Duty to Defend

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  Clearing her throat, she returned her attention to Jax. “Since he’s already in for multiple life sentences without chance for parole, he had nothing to lose by telling the truth. Apparently, he found it quite the rush to massacre everyone at that party and pin it on the guest passed out in the corner.” She hauled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “At least, now an innocent man will be freed from prison.”

  Jax reached over and took her hand. “I’m sorry you had to hear something so horrible without anyone there to support you. If you had called me, I would have been there for you.”

  “You would?” Her fingers involuntarily closed around his.

  “Always.”

  Daci’s eyes widened at the intensity in his gaze. “Really?” The word came out a squeak.

  “Absolutely. Daci, I—Well, would you consider—I mean, I’d like us to—”

  A sudden tattoo of footsteps on the porch boards interrupted Jax’s stammering. They both stiffened. Daci got up, and Jax followed on her heels. She peered through the peephole.

  “No one is there,” she told Jax.

  “At least no one standing in front of the peep,” he added.

  “I’m going to look outside.”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  “Check.”

  She pulled the inner door open and the wider view through the screen door showed an empty porch. Almost empty anyway. Another basket sat at her feet. From what she could make out, it contained more baby items that were no doubt as rotten as the first ones. A sharp sound from the neighboring house signified its screen door banging shut. A hint of comprehension quivered through Daci.

  Jax pulled out his cell and started pecking. “I’m calling the police.”

  Daci wrapped her hand around the phone, stopping him. “There’s no threat in this strange gift. I think one of the residents next door is trying to get my attention. Let’s go see.”

  Without waiting for agreement, she stepped outside. An odd sense of anticipation filled her as she picked up the basket by its handle and headed for the group home. Jax caught up with her within a few strides, and she offered him a reassuring smile. His answering scowl said he wasn’t convinced this was a good idea.

  The worker on duty let them in, and they found the residents enjoying a snack in the kitchen. A chorus of greetings welcomed them. The resident she’d never met before, only heard about as an autistic computer savant, appeared to be winded slightly from recent exertion. At sight of the basket, the young woman turned beet red, confirming Daci’s suspicion.

  “I believe you left this for me,” she said in a gentle tone. “Your name is Paige. Right? Would you mind if we talked in private for a little while?”

  Without meeting her gaze, the young woman nodded slowly and accompanied them into the living room. They all sat down, and Paige turned wary eyes on the basket Daci placed on the coffee table between them.

  “Don’t worry,” Daci said to her. “You’re not in trouble.”

  “You’re not going to arrest me for stealing things from Jewel’s sister’s diaper bag?”

  “I don’t think an arrest is likely to happen.” Jax’s tone was stern. “But you did scare Daci.”

  Daci turned her head toward him. “It’s okay, Jax. I just want to find out what is motivating the behavior.” Her attention shifted to Paige. “I think you’re angry with me for some reason that has to do with babies.”

  The young woman nodded, lowering her gaze to her hands folded in her lap.

  “Could you explain to me why you’re angry?” Keeping her tone soft and soothing was a struggle against the excitement growing within her.

  Paige’s hot and wounded gaze flickered to hers and then fell away. “When the others told me about our new neighbor, I recognized your name right away. I know what you did. You took care of the others, but you sent him away. You hurt him very much.”

  “Who?” Jax burst out.

  Scarcely daring to breath, Daci placed a cautioning hand over his. “Yes, who did I send away?”

  “My friend. He knows who you are. I showed him lots of things about his family on the internet. He knows you raised his brothers and sisters, but you didn’t want him!”

  Daci’s heart shivered into tiny pieces. “Ah, Paige, you’re wrong. I wanted him very much, but I was only a child myself—just ten years old when he was born. I had no say in what happened. I was told he was dead. Do you know where he is?”

  At the young woman’s nod, tears sprang from Daci’s eyes. Jax’s arms closed around her, and she collapsed against his chest.

  I’ve found you, Niall. You’re alive, and I’ve found you. Thank You, Jesus!

  The tiniest chill closed around her heart. He thought she’d rejected him. Would her little brother welcome her into his life?

  * * *

  A week later, Jax laid a comforting hand against the small of Daci’s back as they stood in the parking lot gazing at the sprawling building of Yeshua House in the same neighborhood of Springfield where she lived. How amazing that he’d been so close to her, and she’d had no knowledge.

  Here, her youngest brother had lived all of his twenty-two years. The three-story, redbrick structure, surrounded by neatly trimmed landscaping, displayed flashes of character in the brightly colored shutters framing the many windows and in the ornate porticos that surrounded the three front doorways. The central double doors were emphasized by an extrawide portico.

  “I was afraid the place would look sterile and cold,” Daci murmured. “It definitely has an institutional flavor, but with an Ivy League college vibe. This might not be so bad if it’s set up homey inside.”

  “Are you ready to go in?”

