North Country Family

Funny thing was, as he and John deepened their friendship, Rick began to understand how deeply the caring father mourned the fact that he wasn’t able to be with his daughter as much as he wanted. And why hadn’t he?

Because John had been spending his time with Rick trying to help him find a way out of his life on the streets.

One more thing Rick had to feel guilty about.

His soul groaned under the weight of it.

* * *

When Cassie finally returned downstairs, the house was bustling and Rick was gone.

“L-look, Mom,” Noah said, excitement glowing in his blue eyes. “It’s s-snowing like c-crazy.”

“Sure is,” she agreed after a glance out the window. “Does this mean the fireworks for tonight are canceled?” she asked Laurel.

“Rick said he thought they would be. He’s gone to set up a post at the church in case anyone gets caught in the storm and needs refuge.” She smiled. “He’s always thinking of others.”

“P-pastor R-Rick is going to s-start a choir,” Noah told her. “He a-asked me to j-join.”

“That sounds like fun.” Cassie held her breath, unwilling to show any hope that he would get involved in something with his peers. “Do you think you will?”

“M-maybe. I l-like singing.”

“Good.” Cassie exchanged a nonchalant glance at Laurel, knowing she’d understand. “So what will we do for New Year’s Eve?”

“I’m glad you asked,” said Cassie’s friend.

Laurel already had a list of things she needed to prepare so the boys would enjoy their evening despite the fireworks cancellation. Cassie was glad to keep busy, hoping it would keep her mind off her conversation with Rick, when she’d dumped her past all over him, wept on his shoulder and then told him she’d never darken the door of his church.

She felt stupid, weak and ashamed that he’d seen her so needy, but being in his arms had felt wonderful.

Though Sara and Kyle were away for the holiday, Sara had left the freezer and cooler well stocked. Cassie and Laurel chose two casseroles and set them to bake for dinner, then prepared snack foods for later in the evening. They were putting the finishing touches on a series of sweet treats when the power went off.

“I was afraid this would happen with that high wind,” Laurel said when it hadn’t come back on after twenty minutes. “I need to go out to the shed and start the generator so the furnace will keep us warm.”

Cassie watched her bundle up, unable to stem her worry. She stood at the window in the front hall and tracked Laurel through the whirling snow to make sure she arrived safely. But when minutes turned into half an hour and Laurel hadn’t come back, worry burgeoned into fear. She’d just put on her coat to follow her friend when she saw Laurel pushing her way back through the drifts.

Cassie glanced at the light in the hall. The bulb remained unlit.

Apprehension filled her, but she tried to hide it as she met Laurel at the door. Once her friend was safely inside she quickly shut out the wind and snow.

“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked quietly.

“I can’t get it to start, though I tried about a hundred times.” Laurel shivered as she rubbed her hands together. “Kyle tested it last week. It should be fine.”

“So what do we do now?” Cassie whispered.

“I don’t know,” Laurel admitted. “We have to have heat so I’m going to read the manual again. Maybe I missed something.” She hurried to her office.

Cassie stood in the hall. She wrapped her arms around her waist and shivered, trying to fight off her fear.

“M-mom, Laurel’s c-cell phone is r-ringing,” Noah bellowed from the kitchen.

Cassie answered. Her heart jumped a beat when she heard Rick’s voice.

“Hey, Cassie. I tried the landline but I couldn’t get through,” he told her. “Is everything okay?”

“The power’s out,” Cassie murmured, keeping her voice low so the boys wouldn’t guess from her tone how vulnerable she felt. “I guess that took out the phones.”

“You haven’t started the generator yet?” Rick sounded puzzled.

“Laurel tried. It won’t start.” Cassie went to Laurel’s office but didn’t find her there. “Laurel’s not available right now. I’ll have her call you.” She didn’t want to keep him when he must have things to do, but the sound of his voice was so reassuring.

“I contacted the power utility. A line is down. Apparently it will be a while before power will be restored.” Rick paused for a moment. “But you guys need heat and that means the generator. I’m coming out there.”

“In this storm?” Cassie glanced outside. Fear tiptoed along her spine. “It’s too big a risk.”

“Not at all. I know the landmarks along the way. I won’t get lost,” he assured her. “Besides, Kyle’s taught me all the wilderness survival techniques he knows.” He paused a moment. “I can’t just leave you there, knowing you’re in trouble.”

“But it’s so dangerous to travel in a storm.”

“It’s nice of you to worry about me, Cassie, but I’ll be fine.” His warm voice eased some of her concern. “See you in a bit.”

“Please be careful,” she whispered.

“Always.”

Cassie hung up, unable to stem her worry. So many things could happen to Rick.

To keep herself busy, she set the table and mixed up a salad, trying to maintain her facade that nothing was wrong until Laurel decided how she wanted to explain the situation to the boys. A few moments later Laurel returned, having taken a second shot at fixing the generator. Cassie filled her in on Rick’s call.

“I tried to talk him out of it but he insisted,” she told Laurel helplessly.

“He would. That’s the kind of man he is. Always giving for others.” Worry showed clearly in Laurel’s frown. “Can you keep the boys busy? I’m going to pray for Rick.”

