Josh’s giggles blended with his older brother’s laughter. The sound pierced Rebecca’s heart. She cleared her throat.
Peter whirled, surprise evident in his expression. “I heard Josh and thought I’d better check up on him.”
How could she tell Peter his dream wouldn’t come true for his little brother? The pain in her heart expanded. “Will you watch Josh while I help Granny with dinner?”
“I guess,” Peter said, replacing the surprise on his face with his usual sullen expression. But he held his little brother close as though protecting Josh from the world.
Crossing her legs, Rebecca smoothed her black calf-length skirt. Her heart pounding against her chest, she clasped her hands tightly in her lap.
“Chief Stone will see you now,” a short, gray-haired woman announced when she appeared in the reception area of the police station.
Rebecca rose, took a deep, calming breath and entered the office the older woman indicated with a wave.
Gabriel came around his desk, offering his hand for Rebecca to shake. “I’m glad you applied. Since the pay isn’t much, I wasn’t sure you would.”
“How could I refuse? Your offer is the only one I’ve had.”
He grinned. “I have to admit there aren’t many jobs in Oakview, but we aren’t too far from Tulsa where I’m sure you can find a better-paying job.”
Warmth flowed through her at his smile, warmth meant to put her at ease, and it did. Her tension evaporated as she responded to his compassion. “I can’t spend anymore time away from Josh than is necessary. Driving to and from Tulsa would add an extra hour and half to my work day as well as eat into my salary.”
“Who’s going to take care of Josh?”
“Granny, until I can come up with a more permanent solution. Peter will help when school is out in a few months and Ann, next door, has volunteered to help Granny until then.”
“Josh is welcome here if you get in a bind.”
“Then I have the job?”
“Yes. I wish it were more.”
“It’s a job, and as you know, I need one.”
Gabriel sat on the corner of his desk, his stance casual, openly friendly. “When can you start?”
Rebecca noticed him absently twirling his wedding ring on his finger and marveled at the depth of love he must have had for his wife. What would it be like to have a man love her that much? “Tomorrow if you need me,” she finally answered after clearing her throat.
“Jenny hasn’t been gone more than a day, but her work is already stacking up. If you can start tomorrow, that’ll be great.” Gabriel rose and headed for his office door. “How’s Peter today?”
“Limping around. He hasn’t done that much exercise lately, and his muscles are protesting.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he was so out of shape.”
Rebecca recalled her eldest groaning as he descended the stairs that morning for school. “Don’t be. This will be good for him. I don’t think he was too upset by the sore muscles. I didn’t hear a word of complaint from him at the breakfast table this morning, and he took his tennis shoes to school today. Believe me, lately he’s the first to complain if he’s upset about something.”
“Good. I know it wasn’t comfortable for him running around the baseball field in loafers, but everyone who shows up participates. I didn’t want him to be any different.”
Gabriel brushed against her as he reached to open the door at the same time she did. Rebecca stepped away, nonplussed by the casual touch. Their gazes linked for a few seconds before Gabriel swung the door open and called, “Mabel, I believe you’ve already met Rebecca Michaels. She’s our new file clerk. Rebecca will be starting tomorrow at eight. You’ll be working closely with Mabel, helping her with her job.”
“Welcome aboard.” Mabel pumped Rebecca’s hand several times.
“She used to be in the Navy,” Gabriel whispered so loud everyone within a few feet could hear.
“And proud of it. I run a tight ship.” The older woman’s hair was pulled back in a severe bun, her clothes crisp and clean and her stance ramrod straight as though a board were stuck down her back.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mabel.” Rebecca resisted the urge to rub her arm after its vigorous workout. Even though she hadn’t had a job since high school, she knew it was important for her to start out on the right foot with a co-worker. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Eight sharp.”
Rebecca smiled, but she was worried. She knew the value of being on time to a job, especially a new one, but with two children, plans and schedules didn’t always work out as she wished. She would just have to get up earlier tomorrow morning. She was determined that Gabriel’s faith in her would pay off.
“Mom!” Peter yelled from the top of the stairs. “I can’t find my tennis shoes. I have to have them!”
Rebecca hurried out of the kitchen, carrying Josh in her arms. “Where did you put them last?”
“If I knew that, I would know where they were.”
She stopped at the bottom of the steps and tried to think where Peter would have put his shoes. Nothing came to mind except the fact she only had twenty minutes to get to work. She was not going to be late the first day. “Okay, retrace your steps yesterday when you came home from practice.”
“Mom, I’ve already done that. I can’t remember. I was so tired—” Peter’s face lit up, and he spun on his heel and raced for his room. A minute later he reappeared, wearing his tennis shoes. “I kicked them under the bed.”
“Why?”
“I was angry at Coach Stone.”
“Why?”
“Just was.”
Her son’s expression closed, and Rebecca knew she wouldn’t get an explanation from him. That left Gabriel. She intended to ask him when she got to work on time.
Rebecca hurried into the kitchen to finish feeding Josh his breakfast. She propped her youngest in his high chair and started to spoon some cereal into his mouth.
“Here, let me do that, Rebecca. You still have to get ready for work.”
Rebecca looked at her grandmother, then at the clock on the wall. She had fifteen minutes to get to work.
Rushing into the small bathroom under the stairs, she ran a comb through her hair and then raced out. Only seven minutes to get to work. She hoped all the police were at the station, because she found herself pressing her foot on the accelerator more than she should. She could imagine the headline in the local newspaper—Newest Member of Police Staff Caught Speeding.
She brought the car to a shrieking halt in a parking space right in front of the building, happy some things were going her way. Hurrying inside, she glanced at her watch and was glad to see she was only two minutes late. She had made it on time—well, practically on time—for her first day of work.
“You’re late, Mrs. Michaels. Try to be here on time in the future. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.” Mabel stood behind her desk outside Gabriel’s office, her expression stern, her stance reminding Rebecca of a drill sergeant.
Rebecca stopped halfway across the room, aware of Gabriel to the side, talking with one of his officers. He turned toward her, a scowl on his face, and her heart sank.
A smile transformed Gabriel’s face almost immediately. He said a few more words to the officer, then headed toward Rebecca, his eyes