“Come on, Cluny boy,” Brady said with a twitch of his fingers, “I whipped you as a snot-nosed kid, and I’ll whip you as a man.” The smile eased into a savage grin. “And it sure beats the stuffing out of boxing with Collin.”
Luke studied the man who had saved his life, not to mention his soul, his muscled body crouched and ready and as powerful and menacing at the age of thirty-six as Luke was at twenty-two. Strength shimmered from his face and arms, now glistening with sweat.
“I don’t want to fight you, Brady,” he said, his breathing heavier than it should have been and moisture beading his brow.
White teeth flashed in the moonlight. “Afraid you’ll lose?”
Luke flashed some teeth of his own. “Nope. Afraid I’ll hurt you.”
Brady’s grin curled wide, taunting Luke with a gleam of a dare. “Or get hurt . . .”
Swallowing the bait whole, Luke pounced, landing a powerful thrust that sent Brady reeling back.
The blow seemed to ignite Brady’s temper, launching him forward in a blur of muscled arms and fists. “Better me than Leo,” he said with a grunt, delivering a clip to Luke’s jaw that hurled him into the grass.
Rubbing his chin, Luke jumped to his feet and stormed forward, his good humor fading fast. “Don’t worry, I have enough for you both,” he rasped. He drove his fist straight for Brady’s face.
With a duck of his head, Brady undercut him, blasting an iron jab to his ribs that felled Luke to his knees. “Not when I’m done with you, you overgrown street punk.”
In a final thrust of his foot, Brady discharged a kick that slammed Luke flat on his back with a gargled groan.
Brady dropped to the grass beside him and yanked a handkerchief from his pants, his chest heaving as hard as Luke’s. He wiped the sweat and blood from his face, then tossed it at Luke.
“Here,” he wheezed with sputtering rasps, “you don’t look so pretty anymore.”
Luke sat up and touched the handkerchief to his jaw, wincing at the pain. “Shoot, Brady, what are you trying to do, kill me?”
Brady rolled his neck. The smile on his lips was as peaceful as the black sky above studded with stars. “Nope, bud, just beat a little sense into you, that’s all.” He looked up, moonlight sculpting his features with a quiet reverence that was uniquely Brady. His words, despite being carried forth on short, heaving breaths, were soft and low. “He’s forgiven you, you know, and so has Betty. It’s time you move on to be the man God has in mind for you to be. No more dancing around the edge anymore, Luke, living for God when it’s convenient, living for yourself when it’s not. Accept his forgiveness for what you did to Betty, and then give it back to those who need it. Like Leo. We’re all sinners, bud, some of us more than others. And nobody knows better than me just how hard some sins are to forgive, especially in yourself. But I wasted years beating myself up, robbing myself of peace when forgiveness was as close as the repentance on my tongue.”
Brady clutched an arm around Luke’s shoulders, giving him a firm pat. He rose to his feet and extended an arm. “Don’t make the same mistake I did, Luke. Refusing God’s forgiveness only did damage to me and those I love. Don’t do that to Betty if you love her.” A nerve quivered in the hollow of Brady’s cheek. “Don’t do that to me if you love me.”
Suddenly Luke felt all of fourteen again, his eyes misting at the only love he had ever known from a father. He gripped Brady’s arm and sprung to his feet, eyes averted as he brushed twigs and leaves from his pants. With a hand to his head, he massaged the bridge of his nose, then dabbed at his eyes in a manner he hoped wasn’t obvious. He sucked in a cleansing breath and released it again, the tension and fury finally gone from his body.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at his feet. “Thanks, Brady,” he whispered. Fists clenched tight, he fought the urge to embrace the man who had shown him the face of God.
Brady hooked a steady arm over Luke’s shoulders, his touch warm and firm. “Don’t thank me, Luke, thank God. I know I do. He’s the one who put us together, you know.” He grazed the side of his jaw with the back of his hand and flinched. “Painful as that may be at times.”
Luke laughed and touched a hand to the tender side of his swollen lip. “You pack a mean wallop for an old man, you know that, Brady?”
