed. “I’ll get it started for you.”

By the time he returned to the table, Rebecca had poured their coffee and was sipping hers leisurely. “That was a nice thing to do.”

He glanced at the small figure, already enthralled with the video. “I just feel so sorry for her,” he admitted helplessly. “I know you shouldn’t spoil children, but she’s had such a tough time I didn’t figure a few indulgences would hurt.”

“I agree.”

“So how did it go today?”

“That was going to be my next question for you,” she replied with a smile.

“You first.”

“She slept like a log last night, which I expected. We had pancakes for breakfast, went over and met Ben, stopped for burgers at lunch, then went to your place and got her settled in.”

“I bet she liked the room.”

Rebecca smiled, a flush of pleasure stealing over her cheeks. “Yes, she did. In fact, she asked me if I could come over tonight and tuck her in. I…I didn’t think you’d mind, this first night,” she said, her eyes anxious and uncertain as they met his.

He reached over and covered her hand with his, his eyes tinged with an intimate warmth that made her tingle all over as they locked on hers. “Rebecca, you are always welcome at our place.”

She blushed and looked down, toying with her spoon as she surreptitiously looked at his tanned, lean-fingered hand covering hers. She liked his touch—a lot—in this no-risk setting. Maybe she could eventually learn to enjoy it when they were alone, as well. But in the meantime it was better to move on to safer subjects. “So tell me about your day,” she prompted.

He removed his hand, and she missed his touch immediately. “It was good. But a bit overwhelming,” he admitted. “The academic world is very different from what I’m used to. I’m glad Phil Carr filled me in a little. And I picked up quite a bit in the teachers’ lounge, too. Everyone was very nice and went out of their way to be helpful.”

“How were the kids?”

“A little wary. Scoping out the new teacher, getting the lay of the land. But they seem like good kids—in general.”

“Why the qualifier?”

He frowned and took a sip of his coffee. “I’m teaching a creative writing class, and I had one kid who didn’t turn in the homework. I mentioned his name in the lounge, and it seems he’s somewhat of a troublemaker. Rarely does his homework, so his grades are marginal. But he aces out on tests, so he’s obviously bright. It’s a shame for potential like that to be wasted.”

Rebecca frowned. “What’s his name?”

“Pete Cramer.”

She shook her heard slowly. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“I got the impression that he comes from a broken home. Lives with his father, I think, who works at the plant.”

“Maybe no one’s ever really encouraged him,” Rebecca speculated.

“How do you mean?”

She gazed at him earnestly. “Well, if someone took a real interest in him,
made
him do the work, he might blossom.”

Zach frowned. “How do you
make
a seventeen-year-old boy do anything?”

“Long-term I guess it’s a matter of finding a way to make him
want
to do it,” she said thoughtfully. “In the meantime, though, some discipline might do the trick.”

He gave her a rueful grin. “Not a popular word in this day and age.”

“Maybe not,” she agreed. “But being an authority figure isn’t always a popularity contest,” she pointed out. “I really believe that even though kids may
act
like they resent discipline, they respect it when it’s administered by someone who is genuinely concerned about them. And I also think it boosts their self-esteem to know that someone cares enough to take that kind of interest.”

Thoughtfully he took a sip of his coffee and eyed her speculatively. “You could be right.”

“Well, I certainly don’t have any great experience to draw on,” she admitted. “But it might be helpful to be firm and set the rules right up front.”

“I’ll give that some thought,” he promised, before turning the conversation to less serious topics.

By the time the video ended, Isabel’s eyelids were drooping, and Zach glanced at Rebecca with a smile. “I think it’s somebody’s bedtime.”

“It will take her several days to get over the jet lag,” Rebecca replied sympathetically. “I’ll just follow you home and get her settled for the night.”

An hour later, as Rebecca leaned down to hug Isabel’s thin shoulders and place a kiss on her forehead, the little girl clutched at her hand, her eyes wide and imploring.

“Couldn’t you stay tonight?” she pleaded.

Rebecca regretfully shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Isabel. This is Zach’s apartment.”

“I bet he wouldn’t mind if you stayed,” she tried again, her bottom lip starting to quiver.

Would he? she wondered wistfully, then quickly squelched that wayward thought. “But I don’t live here, Isabel,” she gently reminded the little girl. “I’ll see you in the morning, though. Zach will drop you off at the restaurant on his way to school.”

“I…I miss my m-mama,” Isabel said in a barely audible voice that was tinged with tears, gripping her Raggedy Ann doll fiercely.

With difficulty, Rebecca swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I know, sweetie.”

“My papa says I have to be brave and not be sad, because now Mama is with God and she’s happy and well again. But I still miss her.”

