FAITH TO BELIEVE - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

         The following day Terry dropped her at the bank.  She entered to find posters ready to put in the windows and on the doors that proclaimed that the circus was coming to town.  She also found a stack of circus coupons at each teller window, to hand out to everyone who made a transaction.

         Andi made her way to Pete’s office.  He looked up as she entered.  “What’s up?”

         Andi looked at the radio tuned to a news station before she looked back at him.  “Do you remember that I asked you to keep Larry away from me?”

         He reached over and turned off the radio.  “Close the door.”

         Andi closed the door and took a seat in front of his desk.  “We got a threatening note in the mail yesterday.  It had words cut out of it from the newspaper.”

         “What did it say?”

         “Carnivals, parades, fairs, parks, carousels, circuses.”

         Pete had a thoughtful look on his face.  “What made you think Larry might be the one behind the threat?”

         “He wasn’t happy when Terry came home.  He as much as said it wasn’t finished, meaning me and him, or maybe Terry and him.  Anyway, there was a threat in what he said.”

         Pete thought for a few moments, and shook his head with a grimace.  “I see.  Well, those words could mean just about anything.  The circus is coming to town in a month.”

         “I thought it was just a couple weeks.”

         He picked up a poster from his desk.  “Thursday April 28 to Sunday May 1.”

         “I don’t know why I thought it was just a couple weeks away.  Would he send a note with all those different words on it if he intended to do something so far away?”

         “You don’t know for certain it’s Larry, but for the sake of argument let’s say it is because of the confrontation you had the day Terry came home.”

         “Who else could it be?”

         “Why was your husband considered dead?  Why did you declare him dead without proof from the Pentagon?”

         Andi hung her head, so many variables, and none of them made any sense.

         Pete reached his hand across his desk and took hold of her hand.  “What the person is doing is playing with your mind.  He’s trying to make you do something you wouldn’t normally do.  It may also have absolutely nothing to do with the circus.”

         “What then?”

         “Like you said, there are a lot of variables in each of those words.  You might have to look at each word separately, and what is associated with each one.”

         “We did that last night.  The only thing we could come up with is that they all have the same things in common.  Rides, games, food, animals, people.”

         “Not the park?”

         “The park too, if you think about it, it has a petting zoo.  That accounts for the animals, and the different playground equipment could stand in for the rides.”

         “And people always have picnics in the park.  All right, it is a possibility, but there has to be one thing that is always common to all of them.”

         “Children.  We’re afraid he’s going to hurt Maddie.”

         “I take it you called the police?”

         “Yes, right away when we got home yesterday, the mail had already been there.”

         “Then leave it in their hands.  How was the ceremony yesterday?”

         “So you did know.”

         “Of course, he had to give me a good reason to let you have the day off.”

         “It was very nice.  He’s been promoted to Commander.”

         “Congratulations to him.  Well you had best get to work, and try not to dwell overly much on it.  I take it that Terry is bringing you and picking you up from work.”

         “Yes.”

         “Good.  He has a good head on his shoulders.  If he didn’t he wouldn’t have come out of that P.O.W. camp.”

         “I know.  I met all the people who went with him four years ago.  They all came home.”

         “I didn’t know that they all came home from that camp.”

         “Yes.  Terry says it was a miracle of God’s love and protection.”

         “I’m sure it was.  Trust God.  I’m sure that everything will come out all right in this too.”

         “I really should.  Thanks Pete.  I appreciate it.”

         “Anytime.”

         “Terry’s preaching on Sunday’s again.  You might want to come and give a listen.”

         “I’ll think about it.  How is everything else?”

         “Good.  We were just getting on with our lives, when we got that note.”

         “Like I said, don’t worry about it, everything will be all right.”

         “I hope so.”

         Andi left his office and prepared for the day.  She didn’t see Larry at all that day, for which she was thankful.  She was also busy enough to keep her mind on her work instead of preoccupied with the note.

         Besides all the work she had from the day before that hadn’t been done, she approved five different home loans, and set up the closing dates for each.

         She looked up in surprise to see Terry come through her office door.  “So soon?  I’m not finished yet.  I’ve had so much to do with the fact that I wasn’t here yesterday.”

