When Dreams Come True

by Margaret Daley

  “They’re working on it. I think they will during the summer.”

  “That’ll be their first engagement,” Beth said, taking a seat on a lounge chair nearby.

  “I can’t believe Blake didn’t say anything to us.” Dane placed the hamburgers on the grill.

  “He probably wanted to surprise you. We’re looking at the first Sunday after school is out.”

  “I can’t believe, Samuel Morgan, you didn’t say anything to me.” Beth sent a stern look toward her husband.

  “Actually it slipped my mind with all that’s been happening lately.”

  “Yeah, Tom’s death, the break-ins, the arrest of the three boys.” Zoey moved to the love seat across from Beth, stunned at all that had been happening in Sweetwater when she thought back over the past few months. The one thing that had impacted her life the most she hadn’t even listed—Dane’s return.

  “The robberies should stop now since Joey confessed it was them.” Dane flipped the patties over. “I was worried that Clark would get away with them, but that doesn’t look like that will be the case. Since Clark’s seventeen, they’re looking at trying him as an adult. It seems this isn’t the first time he’s been in trouble with the law. He had trouble with the police where he lived before Sweetwater. His father’s influence got him out of it the last time, but I don’t think it’ll work this time.”

  “What’s so sad was that Joey and Adam were dragged into his schemes. I don’t want something like that to happen again in Sweetwater.” Samuel sat on the end of Beth’s lounge chair, taking her hand.

  Turning from the grill, Dane said, “You know, I’ve been thinking about the center. What if we have a youth board to help run the place?”

  Samuel cocked his head to the side and thought a moment. “I like that. There would have to be adult supervision, but it would give the kids a say in how the center is run.”

  “Watch out!” Blake yelled right before the soccer ball landed in the middle of them. He ran up to the deck and grabbed it. “Sorry. We’re practicing headers.”

  “If you want, after dinner I’ll help you and Craig.” Dane began removing the hamburgers from the fire. “But right now it’s time to eat.”

  “Blake, get your sisters. Allie and Craig and you all go in and wash your hands.” Zoey stood to go into the kitchen to bring out the rest of the food.

  “I’ll help,” Beth said, scurrying after Zoey.

  Inside Zoey withdrew the potato salad and coleslaw from the refrigerator. The kids ran through the kitchen.

  “Where are they going?” Beth asked, loading a tray with ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, lettuce and pickles for the hamburgers.

  “To the bathroom.”

  “But there’s a sink right here.”

  “And we’re right here. This way I don’t supervise their less-than-satisfactory method of hand-washing.”

  Beth planted herself in the entrance of the kitchen and forced each one of the children to show her his hands. Mandy and Craig had to go back and redo theirs.

  “I knew there was a reason we’re good friends,” Zoey said with a laugh. “We think alike.”

  “I didn’t want to say anything outside, but—” Beth walked back to the counter to get her tray “—the discussion earlier only confirms in my mind that Dane should head the center. He’d be perfect, especially since he’s had training as a counselor. Is there anyway we can convince him to take the job?”

  “I wish. It would be an answer to one of my prayers.” Zoey lifted first one bowl, then balanced the other on top of it. “I’ve never really understood why he walked away from counseling all those years ago. As usual, my husband is silent on that. If I knew, then maybe I could help.”

  “Some people think they can do everything by themselves, but I learned I couldn’t without the Lord’s help. Maybe Dane will turn to God to guide him.”

  “He’s going to church, which is something I didn’t think I would see. Tomorrow he’s even going by Eddy’s to pick him up.”

  “Good. Eddy has missed attending lately. Do you know what’s going on with the boy?”

  Zoey nodded, managing to open the back door. “But it’s not something I can share. Dane’s determined to help Eddy and maybe in the process the teen can help my husband.”

  Beth sent her a quizzical look.

  “It’ll get Dane involved in Sweetwater. He says we won’t return to Dallas, that he’ll relocate in Kentucky with the DEA, but I’m afraid his wishes won’t prevail. What will I do if I have to choose whether to uproot my family to return to what I had once? I can’t live that life again.”

