Sneak peek into No Forgetting Providence
Copyright protected material — DO NOT COPY.
Library of Congress Registration number – TX 9-408-165 Dated — 07/15/2024
CHAPTER ONE
A blast of smoke and a sharp squeal of the tires informed Dr. Steven Ray, DR to his friends, that the charter jet from Sri Lanka had touched down. Somehow, the plane still felt like it was in the air as it continued the sideways shake. With the concrete runway shooting by them, an easterly crosswind pushed the plane hard. Then, after a heart wrenching deceleration, the plane reached the uncovered FBO gate, the private-jet terminal at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.
Despite the snow flurries, a small crowd managed to gather by the FBO hidden in the back of the airport. Waiting to deplane, he watched his companion’s expression as she swallowed hard.
“Hey, honey. It’s going to be all right. It’s just a few reporters.” Placing his hand on her leg, forcing a half smile, he wondered—Was it? When he sighted his mom in the waiting crowd, he felt it also, and for good reason.
“It’s not the reporters I’m worried about. What if your family doesn’t like me?” Debbie Holmes leaned her head on his shoulder, and long locks of gold fell across her face. She picked at the seat back in front of her, appearing lost in thought, her gaze shifting from one point to another, never seeming to focus.
“Oh yeah. I totally get that.” Laughing, he elbowed her to show his fun side, maybe even take away her tension. Then he pushed her hair back, admiring her. “Hey, they’re going to love you.”
As they got the all clear to deplane, the copilot positioned a wheelchair lift above the airstairs. “Dr. Ray, give me just a moment, and we’ll have you on the ground. I’m waiting for our ground attendant to finish getting ready for you.”
DR drew in a breath at his own tension. The butterflies in his stomach were as big as the ones he’d seen in his vision of the afterlife with Habiba. When he left here just three months ago, he didn’t think he’d be coming back to Delton, at least not this soon, and certainly not to live.
Was he making the right decision? Now his own eyes were searching. No. Stop it. Everything was going to work out.
“What, what did you say?” He shifted in his seat to face the man.
“We’re ready for you, Doctor.” The smiling copilot pointed to the wheelchair.
“Sorry, I was in la-la land.” DR leaned over and kissed Debbie’s cheek. Still, she stared out the window. All color had drained from her face. He patted her arm. “Come on. Let’s get off this plane.”
“Is that her?” While she kept her voice even to hide any alarm, her face was a dead giveaway as she strained to pick someone out in the crowd.
He craned over her shoulder. Willie stood beside Mike, his brother. They were bundled up and sort of leaning against each other as Mike’s wife, Alyssa, did the same on the other side. If Debbie was looking where DR was, then his secret wasn’t a secret anymore. “Is that who?”
She sat up. “Oh… I’m sorry I was thinking about something else. I’ve been on this plane too long. Ready?” Her color returned. Now, she seemed to be a ball of energy. Like him, she must be ready to get this over with.
After they hit the ground, the waiting crowd waved. Mom was out front just like he expected, Dad, his brothers, and friends just a step behind. Reporters called out to him, holding microphones stretched as far as they could reach, wanting questions answered as camera flashes fired and TV cameras rolled and recorded every word, smile, and frown.
Mike stepped in front of them to shield Debbie and DR.
Mom bent to the wheelchair and wrapped him in a bear hug, her tears flowing before she took his face in both hands and kissed his cheeks. “My baby is home.” She shifted to Debbie, still smiling, and reached for her. “And who is this lovely young lady?”
Barely able to hear her amidst the reporters twenty-some feet away still squawking their questions, he clasped Debbie’s hand. “Mom, this is Debbie, my girlfriend. She’s going to help me heal up.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Willie staring as he reached up for his dad’s hug. The wheelchair made him feel quite disadvantaged, if not captive. After introductions, “glad you’re homes,” and well wishes, they headed inside to warm up and find their transportation to Wall Lake. Then he promised Mom and Dad he’d see them soon, and he motioned for Debbie to push him. Soon, she had him trundling along as fast as she dared to go.
Mike jogged along with them, still nudging the reporters’ microphones and cameras to the side. “My brother will hold a presser once he has a chance to get his legs under him. You have your pictures and video. I’ll let you all know when he’s ready. Thanks for coming.” Placing his hand on the wheelchair, he bent down to DR. “Wow, that was some welcome, huh?” Then he made eye contact with Debbie and introduced himself and Willie, who had now caught up, the rest of the Ray clan further back, ready to go home. “Would you like me to take over, Debbie?”
“No thanks. I got this.” She beamed, fighting the wind as her hair whipped about her face.
“We’re so glad you’re safe—and back in Wall Lake,” Willie gushed, then clamped her hands over her mouth. The stiff breeze blew her long curly black hair too, but her headband held most of it back so only strands caught on her mittens when she covered her mouth before she fought to tuck them away.
