Chapter8
Garrison
One Month Later
“How does that look?”Kyle asks as he steps back and studies the bookshelf we just finished putting up in the church library.
“It looks good, kid.”I clasp a hand on his shoulder, enjoying the absolute delight on his face when he grins at me.It’s only been a month since his world fell apart when he took that knife to school, but the light is back in his eyes.The smile is back on his face.
“You do great work, Kyle,” Pastor Reeves tells him.“Everyone is going to be thrilled to have more space for additional books.Though based on those boxes, we may be calling you for another one here soon.”
We glance over at the four medium-sized moving boxes overflowing with books ready to be put in their new home.
“I would love to build you another one.And I can put those books up on the shelves if you’d like,” Kyle offers.
“That would be great, thank you.”
With a happy smile, Kyle sets the drill aside and crosses the room to grab books.Pastor Reeves nods toward the door, so I follow him out into the hall, just out of earshot of Kyle.
“He seems to be doing well,” he comments.
“The first week was rough, but once I realized how much he enjoyed building stuff, he really opened up.We paid him to help repair the fence at the community center and then he fixed a chair over at the diner.”
“The kid is gifted, that’s for sure.”
“He is,” I agree.Aside from some basic help here and there, I purposely took a backseat.And not just because physically I’m still not quite where I need to be.He needed to feel accomplished.Especially since he was expelled from school where he was already sporting failing grades in every subject.
Grades that, according to the charter school that he’s been meeting with three times a week, are actually climbing.Kid is coming back, and I’m so blessed to have a front row seat to it.
“How are you doing?”
I turn my attention to Pastor Reeves, surprised to see him watching me, a curious expression on his face.“I’m feeling better each day.There’s still some pain.”I leave out the nightmares.The mornings I wake drenched in sweat because I’m thrown back into the puddle of blood.Broken and dying.
Of all the situations I’ve been in, I’ve never felt so completely helpless as I was watching masked men drag Tessa away from me.I’d failed her, and I’d failed one of my best friends.
It doesn’t help that Katelyn has been avoiding me.I haven’t even been able to ask her why since, the few times I’ve run into her, she’s been either rushing into her apartment or working at either the diner or coffee shop.
I’m not sure what changed, but she doesn’t seem to want anything to do with me now, and I’m not one to press.Even though I crave conversations with her like a man in a desert craves water.
“I’m glad to hear it.Have you heard from Zane and Tessa?”
“Last I talked to them, they were spending some time in Greece.He said they’d be back by the fall.”
“I think it’s so great that they’ve come back together after all that time apart.”He crosses his arms.“God works in such wonderful ways.”
“That, He does,” I agree and shift my attention toward the open patio doors overlooking the coastline.As I’m watching the waves, a woman wearing a maroon sweatshirt walks by.
My heart recognizes her before my mind registers that it’s Katelyn standing beneath the bright sunshine.
“Can you keep an eye on him for a minute for me?”
Pastor Reeves follows my eyeline and laughs softly.“Absolutely.Go.We’ll keep working on the books.”He clasps me on the shoulder and heads back into the library, so I walk out onto the patio and take the stairs down to the beach as quickly as I can without looking too desperate.
“Katelyn!”I call out.
She turns toward me, and the sunlight catches strands of copper in her blonde hair.Her gaze is bright when she sees me, but that momentary joy is hidden beneath a mask she slips into place.
No matter what training I’ve had, what experience I’ve gained over the last few years, I can’t seem to break through the walls she’s placed around herself.I had a little glimpse that night last month in my kitchen, and now I’m desperate for more.