He got nothing for preaching, since he diverted his congregants’ tithes toward helping the people around them. And the sheriff’s department had put him on the payroll, but often the payroll wasn’t met. “Not regularly. But they need people to enforce the law. Somebody has to do it.”
“We’ll be paying a dollar an hour for the average workers, a little more for the more experienced ones. It’s not much, but in our economy, that’ll go a long way. It’ll infuse money back into the infrastructure and get more cash flowing.”
Doug had to admit that it sounded good. Forty dollars a week would go a long way. And if Kay and Deni did it too, that would be 480 dollars a month. A year before, that would have been laughable. But today it was a fortune.
Still, he had made a commitment to the sheriff’s department. Paycheck or not, he had to do it.
Kay sat down at the table, full of questions about what kind of job she could get. While Craig tantalized her about a position in the offices, Doug took the eggs out and began to cook them on the grill.
What would it be like if Kay took a job there? What would happen to Logan and Beth? He didn’t like the idea of Jeff being left unsupervised all the time, even at sixteen. Beth and Logan definitely needed someone at home. But if she wanted to do it, he supposed they could work it out.
Though he hated what the Pulses had done to society, he had to admit that he loved what they had done to the family. The lack of technology had drawn them all closer. Instead of leading separate lives, watching television in their bedrooms, playing video games and staring at computer screens, they gathered each night in the same room. Communication in the form of telephones and email were dead. But it felt as if communication in his family had blossomed to life. It was moving to see the kids working hard at their own jobs and giving their pay to the family. A year ago, the idea of helping support their family would have been laughable.
And his relationship with Kay was closer than ever. They’d never enjoyed each other so much. Laughter and conversation had become as easy as breathing. He dreaded the distance his job would create when the power was restored.
The restoration effort was important, yes. But the restoration of his family had been an unexpected blessing. He didn’t want to upset that balance and closeness they’d found. He’d have to pray about what to do. He hoped Kay would pray, as well.
He glanced back through the window. Craig was in deep conversation with Kay. Craig would need an awful lot of prayer as he helped lead this effort. No wonder he hadn’t had time to think about a place to live. Maybe providing him a place to sleep wasn’t such a bad thing, after all. It was something they could do for the recovery effort.
He decided not to broach the subject of moving out. Maybe he should give him a few more days.
TWENTY-SEVEN
DENI GOT HOME FROM THE NEWSPAPER AFTER DARK AND saw Craig’s Malibu parked in the driveway. Next to it sat Mark’s bicycle, chained to the lantern on the front lawn. What were Mark and Craig doing here together? This had to be awkward.
She opened the garage, pulled her bike in, and stepped into the kitchen. Her mother was buzzing around preparing for dinner. “Mom, what’s going on?”
Kay chuckled. “Just our latest mini-drama. The ongoing saga of your love life.”
She didn’t appreciate her mother’s humor. “Are they together?”
Kay pounded her bread dough with her fist. “Yeah, Mark came a few minutes ago. I told him you weren’t home, and he said he didn’t come to see you. He wanted to talk to Craig.”
“And you said yes?”
Kay rolled her eyes. “Deni, we’re talking about two grown men. They didn’t need my permission. It’s not my job to keep them apart. Besides, you think Mark’s going to attack him or something? That’s not his style.”
Deni looked into the living room. “Where are they?”
“Upstairs.”
Her heart sank. She turned back to her mom. “Did Mark look angry?”
“Not really. He was actually very pleasant. If you’re worried about it, go up and see what they’re talking about.”
“What do you think they’re talking about?” she whispered harshly.
Kay shrugged. “Maybe they’re flipping a coin.”
Deni caught her breath. “Mom!”
Kay abandoned her bread and came closer. “Deni, it’s not up to them; it’s up to you. You know who you want. And if it’s Mark, you need to encourage Craig to get his own place.”
