One Day in Apple Grove(25)
“Why she doesn’t believe any animal should live indoors is beyond my comprehension,” he said, leading the way down the hallway to his office.
“Isn’t it funny that Mitch loves animals and his older sister doesn’t?”
“Quite a hole, isn’t it?”
Cait walked over to the window and pulled down the cardboard. “Dead center. Are you sure this was an accident?”
The good reverend nodded. “Danny and I have already had a heart-to-heart about playing ball behind the manse.”
“Especially when there’s a ball field practically in their backyard.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “His mother’s taken away his bicycle privileges for the next week. That boy is all over town on that thing.” He was smiling when he said, “I’d better let you get to work. I’m sure you have a full schedule, what with your sister cutting her hours again.”
Cait looked over her shoulder and saw him smiling. “She’s feeling better and isn’t that awful shade of green anymore.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll be in the outdoor chapel if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Envy for the time her pastor would be spending in the quiet of the fir-lined chapel was quickly dismissed as she took out her putty knife and scored the glazing that held the window in place. A short while later, she was back in the parking lot, easing the sheet of glass she had wrapped in a moving blanket from her backseat.
“Good thing it was a small window.” A larger one wouldn’t have fit in her car.
She was just applying the thin layer of glaze when the Reverend returned. “Ah,” he said with a sigh. “Now that’s more like it. Hole-free glass.”
“It’ll keep unwanted visitors out. If only it worked as a softball repellent too.”
His smile faltered. “I don’t have the money set aside for the repair—” he began.
“Don’t worry about it.” She’d dug deep into her own pockets when the call first went out that Mrs. Smith had cancer and would be undergoing chemotherapy—the whole town had. The medical bills were astronomical. “Apple Grove residents take care of their own.”
He nodded, a suspicious film of moisture filling his eyes. Clearing his throat, he said, “I still intend to pay you—”
“Not going to happen, Reverend,” she told him. “Besides, Mrs. Jones already paid for the repair. Danny’s going to be working off his debt starting this Saturday by helping my dad sweep out the shop—who knows what Deputy Jones will have to say about it or whether or not he’ll add to Danny’s list of chores.”
Reverend Smith asked, “Didn’t he break the window at the library when he was Danny’s age?”
Cait shook her head. “I don’t remember. You’ll have to ask Miss Trudi. She has a mind like a steel trap.”
“I think I will. Danny is doing enough penance for one softball. See you Sunday?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good. I need to check on my wife.”
“Please give her my best,” Caitlin told him.
He squeezed her hand and was gone. She swept up the dried out bits of glazing that had held the old window in place and was on the road ten minutes later.
Her next stop would take her to the outskirts of town. Checking her watch, she calculated the time left and the two jobs she needed to squeeze in before taking a break. If luck held, she’d finish on time and be able to stop by Jack’s house and check on Jamie as close to noon as possible.
***
The morning hadn’t gone as smoothly as Jack had planned. Jamie had fallen asleep first last night but apparently didn’t need as much sleep as Jack. And judging from the cold puddle of pee in front of the back door, the dog no longer needed to go outside.
“Damn it.” Jack shook his foot and nearly lost his balance when he leaned his weight on his bad leg. Without his persistence and daily exercise routine to strengthen his leg, it might have buckled. It was usually stiff when he first woke up and beyond tired at the end of the day. Grabbing hold of the door frame, he kept himself from going down. “I guess I’ll have to set my alarm a little earlier.”
Armed with a new roll of paper towels, he cleaned up the mess and had the coffee filling the pot by the time he noticed Jamie whining and looking for someplace to squat.
“Hold it.” He grabbed the puppy and wrenched open the door.
Jamie licked Jack’s face, distracting him until he noticed the smell…his first clue that the dog hadn’t been able to hold it. Looking down he laughed. “Guess you really had to go.”
He set the dog on the grass and sighed. Although Jack really needed that first cup of coffee, he knew his new roommate would need to eat first to keep him distracted long enough for Jack to kick-start his day with caffeine.