Page 17 of A Heart of Little Faith
i’m a single mom and have to be really careful with Claire. i can’t do spur-of-the-moment with her because she doesn’t understand when plans fall through.
There was a pause, before Gideon finally answered.
i’m really sorry about that. i don’t make a habit of standing people up. and I’d never do anything to hurt Claire.
Her stomach settled. Maybe this could work.
then we’re free.
i’ll pick you two up at one.
Lily put down the phone and clenched her teeth. She hoped he wouldn’t change his mind again, because she wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her child—or her—again.
****
Gideon rang Lily’s doorbell and then wiped his sweaty palms on his pant legs as he waited for her to answer.
“Hi, Gideon.” She frowned as she searched his face with her gaze. “What happened to you?” Her voice was pitched low with concern.
Gideon’s face flushed at Lily’s examination. His body ran hot and cold and he cleared his throat. “Basketball game got a little rougher than usual. I’m fine.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that why you cancelled?”
He nodded, a mixture of guilt and fear running through him.
Lily leaned against the doorframe, arms folded. “I wish you had told me.”
Sincerity shone from her eyes and suddenly, his reasons for keeping the injuries to himself seemed foolish. “I should have. It was stupid.”
Her face cleared. “Come on in. Claire, Gideon is here!”
“Yay, ice cream, ice cream, we’re going for ice cream!” Claire sang as she scooted around Gideon and skipped down the hall. She ran back. “Hi, Gideon, I’m glad you’re here. I haven’t seen you in a while,” she pouted.
He laughed at Claire’s quicksilver mood, but quickly grew serious. “I know, honey, I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our dinner date earlier.” He’d been occupied with protecting himself; he hadn’t thought about Claire. Lily was right. It was important to think of both of them.
“You should be. You missed out on playing with a great friend,” she said solemnly.
“I know.” He closed his eyes briefly in apology before addressing Claire. “I told the boys at the center how great you are. Maybe one day I’ll introduce you to some of them and you’ll play too?”
Claire’s eyes brightened, but then she frowned. “Boys?”
“Yes.” She was the mirror image of the boys at the center and he fought a smile.
“I don’t know if I like playing with boys.”
“Claire, honey, you play with Max all the time,” Lily countered.
“Yeah, but he’s different. He’s Max.”
“What about me?” Gideon teased. “You like playing with me, don’t you?”
Claire giggled. “Yeah, but you’re not a boy, you’re Gideon!”
He laughed as Lily shrugged. “Well, I think you’d like them,” he said. “And I told them about you and they said they’d like to meet you.”
“Really?” Claire was excited now. “Well, if they want to meet me, I guess I’ll just have to make them happy.”
Gideon hid a grin and the three of them went to the ice cream store three blocks away. Claire maintained a steady stream of six-year-old chatter, interrupted by bouts of skipping ahead and racing back to catch up. She grabbed her mom’s hands and they danced down the street. Store owners, shoppers and cart pushers on the street watched them and smiled along with them. Their joy was infectious. Lily laughed at Claire’s antics, as she threw her head back and twirled around like a graceful ballerina.