by Jenna Mindel
Nick glanced at Beth. “You could have let me stay.”
Beth’s pretty mouth opened but nothing came out for a second or two. “I did, but you said you were on duty.”
“After you shoved me out the door.” Nick gave her a playful wink. He looked around for the dog. “Where’s Peanut?”
“In here on the couch in the living room sleeping.” Mary looked up from knitting or whatever it was she was doing with yarn. “I think she’s close to puppy time, poor thing.”
“I’ve got the next two days off, so hopefully, they’ll come then.” He looked at his son. “Ready, Corey?”
“Aren’t you going to eat dinner?” Corey looked confused as he glanced back and forth between them.
Did his boy notice the awkwardness between them? Probably.
Since the wedding, Nick hadn’t been around much. Sunday, Susan’s parents had called. They’d driven up to visit Corey and “inspect” their new house. They’d been pleased with what they’d seen, but Nick thought they might have been a little hurt from Corey’s constant chatter about Miss Ryken.
Nick had explained only that she was Corey’s teacher and tutor, but they saw through that. They knew Beth was someone special and not only to his boy.
The past couple of nights when he’d picked up Corey, Nick hadn’t stayed. Mary had given him foil-covered plates as she used to. All because Nick could barely stand being in the same room with Beth and not pulling her close.
He was falling pretty hard.
“I don’t know, bud.” He looked at Beth. Did she want him to stay?
She’d been in a hurry for him to leave her class this morning. She’d been rattled pretty good by her students’ questions, too. He could tell. What would she do if she saw the old bullet wound on his shoulder or the knife stab in his lower back?
“Mom made spaghetti,” she said. “And it’s best served straight from the pot.”
He thought spaghetti tasted better reheated, but then, his had always come from a store-bought jar. “I’ll stay.”
“Corey, how about a game of Battleship?” Mary peered over her glasses at him. “You two go ahead. We’ve eaten.”
His son jumped at the chance to play his favorite game, and Nick knew a setup when he saw it. He didn’t mind. He gave Mary a grateful nod and followed Beth into the kitchen.
Silently, he washed his hands at the sink while Beth served up plates and set them on the table.
“What do you want to drink? Milk, water or pop?”
He sat down and sprinkled cheese atop his pasta and sauce, which smelled better than anything he’d ever made. “Water’s fine.”
Beth brought two iced glasses of water and sat down.
He took her hand and bowed his head. “Thank You, Lord, for this food, and show us that there’s nothing to fear in You. Amen.”
Beth slipped her hand from his. “Nice.”
He didn’t miss her sarcasm. “You fear what I do, but I’m in God’s hands every day. You are, too. And Corey. Your mom.”
“What about my dad?”
“He was, too.” Nick took a bite of spaghetti and closed his eyes. “This is good.”
Beth nodded. “My mom’s got skills.”
He chuckled. Beth did, too. She’d taught his son to read, to laugh again and show his love. For that Nick would always be grateful.
He sighed. “I don’t have the answer why your dad was killed. I don’t know why Susan had the troubles she did or why it all ended wrapped around a tree one night. All I know is that we’re not meant to live in fear.”
Beth nodded and they ate in silence.
“You’ve been shot before, haven’t you?” Beth whispered.
He nodded around another mouthful. “Yeah.”
Beth closed her eyes tight.
He kept his voice low so Corey wouldn’t hear. “It was a random bullet during a domestic dispute. I got in the way.”
“And that’s supposed to make it okay?” Beth’s eyes went wide. “Does Corey know?”
Nick shook his head. “When he’s older, I’ll tell him like my dad told me.”
Beth looked at him. “Is your dad alive?”
“No—”
She pushed her plate aside and gripped her forehead. “And now you’ve got another Grey who wants to join the force.”
“My father died from cancer.”
“Oh.”
