Healing the Boss's Heart (14 page)

“That’s okay, son. I’ll have plenty more errands you can run. Besides, I’ll take care of the reward.”

“Thanks.”

Maya saw the kind, empathetic smile Greg gave the little boy and it brought unshed tears to her eyes. How could so many people believe that that man was anything but tender and compassionate?

It doesn’t matter,
she told herself.
Whatever Greg is or is not has no bearing on my life. It never will.

That conclusion was so disheartening she nearly wept. Their work on her house would be finished soon, except for some interior painting, which she could do alone.

And then it would be time to pay Greg for the supplies he’d ordered and take her leave. Where she would find future employment was another question, one she had been mulling over for some time. There were few jobs in High Plains that paid as well as the one she currently had, but if she couldn’t find a position around there, she could always consider driving to Manhattan to work. That trip didn’t seem nearly as long and arduous now that she’d been making it regularly to visit Jesse’s triplets in the hospital. Such a daily commute was doable, especially once Layla was in school all day.

That won’t be for two more years,
Maya reminded herself.
How are you going to cope with being near Greg for that much longer? You’re already so in love with him you can hardly concentrate on your work, and when he’s present in the office it’s almost impossible.

Boy, was
that
the truth. Maya chanced a sidelong peek at him and found him staring back at her.

“Finish up whatever you’re doing,” Greg said soberly. “I have another job for you.”

“Sure. What?”

“Just one second. We’re almost done here.”

Patiently, kindly, he encouraged Tommy to con
tribute to the text of the newspaper ads, then used a credit card to pay for them.

“Okay. That should do it,” Greg said, getting up and escorting the boy to the door. “I’ll let you know when we get any responses. In the meantime, I want you to go straight home and be really good for Mr. and Mrs. Otis. Understand?”

Wide-eyed, the child looked up at Greg as if he were seeing a superhero. “Uh-huh. Thanks, Mr. Garrison.”

“You’re welcome, Tommy. I was glad to be able to help.”

The boy started to leave, then suddenly dashed back, wrapped his thin arms around Greg and gave him a hug.

In response, Greg ruffled Tommy’s hair, patted him on the back and sent him on his way. When he turned back to Maya, she saw that his eyes were misty.

“I want you to research the foster-care system for Kansas,” Greg told her. “I need to find out what qualifications are necessary to become a foster parent.”

She was thunderstruck. “You
what?
Why?”

“Because Tommy may need a new place to live soon.”

“Really? Why?”

Greg approached Maya’s desk and casually perched a hip on its edge. “He says Mrs. Otis is having more heart problems and he thinks he might have to move again. I figured, if it wasn’t too com
plicated, I might keep him for a while. You know, just till he finds his dog or gets over the loss.”

“You’d do that? For him?”

“Of course I would.”

When Greg reached out and gently patted her hand, Maya froze, barely breathing. They hadn’t talked about anything personal in ages and she had wondered if he was ever going to discuss her so-called sins. This might be the opening she had been waiting for.

“I think that’s wonderful of you,” she said. “Tommy can’t help the situation he’s in any more than my Layla can help being fatherless. It’s not her fault.”

“I never said it was.”

“I know. But your dad…”

“Apologized. I told you that.”

Swiveling her desk chair, she stared at him, incredulous. “No, you didn’t. You said he was sorry for being so outspoken. You never said he accepted me.”

“He doesn’t have to,” Greg answered. “I do.”

“You do? But I thought…”

“That your past bothered me? It does. It’s a good thing you never told me the name of the lowlife who deserted you because if I got a chance to face him, I’d probably be tempted to deck him.”

A lopsided smile began to lift one corner of his mouth. “However, in retrospect, I can see that we both owe the guy a lot. If he’d hung around longer, Layla might not need a daddy.”

Maya was speechless as Greg circled the desk, gently clasped both her hands and urged her to her feet.

“She does, you know.”

“Does what?” Maya managed to squeak out.

“Need a father. I was going to wait a little longer to bring this up but since we’re already on the subject, I’d like to apply for that job.” His grip on her fingers tightened. “If you’ll have me.”

“
Have
you?” Was he serious? Was he asking what she thought he was? Was it possible that all her wildest dreams were coming true? Or was her imagination tricking her with what she’d yearned to hear?

“I can see you’re not totally convinced,” Greg said, sobering but continuing to hold her hands. “That’s okay. Give it some time. Talk to Michael if you think it will help. Once you’re back in your own home it should be easier for me.”

“Easier?” She knew she was starting to sound like a half-witted parrot but she was barely able to speak at all, let alone form sensible replies.

“Yes. Easier. I’m tired of pacing the floor and lecturing myself about not going down the hall to see you when that’s all I can think about.”

“It is?” Maya was positive that her blossoming grin was silly-looking because it was stretched so wide it hurt her cheeks.

“As if you didn’t know.”

“I didn’t.” The tenderness and sincerity in his
eyes helped her finally find her voice. “I really and truly didn’t.”

She sighed deeply, tellingly, before continuing, “All of a sudden you stopped paying as much attention to me as you had been. I was sure you’d written me off after—after you’d found out I’d never been married.”

“Because you fell in love with the wrong person when you were young and impressionable and trusted him too much? No, Maya. If anything, I admire you for staying single to take better care of your little girl. I’d like to help you do that from now on.”

