Tara stopped the car in front of the call box at the gate and rolled down her window so she could punch in the gate code. She waited for the gate to release and open, then she drove the rest of the way up the driveway and parked next to her brother’s pickup.
As she opened the sliding door to the minivan, she saw Tucker walking out of the arena toward them. When she’d first driven up, Tara’d had the urge to run into the house and sit on a kitchen stool where she knew there would be some freshly baked goody there to tempt her. But seeing Tucker first changed that. She knew Danny was looking forward to spending the day with his uncle and grandfather and wouldn’t want to wait.
“There’s Uncle Tucker,” she said as she helped Carol undo her seat belt and climb out.
“Do me first!” Danny said, clearly frustrated. He started kicking and fussing. Normally Tara would run to him and try to keep him calm. But now she was trying to implement coping strategies, and Danny couldn’t be allowed to get his own way or he’d run the household.
“Just a second, Danny. Now that Carol is out of the car, I can reach you.”
Tara climbed into the back of the minivan and released the belt on Danny’s booster seat. “See, that was quick. Now you can get out of the car, too.”
Danny glanced out the window, saw his uncle walking toward them, and couldn’t move fast enough to get out of the car. By the time Danny was out of the minivan and Tara closed the door, her brother had nearly reached them in the driveway.
“I didn’t expect you for another hour,” he said.
“Yeah? You looked like you were expecting someone else when you came out of the arena.”
“I thought maybe you were Hannah. She’s supposed to stop by again to check on one of the horses.”
“Oh? Wasn’t she here the other day when I dropped the kids off? She’s been out here a lot lately. Is it something serious?”
“Just checking. It’s routine.”
“Uh, huh.”
“What? No hugs?” Tucker said with a fake pout on his face as he crouched down and opened his arms wide. Danny and Carol ran to him as if it were a race to see who would get the biggest hug from Uncle Tucker. Carol lagged just a little behind, which was odd since she was a faster runner than Danny. Tara had to wonder if Carol had already formed a way of coping by letting her brother win, knowing he’d be upset if he came in second.
But Tucker was the real winner. He scooped both the kids up in his arms, kissing them and making them giggle. Tara envied her brother’s way with her children. If only she could give her attention equally the way he seemed to. It would make life so much easier at home.
Tucker put the kids down and patted Danny’s head. “So you’re hanging out with the big boys today. Huh, Danny?”
Danny jumped up and down, excited about the coming day.
“No running off on us, you hear? I need your help today.”
“Okay.”
Carol tugged on Tucker’s arm. “Can I ride Pringles before me and Grandma leave?”
“Sure can,” Tucker said, taking her by the hand. “It’ll only take a few minutes to get the horses saddled up. Grandpa is doing that now. Why don’t you run into the house to show Grandma that pretty dress? I’m sure she’ll love it.”
Tara watched as Carol ran into the house. Her mother must have seen them drive up because she met Carol at the door.
Tara turned her attention back to Tucker. “Is Tate around?”
The smile on Tucker’s face disappeared. “Don’t know. I’m too busy here to worry about when he’s coming and going.”
Tara studied her brother’s face. What was that all about? “I was just wondering.”
Tucker crouched down in front of Danny as he saw their father bring one of the ponies out into the paddock. “Carol might take a while inside. Why don’t you see if Grandpa will give you a ride on Pringles before she gets outside?”
Danny pulled away from Tara’s hand and started running toward the paddock.
Panic hit her square in the chest. “Danny? Wait for me.” To Tucker she said, “Why did you tell him to go without me?”
“Oh, he’ll be all right. I can see exactly where he’s going, Tara. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Tara kept her eye on Danny as he ran to the paddock gate. When she knew her father had his eye on Danny, she turned her attention back to Tucker. “Me? Why are you worried about me?”
Her brother’s face softened. “Come on, Tara. It’s me. You can hide a lot from other people behind that sugar smile of yours but you can’t hide from me. You don’t come out to the ranch but once a month normally and now I’ve seen you here just about every day for the past few weeks. What’s going on?”
Her shoulders sagged with the weight of the truth she didn’t want to face. “Things… have been difficult lately.”
“How so?”
She shook her head and watched as her father placed Danny in the saddle of the pony and then lead him into the covered arena.
Turning her attention back to Tucker once again, she said, “Just things.”
“I heard about what happened the other morning with Marisol and Patrick finding Danny down at the square. You must have been terrified.”
She shrugged, feeling the stab of guilt she’d had since Patrick Murphy had shown up at her door at the crack of dawn with Danny. “I didn’t even know he was gone, Tucker. What kind of mother doesn’t know her child isn’t even in the house?”
“Don’t beat yourself up like that. It happens. Now that you know what Danny is capable of doing, you can make some changes. Hey, if you need me to come out to the house to put up some of those locks on the door, I can do it.”
Their mother had obviously discussed the situation with the rest of the family. That was sure to annoy Bryce.
“Bryce isn’t sure locks are the answer. He’d…we’d like Danny to learn his boundaries.”
Tucker nodded. “He’s your son. You decide. I just wanted to put the offer out there.”