         “I’m not in a hurry.  Take your time.”

         “I talked to Pete.”

         “I figured you would.  I also talked to Steve, and let him know what was happening.”

         Andi finished her work and closed out the computer.  “So you’re not jealous that I talked to Pete?”

         “No I expected you would.”

         Andi looked up to see Pete enter the office.  “Speak of the devil and he shows up.”

         “Gee and I thought I left my horns and pitchfork home this morning.  Seriously, Andi told me about the note,” Pete said.

         “We called the police right away.  They said to let them know if we get anything more, including phone calls,” Terry said.

         “At least they’re not ruling it out as a hoax,” Pete said.

         “I don’t think they would do that, and even so that by itself, would be a crime,” Terry said.

         “Going to get Maddie?”

         “Yes.  She’s at her parents.  They kept her for the night.  So we could be alone to celebrate my promotion.”

         “Yes.  Congratulations.  Andi told me this morning when she came in.”

         “I see posters for the circus are everywhere,” Terry said.

         “Planning to go?  We can give you tickets at a special price because Andi works here, and we’re one of just a couple outlets where you can get them from,” Pete said.

         “I’m sure we’ll be going.  Maddie would drive us crazy if we didn’t,” Terry said

         “She’ll drive us crazy with it until it gets here,” Andi said.

         “Well you folks have a good evening, and don’t worry.  Everything always has a way of working itself out,” Pete said.

         “In the meantime it’s going to be a nightmare,” Andi said.

         “You have something the person behind this doesn’t,” Pete said.

         “What’s that?” Andi said.

         “God is on your side.  You can’t lose,” Pete said.

         “I hope you’re right,” Andi said.

         “He’s right.  Almost ready?” Terry said.

         She shut off the computer and stood to her feet.  “Yes.  All set.” 

         “I’ll see you tomorrow.  Have a good evening,” Pete said.

         “Thanks Pete,” Andi said.

         Madeline was ready as soon as they drove in the driveway.  She bounded out of the house and up to the car.  “Daddy! Daddy!”

         “Hello Moppet.  Have you been good?”

         “Yup!  See Star Duster.”

         “I’m here too Maddie,” Andi said.

         “Yup!”  She pulled on the door handle so Terry could get out.  “Come.”

         Andi looked up to see her mother came from the house to greet them.  “Was she good for you?”

         “Always.  She’s very excited about her pony,” her mother said.

         “Her pony?” Andi said.

         “Your father told her she could have him,” her mother said.

         Andi and Terry went to the barn, though Terry had little choice as she had his hand and pulled him to the barn.

         They had seen him shortly after he had been born, when he had stood on wobbly legs.  Andi and Terry entered the barn, and went down to the stall he still shared with his mother.

         “He’s looking like a real beauty,” Terry said.

         “Grandpa says I can ride by summer,” Madeline said.

         “I don’t think grandpa said that sweetheart.  Star Duster will have to be at least two years old before you will be able to ride him,” Andi said.

         “Two years?  But that’s a long time,” Madeline said.

         “Yes it is.  You want Star Duster to grow up good, don’t you?”

         “Yup!”

         “Then you need to let him grow up the right way before you ride him, otherwise you might break him.  You don’t want that.  Do you?”

         “No.”  Madeline looked the horse over and looked up at Andi.  “I won’t break him.”

         “Good.  Now are you ready to go home?” Andi said.

         “Yup.  Are we having mac and cheese?”

         “What did you have last night?” Andi said.

         “The same,” her mother said.

         “I think we’ll have something different tonight,” Andi said.

         “How about hamburgers and fries?” Terry said.

         “Pizza?” Madeline said.

         “At the Pizza Palace?” Andi said.

         “I think we’ll eat at home tonight,” Terry said.

         Madeline looked up at him.  “Pizza at home?”

         “We’re going to need to make a stop at the store for the ingredients,” Andi said.

         Terry looked at Andi.  “Not frozen?”

         “What do you think?” Andi said.

         “I could see that as fun.  Flour, tomato sauce, cheese, meat, and whatever else you want on it,” Terry said.