“So what do you want me to do?” she whispered. “Pack his bags for him? I’ve been busy all day. I haven’t had time to find him a place to live.”
“You’ve been in love with Mark all these months, honey. You’ve been happier than I’ve ever seen you.”
“And nothing’s changed.”
“Well, it will if Craig has anything to say about it.”
“He doesn’t. But I don’t think Mark should badger him. What’s he gonna do? Try to convince him to live in his dad’s burned-out house?”
Kay smirked. “Maybe he’ll invite him to stay with him.”
“Yeah, that’ll be the day.” Deni went through the living room and looked up the staircase, trying to listen. She heard nothing — no yelling or crashing. Slowly, quietly, she went upstairs.
She saw Beth in her pink bedroom, lying on the bed, curled up with her knees to her chest. She glanced into her own room, and there were Mark and Craig, standing and talking in quiet voices, tense, like wolves about to tear into each other.
Neither had seen her, so she slipped into Beth’s room, and stood at the door, listening.
“What are you doing?” Beth asked, sitting up.
Deni glanced back at her. “Shh. Mark and Craig are in my room,” she whispered. “I want to hear what they’re saying.”
Beth pulled her feet under her. “Deni, what did you work on today?”
She waved her hand at Beth to silence her. She could hear Craig’s voice, calm and low.
“I’m not going to negotiate with you over Deni. All’s fair. May the best man win.”
“Deni?”
“Please!” Deni whispered. She watched Beth lie back down, then stepped closer to the door.
IN DENI’S ROOM, MARK STOOD WITH HIS BACK TO HER DORMER window, his arms crossed as he looked at Craig, wondering if he always spoke in lame clichés. Deni hadn’t mentioned that. “I didn’t come here to talk to you about Deni,” Mark said. “I came here to make you an offer.”
“An offer?” Craig asked. “What have you got that I would want?”
“A little knowledge,” Mark said.
Craig let out a hard laugh. “Um, I seem to remember that you don’t even have a college education, and I graduated from Georgetown University Law School. I doubt seriously there’s anything you can teach me.”
The barb stung. Mark hesitated, wondering if he should even go ahead with his plan. “I’m not here to one-up you, man. In the education department, you have me beat hands down.”
“Then I can’t wait to hear.”
Mark let his arms drop. “It’s about Christianity.”
Craig’s hard expression softened somewhat. “Okay.”
“I thought maybe you’d like to do a Bible study with me. There’s a lot to learn, and it can be confusing for a new believer sometimes. It helps to have somebody to do it with.”
Craig almost laughed. “Oh, I get it. You’re gonna rub my nose in the fact that I’m brand new at this. That there’s something you know that I don’t.”
Had Craig forgotten that he’d just been the one to rub his nose in his education? “The ground is level at the foot of the cross,” Mark said. He almost winced at his own cliché, but it was true. “What I mean is, it doesn’t take any special insight or education to be a Christian. All you have to do is surrender your life to Jesus in faith, and you’ve done that.”
“Yes, I have.” Craig’s tone was still defiant.
“But one of the Proverbs says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, s
o one man sharpens another.’ That’s what I was thinking we could do. Sharpen each other.” He smiled. “Spiritually speaking.”
Craig just stared at him, as if searching for a catch. “So this is not a joke? You really want to do a Bible study?”
“That’s right. You up for it?”
“And this has nothing to do with Deni,” Craig said.
Mark thought of denying it, but it wouldn’t be entirely true. “Well, if you want to know the truth, it has a lot to do with Deni. I figure she’s going to wind up with one of us, and whichever one it is, we could both do with a little Christian growth.”
Craig’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I’m not. Like you said, may the best man win. The choice is Deni’s. But either way, she deserves a godly Christian man. If you’re the one who wins, then I want you to make her happy.”
“So you’re going to teach me.”
“I thought we’d learn together. But if it makes you uncomfortable — ”
“I don’t need you telling me how to make Deni happy,” Craig said. “And I don’t want you testing me to see if I’m a sincere Christian.”
