Indemnity: Book Two: Covenant of Trust Series (19 page)

“
I want what’s best for Jack, period. If that happens to work out for you, too, then lucky you.” Now the edge returned to her voice.

“
It’s not luck. It’s providence.”

“
Providence lines out extramarital affairs, does it?”

“
No, but providence, I mean God, can turn them around and bring good out of them.” Chuck looked Tracy in the eyes, never blinking. “He can bring good out of anything, even murder.” That was her opening, her cue.

Tracy never flinched. “That’s some God you’ve got there, Chuck.”

“
Yes, He is.”
Don’t press her. Live to fight another day.
“I’m going to take Jack to church Sunday morning, and I’d like to take him Sunday evening, but that would make us late getting back.”

“
Not this time,” Tracy said softly.

“
Fair enough,” Chuck said. “You’re welcome to join us. It’s Preston Road—”

“
Is that what your wife said?”

“
My wife? She’d be glad for you to come to church with us.”
I’m fairly sure she would be anyway.
He heard a scraping sound inside the house, and leaned forward to see Jack with a backpack and pillow, dragging a suitcase. “You need some help, buddy?”

“
This ... is ... heavy,” Jack complained. “Mom, I’m just going for two days! What’d you pack?”

“
Three changes of clothes, and pajamas. Just the basics. Oh, and your toothpaste.”

“
Toothpaste?” Chuck asked.

“
I only use one kind,” Jack said. “And I don’t eat bananas or coconut anything.”

“
I think we can handle that.” Chuck picked up the suitcase. “Do you know your phone number, Jack, in case we need to call your mom?”

“
I’m in first grade. Of course, I know my phone number.”

“
Anything else we need to know?” Chuck asked Tracy. “Is he allergic to anything?”

“
No, he’s perfect,” Tracy answered. “There’s a card in his suitcase with my cell phone number on it.” She knelt down to Jack’s eye level. “I’ll miss you like crazy.” She pushed his bangs from his forehead then hugged him tightly.

“
I’ll miss you too, but we’ll be okay,” Jack said.

“
Sure you will,” Tracy replied, standing back up. “He’s never spent a night away from me in his life.” She sounded as if she were coaching herself rather than her son.

“
You want me to bring him back tomorrow?” Chuck asked gently.

Tracy studied Chuck’s face for a moment. “No, it’ll be good for him. He can’t hang on to his mommy the rest of his life.”

“
You can call and check on him.”

“
He’ll be fine.”

“
I’m not worried about him.”

“
Dad, come on!” Jack called from the front seat of Chuck’s car. Chuck smiled broadly. It sounded just as natural as hearing Shannon or Brad or Joel say it.

“
I’d better go. He sounds ready.” Chuck turned and stepped off the porch. “Hey! Back seat. You still need a booster.” Jack rolled his eyes and climbed out slowly. Chuck opened the back door, and helped the boy get his seat belt buckled. He walked around and opened his own door, but before getting in, he called, “Goodbye, Tracy.” She didn’t speak, didn’t wave, just gave them a slight nod.

“
Is one of those drinks mine?” Jack asked as soon as Chuck got in the car.

“
Yep. Here.” Chuck loosened the bottle’s cap and handed it back.

“
I can drink it now?”

“
Yes.”

“
Mom never lets me drink anything in her car.” Jack gulped from the bottle.

“
Your mom has a very nice car.”

“
Yeah, but I don’t think it’ll go over eighty. Will this one?”

“
Not while you’re in it,” Chuck answered, glancing at Jack in the rearview mirror.

“
Will you teach me to drive?”

“
You got a few more years before you have to worry about that.”

“
I know. I just like to plan.”

“
Jack, we usually get pizza on Friday night. How’s that sound?”

“
Yum, yum, yum.” He slurped loudly from his drink. “Eat out or bring home?”

“
Either.”

“
I vote bring home.”

“
Bring home it is then,” Chuck said. Shannon would’ve picked eating out in a heartbeat.

