Lost Innocents (18 page)

Stop it, she thought. Stop ruminating about Heather and get back to what you’re doing. I guess I better put this stuff back, she thought to herself. Nothing in here that told her any more than she already knew. She opened the suitcases and tried to remember exactly where each item of clothing had come from. Maddy was concentrating on her task, putting things away neatly, when suddenly she sensed that someone was behind her.

The hair stood up on the back of her neck, and she felt her heart begin to hammer. For a terrible moment she froze; why were they back so soon? Why hadn’t Doug warned her? How was she ever going to explain? She tried to concoct a lie, to compose her face, as she turned around.

“Maddy?” said Father Nick, looking at her curiously. “I knocked, but I guess you didn’t hear me.”

“Oh, Nick, you scared me.”

“I’m sorry. I called out, but you must have been absorbed in what you were doing. What are you doing?” he asked, glancing at the suitcases. “Are you going on a trip?”

Maddy shook her head. “No. No. I’m glad you’re here. Give me a minute. I have to finish this.” Hurriedly but carefully, she replaced every item and put the suitcases back where they went. When she was done he was still standing in the doorway, watching her.

“Come downstairs. I’ll make you some tea. Let me just check on Amy,” she said. She went down the hall and peeked in Amy’s room. The little girl was playing happily. Maddy went back to the staircase, gesturing for Nick to follow her.

When they got to the kitchen, she went to the stove and put on the teakettle. Her hands shook as she lit the old gas burner.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. “You seem like a nervous wreck.”

Maddy sat on a kitchen chair at the table with him and shook her head. “I am. If I tell you, you’ll probably think I’m crazy.”

Nick shrugged. “Try me.”

“I told you about the people in the accident. How they’re staying here?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Well, I started to get this idea in my head that they’re the ones who took the baby. You know, the missing Wallace baby.”

“Did you call the police?” he asked.

Maddy sighed. “And say what? These people have a baby, and the mother doesn’t treat him normally? The baby made noises when he saw the Wallaces on TV?”

“They’ve showed pictures of the baby on TV, haven’t they? Couldn’t you recognize him?”

Maddy shook her head. “They had Polaroids of a curly-headed little boy; it could be any baby. You can’t tell from that. I’ve taken these people in, and now what am I going to do? Call the police on them? The Good Samaritan, that’s me.”

Nick nodded. “Yeah. I see.”

His understanding warmed her, and for a minute she caught his eye and a complex message passed instantly between them. They both looked hurriedly away.

“Besides,” she continued briskly, “we’ve had enough to do with the police. I told you what happened with Doug. You know, that they picked up Doug and questioned him just because the girl who disappeared was a teenager.”

“Right. How did that go?” said Nick.

“You were right to encourage me to trust him. It didn’t amount to anything. The witness didn’t identify him. Our lawyer is threatening to sue the police department for harassment.”

Nick nodded. “So, everything’s all right now,” he said carefully.

For a moment Maddy thought again of Heather on the doorstep and sighed. Then she got up to pour the tea. Nick studied her as she moved around the kitchen.

“Maddy?”

“Yes, it’s fine,” she said. “Except for me snooping through the belongings of my houseguests, thinking they’re kidnappers.”

“Who are these people, anyway?” Nick asked. “You said they weren’t from around here.”

Maddy poured the steaming water into the cup. “Their name is Lewis. They’re from Maine. They’re a very strange couple. He looks like a motorcycle biker and she’s a frumpy-looking librarian. He seems very religious, though.”

Nick looked surprised. “Terry Lewis.”

Maddy turned and stared at him. “That’s right. Terry is his name.”

“And Bonnie. And Sean,” said Nick.

“You know them,” Maddy said incredulously.

“Yes, I know them. I know them very well. Terry just got out the other day.”

“Out?” Maddy asked. “Out of what?”

“Out of prison,” Nick said calmly.

“Prison,” Maddy cried.

“Do you remember my telling you about the man who was in prison for murder and then the real killer confessed? And he was let out?”

Maddy’s mouth fell open. “You said the other night you’d been up at the prison.”

Nick nodded and smiled. “I was up saying good-bye to Terry. I saw Bonnie and Sean when they came to get him.”

