Around the Bend (Sandy Cove Series Book 4) Read online

  “Okay,” he conceded. And giving her a kiss on the cheek, he shuffled into the living room.

  As Joan started the soapy water for the dishes, she gazed out the window and began to pray. What is it, Lord? What’s happening with Phil? She immersed her gloved hands in the soapy water and beseeched God for her husband’s health.

  It’s time for you to be strong now, Joan. He’s going to need you more than ever.

  Her heart began pounding in her chest. Was that God speaking, or just her fears finding a voice? She quickly rinsed and dried the dishes. Untying her apron, she hung it on a hook by the pantry and went to check on her husband.

  Phil was sound asleep, stretched out so that his long legs and feet hung over the arm of the sofa. She didn’t have the heart to wake him. Reaching over and retrieving a soft blanket from her easy chair, she carefully spread it over him. Then she picked up her knitting project – a sweater for her granddaughter, Michelle, and went to work. Though her arthritis slowed her down considerably, she still enjoyed watching each new piece unfold. She hoped to have this one completed in time to take with them when they flew up to Oregon for Caleb’s birthday.

  Little Caleb. He sure was growing like a weed! As she worked each stitch, she thought about all that Michelle had gone through over the years. Moving away from her lifelong home in Seal Beach, California to begin a new marriage in Oregon, watching her father struggle to survive after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, finding herself in her own struggles when she and Steve discovered their infertility issues, a near adoption of another little Caleb that had been cancelled at the last moment leaving them both heartbroken, their miracle daughter Madison, and then the student who had gifted them with another Caleb they now called their son.

  And to think almost six years had gone by since that newborn boy had joined their family! My, the time did fly!

  Sometimes Joan found herself wondering what had ever become of that first little Caleb her granddaughter had almost adopted. Had his birthmother become successful as a parent? How was he making his way through life these days? Good Lord, he’d be a teenager now. Hard to imagine!

  She rested her knitting in her lap and closed her eyes for a moment, saying a silent prayer for a child they’d never even met and probably never would. Dear Lord, wherever he is, whatever’s happening in his life, will You please guard and guide him? Will You draw him close and let him know how much You love him? Will You show him how very much he needs You, too?

  She heard Phil stir and glanced over to find him gazing at her. “What are you looking at?” she asked with a grin.

  “My beautiful wife,” he replied.

  “Oh, pshaw.”

  “How’s the sweater coming along?”

  Joan glanced down at the soft blue and white yarn in her lap. “It’s taking me longer than I thought. I might have to finish it while we are up there.”

  “You could always hold it until Christmas,” he suggested, propping himself up on one elbow to face her.

  “Maybe. But I’d like her to have it for those cool summer evenings they get along the coast there.” She put the project off to the side and scooted forward in her chair, preparing to stand. “Want me to make some tea, and we can finish the movie?”

  “Sure,” he replied, throwing off the blanket and swinging himself into a sitting position. “I’ll give you a hand.”

  Joan stood up. “You just get the show on. I’ll be right back with the tea.”

  The kids were settled into bed and Steve had spread out some paperwork for the case he was presenting the following day, so Michelle decided to retreat to the family room and spend a little time with her mom. Sometimes she felt guilty being so busy with school and her family when she knew her mom was probably feeling very lonely since Michelle’s father had passed away.

  The family room was empty. Sheila must have gone up to her room for something. Michelle picked up a magazine and settled into the recliner. As she flipped through the pages, her mind wandered, and she found herself thinking about her grandparents. Why did they keep coming to mind? Resting her head back, she closed her eyes and thought about how great it would be to have them in Sandy Cove for Caleb’s party.

  It’ll be good for Mom, too, she thought. And the kids were excited to see them. In addition to his sweet spirit and gentle ways, Grandpa Phil was great with riddles. Both Madison and Caleb would spend hours trying to solve them. Then there was Joan’s cooking – she could almost taste her grandmother’s brownies, made from scratch and frosted with dark chocolate icing. There wasn’t a better brownie on earth.

  “What are you thinking about, Mimi?” her mother asked as she entered the room and sat down.

  Michelle looked over and smiled. “Grandma and Grandpa. I can hardly wait to see them.”

  “Me, too. It’s been a long time.” She became very quiet, and Michelle could tell she was lost in thoughts of her own.

  “Anything wrong, Mom?

  “No. I don’t think so, honey. I’m just a little worried about your grandfather.”

  Michelle flashed back to her thoughts earlier and how she’d felt pressed to pray for him. “Why? What’s up with Grandpa?”

  “It’s probably nothing. Grandma just seems a little concerned. She says he’s been really tired lately—not acting like his usual self.”

  Michelle studied her mother to see whether or not she was telling the whole story. But Sheila just returned her gaze with a reassuring smile. “Let’s not borrow trouble from tomorrow, honey. I’m sure he’s fine. It’s normal that he’d be slowing down at his age.”

