Operation Breathless (6 page)

Susanna’s eyes went wide. “Gabe, you’re going to have to be
very
careful. You’re new at this. Push too hard, too fast and it’ll be a disaster—”

“I’ve been down this road before and come up against lots of kids just like Layla. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” He waited for a beat, still focused on her. “Faith, Lovely Lady.”

She squeezed her lips together—and slowly nodded.

****

“You overheard us? You heard
all
of it?” Layla had the good grace to look humiliated.

Gabe nodded. “It wasn’t anything we didn’t already know.”

Susanna stood toward the far side of the classroom and shoved back the urge to gnaw on a thumbnail. Gabe and Layla sat across from each other at a rectangular table surrounded by chairs of metal and plastic. Layla was barely fourteen, tall and slender. Sable hair swung in a thick, straight cap along her jaw line.

“Who are you? I haven’t seen you here before.”

Doubt and suspicion fired the words. Susanna understood Layla’s reaction. Did Gabe really know how to handle this situation? Had she given him too much latitude too quickly?

“That’s because I’m new here. I’m a cop, but I’m not talking to you right now as a cop. I’m here as a volunteer who heard the things you said while Susanna took me on a tour. I want to step in and help you make better choices, because the ones you’re making right now are messing you over. Wouldn’t you agree?” His tone rang with enough authority that Layla watched him steadily, through slitted eyes. He folded his hands and leaned forward against the table. “So tell me. Why did you do it? Why did you frame Susanna?”

The quiet, probing question hung in the air. Standing to the side, Susanna held her breath, waiting.

“To see if I could get away with it.” Belligerence layered Layla’s tone, but so did a trace of doubt.

Gabe accepted that answer with a nod. “From where I sit, the fact that you didn’t get away with it just might be a starting point.”

The teenager blinked and tilted her head, peering at Gabe. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean you need to try again, Layla, because God has used this episode to show you two very important things.”

“Like
what
?”

Susanna stood silent, wondering if Layla’s skeptical tone would dissuade Gabe’s patient demeanor.

“Like first of all, Susanna has kept her heart, and her mind, open to any way she can find to help you. She’s told me as much.” He ticked a quick look above Layla’s head, capturing Susanna’s gaze in an instant of shared knowing. His focus returned to Layla. “She cares about you very much, despite what you’ve done to her. That’s forgiveness and caring in their purest forms.”

Susanna’s hands went still against her sides. The heat index escalated as a respectful awe bloomed. Gabe was brilliant. He hadn’t missed a beat.

“Secondly, you can thank God from now until forever for the fact that you got caught—caught at a petty crime instead of something worse. Know why?” A short, deliberate silence stretched through the room. “Because you, Layla Thompson, are
not
meant to be a criminal.”

“Oh…I get it now. I’m not good enough to get away with it. Is that your point, Mr. Cop? Well, let me tell you, I sure can! Next time. Just wait and see.”

In a flashpoint, the girl’s anger and pain rose up like filthy emotional residue. Gabe had thrown down the challenge—but where was he going with this? Layla had re-found aggression and pain so easily. It broke Susanna’s heart, as well as pieces of her spirit.

“I don’t doubt that. Like anything else, if you practice and keep at it, the life of a criminal is something you could become good at. Something you’ll have the choice to either accept or reject.”

“Then what do you mean?” Layla’s tone quieted, but she folded her arms tight across her chest and kept a glower in place.

Gabe remained unruffled. “What I mean is you’re meant for something better. Something much more than you’re giving yourself credit for. Stop selling yourself short, young lady. Doing so is taking away opportunities. Susanna is directing you toward a life with meaning—something better than you’ve found to this point. I suggest you pay attention to what God’s telling you.”

Layla looked at him, wide-eyed and obviously full of wonder. Susanna found herself equally affected and touched, wishing like crazy she could have him here with her permanently, helping fight the endless battles these heartbroken kids had to contend with every day.

Straightaway she realized his gifts at young adult rehab and counseling were powerful and inspiring—just like the man himself.

****

“Want to have lunch?”

Gabe’s offer took Susanna by surprise. After a group counseling session, she led the way to her office where they could debrief and review the first half of his day.