Brady started walking toward the street. “Wait till you see my one-two punch . . . which, by the way, would go great with hot coffee at your place right about now.”
“Your one-two punch?” Luke jogged to keep up, matching Brady’s pace, stride for stride.
Neon blinked across Brady’s features as he shot a sideways glance, sweat and eyes gleaming in the shadowed light. “Yep, pardon and prayer – guaranteed to make a new man out of you. And if you don’t believe me, just ask Collin.” Brady grinned. “He’s got the drill down good.”
John Brady yawned as he trudged up the moon-washed steps of the brick house where his wife and child were sound asleep, and almost hated to glance at his watch. Four o’clock in the morning! A groan rumbled in his chest at the thought of Teddy rising at six, pumped full of energy for another new day. The polished wood floor echoed his groan as he entered the foyer, smiling at the stuffed monkey astride the wooden rocking horse he had made for his son. Maybe Lizzie would keep him quiet before church so he could sleep in, Brady thought, although that was a monumental task, he knew. But Lizzie would manage, he was sure, and as always, he whispered a prayer of gratitude for the woman in his bed.
He moved down the hall toward their bedroom at the back of the house as silently as the creaky floor would allow, touching the side of his jaw that still throbbed from Luke’s blows. He ducked in the bathroom and carefully closed the door, then grinned at the blood on his face when he turned on the light. But injury and lack of sleep notwithstanding, he wouldn’t have traded a solitary moment of his evening with Cluny McGee. A pain in his shoulder suddenly vied with his jaw, and he winced. Well, maybe one or two that wouldn’t have left such a mark on his tired body.
Tonight had been like old times – easy conversation with the boy who had become like a son, now a man who had become a good friend. Laughter, confession, prayer – hours of bonding between two men bent on serving God. Brady stripped off his shirt and turned on the water, grateful for the sore but solid muscles he saw in the mirror. They had won him a battle tonight, taking Luke all the way to the throne of grace. Gratitude eased their ache as he cupped several handfuls of water to his head and chest. He soaped his hair and under his arms, then leaned in and doused his head under the sink and then his torso. With another wide yawn, he dried off, wiped down the sink, then donned his old, ragged T-shirt that Lizzie always threatened to burn. After brushing his teeth, he flicked off the light and opened the door, the clean smell of soap following him down the hall. The very scent forced moisture to his eyes. Sweet mercy, how he loved being clean! Both in body and soul, and God had done just that, cleansing him of a past that had stained him far too long.
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
White as snow . . . just like him.
And now, Luke.
Brady took off his trousers and tossed them on the hamper before slipping under the coolness of the lone sheet that was the only cover Lizzie could abide. The bed radiated with the welcoming heat of the woman carrying his child, and once again tears pricked his eyes at the boundless blessings of God. He eased his feet to the edge of the bed to stretch his aching muscles, then turned and pressed in close to the back of his wife, her knees huddled up to her swollen belly. In a gentle caress, he rested his hand on her stomach, and she slowly turned in his arms, expending a good deal of effort to face him with a sleepy smile.
“Is everything all right with Luke?” she whispered.
The cumbersome mound between them brought a smile to his face as he pulled her close and brushed a gentle kiss to her lips. “More than all right. I finally got through tonight
.”
She shifted to stare in his eyes, her fingers grazing the bristly line of his jaw. “I thought you got through a long time ago.”
A heavy sigh parted from his lips, and he idly traced the curve of her hip with the palm of his hand, her warmth seeping into his fingers. “I did, but tonight he was set free from his past, Lizzie, cleansed and ready to reap the blessings of God.”
“Like you,” she whispered. She moved in close to nuzzle the hollow of his throat.
“Mmm . . . exactly,” he said with a sudden surge of heat. He tucked his head beneath her chin and explored her throat with his mouth.
“Ohhhh . . . ,” she said with a soft moan. Her head drifted back to allow him full range. “All’s well that ends well, I guess.”
Brady paused, his fingers stilled as they traced the smooth line of her collarbone. “Not exactly,” he said with a sigh against her chest. He lifted his head so his gaze could probe hers. “Luke’s in love with Katie.”
