For Her Son's Love Page 6

  “So which verse did he memorize yesterday?”

  It may have been Daniel’s verse but the words had lodged in Miranda’s memory, too, lingering at the edges of her thoughts all morning. Knowing Sandra wouldn’t let her off the hook, she gave in.

  “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

  “Isaiah 49:16.” Sandra nodded and closed her eyes, as if savoring the words. “I love that verse. It was one of my promise verses—the verses that comforted me—when I went through chemotherapy.”

  “But didn’t you feel like God had forgotten you?” Miranda asked before she could stop herself.

  “Of course there were times I felt that way,” Sandra said. “But that’s the beauty of a promise, sweetie. No matter how I felt, I leaned on the truth of His word. He wouldn’t forget me. He can’t forget me.” She held her palms out. “I’m right here.”

  Miranda felt a stir of longing at the absolute certainty in Sandra’s eyes. Daniel was a sensitive boy and it hadn’t been enough to simply memorize the verse he’d been given. He’d wanted to know more about the Bible. Who wrote it? Were the stories true? She’d run out of answers way before he’d stopped asking questions. Finally, caught somewhere between guilt and exasperation, she’d managed to distract him by telling him they could go for a bike ride and feed the ducks at Winchester Park.

  “So what do you have planned for your afternoon off?” Sandra asked.

  Miranda was grateful for the change in topic. “I’m going to pick Daniel up at the church, run to the grocery store and then we’ll stop at the park for a while.”

  A typical way to spend her time off from work. They lived in the upper level of an older home owned by their landlady, Mrs. Enderby. The retired school-teacher lived on the first floor and had converted the tiny yard into a patchwork of flowers and shrubs. When Miranda had answered the ad in the newspaper, Mrs. Enderby had told her in no uncertain terms that, although she liked children, she didn’t like them stomping around in her gardens.

  The elderly woman also owned something Daniel referred to as a “scolding broom.” It had appeared the first week they’d moved in upstairs. If Daniel got too close to a fascinating garden statue or one of the birdbaths, Mrs. Enderby came outside and shook her broom at him. Miranda didn’t want to do anything to earn the woman’s disapproval, so she took Daniel to Winchester Park to play. A lot.

  “Since you’re picking up Daniel today, will you do me a favor? I baked cookies for snack time tomorrow. Naomi is expecting them so all you have to do is drop them off in the church kitchen.”

  “Sure.” Miranda hadn’t planned to go inside the church but it was a rare opportunity to actually be able to help Sandra out.

  “Go ahead and scoot out of here now.” Sandra smiled. “Darcy and Nina are coming in for the noon rush. Enjoy your afternoon with Daniel.”

  Miranda wasn’t going to argue. The sun had burned its way through the clouds earlier that morning, promising a beautiful summer day. She didn’t want to waste a minute of it.

  She stopped at home first to shower, and then changed into denim capris and an eyelet top in a soft shade of yellow. She started to confine her hair into its usual twist but decided on a whim to leave it down. She thumbed through the dismal contents of her purse, thankful that lunch was included in the daily schedule at Sonshine Camp, and drove to the church.

  Even if Chestnut Grove Community Church wasn’t a historic landmark, Miranda would still have appreciated the sparkling red-and-white brick building with its arched windows and stained-glass inserts. A tall spire pierced the sky and the bell tower had been restored. Every day at noon, a joyous tune rolled into the air. The growing congregation had wisely resisted the urge to add on to the existing structure, preserving the building’s simple elegance.

  Miranda bypassed the parking lot near the church and drove around to the back. The youth center had been built next to the church itself and also housed the large fellowship hall. She had to drive around twice before finding a parking spot. She pushed her nervousness aside as she stepped into the spacious foyer.

  The first person she saw was Naomi Fraser, Reverend Fraser’s wife, apparently dressed like a character from the Bible in a long blue robe. The headpiece, fashioned from a dark blue bath towel, couldn’t quite tame the bright red curls peeking out from the edges. When she saw Miranda, she gave her a friendly smile.

