Gathering Shadows (10 page)

Our visit to the grotto was interesting. The guide told us the story of the shrine, which turned out to be a real testament to dedication and hard work. The shrine had been rebuilt after a devastating fire in the fifties. Vandals had attacked it more than once, but the Franciscan Brothers who cared for it restored it time after time. I tried to stay focused on its fascinating history, but I had a hard time concentrating. My father's actions back at the restaurant had opened old wounds that were now bleeding.

We got back to Sanctuary around six o'clock. Zac had eaten my dad's half of the stromboli in the car, but I was hungry. Esther wasn't home when we arrived, and I assumed she was attending evening church services.

Zac went upstairs to unpack his gear while I raided the refrigerator. Cold chicken, potato salad, and a delicious fruit relish made for a quick dinner that I ate in the kitchen. After I cleaned everything up, I fixed myself a second glass of tea and took it upstairs. The door to Zac's room was open. We hadn't talked much on the way home. I'd been too upset, and Zac had wisely kept quiet while I dealt with my bruised feelings. I stopped by
his door and leaned against the frame. He was sitting on the bed, obviously waiting for me.

“What's our next move?” he asked.

“I've been thinking about that. I know Ed will expect an update tomorrow. I can't lie to him, Zac. Either I tell him we're still in Sanctuary and why, or we leave and call him from somewhere else.”

“You need to be careful.”

“Trust me. I'm aware of that. Did you call your friend in St. Joe?”

He nodded. “Talked to him last night. He planned to visit Jamesport today. He should be calling anytime now.”

“I need to think,” I said. “I'm going for a walk. Maybe by the time I get back, you'll have heard from him. Then we'll decide what to do. If Elijah's family is on the run, we've got to move quickly. I can't take a chance on losing my brother a second time.”

“It's your decision, Wynter. Not mine.”

“You're wrong. We're friends. We'll decide together.”

Zac's smile was genuine. “Thanks. I'm glad you see me as your friend.”

“Well, you are. Be back in a bit.”

When I went into my room I found Clyde and Frances sleeping on my bed. They both opened their eyes and looked at me with disinterest before going back to sleep. I almost stepped on a tail sticking out from under the bed. I bent down and found Sam curled up in a ball on the floor. Obviously his older joints hadn't allowed him to jump up onto the high bed. I would have picked him up and put him next to his kitty friends, but I was concerned he'd have trouble getting down again. I took a minute to pet each one of them, and then changed my clothes.

It felt great to slide on jeans and a comfortable shirt. I exchanged my heels for sneakers and pulled my hair back in a ponytail. I'd just put my clothes away when I noticed a small box on the dresser. When I opened it, I found several pieces of fudge. That's when I noticed a note that had been placed under the box. It simply said “Welcome!” Although I appreciated Esther's gesture, I wasn't hungry and dropped the box off with Zac on my way out. He was only too happy to accept it.

As I walked down the stairs, they creaked beneath my feet. It was a comforting sound and once again reminded me of my grandmother's house. I heard her voice in my head.
“Without God, nothing makes sense, honey. More than anything else
, seek Him. Keep Him close. He's always nearby, never
farther away than a whispered prayer.”

I stopped at Esther's front door, my hand on the knob. “Are you still there, God?” I asked quietly. “I have no right to ask for your help, but if you could show me what to do, I certainly would appreciate it.”

I stepped out onto the front porch and breathed in the soft spring air. There weren't many people out. Most of them were probably in church. As I walked, I looked more closely at the buildings that made up downtown Sanctuary. There were only a few houses on Main Street, including Esther's and Janet's. The business district was four blocks long and contained the two restaurants, the hardware store, a small general store, two buildings without names on the outside, a quilt shop, a clothing store, a secondhand store, and a redbrick building divided into three businesses. The building housed Sanctuary Christian School, Sanctuary Library, and Sanctuary Post Office. The ancient buildings were painted, clean, and cared for. Sanctuary
was the epitome of homespun charm. A town caught in time, seemingly untouched by modernism, disinterest, or lack of respect. The idea of graffiti felt like heresy, and littering seemed like a crime worthy of imprisonment.

On the far side of Sanctuary sat Agape Fellowship. Its white spire was the tallest point in town. Sanctuary Mennonite was just two blocks away. The plain structure didn't have a spire or a cross. In fact, unless you were close enough to read the sign above the entrance, you could mistake it for a commercial building. However, it seemed completely appropriate for the plain people who worshiped there.

There were more homes on neighboring blocks, but almost everything was within walking distance. Reuben had told me that quite a few residents owned farms outside of town, but they were still part of Sanctuary.

I headed toward Randi's café, hoping to get a cup of coffee. Before I reached the restaurant, I made a decision. Something I'd been toying with since yesterday. As if God was confirming my conclusion, I looked down the street and saw Reuben walking toward me.

“Church out?” I asked.

“Yeah, just dismissed.”

“Hey, I wanted to talk to you if you have some time,” I said. “I'm headed to Randi's for coffee.”

“Sounds great.” He waited for me to catch up and then walked next to me toward the diner.

“I'm surprised she's open on Sunday,” I said. “Figured almost everything would be closed on the Sabbath.”

Reuben grinned. “You're right, but Randi does a great business on Sunday. After church her café is packed.”

As we strolled down the street, we were passed by several
buggies. Obviously the Mennonite church had completed services too. Reuben called out to most of the people who rode past us. He seemed to be friends with almost everyone in town. A woman coming toward us called out his name, and he stopped.

“Wynter, this is Sarah Miller,” he said as she approached. “She teaches at our small private school.”

