Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
S aturday morning, Levi drove Madeline to the gymnastics center. Her parents had enrolled her at a center in San Francisco. He had attended one of her events and had been impressed with her skill. She executed flips flawlessly, and her landings were solid. When he brought her to Sweet Mountain, he was relieved to learn the gymnastics center was still in business and enrolled her. He’d make sure nothing interfered with her parents’ wishes.
She had begged them to let her learn gymnastics. After much research, they had excitedly shared with Levi they’d found the perfect place for her to learn what had been her dream.
He drove into the parking lot and stared at the glass front of the building. Memories of when he, Jonathan and Rachel’s parents would attend Rachel’s gymnastics competitions flooded his mind. He had admired her ability to flip across the mat covering the gym floor with ease and grace, then ending her routine with a stick landing. The crowd always cheered—Levi and her family most of all. Rachel’s skills had led the town’s team to several state competitions.
Last week, she would’ve made the perfect landing if he and Madeline hadn’t rounded the corner in the corn maze when she turned her backflip. The memory of catching her stirred something within him he refused to contemplate.
Maybe it was no coincidence that Mrs. Whitaker and her grandchildren had turned the corner at the same time.
Because of his workload, he was taking Madeline to gymnastics once a week, but he knew that wasn’t enough to improve her skills. How he would juggle remotely running his company while helping on the ranch was something he needed to work out. His mother had offered to drive Madeline, but with his father still recovering from the stroke and running the ranch, his mother had enough to do.
Trusting God was how he’d find a way to care for Madeline and run his company. He’d make a way for Levi to raise his friends’ daughter as they had intended.
He and Madeline stepped into the gymnasium, which was loud with children playing in different activity centers throughout the large area. Despite all the noise, the familiar voice coming from the far side of the gym made him look up.
A sudden surge of emotions heated his core. Rachel was here? He hadn’t seen her since Monday.
“Daddy Levi, look!” Madeline pointed to a pit filled with colorful plastic balls.
Rachel waded through the balls and encouraged a child to grab the rings dangling above his head. As if hearing Madeline’s voice, she glanced their way. Her eyes wide with surprise, her gaze lingered a moment before she looked back at the child.
She worked at the gymnastics center? It made sense. The center would be proud to have its star student as one of their instructors.
And she wasn’t just working at the gymnastics center. This morning at breakfast, his brother Aaron mentioned she was waitressing at the diner on the edge of town. Because Mrs. Campbell would return to the school Monday, Rachel wouldn’t teach at the elementary school until another position became available. Naturally, she’d find ways to supplement her income.
He’d offer her a job helping him in his remote office but knew she wouldn’t accept it. Teaching was her life. She would focus on what she loved, and what he believed she was called to do.
Now that Madeline’s tutoring sessions had ended, there was no reason for him to enter the school. Instead, he stood outside with the other parents and waited until Madeline came rushing out of the building with the stream of children.
He missed seeing Rachel, but he’d do nothing to jeopardize the job she wanted.
As Rachel rose from the pit, Levi caught a glimpse of the leggings that hugged her toned legs. He tightened his jaw at the swirling heat flooding him and dropped his gaze to Madeline, who stood mesmerized as she watched children race across a pad and turn backflips and cartwheels.
Rachel gathered the children into a small group on a mat. They sat cross-legged and paid attention as she spoke to them. He couldn’t hear her as her voice was lost in the laughter and shouts from other children’s groups.
When Rachel dismissed the group, the children jumped to their feet and dashed to the waiting area where the parents stood. More excited talk followed as children pulled on coats and jackets and told their parents what they’d learned this morning.
Rachel crossed the room where another group of children, along with Madeline, waited. She greeted the parents, including Levi. Though she looked at him, she used the same tone with him as she did with the others. She was playing it safe, which was just as well. Rumors easily bloomed in this small town. He’d be as professional as she to make sure she worked the job she wanted.
He watched as she led the excited children to a mat and demonstrated a cartwheel. Her form perfect, she landed lightly on her feet, toes gently touching the mat as if she were walking on a cloud. His mind went back to their school days when he’d been careful not to show interest in her. It hadn’t been just for Jonathan’s sake. Levi had ended relationships with girls before and sometimes saying goodbye didn’t go well. That had taught him to be careful who he was with and never do anything he’d regret later .
Though his standards hadn’t changed in college, he was glad to have enrolled in a large university. Instead of being the star football player, he was one of the crowd. He was relieved he didn’t feel like his every move was being watched.
Because he couldn’t be with Rachel, he’d do the next best thing for himself and for Madeline. Turning away, he stepped into the gymnastics center’s office. Mrs. Penrose, who owned the center with her husband, sat behind the desk.
