Above All Else (Sandy Cove Series Book 7)

by Rosemary Hines

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Although the Chinese tradition did not allow for any special ceremony for Lily because showing respect for those younger than oneself was not acceptable, Erick held a Christian memorial service for her back at the Children’s Garden after her simple and silent funeral.

  While the image of her tiny coffin being lowered into the ground was replaying in Madison’s mind, she listened to Erick speak of Lily’s sweet spirit and contagious smile. Luke hugged Madison to his side as Erick prayed that Jesus would receive Lily unto Himself and that they would see her again one day, healthy and whole.

  All the children seemed to sense the soberness of the adults, and many were more sensitive and needy throughout the next few days. Madison tried to focus on them and their needs for any types of medical care or even just emotional support.

  Meanwhile, Chen was silent, never smiling and always watching Luke’s every move. He continued to stay with them in their residence, dividing Luke’s attention between Madison and the little boy. Although Madison understood Chen’s need for Luke, she felt equally needy when they finally escaped to their apartment at the end of each day.

  By the time Chen was bathed and asleep, Luke was also beginning to doze off. One night, after they’d been asleep for several hours, Madison awakened from another dream of Lily. Tears seeped out of her eyes and down onto her pillow. Although she didn’t want to awaken Luke, he reached for her in the dark and she collapsed into his arms sobbing softly so as not to disturb Chen, asleep across the room.

  Luke turned her face toward his, wiped her tears with his thumbs, and then cradled her to his bare chest. After all her tears were spent, she scooted up and kissed him. As they kissed and held each other, they began to make love in a way that was sweeter and deeper than ever before. They were learning to share more than their bodies. This time they shared their very souls.

  As they finally drifted off to sleep again, Madison felt a peace in her heart and an awareness that something had shifted in their marriage and lives. An unexplainable hope rose up within her, replacing the overwhelming grief over the loss of Lily.

  Caleb’s parents grounded him from after school time with his friends, requiring him to come directly home and work on his homework and chores. If he had a work shift at the Coffee Stop, he’d ride his bike there. Until he earned the money to pay for his traffic violation and his return flight from Arizona, he was restricted to work, work, work.

  As he was walking out to his bike after school one afternoon, he heard someone call his name. Turning, he spotted Adam heading in his direction. Wonder what he wants?

  “Hey, Caleb. I’m glad I caught you,” Adam said as he approached.

  Caleb could feel his defenses rising. Their last encounter had been so bad. But this time the guy was actually smiling. “Hey,” Caleb replied.

  “I got a call from Amber,” he said, “and I’ve been rethinking what I said at the studio. You’ve gotta admit, you caught me off guard with all this,” he added.

  “What did Amber say?” Caleb asked.

  “She was pretty ticked. Can’t say I blame her. But how was I to know that she wasn’t with anyone but me?”

  Caleb stared at him.

  “Anyway, we talked for a while, and she convinced me that it’s true—about you and me, I mean.”

  “So?”

  “So, I thought maybe we could start over. Like forget everything that happened at the studio and get to know each other a little,” Adam offered.

  Caleb hesitated, studying the man’s face. He looked sincere enough. Maybe he really meant it when he said he wanted to get to know him better. “You picked a lousy time. I’m pretty much grounded from life right now.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “I got a speeding ticket, and I kind of went out to Amber’s without telling my parents I was leaving.”

  Adam laughed. “Yeah, you sound like my kid, alright.” He paused for a moment and then said, “What if I offered to teach you private karate lessons again? Think your folks would go for that?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Where are you headed right now?” Adam asked.

  “I’ve gotta shift at the Coffee Stop.”

  “Why don’t I give you a lift? I can put your bike in the back of my truck,” he suggested. “Besides, I could use a cup of coffee.”

  “Okay, sure. Sounds good,” Caleb replied.

  Adam led him out to a beat up pick up truck parked across the street from the high school. Caleb hoisted his bike into the bed of the truck, and they took off for the Coffee Stop.