“I’m trusting that you are,” Mark said. “But if that threatens you, then let’s forget it. I don’t want to make you feel that way.”
“Oh, I’m not threatened,” Craig said, taking a couple of steps toward Mark and raising his chin. “In fact, I think it’s a great idea.”
His eyes showed neither joy nor delight, but a glint of competition. He reached out to shake Mark’s hand. Mark obliged.
“Let’s do it,” Craig said. “When do you want to start?”
“How about first thing in the morning? My house, say, six a.m.?” He could see that the early hour didn’t appeal to Craig, but he didn’t back down.
“All right. What do we start with?”
“Let’s each read the book of John before we get together tomorrow.”
“The whole book?” Craig asked. “In one day?”
“Sure. It’s only twenty-one chapters. But if you need more time, we can just go over what you do get done.”
Craig’s lips were tight. “I’ll get it done.”
“You’ll enjoy it more when you see the whole picture instead of taking it piecemeal. So I’ll see you at six in the morning, at my house?”
“No problem.”
Mark turned to leave. As he did, Deni stepped out of Beth’s room, surprising him. She was smiling, but her eyes were narrowed like Craig’s, as if she didn’t quite trust him. “What are you doing?”
His heart ached at the sight of her. He grabbed her hand, pulled her against him, and pressed a kiss on her lips.
Craig stepped out of the room, hands in his pockets. “How was your day?” he asked in a cool voice.
Deni pulled back and let Mark’s hand go. His heart sank. Not a good sign.
Her expression was tight as she looked at Craig. “My day was fine. How was yours?”
“Great,” Craig said.
Tension rippled around them. Mark thought of leaving, but he detested the idea of leaving her here with Craig, as if this was where he belonged. So he just stood there.
Beth came out of her room. “Deni?”
Deni didn’t even look back at her. “What?”
“I was just wondering,” Beth said. “I went out today and saw on one of the message boards that some guy named Blake Tomlin was missing. Did you report on that?”
Deni turned toward Beth. “Yeah, we got that report. My gut feeling is that he got his cash and took off for greener pastures.”
Beth’s cheeks flushed. “That’s pretty judgmental. What if something happened to him?”
She shrugged. “It’s possible.”
“It could be like when Jessie Gatlin went missing. You should write about it so people will be looking. Someone might know what happened to him.”
“We’ll see. You really love a good mystery, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t,” Beth said. “I just feel sorry for his family.” Cutting off the conversation, she went into Deni’s room and sat on the window seat.
TWENTY-EIGHT
MARK HAD GONE HOME BY THE TIME CHRIS CAME BY THE house. Instead of her nursing scrubs, she wore a pair of jeans that were a little too baggy for her small frame, and a bright aqua blouse that brought out the blue in her eyes. “I hope I’m not interrupting supper,” she told Deni. “Your family’s probably celebrating with a five-course meal now that they have some cash, huh?”
“We did that the other night.” Deni led her to the kitchen where she was washing dishes. “My parents can’t agree on how to spend it, so we had the usual — corn tortillas. And it took all of five minutes to choke down, so don’t worry about it.”
“It’s better than nothing. Keeps a little meat on your bones.” Chris lowered her voice. “So where is he?”
Deni scrubbed a plate in the bowl of sudsy water on the counter. “I assume you mean Craig?”
“Yeah. He’s staying here, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is, unfortunately. He’s upstairs.”
A smile lit up Chris’s eyes. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go up.”
Deni scrubbed the last few forks, rinsed them in the second bowl, and stacked them in the dishwasher to dry. “Wait a minute. Is that why you’re all spiffed up? Did you come over here to see him?”
Chris giggled and brought a finger to her lips. “Of course I did,” she whispered. “Since you don’t want him — I might.”
Deni just gaped at her.
Chris leaned on the counter. “You don’t care, do you?”