“What?” Lizzie lumbered to a sitting position as quickly as she could, the bedsprings squealing from the effort. “What do you mean Luke’s in love with Katie? Our Katie . . . with our Cluny? When? How?”
Brady chuckled and sat up himself, pulling her into his arms as he leaned against the headboard. “Over the summer, evidently, after a period of butting heads, I understand.”
“Oh, Brady, what an answer to prayer!” Lizzie burrowed into her husband’s hold with a soft giggle. “Faith, Charity, and I have been praying because none of us think Jack is right for her. And Cluny . . . I mean Luke . . . oh my goodness, he’s a godly man, smart, good-looking, a lawyer, and certainly tough enough to handle Katie.” She sighed. “A match made in heaven.”
“It might be,” Brady said with a wrinkle of his brow, “if she loved him back.”
Lizzie pulled away, her eyes wide with concern. “She doesn’t feel the same way?”
Brady’s lips flattened into a tight line. “Well, Luke certainly thought so, because apparently our Katie has been melting into his arms at the drop of a hat. But when he approached her tonight, she turned him down flat, telling him she sees him only as a friend.”
“But that can change!” Lizzie insisted.
“Not with Jack’s diamond on her finger,” Brady said in a droll tone.
“What?”
“According to Luke, Jack asked Katie to marry him tonight, and she said yes.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see about that,” Lizzie muttered with a cross of her arms.
Brady tugged her back. “It’s Katie we’re talking about, Lizzie, and you know good and well you won’t be able to sway her once her mind is set. And you can’t say a word to Faith or Charity about Luke’s feelings either, because he doesn’t want anyone else to know.”
“But you and I can pray about it, can’t we?”
His chuckle feathered the top of her head. The familiar scent of lilacs drifted up to tease his senses. “Yes . . . which is exactly why I told you in the first place, Elizabeth,” he whispered into her hair. “We need the power of two.”
He felt the warmth of her words against his throat.“‘If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask – ’”
“‘ – it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven,’” Brady finished. He lifted her chin with his finger, a proud smile edging his lips. “And that’s why I married you, Mrs. Brady,” he said with a playful kiss to her nose. “You’re a quick study.”
“No, you married me, Brady, because God answered our prayers.” She leaned back into his arms and released a soft sigh. “Now let’s just see what we can do about Katie.”
Brady rested his head against hers and closed his eyes. “Dear God, your Word says that many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is your purpose that prevails. As long as I’ve known Katie, she’s been a little girl of strong will and single purpose. And right now she has many plans in her heart – from law school and marriage with Jack, to achieving great things on behalf of women. But, Lord, what do you want for her? Lizzie and I both know that Katie’s happiness – and Luke’s – lies in your purpose and plan for each of them. Reveal that to them, Lord, lead them along the path you have for them both. And if that path leads them to join together as one, then open Katie’s eyes to the truth, and give Luke the grace he needs to see it through. Deepen their relationship, Lord, not only with each other, but with you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Lizzie’s gentle sigh merged with one of his own, and suddenly a rush of love flooded his heart. His eyes moistened at the touch of her warm body against his, carrying his child. He clutched her tightly in his arms, and when he spoke, his voice was rough with emotion. “What did I ever do to deserve you, Lizzie?”
He felt the curve of her lips against the stubble of his skin. “Oh, not much, Brady, just love God with all of your heart.”
With a raspy groan, he kissed her hard, sweeping the curve of her body with his hands.
“And what did I do to deserve that?” she breathed, pulling back with a hint of a tease.
His palm stroked the full of her belly, then slid to her waist to gently shift her close. “Figure it out, Elizabeth,” he whispered in her ear, and proceeded to kiss the hollow of her throat . . . this time without interruption.
13
Katie dodged a flock of St. Mary’s nuns, their flared white headpieces flapping in the summer breeze as she rushed to Dennehy’s Department Store in the heart of downtown. Her pulse was racing faster than her feet as she hurried by, thinking the sisters looked more like a gaggle of geese than Daughters of Charity on their way to daily mass.