  After Caleb had changed into his work shirt with the restaurant logo on it, he clocked in and took Adam’s order. The place was pretty busy. A lot of the high school crowd hung out there for about the first half hour after class let out.

  Adam didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. Whenever Caleb passed by his spot at the counter, he’d say something casual but friendly.

  By three-thirty, the crowd had thinned to a few stragglers. Usually the ones who remained were more the loners from school. They’d hunker down on the couches or easy chairs with earphones isolating them from the sounds of the coffee shop as they either worked on homework or played a video game on a handheld device.

  “Want a refill?” Caleb asked Adam.

  “Nah. I’m good. But thanks,” he replied. “So, I’ve been thinking, and I wonder if your parents would let me teach you private lessons if I go and talk to them myself.” He gave Caleb a moment and then asked, “What do you think?”

  “Uh…I don’t know. Maybe.”

  Adam slapped his hands onto his knees, “Okay, settled. I’ll go talk to them. Want me to come by when you get off and give you a lift home? That way I could meet your folks.”

  “Sure. Sounds good. I’ll be off at six,” Caleb replied.

  Standing up, Adam pulled a couple of bucks out of his pocket and dropped them on the counter. “For you,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see you at six.”

  Caleb scooped up the tip and crammed it into his jeans. Maybe he and Adam would become friends after all.

  Michelle was stirring the spaghetti sauce when she heard Caleb come in. He was talking to someone, as the two of them approached the kitchen.

  “Hey, Mom,” her son said. “I’d like you to meet someone.”

  A man stood beside her son, and just by looking at him, she knew in an instant who it was. The resemblance was uncanny.

  “This is Adam, my…uh…karate instructor,” Caleb said.

  Michelle’s throat tightened as fingers of anxiety wrapped around it and threatened to squeeze the breath out of her. All she could manage was an acknowledgment. “Adam,” she said.

  “Ma’am,” he replied, extending his hand toward her.

  She hesitated for a second and then reached out and grasped it. His handshake was firm but moist. So he felt nervous, too. Good to know. Next, she shot Caleb a questioning look.

  As if reading her mind, her son explained, “Adam came by school today and gave me a lift to work.”

  “Oh really?” she asked. Why the sudden friendliness? And why would Caleb accept a ride from the guy?

  “Yeah. Then we hung out while I worked.”

  “I see,” she replied.

  “I thought maybe he could stay for dinner so you and Dad could get to know him,” Caleb added.

  Adam jumped in with, “I don’t want to impose or anything. Sure smells great, but it’s fine if this isn’t a good time. The dinner idea was Caleb’s.”

  Michelle studied him for a moment. He seemed to really be trying, maybe even too hard. Might be a good idea to let him stay and see if she and Steve could get a feel for what was going on between him and Caleb. He’d clearly crushed their son not long ago. Now he was all smiles and friendliness. Something didn’t jibe. “It’s no problem,” she said. Then turning to Caleb, she added, “Your father will be home in about ten minutes and we’ll eat soon after that.”

  “Okay, cool,” he repli
ed. “Adam and I will be up in my room.”

  As Adam brushed past her, Michelle gave him a warning look. He tipped his head in acknowledgment and then followed Caleb out of the kitchen.

  Michelle was adding a place setting to the table when Steve walked in. He looked beat. Not the best night for a guest. Especially Adam.

  “Hi, hon,” he said as he set his briefcase down and tugged at the knot of his tie. Leaning over and giving her a kiss, he added, “Smells delicious in here.”

  “Thanks. How was your day?” she asked.

  “One headache after another. But I think I’ve resolved most of the issues with that merger, so hopefully the worst is over.” He pulled out a chair and started to sit down. “Four placemats? Did I forget something?”

  Michelle touched his shoulder lightly and then sat down beside him. “No. We have a surprise guest.”