“No, I just . . .” She grunted. “Weren’t you one of the ones trying to convince me he was a jerk?”
She smirked. “I don’t recall using that word.”
“No, but you really didn’t think he was right for me. Why is he suddenly right for you?”
“Because he’s changed. And I’m lonely.” She shrugged. “I don’t want to marry the guy. I just want a little male companionship.”
Deni dried her hands. “Okay, whatever.”
Chris just looked at her. “You’re not okay with it, are you?”
Deni’s mouth fell open. “I’m fine with it.” She glanced through the living room to the stairs, hoping he wasn’t listening.
Chris slid her hands back into her pockets. “You know what? Never mind. Just forget I said anything.”
Deni felt like a jerk. Why shouldn’t Chris go out with him? It would get him off Deni’s back. “No, Chris. Really, I don’t mind. He’s just not good husband material. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“You sure you don’t still have feelings for him?” she whispered.
Deni almost choked. “Yes, I’m sure!”
Chris grinned. “Because if you do, can I have dibs on Mark?”
Deni shoved her. “What is wrong with you? No, you can’t have Mark!”
“Great,” Chris teased. “What self-respecting guy is going to commute by bicycle to see me? If I don’t take your cast-offs, then where will I be?”
“Mark is not my cast-off. And neither is Craig.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just die a spinster.”
What a drama queen. Chris had at least a dozen guys after her; she just didn’t like any of them. “A spinster? Chris, you’re twenty-three. Don’t make me kill you.” She headed for the stairs. “Come on, let’s go up.”
She led Chris up the stairs and found Craig in Beth’s room, paperwork laid out on her desk.
“Wow, all this looks really important,” Chris said as they stepped inside.
Craig looked glad to see her. “Hey, Chris. How are you?”
“Great.” She looked over his shoulder. “So is any of that telling you how to get our power back on?”
“Actually, it’s telling me where I need to deploy the people I hire to work at the power stations.”
Chris dropped onto Beth’s bed. “Well, it’s good to know somebody’s
working on it. You couldn’t by any chance have it on by Wednesday, could you?”
He laughed. “No, I don’t think so. Why Wednesday?”
“Because I’ve decided to throw a Supernova Burnout party. Wednesday’s my day off from the hospital.”
Deni dropped into the lime-colored easy chair next to the bed. “But Oak Hollow’s already giving a party.”
“So sue me. You can never have too much celebration. This’ll be at my house, for everyone in their twenties — married, single — just to get together, relax a little, and have a little fun. Oh, and I was thinking about getting your brother’s band to play, just to give us a little background music.”
“Sounds like fun,” Deni said.
“Good,” Chris said. “What about you, Craig? Are you too busy to come hang out with friends?”
Craig flashed Chris that charming smile of his. “I’ll make time.”
Chris’s eyes sparkled, and Deni shook her head. Her friend was way too obvious. “What can I bring?” Deni asked. “I have all the well water you could want.”
Chris laughed. “Don’t worry about the food. We have apples galore. We’ll have apple pie, apple hors d’oeuvres, apple cider . . . Do I sound like that guy in Forrest Gump with the shrimp?”
“A little.” Deni had long envied Chris’s family’s apple orchards. “That’ll be a draw.”
“Then I’ll put it in the invitations. I’m going to put a message up on the message board, and you guys tell anybody you see.” She went to Craig and leaned over the desk. “So you see how important it is to get our power turned on by then?”
Craig grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”
TWENTY-NINE
DENI WAITED UNTIL TEN O’CLOCK FOR MARK TO COME back over, as he did every night that he wasn’t working. But he never came. She realized with regret that she should have gone to him. He was clearly brooding about Craig and needed her reassurance. But it was too late to go out safely tonight.
Exhausted from a hard day’s work for the newspaper, she decided to go to bed. She glanced in Beth’s room. Craig sat at Beth’s desk, reading by the light of the oil lamp, hunched over a Bible.
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