Arms of an Angel (9 page)

Garrett was again quiet for a few moments
before he began. “When Chloe was three weeks old she asked me to
take the baby to my parents’ for the weekend. She said she was
tired and needed the rest. It seemed reasonable. My parents were
elated to have us and Chloe responded amazingly under my mother’s
care. It was then that I realized how lifeless she’d been. I didn’t
know much about newborns. I’d figured her lack of interaction was
normal until I saw her with my mom. I was suddenly concerned about
Elaine. I knew I’d buried my head and all was not well.” He rubbed
his face as he looked out the window. “I tried to put down my
fears. I fought them all through the night. Then, when I couldn’t
reach her by phone the next morning, I told my mom I needed to
go.”

He breathed deeply, trying to retain control
over his emotions. The tension on his face told Claire this memory
was one he’d worked hard to suppress. “Our unit was still quiet
when I entered and I full well expected to find it empty with a
Dear John note propped against my pillow just like you see in the
movies.”

“
But you didn’t?” Claire
asked when he didn’t go on.

He shook his head. Tears welled in his eyes.
“Claire, when I walked into your apartment this morning and saw you
laying on your bed with the wine glass on the night stand and the
pill bottles on the bed… I felt as if I’d walked back in time.”

“
Oh my dear God,” Claire
whispered feeling as if she’d been punched in the heart and needed
the strength of a higher being.

“
Only the scene was not
pristine and pretty. She looked a mess, her hair was snarled, her
face sunken. She’d put on ratty old pajamas, thrown up all over the
bed, and died. There was no happy ending for her and I blamed
myself. I should have known.”

Quiet tears ran freely down Claire’s cheeks.
”I’m sorry, Garrett. I’m so sorry that happened to you and I’m
sorry it all came back to you this morning.” He nodded, not
expecting her to continue, though she did. “But I’m not sorry you
found me and that you firmly stood up and made me go with you to
your parents’. You’ve saved my life twice, Garrett. Did you know
that?”

He looked at her with great surprise.

“
The night I took your table
at the restaurant… that was to be my last meal. I’d planned to
indulge then go home and end it all, because I hated who I’d
become. But you made me give my word that we’d share Sunday
brunch.”

“
I remember. I asked if you
were truly a woman of your word. I’d been afraid to let you go that
night…” Realization lit his face. “Claire, when I talked to Chloe
that evening before leaving for my date she said the strangest
thing. She told me to say hi to her mommy for her. I laughed and
brushed it off as silly kid talk. Boy! I really need to quit
brushing things off.”

Quiet laughter echoed from them both as each
retreated into reflective thought.

“
What is this place?” Claire
asked as they again passed by a grand gated entrance with a big for
sale sign on it. It had caught her attention on the way up as well
though her anger had made her refuse to ask.

“
It’s an old boarding
stable. It needs some work but it’s a great place with solid bones.
My dad had dreams of buying it and running it after
retirement.”

“
Why didn’t he?” Claire
wondered aloud.

“
He gave up his dream for a
new one. They knew I’d need help with Chloe, so he took early
retirement and put their investment into the farm and living so
they could take care of her. He’s told me time and again she’s the
joy of their old age and the sacrifice has been well worth
it.”

“
What will they do once you
take her? Do you think he’ll buy it then?” she pressed.

Garrett shook his head. “I don’t think they
have the means now. Early retirement took its toll. Then the
purchase of the farm. He’s figured everything out to where they’ll
live okay, though not extravagantly. Perhaps a trip or two. But
certainly no horse ranches.”

“
Hmmm,” was all she answered
as they lapsed into easy silence, each again with inner
thoughts.

“
Garrett? Are you tied to
having your practice in the city? I mean, I assume you want to
continue working in some capacity, although you do realize you
wouldn’t have to.”

He didn’t know what she was saying, but it
was obvious the wheels were turning in her pretty head. “What are
you saying, Claire? I’m not sure I’m following at all… ”

She laughed. Her eyes were filled with
excitement and anticipation.

“
Something tells me you’re
hatching a plan. I’m also pretty sure life with you is going to
keep me on my toes.” They both laughed as she ran her idea by him.
His eyes were shining as brightly as hers when she
finished.

* * * * *

“
What time is it?” Claire
asked as they neared her building.

Garrett looked at his watch, both seemed
oblivious to the clock in the car dash. “A little before 5:00.
Why?”

“
Keep going. I want you to
meet someone. The old artist I was telling you about.”

Garrett looked skeptical.

Please, Claire thought, let me run with my
dream. Please don’t begin to tell me all the reasons it can’t be
done. Don’t dash my hopes. Please…

Garrett shrugged. “You sure he won’t mind?
Does he close at 5:00?”

“
For us he’ll be open, and
it’s only a couple blocks down.” She leaned over and kissed his
cheek.

“
What’s that for?” he
chuckled.

“
For not saying no. For
letting me dream.”

“
It’s a nice dream, Claire.
I like the idea of dreaming it with you.”

She beamed, elated as she’d never been in her
life. Acceptance was a wonderful feeling.

“
Garrett! Stop. Pull in
there.” She pointed to an empty parking space. They almost missed
it.

“
Claire.” He grabbed her arm
before she could bound out of the car. “We walk forward as a team,
okay? To make our lives work together we have to do that. It
doesn’t mean we’ll always agree, but we have to be willing to see
the other’s side in all matters. Don’t ever be afraid to bring them
up. I need you to remember, you have to believe your ideas and
dreams are just as important as mine. That may mean altering course
from time to time. You’ve got a lot of good inside there.” He
pointed to her head and heart. “Let me help you out, and you do the
same for me.”

She nodded then kissed him. “I love you,
Garrett.” It was the first time she could ever remember saying
these words to a man. She was glad he was that man.

