Second Chance Family

“You ought to take him. Peter and Laura have a wonderful collection of all kinds of animals, mostly abandoned and in need of love.” Was that the reason she was drawn to Stone’s Refuge and the barn? There had been so many times in her life she’d felt that way. Stone’s Refuge was a place where children for whom the state couldn’t find foster parents were placed.

“I’ll have to ask Peter about visiting with Jason when I’m out there next time.”

“Do you go often?” She’d never seen him there even though she’d known he worked with some of the kids.

“Occasionally, especially when I want to see a child I’m counseling in his normal environment.” Shane pushed to an erect stance. “We’d better let you eat. It’s getting close to Jason’s bedtime and his ritual takes a while to get him ready to go to sleep.”

Whitney stood. “It sounds like routines are important with Jason.”

“Yes, but then with most children they are, just more so with him.” Shane turned toward his son. “Jason.” He didn’t continue until he had his child’s attention. “We need to go home, buddy.” Shane strode to the front door and opened it, then waited for Jason to put down the cat.

Reluctantly, his son let go of Calico and hurried out of the apartment and down the stairs.

“Good night, Whitney, and welcome to the neighborhood.”

“Thanks for the dinner.”

Shane followed Jason who paused next to Whitney’s car and ran his hand along its length.

Swinging around and backpedaling, Shane looked up at her. “Was it fixed okay?”

“Yes. Actually I think it runs even better,” she said, leaning against the wooden railing on her small porch.

“That’s wonderful. At least something good came out of what happened on Monday.” Shane faced forward and took his son’s hand before heading across the street toward his house.

Whitney watched them until they disappeared from her view, the dim light of dusk settling over the neighborhood. The August heat of an Oklahoma day still lingered in the air. A cardinal chirped in a nearby maple, its bright red coloring vivid among the green foliage. The scent of the honeysuckle bush beneath her porch along the side of the garage sweetened the warm breeze that blew.

The move today had made her aware of just how much her life was changing—like Jason’s. Maybe they could help each other through the change.

Returning from the grocery store after coming home from church, Shane drove past Whitney’s apartment, his gaze straying to it. Was she busy unpacking? He remembered all the unopened boxes stacked in her living area the night before. Did she need help? Was her family going to help today?

He had to agree with his son about her hair. The color was a rich, deep gold. It fell in thick waves about her shoulders, inviting a person to caress it as if it were a waterfall of sunshine.

And why in the world was he even thinking about her? She had a Do Not Disturb sign hanging around her neck. She didn’t trust others. He knew that in his gut because he had recognized the defensive signs, a certain wary look in the eye, an “I want to do everything myself” attitude, because trusting meant putting yourself out there to be hurt.

He also knew a little about not trusting. When Becka, his pregnant wife, had been killed in a house fire, he’d gone through a period where he’d backed away from family and friends. Then Aunt Louise had appeared at his doorstep and shown him the importance of trusting in the Lord. Once he had turned to Him, the rest fell into place. Yes, there were times he was disappointed in others or hurt by them, but the alternative was worse—cutting yourself off from people, especially the ones who really cared about you. But having been deeply in love with his wife, he never wanted to feel that kind of loss ever again.

He was perfectly content to focus on Jason. He’d grown to appreciate his son and his unique perspective on life. Jason was his life now.

So why couldn’t he stop thinking about Whitney?

Pushing the question from his mind, he parked in his driveway and climbed from his vehicle. He grabbed the sack with bread and strawberry jam he’d gotten at the store for his aunt so she could fix Jason’s lunch and headed toward the front door. Inside silence greeted him. Too quiet. Usually the radio in the kitchen was going or the television in the den. Or Jason was jabbering to his aunt or one of his toys.

Had Aunt Louise taken Jason out? Shane moved toward the kitchen, his aunt’s domain and where she spent a lot of time. Just inside the door Shane glimpsed his son in the den, sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor, rocking back and forth with a broad grin on his face. Shane’s gaze swept the kitchen. No Aunt Louise.

Moving toward the den, he scanned that room. His gaze came to an abrupt halt a foot from his son. Hidden from his earlier perusal Aunt Louise lay on the area carpet.

Shane raced to her and felt her pulse. He breathed a sigh when he got one. Digging in his pocket for his cell, he punched in 9-1-1 while he looked over at his son to make sure he was all right. Jason still smiled, as though nothing was wrong. In his mind it wasn’t.

After giving the operator the necessary information and asking that the siren not be used within a few blocks of the street, he turned to his son again. Sirens, like thunder, would upset Jason.

“Why don’t you go watch Animal Planet in my bedroom?” Shane didn’t want him to witness the EMTs taking Aunt Louise away.

“Can Auntie watch?”

Knowing Jason, when someone’s eyes were closed, he would think she was sleeping, not hurt. “Maybe later.”

As his son left the den, Aunt Louise’s eyes fluttered open. She stared at Shane, her forehead wrinkling. “What am…” She tried to rise to a sitting position but instead wilted back against the carpet. “Why—am I—on the floor?” she murmured, bringing her hand to her head and covering her eyes for a few seconds.

“That’s a good question. You don’t remember?”

Her hand slid away from her face. “I—No.”

A few minutes later when the doorbell rang, Shane sighed. “That’s the paramedics. I called 9-1-1. Be right back.” He hurried to the front door and let the two EMTs inside. “She’s in the den. She’s awake now but groggy.”

“What happened?” the tall one asked.

“I don’t know and neither does she.”

“Is she diabetic? Have a heart condition?”

“No, not that I know of. The only thing she’s had problems with is arthritis in her knees.”

Shane hung back while the EMTs worked on Aunt Louise and put her on the stretcher. Before they wheeled her out the door, Shane took his aunt’s hand. “I’ll be right behind the ambulance. They’ll take good care of you.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m in the Lord’s hands.”

The second the ambulance pulled away, Shane went to get Jason. He’d rather not take him to the hospital, but he didn’t want to take the time to find a babysitter. What if his aunt had had a heart attack and had another one before he could get there? He didn’t want her to be alone. He owed her so much.

When Shane went upstairs and into his bedroom to round up Jason, it was empty. He checked the master bathroom, then went to Jason’s room across the hall. Again his son was nowhere in sight. Trying to remain calm, he hurried through the rest of the house, calling his son’s name over and over.

Fifteen minutes later, frantic, he headed out the kitchen door to see if Jason was in the backyard. The phone rang, the sound jerking Shane back around and into the house. He snatched it up while glancing out the bay window in the breakfast nook.

“Shane, this is Whitney. Jason showed up at my apartment. He was downstairs touching my car. I figured you didn’t know he came over.”

He collapsed into the chair nearby, dropping his head in relief. “No, I didn’t. I’ll be right over.”

When Whitney opened the door to reveal Shane on her stoop, her heart twisted at the sight of the man, pale, his hair tousled, his expression drawn and worn.

“I called you as soon as I saw him.” Whitney stepped to the side to allow him to enter.

“I really appreciate that. This hasn’t been a good day.” Shane’s gaze slipped from her to find his son on the couch, writing on a yellow pad while Calico pressed up against his thigh.

“He’s drawing a picture of my cat for me.” Whitney closed the door and moved toward her kitchen area, the sound of Jason’s pencil strokes and Calico purring echoing through the apartment. “I know it’s almost one, but do you want some coffee?”

“No, I can’t stay. Aunt Louise was just taken to the hospital in an ambulance.”

The love and concern for his aunt filled Shane’s eyes and tugged at her. That was what she and her brother were beginning to develop. “What happened?”