  “Yeah. You’re probably right,” she replied, but Michelle couldn’t shake the feeling that something was really wrong.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Amber Gamble sat in the tiny living room of the apartment she shared with her boyfriend, Chad. He’d left for work an hour earlier, and she was supposed to be studying for a final in her sociology class at the local community college. In a couple of hours, she’d be off to her own job waiting tables at the coffee shop on campus, so there wasn’t much time left to cram for the exam that night.

  Focus, she told herself. Flipping to the review questions provided by their professor, she began reading through her answers scratched beneath each one and along the margins of the paper. She grabbed the highlighter on the coffee table and marked the key points to remember. Standing up, she paced the floor, reading and rereading each question, looking away to rehearse her answers.

  I need some coffee, she thought. An unfinished pot of day old coffee on the kitchen counter would have to do. Chad reminded her that morning they were running short of cash this month. She’d have to make every dollar stretch, so there’d be no throwing away old coffee in favor of a fresh pot.

  She filled a mug and placed it in the microwave. Setting her papers down on the counter, she opened the fridge and grabbed some creamer. As she closed the door, her eyes locked on the calendar posted with magnets. This Saturday would be Caleb’s birthday.

  She’d tried to keep herself so busy with school and work that she could somehow slide past it again. Every year was the same. At first she’d fought deep depression and despair when her son’s birthday approached. It seemed like just yesterday she’d handed him over to be adopted by her junior high teacher.

  Sinking into the chair at their kitchen table, she allowed herself a moment to travel back into time and peer down at Caleb’s tiny face. He’d weighed less than five pounds and looked like a little baby doll tightly wrapped in the hospital receiving blanket. He’d gazed up at her with those big eyes, and she’d felt a connection she’d never felt to another human being.

  How many times had she questioned the decision to give him up? It seemed like she’d never find a place of peace in her heart and mind about that. But how could she have been a mother at only fourteen years old? And with her parents so messed up, there really wasn’t anyone to help her back then, especially not Adam, Caleb’s father. What a jerk he turned out to be!

/>   Chad was different. They’d met at school the first week of her freshman year of college. Several years older than her, he’d been a good friend when she really needed one. She remembered the day she told him she was moving out of her parents’ house. He’d offered her a safe place to stay until she could get her own apartment.

  But living under the same roof changed their relationship. The third week together, Amber suffered a meltdown over some family issues, and Chad’s comforting embrace led to an intimacy neither had planned but neither resisted. After confiding in him about her life back in Oregon and the baby boy she’d left behind, Chad’s understanding and protective responses told her he would never be like Adam—leaving her to fend for herself when she needed him most.

  The beep of the microwave broke into Amber’s thoughts. Carefully lifting out the hot cup, she added a generous helping of vanilla creamer, watching it swirl in the dark liquid. Then she sat back and stared at the calendar again. Twice she’d tried to call Ms. Baron, her beloved teacher and Caleb’s adoptive mom. If she could just talk to her and make sure her son was okay, maybe that would help her move on.

  But both times, she’d frozen and hung up.

  Caleb would be six in a few days. Six years old. He was probably finishing kindergarten. It was hard to imagine that tiny baby as a schoolboy. Did he look like her? Did he even know about her? And what if something happened to him? Would she ever find out?

  I’ve got to see him. Just one more time.

  Amber nodded her head in affirmation and took her coffee and paperwork back into the living room. Maybe after class tonight, she’d talk to Chad about it and see if he’d go with her to Oregon.

  “Seriously, Amber? You are really thinking of going to Oregon to see this kid?” Chad’s voice was gaining volume as he locked eyes with her.

  Amber looked away. “He’s not just some kid, Chad. He’s my son.”

  “Was your son. Remember? He belongs to another family now. He’s theirs, not yours anymore.”

  “You don’t have to remind me of that.” Amber slouched back on the sofa, tears threatening to spill down her reddened cheeks.

  Chad shook his head and walked over to sit beside her. His voice now lower and softer, he said, “Listen. I know this has been on your mind for a long time, Amber. But I think you’ve got to find some way to let it go. Do you really think showing up in Sandy Cove is going to be the best thing for Caleb? For all you know, he isn’t even aware that he’s adopted. And what about his parents? Don’t you think it would freak them out to have you suddenly reappear in their lives?”

  Amber sat silently staring ahead, unable to say a word for fear of the torrent of emotions that might be unleashed from her heart if she spoke.

  Chad pulled her chin toward him, and she looked up into his eyes. “I’m here for you. You know that. I just think this could be the biggest mistake of your life.”

  Hardly, Amber thought to herself as she remembered her relationship with Adam and how she’d let that get out of hand. Now that was the biggest mistake of her life. Rallying her strength, she swallowed back her tears and replied, “I’ve given this a lot of thought, Chad. I just need to see that Caleb’s okay—that everything turned out good for him. Then maybe I’ll be able to move forward and put this behind me.”

  Chad shook his head again, but his eyes showed compassion. Pulling her into his chest, he murmured, “I’ll go with you.”

  And suddenly Amber’s heart experienced an emotion she hadn’t felt in years—joy. She felt joy and hope, two very unfamiliar but welcome friends to a heart that had spent most of its life in pain.

