As the congregation started to file out, her father reached over and touched her arm.
“Will you take Adam to the house? Your mom and I need to meet with the worship committee chairman for a few minutes. We won’t be long.”
Laura nodded, hiding her reluctance behind a smile. She glanced up at Adam to find him smiling down at her. She searched for something to say. “You have a nice singing voice.”
He chuckled softly. “You didn’t think I’d know how to behave in a church, did you?”
“No, that’s not true.”
Adam leaned down and spoke softly into her ear. “It’s not nice to lie in church, Boo.”
Her cheeks flamed. She opened her mouth to deny it, but remembered his comment about people telling him what he wanted to hear. “No, I didn’t.”
Adam chuckled deep in his throat. “I’m a believer, Laura, just not a very faithful one.” They stepped into the aisle, Adam placed his hand lightly on her back and they made their way to the door. “I had a friend in college who brought me to the Lord. I was pretty active for several years.”
“What happened?”
“I graduated.”
She started to ask more questions, but they’d reached the door and the waiting pastor. She shook Jim’s hand and moved through the doorway, waiting for Adam. He stood in front of the pastor a long moment. Jim nodded a couple of times, then smiled. Adam joined her, a thoughtful look on his face. He looked down at her, his gaze probing and slightly amused. Her heart quickened. Suddenly, being this close to Adam Holbrook was not a good idea. She turned and hurried to the truck.
*
Adam eased back out of the Durrants’ crowded kitchen and found a spot in the adjoining family room where he’d be out of the way. The aroma of roast beef and steaming vegetables sent his taste buds into overdrive. All his other senses were being bombarded, as well. From the moment he’d stepped into the Durrant home after church, the house had been buzzing with activity. Laura had stopped by the gazebo to check on things before going on to her parents’ house. He’d found it distracting, trying to reconcile the woman he’d worked with yesterday with the lovely woman who’d sat beside him in church. Being in the close confines of the truck cab had only highlighted the difference. A difference that made him curious about this new side of Laura Durrant.
Angie Durrant caught his eyes and smiled. “Adam, could you come and give us a hand?” He swallowed the knot of unease in his throat but obeyed. Laura handed him a potato peeler and a spud when he joined her at the large center island. He stared down at the items in his hands. He’d peeled a potato. Once. He heard Laura chuckle and glanced over at her. Her violet eyes were sparkling with amusement.
“Like this.” She demonstrated the technique quickly and handed the items back to him. “Then cut them into pieces and drop them into the pot on the stove.”
He did as he was told, but when he put his pieces of potato in the pot, they didn’t look the same. He turned to Laura to inquire, but she was hurrying from the room.
“Matt and Shelby are here, Mom.”
He searched his memory. Matt. The oldest brother who was getting married to his former sweetheart. Angie Durrant wiped her hands on a towel and hurried to the hallway. Adam sought out his little corner in the family room. No need to intrude on family time.
Before he could take a few steps, the women were back, forcing him to stop and get caught up in the moment.
Mrs. Durrant touched his arm gently and smiled at the tall man who came into the kitchen. “Adam, this is our oldest son, Matt. Matt, our houseguest, Adam Holbrook.”
Houseguest? He appreciated her not spelling out his situation. Matt extended his hand and shook Adam’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
He resembled a younger version of Tom.
“And this is his soon-to-be wife, Shelby Russell.”
The elegant brunette smiled, but didn’t shake his hand because her hands were full of a pie and a basket.
“Hello. Could I get you to take one of these, please?”
Adam relieved her of the pie, setting it down on the only clear spot in the kitchen.
He turned around to find a little boy staring up at him. He had green eyes, sandy hair and a nose full of freckles. “Hello.”
“My name is Kenny. What’s your name?”
“Adam.”
“Like in the Bible.” Kenny frowned and wrinkled his nose. “There aren’t any Kennys in the Bible.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of any,” Adam admitted.
“Are you the man who broke the gazebo?”
Adam’s felt a rush of embarrassment warm his face.
“Kenny.”
Adam glanced over at the boy’s father, who looked as embarrassed as he felt. No sense in trying to hide his guilt. “Yes, I am. I wasn’t paying attention and I wrecked it with my car.”
Kenny looked up at him with sympathetic eyes. “Sometimes I don’t pay attention. I get in trouble a lot. But it’s okay because my daddy loves me anyway. That’s what daddies do.”
A large knot formed in the center of Adam’s chest. It was hard to find his voice. Not all daddies. “That’s good.”
A young girl joined the boy. “Hi, I’m Cassidy. Aunt Laura is helping you fix the gazebo, right?”
“She is.”
“Good, because we like to hang out there a lot and now we can’t.”
Shelby Russell came and steered the children to the other room with instructions to set the table.
Adam glanced around the kitchen. Everyone was going about their business, not paying any attention to him at all. Suddenly, he wanted out. Away from all the warm and cozy nonsense. He tried to battle his impulse to flee. He wanted to go to his room to sort things out, but to do so would be rude. He took a step backward, seeking distance. Everyone seemed happy, even joyful. It couldn’t be real. Did every happy family act this way?
