The Power of Love and the Courage to Dream

"What now?" Rebecca Michaels pulled back from the peephole, a frown marring her tired features. When she opened her front door to the large policeman, tension whipped down her length. Standing next to the stranger was her son. The policeman's solemn expression told her the next few minutes wouldn't be a welcome-to-the-town exchange. She braced herself. "Is there something wrong, Officer?" "Ma'am, is this your son?" She nodded, her throat tightening. "I found this young man behind the grocery store, loitering. He should be in school." "That was where he was supposed to be." Rebecca directed her attention to her nine-year-old, whose features were set in a sullen expression. "What happened, Peter? You left an hour ago for school." He dropped his gaze. "I didn't wanna go." "That's not an option." Rebecca looked toward the policeman. "I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you. I'll make sure he gets to school when my baby wakes up." The man stuck out his hand. "I'm Gabriel Stone. I haven't had the opportunity to welcome you to Oakview yet. Sorry it had to be this way." Rebecca shook his hand, comforted by the firm feel of his fingers around hers. His handshake conveyed an impression of directness and no-nonsense that was refreshing. "I'm Rebecca Michaels." She relaxed the tense set of her shoulders. "Well, ma'am, if you don't mind, I can take your son to school for you." "I wouldn't want to put you out." "No problem. That's part of my job, making sure the kids stay in school." Grateful for his offer, she smiled. "Then great. My other son, Josh, just went down for a nap, and I hope he sleeps for a while." The policeman returned her smile, the lines at the corners of his eyes deep as if he smiled a lot. "If you need any help, don't be a stranger. I live on the next block. I've known your grandmother for years." As her son and Gabriel Stone turned to leave, Rebecca called, "Come right home after school, Peter. We need to talk." The pout that graced her son's mouth made her wonder if she would have to go out looking for him after school. She started to say something further when Gabriel Stone said, "He'll be here. I'll make sure of that, ma'am." Rebecca leaned against the doorjamb and watched her son and the policeman walk to the squad car. Gabriel Stone might bring Peter home this afternoon, but who was going to give her the strength to deal with this new problem? She squeezed her eyes closed and wished for the wisdom she would need to handle her eldest. He hadn't wanted to come to Oakview. He'd let her know that he hated his new school and wanted to go back to his old school in Dallas. Had she made a wrong decision about coming to her grandmother's to live? She hadn't had much choice after her husband walked out on her and the children. Taking a deep breath of the spring-scented air, she relished the quiet of the moment, only the occasional sound of a bird in her grandmother's large oak tree breaking the silence. "Rebecca, who was that?" "Gabriel Stone." She closed the front door and turned toward her grandmother, who came from the back of the house, her cane tapping on the hardwood floor. She stopped, and with her shoulders hunched leaned on her cane, something she only did when she was really tired. Granny had been up part of the night with her and Josh. The doorbell must have awakened her. "Everything's okay. You should go back to sleep, Granny." "I needed to get up. I never sleep past seven, and here it is nearly nine." "You probably never stay up to all hours of the night, either. I'm sorry Josh was so fussy." "My child, never apologize for that." Her grandmother waved her hand toward the door. "I wish you had asked Gabriel in for some coffee. I don't get to see him nearly enough, especially now that he's the new police chief." Police chief? She'd had no idea she had been talking to the person who ran Oakview's small police department. He hadn't said a word. "He'll be back this afternooDaley, Margaret is the author of 'The Power of Love and the Courage to Dream', published 2008 under ISBN 9780373651221 and ISBN 0373651228.