Chapter 2
2
Lenore Keller sat on the smooth wooden pew, not surprised to find herself in the chapel. It was always a place of respite.
When she'd walked into the hospital cafeteria earlier, the smell of food had made her nauseous. She'd eaten enough hospital food in the past to last a lifetime. As she grabbed a tray out of habit and moved through the line, a cold, crisp salad was the only thing she thought she could stomach. After choosing a table near a window that basked in sunlight, she'd hoped it would not only warm her on the outside but chase the niggling of fear from deep inside her soul.
Other tables were filled with people joking, talking, sharing their lives. But right then, all Lenore wanted was to just sit in peace.
After pushing her unappetizing salad around the plate with her fork, the sun had moved to her face, and she'd closed her eyes, lifting her chin slightly. Warmth slowly curved around her like an embrace. The sunshine not only held her in its light but filled her with peace, reaching deep inside to the cold recesses of her being. She didn't know how long she'd sat there in that position and didn't care. She'd simply allowed the sunlight to envelop her like an old friend offering comfort.
Finally, the sun went behind a cloud, and even though the temperature in the cafeteria hadn't changed, she'd felt a chill.
The ambient murmur of conversations in the cafeteria had pulled her back to the reason she was there, and she'd opened her eyes. She couldn't understand why such a heavy melancholy was pressing down on her. Today's activities were paltry compared to what she had experienced before. Yet she hadn't escaped the lingering gloom cast that was mirrored by the clouds hiding the sun.
Laughter at a nearby table jolted her out of her moment of peace. She glanced over to see a table with several men. Among them, one man's eyes met hers—dark and penetrating. His gaze delved into the very depths of her soul, silencing the clamor around her. She was held captive as neither of them had looked away. At that moment, she’d felt as warm as when the sun had graced its light on her.
He was a large man, striking with jet-black hair and a dense beard. Tattoos spilled from underneath his T-shirt sleeve, adorning his arm. His eyes had ensnared her completely. Perhaps if she had met him out somewhere, she would've felt a stirring of fear in the presence of such a rough-looking man. Instead, all the cares and worries of the world faded away along with the noise all around. For a few seconds, it was only the two of them, isolated in a bubble of time. His intense gaze had held her close.
But reality, ever cruel, snatched her back from the moment of respite. She had jumped slightly as her presence in the hospital pressed in again. Her gaze had fallen to her unappetizing salad, and she could no longer sit and pretend that she would eat. Standing, she'd slipped her purse strap onto her shoulder and grabbed her tray.
She had almost reached the door when the magnetic pull of looking at the man called again. She glanced over her shoulder to find him still watching her, and her pulse quickened. Looking away, she hurried out of the cafeteria. Walking down the hall, she reached into her purse to retrieve her phone and stared at the time—an hour to go.
Tilting her head back as she exited the elevator onto the second floor, her feet followed their own path, leading her to the chapel. She knew it well—this one and others like it in various hospitals. She had often sought refuge in hospital sanctuaries, each offering the unique solace of a whispered comfort amid sterile chaos. She wondered if others might be drawing comfort from the cool silence but truly hoped it would be empty today.
Opening the door, she'd stepped inside, relishing the solace that immediately surrounded her. Softly padding over the plush carpet, she'd approached the second pew. It was the one she liked to sit in whenever it was available. Not too far from the altar, but close enough she felt alone with her thoughts and prayers.
Easing onto the wooden seat, she leaned back and exhaled a long-held sigh of relief, allowing her always active mind to still momentarily. But her cheeks warmed as she thought of the man from the cafeteria. Stop… this isn't the time or the place!
Her purse vibrated abruptly, and she pulled the strap from around her neck and placed the bag on the pew beside her. Rummaging inside, she clasped her phone and wondered if the test results were in or if she was needed back on the floor. But it was just a message from a friend asking if she knew anything yet. Typing that she was still waiting, she shoved her phone back inside, and in her haste, she knocked her purse onto the floor, spilling its contents.
She knelt on the floor between the pews, her head bent over as she gathered her belongings. Her lipstick had rolled partially under the pew before her, and she leaned lower to retrieve it. The sound of the chapel door opened, and before she could lift her head to see who had entered, she heard voices.
“Good, no one is here. We can talk.”
The instant she heard those words from a male voice, she froze, halting the instinct to stand, instead giving in to self-preservation of not wanting to be found in a ridiculous situation of crawling on the floor to retrieve her errant lipstick.
“What do we need to do?”
“We've got to move him, regardless of who's involved.”
“Our end is covered.”
“Is everything in place? We can't have any mistakes. We can't afford any mistakes.”
“I won't. Everything will go as planned as long as you stick to the plan.”
“I truly hope so. You've got a lot riding on this, and we don't like mistakes.”
“Understood.”
When Lenore heard voices in the hall, she realized the chapel door had opened again. She was ready to lift her head up when she heard continued conversation.
“We've got to make this work. Do you remember what you're doing?”
“Yes. One twenty-three.”
“No mistakes. It must be on time, or we might lose him. One twenty-three exactly. We'll be ready.”
“Right. Got it.”
Lenore's knees ached even on the plush carpet. She now wished she'd risen so that whoever the hospital personnel were in the room having a private chat would have known she was there so that either they would leave, or she could have made a somewhat dignified exit. Now, if they walked down the aisle, they would find her, ass up, as she tried to maintain her position.
Finally, the sound of the door opened again, and the voices inside the chapel disappeared. Rising ever so slightly, she peeked over the back of the pew and sighed in relief that she was once again alone. With her retrieved items back inside her purse, she zipped the top to secure them and avoid a similar incident. Now, with her ass back in the pew, she breathed deeply, allowing the soft music over the intercom to flow over her.
