Confidences
Adam had placed a call to Al Cardell, owner of the local automotive body and repair shop. Al promised to stop by before work the next morning to inspect the car. When he relayed the information to Isabelle she at first expressed relief, but then worry at the cost of any repairs. Adam advised her to not borrow trouble before Al actually diagnosed the problem and estimated the repair cost.
Isabelle had asked permission to wash the clothes she and Stella had soaked the evening before and did so while the McFaddens attended church. She had also washed, dried, folded, and hung all of the clothing and linens stuffed into the laundry hampers. Adam chided her but she insisted that helping made her feel that she could contribute, rather than burden the family during her stay.
Adam had first examined Ford's apparel for clothes, but realized Stella and Guthrie wore the same size, though Guth was a year and a half younger. He chose some overalls and shirts the little girl could use. By no stretch of the imagination could they be classified as dainty or feminine, but masculinity ruled the house.
Unfortunately for Isabelle, all of their clothes were simply too big for her petite frame. Adam pulled out some jogging pants and long tee shirts which would swallow her.
At least that gave their houseguests a change of clothes.
Adam waited until the Itty Bitties had gone to bed, along with Stella, before broaching the subject of Isabelle's situation with her. They sat across from each other at the kitchen table.
In the living room, Brian sprawled across the sofa with the telephone in his hand and flirted outrageously with his current love.
Crane curled himself into the seat of the recliner across from Brian and eagerly opened his library book. Adam grinned at him, knowing how priceless having some quiet in which to read could be. "What's your book?"
The sixth grader glanced up to answer. "The Outsiders. I checked it out Friday from the library and I really like it." Before Adam could respond he turned his focus to reading again.
Isabelle tapped a spot in front of Adam to gather his attention. "Adam, I can't thank you enough for what you have done for Stella and me, especially when we have no way to repay your kindness."
"I don't need repayment and I don't want repayment. What I do demand, though, is an explanation from you. I can understand your suspicion last night, but by now you should know that you are perfectly safe. Tell me why you're running, Isabelle."
She became defensive. "Why do you assume I'm running?"
"Stop with the subterfuge. I'm not stupid," Adam spoke sharply.
Isabelle regarded him. "No, you are not stupid, Adam," she sighed in agreement. "But I am."
Adam's compassion ignited. "I beg to differ. In a little over twenty four hours I have discovered a very bright woman under my roof." He paused to let her digest the words. "And now I need honesty. Start me out on what was going on with you Friday."
She corrected him softly. "Saturday. I got here Saturday. Saturday is when I broke down."
"No, I meant Friday- not Saturday. I want to hear the pre-Saturday events, the what-led-up-to-you-on-my-doorstep events."
Isabelle sighed deeply and bit the edge of her lower lip. "I just really would like to keep you uninvolved." Her voice trembled a bit.
"Too late," Adam admonished impatiently.
She leaned back to check Crane and Brian. Both were still occupied in the living room. "Ok, just a moment." Adam watched as she worked to prioritize her words. "Adam, the truth is I'm married, and the man I married-my husband- is not really a nice guy." A flash of pain crossed her features. She licked her lips nervously.
"In what way?"
"Ways. In what ways is what you should have said, not in what way."
"Ways, then."
"He drinks. Actually, he drinks quite a bit. Most evenings he drinks at home, but on the weekends he'll join his buddies at a bar and then get really smashed."
"What type of work does he do?"
"Construction. He works for a construction company, but last week he reported he might get laid off. According to him the boss just can't pay all of his employees all of a sudden. Privately, though, I think the boss has given him a warning. In the past six months he's called in sick several times when he was sick all right- too hung over to face the day. His after hours' reputation is no secret to his workplace either."
Adam felt a pang of sympathy for her situation. "That must wreak havoc at home for you."
"It does. We depend on his salary. I can't work because I'm taking care of the baby and if I did get a job I couldn't afford child care on minimum wage. And I can't work afternoons or evenings because I can't depend on him to watch Stella."
"I understand that." Adam nodded in agreement.
"Right, and so I have been just in limbo and thinking maybe when Stella enters kindergarten I can work then." Isabelle steepled her fingers and stared at Daniel's arrangement on the table.
Adam cleared his throat. "What's his name?"
"Ian, Ian Alvin."
"How did you meet? Were you two high school sweethearts?"
She smiled wistfully. "We were, yes. I'm from Hillsboro, Texas, and Ian is from a little town right out from there, Mertens. We met in high school and started dating."
"How did your parents take to him?" Adam glanced at the clock and held up his palm. "Hold that thought."
Adam leaned in his chair so that he was visible from the living room and announced. "Crane, bedtime."
Crane's attention snapped from his book and he replied with a plea, "Adam, please, I'm at a really, really exciting part in the book. Ten more minutes? Please?"
"Zero more minutes," his brother replied with finality. "Happy as I am that you love the book so much you still are under punishment. Part of that is an earlier bedtime. Until your report card is printed and I find stellar grades in every subject and good conduct marks in the comments section you will remain grounded. Bedtime."