I reached out and took her hand. “I'm glad to meet you. I was surprised to learn that a town this small had its own school.”

Sarah, a tall, thin woman with red hair in a bun and a smattering of freckles across her face, smiled. “It's supported by the churches. There are some parents in our town who don't want their children to attend public school.”

I smiled at her. “How interesting. I wonder if you'd allow me to interview you. I'd love to find out more.”

“You're the lady from the news station in St. Louis?”

“Yes. It wouldn't take long, Sarah. What do you say?”

I noticed Reuben and Sarah exchange quick glances.

“I . . . I don't know,” she said slowly, dragging the last word out. “You can't film the children. Many of them come from conservative Mennonite homes. Their parents won't allow them to be on camera.”

“That's fine. I'd just be talking to you.”

Another look at Reuben. What now? Was everyone in Sanctuary keeping secrets?

“I . . . I guess it would be all right,” she said finally. “Maybe you could come by the school tomorrow?”

“Sounds great. I'll see you then.”

She nodded and walked away without saying good-bye.

“Okay, what gives?” I asked. “Another person with a deep, dark past?”

He smiled. “Let's get some coffee, and I'll tell you about Sarah.”

Once we got to the café, Reuben ordered coffee and urged me to try Randi's coconut macaroon pie. A nut for coconut, I had to say yes. One bite put me into coconut heaven.

“Randi could make a go of it anywhere,” I said after swallowing the first delicious bite. “I'd ask why she lives here, but I'm afraid to.”

He laughed. “Randi isn't in witness protection or anything, if that's what you mean. She just loves Sanctuary. Her mother owned a restaurant in Columbia. When she died, Randi decided to carry on the family tradition, but she didn't want to deal with the stress of running a large establishment. She stumbled upon Sanctuary when she came to see a friend who lives in Farmington. This place was empty and she asked permission to move here. She was welcomed with open arms.”

“So there's at least one person in Sanctuary who isn't living a surreptitious existence?”

Reuben shook his finger at me. “Now you're just making fun of us.”

“Kind of.” I put another bite of pie on my fork. “Now tell me about Sarah.”

The joviality in his expression disappeared. “Sarah's parents were murdered when she was only six. The men who broke into her house missed her and her older sister because they hid in a small storage closet under the stairs.” He frowned. “Her hesitation in talking to you comes from not wanting to be associated with such an awful crime from her past. She doesn't want it to become her identity. Can you understand that?”

I put my fork down. Although I tried to blink back the tears that filled my eyes, I couldn't stop them.

Reuben looked alarmed. “I'm sorry, Wynter. Have I said something to upset you?”

I grabbed a napkin from the table and dabbed at my eyes. I glanced back toward the kitchen. August wasn't there, and I breathed a quick sigh of relief. For some odd reason, I didn't want him to see me cry.

“I completely understand how Sarah feels, Reuben. You see, I'm in the same situation. I have something I need to tell you.” My voice shook, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “I . . . I haven't been completely honest with you. Not since we got into town.” Our eyes met, and the concern I saw there made me feel even guiltier.

“You're not really doing a story about towns in Missouri?” he asked, looking a little confused.

“No. I mean, yes.” I picked up my coffee and drank slowly, trying to gather my thoughts. I put my cup down and tried again. “We
are
doing a story, but I came to Sanctuary because I saw a picture. A picture of Elijah Fisher.”

“Elijah?” He shook his head. “I'm sorry, Wynter. I don't understand.”

Taking one more deep breath, I launched into the entire story. My brother's disappearance, the reason we came to Sanctuary, and everything that had happened since we'd arrived.

“I've been hiding the truth from you,” I said, keeping my voice low so no one else could hear us. “All I can say in my defense is that I had no reason to trust you. Maybe now you can understand why I got so upset when you told me Elijah and his family had left town.”

Reuben just stared at me. I couldn't tell if he was in shock, or if he was trying to process what I'd told him.

“Say something,” I said finally. “I'm praying you'll understand. That you won't hate me.”

“I don't hate you,” he said softly. “But I have to admit I'm not happy about all the lies and secrecy.”

“I know, and I feel terrible about it. I hope you can see why I couldn't just waltz into town and start claiming my kidnapped brother was living here under a different name.”

“Do you really believe Elijah is your brother?”

“That's the problem. I don't know. And I'm not sure how to find out. I have no desire to cause trouble in Sanctuary. Especially since finding out there are people counting on their continued anonymity. I don't want to do something I can't take back. That's why I wanted to talk to Elijah. I'd hoped I could find out the truth before—”

“You called the authorities?”

I nodded. “But then you told me Elijah and his family were gone, and I'm wondering if I made a mistake.”

Reuben was quiet as he studied me. “So what is it you want me to do?” he said finally.

“I want your help, Reuben. Not just to find the truth, but to handle this situation in a way that won't harm anyone. I've—” My nose started to run, and I quickly dabbed at it. “I've started to care about this place. There are good people here. People I don't want to hurt. Telling you the truth is scary. Until this trip, my boss in St. Louis was the only person I'd ever shared my story with. I had to tell Zac, and now I've told you. I don't trust people easily.”

“Well, I'm glad you decided to confide in me.” He ran his hand over his face. “I need time to think. Can we meet for
breakfast and talk again? After I have a chance to process this a little bit?”

I nodded. “But please don't ask me to leave, Reuben. I can't do it.”

He reached out and took my hand. “I won't. My problem is finding a way to balance my responsibilities to Sanctuary against my feelings for you.”