Home to You (13 page)

His gaze on her drew the others’ gazes.

“Oh, that poor dear.” Mary set her cake aside.

“It looks as if we’ve stayed too long,” Margaret added.

“She’s had a long day,” Carolyne said softly. “I guess we should have thought about that before planning dinner tonight.”

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“Nonsense,” Margaret argued. “We’ll take these dishes into the kitchen and then leave. It was fun. She needs to get to know more people and I’m sure she had a good time.”

Margaret stood and Mary followed.

“Does that mean we’re leaving?” Sarah asked hopefully.

Chase scowled at the way his daughter put it. “Yes, it does. However, I want you to thank Ms. Carolyne for dinner and thank her that you’ll start coming over here tomorrow.”

She didn’t look happy about it but she did it. “Thanks for the meal and that I can come over here.”

Carolyne smiled her sweet smile. “I’m so happy to have you, dear. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a teenager in the house and quite frankly, I am very excited about having you here.”

Sarah softened for a moment before shrugging in in-difference. “I’m not a teenager yet.”

“How true,” his mom laughed.

The laughter caused Meghan to stir.

Dakota went to her and touched her shoulder. Long lashes parted and green eyes gazed up at him. In that moment, they weren’t guarded or filled with the worries of the world. She smiled softly and met his gaze steadily.

Dakota felt an immediate connection just like this morning. He’d promptly removed his hand then, but this time he didn’t, and he felt his reaction all the way down to his toes. He realized he was caught in that gaze, but that he didn’t mind. She smelled good tonight, not like yesterday, but sweet and gentle, with a slight perfumy
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aroma. A strand of her hair brushed his hand where he’d touched. Unconsciously, as he watched her waking, he rubbed the hair between his fingers.

This wasn’t the little girl he’d once known, but a grown woman, a very beautiful grown woman.

Amazed at his thought, he froze.

The shadow of fear and worry crept back into her eyes and she sat up. “What…oh dear. Was I asleep?”

Dakota regained his equilibrium and hid his emotions. He touched her hand gently, taking the plate from her. “I think it’s bedtime for you.”

Warmth spread through him when he touched her hand and it disconcerted him. Wow. He mentally shook himself. He was a pastor, and he hadn’t had time for dating in so long that he’d nearly forgotten that feeling.

But it was there now.

He was attracted to Meghan. He didn’t have to mention how wonderful she’d looked tonight when he walked in, as he was sure everyone had noticed the change. But it was her demeanor, so soft and elegant, much like his mom in many ways, which had captured him during dinner. He hadn’t even realized it until now, staring into those eyes, how much she’d touched him.

He stepped back.

She shifted to get up. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as she stood.

“Oh, don’t be, dear,” Carolyne told her. “We’re all tired and you especially. Don’t forget our deal and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

She nodded and Dakota wondered what that was about.

“If you’ll excuse me…” She turned to go. “Nice meeting you all,” she added and then fled.

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Chase walked up next to him and watched her go. “I think she was embarrassed about going to sleep on us.”

Dakota sighed. “Looks that way. Hopefully she’ll get over it. She did say her disease made her tired sometimes.”

“What do you know about MS?” Chase asked.

Dakota shrugged. “Not much. Just that her grandmother had it and was in a wheelchair.”

Chase nodded. “Well, I have to get my daughter home.”

Dakota noted Sarah had already gone out to the car.

“About what she said earlier,” Chase began.

Dakota shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. She’s hurting. She’s going to act out. There’s enough of us here to love her and help you.”

Chase’s look of gratitude was nice to see. “Thanks.”

He reached out to shake Dakota’s hand.

Dakota returned the handshake. “See you tomorrow.”

He nodded and left.

Carolyne closed the door after Chase and then turned to her son.

“Well, that went well, all in all, and I think we’re building a good base of friends for Meghan.”

Dakota nodded. He walked into the kitchen to help his mom load the dishes into the dishwasher. “I’m sorry she was embarrassed about falling asleep.”

“She doesn’t know us well, dear. It’ll take time for her to feel comfortable just being herself around us.”

