Following the Sparrows

by Karen Malley

  She gave up on the idea of going back to sleep. She splashed cold water on her face and changed into her running gear. If anything would clear her head this morning, it would be a good long run along the river.

  It was warm for March in Pennsylvania. Crocuses sprouted everywhere along the footpath. As the sun peeked out over the horizon, reds and oranges streaked the clouds. Susan picked up the pace as she admired the Lord’s handiwork.

  A few hours later, after fixing Mrs. Fulton’s drip, Susan was back in the part of the job she loved. New tenants were moving in at the end of the month, and she had an apartment to get ready. The previous resident left in a hurry. Mr. Colton said he got a job in another state, and he packed up quickly. She was sorry to see him go, but he hadn’t been there long. Matter of fact, she didn’t even have any contact information for him. That was strange. In fact, the whole thing was strange. He kept to himself and always paid the rent in cash.

  She busied herself with the usual chores that came with turning over apartments. This would be an easy task, since there weren’t many signs Mr. Colton ever used the place. Her most important task was still ahead of her. She bowed her head.

  “Father, thank You for this apartment. Please help me to prepare it for the people who will live here. Please help this to be a place of peace and safety, a place where the tenants will grow closer to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  Susan’s residents were part of her family. She loved taking care of things for them, as long as it was during normal business hours. Sure, the occasional broken water heater in the middle of the night was a challenge, but it was all part of the job. The job of giving people a home. For the most part, everyone was friendly. She did her best to give them all smiles when they passed in the hallway and made sure everything ran smoothly.

  She thought back again to Mr. Colton, the one tenant she never got to know. He had been there four or five months. Normally the apartments were rented with a one-year lease, but when he offered to pay out the rest of the year and leave early, who was she to complain? The few times she ran into him, he was wearing expensive clothes, and his car was a step up from the rest in the parking lot, so she supposed he could afford it.

  She worked on getting the apartment spic and span, and opened the door to the maintenance closet to give the hot water heater a once-over. She blinked in surprise at a briefcase wedged in next to the heater. That was strange. Usually no one ever opened that closet. True, she found interesting items left behind over the years, but this was out of the ordinary.

  She slid the briefcase out of the closet, and her eyes widened at the envelope taped to the top. The envelope with Ms. Montgomery written in bold type across the front. What in the world? She started to open the envelope when her cell phone rang. She was about to ignore what was surely another minor problem of Mrs. Fulton’s, but her sense of duty won out.

  Susan could barely make out what Claire was saying between sobs.

  “…found the test…told my mom…ran out…”

  “Claire, calm down. Where are you?” Susan asked.

  Claire sniffed. “County Park. I ran out when my mom started screaming.”

  “Tell me again what happened.”

  “The cleaning lady found the pregnancy test when she emptied my trash can. She showed it to Mom, who was waiting by the front door when I came home. She asked me if I recognized it, all calm-like, and when I told her it was mine, she hit the roof. I had to get out of there. I’m sure she’s called Dad by now.”

  “OK, I’m coming. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Susan shoved the briefcase back into the closet. It could wait.

  She parked the car and walked the path to the playground. She and Claire had spent countless hours there. She knew exactly where to find her. Sure enough, there she was, perched on a swing, her feet dragging in the mulch. Susan’s head flooded with memories. Pushing Claire as a toddler in the baby swings, competing with elementary-age Claire to see who could swing the highest, jumping off the swings with her in middle school…

  “We haven’t been here in a while.” Susan took the swing beside Claire. “I bet I can swing higher than you.” She pumped her legs out.

  “I’m not a little kid, anymore, Aunt Susan.” But Claire started pumping her own swing in time with Susan’s.

  The two soared in the air for a few minutes, their red curls streaming out behind them. Emily had dignified straight blonde hair, but Susan inherited their dad’s hair. He had been a bear of a man, with a thick red beard. When little Claire’s hair started coming in fire-engine red, Susan was secretly pleased. Emily wanted the baby to be blonde, but Claire’s hair was as bright as Susan’s own.

  After a few minutes, Claire stopped swinging and dragged her feet in the mulch again.

  “Thanks. I needed that.”

  “Now what, Claire-bear?”

  “Now I need to talk to Jake. He’s meeting me here after basketball practice. I wanted you nearby. Is that OK?” Claire asked.

  “No problem. Isn’t that him coming now?”

  Claire shaded her eyes with her hands. “Yeah. Will you wait for me?”

  Susan nodded.

  Claire went over to meet Jake. He was a senior this year, and would be leaving for college in the fall. Claire was a junior, and the two had been dating a little over a year. What would this do to their relationship? Would they stay together even if Jake wasn’t leaving at the end of the summer?

  Jake strolled toward Claire, his thumbs hooked into his pockets. He gave her a grin that set off the obvious admiration in his eyes. Susan fought a pang of jealousy. Would anyone ever admire her like that?

  As the two met, Jake gave Claire a kiss, but she pulled back. She took his hand and led him to the picnic tables, where she sat opposite him.

  It was clear when Claire dropped the bomb. Jake stood from the table, removed his ball cap, and ran his fingers through his hair. He started pacing.

  Claire stayed on the picnic bench.

  After a few minutes, Jake returned to the picnic table and took Claire’s hands in his.

  Tears filled Susan’s eyes. This was a good kid.

  They talked a while longer, and the two teens drifted to the swings, hand in hand.

  Claire’s eyes glistened with tears, but a weight had been lifted. Jake would walk this road with her. Susan couldn’t have been prouder of the kid. As they got closer, Susan saw the worry clouding Jake’s dark eyes, but he remained calm. His dark eyes… Yes, of course. That’s who Mac reminded her of. Jake had the same eyes. No wonder Claire thought he was handsome. She stood up from the swings. “Hi, Jake, it’s good to see you again.”

  “You, too, Miss Montgomery.”

  “You’re taking the news better than Claire expected.”

  Jake shrugged. “I love Claire. I told her I would support her, whatever she decided.”

  “That’s great, Jake. I always knew you were a good kid.”

  Claire blushed. “OK, come on, you guys. I don’t know what I’ll do yet, but I’m glad you’re on my side.” She gave Jake a shy smile, then something steeled in her expression. “Jake’s taking me home now. We’ll talk to Mom and Dad together.”

  Susan raised her eyebrows. “Wow, Jake. You’re braver than I’ve given you credit for.”

  “Claire’s worth fighting for,” he said.

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