Into the Wilderness

by Traci DePree

  “Deputy Spencer called here,” Eli said.

  “What did he say?”

  “He wanted to get statements from you and Rebecca. I asked him what the one Sacco brother had to say.”

  “Did he confess?”

  “No, but there’s no doubt that they came for Rebecca’s ring. When it wasn’t at the house, they decided that Marcus had taken it.” Then he paused and added, “Are you going to press charges against Marcus?”

  “I don’t want to even think about that right now,” Kate said. “We just want him to live. He’s been through enough this week.”

  “How’s Rebecca holding up?” Eli asked.

  “She’s okay.”

  She heard the pause in his response, as if he’d hoped to hear more about her. “Well,” he said. “Let me know when you hear more about Marcus, okay? I’ll tell Paul as soon as he wakes up.”

  Shortly after Kate made her way back to the waiting room, a doctor brought news about Marcus. “He has a broken arm, but he’s breathing on his own now and his heart is beating okay. He’ll be in the ICU for a while. We’re working to bring up his core temperature and rehydrate him. But since he’s still unconscious, we don’t know the extent of damage to his organs.”

  A nurse escorted MaryAnne up to ICU to sit with her brother. When she returned, she gave Kate and Rebecca the number of Marcus’ room.

  They took the elevator to the ICU floor and slowly entered the room. Kate nodded to the nurse who was attending to him. The woman adjusted the fluids in his IV, placed his chart back on its hook, turned the lights to a more relaxed setting, and left.

  Rebecca pulled a chair alongside the bed and gazed at him. His sunken eyes were closed and rimmed in dark circles, but some of the color had returned to his cheeks. He looked thin, very thin. Rebecca touched one of his hands lightly, as if not wanting to disturb him. His other arm was in a sling, and heated blankets surrounded him. Rebecca glanced up at the monitor that kept rhythm with his heart. From what Kate could tell, it seemed like a strong heartbeat, though she was hardly a medical expert. She was thankful to see the rise and fall of his chest.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Kate heard the door open and turned her head as the doctor entered the room. His name tag read “Dr. McCoy.”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said. He picked up the file and looked through it.

  The white-haired man gazed at Marcus thoughtfully and said, “You’re lucky he’s still here. If you’d found him any later—”

  “When do you think he’ll wake up?” Rebecca asked.

  “Hard to tell, though I don’t expect it will be long now. He’s had four bags of fluids, and his temp is close to normal.” He smiled kindly, then took out his otoscope and looked into Marcus’ eyes and ears. Next he listened to Marcus’ heart and lungs with his stethoscope. He also looked at the IV bags that hung from the tree-on-wheels alongside the bed, then wrote something on the chart.

  “Are you the girlfriend?” The doctor smiled at Rebecca.

  “Well, I...” Rebecca began to reply, but then said, “No.”

  When their fifteen minutes were up, they returned to the waiting room, and MaryAnne went back to ICU to sit with Marcus a little while longer.

  Kate put an arm around her daughter’s shoulders as they walked outside for a little fresh air. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

  Rebecca was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. Then she said, “I was thinking of the first time I met Marcus. That gorgeous smile, those hazel eyes that pulled me in. He could melt my heart.” She shook her head, then went on. “Then I started asking myself all these questions. Why hadn’t he confided in me? Why hadn’t he been able to tell me about what was going on? And, of course, the most difficult question of all: did I ever know the real Marcus?”

  They stood outside as the quiet of evening was just descending. The setting sun had left a trail of gold along the horizon.

  “Did he lie when he told me he loved me? Not that that even matters anymore. What kind of love was it anyway if it was based on lies?” She shook her head, and Kate waited for her to go on.

  “And then I thought about Eli. He isn’t as handsome as Marcus is, but he’s a solid, wonderful person. His faith in God pours out of him naturally...Marcus is always so reluctant to talk about God.”