“You—you would?”

“Yes. I love you.”

“I—I love you, too.” Her voice was breathy, almost inaudible, though her heart wanted to shout it from the rooftops.

“Then marry me? Let me be Layla’s daddy.”

“You really want us both?”

“Of course I do.”

A disturbing thought suddenly struck her. “What—what about Tommy?”

“I’d like to include him, too, if you wouldn’t mind too much. If I qualify as a foster parent, that is.”

“Mind? I’d love it. We could even adopt him!”

“Whoa. One thing at a time.” Greg’s smile had returned and he was gazing at her with adoration. “You have to accept my proposal before we consider adopting more kids. Can I take that as a yes?”

Standing on tiptoe she slipped her arms around Greg’s neck and echoed his word, a single, sincere yes, just before she kissed him.

As he held her close and kissed her in return, she marveled at God’s amazing gifts. He had given her more than the simple love she’d yearned for, prayed for. He had given her an entire family. Her life wasn’t over because she’d defied society and had kept her darling Layla. It was just beginning. She could hardly wait.

M
ichael had acted thrilled when Greg had broken the news to him later, particularly because Greg had professed a return to his Christian faith at the same time.

“I wouldn’t want to think you were saying this just for Maya’s sake,” the pastor remarked.

“I’m not. She played a part, of course, but I think I’ve wanted to
come home
for a long time.”

Michael embraced him. “In that case, welcome back.”

“Thanks. So, how’s it going for you?” Greg asked as the cousins shared a late evening stroll along the banks of the river behind the church and parsonage.

“Fine. I may actually survive having a willful fourteen-year-old like Avery living under my roof. I know my sister misses her but we all agree that staying with me is the best way to get the kid straightened out.”

“I wasn’t exactly referring to your niece,” Greg said. He watched Michael’s dark eyebrows arch.

“Oh? Then what? Who?”

“Heather Waters. I heard she’s coming back to town any day now.” The astonishment on Michael’s face made him chuckle. “What? You don’t think I remember?”

“There’s nothing to remember. Heather and I were just friends. There was nothing else between us.”

“Only because she was going to marry your best buddy, not because you weren’t madly in love with her, even after the wedding fell through,” Greg said with a knowing smile.

“That was a long time ago. Situations change. People change.”

“So, there’s no soft spot in your heart for her now?”

Michael’s deep breath and ensuing sigh was telling. “Not exactly.”

Dear Reader,

As you have probably already discovered, this is book number one in a series of six. I wish I could have tied up all the loose ends for you, but if I had, there would have been no more secrets for the following five books and the other authors to reveal!

When I was asked to write about a tornado hitting a small town I had no idea how emotionally taxing it would be for me, living on the fringes of “Tornado Alley” myself and having experienced nearby twisters more than once.

Those of us who know what it’s like to try to cope after such a storm want to offer special thanks and praise to the professional rescuers and the many hardworking volunteers who are always ready to pitch in and do whatever is necessary to help restore order and speed healing. You are truly God’s heart and hands.

I love to hear from readers. The quickest replies are by e-mail, [email protected], or check out my Web site, www.ValerieHansen.com. By regular mail you can reach me at P.O. Box 13, Glencoe, AR 72539.

Blessings,

1. Have you ever lived in a small town like High Plains? If so, was it similar in the way the people related to each other? Why or why not?
   
2. Have you ever experienced being caught in a natural disaster? What was it? How did you cope?
   
3. Do you think it’s normal for some people to react in totally opposite ways to losing possessions, or should they all be unhappy? Why might they not be?
   
4. If a Christian is trusting God, might he or she still question the results of the disaster? Do you think God gets angry if that happens?
   
5. Does it seem unfair that some residents had very little damage while others lost almost everything? Who is wise enough to decide? Are we?
   
6. When Maya and her daughter are reunited, Maya is joyous in spite of the destruction all around her. Why is that logical? Should she try to be more solemn or rejoice as her heart tells her to?
   
7. Greg steps up and offers help as best he can. Since he is more able to do so, isn’t God expecting him to use his gifts for others?
   
8. What about the folks who lost almost everything? Do you think they still gave of whatever they had left? Would you be able to give to others if you’d lost everything? Why or why not?
   
9. High Plains Community Church treated everyone equally, whether they were church members or not. Is that biblical? When did Jesus do the same kind of thing?
   
10. Why do you think so many material possessions were unclaimed after the storm?
    
11. Tradition was important to the people of High Plains. As our cities have grown, we have lost some of that feeling of close community. Is there any way you and I can help restore it no matter where we live?
    
12. The committee to rebuild the old town hall is made up of volunteers, some of whom work harder than others. Is that bad? Suppose everyone didn’t agree and nothing got done because of it?
    
13. Greg eventually comes to understand his taciturn father. Was Maya out of line by speaking so bluntly to the older man? Is “tough love” sometimes best? When would it be wrong? Why?
    
14. Maya is quick to fall in love with Greg. She does plan to get premarital counseling, but is it possible that she was still too influenced by the trauma of the tornado to be positive she’s really in love? Have you ever been sure of love, only to find that you were fooling yourself?
    
15. Only one love is guaranteed—God’s love. Have you ever asked for and received it? If not, why not do so right now? It’s not hard. All you have to do is open your heart to Jesus, ask to become one of God’s children and He will bless you just as he has me.