by Elsie Davis
“A change in pace can do that for you. For me, it was coming home. Why mission trips?” Chad asked.
Now, this was a subject Rachel was all too ready to discuss. “I love to help others, bringing cheer to those who need it the most. Ever since I was little, my grandfather used to tell me I was God’s little helper. I loved the idea, and it stuck. Fast forward to adulthood, I now understand what he was saying a lot more.”
“And what’s that?”
“Everyone has gifts from God. It’s whether they choose to use them for his glory. For me, I have the helper gift. It’s why helping others brings me so much joy.”
“I see, I think, anyway.”
Rachel laughed. “Let me put it to you this way. Let’s say I tried to be a nurse thinking it was a great career choice and lots of money.”
“It would be. Nurses are in high demand,” he countered, settling into the back of his chair, his arms across his chest.
“But I don’t have a healing gift. Trust me, I've tried. But I’ve always struggled with the right words to say to someone sick or in the hospital. But tell me they needed their house cleaned or some food shopping done, and I would be happy to jump in and help. Nursing wouldn’t fill me with the joy I get from helping others who have a need.”
“You didn’t get the cooking gift either,” he teased, shooting her a wink. Leave it to Chad to bring the conversation full circle.
It was a fair statement, even if it was mocking her. “Ha-ha. But yes, that’s sort of my point.”
“Seriously, it’s great that you know what you want. Any idea where you’d like to go on these mission trips?”
More than he could imagine and more than she’d bore him with. It would take years to see all the places she wanted to visit. But one stood out above all the rest. “Alaska has been my dream, but those spots fill up fast.” She’d tried her senior year in high school, and every year after that, her timing was never good.
“Good place for you to meet one of those hunky men in Alaska, like the ones in the books my sister is always reading.” Chad chuckled.
Leslie did love a good romance, but that’s where Rachel believed she and her friend were different. Or at least, now she did. “Leslie still has the idea one day she’ll meet someone special, and that love might be just around the corner. Your sister is quite a romantic. Me, I think this whole thing with Alex has helped me to understand more about myself. I’m not cut out for a relationship or marriage. My God-given talent is helping others, not wife and mother.”
“Good thing, considering you can’t cook,” he teased, not letting this morning’s disaster come to a natural death.
“Chad—”
“I’m teasing.” He covered her hand in his. “And Rachel, I would like to apologize for my marriage comment yesterday. It wasn’t nice, especially given the day you had.”
“No, it wasn’t nice. But thank you.” Leslie’s brother was A-OK in her books, her crush secretly revived—or at least, the barest smidgeon of it. It was a strange feeling being snowed in with Chad, one that left her wondering more about him and his reasons for showing up unannounced. And if he could ask her questions, there was no reason she couldn’t ask him.
Chad stood as if uncomfortable with the turn in the conversation. He moved to the sink, rinsed his dishes, and put them in the dishwasher.
A man who did dishes was a man after her heart. Not that she wanted a man or anything considering she’d just come out of one relationship. Traveling around the world was her next exciting adventure. Still, if she was looking for romance—Chad McCarthy would undoubtedly have interested her.
Five
The snow still hadn’t stopped falling, and the wind was kicking up. The wind was good if it jumpstarted the storm front to move out of the area. Rachel didn’t relish digging her car out. But when the time came, she hoped Chad might lend a hand.
With the flurry of last-minute wedding details the last few days, Rachel had missed out on some of the more in-depth Bible study time she enjoyed. With plenty of hours at her disposal and nothing to do, it was the perfect opportunity to dive in. Not to mention, reading God’s word always left her with a sense of joy and contentment. She chose to stay in her bedroom, giving Chad plenty of space. It’s not like he planned on having company when he first arrived, and she knew he had work to do.
Thinking about her conversation with Chad, she chose peace as the topic of today’s readings. His comments had left her wondering about his relationship with God, but she wouldn’t pry. Long ago, she’d learned being a light to others meant being true to herself, letting her faith be a reflection of the joy in her life.
The morning passed much faster than she expected. The Bible had 329 verses where the word peace appeared, and Rachel found every one of them, reading the words out loud and soaking in their meaning. She stood and stretched, a big yawn escaping as she pushed back the lazy sleepiness clouding her brain.
Rachel went in search of Chad but didn’t find him anywhere in the cabin. Glancing out the kitchen window, a movement in the backyard caught her attention. It would seem Chad had dug out the snow around the woodpile and was loading logs in a bag. He slung it over his shoulder and headed for the cabin.
She moved away from the window, not wanting to be caught watching him.
Chad looked up as he entered through the back door, stomping his feet on the mat to get rid of the snow. “It’s cold out there,” he said, setting down the bag of wood and brushing the snow off his jacket.
“I can tell. Your cheeks are bright red.” She smiled, reaching for the bag of wood, intent on taking it to the fireplace to help. “I’ll take this in.”
“It’s heavy. I’ll get it in a second,” Chad said, sitting down on the chair to untie his boots.