“I maintain strict policies about colleagues forming interpersonal relationships.” She loved the idea of having lunch with him, but in order to tease...and dodge just a little bit…she put on a haughty air.

“Which would really bum me out if I was on your staff, but I’m just a freebie volunteer, remember?” His wolfish grin went electric against her senses. “So? Lunch? What do you crave?”

“Really?”

Gabe nodded.

“I like the crème of broccoli soup and ham and cheese sandwiches at Oliver’s.”

“What a coincidence. Their soup and sandwich combos are a favorite of mine, too.”

A short time later, they indulged in comfort food at the cozy, well-established restaurant. Oliver’s was tucked into a quaint brick storefront along Main Street in downtown Angel Falls. While Gabe spooned up some chicken and lemon rice soup, Susanna bit into her lightly toasted ham and cheese.

“Are you afraid of heights?” Gabe lobbed the unexpected question.

Startled, Susanna frowned. “Ah…what?”

Gabe’s query provided quite the topic shift from what had evolved into a conversation about his life in Detroit, and anecdotes from Susanna about her five-year career at Wellsprings.

“Heights. Are you afraid of them?”

“No. I’m OK with heights. Why?”

“No reason. Just curious.”

Susanna reared back, studying him. “What’s going on here?”

Gabe lifted his ham and cheese sandwich and took a bite. After swallowing he shot her another way-too-innocent look. “How about fire? You OK with fire?”

Susanna swallowed fast so she could release a laugh. “Heights and fire?”

Gabe nodded.

“You sat with me at a barbeque…in front of a fire pit. I didn’t freak out or anything…well, except when you and Axle stunned me silly by joining the party. I’m OK with fire.
Contained
fire that is.”

“Yeah…of course. Contained.” His grin slipped into a heart-melting smile. “OK. Thanks.”

He wasn’t going to elaborate. Susanna puzzled. “Are you feeling all right?”

“Never better.” His jet eyes sparkled. “So, back to the topic of Wellsprings. The kids today talked about youth group—and church. I want to get a bead on Layla. Does she go to church with you?”

“Gabe, you execute faster conversational shifts than a texting teenager.” Susanna paused for a few bites of food then continued. “A group of us attend Sunday services and Wednesday fellowship at The Falls Tabernacle.”

“Pia’s a member there. I plan to start attending.”

“Each Wednesday there’s a smaller worship service. Kids take over the communal gathering center, and adults attend Bible study in the sanctuary.” Susanna took a sip of her pomegranate tea. “Wellsprings is unapologetically Christian. I work hard to integrate the kids into positive activities like church youth groups and community programs like cleaning up city parks and a project called Neighbor to Neighbor.”

He smiled at the moniker, which made Susanna smile as well…just because.

“What’s Neighbor to Neighbor?”

“A program I developed in conjunction with the city of Angel Falls to help senior citizens. Many of them need assistance around their homes—lawn care for example, or painting and minor, routine maintenance.”

Gabe stared. He shook his head, his eyes never leaving her face. Unnerved, Susanna looked away, fidgeting in her seat.

“You’re amazing, Susanna.”

Though his words ignited heat in her cheeks, she lifted her chin and firmed her spine. “All day long I’ve thought the same thing about you. Too bad your life here is only temporary.”

5

Neatly stacked canoes created a colorful display against the sandy beachfront of Bouton Lake, a body of crystalline blue water tucked into the primitive landscape of Angelina National Forest.

Gabe breathed deep of chilly, pine-scented air, hunching his shoulders deep into the warmth of a black fleece vest. The temporary living arrangement that Susanna mentioned didn’t keep him from thoroughly enjoying every moment he could with her. Today promised to be exceptional.

In past weeks, they had shared dinners, movie nights, and even a few long walks through the quaint, tranquil streets of Angel Falls. He also embraced working with her at Wellsprings. Susanna seemed pleased with his efforts thus far; she had even commissioned him with the execution of today’s event. Gabe had orchestrated, and would lead, a daylong adventure into the great outdoors for kids from Wellsprings of Grace and kids from the youth group at The Falls Tabernacle.