He reclaimed her hand. “Beth, life’s fleeting. We’re not supposed to get too comfy down here, right? We’ve got to make our days count for as many as God gives us. Count yours with me.” He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. “And Corey.”
She didn’t look convinced, but Nick had made a dent in her resolve. There was no need to rush things. He’d pleaded his case. He’d give Beth some space for it to sink in.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Now, tell me about this sailing trip.”
“Well, it’s fun, and the boat is really nice with a cabin and galley. Gerry’s a good sailor. He’s been sailing all his life.”
“We’ll be gone all day?”
Beth nodded. “You’ll need swimwear, sunscreen and something warm to slip on in case it gets cool.”
Nick nodded. “Where are we going again?”
“South Manitou Island. You’ll love it.”
He’d love spending the day with Beth on a beach. But sailing? He’d never been a big fan. Seemed like too much work.
“After school’s out?” He’d know by then if Corey had legitimately passed second-grade reading. He didn’t want to force advancement to the third, but he would if he had to. Corey needed to move forward, not step back.
“The weekend right before.”
“Something to look forward to, then.”
Chapter Eleven
Beth couldn’t sit still while Corey read. She paced her classroom, listening and not listening. Her mind wandered to thoughts of Nick.
They were all in God’s hands.
She knew that on an intellectual level, but deep down did she really? Did she trust God with what she couldn’t control—her future? She sighed.
“Something wrong, Miss Ryken? Did I miss a word?” the boy asked.
She looked into gray eyes that were so like his father’s. “Oh, no. You’re doing very well. I think we can call it a day.”
Her cell phone rang and she grabbed it on the third ring. It was Nick. “Hello?”
“Hey, can you bring Corey home? Peanut’s water broke, so I don’t want to leave her alone.” Nick sounded nervous.
Beth smiled. “We’re on our way. Need anything?”
“Just you, here. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Beth let loose a soft laugh even as his words gave her butterflies. “Don’t worry, Peanut knows what to do. See you in a few.”
At the mention of the dog’s name, Corey stopped shoving books into his backpack. “What’s wrong with Peanut?”
“It’s puppy time. Let’s go.”
Corey grinned and scrambled for the door.
Beth hurried right behind him.
She tapped her mom’s name in her phone and then cradled it against her ear. “Hey. Peanut’s water broke, so I’m taking Corey home. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
Her mom laughed. “Take your time, honey. This is so exciting. Let me know what she has, okay?”
“Will do.” Beth disconnected. Stuffing the phone back in her purse, she opened the car door for Corey.
He threw his backpack inside before climbing into his backseat booster chair.
“Buckled?” Beth checked before slipping in behind the wheel.
“Yup.”
She pulled out of the parking lot and headed for Nick’s. It didn’t
take long. Once there, Beth and Corey raced through the side door that led from the laundry room to the kitchen.
“Nick?” Beth called out to let him know they were there.
He sat at the kitchen table with messy hair. His feet were bare beneath loose cotton pants and a T-shirt. He looked up, relieved. “She keeps pacing.”
Beth watched Peanut. Sure enough, the little dog panted and paced. She scratched at the bedding on the floor in the kitchen and lay down only to get back up again.
Corey sat on the linoleum floor and the dog crawled into his lap and settled down. But only for a few moments. She got back up and paced some more.
Beth looked at the huge pile of bedding. Afternoon sunshine streamed in through the sliding glass door onto the blankets. Peanut loved to lie in the sun, but maybe not today. Not now. “We should set her bed in a quieter place. What about your room?”
Nick scrunched his face. “I’ve got carpet.”
“Do you have a kiddie pool?”
Corey bounced up. “It’s in the garage.”
“We’ll make up a bed for her in the pool in your room and close the blinds. I think she needs quiet.”
They got busy getting the pool down from the garage rafters, cleaned it thoroughly and then set everything up in Nick’s room.
Beth drew the blinds while Nick carried Peanut in followed by Corey.