“No,” Maddy cried. “No, it can’t be. No. This can’t be right. They’re from Maine. Their license plate…” She felt as if she were drowning in confusion.

“Bonnie is from Maine. I’m sure that was her car they were driving. Terry has been serving a life sentence. It was one of those gas station holdups and some customer identified Terry. He’d already done five years when the real killer confessed. They’d gotten him for another, similar holdup, and he admitted he was the one who’d done the crime Terry was convicted of.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Maddy, thinking of the man she’d met in the hospital bed. He certainly looked like a man who’d spent years in prison.

“I’ve seen him every week when I make my pastoral visits. He handled the whole thing with amazing fortitude. Forgave the guy for letting him take the rap. I’m not sure I could have been as generous as he was. It was very emotional. Anyway, he was released the day before yesterday…”

“That explains the new clothes,” Maddy said.

“What new clothes?”

“In their suitcase. All of his clothes are brand new. She must have bought them for him.”

“He told me he had a job interview lined up when he got out. Yeah. That’s him.”

“Oh, my God, Nick. But a guy who’s been in prison all that time…He must have had a record or something to be convicted in the first place. All those years in that violent atmosphere…And I went and asked them to stay here.”

Nick raised a hand to stop her. “Remember, he didn’t belong there, any more than you or I would. He’d had a pretty rough life before he went to prison. I’m not going to tell you it was his first brush with the law. But I think this experience really changed him. I really believe Terry is going to be able to turn his life around.”

“Wait till Doug hears this,” Maddy mumbled, shaking her head.

“Doug, of all people, should be willing to give others the benefit of the doubt,” Nick said, unable to keep a chiding tone out of his voice.

Maddy looked at him across the table and felt a spark jump between them. She lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea.

“So they really are married?” she asked.

“I married them,” Nick said simply.

“At the prison?”

“The prison chapel. It was a modest affair,” he said.

“How in the world did those two ever get together?”

“It was one of those penpal romances. A lot of the prisoners have them. This one led to marriage.”

“I had a feeling she led kind of a lonely life,” said Maddy.

“I’m sure you’re right about that,” said Nick. “It started out with her sending him books, and one thing led to another.”

“And Sean?” Maddy asked.

“Oh, he’s theirs all right.”

“I thought prisoners didn’t…I mean…you know…”

“Have sex?” he asked, recognizing her discomfort.

Maddy nodded.

“Oh, they have sex,” he said, smiling wryly. “In fact, theirs was something of a shotgun wedding. Not that there was anyone holding a gun to Terry’s head. He was perfectly willing. And nobody in her life really seemed to care that much about Bonnie. But yes. He’s theirs. I baptized him myself. Only a couple of months ago.”

“Oh,” said Maddy, surprised, relieved, and at the same time oddly disappointed.

Nick noted her reaction. “You were hoping perhaps that you were harboring kidnappers?”

“No,“said Maddy, frowning. “No, of course not. Maybe…I guess I’m just feeling for that mother. Wishing she could have her baby back safe and sound. It tears your heart out to see that young couple on TV.”

“It’s terribly sad,” he agreed.

They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their tea. “I’m awfully glad you came by,” Maddy said. “You’ve really eased my mind.” Then she cocked her head to one side. “Why did you come by? Weren’t you leaving today?”

“Yes,” he admitted. “Yes, I’m afraid so.” He fished around in the pocket of his jacket. He was wearing his civilian clothes, and Maddy thought for a moment how much less severe he looked in a blue oxford shirt than in his black cassock.

“Here,” he said, taking out a thin silver bracelet and laying it on the table between them. “I found this hooked on my gray sweater.”

“But how…?” Then Maddy blushed furiously, remembering their brief embrace in his office. “I can’t believe it. I didn’t even miss it.” She picked up the bracelet and looked at it.

“I figured you would want it,” he said.

Another silence fell between them, and this time they both knew that it was a reluctance to face their final good-bye.

“Well, I’ve still got to load up my car, before I get on the road,” he said, standing up.

Maddy stood as well, wiping her hands on the front of her jeans. “Will you get there tonight?” she asked.

“No, I’m…getting kind of a late start. I’ll stop and spend the night somewhere. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

Maddy suddenly did not trust her voice.

