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His simple good night held more emotion than the words called for, and she had a feeling he wanted to say more. She wasn’t sure she could handle it, so she backed away and hurried toward the bedroom, where Steph was already curled under the covers. “Night, Lainie,” her sleepy voice said.
“Night, Steph.”
Lainie headed for the en suite bath. When she returned to the room ten minutes later and crawled under the covers, Steph shifted. “Still want you and James to get together.”
Lainie laughed. “Shut up and go to sleep.” But silently, she was saying,Me too, Steph. Me too.
WHEN LAINIE WOKEthe next morning, she realized she hadn’t dreamed. She couldn’t explain it when those peaceful nights happened, she just held on to them with both hands and was grateful.
Breakfast was quick, with bagels, cream cheese, eggs, and bacon,and then she was itching to get on their way to her home. James stepped out of the den, his face tight, nostrils flared. He must have tried to say goodbye to his father. Lainie’s temper ignited. This wasn’t right. Someone needed to verbally knock some sense into the man. But was she the one to do that?
“You ready?” James asked.
“Yes, I just need to grab my bag from the room.”
“James, son, do you have a moment?” Mrs. Cross asked, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Sure, Mom.” He looked at Lainie. “Let me talk to Mom, then I’ll get your bag and meet you in the de—uh—at the front door.”
Because his father was in the den.
“Okay.”
Lainie left the two of them in the kitchen and, after only a moment’s hesitation and a quick prayer for the right words, headed into the den to find James’ father. He looked up when she walked in and smiled. He’d always liked her. She hoped that would help him listen to what she had to say. “Hi, Mr. Cross. You have a minute?”
“Always for you. How’s your family? Sorry I haven’t asked before now.” He hadn’t asked because she’d been in James’ company since their arrival.
“They’re doing mostly well. Dad is teaching survival skills to some group for the next few weeks, so that’s getting him out of the house. And ... well, Mom is ... okay.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Something that’s probably none of my business.”
His right brow rose, but he held her gaze. “Let me guess. James.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Nothing to say there.”
“I have something to say.” Could she do it? Could she say the words she’d said to many patients? This was James’ father.
“Say it, then.”
“What you’re doing to him is abuse.” There. She said it.
He gasped. Then gaped while anger built in his eyes. She hadn’tmeant to blurt it out quite like that, but she wasn’t sure how much time she had before James would be back. “I’m sorry. I know that sounds terrible and I know you don’t hit him or anything like that, but your actions, the way you treat him, can be considered emotional abuse. I’ve lived it, Mr. Cross. And I survived it. I don’t have to tell you the story, you know what happened. But I recognize abuse for what it is.”
He started to speak, but she rushed on. “And I know it’s not my place, but I can’t help it. I care about James and I care about you and Mrs. Cross, Keegan, Dixon, and Steph.” She paused, then decided to put everything out there. “I haven’t shared a lot about my family. I’m sure you and Mrs. Cross suspected things weren’t always great at my house, but you never judged. My family is not ‘normal.’ I won’t go into all of the reasons why, but growing up, you showed me what a ‘normal’ family could look like—a marriage strong in love, and how a mother is supposed to behave. How a father supports and loves his wife and kids.” She waved a hand. “This isn’t you. This isn’t the family I grew up with. I know you love James, but your refusal to speak to him or have a conversation with him is killing him and it’s tearing your family apart. Steph can’t talk about it or she cries.”
Was that a small flinch? She wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t stopping her, so she continued. “Truthfully, I don’t want to see you go the rest of your life with you and James at odds, only to find you on your deathbed wishing you could do it all over again. Wishing you had this time back. And trust me, I’ve had patients there. I’ve seen the regret and the tears. So, please, find a way to fix this before it’s too late. Find it in your heart to forgive and move on.”
She drew in a shuddering breath and noted his granite features, flat eyes, and tight jaw. Dread pooled in her belly, and she backed away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my business. I just care about you and this whole family so much...” Tears clogged the rest of her words. And truly, that was most likely a good thing as she’d probably already said way too many anyway. “I’ll just go wait for James in the foyer.” She turned to go.
“He knew how I felt about cops and he went and became one. That’s spite. That’s disrespect.”
Lainie paused at the edge of the den, just steps from the foyer. She turned. “It may have started that way, but he wouldn’t have stayed in his profession this long if he hated it. He told me so on the way here. Nor would he do it just to spite you. He wouldn’t do that because he’s grown and matured and come to love what he does.” She paused. “I know you’re a believer. I know you love the Lord. And I know he’s convicting you about all this.” Definitely a wince. “When James was a baby, you dedicated him before the church and prayed he’d become a man of God. Well, your prayer has been answered and this is how God is using him. He’s saving lives, Mr. Cross. And in the end, because of what he does, he may very well end up saving mine.”
JAMES STOOD THERE,his heart hurting and full all at the same time. And humbled that Lainie would go to bat for him like that. Would she get through to the man when no one else in the family could? Hope sprouted for a brief second until his father aimed the remote at the television and upped the volume.
