A Time to Love (38 page)

When Linda stood up, Blake put an arm around her, and together they praised the Lord for His goodness and for answered prayer.

As they sat down to finish their meal, Linda said, “I feel sorry for Janet. What a mess she’s made of her life.”

“I know, honey. All we can do is pray for her and commit her into God’s hands.”

They ate silently for a few minutes, then Linda said, “What will we do about Billy’s name? Since we can’t legally adopt him, his last name can’t be Barrett. But it’s going to be very awkward as he grows up.”

Blake thought on it for a moment. “We can’t use Carter for his
name, Linda. It would just make things too difficult. He’ll have our name, even though it’s not official.” He looked down at the happy baby in the cradle and said, “Hello, William Nolan Barrett. Welcome to your permanent home. Your permanent mommy and daddy love you with all their hearts.”

It was almost as if little Billy understood, for his eyes sparkled and a smile curved his lips.

Linda sent a letter to Nolan and Adrienne Forrest, informing them of Janet’s running away and leaving Billy with them.

The Forrests were disappointed that Janet hadn’t changed, but they were glad that Blake and Linda were going to raise little Billy as if he were their own.

Time moved on.

On May 28, 1882, little William Nolan Barrett turned two years old. His parents gave him a party, and several families from the church came.

Billy laughed and giggled and had a great time.

Blake and Linda continuously praised the Lord for the way He had worked in their lives, primarily for giving them a son. He had also prospered the Stockton Bank and Trust Company. And they were superbly happy in their church.

Blake and Linda fell deeper in love every day, and life was beautiful.

On the Saturday following Billy’s second birthday, Blake was at the barn, greasing the wheels of the two family buggies, when movement caught his eye. He focused on the lane that led from the road and saw a man walking toward the house in the shade of the trees.

The man was too far away for Blake to identify. He put more grease on a wheel and waited for the man to draw nearer.

When the stranger disappeared past the corner of the house, Blake followed to see who he was and what he wanted.

Billy’s bedroom was right next to the master bedroom. Linda laid him in his little bed and said, “All right, son. Time for your afternoon nap. Give Mommy a big kiss.”

The child hugged her neck and planted a juicy kiss on her cheek. “Doo-night, Mommy.”

“Good night, sweetheart,” she said, smiling. For Billy, any time he was put in bed was “Doo-night.”

Linda stroked his head tenderly for a moment and watched his eyes close. Within seconds, Billy was asleep.

Her lower lip quivered as she said in a whisper, “Thank You, Lord. Thank You for letting me be Billy’s mommy.”

She tiptoed from the room, went downstairs to the kitchen, and opened the pantry door. Just as she was taking a small sack of flour from a shelf, she heard a knock at the front door.

Linda hurried down the hall, humming one of her favorite hymns. She opened the door, then froze at the sight of a familiar face. Her face drained of color, and a shaky hand went to her throat as she gasped, “Lewis!”

Linda was vaguely aware of the back door opening and closing as Lewis Carter stood at the front door and removed his hat.

He looked at her nervously and said in soft voice, “Linda, I’m sorry to show up at your door like this, but I—”

“What’s going on?” came Blake’s steady voice as he drew up, noting Linda’s pallor. “Who is this man, Linda?”

She was still trying to find her voice when the stranger said, “Mr. Barrett, I’m Lewis Carter.”

Blake felt as if he’d been hit by lightning. There was a sudden dangerous look in his eyes as he jutted his jaw and said huskily, “What do you want?”

Linda glanced at Blake. A fearful look crossed her features, but Blake dispelled it with a gentle smile. He then looked at Lewis for the answer to his question.

“Mr. Barrett, I … I’m not here to cause you or your wife a problem.” Then he turned to Linda, “I’m looking for Janet.”

“Why did you come here?” Linda asked, taking hold of Blake’s hand.

His strong, comforting arm went around her waist.

“I’ve tried for nearly two years to find her. I … I went to your parents’ home in Boston shortly after Janet left me, but your father wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise. He told me to leave or he would call the police.”