  She looked her mother in the eyes, then she laughed. “I can even hear your voice echoing in my head. I’ve been so blind, Mom. Marcus wasn’t the only one fooling me. I’ve been fooling myself all this time.”

  As Kate listened to her daughter, a deep joy welled up inside her.

  KATE AND REBECCA had rented a car and were just settling into their motel room when Kate’s cell phone rang.

  “Hello? Mrs. Hanlon?” MaryAnne said when Kate picked it up.

  “Hi, MaryAnne,” Kate said. “Is everything all right?”

  “The ICU nurses’ station called,” she said. “Marcus just woke up.”

  Kate gasped and turned to Rebecca. She thanked MaryAnne and promised her that they’d be right there.

  “What is it?” Rebecca asked.

  “Marcus is awake.” She picked up her handbag and car keys from the dresser.

  “I’m scared, Mom,” Rebecca confessed as they hurried to their rental car. “So much has changed in the past week.”

  “Everything’s going to be okay,” Kate assured her.

  KATE REACHED for her daughter’s hand as they waited for the elevator to take them to the ICU floor. When they reached the floor, the doors opened, and they made their way to Marcus’ room.

  He was sitting up with MaryAnne beside him. His eyes were sunken orbs, and he was so thin and frail looking. Rebecca rushed to him, and he reached for her with his good arm.

  “I was so worried!” she cried.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry. It was all my fault. Did you find your dad?”

  Rebecca wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “Two days ago. That’s how we knew you’d been kidnapped...” She let the sentence fall away.

  Kate went to stand with MaryAnne, not wanting to intrude, yet knowing that her daughter needed her support.

  Marcus’ lower lip began to tremble, and his body shook as the terror of it all seemed to come over him. “I’ve been an idiot,” he confessed. “I thought I was protecting you, but I just made things worse. And your dad...He was so kind to me, and what did he get in return?”

  He raised his eyes to Rebecca’s. She reached for a tissue and wiped his tears.

  “I thought I could beat this...gambling addiction.” He said the words with disdain. “But it’s only gotten worse.”

  He turned to Kate, a look of gratitude in his eyes.

  “I would’ve died without your husband. You need to know that, Mrs. Hanlon. I flipped out. I was so paranoid, I just started to run. But he tracked me down and got me food and water. He even bandaged my arm after I fell and broke it.” He held up the cast-encased limb. “And then he left to get help...I was so weak...And then they came for me...And I couldn’t run...”

  “You need to calm down.” Rebecca tenderly touched his cheek, and Marcus’ eyes darted to the door. “It’s over now, Marcus. The Sacco brothers are in jail.”

  “They are?”

  “The police caught up with them earlier today. First they came to Mom and Dad’s house on Sunday asking about you, and then they showed up at the park, posing as members of the search-and-rescue team.”

  “Oh, Mrs. Hanlon,” Marcus said. “I’m so sorry I brought all this trouble into your lives. It was my own stupidity. But I want to change,” he continued. “Your husband convinced me that I can change.” Then he turned to Rebecca.

  Rebecca placed her face in her hands and took a deep breath. Kate could tell she was trying to compose herself.

  “I don’t know, Marcus. You lied to me,” she said. “You didn’t even tell me your real name. I don’t know what’s true and what isn’t anymore.”

  “Marcus is my name,”
he said. “I changed it when I moved to New York. It’s my stage name, but I did have it legally changed from Mack to Marcus. I was just so ashamed of the gambling. I thought if I could get it under control, I wouldn’t have to tell you about it, because it would be in the past.”

  “But it’s not in the past, is it, Marcus?” Her voice broke.

  “I can’t lose you, Becky. I’m going to beat it, I promise.”

  Rebecca was shaking her head. “No, Marcus. This isn’t something you can do for me. It’s something you have to do for yourself, without me as your motivator. It won’t last if you do it for me.”

  “No!” Marcus said. “It’ll last. I promise you.”

