Bridge to Haven (9 page)

Peter called out and snapped his fingers. “Penny! Abra! Come on. You have to return your robes and mortarboards so we can get home. I’ve got to get the charcoal going.”

People had already arrived and were milling about the backyard. Pastor Zeke and Joshua stood talking with Peter as he turned hamburgers on the grill. Penny was laughing and hopping up and down with Pamela and Charlotte, probably planning cheers for junior varsity cheerleading tryouts in September.

Abra saw Joshua weaving his way over. His gaze swept her up and down. “You look all grown up, except for your bare feet.”

Her spirits lifted. “I am grown up, even with bare feet.”

“That dress makes your eyes look almost emerald.”

She blushed.

Pastor Zeke joined them, but Priscilla interrupted his congratulations. “Stand together. I want to get a picture.” Abra stood sandwiched between Pastor Zeke and Joshua. “Say
cheese
!” Priscilla snapped the picture and then beamed at them before heading off to get more pictures of Penny and guests.

“Marianne would have been very proud of you, Abra.” Pastor Zeke took a small box from his pocket and handed it to her. “She would have wanted you to have this.”

The last thing Abra expected from him was a gift. She received it with confusion.

“Go ahead,” Joshua said, watching with an eager smile. “Open it.”

Marianne’s gold cross necklace was nestled inside the small blue velvet box. A hard lump formed in Abra’s throat and she couldn’t speak. Pastor Zeke took the necklace from the box and stepped behind her. She felt his fingers brush against her neck. “There. It’s right where it belongs.” He spoke softly, a faint rasp in his tone. He put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently before letting her go.

Abra touched the cross and fought tears. She couldn’t manage a simple thank-you when she looked at him.

Pastor Zeke’s expression softened. “Her mother gave it to her.” He smiled gently. “I hope you’ll wear it in remembrance of her.”

She nodded, unable to utter a word.

“Well, don’t you look the cat’s meow!” Mitzi joined them and put an arm around Abra’s waist. “All dressed up and no place to go. You’re getting so pretty Peter is going to have to use a baseball bat to keep the boys away.”

Abra giggled, her eyes blurred. When she looked toward Pastor Zeke again, she saw someone had already drawn him away. Mitzi noticed where she was looking. “Poor man never gets any time off, does he?”

“Just part of the job,” Joshua said, and Abra realized he’d been watching her all along. She felt the heat surge into her face.

“Well—” Mitzi had a twinkle in her eye—“it’s something to consider if you’re ever thinking about going into his line of work.”

Joshua laughed. “I think God’s calling me in another direction.”

“You never know what God has in mind until He’s finished with you.” Mitzi looked between the two of them, an odd smile playing on her lips. “And He does seem to scatter us in a thousand directions, doesn’t He? Salt of the earth, and all that. Add a little seasoning here and a little there.” She looped arms with both of them, pulling them along beside her. “Speaking of seasoning, come on, my darlings. We’d better grab ourselves some hamburgers before they’re all gone!”

Joshua went up into the hills and sat where he could look out over Haven. The campground had a dozen tents pitched with families starting barbecues. The Riverfront parking lot was full, teenagers lazing on beach blankets while families picnicked under the redwoods and children splashed in the roped-off swimming area.

Since graduating last month, he’d devoted all his time to his carpentry apprenticeship with Jack Wooding. He loved the sounds of saws and hammers, the smell of sawdust. He liked seeing houses go up, knowing he was playing a part in making it happen. But by the
time he got home, showered, and made himself dinner, he barely had enough energy to talk with Dad.

It wasn’t often he had a day off, but when he did, he came up here to breathe fresh air and pray. The future seemed so uncertain. North Korea had invaded South Korea, and the United Nations had taken police action, which meant America was being pulled into war. Several men Dad knew who were in the Army Reserves had already been called up for service. And the draft had been reactivated. Joshua felt a restlessness in his soul, a yearning he couldn’t define.

Priscilla had taken him aside at church on Sunday and said she and Peter were concerned about Abra. “She spends all her time in her room reading or over at Mitzi’s practicing piano. She says she’s fine, but I don’t think she is. Peter tried to talk with her, but she only lets us get so close and then she puts up this invisible wall.” She didn’t ask, but Joshua knew she was hoping he’d come by and talk with her, find out what was going on inside her.

It shook him how much he wanted to. She was only thirteen, for heaven’s sake. And he was eighteen. She was still a kid, though he had noticed at her graduation party she was growing up fast. Her hair was darker red, and she showed the first hint of womanhood. Dad had noticed him noticing her and given him an odd look. He’d laughed at himself. He’d almost told Priscilla to find someone else, but he didn’t want her to think he didn’t care. He just wasn’t sure how to encourage a thirteen-year-old girl without giving her the wrong impression.

He’d loved her as far back as he could remember. When Dad gave her to Peter and Priscilla, he’d grieved. Now he was worrying. He couldn’t get Abra out of his mind. He couldn’t squelch the concerns Priscilla had unwittingly, or perhaps wittingly, put in his head.
Abra is suffering, Lord. Is it because of the past? Or is it because of something that’s happening now? And what might that be all about?
Was it just teen angst? Conflicts with Penny? How would he know unless he spent time with her?

Abra needs a friend. No more than that. And no less, either.

Joshua was driving back into town when he spotted Abra walking across the bridge. She didn’t even notice his truck coming up behind her until he tooted his horn and called her name through the open window. “Do you want a ride?”