         “So can I.  You’ll be covered in flour before you get it in the oven,” Andi said.

         “I take it Pizza Palace is all freshly made,” Terry said.

         “Yes it is.  That’s why it’s so good,” Andi said.

         “Then let’s go to the store and get the right ingredients.”

         “Goody!” Madeline said.

         Andi got Madeline into her car seat, and they were soon on their way.

         At the store, Madeline saw the poster for the circus.  “What’s that?”

         “That says there will be a circus here next month,” Andi said.

         “Circus?  With elephants and horses?” Madeline said.

         The poster showed an elephant in the center surrounded by horses, tigers, and women on a trapeze in colorful circus costumes.

         “You’ll see all that at the circus,” Andi said.

         “What’s that?”  Madeline pointed to a woman on a trapeze.

         “That is a trapeze, it’s like a swing way up in the air,” Andi said.

         “Swing in the air?  Here?” Madeline said.

         “No not at the store.  It will be at the fairgrounds.  Do you remember when we went to the carnival last year?” Andi said.

         “Rides!” Madeline said.

         “Yes.  Lots of rides.  Only at the circus you won’t go on rides.”  Andi stopped in mid-sentence, and looked at Terry.

         “At the circus Moppet, you’ll see lots of animals doing all kinds of tricks.  There will be clowns, and caramel popcorn, and cotton candy,” Terry said.

         “We go?” Madeline said.

         “We want to.  It will be a lot of fun,” Terry said.

         “Okay,” Madeline said.

         Andi followed Terry into the store.  Her thoughts were on those words in the note.  No rides at the circus, at least not that she ever remember.  “Terry?”

         He looked at her.  “We’ve decided on a couple different pizzas, one with beef, mushroom, and pineapple, and another without the pineapple, but with black olives, and onions.  What do you think?”

         Andi knew that he meant they would talk after Madeline went to bed.  “Yes.  We could make a couple of smaller ones?”

         “That’s what I thought,” Terry said.

         They gathered the different ingredients and headed home.  Once they started to make the pizzas it didn’t take long before everyone was covered in flour.

         Madeline pointed to the pineapple.  “More of that Mommy.”

         “Are you sure you want more pineapple?  It’s almost completely covered by it now,” Andi said.

         “I like pineapple.”

         “Okay.”  Andi covered every space with the pineapple, and then put the cheese over the whole pizza.

         Terry had the beef and sauce on and had the bowls of onions, mushrooms, olives, and pineapple in front of him.  “What do you want on this one Moppet?”

         Madeline pointed to the olives.  “That, and um,” she pointed between the mushrooms and onions, then settled on the mushrooms.  “Mushrooms.”

         Terry finished off the pizza and put it with the other, then put them in the oven and set the timer.

         “Okay what do you want to do until they’re done?” Terry said.

         “Clean the table and floor.  You two have flour everywhere,” Andi said.

         Terry looked at her.  “You helped create the mess too.”

         “Yeah,” Madeline said.

         “Maddie get the broom.  Terry the wash rag, and I’ll sweep the floor while Maddie holds the dust pan,” Andi said.

         “Okay.”  Madeline went to the broom closet and got out the broom and pan, while Andi cleaned the different dishes off the table, so Terry could wash it off.

         “Here Mommy.”  Madeline held the broom for her.

         A short while later it didn’t look like they had made the pizza, but they could smell it.

         “Mm.  Smells good,” Madeline said.

         “Yes it does.  So after supper do you want to play a game?” Terry said.

         The phone rang at that moment and interrupted their conversation.  Terry went to answer it.  “This is the Kearney residence.”

         Terry listened and hung up the phone, before he turned to her.  “Check the pizza.  I’m going to change.”

         Andi knew.  There had been no one on the other end.  She was shook up, but needed to stay calm for Madeline’s sake.  “Yes of course.”

         Terry went into their room and called the police.  “Hello.  I’m Terence Kearney.  I called the police yesterday about a letter we received yesterday.  We were told to call if we got any phone calls or other letters....Yes.  We got a phone call just now.  No one spoke on the other end, but I could hear background noise....There was a sound like running water and music, but the music was faint.  Country music....Just now.  That’s right....It didn’t record a number....Thank you.”