Beth checked her watch. It was getting close to dinnertime. “Maybe if we leave her alone for a bit, things will start moving.”
“And we’ll have puppies?” Corey asked.
Nick tousled his boy’s hair. “That’s the plan.”
“Got plans for dinner? I can make something quick,” Beth offered. Corey had to be hungry.
“How’s frozen pizza sound?”
Beth glanced at Corey, who was inching down the hallway to peek into Nick’s room. “Sounds perfect. I’ll make a salad, too, if you have the stuff.”
“I do.” Nick spotted Corey, too. “Come on, bud. Give Peanut some space.”
Half an hour later, Beth finished slicing veggies for a salad while the pizza baked in the oven. Corey was in Nick’s room checking on Peanut, but there was still no hint of puppies. Nick was scanning the internet for information on dog deliveries when the oven timer sounded.
Beth turned off the oven and set the bowl of salad on the table. “Find anything?”
Nick’s face looked grim. “Lots of stuff.”
Beth walked over to stand behind him. “Like what?”
“Puppies are supposed to be born within minutes of a dog’s water breaking.”
Beth leaned over Nick’s shoulder to read the website page, and dread filled her. “How long has it been?”
“Too long.” Nick pointed to the screen. “Says here that after two hours call the vet.”
Beth chewed her bottom lip. It had been at least that long since Nick had called her at school. “Corey should eat something. I’ll have him wash up while you call your vet.”
Nick nodded.
Beth headed down the hall and peered through the door to Nick’s room. Corey lay on the floor and stroked the little dog’s head. Peanut appeared calm. No more panting or pacing. No sign of puppies coming, either.
She could hear Nick’s muffled voice as he talked on the phone. “Corey, it’s time for dinner. You need to wash up.”
“Okay.” The boy dashed for the bathroom.
Beth knelt beside the kiddie pool in the corner of Nick’s darkened room. A heavy-laden Peanut looked so small amid a swirl of blankets in that big blue plastic circle.
“How is she?” Nick knelt next to her and scratched beneath the dog’s chin.
“Calm as can be. What did the vet say?”
Nick’s eyes looked worried. “He’ll meet us at his office in half an hour.”
“Did he say anything else?”
“Only that time’s not on our side.”
Beth closed her eyes. That didn’t sound good. Not good at all.
* * *
Nick glanced at Corey through the rearview mirror. His boy sat in the backseat with Beth. Peanut lay on a couple towels in Beth’s lap and nudged under her hand for more pats. The dog acted as if nothing was wrong. He knew better. He’d read the online articles.
“Is Peanut going to die?” Corey’s eyes were grave.
Nick wanted to lie, say everything would be fine and erase that crease of worry in his son’s forehead. “I don’t know, son. Let’s pray that she doesn’t.”
Corey nodded. “We prayed for Mom.”
“I know.” Nick’s stomach turned.
He glanced at Beth through the mirror. Her eyes watered as she looked back.
Nick and his son had prayed in the emergency waiting room the day of Susan’s accident. Along with her parents, they’d all prayed. Susan had still died. How did he explain why to a seven-year-old?
“Take my hand, Corey.” Beth’s voice sounded thin. “Dear Lord, please touch our little Peanut and her pups. Bring her through this. Amen.”
“Amen,” Corey echoed.
Nick kept praying, though, begging God not to take his boy’s dog. Wasn’t losing his mother enough?
He glanced again at Beth. She felt like an anchor here. Calm in the face of the storm ahead. Her eyes were closed and she held Corey’s hand. Both petted the dog, but Beth continued to pray. Silently. He could see her lips move.
They pulled into the veterinarian’s office and Nick shut off the engine. Corey was already out of his booster chair and tearing around the other side of the car reaching for Peanut.
“I’ve got her, bud.” Nick lifted the little dog from Beth and held her close. Peanut nuzzled under his chin and Nick patted the dog’s back.