His mom scraped the dishes while he rinsed and loaded. “I hope she gets adjusted quickly, because she needs a team of friends,” Dakota muttered.

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“Ah yes, I heard you say something about meeting with the Bennetts today.” His mother didn’t miss much.

He sighed.

“They had something to say about Meghan, didn’t they?”

“They’d heard the rumors about her, that’s for sure.

And they’re worried she’s going to take up too much of my time.”

His mother shook her head. “It’s a shame they had to approach you so quickly about something like this.

I don’t understand why they’re so afraid of change.”

“They’re afraid of losing money,” Dakota har-rumphed. “I don’t mean that. I think sometimes that it’s my age. I’m so much younger than our last pastor and I think they don’t believe I can do the job.”

He added soap and closed the dishwasher, starting it as he did.

“Hogwash.” His mother waved her hand in the air in dismissal. “They’re a tight, greedy couple who simply live to control.”

“Mother.”

“Well, it’s true, and yes, I do pray for them, but there’s no reason to ignore the truth.”

“God can still change them. And none of us are perfect.”

His mom nodded. “Just like little Sarah. Could you see the hurt in her eyes tonight? And the anger?”

“Chase has his work cut out for him with her. She’s not over her mother’s death by a long shot.”

Carolyne’s eyes took on a shadowed look. “Sometimes it can be really hard to get over a death, especially if you don’t understand why.”

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She had grieved a long time over his dad’s death and Dakota knew she had had a hard time coming to terms with why his dad had died in the granary accident. He had trouble sometimes himself. “We’ll have to help her understand that God is in control.”

“She’s going to need a lot of love, that one.”

“Well, I’m off to bed. I need some time in prayer and Bible study, and if I don’t do it now…”

Carolyne reached out and hugged him. “I know, honey. Go on up. I’ll get the lights.”

He paused. “You know, Mom, I love you and appreciate you so much.”

She chuckled. “I’m glad to know that.” She waved him off. “Now go.”

He shook his head. He didn’t know what he’d do without his mother and her years of wisdom. He wondered how Sarah would do without her mom and vowed to spend some extra time in prayer about that and about the woman sleeping in the apartment behind their house.

Chapter Ten

The morning had been full of activities for Carolyne.

At one point she’d noted the young woman in the dying gardens out back, a sweater wrapped around her as she walked to one of the benches and sat down. The wind whipped her hair and Carolyne had sensed her loneliness.

She’d left her alone, praying and waiting until she felt Meghan was ready to talk. Right now she felt Meghan needed some time.

So, Carolyne had gone to Bible study and met up with Georgia, who had questioned her at length about Meghan. Carolyne had grown weary of answering without giving information and was glad when Georgia had been distracted from the subject.

Then she’d had to go shopping, but she’d finally made it back home for lunch.

Meghan had fallen asleep, again, right during the meal, so she’d gone to her apartment for a nap.

And now Sarah was here.

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Dear Sarah.

She’d arrived with a look of distrust on her face and a leeriness that made Carolyne’s heart contract in pain.

“My dad told you, didn’t he?” she asked, wording it, Carolyne noted, so that if Chase hadn’t mentioned the specific homework, she could lie and get away with not doing it.

“Yes, he did, Sarah. Would you like a snack while you copy your work?”

She shook her head no. Then, “Like what?”

“Well, I have bananas and cookies and milk and or-ange juice. You name it.”

She frowned. “I’m not really hungry but I guess a cookie would help keep my energy up.”

Carolyne resisted the urge to smile. “I think it just might.”

She went into the kitchen, got her cookies and milk, brought it out to the table, set it by Sarah and then she went to one of the chairs in the living room where she sat down. She picked up a packet of information she’d printed off from the computer. “If you need help or have any questions, feel free to ask. I’ll be right here.”

Sarah didn’t answer.

As Carolyne reviewed the material in her hands, she heard the back door open. In moments, Meghan came in, hesitating as she saw Sarah.

“I’m being punished,” Sarah muttered. “So just ignore me.”

