A Matter of Destiny (2 page)

When she went downstairs, she heard a steady chopping sound from the backyard and called out a goodbye. The boys barely paused to wave.

Out of friendship, Sharon usually shopped at Smallwood's General Store for quick run-ins and an exchange of gossip. Today, she really needed to stock up and drove to the supermarket on Tamarack Hill.

The aromas from the in-store bakery greeted her and made her stomach growl, even though she'd just eaten. "Will power, Sharon," she told herself firmly as she walked past the mouth-watering temptations.

She had to stick to essentials.

It was reassuring, however, that her appetite was coming back. For awhile, she'd thought food would never again hold any appeal.

Sharon studied the items on her list as she went up and down the aisles, carefully totaling the figures as she added each product to the cart. The insurance money was slow in coming because the accident was still under investigation.

She was so engrossed with her addition she didn't watch where she was going. Kerthump. The cart stopped against an immovable object.

Sharon glanced up, startled. "Oh no, not again. I'm really not out to get you, Mr. Reardon." She was relieved to see a grin on his rugged face, noting irrelevantly that his teeth were perfect.

"Maybe I should wear a flashing light whenever you're around, Mrs. Quinn."

Sharon discreetly surveyed him from head to toe. He wore faded jeans and a red plaid shirt jacket, resembling a lumberjack more than a teacher. But as she recalled, Luke had mentioned he was also an assistant coach, thus the outdoorsy look.

"What are you staring at?" he asked.

"Your nose is crooked," she murmured without thinking.

He lifted his hand to his face. "Just for the record, ma'am," he said with an exaggerated drawl, "my nose was broken years ago."

"Fighting over a woman?"

Sharon didn't know why she'd asked such a bold question, but she could picture him with sword and armor, battling for a lady's honor. There was something about him that intrigued her, and that fact made her uncomfortable.

The laughter on Joe's face dissolved. "Maybe," he said in answer to her question, then seemed to regain his good humor. "By the way, what's your jogging schedule so I can wear my bumper guards?"

Sharon smiled again, and it felt good. "I don't know, but I promise to watch for you."

Joe shifted his weight, and Sharon sensed he wanted to be on his way. She glanced down at the growing pile of groceries in her basket and said, "I'd better finish my shopping and get some of this stuff in the freezer. Nice seeing you."

"Likewise," he said quietly, sounding disappointed. "I guess I should make an appearance at the teachers' seminar."

When he pushed his cart past, she couldn't help snickering.

He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "Now what? Are my ears on crooked, too?"

"No, you just don't seem the type to push a grocery cart."

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Even confirmed bachelors have to eat."

"Right." She gave him a quick, embarrassed wave and hurried around the corner.

Joe had lost all his powers of concentration as far as grocery shopping was concerned. He stared blankly at the shelves, then decided to make do with what he'd already selected. He'd been glad to see Sharon Quinn today, especially after what he'd heard from Luke. The boy had come to him, needing an unbiased party to listen.

Unbiased? Joe had to laugh at that. He was involved,

whether or not he'd wanted the assignment. He tried to reassure Luke that his mother would be herself again; it would just take time.

It wasn't unusual for someone grieving to appear distracted and confused. She seemed very brave to Joe.

Sharon Quinn was more beautiful each time he saw her. But

why did she affect him so deeply? Because she was unattainable? Or was it merely sympathy that made his palms sweat and his mouth go dry when she came into view?

He had to find his objectivity, or he'd fail. He wasn't supposed to think like a man, or was that the trial Serena had mentioned?

Sharon Quinn's long auburn hair and striking green eyes looked out of place in a small town like Hollow Bend. He was sure she was unaware of her beauty, and most certainly, unaware of him.

He could see now why this mission was important. The Quinn family needed a guardian, and he'd been chosen.

Later, when Sharon had put her groceries away, it seemed like she'd brought home far more than she'd paid for from her meager budget. She shook her head, figuring she must be mistaken. Her cheerful mood lingered. The deep ache was a part of her, but at least she accomplished something today.

And so had her sons. They'd done a good job with the firewood, splitting and stacking a half-cord since she'd been gone. She'd reward them with BLT's and French fries, with strawberry yogurt for dessert.

Sharon had just finished the last batch of fries when the boys came stomping in, flushed from the physical exertion. David's dark hair stuck to his sweaty forehead and Luke's blond head looked as though he'd spun around on it.

She studied them both, with love welling up inside, knowing it was up to her to make them happy. They were worth the effort.

Each time Joseph took on a human persona, he had to get used to certain limitations. Holding down an earthly job was time-consuming, not to mention the eating and sleeping regularly. It was strange to feel fatigue at the end of an earthly day, but satisfying, as well.

Using his out-of-body power drained a lot of his energy, so he had to use his powers wisely, when they were most needed.