Nick forced himself to smile. “Walk me to my car?” he asked.

“Okay,” Maddy whispered. She was overcome with a sudden, keen sorrow for the loss of him. When they got outside, she was glad that it was too chilly to linger. They faced each other without smiling.

“I’m sorry, Nick,” she said.

He didn’t mean to touch her, but he didn’t want her to see his eyes, so he reached out and pulled her to him, and she pressed against him fiercely. The smell of her hair and the feel of her slight body in his arms made him hold her too long. He heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, and he let go of her as if she were red hot.

Doug pulled up beside Nick’s car and got out. Bonnie clambered out behind him, Sean fussing angrily in her arms. In the front seat on the passenger side, Terry Lewis rested one huge tattooed forearm across the window and leaned out.

“Father Nick,” he cried.

Nick’s face lit up at the sight of him. He strode over to the car and gently shook the other man’s hand. “Hello, my friend. I heard you were in an accident.”

“Out of the frying pan into the fire,” Terry joked, showing his crooked teeth when he smiled.

“Let me help you out of there,” said Nick. He opened the door and reached in, half lifting the bulky man out of the seat.

“Thanks, Father,” said Terry, straightening. “No more trouble. I promise.”

Nick smiled and turned to Bonnie. “Hello, Bonnie. I was told you and Sean were staying here.”

“Father Rylander,” she said, surprised.

“You better take care of this guy.”

“I will,” she said with her customary abruptness. She looked down shyly at her shoes.

Nick leaned over and planted a kiss on the fussing baby. “And take good care of Sean. He’s a fine boy.”

“Terry has to go in now,” said Bonnie.

Doug caught Maddy’s eye questioningly. “I’ll tell you in a minute,” Maddy whispered.

“Well, I have to be going, too.” Nick gave Doug a false smile and extended his hand. “Just stopped to say good-bye.”

Doug reached out and shook his hand. His face was grim.

Bonnie put an arm around Terry and began to help him toward the walkway. Nick climbed into his car without looking back. Maddy felt Doug encircle her waist with his arm. Maddy concentrated as hard as she could to keep back tears.

M
addy turned away from the sight of Nick’s departure and sighed. Doug looked at her suspiciously. Just then there was wailing from the direction of the car. “Will you get Sean?” Maddy said, herself from disengaging Doug’s possessive arm. “I’ll go open the door.”

She saw that Bonnie and Terry were slowly approaching the house, and she realized that she had not seen Terry standing before. She noted that he was not a tall man— not much taller than his wife.

As they approached the front steps, Maddy rushed up to the door and opened it. Terry’s face was pale from the exertion.

“Come on in,” she said. “I’ll bet you’re glad to be out of that hospital.”

Terry nodded and carefully hoisted himself up on the front steps. Bonnie hovered beside him anxiously. Terry stepped into the foyer and looked around.

“Are you all right?” Bonnie asked.

“I’m fine,” he said. His eyes surveyed the Blakes’ modest house. “This is a palace,” he said sincerely.

“Thank you,” said Maddy. “Come in and sit down.”

“I want to hug my boy. That’s the first thing I want to do.”

“He’s right in here,” said Maddy, pointing to the living room. Doug had removed Sean from the car and brought him inside.

Terry seemed to straighten up at the prospect of holding Sean. He limped toward the door of the living room and looked inside. “There he is,” he cried.

“Don’t you dare try to pick him up!” Bonnie warned. She rushed past her husband and swooped down on Sean, lifting the startled baby off the floor. Sean started to wail.

“Why don’t you sit down here and we can put him beside you,” Maddy said.

Terry frowned but did as she suggested, falling heavily onto the couch and rubbing his stomach as he got himself settled. “Okay,” he said. “I’m ready for him. Bring him over here.”

Maddy watched curiously as Bonnie brought the child to his father. A father he scarcely knew, she thought, yet Sean stopped crying as he sank into the sofa beside Terry. He looked up wide-eyed at the pitted, swarthy face, and with one little hand he reached up and tugged at Terry’s mustache. Terry let out a cry of delight and began to play peek-a-boo games with the child. Maddy glanced at Bonnie, expecting to see an indulgent smile on her face. Bonnie, who stood back with her arms crossed over her chest, looked on instead with stormy eyes.