  She looked up at him, her smile a bit wobbly. “I’m so thankful Niall agreed to see me. But even with seven days to prepare myself mentally and emotionally, I’m still scared stiff.”

  “It’ll be all right. I’ll be here for you every moment. I’m honored you asked me to go on this journey with you.”

  “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather lean on.”

  Jax’s heart expanded almost too big for his chest, but he consciously dialed down the wattage of his expression to friendly kindness. They hadn’t yet had the discussion about a future for them as a couple that he’d intended to start a week ago at her house. The timing hadn’t been right.

  “What about your siblings?” he said in a teasing tone. “Might be good role reversal to lean on them for a change.”

  Daci laughed. “Are you kidding? They’re as nervous over this as I am. Besides, Niall’s counsellor felt that meeting more than one of his siblings at a time might overwhelm him.”

  “The slow and careful route is best for all, I think.”

  “Let’s do this then.” She stepped toward the building, her face resolute.

  Inside, the place was indeed set up home-style, with an attractively decorated entry area leading into a large, inviting living room. The reception desk was tucked unobtrusively into the back of the space.

  Immediately, a petite, gray-haired woman dressed in work-casual gray slacks and lavender blouse stepped toward them, hand extended. “You must be Candace Marlowe and Jaxton Williams. I’m Mary Blythe, Niall’s psychologist and primary counselor. Call me Mary.”

  “Call me Jax,” he said, and shook the offered hand.

  “Daci, please.” She shook hands in turn.

  “Well, Jax and Daci, let’s have a little chat before we go see Niall.”

  She led them up a hall and into a small, neat office and took a seat behind the desk. Jax and Daci settled into padded guest chairs.

  The woman’s green eyes twinkled at them behind thick glasses. “Niall has been very excited for you to visit, though it’s good you agreed to let us have this week to prepare him. We all tend to resist change, but FAS folk are typically less easily ada
ptable than most.”

  “We understand.” Daci nodded. “If locating him has been an incredible shock for me and my siblings, we can only imagine what it’s been like for him—especially since he had the idea we didn’t want him.”

  Mary’s gaze went solemn. “On behalf of Yeshua House staff, we apologize for unwittingly fostering that impression. While our Christian values prohibit us from lying, for his sake, while Niall was growing up, we did not volunteer any information to him about his family and hoped he would continue to be content with our love and care. However, he eventually did insist upon specifics a number of years ago, and we shared the minimum information he would allow—his parents’ names, the fact that they were dead, etc. Though, of course, we didn’t go into the nature of their deaths. When he didn’t revisit the conversation, we thought he had forgotten all about it, which is possible for people with his diagnosis, but apparently he and this computer-skilled friend of his have been researching the Marlowe family ever since.”

  Daci’s heart wrenched. “When you had to tell my brother who his family was, wouldn’t that have been the time to have contacted me about him?”

  Mary sighed. “Unfortunately, our hands were tied as far as initiating contact, though it’s a different story now that you have discovered him another way. When he was brought here as an infant, it was among the stipulations tied to the blind trust set up for his care that we do nothing to bring him to the attention of his siblings, especially you.”

  Daci’s nostrils flared. “In other words, my parents paid you to hide him from me.”

  Mary winced and lowered her gaze.

  Jax wound his fingers around the stiff digits of Daci’s right hand. “I know you sometimes struggle with anger against your parents over lots of things they did that weren’t right or good. But in this case, I believe your mom and dad actually thought this decision through, and tried to do what was best for all of you.”

  She whipped her head toward him, her gaze fierce. “How can you say that? He was my brother. He—”

  “Could they have cared for him?”

  “Would they have cared for him is the better question, and the answer is no. Caregiving was not in their nature or their character, especially for a child with special needs.”

  “Exactly. At the age of ten, would you have been able to give him the care he needed?”

  Daci opened her mouth, but remained mute. Her eyes nearly crossed as she visibly struggled with the answer. Finally, she slumped in her seat. “They could have at least let me know where he was. That he was okay, instead of lying to me that he was dead. I could have stayed in touch with him.”

  “In that respect, I think the total break was more about your mother’s feelings of guilt over Niall’s condition.”

  Daci sniffed. “You may be the only one in the room without a degree in psychology, but I think you may have nailed that one.” She looked toward Mary. “Please accept my apologies. I’m very protective of my siblings.”

  “Apology accepted. Daci, you remind me of your brother.”

  “I do?” Her eyes went wide.

  “Passionate, selfless, giving. We’ve been blessed to rear and nurture that young man. The word ‘yeshua’ is Hebrew for the name Jesus, and it means safety and well-being. This is the foundation we try to provide for our residents as they struggle with both their limitations and their sometimes unusual capabilities.”

  “Sounds to me like you at Yeshua House have behaved toward him exactly like a family is supposed to do,” Jax said. “He’s been blessed to be here.”

  Daci nodded slowly. “I guess I have to say thank you for all you’ve done for my brother.”