“Oh. Hi. Sure.” She yanked open the door and hopped in.

“I was just thinking about you, and there you were.” Joshua put the truck in gear. “I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“You’ve been busy.”

Her hair was damp and her cheeks sunburned. “You’ve been swimming at Riverfront Park.”

“Today was the first time I went. I’m not going back.”

“Did you get into a squabble with Penny?”

“No.” She lifted a shoulder and stared out the window. “I just don’t like going there.”

Oh. He knew why, but thought it better not to say any more. “So . . . what are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“Me?” She gave him a sardonic look. “Plans?”

“Good. I’m starved. How about a hamburger, fries, and a milk shake? You can call home from Bessie’s and let your folks know you’re with me. I don’t think they’ll mind.”

All the angst left her face and she gave him a smile that melted his toes.

The new waitress, Susan, took their order. Joshua understood now why Dad was having more meals at Bessie’s. He asked Abra how her summer was going, and she said, “Slowly.” He told her she was getting better at the piano every Sunday, and she said she still felt sick to her stomach every time she played in church. “Mitzi insists I’ll get over it, but I haven’t yet.”

“How did she talk you into it?”

“She said if I played for church, she’d teach me ragtime. I’m holding her to her promise.”

He chuckled. “It could be interesting if you got the two styles mixed up.”

She gave him a mischievous smile that reminded him of Mitzi, then changed the subject. “What have you been doing all summer? Are you and Lacey Glover still going together?”

“We broke up two weeks ago.”

“Is your heart broken?”

He put his forearms on the booth table. “We’re still good friends.”

Abra’s sympathetic smile turned sour. “I’ll tell Penny. Her heart will be all aflutter knowing you’re available again. And she’ll forget all about Kent Fullerton.”

He didn’t like the catty tone. “Don’t be a brat.”

She looked ready to defend herself and then sank back against the seat. “I get tired of pretending sometimes.”

“Pretending what?”

She looked at him and then shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“You matter. To me.” He leaned forward. “What’s bothering you?”

“Everything. Nothing. I don’t even know. I just want . . .” He could see the inner struggle and frustration on her face. She gave up trying to explain and shrugged. “My hamburger, fries, and shake.” She smiled politely as the waitress delivered their orders.

“You’re new, aren’t you?” Joshua said before the waitress headed off. When she said yes, he extended his hand. “I’m Joshua Freeman, Pastor Zeke’s son, and this is my friend, Abra Matthews. I’ll bet Bessie is glad to have you on board.”

“So she says.” Susan gave a mirthless smile. She looked from him to Abra. “Nice to meet you both.” Did she sense something amiss?

Joshua said grace and picked up his hamburger. “Do you have a crush on the lifeguard, too?”

“Penny would murder me in my sleep.” She pounded the end of the bottle of ketchup until it came in a flood.

Joshua chuckled. “Nothing like a little hamburger with your ketchup.”

She giggled.

“So, how did you guys meet Kent Fullerton?”

She picked up her hamburger. “Well, we haven’t exactly met him yet. He’s a lifeguard at the park. He’ll be a senior next year, and he’s on the football team. All the girls are crazy about him.”

“Including you?”

She swallowed and gave him a droll look. “He’s a sun-bleached blond Adonis who would look perfect with Penny.” She shrugged and took another bite.

He changed the subject.

Abra told him about the list of classics Peter had given her. She’d read six so far. She relaxed and did witty imitations of conversations in Jane Austen novels. Joshua laughed.

After eating, they went over to the square and listened to the band. Families gathered. A few older couples danced on the patio in front of the gazebo. Joshua took Abra’s hand. “Come on. Let’s join them.”

“Are you kidding?” She dug her heels in. “I don’t know how to dance!”

Joshua half dragged her. “Don’t be such a chicken. I’ll teach you.” He showed her a simple box step, then put her hand on his shoulder and pulled her into dance position. She apologized every time she stepped on his toes. “Lift your head, Abra. Stop staring at your feet.” He grinned at her. “Trust me. Close your eyes and feel the music.” She caught on quickly after that.

Other couples crowded in. The clock in the bell tower chimed. The song ended. Joshua let her go. “I’d better get you home.”

Abra walked alongside him. The dismal expression he’d seen at the bridge was gone. She looked happy and relaxed, more like the kid she ought to be.

“Are you up to a hike on my next day off?”

“Sure.” She beamed a smile at him. “When will that be?”

“Sunday. And I’m talking about three miles uphill, not a walk around the block.” The truck sputtered and died twice before he got it started. “Are you up to it?”

“I don’t know.” She grinned. “Are you sure you don’t have to work on this piece of junk?”

He grinned back. “Never on a Sunday.”

Joshua knew Dad wouldn’t be home yet. He had said he was driving out to the MacPhersons’ to talk with Gil, who’d been struggling ever since he’d come home from the war. Sadie called every few weeks and asked Dad to come. He never said what it was about, other than Gil had been a medic and saw more than any man should.

Joshua took the mail from the box and headed up the steps, flipping through envelopes. The one at the bottom of the pile, addressed to him, felt like a kick in his stomach.

He set Dad’s mail on the kitchen table, his heart drumming a hard beat, and opened his letter. Refolding it, he slipped it back into the envelope. He looked around and then decided to tuck it into his Bible for safekeeping.