“Can you blame him?” Linda asked, her voice edged with ice.

Lewis looked at her blankly, then scrubbed a hand across his mouth. “I suppose not.”

“So what brought you here?” Blake said. “What makes you think we would know where Janet is?”

“Well, sir, just recently—a couple of weeks ago—I stumbled onto an old girlfriend of Janet in Boston, and she told me that Janet had gone to Stockton, California, a couple of years ago, to see her sister. I thought maybe you would know her whereabouts. I arrived here by stagecoach from Sacramento this morning, and someone in town was nice enough to tell me where you live.”

“Janet was here two years ago, Mr. Carter,” Blake said, “and stayed with us for a while. But one day she left quite suddenly without notice, and we haven’t seen her since. We have no idea where she went. That’s all I can tell you.”

As he spoke, Blake gently pulled Linda back, and started to close the door.

Lewis raised his palms and said, “Please, Mr. Barrett.

Blake checked the swing of the door.

“I don’t blame you for feeling hostile toward me, sir,” Lewis said. “You know what I did to Linda. And it was a vile and wicked thing to do. Linda wouldn’t have married you unless you were a Christian. May I ask you, as a Christian, sir, to allow me a few minutes to make my apology to her?”

Blake looked at Linda and said, “Whatever you say, honey.”

When Linda turned back to Lewis, his eyes were filled with tears.

“All right, Lewis,” she said. “Say what you want to say.”

Lewis Carter’s lips quivered and his hands shook. “Linda, first let me explain that I was a hypocrite when I courted you. I claimed to be a Christian, but I wasn’t. I’m now a genuine child of God by the new birth through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This got their attention, and they listened as Lewis told of how his guilt over what he’d done to Linda had driven him to seek help from a pastor in Manhattan. The pastor had led him to Jesus. When Lewis went home and told Janet he wanted to found their home on the Word of God, she had flown into a rage and left him.

Lewis poured out his heart to Linda, admitting that what he’d done was horribly wrong, and with tears he asked her forgiveness.

Both Barretts were touched by Lewis’s sincerity.

After a long moment, Linda said, “Lewis, I believe you’re truly saved. You’ve asked for my forgiveness … and you have it.”

Overwhelmed, Lewis wiped tears from his face and said, “Thank you, Linda. I only deserve your wrath and scorn. Thank you.”

“Lewis, I only deserve God’s wrath and scorn,” she said. “He forgave me, so I can forgive you.”

“Would you like to come inside, Lewis?” Blake asked.

Lewis’s eyes widened. “Why, yes, sir. I would be honored.”

When they were seated in the parlor, Linda said, “Lewis, I’m happy to know you’re now a genuine Christian. When you ran off with my sister, I told myself no real Christian would have done such a thing.”

“And you were right.”

“So Janet left you because you got saved and wanted to live for the Lord?” Blake asked.

“That’s right. She said she liked the life she was living, and she wasn’t going to change. It was then she got mad and left me.”

Blake and Linda exchanged glances, recalling how Janet had told them of Lewis’s beating her and abusing her mentally. His sincerity had convinced them it was Lewis who was telling the truth.

Lewis looked at Blake and said, “I appreciate you allowing me to make my apology to Linda, sir. Thank you.”

Blake nodded. “I’m glad you were willing to apologize to her.”

“And Linda … now that you’ve forgiven me, my big concern is for Janet. I really did come to love her, and I’ve got to try to find her. I want to lead her to the Lord, if possible.”

Suddenly, a tiny voice came from upstairs. “Mommy! Mommy!”

Linda’s blood ran cold. She looked at Blake and said, “Sounds like our son’s nap is over. I’ll go see about him.”

“Oh, Linda,” Lewis exclaimed, “you have a son! How old is he?”

“He had his second birthday a week ago,” Blake said.

“And what’s his name?”

“William Nolan Barrett … after Linda’s dad.”

“Oh, yes, of course. I’m sure that made your father very happy, Linda.”

“Yes,” she said, feeling like her nerves were strung so tight they would snap.