  “Hello, Miranda. I’m afraid it’s been one of those days.” She laughed. “You heard of Little Bo Peep losing her sheep? Well, one of the shepherds lost one this morning. Caleb finally found it outside the youth wing, eating pizza crusts next to the Dumpster.”

  Miranda blinked. “A real sheep?”

  “Oh, to be sure,” Naomi said cheerfully. “We don’t do anything halfway at Sonshine Camp. If the Bible story calls for a sheep, someone provides a sheep. Anyway, because of the excitement, we’re running a little bit behind schedule now.”

  “I’m looking for my son, Daniel.” Right after she said the words, she silently chided herself. With all the children who attended Chestnut Grove Community, Naomi wouldn’t recognize the name of one little boy. Especially a boy she didn’t see regularly.

  “Sweet brown eyes. Green backpack, right? He’s with the rest of the first graders at the park. The leaders took the children over there for games this morning to enjoy the beautiful weather. You can wait here for them to come back or go over there and pick him up.”

  “I’ll go get him.” Miranda quickly transferred the box of cookies to Naomi. “These are from Sandra.”

  “Tell her I said thank you.” Naomi shifted the box under her arm, reached in and took out a jumbo chocolate-chip cookie. And took a large bite out of it.

  Miranda stared.

  “I have to make sure they taste good, don’t I?” Naomi winked at her.

  Miranda murmured a reply and made her escape. The last thing she wanted to do was stay at the church with Naomi. The woman reminded her of Sandra. Warm. Caring. And way too discerning.

  When she drove to the park, she saw a cluster of children gathered in the sandlot, involved in a lively game of baseball. She shaded her eyes with her hand, looking for Daniel. If she knew her son, he’d be scoping out bugs or finding a cool rock to add to his collection. There was probably a leader assigned to the boys who didn’t want to play baseball….

  “Mom! Over here!”

  Daniel’s voice caught her attention and she followed it to its source.

  Daniel was standing at home plate, his hands grasping a baseball bat.

  Andrew Noble stood beside him.

  Andrew almost didn’t recognize Miranda.

  Her hair was loose, falling past her shoulders and curling slightly at the ends. The faded denim pants she wore ended just below her knees and sun-kissed skin took over from there.

  “There’s my mom.” Daniel beamed up at him.

  Andrew grunted. It was the only sound he could make, given the fact his jaw scraped against home plate.

  She looked beautiful. And unhappy.

  He wasn’t sure if it was because he was there or because Daniel was covered in dirt from his exuberant slide into second base during the first inning. Maybe both.

  “Daniel…it’s time to go.” She glared at him.

  Yeah, it was both.

  Daniel’s shoulders slumped. “But it’s my turn to bat. And then we’re having ice cream.”

  “We’re almost finished.” Wisdom told Andrew he probably shouldn’t butt in. Sympathy for Daniel told Andrew he was already in trouble, so what did he have to lose? He rubbed his knuckles against the top of Daniel’s head. “This guy has to get Ernest home.”

  On cue, Ernest waved from his spot on third.

  Miranda wavered. “I suppose.”

  “Yes!” Daniel gave Andrew a high five. Now that he had his mom’s blessing, he could focus on the game again. “Is this right, Andrew?”

  “Mr. Noble,” Miranda corrected under her breath.

  Andr
ew’s lips twitched. “You can wait in the dugout, Mom,” he told her. “This shouldn’t take long. Daniel’s a natural.”

  Miranda pivoted sharply and walked toward the other adult leaders, who welcomed her into the shade of the dugout.

  “Put your hands here, remember?” Andrew corrected Daniel’s grip on the bat and stepped away. “Keep your eye on the ball, not the bat.”

  The pitcher growled and sent one flying.

  Andrew held his breath and couldn’t help offering up a silent prayer.

  Crack.

  He heard someone whoop with excitement. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miranda jumping up and down.

  “Go, Daniel, go!” Andrew jumped to the side as Daniel flung the bat and took off running.

  The ball soared over the pitcher’s head and arched between two boys in the outfield. Ernest, who had shown his flair for the dramatic earlier in the game, pretended to run to home plate in slow motion.