Garrett’s attention was caught by the sign
turning on the shop door. “Looks like someone’s closing up
shop.”

Claire turned to see Old Joe walking away
from the door. “Oh!” She pushed out of the car and hustled to the
door and began to knock. “Joe! It’s Claire,” Garrett heard her
call. Seconds later the door opened and the pudgy old man embraced
the slender young woman. Claire looked back and motioned for
Garrett to follow.

“
So you have brought your
angel to meet me?” he ventured.

“
Of course, Joe. But what
makes you think he’s the angel?”

“
Two angels go together.” He
pointed back and forth between the two of them. “And the old man
from your building brought the paintings. They all sold today!
Quickly too. Though I pulled two thinking he must have grabbed them
by mistake. Let me get them.” He shuffled off to bring back the
paintings. He laid them on the table before the couple, first the
one of Garrett with his angel wings. Garrett laughed in
delight.

“
I look pretty good in all
white,” he joked. “Amazing work, Claire. Subject aside. I’m
impressed. And the other?” he asked Joe. He was eager to see
more.

Claire gasped as he laid the painting of the
little girl before them. Garrett touched the child’s features then
looked at Claire who looked at the painting with tears in her
eyes.

“
Many years ago, I told Old
Joe that was a portrait of my little girl. I didn’t realize until
now how much she looks like Chloe,” Claire whispered. “My heart
knew…” She looked up at Joe and he nodded, though he had no idea
who Chloe was. He simply agreed that there are things the heart
knows long before we do.

They filled him in on their lives; their
plans to marry, Chloe, the dream…Joe was honored to have been
chosen to be a part. The couple left with the assurance they’d
return soon with details.

“
Thanks for being there for
her,” Garrett whispered to Joe as they clasped arms upon their
departure.

“
It was mutual. We needed
each other. She was my earthly angel. She saved me from
uncertainty. I merely pushed her to perfect her talent and let her
know somebody cared.”

* * * * *

Three months later Claire and Garrett pulled
up in front of Garrett’s parent’s home. Margarette laughed as an
overly excited Claire bound from the car. Her attempt at country
attire still looked like high-dollar fashion with her tight jeans
tucked inside her red western boots, upscale black and red plaid
shirt tied at the waist with a red lace camisole peaking from the
neckline.

“
Nice piggy tails,” she
teased her almost daughter-in-law as they embraced

“
Thanks,” Claire laughed.
“Someday I’ll get it right.”

“
Oh I hope not, my dear.
You’re perfect just the way you are,” Margarette told her and they
hugged again.

James and Chloe came around from the back.
She was elated to see her daddy and Claire.

“
Not Saturday,” she told
them.

“
Nope. But we have a
surprise.” She scooped Chloe up and hugged her tightly.

Margarette raised her brows and looked to
Claire’s left hand.

“
No, we didn’t get married
secretly,” Claire laughed.

“
In the car. Quickly,”
Garrett commanded. They were surprised to see a seat for Chloe
already in the back. Claire and Margarette climbed in on either
side of her.

“
We’ll need it eventually,”
Claire looked almost apologetic.

“
And what a joyous day that
will be,” Margarette said. “Children should be raised by their
parents and spoiled mercilessly by their grandparents - which
cannot be done properly when they live under the same roof.” The
two women laughed. Claire was as thankful for Margarette as she was
for Garrett. She eavesdropped on the conversation between James and
Garrett, barely able to suppress her excitement when she heard
James mention the stables.

“
Yes, I heard,” Garrett
answered vaguely when his dad said it had sold. He glanced in the
mirror at Claire. “You’re as bad as a child at Christmas,” he told
her reflection.

“
I didn’t say anything!” She
giggled.

“
What are you two up to?”
Margarette looked from her son to Claire then to Chloe and shrugged
as they all laughed.

Garrett eased the car into the stables’
driveway. The iron gates were already open and they could see
several work crews milling about in various places on the
property.

“
Should we be here?” James
asked though he received no answer as Garrett got out of the
car.

“
Help me. Will you, Dad?”
Garrett said before shutting his door. James glanced back at Claire
who was trying without success to contain an ear to ear
smile.

“
Go. Go!” she said. She
unbuckled Chloe and motioned for Margarette to get out as
well.

Garrett worked at the rope that held the
heavy tarp in place over the new sign. It slipped free to reveal
the barely dried painting of the barns and horses in the meadow.
The name stood out distinctly in the blue sky. “Welcome to O’Bryan
Meadows,” it read. “A place where dreams are allowed to grow.”

“
What is this?” James
asked.

“
It’s going to be a place
where we bring kids that need a little help in understanding they
truly do make a difference; a place where they can explore passions
like art and horseback riding, cooking, all sorts of things beyond
the uppity professions their parents are trying to force them
into,” Claire blurted out, her voice rising in excitement. “My
daddy’s name and money may not have helped me, but there’s no
reason it can’t help others…rich kids without hope - like I was,”
she added quietly. She turned to James. “We were hoping you might
oversee the stables.”

James looked from Claire to Garrett. “This
old place has been a dream of mine for years. I never could figure
it out in my mind how it could pay for itself… or even how to pay
for it in the first place.” They all laughed. He looked over the
place then at the sign. “You two have really thought this through?
You know what you’re getting into?”

Claire, wrapped in Garrett’s arms, looked up
at him. “I don’t know about Garrett but I don’t have a clue. I know
we’ve enlisted the help of a lot of people who are considered
experts. And I know a couple of old gents who see these kids day in
and day out…they’re already working on a list of those who need our
help.”

“
We’re buying the old Miller
place too,” Garrett added. “We won’t be taking Chloe too far away.
Looks like we’ll be working together in a roundabout sort of way.”
He told his dad. “I know it’s not quite as good as owning it
yourself, but…”