Rachel lifted the bag and promptly set it down. It was heavier than she expected, not that she’d admit it to Chad. “Okay, Mr. Macho Man, have it your way. Do you want some hot cocoa?” she asked. “I’m sure you don’t mind me doing the little-lady activities.” Rachel grinned, unable to fight back the natural urge to taunt the guy. She could give as good as he did if she found her tongue in time, that is. Usually, the conversation had ended long before the perfect retort came to mind.
“I’m not sure. I like my cocoa brown, not black. Think you can manage not to burn it?”
The teasing light in his eyes was endearing and made it entirely impossible to take offense. Especially given he had a point. “The man makes a good point, but I think I can handle cocoa. Unless you’re offering?”
Chad picked up the oversized bag of firewood. “Have at it. Call it a chance at redemption. But for lunch, let’s stick to sandwiches and can goods. I’m hungry and don’t have time for do-overs.” He chuckled as he headed for the fireplace.
“Don’t push your luck, mister. Cocoa coming right up. And I’ll see what Chef Campbell is cooking up today,” she joked, having fun even though the joke was on her.
“Now you’re talking. Tomato is one of my favorites.”
Rachel nodded. “Lucky for you, it’s mine also. That and buttered bread. Yum.” Of course, her mother thought the canned soup wasn’t fit for the table, but luckily, Rachel’s grandfather hadn’t felt the same, and the two shared many cans of soup over the years. Fond memories, like tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches in an igloo they built together.
Chad paused and frowned. “That’s extra unnecessary carbs.”
“Mine to count,” she retorted.
“That’s true. Buttered bread it is since I just hauled in wood. I think I can afford a few extra carbs myself. Oh, and on second thought, skip the cocoa. Chocolate and tomatoes are not a combination that sounds like they would sit well in my stomach. Then I’d have to blame your cooking if I got sick,” he said, his eyes crinkling as he grinned.
Rachel shook her head. “Are you ever going to let me live down our burnt breakfast?”
“Probably not. It’s a fun memory, something I’ve had precious little of lat
ely.” Chad walked out of the room.
It was just as Rachel expected. Chad had some deep-seated issues that were troubling him. His cryptic comment was concerning, and over lunch, she intended to find out more. She’d already told Chad her gift was that of a helper, and instinctively she knew he needed help. But how far did one press for information to help before crossing the line into an invasion of their private space? It was a delicate balance, but one she had to aim for.
Rachel fixed lunch, stirring the soup constantly, unwilling to let anything go wrong. She wasn’t helpless in the kitchen, not by a long shot. This morning was simply a case of what could go wrong—would.
After pouring the soup into the bowl, she buttered and cut two slices of bread, arranging them around the sides of the bowl on the plate. Then, she carried them to the living room, careful to not let the bowls slide off. That was a disaster she absolutely couldn’t bear to happen.
She found Chad sitting by the fire and reading a book. He looked up as she approached, coming to his feet to help her set the tray down on the coffee table.
“Let me help,” he said.
“Thanks. I splurged and did two slices for each of us. Watch out for calories. Now, if we have turkey soup, it’s another matter entirely. Then we must have buttered crackers.” She laughed.
Chad had pulled out two TV trays, which made it easier to eat. Sitting across from each other made the setting cozier, the firelight dancing in the room. Rachel was surprised when he looked up at her. “I’ll let you ask the blessing.”
Pleased he remembered, Rachel couldn’t help but wonder if he would even volunteer to be the one to pray one of these times. She bowed her head and asked a short blessing, not one to keep a man and his meal apart. Especially not a hungry man. Too many times, people prayed, and by the time they finished, the food was cold. Their hearts were in the right place, but they used the opportunity to press a message instead of blessing with a captive audience.
When she finished, Chad picked up his spoon and started to eat.
“Hmmm. Now this hits the spot. You can cook.” He grinned.
“I can. Soup is always easy, so you’re safe.”
They fell silent, each more than a little hungry. Rachel tried to get up the nerve to ask him questions about his life, knowing Chad valued his privacy, but sometimes people needed other people. A burden shared was half the load.
She took a deep breath. “You asked about why I was here and I answered. I think it’s only fair that you share your story, given that Leslie thought you were still in Afghanistan. This return home must have been a recent development.”
Chad frowned but then visibly relaxed. “I’ve only been back a few days. Leslie didn’t know because I wanted to be alone and enjoy the quiet. No offense.”
“None taken.” It was true. Rachel had suddenly landed on his doorstep and she’d been forced to stay at the cabin. So far, he’d been fairly gracious about the whole thing.
He nodded. “If Leslie knew I was here, she would have barged in and started lining me up with activities. I’m just not ready for that. It’s a big adjustment getting out of the military.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize this was an out, like a permanent out. I thought you were on leave. And I’m sure you’re right about Leslie. She is always on the go. But I also know how much she’s missed you.” Rachel smiled. “So why did you get out?” She knew she was pressing her luck asking for more information, but she had to try.
Chad leaned back in his seat, gazing into the fire. “My contract was up, and I wanted something different.”