  Mary laughed. “I’ll accept that reluctant gratitude. Hopefully, the feeling will come more naturally after you meet Niall. Follow me.”

  They went out into the hallway and boarded an elevator.

  Mary punched in the number three. “He has chosen to meet his sister in his studio.”

  “Studio!” Daci stared at the other woman as the elevator climbed.

  Jax let out a soft hum. “Unusual capabilities?”

  Niall’s psychologist adopted a secretive smile, but said nothing further.

  They left the elevator, walked up another hallway and stopped in front of a door. The top half was frosted glass, so nothing within could be seen, but an odd whirring sound carried through the barrier.

  Beside him, Daci swayed back and forth as her weight shifted one way then the other—the adult version of hopping from foot to foot in nervous anticipation. If it would have been the least bit appropriate for him to hug and reassure her, Jax would have done it, but her attention was anywhere except on him. As it should be.

  Mary turned toward him. “Niall wants to meet his sister alone first.”

  Jax stepped back, and Mary followed suit.

  “Go ahead,” she urged Daci. “He’s expecting you.”

  Daci’s hand gripped the lever-style door latch. Her knuckles were white. She glanced over her shoulder with wild eyes and met Jax’s gaze.

  “God is in this,” he said softly.

  Slowly, her whole being visibly relaxed, and she smiled. “Yes, He is.”

  Daci opened the door and went inside. Jax’s heart went with her.

  * * *

  Three hours later, Daci stood with Jax on the porch outside her apartment, still unable to contain the excitement that bubbled within her like fizz in a shaken can of soda. Spontaneously, she threw her arms around Jax.

  “He’s amazing!”

  “So you’ve been telling me.” His chuckle rumbled in her ear pressed to his chest.

  Cheeks heating, Daci pulled away from him. He must think she was a complete nut, babbling nonstop about her visit with Niall and now hugging him out of the blue.

  His hand came up and cupped her cheek while his thumb traced her cheekbone. Her heart nearly tripped over itself.

  A tender smile lit his face. “How often does a person find out their long-lost brother is an award-winning potter? I’m so happy for you.”

  “I can hardly believe it.” She held up a gracefully curved vase glazed with elegant swirls of gold and blue. “As soon as he was told I wanted him after all, my sweet, forgiving baby brother got busy and made this for me. He does the glaze and everything, but not the firing. For safety’s sake, the art supervisor does that. I mean, Niall struggles to write his name, but those same hands form something like this on a potter’s wheel. How can that be? I’m just...just...”

  “Amazed?” Jax’s gaze was teasing.

  “Right.” She laughed. “Sure, he has some of the distinctive FAS facial features, but he also looks like a family member with our particular shade of brown eyes and stubborn chin.”

  “I’d call it a determined chin. Very attractive, by the way. Like the rest of you.”

  Daci gaped up at him. Did he genuinely find her attractive?

  His lips curved in a wry smile. “Candace Marlowe, you are one of the smartest, most discerning women I know, but I see I’m going to have to spell out for you what I’ve been trying to say for a while now.”

  His arms tugged her close, and she gazed into his crystal-blue eyes, speechless.

  “I’m crazy about you,” he continued. “In the past five years, you’re the only woman who has made me want to love again. You could be a trapeze artist without a net for all that the risks of your career matter to me anymore. I’m done protecting my heart in a cage of my own making. The only question is, how do you feel about me?”

  With a soft sob, Daci buried her nose in the lapel of his polo shirt. His wood-spice scent failed to dizzy her head half as thoroughly as his declaration had done. She lifted her face to his.

  “I think this day just went from wonderful to perfect. Jaxton Williams, you’re in for more trouble than you can handle, because I’m never letting you go.
”

  “Bring it on,” he murmured as his warm lips found hers.

  * * * * *

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  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from DEADLY EXCHANGE by Lisa Harris.

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  Dear Reader,

  With drug-and-alcohol addiction a widespread problem throughout the world, it is dismaying the number of children profoundly impacted from birth and throughout their lives by the substance abuse of their parents. FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is a type of birth disability traced directly to the mother’s consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. The amount consumed does not need to be frequent, regular or in large amounts in order to affect the infant developing in the womb.

  FAS children do not always have the outward characteristics described in this novel and may appear physically normal, though their brains are deeply affected. While many birth disabilities are genetic in nature, FASD is 100 percent preventable and dependent on the parents’ wise choices to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

  In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a fact sheet estimating that one out of twenty school-age children may be suffering from some level of FASD. Unfortunately, the number may be much higher, because alcohol-related disabilities are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is working to raise awareness among health-care providers and the public. For more information, including symptoms to look for in a child, go to www.nofas.org.

  I hope Daci’s story has given you cause to think outside the box about socioeconomic status and substance abuse related to child neglect and endangerment. Wealth did little to help Daci in her growing-up years, and poverty did not stop Serena from passionately seeking whatever help she needed to change her behaviors and raise her own child.