“My mama is with God, too,” Rebecca told Isabel, once more hugging her close. “And I still miss her every day, just like you miss your mama. But try not to be sad. I’m sure your mama would want you to be happy. You still have your papa, who loves you very much. And now you have Uncle Zach and me, too.”

“W-will you stay till I f-fall asleep?”

“Of course I will. I’ll even sing you a little song, how would that be?”

Rebecca didn’t know any children’s lullabies, so she chose a familiar hymn instead. By the time she sang it through twice, Isabel had drifted off, too worn out to stay awake, despite her best efforts. Gently Rebecca extricated her hand, and once more lightly brushed her lips across Isabel’s forehead before rising.

Zach was waiting on the couch in the living room when she emerged, but he’d discreetly eavesdropped on the scene in the bedroom a couple of times. He’d heard enough to realize that Isabel was both homesick and grieving. And enough for his heart to be touched by Rebecca’s tender, compassionate interaction with the frightened little girl. He wasn’t surprised at the sheen of tears in her eyes when she finally appeared.

“Pretty tough situation for a little kid,” he commiserated.

“Yeah.” She blinked rapidly, trying to compose herself. “It’s hard sometimes to understand why the Lord lets things like this happen.”

“It’s not just hard, it’s impossible,” Zach replied, a touch of bitterness in his voice.

“I guess that’s true,” she admitted. “But it’s because we’re trying to understand with our finite human intellect. It’s almost a sin of pride to even suppose we could understand the ways of God.”

“So you just accept everything?”

“Is there any other choice?” she asked quietly.

Zach rose and strode over to the window, staring out into the darkness just as he had the night he received Josef’s letter. He jammed his hands into his pockets and sighed. “You sound a lot like Josef. He always accepted everything that happened as the Lord’s will, even when he didn’t see the reason for it. I guess that’s what faith is all about.”

“That’s part of it, anyway,” she concurred.

He continued to stare out into the darkness for a few moments, his brow knit pensively, but finally he expelled a long, weary breath and reached up to massage the back of his neck with one hand. “Listen, I want to thank you for coming over to get Isabel settled, Rebecca. You seem to have acquired an avid fan. I only hope I’ll be as lucky.” His tone was less than confident as he cast a worried glance toward the half-shut bedroom door.

“You will,” she replied reassuringly. It would be hard for anyone not to like Zach, she thought silently—adult or child.

“I E-mailed Josef last night to let him know she arrived, so maybe at least now he’ll have some peace of mind.”

“That reminds me.” Rebecca rose, speaking over her shoulder as she walked toward the coat closet. “I found something you need to see when I was unpacking Isabel’s suitcases.” She opened the door and withdrew a bulky parcel from the top shelf. “There’s a letter taped to it that’s addressed to both of us,” she told him as she handed over the package and they sat down on the couch. “I was surprised to see my name on it. Did you mention me to Josef?” she asked quizzically.

He’d done a lot more than that, Zach reflected. Josef and he always shared important events in their lives, and meeting Rebecca certainly fell into that category.

“Yeah. I thought it might make Josef feel better to know that a woman would also be watching over Isabel.” Which was true. But he’d mentioned Rebecca to Josef long before this situation came up. “Why don’t we read it together?” he suggested.

He carefully pulled the white envelope free, then slit it open. As he unfolded the single sheet of paper, Rebecca scooted closer, and the room became silent as they both scanned the contents.

My Dear Zachary and Rebecca,

I address this note to you both because it seems you will share in the care of my precious Isabel. Rebecca, even though we have never met, I feel I know you from Zachary’s letters. I am grateful that such a fine, generous and loving woman will be helping watch over my daughter, and I thank you most sincerely for your kindness. Since she just lost her mother, it will be good for Isabel to have a woman’s care and special touch.

Zachary, this package is only to be opened in the event something happens to me while Isabel is with you. Otherwise, please return it unopened when Isabel comes home to me. Remember how you always used to tease me about being “buttoned down” when we were in school, about never leaving any loose ends hanging? (See? I have not forgotten my American slang!) Well, I am still that way, planning ahead for all possibilities.

My dear friends—and I now count you among those, Rebecca—I will never be able to repay the great favor you are doing for me. I send you my heartfelt thanks and eternal gratitude. Please know that in the weeks ahead you will be prominently in my prayers. And I ask that you keep me in yours as well. God bless you both.

Rebecca blinked back her tears as she finished reading the note, and Zach’s ragged sigh told her he was equally moved. If Isabel’s small hand so trustingly placed in hers at the airport yesterday had dispelled most of the doubts Rebecca harbored about the wisdom of her offer, this note banished any that lingered. For reasons of His own, the Lord had put her in a position to offer assistance to this traumatized family. Maybe she wasn’t the best-qualified person for the job. She certainly didn’t have any experience with children. But she did have a great capacity to love, and perhaps that, more than anything, was what was needed in this situation.