Chapter Six
Donovan checked the weather for the third time that evening—lows in the mid-twenties. This cold snap hung on tight and didn’t show signs of leaving within the five-day forecast. How much time would they really spend outdoors tonight? He knew she walked the park but weren’t most places inside or a dash from the car and back?
I guess I’ll find out soon. He pulled his gloves and scarf from the closet and laid them on the table by the chair with his coat hanging from it. Checked the time. Three hours left until he had to leave. Something about Zoe made him nervous, and he had no clue why, which jarred his nerves more.
He grabbed today’s paper and settled into his recliner, briefly lamenting how the newspaper trend had shifted sharply to digital mode. He could admit to enjoying a good book on a tablet, but nothing could replace the feel of a newspaper in his hands, spreading the pages wide, and losing himself in articles and editorials. There were times he wondered how long the industry could survive.
Too many of his colleagues had lost their positions at their newspapers. AlthoughThe Daily Nativityhad a strong list of assets and was financially sound, that could change over the course of any year if subscriptions decreased and advertisers pulled their accounts.
Worrying about the future when everything was going well was a residual effect of his divorce. If he hadn’t been able to see his marriage crumbling, what else couldn’t he spot? When his mind traveled in that direction, he stopped and prayed, recited the verse about not borrowing trouble from tomorrow. God’s power and grace far exceeded any problem he could face.
Once he’d read through the entire newspaper, including the comics—a guilty pleasure he’d never admit to anyone—he reached for a pen and completed the crossword. He came to5 Downand read the clue —recovering readily from adversity. Nine letters and the seventh one wasE. He tapped his pencil on the armrest, running through a mental list of words until he came to the one that fit.
Resilient. Like Zoe.
She didn’t recognize it in herself, but it no doubt described her. He couldn’t have guessed her history, which cut him to the core. All his trials and tribulations of the last four years paled next to what she’d gone through. And as much as it hurt to not have Brody all the time, he still had his son. Anytime he wanted, he could pick up the phone and call him, hear his voice. Those every other weekend visitations didn’t seem so far apart when compared with the possibility of never seeing him again this side of Heaven.
When Zoe had agreed to let him come along, her response surprised him almost as much as when he’d asked the question. He didn’t want to intrude, but as she talked about the purpose of the candy canes, and he saw the healing she’d received from them, a force tugged at his heart. He donated to charities, packed shoeboxes, sponsored a paper angel. All those activities he believed in and gladly participated in, but something about the candy canescalledto him.
His stomach growled, and he realized he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. That bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal wouldn’t sustain him until he came home at who-knew-what hour. He closed the newspaper, folded it in half, and set it aside. Rummaging through the fridge and cabinets, he settled on a grilled cheese and a can of beef with barley soup. Not the most gourmet or healthy option, but fulfilling and satisfying nonetheless.
Time crept forward. At eight forty-five, he slid his arms through his jacket sleeves, wrapped the black and white plaid scarf around his neck, and pulled his gloves over his hands. He locked up and rushed to his car, feeling the wind’s bite. Halfway to Zoe’s apartment, he remembered the travel mug of decaf coffee sitting on his kitchen counter.
The temperature would only decrease as the night wore on, and the forecast predicted the wind to remain at a steady eighteen miles per hour through tomorrow morning. The coffee shop closed at nine, but if he hit no red lights, he might make it in time for a cup. Unwilling to speed on the chance of hitting a patch of ice, he drove cautiously and pulled up to the drive-thru speaker with two minutes to spare. He paid for his decaf black coffee, leaving a generous tip for showing up at the last minute.
Nerves struck again when he drove through the gate of Zoe’s complex. He wasn’t accustomed to them, and they were beginning to annoy him.Mind over matter. He performed trained breathing exercises—Thank you, college phys ed class elective that I thought I’d never use—until he parked. Unknowing if they’d take his car or Zoe’s, he carried his coffee with him to Zoe’s apartment and knocked.
She answered the door dressed to go, wearing a red wool coat, white scarf and matching gloves. She had a large bag slung over her shoulder. “You came. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” He caught the nervous twitch in her right eye. “Unless you changed your mind and called to tell me not to come.”
“I thought about it.” She lifted her shoulders, and a sheepish smile took over. “Almost did, a few times.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Me, too.”
He pointed to the bag. “Are the goods in there?”
She erupted into laughter he hadn’t expected. “You make it sound so clandestine, but yes, they’re all in here.”
“Great.” He jingled his keys. “My car or yours?”
“Yours, if you don’t mind driving. There are a lot of places I can hop out, make the drop, then jump back in.”
“Sounds great.” He waited until she’d locked her apartment before heading down the steps and entering the cold. Once in the car, he glanced over and saw her buckling. “Where to first?”
“The hospital. They have a children’s program tomorrow which will bring in extra visitors.” She paused and met his eyes with a solemn expression. “Visitors who will need extra encouragement this year.”
“Were you here the year the church’s Christmas project was providing toys for every patient at the hospital?” He drove in the direction of the hospital, remembering the experience.
“No, but I’ve heard about it.”
“It’s one of those nights I’ll never forget. The older generation’s gratefulness humbled me. They’re an overlooked group this time of year.”
Zoe turned a dash vent toward her. “Is it true that the able-bodied patients gathered together to help deliver presents to the children?”
“Yes.” A warm shiver passed through him, reminding him of the Christmas spirit that filled the entire hospital that year. “If anyone ever questioned the possibility of having joy in the midst of trials, their doubts would have been erased that night. Even Deana, who wasn’t given to displays of emotion, was brought to tears.”
