own timetable, he reminded himself as he sat across from Rebecca. The answer will come when the time is right.
“If you want to get started on the cleanup, Peter, I have a bucket and a scrub brush in the garage through there.” Gabriel pointed toward a utility room.
Peter shot Gabriel a look full of anger, then stomped toward the garage, muttering something that Gabriel was glad he wasn’t privy to. There was a limit to every person’s patience, and with Peter he was afraid he would need an extra dose.
Gabriel looked at Rebecca, who was watching her son leave. The sadness in her eyes contracted his heart. “Physical labor will help him get rid of some of that hostility.”
While her gaze connected with Gabriel’s, Rebecca hugged Josh closer, as though he could shield her from heartache. “He’s so full of anger. I’ve tried talking to him about it, but he won’t say anything.” Again the scene in her son’s bedroom swamped her with feelings of inadequacy. Peter was a different child from the year before.
“Have you tried counseling?”
“Yes. He just sat there, determined not to say a word to the woman.”
“How about the minister of your church?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Ours is very good with young people.”
“No.” She answered so quickly she surprised even herself. “I’m sure he wouldn’t respond to a stranger,” she offered in explanation.
Gabriel noticed the firm set to Rebecca’s mouth, the tension transmitted in the rigid lines of her body, and knew she would reject any coaxing to get Peter or herself to talk with Reverend Carson. “Then let me try to help.”
“I can’t accept—”
Gabriel held up his hand to stop her flow of words. “I’m worried about Peter. I think he might have vandalized the baseball-field house. I found a broken egg by the front door. I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Rebecca closed her eyes for a few seconds. She adjusted Josh in her arms and kissed the top of his head, drawing strength from her youngest. “He might be innocent. You don’t know he did anything.”
“What do you think in your heart?”
She rubbed her cheek against Josh’s hair, then peered at Gabriel, her eyes glistening. “What do I do?”
“Let me help. I’ve dealt with troubled children before, and not as a lawman.”
Again she shifted Josh in her arms, looking away from Gabriel.
“May I hold Josh?” The need to hold the child ran deep in him. Gabriel had missed so much with his own son.
Her gaze returned to his, confusion deep in her eyes. She hesitated, then rose and handed Gabriel her child. Josh’s big brown eyes focused on his face. A tightness threatened to close his throat as he stared at the small boy in his embrace. He supported Josh in the crook of his arm. Smiling at him, Gabriel found himself making silly faces to get the child to grin. And when Josh did, Gabriel’s heart swelled with pride.
“How are his ears today?”
“Last night he slept through the night for the first time in several weeks. I think the medicine is finally working. At least I hope so.”
Gabriel tore his gaze from the child and looked at Josh’s mother. Holding Josh only underscored for Gabriel what he was missing. The emptiness inside pushed to the foreground.
“So do I. It’s not easy going without sleep,” he finally said, realizing an awkward silence had descended.
She sighed. “Something I’m quickly finding out.”
“What are your plans now that you’ve moved to Oakview?” He had dealt with his loss and didn’t want to renew the feelings of anguish.
“I need to get a job soon.”
“You know I might be able to help you with that.”
A closed expression settled over Rebecca’s features. “You’ve already done enough.”
“Nonsense. What are friends for? Let me ask around. What are your qualifications?”
When she laughed, there was no humor in the sound. “I don’t have any.”
“Everyone has qualifications.”
“I’ve been a mother and wife for the past ten years. I suppose I can clean houses, chauffeur and organize PTA meetings.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, and I have some computer skills. We had one at home.”
“What will you do with Josh when you go to work?”
She cocked her head. “Frankly, I don’t know. I can’t keep staying at Granny’s house and not contribute to the finances.”
“I’m finished. Can we go now?” Peter announced from the doorway into the utility room.
“You still owe me some of your time.”
Peter folded his arms. “How much?”
“I’ll take you home in the early afternoon.” Gabriel glanced at Rebecca to make sure that was all right with her.
She nodded, then stood to take Josh from Gabriel. “We’d better be going. I want Josh to take a nap in his own crib.”
“I have baseball practice this afternoon, so Peter should be home by two. I’ll feed him lunch.”
“Fine,” she mumbled as she started for the door. When Gabriel rose to escort her, she added, “I can find my own way out. Finish your coffee.”
Peering at his mug, he realized he hadn’t taken a sip of his cold coffee. He dumped the brew into the sink and poured some more into his cup, steamy whiffs of the hot liquid wafting to him.
“What do I have to do?” Peter asked in a surly voice.
Gabriel brought the mug to his lips and took a long sip of the coffee, purposefully waiting a good minute to answer the boy. “This is my Saturday to do yard work at the church. You’re going to help me.”
Peter opened his mouth to reply, then snapped his jaws together, his teeth making a clicking sound.
“Why don’t you go check on Lady out back?”
“Lady?”
“My dog. She has puppies. See if there’s enough water for them while I get ready.” Gabriel watched the child stalk to the back door and yank it open, anger in every line of the boy’s body. The next few hours could be very long.
“Peter, this is David Carson. He’s going to help us.” Gabriel opened the door to the church’s shed and went inside.
“You’re the new kid at school,” David said with a wide grin.
“Yeah.