“Uh, yes.” Mike shot her a hard woolly eye, and his stone-cold face flashed piercing eyes before unthawing again. Now glowing with his trademark smile, he gave DR a pause. “What Willie is saying is we have everything back in place, except your wall décor. We also picked up a few things to make it easier for you. If you need anything, let me or Willie know.”
He patted DR’s shoulder and shook Debbie’s hand, then half hugged her. His eyes shot the piercing look again behind Debbie’s back at Willie, and he half held out his arm as if he could distance Willie from them, communicating his obvious displeasure with her.
DR smiled. Just thirteen days earlier, Mike had told him about Willie’s infatuation or crush or whatever it was on him, a secret he hadn’t shared with Debbie and a secret Mike wasn’t supposed to share with him. It seemed he was the only one who could keep a secret, and keep it, he would.
* * * * *
How one likes the weather, the pace of life, and the feel of Wall Lake, often depends on where one is from. Gail, DR’s deceased wife, loved the pace, but not the weather. So now he wondered—How would Debbie like it? She was from Chicago, so the temperature should be fine, but the pace may be too slow for her. Certainly, the locals would forgive her as they did Gail.
Although mostly confined to bed his first week home, DR cheated from time to time, slipped into the wheelchair, or sat on the deck with Debbie counting the stars. She seemed to enjoy the lifestyle he relished, the same one he enjoyed with Gail, the one Debbie expressed hopes of one day sharing.
The medication he’d been prescribed often caused him to drift in and out of sleep, even in his wheelchair. But Debbie was always there to push him back inside and help him get to bed. She’d become his lifesaver, a fact he shared with anyone who came by to visit, and he quickly fell in love— no, they fell in love.
This evening’s sky was full of stars, and their breath drifted away on the cool, crisp night air. Slapping against the boat lift below reminded him of their recent adventure and all the mystery of the Indian Ocean. Feeling the heat from the chiminea burning hot only feet away, he spread a light blanket over them. “It’s a beautiful evening.”
“I can see why you love it here. The view is amazing.” Her brown eyes glistened, aglow with the same joy now warming his heart. She squeezed their entwined hands, her approving smile saying she felt the way he did.
A hot mug of coffee cradled in his grip, his arm leaning ever so lightly on Debbie, he shared his contentment. “With you here, it’s just about perfect. I could do this forever.”
He put down his mug, let go of her hand, and slid his arm around her shoulders. Their eyes met. Maybe, just maybe Miguel had it right, and there was a—no, no, no. DR mustn’t let himself get swept up in their fantasies. This was great, but it was just his turn.
Telling himself that, he leaned in until their lips met.
“About perfect?” She mocked and drew back after a brief, but amazing kiss.
“It gets better every day. I can’t wait until I lose this wheelchair. Then I’ll show you another part of the world I love.” His eyes glazed while strands of her hair blew in his face, though her Bears stocking cap restricted most of it.
“I saw how much you loved sitting on the deck of the DI. It was as if you didn’t have a care in the world. I’ve always been a city dweller, so it’s going to take some getting used to.” Laughing, she whisked the strands away and tucked them under the cap, then pushed back a lock of his sandy hair, breathing the essence of him. “I loved those nights out there with you, blue moon, or no blue moon. I wished I hadn’t become so impulsive.” She sat up, cocked her head. “Do you hear that? Someone’s at the front door.”
“I think you’re right. Would you mind?” He picked his coffee up from the end table, flashing back to the time Gail selected the patio set.
“Yep, I got it.” Debbie rose to leave, turning in time to notice his appreciative stare as she walked away. A pleased smile stretched out her lips, eyes flashing like brown sapphires.
She returned an innocent smile, head tilted, taking all of her in. Then he leaned back into the love seat sofa and relaxed into the cool canvas cushion. At first, all he could hear was muffled voices. As they came closer, their conversation became understandable.
“We’re outside on the deck. Let me show you,” Debbie said.
“How are you, guys? Is DR getting his rest? I know you must be a lifesaver.” Willie’s voice carried the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning, and she must’ve raced ahead of Debbie because she reached the patio doors first. “I love his deck. Gail and I used to spend hours out there.”
Was Willie always so bubbly, so high energy?
“We’re fine, he’s taking it one day at a time, but he’ll get there.” Debbie answered as they stepped out onto the deck. “DR, sweetheart, look who stopped by.”
Huh. She not only sugarcoated her voice but also appeared to grit her teeth behind Willie’s back. No, he must be seeing things.
“Willie, come, have a seat. The chiminea feels great this evening, and there’s not a cloud in the sky.” He pointed over the lake, then extended a hand to offer her a seat near them beside the fire. But she came right around and gave him a tight hug, her brown eyes aglow.