“I hope it works,” Cassie told her.

“Prayer always works, Cassie. God always hears us. Romans says, ‘Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Laurel gave Cassie a quick smile before she left the room.

Cassie wasn’t as certain as Laurel about God’s protection, but she’d had enough conversation about God for one day.

Lives got chillier as the day went on. Laurel explained their predicament to the boys, who grew increasingly more solemn as they waited for Rick. Though it was barely mid-afternoon, the light was fading fast. Cassie knew that Rick’s chances of arriving safely during the storm dropped considerably with every minute that passed.

When the last of the day’s light faded, Cassie and Laurel raided Kyle’s cupboard for emergency lanterns, which the boys began cranking. Then Cassie asked them to cut used milk jugs into candleholders.

“Wh-what are they f-for?” Noah asked.

“We’ll put them in the windows so Rick can find us in the storm.” It was silly, but Cassie couldn’t suppress her desperation to do something, anything, to help Rick reach them. Surely God wouldn’t let anything happen to His emissary, would He?

He let other things happen.

Her heart squeezed tight at the foreboding that filled her. Cassie began to wish she could pray. But she couldn’t get the words past the distrustful block in her throat. God had let her down before. How could she trust Him now, with something as important at Rick’s life?

Then, above the whine of the raging wind, she heard the roar of a snowmobile. Her heart surging with relief, Cassie followed Laurel and the boys to the front door where they all urged Rick inside.

“What is this, an honor guard?” he joked, dragging off his helmet.

Everyone laughed, shattering the tension. Laurel urged the boys to go back to their warm quilts in the family room while Cassie helped Rick slide off his snow-covered coat. When his green eyes met hers, her heart beat so fast all she could manage was, “Welcome.”

Cassie didn’t think she’d ever been so glad to see someone in her entire life.

“Awful night to host a party.” Rick tossed her a brash grin then kicked off his boots. Cassie and Laurel followed him as he hobbled to a kitchen chair and rubbed his toes. “Sorry it took so long. I made a wrong turn. Kyle will ream me out when I tell him,” he said, looking slightly abashed. “Thanks for lighting those candles. Believe it or not, they helped.”

“That was Cassie’s idea.” Laurel turned to wink at her.

“Thank you, Cassie. I appreciate it.” Rick’s gaze clung to hers a bit too long before he turned back to Laurel. “Give me a few minutes to get the ice off my feet and I’ll go check on the generator. I brought some extra gas for it in case you’re low.”

“We have lots of gas. I just can’t get the thing to start,” Laurel complained.

Cassie smiled as the boys returned and gathered around Rick, drawn in by his charisma. Wrapped in their warm blankets, they sat on the floor at his feet, asking a thousand questions, barely waiting for answers.

Rod had been at Lives the longest and had beaten Rick at checkers many times. Bryan had begun to adapt to his diabetes, thanks to Rick’s encouragement. Barry was the quiet one, but his adoration of the young pastor was clear. Michael suffered from depression and Daniel dealt with the aftereffects of drug use. The newest arrivals were still finding their way at Lives, but as Rick laughed and joked with them, each boy joined in.

Every so often Rick’s eyes lifted in search of hers. Each time Cassie pretended to be busy, too aware of her heightened response to him, too embarrassed by the surge of relief that had filled her when he’d walked through the door.

“Okay, I’m ready,” Rick said to Laurel as he rose. “Got a couple of flashlights?”

She handed them to him. “I’m coming, too,” she said. “I need to see what’s wrong.”

“Okay. See you guys in a bit,” he said cheerfully. With a smile that seemed to be just for Cassie, he and Laurel left.

Cassie wasted the next ten minutes telling herself she would have worried about anyone who had been out in a storm like this. By the time the power flickered on, she’d almost convinced herself it was true. But when Rick returned and accepted the hot chocolate she handed him, her heart was still thudding and she couldn’t catch her breath.

With the furnace blasting out heat, Lives quickly warmed up. Cassie and Laurel finished preparing supper using candlelight to save the generator because no one knew when power would be restored. Then they all gathered around the big table to eat.

Cassie was not surprised in the slightest that Rick made the meal joyful, from his grace of thanksgiving to the jokes he shared.

“He’s got the boys so busy laughing there’s no time for them to miss their families,” Laurel said as they cleaned up the kitchen. “Just another reason I adore that man.”

Laurel coaxed Rick into leading the games she’d planned, and Cassie couldn’t help but laugh when he refused to let either of them sit out, despite their protests. Cassie didn’t mind. The room resounded with loud and happy laughter and she couldn’t remember when she’d had so much fun. Even Noah seemed to lose his reticence, begging her to join in a game of Twister that left Cassie feeling like a pretzel.

“You’re good at this,” Rick told her, offering a helping hand up. When she took it, she felt the warmth of his hand against hers.

“I have to be—it’s Noah’s favorite.” Once on her feet, she let go of his hand, anxious to break the connection between them.

What was wrong with her tonight? Were her responses so strong because she’d been afraid for Rick?

“It’s getting close to midnight,” Rick said. “Maybe we should fill the punch glasses so we’ll be ready for a toast.”

