Page 31 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“Oh, there was, but I had one of the staff, who’s moving there too, bring all the material, sewing machines and business stuff with him.”
Maisie piped up and added, “I like Mark. He’s my fwiend.”
“He likes you too, Maisie. Finish coloring your picture so we can bring it with us for our new fridge.”
“Okay, Mia.” Maisie went back to sorting out her crayons.
Mia saw that Jack waited for her to continue, and so she did. “Usually, I have women working with me. But one of the girlshad a cousin who recently immigrated, and she wanted to help him get settled. She asked if I’d hire him. He’s a wonderful seamstress, has fabulous ideas, and once he came onboard, we’ve worked so well together that after I told him about the move, he offered to come along. He left a week ago with the business load and is waiting for when I arrive. He’s found a place to live in Maricopa and will begin working with me as soon as we can get set up. That’s where you come in.”
“Me?”
“Uh-huh. Angie said you’d be renovating the larger casita for me and Maisie to live in. I’d hoped that the storeroom behind could be made into a workshop where I could continue my business. That way, Maisie would be able to stay with me most days, or with Angie, and we could make it a comfortable arrangement.”
“Angie kind of led me to believe that with her in the hospital, you could just stay in the big house while my crew and I get busy on the casita. But I can get a couple of the guys to fix up that old barn. First, I’d have to be sure it was worth the effort, it’s kind of rundown. If not, we could build something new without much difficulty. There’s plenty of space.”
“Did she ever have the fence installed around the pool?”
“We did that as soon as she came up with the idea of inviting you to stay after Jasmine passed. I’m a little out of touch with the whole story. Who was Jasmine, and why was her death so traumatic?”
“She was Maisie’s mother and my best friend.”
Chapter Eleven
Jack felt terrible over his lack of knowledge about Jasmine. How could he have not known her exact place in the story. Her name had come up often, and for some reason, at the beginning, he’d taken her to be Mia’s sister.
Then one of Angie’s tales had contradicted that impression, but he hadn’t cared enough to delve into the family dynamics. After all, when he asked questions, he’d set Angie off again, and she’d ramble on about the girls and their perfect ways.
Driving along Interstate 17, almost at their destination, Jack looked over at the two asleep in the back and had to smile. For the first part of the trip, all had been fun and games, singing and laughing, but the two females finally petered out. Once he saw that Mia was fighting off sleep, he suggested she pop into the back seat with Maisie and settle more comfortably.
She’d agreed and carefully laying Maisie’s new work of art on the dash, she clambered into the back and within minutes ofthem whispering, he’d checked the rear-view mirror to see their heads snuggled close while both angels slept.
Curious to see the picture Maisie had drawn at the restaurant, he reached over and held up the page. On it were three weird-looking figures whose smiles were their best features.
There was a large person with muscles, a witless looking face, hair standing up and his name was Jak. Next to him, holding his hand, was a tiny figure with red hair curled around her face, lopsided eyes, another beaming smile and wearing a pink dress. Her name was Masi. The third person holding the child’s other hand was female. Her long yellow hair hung almost to her waist and her eyes were open and large. Her smile was huge and crooked, and she wore a blue dress. Maisie had printed her name correctly, Mia.
The masterpiece had a table in the forefront with a bunch of what he supposed were hot dogs laying on top, since that’s what they all ate for lunch, and a big bowl of strings he took as portraying the fries.
Never had he seen a picture he wanted more. Sensitive to a fault for certain things, this image brought forth an avaricious tendency for ownership and made his heart smile.
Suddenly, he stiffened. A voice rang in his head – Lucas’s voice. “Slow down, boy. Now!”
He did so seconds before the front tire blew, and they careened all over the road, heading for the ditch.
The crash didn’t happen. Neither did they flip. But the massive stand of brush that stopped them was a miracle. It was the only one seen along that stretch of the road.
Jack fought the wheel, prayers mixed with adrenaline were his last memory before his head pounded the steering wheel and he blacked out.
Now he saw the man. It wasn’t dark this time, and he’d know that voice anywhere. “You did good, my boy. Don’t worry, youjust got a bit of a bump on your head.” Hands reached to soothe, and the pain lessened considerably.
Jack wanted to see the man he loved so dearly… with such worship, and so he turned to look in the passenger seat. The person near him wasn’t a large man. His beard had a lot of grey and his wrinkles portrayed an older guy at the very least in his sixties or seventies. His build looked comfortable, not skinny, but in no way fat, and the cap he wore on his head made Jack smile. It was a replica of his favorite, a black cap with the words in gold – Be human.
His father had bought him the exact hat in a marketplace in London when he’d been home on his last visit, one of the very few times he could remember having an outing with his old man, and so he cherished the cap.
Unlike his father, this fellow smiled with his eyes and his face lit up with such affection that Jack immediately felt it flow throughout his body and alight in his soul.
Jack’s thoughts surged. “I’ve wanted to meet you for so long. To thank you for saving me that night and staying with me until the paramedics arrived. For helping me be the man I am today. I don’t know what I’d have done without your guidance in overcoming my addiction.”
“You opened yourself to my help, Jack. It’s why I could be here for you. I’ll always be here for you. You’re a very special soul, kind and thoughtful to others. The world needs more like you, my boy. One day, you’ll be the savior for many others. One day you’ll step forward and make your mark. Teach the world the ways a good person lives and cares.” His hands caressed Jack’s face, and Jack had only a second to lean into the touch before other voices began to filter through.