Arriving at their shoreline embarkation point, Gabe turned to face the dozen kids and handful of adult volunteers who accompanied him. “Gather up, folks.” Following a pause, he continued. “We’re going to start with a canoe ride that calls for us splitting up into four teams. After that we’ll grab lunch then hit the Sawmill hiking trail, so rest up and be ready, because that hike is just over five-miles long and features an interesting twist that I’ll tell you about once the time gets closer.” Gabe noticed the way she grinned as he gave his cryptic comments about the hike.

The teens went to work, bubbling over possible scenarios. Consulting the top sheet of the clipboard he held, Gabe rattled off names into assigned groups of three kids plus one or two supervising adults. Chelsea and Layla, he decided from the start, would be nowhere near each another. Part of his intent in developing this event was to mix Wellsprings kids with Tabernacle kids—and hope positive influences would emerge.

Susanna stepped up. “Teams, take custody of a canoe and four oars and strap on those life vests. Let’s hit the water. Remember to stay in a convoy and keep together while we’re out there. Have fun!”

Dismissal washed through the crowd like a dam bursting. Chatter filled the air along with excited, good-natured razzing about which occupants would be first to navigate. Gabe watched Layla mingle happily with her team.

Susanna momentarily leaned against him. “Good call on the way you paired the kids,” she whispered, and then walked on.

He ran his fingertips quickly against the length of her ponytail. Silky hair slid through his hand. She stopped short, looking over her shoulder in surprise. Satisfaction swelled within him. He gave her a grin, grateful for the quasi-privacy the disbursing of the assembly gave him.

Shaking off distraction, he joined his crew and helped them launch into the placid waters of the lake. The day was perfect. Gabe savored the crisp air that carried with it just a hint of burning wood. Sunshine and fat white clouds filled the sky, as did the swoop and caw of birds like quail and even the occasional bald eagle.

He enjoyed seeing Layla come to life. The team in her boat laughed often, and she bloomed beneath their welcoming friendship. In particular, she seemed to hit it off with Kaitlyn O’Dell, one of Susanna’s recruits from Falls Tabernacle who volunteered twice a month at Wellsprings.

The thought prompted Gabe to focus on Chelsea. The raven haired, Goth-styled young lady seemed determined to have a bad time. Sullen faced and bored, Chelsea ignored the beauty of her surroundings, preferring to retreat into silence.

When his boat floated close to Chelsea’s, Gabe caught wind of the conversation that took place between its occupants. Evidently teammates wanted to give Chelsea an opportunity to row.

“Chels, c’mon! Join in!” To punctuate, one of the teens splashed a bit of water toward Chelsea’s hand, which dangled over the side of the canoe.

“It’s
Chelsea
.” She rolled her eyes and looked away, unreachable. “And quit the water torture. I don’t want to be here, so just leave me alone, and let me get through it.”

The other kids in the boat shrugged off Chelsea’s behavior and carried on. Gabe gave them credit for tolerance but as far as he was concerned, defeat swooped in and attempted a coup. No one was beyond redemption—especially a displaced soul like Chelsea. Trying to cling to hope, he watched Susanna. She accompanied Layla’s team, and reassurance built. The contrast between the two teens was startling.

Once they finished canoeing, the group assembled for a shoreline picnic complete with cold meat sandwiches, fruits and veggies, chips, pop, and cookies. Gabe opened the cooler he’d packed with Susanna that morning so he could distribute additional pop and water bottles. After that, he paired up with his boss, joining her on the checkered blanket she’d spread across the ground.

He sat and stretched his legs while she perched next to him, cross-legged. She didn’t eat right away. Instead, she lifted her face toward the sky and breathed out a happy sound.

“You seem content,” he observed.

“This is awesome. You’ve done a fantastic job.”

“I appreciate the compliment.” The only damper on his mood was Chelsea. He longed to reach her, but short of a miracle, he wouldn’t. Gabe’s confidence wavered—as it had so many times in his professional life. He forced himself to focus instead on the victory of Layla’s mood and the teenager’s adaptation to new and positive experiences.

“I think Layla’s enjoying herself. She seems to like Kaitlyn. Wish I could say the same for Chelsea.” Susanna leaned back on her hands, her eyes still closed.