His eyes burned. It had to be okay.
Beth got out and Corey reached for her hand. She took it and the two walked into the vet’s ahead of him.
Please, God. Let Peanut live.
* * *
“It’s going to be okay, Corey.” Beth wrapped her arms around a very worried little boy.
He melted into her embrace.
They sat on the same vinyl-covered bench in the lobby where they’d been given the bad news. Corey had heard it right along with her and Nick, and the boy’s eyes had gone wide as marbles. A no-nonsense kind of man in his sixties, the country vet didn’t mince words. Peanut’s contractions had stopped, and while she was not distressed, her puppies’ heartbeats were tragically low. Much lower than what he liked for a C-section. Lower than those of puppies expected to live.
After hearing their options, Nick wanted to try the shots that should induce labor. So they waited. And waited.
The office loomed silent. Even the dogs in the back that had been barking quieted down. An exotic bird in a cage behind the desk nodded off, too. No more swaying from foot to foot. Could animals tell when one of their own was in trouble? The silence lingered, interrupted only by the tick-tick of the giant clock over the doorway.
Beth let her head fall back against the wall. Corey had curled up on the bench and his head rested in her lap. She ran her fingers through the kid’s hair. So much for staying in teacher mode. Beth had moved right into comforter.
Like a mom.
“I’ll be right back.” Nick stood and exited the office.
“Where’s he going?” Corey asked.
“I don’t know.” Beth watched Nick on his phone as he paced outside in front of the plate-glass window. Who was he calling?
After a few minutes, Nick stepped back inside. He crouched down in front of Corey. “I called the pastor, bud. We’ve got the church praying for Peanut.”
Corey lifted his head and gave his dad a brave smile.
And Beth’s heart broke.
A gut-wrenching so
und suddenly came from the back, making the hairs on her arms rise.
The dogs started barking again and the bird fluttered against its cage and squawked.
Beth looked at Nick. “Was that Peanut?”
“It must be.”
Corey sat up with wide eyes and a white face.
She didn’t remember her Lab screaming when she delivered her puppies. What if these puppies were too big to come out?
Beth pulled Corey close. Whether to soothe the boy’s fear or her own, she wasn’t sure. “It’s okay, Corey. Keep praying. God’s with us. He’s always with us.”
“How do you know?” His seven-year-old voice was raw.
She brushed back his bangs. “Because the Bible tells us so. And so does your dad.”
“She’s right, bud.” Nick wrapped his arms around them both and hung on.
This was what families did. They clung to each other in times of trouble. Beth closed her eyes and kept praying.
Fifteen minutes later, the vet came out with a big smile on his face. “Mr. Grey, we’ve got our first puppy and it’s alive. Shocked my socks off. Born back feet first. I had to help pull the pup out. Little thing was clogging up the whole process. Come on back. I think you’re in for a treat.”
Corey jumped up.
He and Nick followed the vet. But then Nick turned. “Are you coming?”
Beth shook her head. Peanut was their dog. This was a moment Nick should have with his son. She needed the distance. “You two go ahead.”
Nick stared a moment longer.
Corey peeked around the corner and pulled on Nick’s hand. “Come on, Dad.”
Beth smiled. “Go ahead. I have an e-reader in my purse and I need to call my mom. I’ll be fine.”
Nick disappeared with his boy and all was quiet again, save for the murmurs of him and Corey and the vet in the next room and the occasional yip from the dogs boarded in back. No more screaming from Peanut.
Beth slumped in her seat, her stomach a mess of knots that wouldn’t loosen. “Thank You, Lord.”
Another half hour passed and the vet came out to get her. “They’d like you to come back. Peanut’s doing great.”
Beth took a deep breath and let it out with a whoosh. Grabbing her purse, she followed the vet into the dimly lit examining room. Peanut lay on several towels on the floor with three squirming little puppies around her. A heat lamp had been turned on overhead, warming the entire area.
