Page 16 of Silent Menace
“Were you hospitalized? What happened?”
“No, sir. There wasn’t even talk of admitting me. This is simply a precaution because of my recent medical history. I’ll be in tip-top shape within a few days at most.” He briefly recounted the night’s events, downplaying the attack.
“I don’t like this, son.”
“Can’t say I’m particularly happy about it either, but things like that aren’t common occurrences around here. Kincaid is usually pretty safe.”
“Your gran is going to have a fit when I tell her. She worries about you.”
He was afraid of that, but he kept his tone light. “Tell Gran not to worry, that I’m following medical advice, and that I’m sorry. I’ll try to be there next week.”
“I’ll tell her. You take care of yourself, you hear?”
“I hear you. Eat a piece of cobbler for me.”
“Deal.”
9
At exactly eight twentyon Sunday morning, Hailey’s Explorer pulled up in front of Peter’s house.
He jogged to the vehicle and climbed inside. “Punctual, I see.”
“I try.” She handed him his wallet, then glanced in the mirror. “Some days are easier than others when you have a toddler.”
“I can imagine.” As the vehicle began to move, Peter leaned into the space between the front seats and signedGood morningto Jenna’s reflection in the car-seat mirror. The little girl rewarded him with a shy grin and a half wave. When he straightened, he found Hailey smiling too.
“How’s the head? You sleep okay?”
“Well enough.” It hadn’t been his most restful night by far, but he’d survived with the help of a few Tylenol.
They chatted about light topics for a few minutes—the weather, family, local places of interest. As if by mutual agreement, both of them avoided the subject of her late husband, whom Peter had discovered last night had been secretly involved in some criminal activity before his untimely death. From what he could find online, the investigation had uncovered no evidence that Hailey had participated in her husband’s illicit activities. She and her daughter were as much victims of his actions and their consequences as everyone else.
As they neared the church, Hailey began to grow distracted and seemed almost nervous. Had he said something amiss? He replayed their last few exchanges. Nothing stood out to him, and he didn’t know the woman well enough to pry into the inner workings of her brain, so he could only hope he wasn’t the cause of her poorly veiled discomfort.
After they arrived and she’d backed the Explorer into a parking spot, she turned to him with an over-bright expression. “It’ll only take me a minute to get Jenna.” She jumped out and was halfway through unbuckling the car seat before he rounded the vehicle to join her on the driver’s side. She hadn’t indicated she wanted him to go on in, so he lingered until she pulled Jenna from the SUV and set her on her feet. Keeping a firm grip on the toddler’s hand, she leaned back in to grab what he assumed was a nappy bag, judging by the stuffed monkey peeking from the main compartment and the sippy cup stuck in a mesh side pocket.
“Need me to carry something?”
“No, thanks. I’m used to it.” She tossed the straps of the purple bag over her other shoulder and closed the door. “We’re ready.”
But before they took a step, Jenna latched on to his fingers with her free hand. He shot a questioning glance at Hailey, unsure if she’d be comfortable with him holding her little girl’s hand or if that was crossing some sort of boundary. He was a near stranger, after all.
She gave him a reassuring smile but didn’t release her own hold. “It’s fine. I’m surprised though. She doesn’t usually take to new people very quickly.”
“I am honored.” He said the words lightly, but he meant them.
Hand in hand, the three of them crossed the lot together. If they’d been a family, the scene would have been almost picturesque. He kept that thought to himself. He barely knew the woman. Besides, the tension still emanating from her was almost tangible as they joined the bottleneck of last-minute arrivals at the door.
The service flew by, and Peter found himself totally entranced by the sermon based on the life of Gideon. The account was new to him, and he jotted the text in a notebook to reread on his own later. Although he had visited his grandparents’ church during the summers of his childhood, his immediate family had been nominal Christians and rarely attended at home. That hadn’t bothered him until he came to Christ himself. Now, even a year later, he was frequently reminded just how much he didn’t know—and how the Bible was anything but boring.
After the sermon, the congregation rose to sing a closing hymn. Or it might have been a worship song. He hadn’t really figured out the difference yet. Either way, he put his heart into it, and he noticed Hailey did as well.
As the last strains of music faded and the minister dismissed them, she lifted Jenna to her hip. Hailey had calmed during the service, though her attention had been split between the sermon and keeping Jenna entertained and quiet. Now, though, her discomfort seemed to be returning.
“Are you ready to go, or do you prefer to mingle first?”
“Both.” He grinned. “I usually hang around a bit, but I’m ready to go if you are.”