         Terry thought to change his shirt, and went back to the kitchen where Andi and Madeline were in the middle of ‘This Old Man,’ and joined in at “he played five.  He played knickknack on my hide, with a knickknack patty whack, give a dog a bone.  This old man came rolling home.”

         They continued the song to the end.  Andi looked at him, and he gave her a slight nod of his head.

         “Smells done, but I don’t see any plates on the table yet,” Terry said.

         “I get!”  Madeline headed for the cupboard with the paper plates.

         Terry took the pizza from the oven and set it in the middle of the table so he could cut it easily.

         “Yum!”  The pizzas bubbled and the cheese spread over the sides of the pan.  Madeline clapped and jumped up and down as he did so.

         “Back up Moppet, I don’t want you burnt,” Terry said.

         Madeline oohed and aahed over the gooey cheese and the bubbly pineapple.  “Good Daddy!”

         “I agree.  I should let you cook more often,” Andi said.          

         “I made the fish and chips,” Terry said.

         “Two weeks ago,” Andi said.

         “And what about the breakfast I cooked the morning after I arrived?”

         “Wow.  This is the third time in three weeks that you’ve cooked.”  Andi looked at him, a smile on her face that reached her eyes.

         He smiled back.  “That’s once a week.  Good stats.”

         “Funny,” Andi said.

         When they devoured pizza, cleanup was quick as they used paper plates and cups.

         “Play game now!”  Madeline said when Andi had the table washed off.

         “How about you get into the bathtub,” Andi said.

         Madeline looked out the window.  “It’s not dark yet.”

         “You are greasy and sticky from head to toe.  I want you in the tub,” Andi said.

         “It’s not dark yet.”

         “Madeline!” Andi said.

         “But-”

         “Do what your mother said Moppet.  Go get in the bathtub,” Terry said.

         Her head dipped just a little bit, as she wordlessly went into the bathroom with Andi right behind.

         Madeline stood in the middle of the floor while Andi ran water for her bath.  “I’m going to get your pajamas.  If you behave we’ll consider a game before you got to bed.”

         Andi left her and went into her room to get her pajamas, robe, and slippers.  It was not the time for Madeline to get stubborn on them.  They had enough trouble.

         She was worried, but did her best not to show it, as she opened the bathroom door to find the water where it should be, and Madeline still in the middle of the floor, a mutinous look on her face.  The honeymoon was over.

         “If you don’t get those clothes off right now and get into that bathtub, I will have to resort to disciplinary measures.”

         “I don’t like you!” A sob broke from her and tears started down her cheeks.

         “Madeline Louise Kearney.”

         Madeline stripped her clothes off and got into the tub.

         “All right, get cleaned up.  I’ll be back in a little while to see if you’re ready.”

         Andi left the bathroom, and went into the living room.  “She’s in the tub.  Now you’ve seen Maddie in her difficult stage.  The newness of your being home, and the fact that you’re her father, has worn off.”

         “It was bound to.  I saw it coming when she wanted mac and cheese, and then a trip to the Pizza Palace.  I was getting concerned that you allowed her to have her way.”

         “No.  She can be stubborn.  I just need to let her know that I’m in charge.”

         “We’re in charge,” Terry said.

         “Yes.  So you called the police?”

         “Yes.  They took the information.  From now on, pay close attention to the caller I.D. number before you answer it, and write it down if you don’t know it.  If there isn’t any one on the line, call the police right away, but listen to anything you might hear in the background.  For instance, even though he didn’t say anything, there was water and country music in the background.”

         Andi thought about all the places she had been with Larry, there was something familiar with the description.  She wasn’t convinced it was anybody else.

         “You know where he was calling from, don’t you?” Terry said.

         “I think so.  It’s been a while since he took me to a place that had an indoor waterfall, if it’s the same place, though I don’t think they had country music at the time.”

         Terry looked thoughtful.  “The Indonesian Club?  I believe they have a waterfall inside, though it’s not really inside.  It’s a number of bungalows built around the waterfalls.  He took you there?”