“Good morning, sisters,” she called with a grin, and suddenly the thought of their “charity” warmed her heart as much as the heat of the day. Because of their devotion to God and compassion for mankind, these women provided a safe haven for thousands of infants and unwed mothers at St. Mary’s Home, a godsend to those with nowhere to go. Katie’s heart swelled with joy at the prospect of doing the same. Well, maybe not thousands yet, at least not until she was a lawyer or congresswoman who could wield influence on their behalf. But for now, she could certainly find a home or a job for one or two in need. Her grin softened into a smile. Like Alli.
A tanned workman repairing a cracked patch of pavement winked and shot her a grin, and she actually returned it with a brilliant smile, something she seldom did. Even the awful smell of his fresh asphalt couldn’t wrinkle her nose today. No, today was just too special, too life-altering of a moment to not respond in kind. She slipped a hand into her skirt pocket to absently fondle her list for the day – now half completed – and the cool touch of the crisp, folded piece of paper brought an extra bounce to her step. All she had left to do was finish a report for Parker, drop off a donor’s list to Vera at the BSCG and . . . pay a visit to Emma at the store, hopefully to secure a job for Alli. Katie’s heart raced at being able to check that final glorious goal off her list – talking to Emma on Alli’s behalf – and never had she felt such a sense of purpose or joy in the prospect of completing a task. She had found a home for Gabe, and in the process, had made both her mother and Luke McGee two of the happiest people alive, not to mention one salty-tongued seven-year-old who was sure to give Patrick O’Connor a run for his money.
The thought immediately produced another grin on her face and a rush of love to her heart. Nobody could reform a pistol like Gabe Smith better than her father, she finally realized with grudging respect, and for the first time, she was grateful for the tight rein he’d held all of her life. Although she’d been dead-set against it, banishing her to the Boston Children’s Aid Society had been a blessing in disguise and a critical turning point in her passion for women’s rights. Now more than ever, she wanted to be a part of giving women a voice, a hope, and a chance to escape the tyranny of a society that kept them pinned beneath its thumb – in schooling, in marriage, and especially in business. Her lips angled. Ironically, the very man responsible for helping
to shape her dreams by punishing her with a stint at the BCAS – her father – was the same man who’d kept her under his thumb as a little girl, stoking her fire for independence with every tantrum curtailed. Her lips lifted in a tender smile. I really should thank him someday . . .
Dennehy’s Department Store loomed large on the next block, and Katie’s muscles twitched with impatience as she waited at the corner for traffic to pass. She had found a home for Gabe and now she hoped – and prayed? – she’d find one for Alli too. She absently scanned the colorful window display of a classroom with its stylized manikins dressed in the latest children’s fashions for school, and her mind wandered to the prospect of prayer. Unlike the rest of her family, Katie wasn’t prone to invoking the help of the Almighty, but some things, she supposed, were just too important not to pull out all the stops. The image of sweet Alli with her heart-melting smile and her childlike innocence tugged at Katie’s heart, and she knew she would do whatever it took to brighten the girl’s future.
Even prayer, she resolved with a lift of her chin, something she wasn’t sure would actually work. Faith and Brady were big on it, she knew, as were Luke, Parker, and the rest of her family, but to Katie, God had always seemed too far away, too distant, and too impractical in a world where reality called the shots. And yet, strangely enough, that mindset had been challenged by a simple young woman with childlike faith and steel braces on her legs. And in her spine too, apparently, Katie thought with a quirk of her lips. The day she had spent working in the kitchen with Alli had opened her eyes considerably. On the surface this frail, handicapped woman elicited pity, appearing to have no hope or prospects for her future. But inside, Katie had discovered a vibrant powerhouse of prayer who emanated a calm assurance that “Jesus will take care of me.”
Katie’s lips squirmed to the right as her gaze flitted upward. “Okay, Jesus,” she muttered under her breath, “if you really are up there listening like Alli seems to think you are, please take care of her and help me to convince Emma to give her a job.”