CHAPTER 5

          “Hey, Munchkin,” called Nikki, peeking around the corner of the sitting area toward Hannah’s room, “are you coming?  We really need to get something to eat before we go exploring with Mr. Jess.”

          “I still can’t find Sophie,” she complained.

          “Which one is Sophie?” 

          Hannah stalked out with hands on hips.  “Sophie is my pink unicorn that Daddy gave me for my birthday.  She sleeps with me every night.  How can you not know who Sophie is?”         

          Nikki turned her full attention to her daughter.  “I’m sorry.  I do know who Sophie is, I just forgot for a minute.”  In Nikki’s defense, she’d been distracted by the latest update on the weather channel.  Then she noticed she hadn’t been the only one distracted.  “Hannah, you aren’t even dressed yet.  It’s after ten o’clock.”

          The exaggerated look of sadness on Hannah’s face convinced Nikki she was definitely being manipulated.  She gave in anyway.  “Okay, if you promise to get dressed in record time, I’ll look for Sophie.”

          “I’ll bet I can beat you,” Hannah challenged.

          “I don’t know, I’m pretty good at search and rescue,” taunted Nikki, pretending to scour the room for evidence. 

          It worked.  Hannah went running for the dresser, flinging several articles of clothing in the air, a few of which actually made it to the bed.

          “Just a thought, Kiddo, but three pairs of socks and two sweaters might be a little overkill.”  When Nikki bent to pick up the spares, she noticed a telltale pink horn buried under a pile of discarded blankets half under the bed.  She took her time putting the extra clothes away and tucking the blankets back into some semblance of order.

          “I’m done!” exclaimed Hannah.  “I beat you again.”

          Nikki took stock of her daughter’s condition.  Pink snow pants, a green oversized t-shirt, and an orange sweater she’d worn for Halloween last year that didn’t quite cover the t-shirt.  “I see,” Nikki said proudly.  “I just can’t seem to find Sophie.” 

          “There she is!” exclaimed Hannah.  “She was right by your feet the whole time.”  She picked Sophie up and plopped her on top of the mountain of pillows.  “Bet I can beat you to Grandma’s room,” Hannah called as she ran past the bed.

          At least she was feeling better this morning.  She’d had another rough night. “Don’t forget to put your shoes on,” Nikki called out to her just in time.  Nikki took one more glance at the forecast before turning the television off.  There were snow storms building in the north but they were supposed to stay there.  Nikki was glad.  She was really looking forward to their outing with Jess this afternoon.

*   *   *

          “Have fun with Mr. Carpenter,” Helen told Hannah as she and Nikki headed toward the lobby after brunch. 

          “Okay,” Hannah replied, offering her grandmother a quick hug.  “We’re gonna see lots of animals.  Mr. Jess told Mommy we would.  I’ll tell you all about them when we get back.”

          “I’ll be waiting.”  Helen watched Nikki and Hannah walk away.  Hannah was almost bouncing in her excitement, but Nikki was the one that surprised Helen.  She could swear her daughter had a little bounce in her step as well.

          Nikki did her best to hide her excitement when she saw Jess waiting for them.  He was talking to a young woman by the entrance.  It wasn’t until the girl smiled brilliantly and bounded off that Nikki recognized her as one of the waitresses from the hotel dining room. 

          “She seemed happy,” Nikki commented as they approached.  Hannah was already taking Jess’ hand and pulling him toward the exit. 

          Jess smiled at Hannah and issued both her and Nikki a greeting before responding.  “Tina’s mother just got approved for the surgery she needs.”

          “Nothing too serious I hope?” Nikki inquired.  What she really wanted to ask was how, or maybe how well, Jess knew Tina but she refrained.

          “It’s pretty serious, but her mother will recover.”  Jess glanced at Nikki with a hint of a smile.  “Tina’s husband just received a promotion at work too.  That will make it easier for them to help pay for the surgery, especially with a new baby on the way.”  He’d put extra emphasis on the word “husband”.

          “Oh.”  Nikki decided to just let it go and keep her mouth shut.  She wasn’t sure it would do any good, though.  It’s like the guy could read her mind.  She didn’t think she was that much of an open book.  She sure seemed to confuse the hell out of Jack every time they got near each other.  But she couldn’t blame Jack for that when even she had no idea what she wanted from him.

          The three walked to a split in the sidewalk before Hannah realized she was leading and had no idea where they were going.  “Which way?” she asked, looking up to Jess.

          “Let’s try this way,” he replied, gesturing toward a small parking lot. 