Angie Durrant caught his attention, motioning him to the kitchen. She handed him the bowl of rice and smiled. “Go put that on the table then tell the boys we’re ready to eat.”
He nodded, wondering for the tenth time how he ended up here. He’d never felt so out of place, so awkward, in his whole life.
Were they trying to rehabilitate him? Were they trying to make him feel the burden of his damaging their landmark? Or was it money? Did they think he would compensate them later for their kindness? The thought immediately filled him with shame. These people weren’t like the ones he normally associated with. The Durrants were people he had little exposure to.
Adam placed the bowl, then moved slowly into the family room. The guys were focused on the Saints football game. “Food’s ready.”
Matt turned and smiled. “’Bout time. I’m starving.” He punched his dad playfully in the arm. “Chow.”
Tom stood and tapped his grandson, Kenny, on the head. “Come on, kiddo.”
Adam followed them into the dining room, a strange tightness in the center of his chest as he watched the family come together. Laura smiled and motioned him to the seat beside her.
He asked himself again if what he was seeing was real. Probably not. They were all on their best behavior for his sake. Trying to put on a show. The way his parents did whenever they came home. Once a year his mother would parade out her best china and invite the crowd. They’d all smile, put on a display of family happiness, then the next morning, they’d all go their separate ways.
Something told him this family wouldn’t change with each day. How did they do that?
Tom Durrant bowed his head and stretched out his hands. Before Adam could register what was happening, Laura took his hand in hers, completing the circle around the family table. The room was suddenly hot. His hands began to sweat and he wished he could let go of Laura’s hand, but to do so would be rude. He inhaled a slow breath and tried to focus on the grace being said.
“…for family. For your sacrifice and redemption and for never-ending love. Bless our guest. We ask that you ma
ke his time here a benchmark for his life. Amen.”
Adam wanted to ask Mr. Durrant what he meant by benchmark, but he didn’t feel comfortable doing so. He’d only been here a day and a half and he’d never been so unbalanced in his entire life. He could face any danger, risk his life on the flimsiest of whims, but spending an afternoon with a real family left him tense and edgy.
The moment the prayer was over, Adam released Laura’s hand, surprised to find his fingers missing the contact. Her hand was small and deceptively delicate, but he was well aware of the strength, as well. He’d seen her in action. She could handle power tools with the best of them. This was the first time he’d seen her in a more domestic setting. She looked at home here, too.
“So, Adam,” Matt said, once dinner was under way, “Laura tells me you’re some kind of daredevil?”
Adam spared a quick glance at Laura. “I wouldn’t say daredevil. I participate in various extreme sports. I like adventure. I want to experience life to the fullest.”
“How does your family feel about your dangerous pursuits?”
Mrs. Durrant’s question blindsided him. He’d never considered their feelings before. Adam looked at the expectant stares. They don’t care. Swallowing his hurt, he forced a smile. “It’s not a problem.”
“I’ve read about you,” Matt said, gesturing with his fork. “There was an article in an issue of Sports Lookout a few months back. You were in Nepal, rafting.”
Adam nodded, remembering the roar of the white water and the ache in his arms from fighting the force of the river. Then there had been the rush when he’d thought they were going to crash into the rocks. “That was a wild ride.”
Matt chuckled. “I’ll say. I’m afraid I don’t have that kind of courage.” He reached over and took Shelby’s hand. “I’ve got too much to lose.”
The smile on Adam’s face froze. What did he have to lose? Nothing. If he’d died in that river, not a soul would have shed a tear. His death would have made headlines. His funeral would have been well-attended, but not a person on earth would have cared.
“It’s a unique lifestyle,” he muttered, trying to wipe the picture of Matt and Shelby’s loving glance from his mind.
Conversation drifted to other topics, for which Adam was grateful. Normally he loved entertaining folks with his adventures, but his exploits seemed out of place here. Everything he said felt contrived against the simple, honest lives of this family. He was more determined than ever to get out of here. He didn’t belong here. He didn’t belong anywhere.
“Old family tradition,” Tom announced when the meal ended. “The women cook, the men clean up.”
Adam followed the men’s lead, stacking plates and silverware and taking it to the kitchen. Even little Kenny carried his own plate from the dining room.
It wasn’t like he’d never cleaned up after himself. His adventures often took place in locales with few amenities. It was the sense of inclusion that made him uncomfortable. The Durrants all behaved in a way that assumed he would participate. No formal invitations. No awkward suggestions. Merely the understanding that since he’d shared a meal he would, of course, share the work.
The gesture made him uneasy. He could chitchat with the rich and famous, but he had no idea how to talk to a pair of regular guys.
Tom pulled down the dishwasher door and slid out the rack. Matt began scraping the dishes. Kenny and Adam finished clearing off the table.
“Didn’t I read that you jump out of helicopters?” Matt asked.
“That’s right.”
“Cool,” Kenny gushed.
Adam shared the finer points of heli-skiing with the guys. To his surprise he found a new kind of delight in telling the stories and seeing their reactions.
Once the dishes were done, Kenny urged them outside for a football game. Kenny wanted to be on Adam’s team which made him nervous. He didn’t want anything to happen to the boy. It didn’t take long for him to get the gist of football Durrant-style. All the roughhousing was done with great enthusiasm and flourish, but with care and restraint. The result was fun for all and Kenny felt like he’d played with the big boys.