         She felt his jealousy.  “No.  I was never there, besides there isn’t a country music place close to there.”

         “The only other waterfall around here isn’t a restaurant, or near one.  He could have had country music on the car radio while he made the call on his cell phone,” Terry said.

         “Mommy!”

         “Excuse me.”  Andi made her way to the bathroom.  “All ready to get out?”

         “Yes.  Can we play a game now?” Madeline said.

         “What do you think?  You were naughty.  I think its best that you go to bed and think about being good from now on.”

         “No!  I’m not going to bed.”

         “Out of there, and get dressed then you can say goodnight to Daddy before you go to bed.”

         “No.  I’m not tired.”

         Andi lifted her out of the tub, pulled the plug, and dried her off.  “You are being very naughty, and naughty people don’t get special privileges.”

         “Is Daddy mad at me?”  She put her pajamas on, and stood still while Andi brushed her hair.

         “He’s not happy with the way you acted tonight.”

         She looked up at her.  “Will he go away?”

         “No.  He won’t go away because you were bad.  So are you sorry you were bad?”

         “I’m not tired.”

         “It doesn’t matter whether you are tired or not.  You are being naughty, and you are going to bed.”

         “Daddy read me a story?”

         “Should he read you a story?”

         “Please?”

         Andi put the brush down, and looked down at her.  “Will you say you’re sorry?”

         A knock sounded on the door and Terry opened the door.  “Mind if I come in?”

         Madeline looked up at him, and the tears started down her cheeks.  “I, I’m sorry, Daddy.”

         Terry lifted her in his arms.  “I forgive you Maddie, but you need to do what you’re told all the time.  Your mother and I know what’s best for you, and you were very sticky and greasy when we finished the pizza.  If you had played a game like that all the game pieces and cards would have been ruined or greasy too.  And no one wants to play with something that is ruined.”

         She hid her head in his neck as the tears coursed down her cheeks and her little body shook with her sobs.

         “Do you want me to read you a story tonight before you go to bed?”

         She nodded her head against his neck, but didn’t say anything.

         He carried her into her room and sat her on his lap while Andi handed him the storybook.  “An Alabaster Box.  One day a ruler in Jerusalem asked Jesus to go to dinner at his home.  While he was there with His disciples, a woman who had been very bad, came in, and knelt in front of him and began to cry.

         “As she cried, her tears washed his feet.  She took down very long her hair and wiped the tears with it.  When she finished, she stood and took the jar of alabaster ointment, which is a very expensive perfume, and poured it on his head.

         “The man who invited him to dinner became angry and thought to himself that Jesus didn’t know what kind of bad woman she was, or else he wouldn’t have anything to do with her.

         “Jesus knew what he thought and looked at the man.  Simon, two men owed a man some money.  One owed him a lot of money, and the other just a little bit.  The man knew they didn’t have the money to pay him and he forgave their debt.

         “Now I ask you Simon.  Who was more grateful, the person who had the greater debt or the one who owed just a small amount?

         “Simon said to Jesus, the one who owed the greater amount.

         “Jesus was happy with what he had said, and told him, you have said the right thing.  Because when someone owes more, they will be more grateful when someone forgives them.  This woman came to me to ask my forgiveness.  When I came into your home, you did not give me water to wash my feet, yet she has washed my feet with her tears.  You did not anoint my head, yet she poured out her ointment for my anointing.  I tell you Simon that nobody will forget what she did for me today.

         “Then Jesus turned to the woman, and said to her.  I forgive you.  The woman was very happy when Jesus said that and went away very happy that day, but Simon was not very happy, because Jesus showed everyone in his home what kind of person he was.  The end.”

         “I was bad,” Madeline said.

         “Yes you were, but you said you were sorry, and I forgive you, just like Jesus did for the woman in the story.”

         “You’re not going away?”

         “No Moppet.  I’m not going away.”

         She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug.  “I’m sorry Daddy.”

         “I know you are Moppet, now into bed with you.”

         Madeline knelt by the side of her bed.  “I’m sorry Jesus.  Don’t make Daddy go away.  I love him.  Amen.”

