Page 57 of The Nanny's Homecoming

While they waited, A.J. rocked back and forth, spun on one foot and jabbered to his new stuffed Dinger the Dinosaur about gummy snacks.

Macy fiddled happily with her team spirit bracelet, shaking the purple beads back and forth on her wrist, hugged her teddy bear and preened in her Rockies ball cap that matched Brooke’s.

Times like this made all the years of hard work worth the effort. As a boy, he’d never been able to afford a baseball, much less a baseball game with souvenirs. He was glad he could give these things to the people he cared about.

He laced his fingers with Brooke’s and enjoyed the moment. Content. Happy. Full of gratitude to God for finally bringing him out of the darkness the past four years had produced.

His cell phone jingled. He groaned. Please, no problems tonight when he was enjoying a great time with Brooke, the best time he’d had in years.

The voice on the other end was a familiar one.

“Reverend West?” he asked, curiosity rising. Why would the pastor be calling this late?

Brooke heard the name and lifted an eyebrow in question. Gabe shot a concerned look toward Macy and shook his head. Brooke frowned, sensing his unease. Fortunately, the little girl was distracted by the dozens of things going on around her and the pile of toys in her arms.

Heart sinking, Gabe listened to the message. “Okay. Where? When? As soon as we can.”

He slid the phone closed and sighed. Why now, Lord? Why at all?

Brooke moved close and softly murmured, “Gabe?”

He took her arm and turned them slightly away from the children.

“It’s Macy’s mother.”

“Darlene?”

He nodded, grimly. “She’s been taken to the hospital.”

Chapter Thirteen

The waiting room in the county hospital boasted six plastic chairs and a brown vinyl chair with a matching couch. A.J. lay sprawled asleep on the one stuffed chair while Macy sat in wide-eyed fear between Gabe and Brooke on the couch.

The trip from Denver had been made with Brooke and Gabe doing their best to reassure the frightened little girl, but the car had been thick with her worry. Now, they waited along with Reverend West and his wife for word that the testing was completed. According to the pastor, Darlene had left work early with a fever. When Mrs. West had gone to check on her, she’d found Darlene too ill to answer the door.

Systemic lupus was a disease Brooke knew little about. Apparently, Darlene’s was serious, and now she was having something called a flare. Whatever it was, Macy’s mother was quite ill.

“The Rockies won,” Brooke said, half-heartedly pointing to the score. A television hanging from one wall displayed scenes from the baseball game. “Six to three.”

The others gave the TV a listless glance. No one had the heart for baseball anymore.

They’d had such fun at the game and she’d entertained the notion that she and Gabe and A.J. could be a family. She’d dreamed of more outings with him, more time holding his strong, capable hand, more opportunities to explore the feelings growing between them.

Now, her desires seemed selfish, given what Darlene and Macy were going through.

Macy listlessly plucked at the fur on her teddy bear. “When can I see my mama?”

Brooke squeezed the child’s knee. “Soon, sweetheart. As soon as the doctors have her all fixed up.”

Lord, please hurry. This child is suffering.

The prayer was barely a thought when a nurse clad in blue scrubs came toward them. “Are you the family of Darlene Perry?”

“Friends, and this is her pastor,” Gabe said.

Macy leaped to her feet. “She’s my mommy.”

“You must be Macy,” the nurse said with a gentle smile. “Your mom is worried about you, so when you go in to see her can you do her a favor?”

Eyes wide behind her glasses, Macy nodded.

“We had to connect some tubes to her arms and nose. Don’t be scared about that. They’re helping her get better. Okay?”

Macy’s throat bobbed. “Okay,” she whispered.

Gabe stood, a hand on Macy’s shoulder. “Can we see her now?”

“Room 114. Don’t stay too long.” To Reverend West, she said, “The doctor would like to speak with you, sir, if you don’t mind waiting.”

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