Adam had played plenty of pickup games with his buddies, but never had he enjoyed a game as much as this one. Tom came up and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Good game.”
“Thanks. I think Kenny had fun.”
Tom chuckled. “Yeah. We play a bit differently when he’s in the game. You should see us when my younger son is here. He’s over-the-top competitive.”
Adam did a quick search of his memory. The brother who was a cop. “I hear he’s doing better.”
Tom turned serious. “He is, but there’s still a long way to go.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“The Lord will work it out. We have to leave it to Him.”
“What if He doesn’t work it out the way you want?” He regretted the question the moment it was out of his mouth. These people had been generous and hospitable to him today and he was questioning their beliefs. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s all right. It’s a valid question and you’re right. The Lord may not work it out the way we hope, but He’ll work it out. Maybe better. Maybe different. Either way, we have to trust that He had the best plan for my son. God sees the whole of Ty’s life. We see only a small part.”
“So you’re saying, no matter what the future holds for your son, you’re okay with it?”
Tom shook his head. “Not okay, but at peace. The Lord may be teaching Ty life lessons for some future purpose that I know nothing about.”
He’d wanted to ask more, but the family was congregating in the kitchen again, talking and laughing. The kids were squealing for dessert. Angie was cutting the pie and giggling with Shelby and Laura. Suddenly the commotion was overwhelming. He had to get away and think. Find someplace quiet to regroup. Going to his room was out of the question. He’d have to walk past them all and explain why he was leaving. He caught sight of the back door and he remembered the patio. Slowly he moved away until he was just inside the small mudroom leading to the back porch.
Quickly he ducked out and hurried down the steps, making a beeline for the far end of the patio and the bench that circled the large oak tree. He sat down, taking a few deep breaths, placing one foot on the bench seat and closing his eyes. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that being around a family would be more stressful than jumping out of a helicopter or skiing down a mountain.
He took a few deep breaths, letting his heart rate slow and the tension ebb away. The cool evening air helped settle his muddled thoughts.
“Are you all right?”
He jerked his eyes open to find Laura standing in front of him. Even in the fading light he could read the concern in her violet eyes. “Yeah. Just tired, I guess. This is all new to me.”
“You mean the carpentry work? You’ll get the hang of it. You did great yesterday.” She sat down beside him and he felt his heart speed up again.
“No, not that. It’s all the family stuff. It’s different.”
Laura looked at him curiously. “We’re just an ordinary family. Nothing different about us.”
Adam shook his head. “No, not like any family I ever knew.”
“What was your family like?”
“Nonexistent.” He laughed to make light of it, but he knew she wouldn’t let it pass.
A frown creased her forehead. “Are you an orphan?”
He shook his head. “Just an only child.” She waited and he knew he had no choice but to satisfy her curiosity. “My parents don’t really live together. I don’t think they ever did. My mother has her life, my father has his. Once or twice a year we’d meet at the old family mansion and throw a big dinner party. Everyone would make nice, brag about their latest exploits, and then in the morning, go their separate ways.”
“Well, who did you live with? Your dad?”
The laugh escaped before he could
stop it. “No. He was working 24/7. And Mom was traveling most of the time.” He set his jaw. He didn’t like talking about his family or his past. “I went to boarding school or sleepaway camp.” He lowered his leg and turned to look at her. Her lovely eyes were filled with compassion. For him.
“I’m sorry. I guess I forget that not all families are like ours. It’s all I’ve ever known. For what it’s worth, sometimes I need to get away from them, too. That’s why I have my own home.”
“Adam, Laura. Dessert is on the table,” Angie yelled from the house.
He was grateful for the interruption, but he wanted to talk about her, to learn more. They started back inside.
“Don’t let them get to you. Take them in small doses. Mom with smother you with food and kindness if you let her. She’ll be all up in your business. And Dad watches everyone like a hawk. You’re under his roof, so you’re one of his for the time being.”
“And I’m working closely with his baby girl.”
“Yeah. You figured that out, huh?”
Her smile turned a light on behind her violet eyes. She was so lovely. So easy to talk to. He’d have to be careful. She had a way of seeing through him. He had to remember his only goal was getting home in time. He had to find a way to make that happen.
Chapter Four
Laura curled up on the sofa, patting the cushion to signal for Wally to join her. The little buff-colored dog buried his nose in her hand, begging for love. She couldn’t help but smile. He always put her in a good mood. “You’re such a sweet boy, aren’t you?” She stroked the soft fur, her eyes on the television, but her mind on Adam Holbrook.
She was more confused than ever about him. He’d been full of contradictions today at her parents’ house, one minute helping as if he belonged and then other times tense and withdrawn. Several times she noticed him pull back, watching the activity from a safe distance. At first she’d thought he didn’t like her family. But then she’d glimpsed something in his dark eyes, a shadow of longing, a flash of puzzlement. His comment about his family and childhood haunted her. Nonexistent. Was he serious? If so, her heart ached for him.
Restoring His Heart Page 5