          Hannah looked doubtful, but was willing to give it a try.  “Are the animals between the cars?”

          “Not likely.”  Jess took the lead.  He leaned down close to Hannah as they walked, pointing.  “But see the little woods behind the pavement?”

          “Yeah.”

          “Follow me,” Jess stated.  This time he was looking at Nikki as he spoke.  “I’ll make it worth your while.”

          Nikki almost tripped.  Jess’ gaze was so intent she didn’t turn away until she nearly fell over the curb.  Jess directed his attention forward then, but not before Nikki noticed a satisfied grin.  The rat.  He knew he had her rapt attention.  But what was he planning to do with it?

           She was careful to keep her focus on where they were going after that.  The little wooded area, she noticed, seemed to track alongside a meandering brook.  Hannah was holding Jess’ hand again as the narrow trail turned upward.  It was a gentle slope, but Hannah tired easily.  Before long, Jess lifted her onto his shoulders, carrying her carefully between outreaching branches.   

          As the path curved through a rocky area, Jess turned and reached out to Nikki.  “Let me help you.”

          She took his hand, amazed at the peace she felt around him.  He seemed so confident, so utterly sure of himself.  There was absolutely no way his belief in God could stand up to scientific scrutiny any better than Jack’s.  Nikki had attested to that time and again. Why then did she feel so confused whenever he was near?

          “Here.”  Jess led Nikki to a fallen tree a little way from the water’s edge.  He gently lowered Hannah into her mother’s lap.  “Watch right through there,” he whispered, taking a seat next to Nikki. 

          They all sat quietly, waiting.  Soon, movement could be seen among the nearby branches, nearly void now of their bright yellow leaves.

          “Look,” Hannah pointed with excitement, trying her best to keep her voice low, “That tree’s moving!”

          “It’s not a tree, it’s a pair of antlers,” Nikki told her.  “See the eyes and nose?”  A giant bull elk lifted its shiny black muzzle into the air, sniffing. 

          Apparently they weren’t scary enough, since he came within twenty feet of them before turning toward the water.  Behind him, several females with their young crept forward.  These were a little more cautious, though the youngest one seemed more curious than concerned.  One guarded step at a time, he came closer.  He was almost close enough for Nikki to touch when Hannah decided she wasn’t as brave as she’d thought.  She jumped into Jess’ lap, snuggling against him for protection. 

          With the sudden movement, the little bull elk stepped back, hesitated, then held his ground.  Jess slowly put his hand out.  “It’s okay little one,” he murmured.  “We won’t hurt you.”  The calf eased forward, stretching his neck to the limit until he was finally close enough to reach Jess’ hand. 

          Nikki sat back in amazement.  Her knees were almost touching the calf’s shoulder.  She watched in wonder as Jess spoke softly to him, encouraging him.  Once Jess touched the calf, it seemed to lose all apprehension. 

          “You can pet him now,” Jess said to Hannah.  “He won’t hurt us either.”  Jess held Hannah’s hand, easing it up to the calf.  Giggling, she caressed the thick furry coat.

          “Touch him Mommy,” she whispered.  “He’s really soft.  Almost as soft as Sophie.”

            Jess nodded to Nikki in encouragement.  The calf’s dense winter coat felt coarse yet downy as Nikki buried her fingers into the bulkier fur of his neck.  Hannah was chuckling out loud now while the calf licked her hand then started up on her chin.  Jess was laughing too.  Nikki would’ve been as well if she wasn’t so enamored with the whole scene.  Jess was incredible.  What he was doing for Hannah was incredible.

          Finally, one of the cows let out a soft bellow and the calf scampered back to the little herd.

          Nikki looked at Jess, finding her mind filled with more questions about him now than ever.  “How did you know the elk would be here?”

          “In the early morning and late evening,” Jess explained, “elk will venture out into the grassy areas closer to the park to graze.  During the day and when they bed down at night, they prefer to keep hidden in here where there’s more cover.”  Before Nikki had a chance to explore her other queries, Jess stood.  “Come, there’s more.”

          Once again he carried Hannah.  When he held his hand out to Nikki she took it automatically, like it belonged there.  This time they hiked up a steeper path to a rocky clearing.  Nikki turned to see where the sound of rushing water was coming from and gasped when she saw a beautiful waterfall.

          Jess put Hannah down.  She ran excitedly to the edge and danced circles in the mist.

          “Don’t get too close,” Nikki warned, giving in to laughter.  “You’ll turn into an icicle if that cold front comes through.”