Since the others were busily arranging the white domino tiles for a game, Cassie agreed. She and Rick worked together. After their hands touched for the third time, Cassie couldn’t remain silent.

“I was so scared for you,” she said in a half whisper so the boys wouldn’t hear.

“Really?” His eyes widened. A smile stretched across his face. “That was nice of you. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone worry about me before.”

A pleased look stayed with him even after they’d finished filling the glasses. Such a small thing, yet he seemed delighted by it. Cassie couldn’t help wondering why this handsome and very nice man didn’t have anybody who cared about him.

Soon they were finished and all was ready for the midnight hour.

“One more minute,” Rick said, smiling. “Then we start a new chapter in our lives.” He tapped a spoon against a glass. “Hey,” he called. “Are you guys ready for our New Year’s toast?”

The boys grabbed their glasses, laughing as they counted down the seconds. Her mind working furiously, Cassie moved as far as possible from Rick. She could not, would not get caught next to him at the stroke of midnight. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of his lips touching hers and she scolded herself for her imagination. But when she caught his gaze she knew that he’d been thinking along the same lines, and that flustered her even more.

“Ready?” she asked Noah, tearing her gaze from Rick’s.

“Y-yeah.” He blinked as Laurel’s big wall clock chimed the midnight hour.

“Happy New Year!” Cassie clinked her glass with her son’s. “May it be your best year ever, Noah.”

“Happy N-New Year,” he repeated.

The boys moved around, eager to tap their glasses against everyone else’s. That was how Cassie ended up next to Rick, despite her best efforts.

“Happy New Year, Cassie,” he said softly.

It was only their glasses that made contact, but the effect was the same as if his lips had touched hers. She spilled a few drops of punch on her fingers as she tried to find her voice.

“Happy New Year,” she whispered.

His eyes held hers for a long timeless moment. Finally he turned toward the boys and led them in singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Cassie forced herself to breathe in and out slowly, causing her heart rate to eventually return to normal by the end of his short but fervent prayer asking God to bless each of them in the year ahead.

“Let’s share our resolutions,” Rick said.

“What’s a resolution?” Rod asked.

“Grab your snacks. We’ll sit in the family room,” Laurel said. “Rick can explain.”

Cassie sat on the arm of the sofa beside Noah and waited until everyone had settled, curious to hear what Rick would say.

“Resolutions are plans we make to accomplish specific things in the coming year,” he explained in a solemn tone. “It’s a goal to focus on. For example, my resolution this year is to serve God with all my heart, even when it means sacrificing my own plans.”

Cassie frowned. The way Rick said it made it sound as if he was trying to make up for something. What was her resolution?

“What about you guys? Any idea what you’d like to accomplish in the new year?”

Rod grimaced. “My resolution is to figure out math.”

“That’s a good one,” Rick encouraged. “Hard, but good. Anyone else?”

“Mine is to get another saxophone,” Michael said, his blond curly head tilted to one side.

“You play sax? You and I could brainstorm on that maybe,” Rick offered.

“I’d like that,” he said shyly.

Cassie was surprised Michael had answered at all. According to the file she had on him, he was suffering from depression. He certainly hadn’t volunteered any information previously. It must be Rick who was helping him find his place.

“I’m going to get along better with others this year,” Laurel said.

Soon Rick had coaxed each boy to talk about some plan for the future—everyone except Noah, who’d said only that he’d think about it. Cassie’s heart was still aching from Noah’s withdrawal, so she was not prepared when Rick called her name.

“What’s yours, Cassie?” Rick’s gaze pinned her.

“My resolution?” She blinked in surprise, though she knew she should have expected the question. But what to say?

Like a giant wave, the hurt rolled over her, lending a sharp edge to her voice when she said, “I’m going to rebuild my life this year.”

Rick studied her for several moments. Was that pity in his eyes? Cassie did not want pity from this man. She shifted uncomfortably, aware that the boys were now staring, too.

“Well, you’re in the right place, Cassie, because that’s what we do at Lives Under Construction, right, boys?” Laurel said, kindly drawing the attention away from her.

“Thank you all for sharing,” Rick added. “I’ll pray God will help each of you fulfill the desires of your hearts.”

In the clamor of the next hour of games, Cassie often felt Rick’s eyes on her. She studiously avoided looking at him, forcing herself to join the fun, suppressing all that she was feeling. But when her eyes accidentally met his, she knew she wasn’t fooling him.

When the boys could no longer hide their yawns, Laurel said it was time for bed. She convinced Rick to sleep in the family room because of the storm, and then Cassie persuaded Laurel to leave the cleaning-up to her.

She’d just snapped off the kitchen light and was about to go to her room when Rick’s touch on her arm stopped her. She shifted so his hand dropped away. “Yes, Rick?”

“I wanted to wish you the very best with your resolution, Cassie.” His green eyes swirled with something she couldn’t define, something that made her knees weak against her will. “I hope God will bless you and Noah as you start a new life here. I’ll pray you find what you need in Churchill and at Lives.”

“Thank you. Happy New Year to you, too, Rick,” she said quietly. “Thanks for coming to our rescue.”

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