Jack gulped his soda, and then shook his head until it fizzed in his mouth.

“
Everything okay, Jack?”

Jack could see his dad’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He swallowed hard and nodded. “Yep. I mean, yes, sir. Am I in trouble?”

“
Of course not. I just saw you shaking your head.”

“
I was making a soda shake in my mouth. Mom never lets me do that ’cause sometimes it fizzes up a lot, and I spit. She hates that.”

“
I see.”

“
I can stop if you want.”

“
Just be careful and don’t spit.”

Jack took another gulp from his bottle of Coke. His dad passed the soda shake test. This might work out better than he expected.

“
Here’s our street,” his dad said, as they turned right.

“
What’s it called?”

“
Danbury Court.”

“
Who’s Dan?”

“
Dan? What are you talking about?”

“
The Dan that’s buried here.”

His dad smiled in the rearview mirror. “Danbury. All one word. It’s somebody’s last name, I guess. Probably some real estate developer.” His dad pointed out the front window. “There’s Shannon waiting for us.”

Jack leaned up between the front seats so he could see. Yep, there was a girl all right, sitting on the edge of the front step watching for them. Then she jumped up and ran inside. By the time his dad pulled into the driveway, the girl was back outside, bouncing, dancing almost. Once his dad turned the car off, she flew down the steps toward them. “Daddy, you took forever! Did you get him?”

“
Who?” his dad asked.

“
My brother? Did you get him?”

“
Yes ...”

“
Oh, I see him!” the girl said, pushing past his dad. “Get him out!” She pointed at Jack and yanked his dad’s sleeve, her ponytail swishing.

“
Sweetheart, you’re gonna scare him,” his dad said gently. “Calm down.” His dad took the girl by the arm and pulled her out of the way then he opened the car door.

Jack slid out and stood face to face with the girl. He remembered her picture from his dad’s wallet. She was his sister.

“
Jack, this is your sister, Shannon. And Shannon, this is your brother, Jack.”

“
You go to my school.” Jack pointed a finger and squinted at her. “But you’re not in my grade.”

“
I’m in Mrs. Brubaker’s class,” the girl said. “You know, kinder-garten.”

“
I’m in first grade.” He stood up straighter so he was even taller than she was. She still had all of her baby teeth, and she probably couldn’t even read yet.

“
My mommy teaches first grade! Come on!” She took him by the hand and he stumbled up the steps behind her. “Mommy, here he is!” she shouted once she got inside the door. He never got to yell at home.

Jack pulled his hand back and carefully examined the house. It was tall, not too fancy, and it had a staircase just like his. He breathed in deeply. “What’s that smell?”

“
It’s coffee,” a lady-voice said, surprising Jack. He hadn’t seen her. Maybe she just appeared. Maybe she was magic. She smiled and held out her hand. “Jack, I’m Bobbi,” she said reaching out a hand.

She knew his name. Then he remembered. “I know you,” he said.

“
You saw me yesterday at court.”

“
No, at school.”

“
I teach first grade at your school.”

“
Yeah!” He snapped his fingers. “You’re Mrs. Mo-whatever.”

“
Mo-lin-sky,” Shannon corrected.

“
At school, I’m Mrs. Molinsky, but here, you can call me Bobbi.”

“
No, you’re a grown-up,” Jack said, “I can’t call grown-ups by their first name.” His mother hated that, too. He chewed his bottom lip and scowled as he tried to think. “Mrs. Dad.” Jack nodded. “I like it.” His dad finally made it inside with his suitcase. “Dad, Mrs. Dad teaches at my school. I know her already.”

“
See, you fit right in.” His dad patted his shoulder, and then he leaned over and kissed Mrs. Dad. On the mouth! In front of everybody! “I’ll go get the pizza,” he said. “Pepperoni for everybody?”

Jack nodded, and made slurping noises. He grinned broadly when his sister joined in. He already liked having a sister. Once his dad left, Mrs. Dad pointed down a long hallway. “Shannon, why don’t you show Jack where the toys are?”

