A Father In The Making by Carolyne Aarsen Page A

I’m literate, he wanted to say. “I’ll think about it. If I’m still around.” So much depended on Tango’s recovery.
    â€œAnd how was your visit at the therapist, Mia?” Denny took another helping of casserole, passing it on to Nate. He waved it off and passed it on to Jeff, who seemed to be enjoying everything that came his way.
    Nate chanced a quick glance at the clock.
    In spite of Jeff and Angie’s company, dinner had been one tense ordeal he just wanted over. When Mia had come into the kitchen to see him there, her face fell. Then, when Nico had come to his side and leaned against him again, her eyes grew hard.
    Wasn’t difficult to imagine what ran through her head. He eased Nico away, tried to make his excuses and leave, but both Evangeline and Denny had insisted he stay.
    He knew it would look ungracious to refuse, so he stayed. But all through the meal he felt far too aware of Mia and Nico sitting across from him and the tension coiling her as tight as a filly.
    â€œFor a first appointment, it went pretty good,” Mia continued, wiping some food off Grace’s face. Jennifer was reaching out to Josh, who was laughing at her. “Nico drew a whole bunch of pictures. He did a great job.” The look she gave her son created an unwelcome ache in Nate’s heart. She managed to make each of her kids feel important and loved. His mother couldn’t even do that with one kid.
    â€œDid you want to show us your pictures?” Evangeline asked.
    Nico shook his head, but then, to his surprise, looked over at Nate, his dark eyes intent. As if seeking something from him.
    Sorry, buddy. Your mom doesn’t want me near you and I don’t blame her.
    Nate wiped his mouth with the napkin. Time to go. “May I be excused?” he asked, picking up his plate.
    â€œOf course, but we’re not quite done.” Denny pointed at the large book lying on the buffet against the wall of the kitchen.
    Of course. Every evening after supper, Denny’s family read the Bible and prayed. Nate felt foolish. Though he had been reading the Bible himself, he’d forgotten about this particular Norquest family ritual. So he sat down again, folded his arms over his chest, and while trying not to look at Mia, waited for everyone else to finish their dinner.
    When everyone was done Denny set the Bible on the table and glanced around. “Evangeline and I have been reading from Romans,” he said. “So I’ll just carry on, if that’s okay with our guests.”
    His question was purely rhetorical. No one said anything so he opened the Bible to the bookmark, cleared his throat and began.
    â€œâ€˜In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness,’” he read. “‘We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’”
    Nate’s heart stilled as the words hooked into his heart. God works for the good of those who love Him.
    He remembered Denny’s mother saying those words to him as he sat, staring out over the ranch after telling her what he’d had to deal with at the hands of his stepfather. How she told him that if we trust in God, nothing in our life was wasted. He didn’t believe her, but over time, as he fell into the rhythm of life on the Norquest ranch, he wondered if God hadn’t used the circumstances of his life to bring him here.
    Then the Norquests died and Denny got married and then divorced. The ranch was sold and Nate was on his own again with the bitter reminder of what happens when you let people too close.
    A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Mia had lifted