Don't dwell on them, lad. It'll drive you mad."
"Do you have some 'if onlys', Grampa?"
Harry blinked back the tears as he thought of his infant son, buried so long ago. "Your mother should have had a brother," he said, his voice soft. "He died at birth and I nearly lost your grandma."
David's blue eyes searched his grandfather's features. "Mom told me about it once. How do you keep from remembering?"
Harry drew on his pipe, sending smoke spiraling upward. "I don't, David. Do remember, don't fight it. That way, you'll always have a part of your father. But at the same time, look ahead. Eventually, you'll like what you see."
David was silent after that, as if pondering his grandfather's advice.
Harry didn't know if he'd helped, but felt he'd said enough on the subject for now. "Here comes your brother. Must be time for supper."
While the Quinns were in Haden Lake, Joseph found himself driving by their darkened house at least twice a day. He also drove himself crazy thinking about their safety in the holiday traffic, so he hovered over them frequently, silently watching.
He missed Sharon more than he cared to admit and knew that wasn't wise. He'd have to say goodbye eventually and wasn't sure how he'd manage. He knew he'd worry about her always, no matter where he was.
He decided to spend some time with his fellow guardians, trying to soak up the joy so inherent in their beings. Their discussions were fascinating and engaging, but Joseph's mind kept wandering.
Finally, he sought out Serena.
"What's happening to me?" he cried in anguish. "I want to be back the way I was, in control of my destiny, sure of my role."
"Is that really what you want, Joseph, to never have met the Quinn family?"
He hung his head in defeat and mumbled a soft, "No."
Serena smiled and touched his shoulder, sharing her strength and wisdom. "You'll be all right with this, Joseph. Trust me."
Chapter Four
Sharon didn't have much time to fret over starting the new job. They reached Hollow Bend late Sunday afternoon and were surprised to find a note from Joe.
"The fire's ready to light, and there's a pan of cocoa in the fridge. Just warm it up. Welcome home, Joe."
Sharon couldn't believe it. What a sweet thing to do. Paula must've let him in, she decided. She headed for the phone to call him, but changed her mind. She'd see him at school tomorrow and thank him then.
"He shouldn't have come in our house while we were gone," David began and was silenced by a look from his mother.
Thoughts of Joe stayed with her throughout the evening, no matter how hard she tried to brush them aside. She kept thinking of the cozy fire and cocoa he'd left for them.
It would've been nice if he'd been there, too.
After several loads of laundry were done and the family fed, Sharon fell into an exhausted sleep.
The boys decided to ride to school with her the next day, even though she had to go in an hour earlier than they did. Luke wanted to run laps to stay in shape, and David could spend the time in the library.
Sharon appreciated their moral support and knew they were proud of her.
Luke unfolded his stocky legs and climbed out of the car. "Don't forget, Mom, I have practice after school."
She nodded. "All right, see you later."
He gave her his thumbs-up signal and waited for David.
"Good luck," said her older son.
"Thanks." She smiled into the handsome young face. How vulnerable he looked. Would he ever be the same again?
She hoped he was a survivor, along with the rest of the family. Her father had told her a little about their talk, but not enough to reassure her.
As soon as her sons had disappeared into the brick building, a wave of nervousness washed over her. Could she handle a job and her family? Many women did, though she had trouble seeing how they did it.
Sharon parked in the
"Do you have some 'if onlys', Grampa?"
Harry blinked back the tears as he thought of his infant son, buried so long ago. "Your mother should have had a brother," he said, his voice soft. "He died at birth and I nearly lost your grandma."
David's blue eyes searched his grandfather's features. "Mom told me about it once. How do you keep from remembering?"
Harry drew on his pipe, sending smoke spiraling upward. "I don't, David. Do remember, don't fight it. That way, you'll always have a part of your father. But at the same time, look ahead. Eventually, you'll like what you see."
David was silent after that, as if pondering his grandfather's advice.
Harry didn't know if he'd helped, but felt he'd said enough on the subject for now. "Here comes your brother. Must be time for supper."
While the Quinns were in Haden Lake, Joseph found himself driving by their darkened house at least twice a day. He also drove himself crazy thinking about their safety in the holiday traffic, so he hovered over them frequently, silently watching.
He missed Sharon more than he cared to admit and knew that wasn't wise. He'd have to say goodbye eventually and wasn't sure how he'd manage. He knew he'd worry about her always, no matter where he was.
He decided to spend some time with his fellow guardians, trying to soak up the joy so inherent in their beings. Their discussions were fascinating and engaging, but Joseph's mind kept wandering.
Finally, he sought out Serena.
"What's happening to me?" he cried in anguish. "I want to be back the way I was, in control of my destiny, sure of my role."
"Is that really what you want, Joseph, to never have met the Quinn family?"
He hung his head in defeat and mumbled a soft, "No."
Serena smiled and touched his shoulder, sharing her strength and wisdom. "You'll be all right with this, Joseph. Trust me."
Chapter Four
Sharon didn't have much time to fret over starting the new job. They reached Hollow Bend late Sunday afternoon and were surprised to find a note from Joe.
"The fire's ready to light, and there's a pan of cocoa in the fridge. Just warm it up. Welcome home, Joe."
Sharon couldn't believe it. What a sweet thing to do. Paula must've let him in, she decided. She headed for the phone to call him, but changed her mind. She'd see him at school tomorrow and thank him then.
"He shouldn't have come in our house while we were gone," David began and was silenced by a look from his mother.
Thoughts of Joe stayed with her throughout the evening, no matter how hard she tried to brush them aside. She kept thinking of the cozy fire and cocoa he'd left for them.
It would've been nice if he'd been there, too.
After several loads of laundry were done and the family fed, Sharon fell into an exhausted sleep.
The boys decided to ride to school with her the next day, even though she had to go in an hour earlier than they did. Luke wanted to run laps to stay in shape, and David could spend the time in the library.
Sharon appreciated their moral support and knew they were proud of her.
Luke unfolded his stocky legs and climbed out of the car. "Don't forget, Mom, I have practice after school."
She nodded. "All right, see you later."
He gave her his thumbs-up signal and waited for David.
"Good luck," said her older son.
"Thanks." She smiled into the handsome young face. How vulnerable he looked. Would he ever be the same again?
She hoped he was a survivor, along with the rest of the family. Her father had told her a little about their talk, but not enough to reassure her.
As soon as her sons had disappeared into the brick building, a wave of nervousness washed over her. Could she handle a job and her family? Many women did, though she had trouble seeing how they did it.
Sharon parked in the
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