A song of praise filled her lips as she placed the plates on the blanket. When all was ready, she stood and stretched. They had removed their shoes, and Daniel swung the child back and forth, allowing the tips of his toes to touch the cool water. Each contact made Jake squeal, and their laughter filled the quietness of the afternoon.
“Lunch is ready,” she called, reluctant to intrude upon the bonding miracle but unwilling to share their meal with the pesky flying bugs hovering nearby.
With Jake on his back, Daniel trudged back up the small grade to where she as waiting. He placed the lad on the blanket and plunked down beside him.
“Look what we have here, son. The good nurse has laid out a feast for us to devour.” He took off his hat and grinned at Gwen. “This place is medicine to my soul. I should have come here sooner.”
“No odd feelings as in yesterday?” she asked.
“None. Must be the company I’m keeping.” He winked at Gwen, and she felt the color rush into her face.
“God’s timing is perfect in all things,” she said as she joined them on the ground. “Perhaps you were not ready to receive His peace until today.”
The boy reached for a leg of chicken, but Daniel held his hand back. “Now, Jake, my boy, if you hadn’t slept through the entire morning service, you’d know that we need to give thanks for God’s bounty.” He glanced at Gwen. “Perhaps you will do us the honors.”
“I’m glad his father did not sleep,” she said playfully. “Your turn will come to pray, so prepare your heart, sir.” She bowed her head and said a simple prayer of thanksgiving for the food, the company, and His creation.
“You make talking with the Almighty sound easy,” Daniel said as he plunked a chicken leg on Jake’s plate. “Can he eat this without choking?”
She moved his hand aside. “Let me take it off the bone.” Just as quickly, she pulled back. “Perhaps you should do it for your son. It’s good practice.”
For every two helpings Daniel had scooped on his plate, he placed a smaller amount of food onto Jake’s. The child stared at the process but kept his hands clasped together in his lap. When Daniel urged him to start, the child attacked the food and soon had more on his clothes, the blanket, and his face than he had managed to get into his mouth.
“My father would say the boy has no manners. Is he old enough to be taught?”
“I am attempting to train him, and I hope he will soon master the use of a spoon. Unfortunately, he did not come to us with manners that would pass your father’s inspection.”
“He’s a boy—let him make a mess while he can.”
“I love this spot. Arthur said you came here together often as boys. Does anything spark a memory?”
The look he shot her way was not complimentary.
“Did you expect a miracle awakening?” he asked.
“I have no expectations. I merely asked. It’s my job.”
“Ah, yes, Nurse Gwen has forgotten this is her day off, but, in answer to your question, I have no idea what or if anything, anywhere, will trigger my past.” He inhaled deeply and smiled. “It is my opinion that this place is far too peaceful to be a monumental part of my childhood.”
“What do you base that upon?” she asked.
“On the man who reared me. Surely there was no peace under his roof.”
“Yet Arthur said the two of you came here to swim, fish, or just wrestle in the grass together,” Gwen said.
“I find it hard to imagine that my parents allowed me to play with the son of a slave.”
She grinned. “I suspect two very mischievous boys found a way to have fun despite racial segregation. I had brothers, and nothing motivated them more than an opportunity to break the rules.”
“I do like fishing. Used to do it in a small lake close to the shack after Shannon brought me a pole she found.”
“Did Jake’s mother fish with you?”
“Sometimes,” he said. “Enough to put food on the table.” He studied Gwen and added. “We did not have an ongoing love affair. The first time was a mistake and we both knew it.”
“I am not your judge. I believe we’ve been through this before,” she said.
“That was before I cared what you thought of me.”
“So, you care now?” She laughed. “Your father will be pleased his wages were not totally unproductive.”
“And you stay for the wages alone? Have I misread you? I was under the impression that, perhaps, something deeper than money and obligation was growing between us.” Gwen felt a rush of heat run up her neck, and began to clear the dishes.
“It appears I’ve touched a nerve,” he added playfully.
“Mr. McAlister—it is not proper for a nurse to entertain such thoughts about her patient.”
“It’s Sunday and we’re on a picnic. That sort of disqualifies your false sense of duty on both accounts.” He rested a hand over her arm, stilling her nervous shakes but turning up the heat instantly.
Gwen glanced over to notice that Jake was sleeping soundly on the grass beside them.
“The boy is fine. Don’t be using him as an