Toys! He completely forgot about toys! His mom didn’t pack any even. Thank goodness they had some. Shannon took his hand again and led him back through the house. “This way!”

“
Jack, I’ll take your things upstairs,” Mrs. Dad called after them.

“
Wait!” Jack ran back from the family room. “My dad said I could pick my room.”

“
You can sleep in Brad’s room,” she said, and he followed her up the stairs. “Joel’s coming tomorrow, so he’ll need his own room.”

“
My brother?”

“
What about Brat?” He never heard Shannon sneak up behind them.

“
Brad.” Mrs. Dad made a big deal about the ‘d.’ “Brad is coming, too, but he won’t be sleeping here.” She opened the second door at the top of the steps. “Here you go, Jack.”

He walked slowly through the room. Everything was dark blue - the curtains, the bedspread, part of the walls. He walked over and pushed on the bed. It felt soft enough. He punched the pillow. It was good, too. The dresser, though, had real treasure - football trophies. “Was Brad a football player?”

“
Since he was about eight, I think,” Mrs. Dad said. She walked to the dresser and pulled one of the trophies down for him. “This was his favorite. His teammates voted to give it to him.”

Jack held the trophy carefully, afraid to breathe on it even. He touched the letters on the nameplate. “E-e-eagle Spirit. What’s that mean?”

“
The Eagles is the team name, and the team voted on the player who showed the most character and dedication.”

“
So he was like the best?”

“
Maybe not the best player, but he’s a terrific young man.”

He eased the trophy back into Mrs. Dad’s hands. He didn’t have any trophies or anything. He lightly touched the desk, and took a deep breath.

“
Is everything okay?” Mrs. Dad asked.

“
Yeah,” Jack said. “It smells tough. Not like a bully, but still tough.”

“
That’s Brad’s cologne,” Shannon said. “He wears way too much. C’mon, I’ll show you my room!” Shannon scrambled down the hall and Jack shuffled out behind her.

When Chuck returned with the pizza, Bobbi sent the children to wash their hands. Moments later, they bounded into the kitchen. “I wanna sit by Jack!” Shannon exclaimed.

“
You don’t have a choice,” Bobbi answered. “I already set the table. You have to sit by Jack.”

Shannon smiled at her, and took her seat. “Jack, she always teases like that. You’ll get used to it.”

“
My mom never teases,” he said, as he surveyed the table carefully. “Is that my dad’s seat?” He pointed to the seat on his right.

“
Yes.” Bobbi patted his chair, and he climbed up in it.

“
Good, I like it that way,” he said. “Do we hafta have milk to drink?”

“
Not on pizza Friday,” Bobbi said. She brought the pizza to the table, and then took her seat with Chuck and the children.

“
Jack, give me your hand,” Chuck said. “Each meal we say a prayer. You ever pray before?”

“
No.” He frowned, and pulled his hand back to his lap.

“
It’s okay. We don’t have to hold hands. Praying is just talking to God, telling Him thank You for our food, and anything else we want to say.”

“
To who?” Jack asked. “I don’t know anybody named God. My mom does though. She talks to him a lot, mostly when she’s mad.”

Bobbi cringed, imagining the things Jack might have heard in his short life. “This is a little different,” she said. “God takes care of us—”

“
But I thought my mom did. I mean of me. She doesn’t take care of you guys.”

“
Jack ...”

“
Are you getting mad? ’Cause sometimes I ask too many questions.”

“
I’m not mad. See if this makes sense. God made everything, and He’s in charge of everything. Sometimes He does things Himself, but sometimes He helps people do some of the things that need to be done.”

“
Did He make the pizza?”

“
No, but He made people smart enough to figure out how to make pizza and He made your dad smart enough to have a job, so we could have money to buy it.”

“
Okay.” Jack reached his hands out to Chuck and Shannon. “That I can believe.”

Chuck took the boy’s hand and winked at her as he squeezed her hand. “Now you kind of look down like this and close your eyes.” Chuck bowed his head to show the boy, and Jack dutifully followed his lead.