“Hello, Mr. McSweeney,” she said, her smile sincere.
“Hello, I’d like to enroll Madeline in afterschool sessions.” He pulled his wallet from his back pocket.
“By all means.” She spread the paperwork across the top of her desk.
“I didn’t realize you’d hired another instructor,” Levi said after he’d completed the paperwork and paid the fee. He tucked his wallet into his pocket.
“We were thrilled when Miss Bonneville applied.” Mrs. Penrose stacked the paperwork into a scanner and pressed a button. “She competed for the high school and did well.”
“I remember.”
“She won’t teach every day, but Madeline is sure to have an opportunity to work with her,” Mrs. Penrose said.
“I’ll tell her that.” He kept his voice level.
Madeline would be thrilled. And Levi? He was back where he’d been in high school—wanting to be with Rachel and yet keeping his distance.
Levi picked up Madeline Monday after school. After the Saturday gymnastics class, he told her he had signed her up for more classes. She’d been ecstatic knowing she would see Rachel again. She had talked of nothing else the rest of the weekend.
When he took Madeline to church Sunday morning, he was surprised and disappointed he didn’t see Rachel in the children’s ministry, but the church was big even for this small town. Volunteers worked in different areas. It could be someone else in the ministry needed her help.
Monday morning, he helped Madeline pack her gymnastics clothes so she could change when they reached the center.
With the calls he had to make and helping his brothers settle a new horse, he was grateful the day flew by. At the center, he helped Madeline from the truck. He took her hand firmly so she didn’t race across the parking lot. They stepped into the center, but the first thing he noticed was Rachel wasn’t there. He said nothing as he ushered Madeline into the restroom so she could change.
When she stepped into the waiting area, her frown was slight as she looked around the center.
“I don’t see Miss Bonneville.” She sounded concerned.
“It could be she’s working in a different area.” Levi tried to reassure her, though he wasn’t sure what area that would be. They could see the entire center.
Another instructor stepped to the waiting area. She introduced herself as Miss Jane and had the children line up and follow her to the mat.
Madeline clung to Levi’s hand and didn’t move.
“Are you coming?” Miss Jane looked over her shoulder at her and grinned.
“I’m waiting for Miss Bonneville.” Madeline gave a determined nod.
“I’m sorry, honey, but Miss Rachel, or Bonneville, won’t be here today.” Miss Jane gave her a sympathetic look.
“Why not?” Madeline asked softly, but her jaw set.
Levi silently waited for the explanation. Rachel wouldn’t quit teaching the sport that had been her life.
“She’s under the weather.” Miss Jane’s mouth curved sadly.
“What does that mean?” Madeline frowned.
“It means she doesn’t feel well,” Levi said gently but something gripped his chest. He looked at Miss Jane. “Is she all right?
“I’m sorry, but that’s all I know,” Miss Jane said .
“Go ahead and follow Miss Jane.” Levi bent to Madeline. “When you’re finished with your lesson, we’ll find out how Miss Bonneville is doing. You’ll see her soon.”
Her brows knitted, Madeline hesitated. All weekend she had talked about her Saturday gymnastics lesson with Rachel and how excited she was to see her Monday. Levi smiled at her enthusiasm. He looked forward to seeing Rachel, too, but focused on Madeline’s delight. Seeing Rachel teach Madeline would have to satisfy his need to be with her.
A relationship between him and Rachel would be her decision, but teaching was her priority, and he’d respect that.
Levi forced himself to focus on Madeline during her gymnastics session. He liked the hope in her eyes when she turned a cartwheel or jumped into the pit filled with colorful balls. When she looked at him, he gave her the thumbs-up sign, which made her laugh. He laughed, too.
For a little girl, she had poise and balance. If she wanted more gymnastics training, he’d hire a coach. It wouldn’t be Rachel. She wanted to teach, but if she maintained her connections in the gymnastics world, she could advise him.
When Miss Jane dismissed the class, Madeline raced to him.
“Did you talk to Miss Bonneville?” The concern in Madeline’s eyes made him realize how fond she was of her.
“No, I thought we’d do that together.” He helped her with her coat. “We’ll call her from the truck.”
“Then we’ll go see her?” Madeline asked anxiously as he helped her zip the jacket.
“Let’s find out how she feels first.” He wanted to see her, but she may not be in any condition to see them.
“All right.” Madeline sighed.
He felt like sighing, too. He hoped Rachel wasn’t too sick. Now that she was working with children, her chances of catching a virus increased. As for their seeing Rachel … that would be her decision.
The air was crisp when Levi and Madeline stepped to the parking lot. He strapped her into her booster seat, then climbed behind the steering wheel.