  Steve’s eyebrows rose.

  “Caleb brought Adam over and invited him for dinner.”

  “What? You’re kidding right?” Steve looked more than troubled.

  Cringing, Michelle shook her head. “Sorry, babe. I’m not kidding. They’re up in his room as we speak.”

  “But I thought Caleb was finished with the guy,” Steve said, raising his voice a bit.

  Michelle reached over and put her hand on his. “I’m really sorry about springing this on you, especially after the day you’ve had today. But they just showed up here. And before I knew it, I was agreeing to letting him stay for dinner.” She explained how Adam had come to the high school and found Caleb and that they’d spent the afternoon at the Coffee Stop together talking between customers. “Caleb thought it would be good for us to get to know him.”

  “Really,” Steve said sarcastically. Scrubbing his hands over his face, he pushed away from the table and stood up. “I’m going to change clothes before dinner. What time are we eating?”

  “It’s ready whenever you are. Maybe you can tell the guys to come downstairs after you’re finished changing,” she suggested.

  He just nodded and walked out of the room.

  By the end of dinner, two things were clear to Steve. Adam’s complete turn around with Caleb was masking a hidden agenda. And Caleb was completely deceived by his charm. After Adam left, Steve decided to have a chat with his son.

  “So, I was really surprised you brought Adam home. I thought you’d called it quits with him,” he said.

  “Yeah, well, maybe I was too hasty,” Caleb replied. “After all, I did spring the news about me on him. Wouldn’t you kind of freak out if some high school guy showed up and did that to you?”

  “I understand about his surprise, son, but he said some slanderous and inappropriate things about Amber, too. And he made it very clear he didn’t want to have anything to do with you.” He paused to let his words sink in, and then he asked, “What changed all that?”

  Caleb shrugged. “I don’t know, Dad. He just seemed so different today. And he apologized for what he’d said.”

  Steve didn’t want to upset him, but he didn’t want his son to be hurt more down the line. “I hate to say this, but here’s what I think, Caleb. I think Adam has some kind of ulterior motive here. Something’s not right.”

  Caleb glared at him. “You always think the worst about people. Besides it probably bugs you that he wants to get to know me. You can at least give him a chance. I’m going to.” He stood up and walked out of the room.

  Steve winced inwardly. Maybe he was a little uneasy about what it might mean if Caleb developed a close relationship with his biological father. But that didn’t stop the feeling in his gut that something was off. Maybe it was the attorney in him, but he’d learned to read people pretty well. And this guy did not add up.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  True to his word, Caleb did give Adam a chance. In fact, Caleb poured himself into private lessons with Adam, draining much of his wallet in the process. It bothered him a little that he had to pay to have his own biological father teach him martial arts, but the guy did have his own bills to pay, right? And this was his bread and butter.

  Besides, the more time Caleb invested in their relationship, the more certain he was that Adam was softening to the idea of attending church with Caleb and his family. Then maybe Caleb’s parents wouldn’t be so judgmental about Adam.

  Sometime during each week of lessons, Caleb would find an opportunity to say something casual about church. Often he would add a subtle invitation. But Adam didn’t seem to pick up on it.

  Finally, one Friday as they were walking out to the parking lot after his lesson, Caleb decided to ask Adam point blank if he’d like to join them on Sunday.

  “Sure, kid. That sounds interesting,” Adam replied.

  Caleb cringed inwardly about the ‘kid’ reference, but he went ahead and set up a meeting time and place for right before the second service. “So I’ll see you by the walkway at the north end of the parking lot at quarter ‘til ten?”

  “Yep. I’ll be there,” Adam replied.

  When Caleb got home, he quickly tracked down his father in his study. “Guess what, Dad?”

  “What?” Steve asked, looking up from his paperwork.

  “Adam’s going to meet us at church on Sunday. Pretty cool, huh?”

  His father hesitated, looking at him with raised eyebrows. “I guess.”