For several moments, she reclaimed the solace that she needed. Hopes and fears interwove, creating a pattern as complex as the swirling colors in the stained glass door. She longed to feel only hope, but the scars of past devastations warned her of the lurking shadows of fear.
Life was full of twists and turns, surprises that caused the heart to leap in exhilaration and others that caused the heart to crumble in despair. Although she was only twenty-nine years old, she felt as though she had lived through enough surprises to last a lifetime.
She worked on breathing deeply and blanking her mind, but the sound of the door opening again cut into her solitude. A little sigh escaped her lips, realizing the peace she sought in the chapel today would elude her.
The gentle rustle of footsteps on the plush carpet barely reached her ears as someone approached. Turning, her breath caught as her eyes met those of the man from the cafeteria. Her surprise was mirrored in his gaze.
For a second, she wondered about the odds of him appearing, but that was instantly replaced with not caring since seeing the man again made her feel embraced. It didn't make sense, but much in life didn't, and she was willing to accept something that simply felt good.
His intensity stayed on her, and his lips curved upward into a gentle smile. It was then she realized that she had smiled first.
He advanced down the aisle, his gaze never leaving hers except to glance quickly toward the front of the chapel before moving back to her. “I don't mean to intrude, ma'am. If you'd like to be alone, I can certainly leave.”
Her head moved back and forth slowly, and she lifted her shoulders in a subtle shrug. “Please don't leave on my account. I've found that a hospital chapel can be busy, empty, or in between.”
Though his expression was already gentle, it softened further at her words, easing the lines around his eyes. “It sounds as though you've had cause to be in hospital chapels several times.”
A rueful snort escaped as she nodded. “Honestly, it's been much more than several times.”
“I'm sorry for that,” he murmured.
She’d heard that sentiment so often, but his sincerity resonated in the depth of his gaze. It was not unusual to hear those words from a stranger, sometimes as a casual throwaway when they didn't know what to say. Before she could ponder further, he inclined his head toward her pew.
“Would you mind if I have a seat? I can move to the other side?—”
“I don't mind at all, and you're more than welcome to share the pew if you'd like.” She blushed as she glanced around the empty room. “There are plenty of others for you to choose if you prefer. I didn't mean to imply that you needed to sit here.”
His smile broadened, revealing a flash of white, straight teeth surrounded by lush lips and his dark beard and mustache. He continued forward, then settled his large body on the wooden seat, maintaining a respectful distance between them.
Once again, a serene quiet filled the chapel as they sat without speaking. She wanted to glance to the side, but to do so discreetly would be almost impossible. So, without pretense, she turned and saw that his face was forward, but his eyes had shifted toward her. Assuming if he didn't want to speak at all, he would've chosen a different seat, she twisted slightly on the pew toward him.
“Are you visiting someone here?” she asked, then immediately winced. While it was certainly an opening to a conversation, considering they were in a hospital, the answer could be painful.
He nodded and then shook his head before chuckling softly. “I'm sure that nonverbal response was confusing.”
She couldn't help but offer a slight chuckle herself. “You're not under any obligation to answer. I shouldn't have asked.”
“No, it's okay. I came today for a class at the hospital. It was the last day for my paramedic recertification. But after lunch, I visited someone I know who's in the hospital for minor surgery. I was getting ready to leave when I spied the chapel.”
He also shifted slightly toward her, and again, she felt the intensity of his gaze.
He continued, “I had no reason to come in other than I was suddenly reminded of being raised in a church, and the colors on the door made me think of the stained glass windows I used to look at when I was a child when I'm sure my mother would have rathered I listen to the priest.”
His voice was deep but not rough. Instead of grating, she found it soothing. Her lips quirked upward at his reminiscence. “I think you would find that most children would rather look at the pretty colors than listen to a sermon.” They smiled at each other, then she asked, “Paramedic training. That's impressive. Who do you work for?”
“I'm no longer a full-time paramedic. I had been a medic in the Navy, and when I got out, I returned to where I was raised and worked as a paramedic while helping care for my parents. They both passed away several years ago, within months of each other. My siblings were scattered, so I wasn't tied to El Paso. I was offered the chance to work in Montana with a former friend from my Navy SEAL days. He runs a security company and rescues.”
Her head tilted to the side as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve never met anyone who worked for a security company or was a SEAL.” He seemed momentarily to be made of stone, almost as though afraid of her reaction. Her gaze remained focused on his face as she softly acknowledged, “I’m sure it's good to keep the paramedic certification up-to-date, especially if you go to the rescue of someone lost in the mountains.”
He nodded his agreement as the tension in his shoulders relaxed. “I'm not an active paramedic, but I'm sometimes needed for basic medical care.” He hefted his shoulders, adding, “And if the need arises in Cut Bank, I can ride out with the local rescue squad.”
“Cut Bank? I've been there to shop. I live in Valier.”
“I've been through there many times.” He cocked his head to the side and seemed to hesitate.
Her voice was soft as she said, “You want to ask why I'm here, but you're afraid.”
“Yeah, you're right about that. I noticed you in the cafeteria. At first, I thought you looked so serene. Then when you opened your eyes, I thought you looked concerned. I'd like to know, but only if you want to tell me. You don't have to say anything. We can just sit here in silence.”
She sucked in a deep breath and felt the tightness in her chest ease. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she suddenly wanted to talk to this stranger.
“I'm here with my daughter. She had cancer.”