“I’d love to see your son before I go.”

Linda glanced at Blake. His smile told her she should go ahead … what else could they do? Without another word, she left the room.

It was quiet for a moment in the parlor, then Lewis said, “Mr. Barrett, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what a wonderful person Linda is.”

Blake nodded.

Lewis rubbed at his temple. “I never deserved her, anyhow. I’m glad the Lord gave her such a fine husband. The person who told me how to find your house explained that you own the Stockton Bank and Trust Company.”

“Yes. And speaking of Linda, I’m the one who’s blessed, Lewis. Linda is the most wonderful woman in the whole world.”

Billy was standing up in his crib when Linda entered his room. “Mommy!” he cried.

Linda picked him up. “Hello, punkin! You didn’t sleep very long.”

Billy stroked her face.

“Mommy loves her big boy,” Linda said, kissing his warm little cheek. “Does Billy love Mommy?”

Billy smiled and said, “Wove oo.”

Linda held him close, cuddling him in her arms. She wondered if Lewis would see the slight resemblance between himself and Billy. “Lord,” she prayed, “please don’t let anything happen that would take this baby boy from us.”

When Linda walked into the parlor with Billy in her arms, he spotted his father and reached for him, crying, “Daddy! Daddy!”

As Blake left his chair to take the boy in his arms, Lewis smiled and said, “Look at that handsome boy!” He stood up and came closer, saying, “Do you call him Nolan, like your father, Linda?”

“No, we call him Billy.”

“Hi, Billy!” Lewis said, tickling him under the chin. “What a big boy you are!”

Safe in his fathers arms, Billy giggled and gave Lewis a winsome smile.

Linda held her breath, hoping Lewis wouldn’t notice Billy’s mouth and smile, which were very much like his own. The shape of his head was like Lewis’s, too. At least his coloring was different.

“That’s a mighty fine boy, folks,” Lewis said. “Well, I’d better be going.”

Just as Linda began to relax, Lewis said, “Oh, before I go … since you’re a banker, Mr. Barrett, would you happen to know of any jobs available in town? I do manual labor.”

“Well, I can’t say right off,” Blake replied. “But I don’t understand. You’re wanting a job here in Stockton?”

“Yes. You see, I’m fresh out of funds. I’m going to continue to look for Janet, but I can’t go any further until I have some money in my pockets. Even when I find a job, it’ll take a while to save up enough to continue my search.”

Blake felt Linda tense up.

“Look, Lewis,” Blake said, “tell you what. Linda and I would really like for you to find Janet and do what you can to lead her to the Lord. How about if we give you a few hundred dollars … say, seven or eight hundred. That would take you a long way in your search, wouldn’t it?”

Oh, bless him, Lord,
Linda thought.

Lewis was shaking his head. “Oh, no, Mr. Barrett. I couldn’t take your money. I just couldn’t do that. I’ll find a job and earn it. I sure thank you for the very kind offer, though.”

“Really, it’s no problem. We have plenty, and we’re glad to share it.”

“Thank you very much, sir, but I can’t accept charity. I took a room at a boardinghouse over on Clayton Street. Twelve thirty-one is the address. If you should hear of a job opening, would you let me know? I’ll start looking for work tomorrow.”

Realizing that Lewis’s mind was made up, Blake said, “Sure. If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know.”

Lewis told Billy good-bye, thanked Linda and Blake for their graciousness, and left.

When Blake closed the door and turned around with Billy in his arms, Linda was sheet white.

“Blake,” she said with a quiver in her voice, “if he stays in Stockton very long and comes back to this house many more times, he’s going to see that Billy has some of his features.”

“Maybe not,” Blake said. “And even it he does, that won’t prove anything. No matter what, we must not let him know Billy is his son.”

“Then no matter what,” she said, “we won’t.”

“Here, Mommy, I’ll give you your little boy now. I’ve got to get back to my grease job on the buggies.”

As Linda took Billy from him, she said, “Blake—“

“Hmm?”

“Will you feel threatened by Lewis being here in town, since he’s the man I once planned to marry?”