  The next morning she began planning their trip. Twice she picked up the phone and considered calling Magnolia Middle School again—her one point of contact with Michelle Baron. But both times she changed her mind, not wanting the excitement of seeing Caleb being doused by a potentially negative conversation with his adoptive mother. She’d just go to Sandy Cove and hope for the best.

  Michelle glanced across the classroom on this final day of school. Students, who would normally have been in their seats busy with assignments, mingled around the room, sitting on desks and chatting in small clusters as they traded yearbooks and wrote notes to each other inside. She was really going to miss this group of kids. Such hard workers and most were well behaved. It had been a great year.

  Next year would likely be much more like her first at Magnolia. She’d had quite a handful that year. The year of Amber Gamble. What a challenge that girl had been! But God had brought such an unexpected blessing from the fiery trials of that year—their precious son, Caleb.

  This year’s high achievers would be moving on to high school in the fall, and a change of policy and curriculum at Magnolia School would result in tracking the kids into various levels of language and literature for eighth grade. With Michelle being lower in seniority, she’d been appointed to teach the kids who were struggling academically, which meant they’d also be likely to have other issues such as fractured families and vulnerability to negative peer pressure.

  Although she understood the seniority issue, she couldn’t help but wonder why the more experienced teachers weren’t ask to instruct the most challenging students. Instead they were gifted with the children whose parents were supportive and helpful, who had high expectations for the children and had instilled motivation into their lives. Sure, there were always a few exceptionally bright kids who were troubled and disruptive, but those kids were routinely removed from high achieving classes and bumped down to the other classes.

  Yes, things would be different next year. Michelle just hoped at least a few good role models would find their way into her classroom to help maintain some standard of achievement for the overall student body.

  One of the students who had been talking to a group of girls near Michelle’s desk turned to her and asked, “What do you like most about teaching, Ms. Baron?”

  Smiling, she replied, “When I can see that I really made a difference for a student.”

  The girl nodded. “You made a difference for me. I thought this class would be really boring, but you made it interesting and fun.”

  “Thanks! You just made my day,” Michelle replied, her heart soaring. Sometimes the kids she least expected to be impacted by her class, the ones who seemed so quiet and detached, were actually really appreciative of the hard work and personal dedication she poured into her teaching. Kids like Amber, well it was pretty clear whether or not you were making any headway with them. But others, like this shy, sweet girl who never made waves—well those were harder to read.

  “I’m coming back to visit you next year,” her student promised as the bell rang, signaling the end of the final class of the day.

  “I’ll look forward to it,” she replied.

  Then Michelle straightened up the room and headed to the teachers’ lounge for a catered lunch buffet to celebrate another successful year. Afterward, there’d be a department meeting where she would learn more about what would be expected of her the following year as she tackled the remedial English classes and possibly taught a reading intervention course.

  Her mentor and friend, Cassie, waved Michelle over to her table. “Have a seat,” she said with a warm smile. “We made it. Another year down.”

  Michelle nodded, returning her smile. “Yep. It’s been a good one.”

  A moment later the principal stood from a table across the room. “I think we’ll get started since most of you are here. This luncheon is the PTA’s way of expressing their gratitude for all your hard work this year. We’ll dismiss by tables, and you can go ahead and help yourselves to the delicious buffet spread they’ve provided.

  “After your department meetings, be sure to turn in your year’s lesson plan book. Tomorrow morning is your time to clean out your room and store your supplies in the cupboards. Please be sure to lock up all electronic devices before you leave for summer vacation. I’ll be mailing information about our August start up meetings at the beginn
ing of that month. Any questions?”

  As the teachers in the room shook their heads and began to resume visiting, he dismissed the first tables to go to the buffet.

  The rest of the afternoon slipped by quickly, and Michelle soon found herself in the office about to leave. Remembering the strange phone calls from earlier that week, she stopped by Daisy’s desk.

  “Heading out?” the perky receptionist asked.

  “Yep. Off to the party store to pick up decorations for Caleb’s birthday bash. Just wanted to check and see if that girl ever called back.”

  “Girl?”

  “Yeah. The one who called twice the other day,” Michelle reminded her.

  “Oh. That girl. Nope. She hasn’t called again.”

  Michelle nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” She placed her lesson plan book on the stack on the corner of Daisy’s desk. “Here you go.”

  “Until next year,” Daisy replied.

  “Until next year,” Michelle repeated.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The following morning was a quiet one at school. Some teachers had stayed late the day before to pack up their rooms. Others were focused on the task of putting away another year. Occasionally one dropped by to wish Michelle a happy summer. By noon, her classroom was empty, all items locked in her cupboards.

  Stretching out the kinks in her back and neck from lifting and moving electronics and boxes of supplies, she glanced around the vacant space. A sense of satisfaction swept over her. Another year successfully completed.

  When she arrived home, the smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted her.

  “Hi, dear. Thought you could use a little lift after your busy morning,” her mom said, pouring a cup of coffee and handing it to her.