“I thought people in for as long as you were, become lifers. You know, like retire from the military.”
“They do. But sometimes things happen that change your mind.” His tone had grown distant.
Now they were getting somewhere. “Like what?”
“War isn’t pretty on any level. And you can’t unsee what you’ve seen.” Chad rose and moved to stand in front of the fire, his gaze trained on the flames as they licked higher when he added a log.
“I’m sorry.” It sounded lame and didn’t begin to cover the multitude of things she should say. She was usually good at this, but Chad, his wounds were deep. This might be something way over her pay grade. It wasn’t like she could do something for him to magically make things better.
“It’s all good,” he said, turning to face her. He was clearly trying to sound more upbeat. It was as though he’d retreated to some dark world and suddenly surfaced into the bright glow of sunshine. “I started working over at the community center building, trying to get it fixed up and reopened. I’m renovating the space to implement a kid’s program I intend to make a reality.”
“That sounds wonderful. What type of program?” Rachel asked, totally interested and not just because of the change it had brought about in Chad.
“It’s for the children of missing or deceased soldiers. It’ll be a sport and crafting camp, with the bonus of tutors being available to help with school deficiencies. Anything that adds joy to a kid's life who feels the light is missing after losing a parent. These kids are at risk after losing a parent. It’s an idea I’ve been thinking of and planning for over a year. When my contract came up for renewal, I left.” Chad’s voice had become animated, his passion for the project undeniable.
“What a great idea. Does that mean you’re planning on staying here permanently now?”
“I am. I’ve had my fill of traveling around the world.” The finality in his comment brought them full circle and right back to where she could sense the darkness shrouding him. A place she didn’t want to leave him. “But there is so much beauty out in the world…the other side of what you saw.”
Chad shook his head. “For me, there is no other side.”
“That’s an awful way to feel about life. There is so much good. That’s what I see on the mission trips. People helping people.”
He returned to his seat. “Your world, not mine. Eat up, your soups getting cold.”
In other words, end of discussion.
Rachel’s heart went out to him, but she was positive he wouldn’t appreciate her saying so. Chad had been a tough military soldier, and now he was a tough civilian man. She sensed there was way more to his story, information he clearly had no intention of revealing.
They ate the rest of the meal in awkward silence. Rachel stood at the same time as Chad, picking up her plate. “I’ll take these to the kitchen and rinse them off. Then, if you’re interested, you could set up the game of Life, and we could play, if you’re not afraid of losing, that is.” Rachel wanted to tease him back to a happy place.
“What about Stratego? Life is a little too girlie-girl for me, with all the marriage, kids, insurance, college, and financial elements added in.” Chad grinned, joining in the fun.
She was impressed. Life wasn’t a game she would have expected him to know anything about. “Fine. Just because you are a military guy, doesn’t mean you’ll beat me. I’m quite good at the game, and last I heard, you are ex-military.” Rachel grinned as she delivered her parting remark, her eyes twinkling in merriment.
“Former military,” he corrected. “And I’ve still got moves.”
Rachel finished rinsing the dishes and rejoined Chad, where he’d set them up on the coffee table, cushions on the floor as seats. It was all very cozy by the roaring fire. She sat down, turning the board around and picking up the box of pieces on his side of the table.
“Why do you get red?” he asked.
“Because you said you’ve got moves, and therefore, I should get the benefit of going first.” Rachel chuckled as she began setting up the pieces.
“Fair enough.” Chad didn’t take nearly as long as she did, the man knowing which piece he wanted and where to put it.
Rachel pondered over the placement, trying to put her bombs in strategic places, all while protecting her high-ranking officers. Finally, after moving them around several times, she was ready. “All set?” Rachel aske
d, knowing he was but making sure. She wouldn’t want to make a move and have him start adjusting his pieces again.
“Ready. May the best strategizer win.” Chad laughed, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.
Years in the sun had added lines to his face, but they didn’t detract from his good looks. If anything, they were more like lines of maturity, something she appreciated in direct contrast to Alex.
Move after move, they advanced and retreated on the board, calling out the rank of the pieces when they clashed. The lowest valued player won the battle, but it also alerted the other team to what you had on the spot, allowing them to figure out how to go after and eliminate the piece on the board.
Chad landed on one of her squares. “Four,” he called out.
“Seven.”
He plucked her piece off the board, grinning.
Rachel took her turn, choosing not to clash this time but instead to move a piece away from the center of the board, where Chad was determined to advance. She held her breath, waiting to see his next move.
He picked up his four but set it back down again.
Drat. Rachel wanted him to move it forward, knowing she had a surprise waiting for him if he did.
Chad looked up at her, a gleam in his eye. “I wonder if this is a safe piece. You haven’t moved him yet, but I don’t think you would put a bomb up in the front away from your flag.” He watched her closely.
Rachel forced herself to remain expressionless, not wanting to give anything away.
He picked up the four again and moved it forward. “Four.”
“Bomb!” She shouted, jumping to her feet and twirling around in a happy dance.
A deafening explosion sounded as glass shattered.