  “You guess? What’s that supposed to mean?” Anger coursed through Caleb’s veins, and he wanted to shake his dad. “Aren’t we supposed to share our faith? Isn’t that the most important commandment?”

  “Well, now if memory serves me correctly, the most important commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind,” Steve replied, his voice softening some.

  “And love your neighbor as yourself, right?” Caleb challenged. “So this is my way of loving my neighbor—inviting him to church.”

  Steve nodded. “That’s fine, son. And I hope he comes.”

  Caleb bristled. “He will.”

  That Sunday, Caleb was the first one ready for church. He urged his parents to hurry up, so he wouldn’t be late to meet Adam. With Christmas around the corner, he was really hoping for a miracle that would draw his biological father into their faith and bridge the gap between Caleb’s parents and Adam.

  As they were about to walk out the door, Michelle remembered that she’d promised to bring a book to her mom, and she headed back into the house to find it.

  “Great,” Caleb muttered. “Now I’ll be late.”

  “I’m sure Adam will wait for you,” Steve replied, starting the car so they could pull out as soon as Michelle returned.

  When they pulled into the parking lot, Caleb asked his dad to drop him off at the north end of the lot. “We’ll meet you guys inside,” he added as he climbed out of the back seat.

  After his parents pulled away, Caleb searched for Adam. Maybe he’d wandered toward the entrance of the sanctuary looking for Caleb since he was running a little late. Approaching the front door, he spotted Logan. “Hey!” he called out.

  “Hey,” Logan replied. “What’s up?”

  “I’m looking for Adam. He was going to meet me here today.”

  “Adam? You mean Adam as in… your martial arts teacher?” Logan asked, clearly groping for the right title.

  “Yeah. Have you seen him?”

  Logan shook his head. “Hope he shows,” he added, giving Caleb a pat on the shoulder before walking away.

  Turning toward the parking lot again, Caleb could see his parents approaching. Wouldn’t his dad be thrilled if Adam didn’t show up? Caleb felt his defenses rising. Surely Adam would be here any minute, right?

  Plastering a smile on his face, he waved to his folks. Steve glanced back over his shoulder, clearly checking for Adam’s arrival, while Michelle returned Caleb’s wave and smiled back. “Any sign of him?” Steve asked as they walked up to Caleb.

  “Not yet. I’ll just wait for him out here. Save us a couple of seats, okay?” Caleb replied.
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br />   His father nodded. “Okay, son. But don’t wait too long.”

  Michelle gave Caleb a sympathetic smile and took Steve’s hand as they entered the sanctuary.

  Gazing out to the lot, Caleb could see that most of the activity of parking and walking had subsided. The lot was full, with the exception of a couple of places in the far back corner, so he kept his eye on those.

  The praise and worship team began singing, and the music wafted out through the open windows and door. Caleb began to feel a little funny standing out there alone staring at the parked cars. After about ten minutes and two late-arriving families hurrying past him, he sighed and turned to go inside, disappointment and frustration battling for his heart.

  Pastor Ben’s teaching that morning was on the prodigal son. As Caleb listened, he thought about Adam and how much he needed to know the love of God, represented as the father in the story, who eagerly awaited the return of his wayward son. Certain that Adam would give his life over to God if he just heard the message, Caleb’s frustration grew.

  What was happening here? He’d prayed and asked God to make Himself real to Adam, and he’d had finally persuaded the man to come to church. The message was perfect for his biological father, and yet he was nowhere to be seen.

  Although Caleb was mostly disappointed in Adam, he was also upset with God. Surely God could have gotten Adam to church that morning, right? And didn’t scripture say that He was not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance? So why hadn’t He made sure Adam was there to hear the sermon?

  Steve glanced over at his son. He could see how upset Caleb was feeling, and it made Steve angry with Adam for once again bailing on the boy. He hoped Caleb had picked up on the message of the teaching—the love of a father for his son—a love that Steve had for him.