  “Promise yourself.” Her tone had become calm now, almost placid, and Kate marveled at the maturity she saw in her daughter. “I never got to know the real Marcus, and maybe you’ve never known him either.” She shrugged. “But I think you need to work this out between yourself and God. I can’t help you.” She stood then, as if to go.

  “Don’t leave me,” he pleaded.

  “Marcus, I care about you, and in my heart, I know you’re going to be okay. But you and me, that’s not going to work. And it’s okay. Your sister is here to take care of you.” She glanced at MaryAnne. “You’ll be in good hands, but I need to take care of me right now. I hope you understand that.”

  Marcus slumped back against his pillows, a look of defeat in his eyes. “I’ve lost everything!” he cried.

  “No,”—Rebecca placed a comforting hand on his shoulder—“you’re just beginning to find something. And you know,” she went on, “I’d stick with the acting. You’ll win an Oscar someday.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Copper Mill had never looked so wonderful to Kate. Many leaves had fallen from the trees, creating an autumn carpet across the landscape, but the foothills were still vibrant, glowing in the morning light.

  Kate glanced at Rebecca as they made their way through the winding hills that overlooked the quaint town.

  They had left Marcus at the hospital with his sister the night before and returned to the motel for what had turned out to be the most restful night’s sleep they’d had in a long time. The ICU doctor had told them that Marcus would likely be released by Tuesday or Wednesday. Rebecca had simply nodded and thanked the doctor for taking care of him.

  The next morning, they checked out of their motel and headed for home, driving the car they had rented. Rebecca had been quiet as they drove, and Kate wasn’t sure if her silence was regret or simple contemplation. But she knew better than to pry.

  There was something about an ordeal of this magnitude that brought the rest of Kate’s life into clearer focus. Trivialities fell away at the realization that a miracle had occurred. Her husband was safe at home, waiting for her, and her daughter was here beside her, making difficult but good choices. That was enough. Kate was content in that moment. She’d been reminded of what mattered in life, and it wasn’t running from one thing to the next, finishing stained-glass projects by their deadlines or making sure her to-do list was neatly checked off. Life was so much more and so much less all at the same time. She didn’t think she’d ever take the little things for granted again, like the sound of her husband’s laughter or the feel of his hand in hers. All that really mattered was showing love and appreciation to those around her, who gave so freely without asking anything in return.

  Rebecca touched her arm, and she looked into her daughter’s vivid blue eyes, so like her father’s.

  “Glad to be going home?” Kate asked.

  “You have no idea.”

  They turned onto Smoky Mountain Road and drove up to the blue ranch-style parsonage, with its autumn-colored mums looking as cheery as ever. Kate pulled the rental car into the driveway. She hadn’t been inside for what seemed an eternity. For the first time, she wondered what the Sacco brothers had done to the place.

  Paul was already at the front door, with Eli right behind him. Kate hurried to hug her husband, whispering an “I love you” in his ear. Then they went inside. She needn’t have worried about the state of the house, whatever it had been, because Eli had cleaned it to an immaculate condition.

  “Was there any...damage...from the Saccos?” she asked him, nervous about exactly how much work he had done.

  “It’s a good thing you didn’t see it,” he said, shaking his head.

  She gave his hand a squeeze.

  “The police took photos and did an inventory of what they broke and what was missing.”

  “At least from what I could remember,” Paul added. “Deputy Spencer said to give him a call if we discover anything that’s missing.”

  “Ironic,” Rebecca said, looking at her ring, “that the one thing they wanted was the one thing they never got.”

  Rebecca and Eli excused themselves to go for a walk, and Kate watched them as they moved up Smoky Mountain Road, immersed in conversation.

  “What’s up with those two?” Paul asked when Kate came to sit with him on the couch.

  “They’ve been really close this past week.”

  “Really?” he said with a note of hope in his voice.

  Eli was the kind of man Kate had envisioned for her daughter, and she had a fleeting hope it might work out for them. But in her head, she knew it wasn’t likely just yet.