  Beth stepped out onto the deck. “I’ll pray for you. I wish I could do more.”

  “That’s enough. Thanks, Beth.” Zoey crossed to the table set for dinner and put the bowls in the center as Dane brought the platter of hamburgers.

  For a few seconds Zoey stood back and watched as the children scrambled for their seats, laughter and the scent of grilled meat filling the air. Dane’s gleaming gaze caught hold of hers and her heart skipped a beat. His mouth cocked up in a lopsided grin and warmth flowed through her. Family and friends. What could be better than this? She wanted to freeze this moment in time to cherish later when Dane left for Dallas. Lonely days followed by even lonelier nights were ahead.

  * * *

  Sunday morning Dane picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello.” He looked toward Zoey, who was cleaning up the breakfast dishes, her beauty growing each day he was with her.

  “Mr. Witherspoon, this is Eddy.”

  Dane became alert, his hand grasping the receiver tightly. “Yes?” He could tell something was wrong by the sound in the boy’s voice.

  “I can’t get my dad up.”

  “I’ll be right over.” Dane replaced the phone and snatched up the car keys. “I’ve got to go over to Eddy’s. Something’s wrong. I’ll call you when I know something?”

  “I’ll come with you. Blake can watch—” Zoey’s face fell. “No, he’s at Craig’s. I can’t leave Tara and Mandy by themselves.”

  Dane yanked open the back door. “I know. I’ll call.”

  As he drove to Eddy’s, Dane kept going over in his mind images of him and his dad. His father had been a mean drunk. Thankfully, though, he’d usually drink so much that he passed out after only an hour or so. He could remember trying to wake his dad once, and when he couldn’t, how scared he’d become. His neighbor had come over and finally helped arouse his father from his drunken stupor. But the fear had planted itself every time after that when his dad started drinking until he lost consciousness. Would he wake up this time? What would he and Jacob do if they lost their father, too? But the worse thought had been when he and his brother were hiding from their father until he passed out, the wish that he would lose consciousness so Jacob and he would be safe for another night.

  Dane pulled up into the driveway and rushed up to the front porch. Before he had a chance to knock, Eddy opened the door, worry etched deep into his features.

  “I still can’t get him up. What do I do?”

  “Let me try a few things. If they don’t work, we’ll need to call 911.”

  “911!” Eddy’s eyes grew round, fear chasing away the worry.

  Dane had been there and knew what Eddy was experiencing. He wished he could take it away, but he also knew that he couldn’t. Eddy would always worry about his father and fear that one day he wouldn’t wake up from passing out.

  Dane trailed after Eddy to the den where the smell of alcohol overpowered him, churning his stomach. That very scent always produced that reaction in him.

  Dane pulled the man up from the couch and shook him. “Keith, wake up. Keith!”

  The man’s head lolled to the side, his body limp.

  “See, Mr. Witherspoon?”

  Dane laid him back on the cushion, one of his arms dropping to the floor. “I’ll be right back.”

  Dane went into the kitchen and got a glass of cold water, then headed back to the d
en. “Stand back.” Pouring it onto Keith’s face, he readied himself for the man to come up, startled and possibly hostile.

  Groaning, Eddy’s father batted at an invisible person. Water dripped off him, wetting the cushion and his stained white T-shirt. Dane reached for the man again and brought him up.

  Getting into the man’s face, Dane yelled, “Get up, Keith! Now!”

  Keith’s eyes blinked open as he struggled to get loose of Dane’s grip. “What the—” The man’s mouth dropped, his gaze glued to Dane.

  Dane released Eddy’s father, who fell back against the couch. “Your son was worried when he couldn’t get you up.” Dane glanced at the teen and said, “Go put some coffee on, Eddy, and bring me a large glass of water.”

  “I’m up. I’m up. You—don’t—need—” Keith struggled to push himself to a sitting position.