Wow, he wasn’t expecting that. He jolted back ever so slightly. They were almost cheek to cheek, her eyes squinted, and her cheeks rose as a surprised smile rounded them before she let him go.
Then she hugged Debbie too, whose arms flew out wide as she sagged into the hug. She must’ve been as surprised as DR. “My, you’re a hugger. How nice.” Turning her face away from Willie, Debbie communicated her surprise to him by widening her eyes and raising a brow. She probably did grit her teeth.
I guess she’s not feeling it. Unless Miguel said something to her about Willie’s crush. No, surely Miguel had more tact. Still, DR would have to remember to ask him.
“Willie, thank you for helping Mike get the old place back together.” He nodded toward the house. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say I never packed it all away. You must have a photographic memory.”
As the ladies took their places, an uneasiness seemed to settle over Debbie. Meanwhile, Willie retained her Christmas-morning wonderment.
“Oh, it was nothing. I was glad to help. It reminded me of my time here with Gail and how she loved this place. But anyway, I had a good time. You know how we girls are when it comes to decorating. I’m glad you’re pleased.” She circled her hand out above her head, showing it wasn’t a big thing, then rubbed her hands in front of the chiminea. “How is the healing coming along?”
When that wasn’t being asked, he’d know he was well. He squirmed in the chair. “I’m still sore, feeling a little raw in my abdomen, but I’m getting my strength back one day at a time. Hopefully, I’ll get crutches soon as the wound in my thigh is healing faster than my abdomen.”
A dour expression flashed across Debbie’s face. Seemed she was fighting something. So he wasn’t the only one Willie caught off guard.
“Debbie, how do you like his king-size bed? Isn’t that nice? Those posts must weigh a hundred pounds apiece.” Willie tilted her head, squinting her eyes, almost like a sister asking fifty questions after a date. “The mahogany is so pretty, and the mattress, wow, it’s so relaxing.”
“I love it, not that I’ve felt the mattress.” Debbie’s lips turned down at the corners, and the fire once roaring in her eyes now only seemed to flicker as if Willie had sucked the fun out of her evening. “I have my own room—just for now—so DR can get his rest.” Sitting up straight, she perked up and shot him a toothy smile before shaking a finger at him. “Just for now.”
It seemed like the ladies were sparing, each taking a turn, measuring their opponent. Time to change the subject. He flashed an exaggerated wink Debbie’s way. “Overall, everything is great. I have so many caring, loving people stepping up to help me get better.”
“How long before you get your crutches? And once you do, will you have to stay on them long?” Willie scooted sideways in her chair, leaning on its arm to get even closer, or so it appeared.
He tried not to shift back. “I should get them in a few days and hope I’ll only need them for a week or so.”
Debbie entwined her hand tighter with his. Willie’s expression soured, and she even shut her eyes, exhaling deeply.
“By the way”—eager to distract the ladies, he drew out the words with the tone of a storyteller—“one of the passengers from my cruise is coming to stay with me. Actually, he’s Gail’s second cousin. Now there was a real shocker. He’s coming over to work with Clyde on the artifacts until it’s all wrapped up. Debbie’s driving to Detroit to pick him up at the airport in the morning. I hate for her to drive so far alone, so I was wondering…” He smirked at Debbie. “Willie, would you mind going with her? It would give you two time to get to know one another.” He suppressed a grin, guessing what Debbie was thinking by her sharp intake of breath and her glower piercing him for the blatant betrayal.
She twisted in her seat and let go of his hand. “No. I mean, it’s not necessary. Why ruin her day too? Besides, you know how Ryan can be— he won’t leave her alone.” She elbowed DR softly so Willie couldn’t see her, then leaned toward the other lady. “Willie, Ryan was always chasing after me on the cruise like some love-crazed Irishman. I don’t want him to set his sights on you and ruin your life.”
“What time do you leave?” Willie notched up her chin. “It might be nice, some girl-bonding time. I’m not worried about any man, and I can take care of myself.” Her counterpunch sent a clear signal: she was in this until the end.
“Early.” Debbie raised her golden brows.
“Great. Tomorrow is Mike’s big interview with that best-selling author from Australia, so I have the day off. I was going to go in and listen in, but this should be more fun.” Her eyes widened, and a telling smile beamed, her confidence unmistakable. “Just give me the time.”
DR smiled. “Seven thirty. Right, sweetheart?”
“That’s the plan.” Debbie looked down at their hands again and squeezed tighter.
Willie rubbed her own hands on her thighs. “Seven thirty, it is. Do you want to meet at Marcie’s Place? We can grab an éclair and some coffee. I’ll treat.”
“Sounds good.” Debbie’s fingernails clawed into his palm. Whatever she was fearing about tomorrow, she’d find out in the morning.