Around them, other parents wished him and Madeline a good night as they led their children through the parking lot. More parents greeted them as they headed toward the building. The place was busy.
“Now will you call Miss Bonneville?” Madeline’s tiny voice sounded from the backseat.
“I’m dialing her number now.” He glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror and grinned.
The ringing phone echoed through the truck cab before a click transferred the call to voicemail. Rachel’s sweet voice asking the caller to leave a message filled him with disappointment. The familiar heat he had fought since high school spread through him.
“Hello … Miss Bonneville,” he said. It was awkward using the formal address for his best friend’s kid sister, but appropriate. He glanced at Madeline’s reflection again. The little girl looked at him earnestly. “It’s Madeline and Levi. Miss Jane at the gymnastics center mentioned you were under the weather. We called to see how you’re doing. If you need anything, let us know.”
He disconnected the call but wondered why she hadn’t answered. Was she better, or was she too sick to answer the call? He should’ve told her to call no matter what. He put the truck into gear and drove out of the parking lot.
“Why didn’t Miss Bonneville answer the phone?” Madeline’s tiny voice floated over the seat.
“It could be she was preoccupied.” He lifted his gaze to the rearview mirror. “She’ll probably call us later.” He hoped.
She didn’t.
At the dinner table, Madeline asked again if they could call Miss Bonneville.
“Is everything all right?” Naomi lifted a curious gaze to Levi.
“She wasn’t at the gymnastics center this afternoon.” Levi wouldn’t say anything that might alarm Madeline.
“Because she’s under the weather,” Madeline said. “That means she’s sick. ”
“I see.” Naomi smiled at Madeline before glancing back at her son with concern.
“We left a voice message.” Levi lifted a slice of ham from the platter his brother Seth handed him.
Naomi nodded. Felix looked at his wife before turning to his son. He seemed to understand they were concerned about Rachel. He would be, too. He’d always liked the girl.
After dinner, Levi sat with Madeline at the dining room table and worked with her on her writing. She was proud that she’d improved. So was he. Later, he helped her set up her art supplies so she could draw a get-well picture for Rachel. When Levi’s phone rang, his heart lifted, then fell when the name of one of his San Francisco colleagues wavered into view.
“Hey, Mike, what’s up?” His phone to his ear, he moved to the French doors overlooking the terrace.
Mike cited some data Levi had been expecting. Though the statistics were good, they did nothing to ease his concern for Rachel. How was she feeling? Should he call her again? She lived alone, and her family had moved away. She had friends, but what if she were sick and alone in her apartment? If she needed help, who would know?
He turned from the doors and signaled Madeline that he’d be back, then moved down the hall to his father’s office. Turning on the computer, he logged into his company’s network and discussed how he and Mike would proceed with the new information.
He was tired when he ended the call. He pushed his fingers through his hair.
Working remotely was more exhausting than fighting San Francisco traffic every day, but when he lived there, he wasn’t caring for a six-year-old and trying to fill his father’s shoes on the ranch.
“Did you talk to Miss Bonneville?” Madeline stood in the office doorway. A drawing dangled from her fingertips.
“Not yet.” He hoped his smile alleviated the concern on her small face. “What do you have there?”
Madeline dashed to him and lifted the drawing of a woman lying in a bed with a hot water bottle on her forehead and a thermometer in her mouth. He blinked at the resemblance the woman had to Rachel with her pert nose and wisps of curly hair surrounding her face.
“Do you think she’ll like it?” Madeline looked at him, her heart in her hands.
“I think she’ll love it.” He hugged her close.
“Can I give it to her tomorrow?” Madeline asked.
“We’ll wait to hear from her,” he said. How much longer could he wait? If she were too sick to call him back, she needed help. It wasn’t like her not to return a call. “Let’s get you ready for bed. We’ll read a story from that new book you bought.”
“Goody.” Madeline bounced on her toes.
“For now, put your drawing on the work table in your craft room.” He rose from the desk chair and tried to ignore the tension gripping the muscles in his chest. “I’ll find out a good time when we can take it to her.”
After Madeline fell asleep, Levi stepped into his room. Standing in front of the window facing the barn, he could only see Rachel’s endearing smile and the glow in her eyes.
He couldn’t wait for her to call him. He had to know now how she was feeling. Pulling out his phone, he dialed her number again. The greeting made him tighten his mouth. A heaviness gripped him.
“Where are you, Rachel?” he asked under his breath.
Not knowing meant he wouldn’t sleep tonight. Grabbing his keys from his chest of drawers. He strode out of his room and down the stairs. After explaining to his parents where he was going, he strode through the kitchen and outside to the garage.
There had to be a simple explanation. He wouldn’t rest until he knew the reason Rachel hadn’t returned his call.