  “You need to drink some water, dilute some of the liquor in your system,” Dane said as the boy left the room. “Now while Eddy is gone, I have a few things to say to you. You have a choice, Keith. You can either continue to drink and probably kill yourself or someone else in the process, or you can get help. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to your son? He covers for you and tries to take care of you. He isn’t the parent in this situation, but you’re forcing him to be. He needs you. He’s been in trouble and I doubt you know anything about it.”

  “Trou-ble? Ed-dy?” Keith labored over each syllable. “I don’t—under-stand.”

  “Didn’t you wonder how Eddy hurt himself a week ago? Or, did you even notice?” The man’s frown prompted Dane to add, “Your son was thrown from a moving truck by some boys who’ve been trying to get him to do things that are illegal.”

  Keith slowly swung his legs to the floor, dropped his head into his hands and groaned. “I didn’t know.”

  “That’s not a surprise. I doubt you’ve been aware of anything going on lately.”

  Keith’s shoulders hunched even more as if the man was trying to curl into a tight ball. “I can’t—think.”

  “Your son needs help from his father, not added problems. So what are you gonna do about this?” Dane glared down at Keith, his hands flexed at his sides, his body taut with tension. In his mind he saw his dad when he’d aroused himself from a drunken stupor. He’d been all contrite, apologizing for his behavior until the next time.

  Eddy’s father lifted his head and looked at Dane. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “You can start by going to AA. There’s a group that meets at Sweetwater Community Church on Monday nights. You need help. It’s hard to lick this problem without it. But you have to want that help or it won’t work.”

  “I’ll think—” The sound of Eddy’s footsteps approaching silenced Keith’s reply.

  Dane leaned close and whispered, “Think long and hard what you want to be for your son.”

  “I’ve got the coffee on. Here’s the water, Dad.”

  Keith wrinkled his nose as though the liquid were offensive to him.

  “Drink it, Keith.”

  The man took the glass Eddy held out and sipped the liquid. The scent of coffee brewing permeated the room, tangling with the smells of alcohol. Keith finally finished the water and set the glass down on the table next to the couch.

  “Mr. Witherspoon, I’d better not go with you to church this morning.”

  Keith struggled to his feet, paused a few seconds to get his bearing, then started for the kitchen. “Son, go. I’ll be okay. I’m gonna drink that whole pot of coffee, then clean up.”

  “But, Dad, you—”

  Keith turned in the entrance into the kitchen and said, “What I need is to see you attending church again.” He shuffled toward the stove where the coffeepot was. “Mr. Witherspoon, please take him.”

  Dane nodded.

  Eddy stared at his father for a long moment, watching him pour a mug full of the hot brew then ease down at the table to drink his coffee, slouching over the wooden surface. “Okay, Dad, if you’re sure.”

  His father waved him away. “I’m sure.”

  Eddy darted for the door, saying, “I can get ready in five minutes.”

  The sound of his footsteps pounding up the stairs echoed through the house. Keith winced at the noise and brought the mug to his lips.

  “Want any?” the man asked between sips.

  “No, thanks. All I want is for you to go to the AA meeting. At least check it out. Your son needs you sober.”

  “He’s got you,” Keith mumbled into the mug.

  “No one can replace a father in a boy’s life.”

  Keith shifted his bloodshot gaze to Dane. “You sound like you speak from experience.”

  Relieved to hear Eddy coming down the stairs, Dane didn’t answer the man. “I’ll bring your son home after church. That should give you time to clean yourself up.”

  Frowning, Keith drank some more of his coffee and looked down as though the surface of the table was the most interesting object he had seen.

  Dane met Eddy at the entrance into the kitchen. “We need to go and pick up my family.”

  Outside on the porch Dane took a deep breath of fresh air, the churning in his stomach settling down. The smell had brought back bad memories of dealing with his own father. His heart went out to Eddy and he hoped he could be there for the teen, even if his dad wasn’t.

  “Do you think he’ll be okay?” Eddy asked as they walked toward the minivan.

  “Yes.” He’d seen it with his own father. Remorse would last a while, then the drinking pattern would start all over—unless Keith got help.