“I appreciate that.” She’d promised herself she wouldn’t ask. She surely had enough of her own problems to worry about without meddling in her brothers’ lives. But after the comment Tucker had made earlier about Tate, she couldn’t help herself.
“You next. What’s really going on between you and Tate?”
Tucker adjusted his straw hat and looked away for a brief second. “You don’t want to go there, Tara.”
“Why not?”
He cocked his head to one side. “It is what it is.”
Tara laughed, pushing her windblown hair out of her face. “It’s me, Tucker. Every time I mention Tate’s name, you go colder than an ice cube on me. Did you have a fight about something?”
“No.”
“So what’s bothering you? Not having him here?”
Tucker gave her a thousand-watt smile. “I’m a rancher, Tara. Just like Dad and Granddaddy before him. It’s what I do. That’s not Tate. I don’t fault him for that.”
“Something tells me it’s easier not having him here.”
“You’re the one who said it,” Tucker said quietly. His words did nothing to calm her fears that something had caused bad blood between her brothers.
She wrapped her arm around Tucker. “Come on, Tuck. It’s supposed to be a good day. I don’t want to spend the day worrying about something going on with you.”
“We’ll be fine. Mom has been chattering all morning about her shopping trip with Carol. And Danny will have a great time with me and Dad. You’ll see. You just take some time for yourself for a change.”
Tara heard gravel on the driveway. When she turned she saw Hannah’s truck coming up the driveway. She turned to her brother and saw a flicker of light in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before.
“Tucker?”
“Go have yourself a good, quiet day, Tara. The kids will be fine here.”
She kissed her brother on his cheek. “Thanks. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
Hannah waved to her as she pulled her truck up next to Tara’s minivan. Tara took an extra second to glance at her brother before climbing into the minivan. Hannah had been dating her brother Tate for some time, but Tara had always thought that two people couldn’t be more different. Tate was as handsome as Tucker. Both her brothers had the same gray eyes, although Tucker’s were more hazel than gray. They were both tall, with dark hair that they got from their father. These days Zeke Johnson’s hair was nearly all gray, but there were plenty of pictures of her father in his younger years that showed he was as handsome and commanding a presence on this ranch as Tucker.
But Tate was more refined. As a lawyer, he spent his days wearing a designer suit and tie, not the blue jeans and cowboy boots that Tucker felt comfortable in.
Hannah climbed out of her truck and slammed the door, making her long blonde braid swing back and forth against her back. Seeing her with Tucker seemed more of a fit than seeing her with Tate.
Tara waved to Hannah as she turned the key in the ignition of the minivan. When she backed out of her parking space, she caught the smile on Tucker’s face and knew that smile wasn’t meant for her. It was meant for Hannah. A wave of confusion made Tara feel unsteady. Regardless of the feeling, it was good to be home where life was normal. Even if it was only for a while.
* * * *
Sara Jane walked down Main Street toward the church where she was baptized and one day hoped to say her wedding vows. She loved growing up in Storm and knew that one day she’d raise a family here. If not in Storm, then in a town very close by just like Storm.
Special education teachers were in demand all over Texas. She couldn’t have picked a more rewarding profession. There were days she still couldn’t believe she actually got paid to see a child’s face light up when they learned a concept they were struggling with. And to work with children with special needs was all the more rewarding. She could have had her pick of places to work when she got her teaching degree. But there was no place like Storm. She could look far and wide and she would never find any place that felt more like home. And what better way to give back than to work with the young children in her community?
It was her very reason for meeting with Pastor Douglas today. Her heart pounded as she walked past Cuppa Joe’s Bakery. She resisted the urge to go inside for a coffee and pastry to calm her nerves. The coffee would get her revved up and the pastry…well, that was just to give her some courage. It was the first time since she’d been hired that she had to go the extra mile for a student. But Sara Jane knew it was necessary.
Of course, the urging of Alice Johnson, the school’s principal, had a little to do with it. Since the nature of this visit concerned Alice’s grandchildren, a little push to talk to Pastor Douglas was all Sara Jane needed.
The Lutheran church came into view. Normally when she walked around town this time of year, she wore a light cotton shirt, her favorite jeans, and a comfortable pair of sandals. But today she chose to wear something that was comfortable but looked professional.
She walked past the front of the church to the back door that housed the church office. Sara Jane decided to start there first, hoping Pastor Douglas was working. She didn’t want to have to impose on him at his home in case Danny and Carol were there.
She walked down the concrete path and passed the line of Texas sage toward the back door. The back hall leading to the church office was always open during the day, which made this visit easier. The idea of waiting out in the sun for someone to come to the door was unnerving.
As soon as Sara Jane walked inside and adjusted her eyes to the difference in light, she made her way to the office. The door was open, giving her a sense of relief. When she reached the door, she found Pastor Douglas sitting behind his desk, mulling over paperwork. He hadn’t heard her approach or he would have looked up to greet her. So she knocked lightly on the door.
“Excuse me, Pastor Douglas.”
Bryce Douglas sat up straight in his seat and glanced over at her.