  “She won’t stay here.” Kate voiced her thoughts aloud. “Even if she does care for Eli, she hasn’t given up her dream of acting.” She brushed a strand of hair from Paul’s forehead. “She won’t—and shouldn’t—settle for less than her dreams, and I don’t think a life with a man she cares about would ever be enough to make her forget about her passion for performing.”

  Paul nodded his agreement and pulled Kate close. He nuzzled his face next to hers. His skin felt warm and scratchy on her cheek. She laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  “I’m actually enjoying the feel of your thick chin stubble.”

  He grinned and ran a hand along the rough surface. “Maybe I’ll grow a full beard,” he said.

  Kate chuckled and leaned back against his chest.

  “You know what I thought about most when I was out in those woods?” Paul said into Kate’s ear.

  “What?”

  “I thought about all the years we’ve been together, all the ups and downs with the kids, the churches we’ve served in, all the little things that used to consume me. But none of it mattered to me. The thing that kept pushing me forward was the fear that I wouldn’t see you again.”

  “It would’ve killed me too,” Kate said. “I kept thinking that I should know where you were, like God should tell me.”

  “You found me, didn’t you?”

  Kate nodded and closed her eyes.

  WHEN REBECCA came back inside, it was without Eli. Her mascara was running where tears had fallen.

  “What’s wrong?” Kate asked. “Where’s Eli?”

  “He said he wanted to walk home,” Rebecca said, then she sat down between her parents, leaning her head on her father’s shoulder. “I think I just broke his heart,” she said.

  “What happened?” Kate asked.

  “I told him it would never work between us. He’s been...a friend,” she went on. “And I’m so grateful for the help and comfort and wisdom he gave me. I’ve never known anyone like him.”

  “But?” Paul said, as he stroked his daughter’s blonde hair.

  “But I’m not ready to leave New York City.”

  Kate shot a “Didn’t I tell you?” look at Paul.

  “We know you aren’t, honey,” Paul said. “God gave you your dreams. It’s only right that you pursue them.”

  THE KITCHEN PHONE RANG. It had been ringing practically nonstop since Kate and Rebecca had gotten home, mostly with well-wishers who had heard that Paul was home and wanted to tell her how glad they were and how they’d been praying.

  “Hanlons,” she said.

  It was Renee Lambert. Kate could hear Kisses’ high-pitched whine in
the background.

  “I just had to call,” Renee said. “Is Paul okay? He didn’t have any lasting repercussions from spending all that time in the wilderness, did he?”

  “No, Renee,” Kate said. “Thank you so much for calling. He’s just fine. Would you like to talk to him?”

  Paul was shaking his head and waving his hands from the living room.

  “Oh, I guess he can’t come to the phone, right now, Renee,” Kate said with a wry lift of her eyebrow.

  “Well, just tell him I’m oh so glad that he’s back in one piece. He’ll get a lot of sermon material out of this one, I’ll venture.”

  “I’ll tell him,” Kate said. “Thanks for calling.”

  She hung up and returned to the living room.

  “What was that all about?” he asked.

  “Renee Lambert wanted to know if you’re okay,” Kate said. “Did you want to call her back?” She looked at her husband with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  “I might be feeling better, but I’m not that much better!” Paul said with a chuckle.

  Then the phone rang again. This time it was Livvy.

  “What’s going on?” Kate asked.

  “Can you come to the Town Green?”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Kate hung up and met Paul and Rebecca’s expectant looks.

  “Livvy wants us to come to the Town Green right now. Says it’s a surprise.”

  “Ooh!” Rebecca said, rubbing her hands together. “I love surprises.”

  When they reached the Green, it was full of people. Some were milling around; others were sitting on blankets strategically placed around a stage that had been set up in the middle of the park. Kate, Rebecca, and Paul meandered through the crowd in search of Livvy. Finally they caught sight of her, and she came over to them.

  “What’s going on?” Kate asked.

  “James’ band is giving a concert to raise money for the Faith Freezer program!”