  Daniel ended up safe on third.

  “That’s it for the day, guys,” Caleb Williams called. “Grab an ice-cream bar and we’ll head back to church.”

  The chorus of protests subsided quickly at the words ice-cream bar and both teams charged toward the volunteers stationed by the cooler.

  “Did you see me, Mom?” Daniel sprinted over to Miranda, his eyes shining with excitement.

  “You did great. I didn’t know you could hit a ball like that.” Miranda ruffled his hair.

  “Great game, Daniel.” Caleb Williams jogged past them, collecting the sports equipment scattered around the field. “And thanks for filling in for Ben today, Andrew. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem.” Andrew meant it. When Caleb had sent out an e-mail asking for an emergency replacement for Ben Cavanaugh, Andrew had called Zoe and asked her to reschedule his morning meetings. After talking to Rachel the night before, he had a strong hunch why Ben had taken the day off from his commitments.

  When Andrew had arrived, he’d been surprised and pleased to have Daniel assigned to his group. Daniel had shadowed him most of the morning and it hadn’t taken Andrew long to figure out why. Quiet and thoughtful, Daniel was a bit of an oddity to the other boys. He shied away from their rough and tumble antics, clearly uncomfortable being thrown into the competitions the rest of the boys thrived on. This made him a natural target for teasing, so he’d withdrawn, hanging on the sidelines most of the morning.

  Until they’d chosen teams for baseball. Daniel had looked miserable and Andrew had guessed it was because he’d had his fill of being teased. When he’d discreetly taken Daniel to the side to tell him he didn’t have to play, he’d inadvertently discovered the boy’s misery wasn’t because he didn’t want to play, but because he did.

  Andrew had encouraged him to join in, squelching the protests from the “red” team, who’d obviously considered him a liability. The protests had faded when Daniel had caught a fly ball in the outfield in the first ten minutes of the game.

  “Can we stay and practice a little longer, Mom? Andrew said he’d pitch a couple to me.”

  Andrew saw the indecision on Miranda’s face and the hopeful expression on Daniel’s. He decided to put his neck in the noose once again. In the name of male bonding. “Hey, buddy. You better grab your ice-cream bar before they run out.”

  Daniel grinned and scooted off.

  Leaving him and Miranda alone.

  She stared at him, her expression guarded. And slightly accusing.

  “He’s good, Miranda,” Andrew told her. “There’s some natural talent there.”

  “He doesn’t like to play baseball,” Miranda murmured, confused. “He likes to collect the cards but he’s never shown any interest in playing.”

  Andrew exhaled. “Maybe he hasn’t been…encouraged.”

  His attempt at tact failed miserably. The gold sparks in Miranda’s eyes came to life. And he was directly in the line of fire.

  “Are you implying I’ve discouraged him?”

  Tread carefully here, Andrew. You want to get to know the lady better. Criticizing her parenting skills probably isn’t the way to her heart….

  “Daniel told me he’s always wanted to play but he can’t because he likes science.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “That was my question. According to Daniel, the kids in his class call him a brainiac. Somehow he got the impression he wouldn’t be good at sports because he’s good at academics. Someone even suggested that it doesn’t matter if he’s smaller than the other boys because it’s more important for a person to exercise his brain than his biceps.”

  Miranda sat down hard on the bench and crossed her arms. A combination of guilt and defiance clouded her eyes. “That’s true.”

  “You were the one who told him that?” The words were out before he could stop them.

  “He is a little smaller than other boys. I didn’t want him to get…hurt.”

  Andrew sat down next to her. She stiffened but didn’t move away. He called that progress. Which was a shame, because what he was about to tell her had the potential to determine whether or not she’d ever speak to him again.

  “Boys that age are held together by spit and sheer determination, Miranda. They’re going to get bumped and scraped.” He remembered the first time he’d met Daniel—wearing his X-ray “goggles” and makeshift cape—and wondered if she knew Daniel pretended to be a superhero. Someone brave. Unstoppable.

