Season of Redemption. Jenna Mindel

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      Kellie was fortunate to have nabbed this part-time position at the end of the summer. It was the perfect way to work near her related field and earn some money while she interned. She was sick of slinging pizzas into the wee hours of the night and smelling like burnt cheese when she got home.

      Beth cocked her head toward her desk. “Kellie, can I talk with you a minute?”

      “Sure.” Kellie followed the tall blonde toward the back of the room. “What’s up?”

      “I got a call from the school in Traverse City. They’re checking out your references, so that’s got to be a good sign. I think you’ll get a second interview.”

      Kellie fought the urge to chew her fingernails, a habit she’d beaten long ago, but the temptation still reared its ugly head. She wanted this chance so badly. “So, what’d you say?”

      Beth grinned and tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder. The woman was gorgeous but didn’t seem to know it. A rare combo. “Only that you’re great with kids because you really listen to them. I’m going to miss having you in my class.”

      Kellie let loose a nervous laugh. Everything seemed to be coming together. Everything she’d worked so hard for. “I haven’t gotten the job yet. Besides, I have to pass section fifty-one of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification.”

      “You will.”

      “I hope so.” Kellie had been studying. Hard.

      Saturday, she’d finally take the monstrous thing and in the nick of time, too. She didn’t want to leave anything to chance and miss this job opportunity. Traverse City was the perfect location—close enough for her to be near her nieces, yet far enough away from her folks, who still lived in Grand Rapids.

      Funny. Growing up, she’d pined for her parents’ time and undivided attention. As an adult, she visited them when she had to for holidays and birthdays. Sure, she loved them, but she’d stopped depending on her mom and dad a long time ago.

      “I’m done.” Gracie popped up out of her seat.

      “Very good, Gracie. We’ll collect your work when everyone’s finished with theirs,” Beth said.

      Gracie slipped back into her seat. “Aunt Kellie, are you coming to the house tonight?”

      “I’m going to try.” Kellie hadn’t been there the last couple of weeks because of studies for her upcoming test.

      “She’s really excited about their new home,” Beth said. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that houses take center stage in every one of her drawings, her collages, everything.”

      “Oh, I’ve noticed.” Poor kid equated a real house with stability. Not bad for a seven-year-old.

      Gracie’s mom, Dorrie, had applied for and been accepted by a nonprofit group of churches that built homes for needy families that qualified. Dorrie did everything she could to give Gracie and her older sister Hannah a sense of security despite their many moves, and this new home promised stability. Something they’d been missing along with the fact that they never saw their father—her brother, Karl.

      A twinge of guilt knotted in Kellie’s stomach. A few weeks ago, Dorrie had told her that many of the summertime volunteers for the Church Hammers group had dropped off, leaving her house behind schedule on construction. Kellie still hadn’t picked up the pace in helping out. She’d been too busy studying, both for the upcoming certification exam and teen group dynamics for her internship at LightHouse Center.

      The bell rang announcing the end of the school day and kids bounded for their coats. Beth’s instructions to leave their projects on their desks fell on deaf ears. Some gathered theirs up only to dump them on their teacher’s desk and then race for their in-class cubby lockers.

      After helping with the raucous mass exodus of second graders, Kellie returned to the classroom to help Beth straighten up and grade papers. She had plenty of time to make it to the construction site, work for a bit and then head home to study.

      Kellie finally scooped up her purse. “Hey, I gotta run.”

      “Yeah, I’m leaving, too. Thanks for your help. See you later in the week.” Beth gave her a wave.

      Once in her car, Kellie rolled her shoulders. A few hours at Dorrie’s might do her some good. She could concentrate on manual labor for a change. No brain exercises, no worries.

      Kellie drove out of town, past her road and headed north toward Dorrie’s building site. Church Hammers built homes every other year for a needy family. This year, Dorrie and her nieces were that needy family. Needy, like her. Casualties left in the wake of her brother’s neglect and drug use.

      Kellie parked on the side of the road where there were already a few cars and pickup trucks. One of them looked disturbingly familiar and her gut clenched.

      No way. Not here. There’s dozens of dark blue trucks in Northern Michigan.

      Shaking off images of the man who consumed her thoughts enough lately, Kellie gathered up her work gloves and walked along the gravel driveway.

      The newly sided house was a pretty little ranch on a large lot at the beginning of a quiet cul-de-sac. This struggling housing development lay smack in the middle of cherry country so the views were beautiful, especially in May when the cherry trees were in blossom. The builder who’d donated the lot must have needed a tax break since several other lots still sported rusty For Sale signs. Real estate, especially new builds, moved super slowly these days. If at all.

      Scanning the darkening horizon, Kellie wondered if they were in for more rain. Thankfully the volunteers worked primarily inside. The house had been roughed in with the plumbing and electrical wiring completed. Opening the side door, Kellie stepped into the unfinished kitchen. Zipping sounds of electric drills and the tap-tap of staple guns greeted her.

      “Aunt Kellie!” Gracie tore around the corner and launched into her arms.

      “Hey, Gracie.” Kellie looked up as her older niece Hannah hobbled her way toward them.

      “Hi, Aunt Kellie.” Hannah’s recovery from a mowing accident that cut her Achilles tendon this past summer was slow but sure. She wore an air cast to her knee.

      “How’s the leg?”

      Hannah shrugged. “It’s okay. I have to go to physical therapy when the cast comes off.”

      “Take it easy until then.” Kellie tugged on one of Hannah’s pigtails. How would Dorrie manage that? Kellie would help where she could. “Where’s your mom?”

      “In the living room. They’re hanging insulation.”

      Kellie nodded and stepped forward holding Gracie’s hand. But when she entered the living room, she sucked in a breath. Ryan, wearing a tool belt and looking too much like a permanent fixture, held a swath of pink insulation while Dorrie staple-gunned the sides in place.

      “Mommy, Aunt Kellie’s here,” Gracie announced.

      Kellie heard Dorrie’s greeting, but her gaze was fixed on Ryan. It appeared as though she couldn’t escape СКАЧАТЬ