  Eddy climbed into the passenger seat. “I don’t know. Dad was really upset about something at work.”

  “He has to figure out on his own that drinking won’t solve the problem, that it’ll actually make it worse.”

  “How?”

  “I suggested he go to AA at the church on Monday night.”

  Eddy shook his head. “He won’t. He doesn’t want anyone to know. That’s why he drinks at home, not at bars. I think he’s afraid he’ll lose his job.”

  “People know. They always find out eventually, especially in a small town.” Dane backed out of the driveway and headed toward his house.

  “Except for you and your wife, I haven’t told a soul.”

  “When a person has a drinking problem, it starts showing up in other areas of their life. You said yourself that he didn’t go to work for a few days a couple of weeks ago because of the drinking.”

  “How do you know so much?”

  “Because I’ve been there with my own dad.” The words came out slowly. They had been buried deep inside for so long, but as with Zoey, telling Eddy felt right.

  “He drank?”

  “Yes, every night when he would get home from work for years. And like you, I didn’t know what to do about it. I wanted to help him, but he wouldn’t let me. I felt so helpless watching my dad kill himself with each drink he downed.”

  “Is he alive?”

  “No, he died from a heart attack.”

  “He wouldn’t go to AA?”

  “Nope. Didn’t think he had a problem.”

  “Do you think Dad will go?”

  Dane glanced at Eddy. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

  “What do I do if he doesn’t?”

  “Get help for yourself.”

  “But I don’t have the problem.”

  “You’re living with an alcoholic. That’s a problem you’ll need to learn to deal with. There are groups to support the family members of an alcoholic. Join one even if your father doesn’t go to AA.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Dane parked in his driveway and twisted toward Eddy. “You need to take care of yourself, but you aren’t alone. I’ll help anyway I can.”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Because no one helped me. I don’t want you to go through what I did.” He thought of the people in his town who had turned a blind eye to what was happening in his life. He wasn�
��t going to let that happen to Eddy.

  The teen lowered his gaze, fidgeting with the handle. “Thanks for not telling anyone I warned you about the break-in.”

  “I did tell my wife, but she won’t say anything. I don’t want there to be any problems because you did.”

  “I haven’t seen Clark since he was taken in. Do you think he’ll figure it out?”

  “He thinks I just came home early. There isn’t any reason for him to think otherwise. He’s more concerned about Joey and Adam’s confessions.”

  Zoey and the children appeared on the porch. Mandy raced toward the van while his wife locked the front door. Blake took Tara’s hand and walked her out to the vehicle with Zoey following.

  “I don’t understand how Joey and Adam let Clark talk them into robbing those houses. They’ve always been a bit wild, but they’ve never done anything like that.” Eddy climbed out and moved to the backseat while the children piled into the vehicle.

  When Zoey was settled in the front, Dane said, “You’ll find, Eddy, in life there are leaders and there are followers. Joey and Adam are followers who didn’t use good judgment on who to follow. What you have to decide is what type of person you want to be, a leader or a follower.”

  “Daddy, I like to play follow the leader.” Mandy squirmed in the seat between Blake and Eddy.

  “That’s a fun game. Maybe we can play it when we get home from church.” Dane slid a look toward Zoey.

  Her smile warmed him, chasing away some of the coldness about his heart. While Blake asked Eddy a question about high school, Dane slipped his hand toward Zoey’s and squeezed it. The connection made the painful memories fade. She’d always been his ray of hope in a world filled with ugliness. But had he ever given her what she needed? He was afraid of that answer.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Her face flushed, Zoey rushed into the house, the back door slamming shut behind her. “Sorry, I’m late. Mom started talking and time just slipped away. I’ll be dressed in five minutes.”

  Dane watched his wife, not breaking a stride, hurry out of the kitchen. He finished drinking his fifth cup of coffee that day and put the mug into the sink. This time tomorrow he would be in Dallas, trying to decide what to do with his life, his career. And he didn’t have an answer.