Since he hadn't come up with any legitimate excuses, or reasons, he amended, to see Sharon Quinn in person, he watched over her in spirit to see that she came to no harm. He wondered when his real mission would begin in earnest.

It took another month for Sharon to admit she needed a job. The insurance money had come through, but it would be depleted in no time without a regular income, other than social security. She called her friend, Paula, for moral support.

"Want to have lunch with me today?" Rather than wait for an answer, she hurried on, not giving her friend a chance to refuse. "I'm going to start looking for a job this morning, and I'll probably need a dose of confidence by noon."

"I'd love to," Paula said, "where shall we meet?"

Sharon breathed a sigh of relief. She could always count on Paula. "How about the Chicken Coop?"

They agreed on a time, and hung up.

The boys had already left for school, so she took a leisurely shower. When she'd finished, Sharon selected a soft coral dress with long sleeves and belted waistline, pulling it over her head.

Tom had especially liked the outfit, and Sharon knew she looked her best. Skillfully applying her makeup, she used a soft gray eye shadow to emphasize her gray-green eyes.

"Not bad for a mother of two teenagers," she said aloud, surveying the results in the full-length mirror.

She pinned her hair into a French twist, then added tiny pearl earrings and a spray of rose-scented cologne.

Unable to delay the moment any longer, she slipped into matching shoes and a short wool coat. The temperature took a sharp dive this time of year. Even her car protested the cold by coughing twice before starting.

Sharon had no idea where to look first. She had to think before heading for the local newspaper office. It was as good a place as any. She'd worked on the high school paper and remembered it had been a lot of fun.

She entered the front office of the Hollow Bend News and knew why she'd checked there first as the clack-clack of the presses and the smell of printers' ink filled the building.

In the back of her mind, she'd carried a picture of the bustling newsroom she'd seen in movies and a vision of herself as the new Lois Lane.

But Hollow Bend wasn't Metropolis. Only one person pecked away on a typewriter. The bright overhead lights gave the impression of the burning sun over a barren desert.

Sharon stood in the entryway for a few moments before the woman at the typewriter glanced up. She knew Doris Bateman, though not very well.

Doris peered over gold-rimmed glasses, her salt-and-pepper hair stiff from a session at Scissors, the local beauty salon.

"Mrs. Quinn, how are you?" She half-stood, then eased her plump figure back into the chair. "Come on in and sit down."

Sharon did as Doris suggested, then waited for the chance to say what was on her mind. The other woman rambled on about getting the news out on time.

She was surprised, but relieved, when Doris didn't mention Sharon's recent bereavement.

Finally, the flood of words stopped, and Sharon interjected, "Mrs. Bateman, I'm looking for a job."

Doris chewed on the end of her pencil as she appeared to think it over. "Well, I'd have to check with the boss, of course, but the only opening I know of is Ida Kelson's column. You know, the one she writes about what everyone's doing. She says it's getting to be too much for her, but it pays $10 a column and a turkey at Christmas."

Sharon thought at first the woman was kidding, and realized she wasn't. Considering her sons' appetites, the turkey was tempting, but...

Taking a deep breath, she said, "I think I'll have to make a little more than that, but thank you for your time." She left quickly, and paused outside the building, wondering where to try next.

She was new at this. When Tom was alive, she'd wanted nothing more than to keep their home running smoothly. Now that existence seemed sheltered and safe.

Drawing herself up straight, she started walking.

Joseph's guardian consciousness watched over Sharon even while his human persona taught class. He'd always gotten a kick out of being in two places at once.

He felt her disappointment as keenly as if it were his own and considered using one of the miracles at his disposal.

"No, Joseph," he heard Serena say. "She must learn to be strong and take care of herself. You'll find other ways to help."

His heart gave a little twist, anticipating what she still had to endure. He made himself stop watching, for now, but he had an idea.

The library...she'd always been an avid reader. Maybe they could use someone.

Twenty minutes later, Sharon had been told in no uncertain terms, that it took more than a thirst for the written word to qualify for work in the library. Of course, if she was interested in volunteering...

The only department store in town, the Pin and Feathers, was taking applications for on-call work. Sharon filled one out, just in case nothing else turned up.

By this time, she felt quite desperate and ready for a lunch break.

Her friend already waited at the Chicken Coop when Sharon arrived.

Paula wore a green wool dress and her dark curly hair glistened with highlights. She'd told Sharon that Ty liked it that way. Paula looked prettier than she had in a long time. The friends hugged one another.

They sat next to a window, even though the only view was the highway leading out of town. Sharon liked to watch the cars go by.

It reminded her of when she was a little girl, imagining exotic faraway places whenever she heard the distant mournful cry of a train whistle.

After ordering, they sat back to catch up on news. "How's the job hunting?" Paula asked.

Sharon groaned. "Not so good. I've discovered nothing can shatter one's ego as quickly as looking for employment. It's been so long, since before I was married."

"Have you tried the Pin and Feathers?"

Sharon nodded.

"How about the library?"