Carolyne couldn’t let that pass. “There are results for our misbehavior, sweetie. Even as adults.”

Sarah stared at Carolyne curiously and then at Meghan. “Are you being punished by God with the cane
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because you drink?” she asked quite innocently. Carolyne knew the girl had been serious when she’d asked Meghan that. But by the look on Meghan’s face, Meghan didn’t have an answer.

“No, Sarah. God doesn’t work that way.” Carolyne had to answer for her.

She saw Meghan shift and perhaps a bit of relief entered her eyes as she glanced toward Carolyne. “Come on in, Meghan. Have a seat. Have you read what I asked you to read?” she queried as Meghan slowly made her way into the living room and seated herself. A line creased across Meghan’s face, showing she had slept hard.

“Those verses you had me read? God certainly punished that high-priest guy in the Old Testament if he went into that room and wasn’t right with God,” Meghan said.

So, she had read them. Carolyne smiled. “That’s different, though, Meghan. In the Old Testament, the high priest was performing a specific ceremony. Remember, on that list, I mentioned things that are shown often represent other things? It’s called types and shadows. Well, the high priest represented Jesus. I showed you the New Testament verse where Jesus is referred to as our high priest. Anyway,” Carolyne continued, “the high priest’s job was to, once a year, go into the place where God dwelt with the blood from the lamb he had sacrificed and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, which is the top of the ark of the covenant, so that we would obtain mercy for one more year.”

“From sins,” Meghan said. “Though I’m not sure how a lamb could do that.”

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“They released a goat sprinkled with blood to show that our sins were pushed off,” Carolyn said. “Because, you see, the lamb couldn’t actually cleanse us from our sins. It was looking forward to One who could.”

“And if the priest didn’t do the sacrifice right,” Meghan added, “he was killed. That’s why they tied the rope to him.”

Carolyne nodded. “But how did they know he wasn’t dead?”

Meghan shrugged.

“The priest wore a special garment with bells and pomegranates about the bottom. If they heard the bells, they knew he was still alive.”

“That’s what I didn’t understand. Why does all of that matter?”

Carolyne smiled. “Because, these are symbols of things that were eventually going to come to pass. Jesus became that sacrificial lamb and died on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice. The lamb they sacrificed only showed their faith in believing a savior would come. Jesus was that sacrifice. Only someone who had never sinned could cancel out our sin and reunite us with God.”

Meghan shook her head. “It’s so much to take in.”

“It sure is.” She noted that Sarah was listening intently, so she continued, “The bells and pomegranates represent the gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, prophecy, words of knowledge, and the fruit is love, joy, peace, kindness and on and on. We see these at work in people’s lives and it shows us that the sacrifice was accepted.

“Jesus rose, offered the blood to God in heaven, and
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God said that it canceled out the debt. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son. So, He paid the price, and all we have to do is accept that in order to start a relationship with Him and find ultimate peace.”

Meghan sighed. “From this?” She motioned to her leg and then wiggled her hand.

“Yes, dear. From that. Your body shouldn’t control what you feel in your heart. When my husband died, I was horribly devastated and not sure what I would do, but one thing I did know was that God still loved me, and even with the loss of my husband, I knew He was in control.”

Meghan hesitated and Carolyne changed the subject. “Well, you kept up your end, and I have been on the computer like I promised and kept up my end.

Carolyne handed Meghan the papers. “Multiple sclerosis is a central-nervous-system disorder. Your body sees the fatty tissue that surrounds your optic nerves, your spine and your brain, as an invader and attacks it.

Where your nerves are attacked determines what type of symptoms you’ll have. For instance, since you are having problems with one of your legs, your spine is probably being attacked somewhere, I would guess.”

“What do you mean, attacked?” Sarah asked.

Carolyne smiled, glad Sarah was curious enough to participate. “Meghan’s body, for unknown reasons, has started eating away the fatty tissue that surrounds her nerves. And when it’s happened and that fatty tissue is gone, her brain will tell her leg to move, but it’ll take a longer time for her leg to get the message, if it gets it at all. If she’s hot, the message takes even longer to get
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