“Sara Jane? What a surprise. Come in, please.” His smile was immediate and filled with warm sympathy. He stood up quickly and extended his hand, taking her smaller one in his. She felt her hand go weak in his strong grip, as if her nerves were being squashed in a vice. This meeting was not about Jacob. It wasn’t about her parents. It was about Danny. Focus.
“How are you doing, Sara Jane?” he said, motioning with his hand to the small sofa across from his desk chair. “You weren’t at the house the last time I visited your parents.”
She sat down and placed her purse on the sofa beside her. “I’m fine. Thank you. I hope I’m not interrupting you,” she said.
“Of course not. I told your parents that my door is always open for all of you. How are your parents doing?”
“As well as can be expected. My mother is excited about becoming a grandmother and I think that takes a little bit of the pain away from losing Jacob.”
His blue eyes were sympathetic and filled her with warmth. So many of Sara Jane’s friends had been afraid to talk to Pastor Douglas when they were teenagers, even though he was younger than most pastors when he’d arrived in Storm, having just married Tara Johnson. Something about the black clothes and collar and his strong emphasis on doing God’s work was intimidating to them in their teens. It was hard to party on a Saturday night down at Monarch Lake, sneak out of the house and drink a half a bottle of Jack Daniels that she'd swiped from her father’s liquor cabinet, and then sit in the pew at church on Sunday morning without thinking that Pastor Douglas was reading her thoughts and judging her. Sara Jane hadn’t been wild by any stretch of the imagination. But she was human, and she’d searched for her good times like all teenagers did.
But she was a teacher now, and she was visiting him on school business. Today his eyes were sympathetic and caring. Not judgmental. Not so intimidating that she wanted to melt into her seat.
It almost broke her heart to bring up her reason for being here.
Sara Jane swallowed twice. “I’m actually not here to discuss Jacob.”
Pastor Douglas’s eyes narrowed. “No? Are you having another problem you’d like to discuss?”
“Actually, I’m here to discuss Danny and the upcoming school year. He’ll be one of my students.”
The pastor leaned back in his chair. “I was under the assumption that my wife met with you when she was at the school the other day.”
“I did meet with Mrs. Douglas. But…I felt it was important to talk with you as well. I’m sure Mrs. Douglas has discussed our plan for Danny next year?”
“It’s kindergarten. I assumed he’d be learning his basic letters and numbers and starting to read as Carol did. He’ll be getting prepared for the first grade.”
“Yes, that’s true. But for Danny, he’ll need a little more specialized instruction. That’s why I suggested Danny start school earlier.”
“I don’t want Danny to be singled out amongst the other children.”
Sara Jane smiled. “Oh, he won’t be. We practice inclusion at the elementary school. The only time Danny will be taken out of the class is for specialized instruction.”
“My wife already explained this to me.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. Alice Johnson had urged her to make her son-in-law understand that Danny had special needs—something that his father was having a hard time acknowledging. In order for Danny to truly thrive, he needed consistency from both his parents and his educators.
“We find that children with autism have a better chance of thriving when they’re receiving the same message at school and at home.”
Pastor Douglas nodded, and Sara Jane began to wonder why she’d been so nervous to discuss this matter at all.
“The notebook.”
“Yes, Danny will have a notebook that he can use to help keep him focused and another one for me to communicate with both you and Mrs. Douglas each day.”
“I’m not sure I like the idea of Danny having a specia
l aid that the other children might tease him about. Kids these days are so fragile. But you are the one with training, so I’m in agreement that we should give it a try.”
Sara Jane smiled. After hearing Principal Johnson’s concerns, she had been afraid Pastor Douglas would be against the program she’d drafted for Danny. It was going better than she expected.
“Since Danny has never been in preschool, and this is the first time he’ll be in a structured classroom, we felt—”
“We. Who is we? You and my wife?”
“The team.”
Pastor Douglas nodded. “And just who does this team consist of?”
“Principal Johnson, the kindergarten teacher Danny has been assigned to, the school counselor, and me. And of course you and Tara.”
Pastor Douglas nodded. “Why are you really here, Sara Jane?”
Sara Jane felt like she was suddenly transported back to high school. She sat up straight in the chair opposite Pastor Douglas. She couldn’t lie. If it had been her choice, Sara Jane would have sent a letter home and then followed up with a phone call to Tara to see if Danny would be starting summer school.
But there was one person who insisted that this meeting had to be in person.
“Principal Johnson sent me.”
Chapter Seven
Tara sat in the gazebo located on the Storm square near the courthouse. It had been so long since she’d had time to really think about her life. She was so used to thinking about Bryce’s needs or their children’s needs that she’d forgotten that she needed too.
She missed her husband. She’d fallen so hard for Bryce Douglas when they’d first met, and were so much in love, that it seemed inconceivable that they were now in a place where they barely touched each other. Even in bed when they were sleeping, she no longer snuggled up next to him. Instead, she clung to the side of the bed and had fitful dreams that stayed with her long into the morning.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Patrick said, coming up behind Tara. Her cousin wasn’t in his EMT uniform. Instead, he wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a black T-shirt.
Weather the Storm: Episode 7 (Rising Storm) Page 5