  She shot him a look. “Spoken like a single man who isn’t responsible for a child.”

  The faces of a hundred children suddenly materialized. Some laughing. Some crying. Every one of their images clear—and real—stored in his memory like pictures in an album.

  How would she respond if you told her you do understand?

  That he was even tempted to tell her about his life—the life lived apart from the man everyone thought he was—stunned him. He didn’t know anything about her and for a moment he’d been tempted to spill information that could shut down a persona he’d spent years creating.

  “I just don’t want to see Daniel shortchanged,” he said slowly. “Yes, he’s a bright kid, but there are other things he might be good at. Things that could build up his confidence, too.”

  “Mom, there were some extra ones.” Daniel rushed up to them, momentarily saving Andrew from the backlash he probably deserved. “Here’s one for you, too, Andrew.”

  They both pasted on fake smiles and accepted the treats.

  “So can we stay for a while, Mom? It’s your day off, right?”

  “I’m sure Mr. Noble is busy, Daniel.”

  Daniel gave him a pleading look.

  “I took the afternoon off, too.” Which was the truth. He just hadn’t mentioned it to Zoe. Yet.

  “Pastor Williams took all the baseball equipment,” Miranda pointed out. “We don’t have a bat and ball.”

  “Ah…I think I have one in the trunk of my car.”

  “You have a baseball bat and a ball in the trunk of your Ferrari?” Miranda stared him down.

  He didn’t mention he’d driven the Porsche to the church that morning. Or that he kept a box of stuffed bears in the trunk of his car, too. They came in handy when the kids he helped locate needed something to hold after their ordeal.

  “You never know when the urge to play baseball is going to…ah, hit.” Go on. Tell me I’m not only a useless excuse of a man but a useless excuse of a man with an underdeveloped sense of humor….

  “That was terrible.” She tilted her head and studied him.

  Then she laughed. A low, husky laugh that melted away her reserve. And went straight to his toes.

  Daniel looked back and forth between them, a wide grin on his face. For him, his mom’s laugh settled it. “Mom, you can be the catcher. Andrew can pitch.”

  “It looks like I’m outnumbered.” Miranda sighed now. “Let’s play ball.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Come on, Mom. Run!”

  Lungs about
to burst, Miranda clipped third base and headed for home. The only thing standing between her and victory was a six-foot-tall rock wall. With hazel eyes.

  You’re going to regret this tomorrow.

  The drafts of oxygen she sucked in drowned out the voice of reason. Andrew loped closer, baseball in hand and a triumphant smile on his face.

  She dropped. And slid.

  Sand funneled into her shoes and dust clogged her nose.

  When she opened her eyes, Daniel and Andrew stood over her, identical expressions of shock on their faces.

  “Wow,” Daniel breathed.

  “What,” Andrew said succinctly, “were you trying to do?”

  “I had no choice.” She managed a crooked smile.

  Andrew didn’t look convinced but he stretched out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “I think we can safely call the game a tie. Is anyone interested in a burger? Or pizza?”

  On her feet once again, Miranda stepped away. Andrew released her but for some strange reason, she could still feel his touch.

  Why did Andrew Noble—Mr. Gorgeous and Out of My League, as Darcy had called him—awaken something in her she thought had died a long time ago? Several men had made their interest known since she’d come to Chestnut Grove but she’d successfully discouraged their attention. Flattery and friendly smiles didn’t move her anymore.

  And neither did men who tried to use her son to get to her, she reminded herself.

  “We can’t.” She brushed at the dirt that caked the fabric of her capris so she wouldn’t have to look at him. It wasn’t fair. He was disheveled and still looked terrific while she resembled a human dust cloud. “Daniel and I have some errands to run.”

  And she wasn’t exactly dressed for lunch out even if the dress code called for casual. She could only imagine what people would think if they saw her and Andrew together. Maybe that she was the Noble Foundation’s latest charity case?

  Daniel looked disappointed but Miranda refused to budge. She’d already spent an hour in the company of a man she had nothing in common with. A man her son was already becoming too attached to.