          Hannah just giggled, continuing her misty twirls.  As she spun, a host of bluebirds fluttered from the brush nearby.  Instead of flying away, the birds turned in mid-flight to circle near Jess.  Nikki looked on, amazed, as one landed square on the palm of his hand.  Smiling, he sent it off in Hannah’s direction.  Following like sheep, the rest flocked to her as if on cue to join in the spirited dance.

          Nikki couldn’t believe what she was seeing.  Hannah cackled with delight as nearly a dozen sets of sapphire wings surrounded her, beating in time with the music of the waterfall.  Nikki watched in stunned awe until Hannah finally tired and plopped down on the snow, her face radiant with delight. 

          Jess approached her then.  He knelt by her, pointing to a little pink nose peeking out of the tall dry grass near the bank.  “Hold out your hand,” he instructed.

          When Hannah did as Jess asked, a pure white bunny timidly inched forward.  With a little encouragement from Jess, the snowshoe hare hopped right up into Hannah’s lap.  She snuggled her face into the softness of its fur, cuddling it in her arms.

          With effort, Nikki lifted her gaze from the whimsical scene to look directly into Jess’ eyes.  “Who are you?” she demanded. 

          “Someone who cares.”

          “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”  Nikki almost forgot to keep her voice down.  The last thing she wanted to do was spoil Hannah’s magical day, but she wanted answers.  Real answers.

          “More questions?”

          His amused grin was irritating – and way too endearing.  “How…” she gestured toward Hannah, still entranced with the soft white bunny.  “How did you do this?  Are you some kind of naturalist?  No naturalist I know can make bluebirds dance with a child, or find a wild hare that will sit on a girl’s lap.” 

          “What makes you think I did it?”

          “Oh, so you do have a scientific explanation for all this?”  Nikki spoke in low tones tainted with frustration.  Jess didn’t make sense.  She didn’t understand him and she hated anything she couldn’t understand.  That’s why she hated what Jack had done to them, to their neatly categorized marriage.

          “Do you need everything explained?”

          “Yes!”  Nikki definitely forgot to whisper this time.

          “Why?”

          “That’s what scientists do,” she stated, curbing her voice.  “We find answers.”

          “Maybe the animals simply sensed an innocence in Hannah that counteracted their natural wariness,” he suggested.

          “And in you?” Nikki countered.  “That bluebird landed right in your hand.  You sent it to Hannah and the rest followed.”  She figured he could make a fortune as an illusionist.

          “Do you believe it was just an illusion?”

          “And that…” said Nikki accusingly.  “It’s like you know what I’m thinking.”

          “Maybe I’m simply intuitive.”

          “Maybe not.”  She wasn’t buying it for a minute.

          “Then what?”

          “I don’t know.”  Nikki turned away in frustration.  “That’s what bothers me.”

          She felt Jess’ hand rest gently on her shoulder.  “Nik, you needn’t always have all the answers.”

          Letting her face fall, she closed her eyes.  “Yes I do.”  Her shoulders tensed.  “I can’t stand not knowing.  Back when I was away at college, my dad died suddenly.  My mother wouldn’t let them do an autopsy to find out why.  I was almost finished with my degree.  I could’ve at least analyzed tissue or blood samples.  She would have none of it.”  Nikki turned back, forcing herself to look at Jess.  “To this day I don’t know why he died.  She wouldn’t let me find out.”

          “Would it matter?”

          “Maybe.  We’ll never know now.”

          “It wouldn’t.  Trust me.” 

          The compassion in his eyes was almost her undoing, but she held strong.  “Why?”

          “There wasn’t anything you could’ve done to save him Nikki,” Jess assured her.  “Being there wouldn’t have changed the results.”

          Her countenance was stark, but a lone tear escaped, caressing her cheek.  “So what, it was just his time to go?  Like all my relatives, you think God just decided to take him home, so we shouldn’t care to find out why?”

          “Your father was born with a weak spot in an artery wall deep in his brain, Nikki,” Jess spoke softly.  “He lived a good, fulfilling life before it burst.”

          Nikki stepped away from Jess.  “You’re telling me my father died from a cerebral aneurysm?”  There was no way he could know that.  What was he trying to do to her? 

          “God accepted your father home,” he pressed.  “But He didn’t ‘take’ him.”

          “And you would know all of this how?” she charged. 

          “Trust, Nikki,” Jess responded.  “Just trust.”  Before she could react to his statement, Jess looked up to the sky, scanning the clouds.  “You’d better call Hannah.  The storms are heading this way.”