         She got into bed and Andi and Terry both tucked her up and gave her a kiss and hug before they left the room.

         “I just don’t know what I would do without her.  I love her so much,” Andi said.

         Terry saw the look on her face, and pulled her into his embrace.  “I love her too, and don’t worry, like Pete said earlier.  We just need to trust God that everything will turn out right, according to His good will.”

         “I need the faith to believe.”

         “Just take it one day at a time.  He doesn’t ask more than that of us.  Now I think we should get to bed ourselves.  We have to take Moppet to your parents early.”

         “I can take her.  We don’t need to use just one car.  It’s too time consuming.”

         “We’ve had one note, and one phone call.  That’s plenty of reason for me to make sure that both my girls are all right.”

         “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

         “Not in a couple hours.”

         “Well I do.”

         “And I love you, very much, and Madeline too.  Like you said just a few minutes ago, I don’t know what I’d do without either of you.”  He turned out the light and brought her close as his lips sought hers and they settled for the night.

         “There are plans for a breakout,” Captain Montgomery said.

         “There may be plans, but the last time anyone tried it that person was flayed alive.  I’m doing my best to keep everyone alive here, and so far I’ve done that.”

         “Did you get the message out?” Captain Montgomery said.

         “That was even more difficult, but to answer your question, yes.  I had a talk with the person in charge, and showed him a sermon I had written.  Carl had an appropriate picture.  He read it, and approved it.  It will be in tomorrow’s newspaper, though there won’t be any names, or location, but the message we need to get out is there.  I’m grateful that he allows me to have a look at the newspaper.”

         “What happens when he figures out that you are sending coded messages in their own paper?”

         “You know the answer to that.  We’ll be beheaded, and the process will be painfully slow.”

         Carl came up to them.  “I prefer the quick beheading myself.  The French had the right idea with the guillotine.”

         Laughter rang out on the other side of the yard, followed by a spray of gunshots.  The three of them turned their attention to see what took place.

         A woman ran from the ring of men who had killed several of their number.  They caught her and cast her down in front of them. Immediately one of the men raised a gun, but his comrade put his hand on the gun, and motioned for him to wait.  Then he crouched down on the woman.

         Terry turned his gaze away from the rape, but he couldn’t shut his ears to her screams.  A shot rang out, and Terry turned back to see a man fall to the ground in his attempt to save the woman from her fate.

         “I think they bring women in here just for their sport,” Captain Montgomery said.

         “It can’t be for any other reason.  They have no regard for anyone, and women least of all,” Terry said.

         When the ring of men disbursed, Terry went over to the woman, only to find that she had been sliced open from the neck to her pelvis.  One of the men turned back to him and laughed at his expression, before he continued on his way.

         His eyes flew open.  He dripped with sweat again.  He turned to see Andi.  Her eyes were on him.  He couldn’t speak as he got up and took a shower.

         Andi went to the kitchen and made coffee.  Terry entered the kitchen when the coffee was ready.  “Want to talk about it?”

         He poured himself a cup, and brooded into it a moment before he looked at her.  “No.”

         “You’ve told me I’m a good listener.”

         “No.  Just sit down, and be here.”

         She sat across from him at the table.  “I’m here.”

         “And that means more to me right now than anything else.”  He reached his hand over to hers and covered it.  “Thank you.”

         She waited while he sipped at his coffee.

         “You can’t imagine the horrors of the prison camp.  Never a day went by.”  His mind couldn’t get away from the images his nightmare produced.  He held services for all of them.  Six men and the woman.  He closed his eyes, and he could still see her.  He could see them all.  He finished his coffee, took her hand, and brought her over to him.  She sat on his lap, and he kissed her.  There was passion, longing, and the release of his pent-up emotions.  He looked into her eyes, and he knew she understood.  She would always understand.  They had that between them, but he couldn’t tell her.  He would never tell her.  It would be too much for her.  He wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her neck.

         He looked at the clock.  It was just past midnight.  There was still a long night left.  He stood and they went back to bed.  It was an unspoken passion between them, and with it came the release to sleep, without the dreams.