Crane unfolded himself from his chair as slowly as possible and stuffed the book in his backpack. "Night," he called sadly, climbing the steps.
"I'll be up in just a few minutes," Adam promised, ensuring that Crane would head straight to bed.
Brian still carried on his phone flirtation and Adam called out to him. Nevertheless, Brian was so engrossed in his conversation he didn't hear Adam.
Adam stood and turned to Isabelle. "Excuse me while I deal with Romeo there."
He tapped Brian on the shoulder and pointed to the clock. Brian checked it and jammed the phone tightly between his shoulder and ear. "Fifteen more minutes?"
"No, look at the clock."
"Ten then, please?"
"Brian…" Adam's voice picked up a trace of impatience. "School night."
Brian frowned and held up five fingers questioningly.
"Ok, five more minutes then hang up that phone and get your shower. Bedtime's looming not too long in your future."
Brian grinned in triumph and resumed his phone conversation.
Adam tapped his brother's chin and held up five fingers as a reminder before returning to the kitchen.
"Sorry about that," he excused himself.
"Don't be. I certainly understand duty. You have me curious about something though. Brian's just a couple of years younger, right?"
"Correct."
"How do you get him to obey? Does he ever balk or make a power play?"
Adam considered his response. "Honestly, I really don't have a definitive response for you. Probably the cooperation comes from our childhood. We were good buddies, always, though we fight and disagree quite a bit. We're just different personalities. But in my family a pecking order has always existed and from infancy Brian has been taught that barring parents, my word is law. Crane knows that barring me, Brian's in charge. Daniel knows that Crane's next in charge barring Brian or me, and so forth. Look, I'm giving a bad answer to this but Brian and I battle-have battled since my folks passed, but usually it stems from life away from the ranch. He respects the school expectations because I just enforce what our parents cemented in place the day I started kindergarten. The same can be said about bedtime, chores, and responsibilities. Where I pick my battles with Brian tends to emerge with his choice of activities once he goes out with friends or dates, or even with some of the girls he dates. Brian's our family's ladies' man, and I'm pretty sure little Daniel will follow in his footsteps." Adam rubbed his temples. "No matter what, though, even if he's storming and raging about something, once he calms he'll fall in and do with what I ask him to do."
"That's incredible. Incredible and admirable."
Adam laughed. "I say all this now when he's sixteen and cooperative. I pray that the next two years will remain as calm!" He glanced at the clock again. "Speaking of, excuse me for a few minutes."
Brian looked up from the phone when Adam appeared and he quickly bade his current love goodbye. "I know what you want and I'm on it!" he grinned and jogged up the stairs.
Adam followed and heard the shower engage almost instantly. He passed the bathroom and continued to his own bedroom to check his current roommate and bedfellow, Crane.
Crane lay curled neatly on his side in the bed and Adam thought he'd already fallen asleep. When he heard Adam enter, though, Crane switched positions and moved himself onto his back. Adam sank down on the edge of the mattress and caressed his little brother's cheek. "You faker. I thought you'd fallen asleep already."
Crane whispered, "No, not yet. I was waiting for you."
Adam brushed back Crane's bangs. "What's on your mind?"
"How long will Isabelle stay?"
"Hmmm….Honestly, I can't say. She will need a running vehicle before she can go anywhere, so at least a few more days. Why?"
"Do you like her, Adam?"
"Of course I do. What's there not to like?"
Crane began to fiddle with the cuff of Adam's shirt. "No, I mean like love-like."
Adam studied him thoughtfully. "Have you been worried? Is that why you've been so quiet?"
"Yes."
"Well, don't be. Isabelle honestly has no romantic interest in me and I promise that I am not interested in her." Adam rested a hand on Crane's forehead and probed. "Why is that important to you?"
Crane's brow furrowed. "I don't know-just curious I guess."
"Yes, you do know, Crane. I want you to give me a truthful answer." Adam regarded him sternly.
The little boy licked his lips. "If you fall in love and marry someone maybe your wife might not want you to keep us. Maybe she wouldn't want any brothers."
Adam felt a stab of guilt over the child's fear. Crane had harbored insecurities about abandonment- abandonment from him- the past couple of days and he had failed to address the concern. Adam climbed over Crane to position himself against the headboard and pulled his brother tightly against him. "Crane, listen to me. A woman with that kind of personality would not be a woman I would ever date, to begin with. Isabelle is a good person, but not my type. Also, though, you should not ever get scared that I would walk away from you and your brothers. That's a non-issue, and you know that I have been committed to the six of you since…."
"Since that day," Crane finished for him.
"Yeah."
"Promise?"
"Absolutely," Adam confirmed with a kiss on top of the blond head. "You probably will bring home a wife before I do. But I won't permit you to marry her unless I give my stamp of approval. She would have to be Wonder Woman to deserve my little brother."
Crane sighed and Adam tilted the boy's chin so that he could see his brother's face. "Hey, Lover Boy," he teased. "You're not thinking of that little miss who led you straight into academic trouble and weeks of lockdown, are you?"
Crane shook his head and grinned.
"Uh uh? Well if you weren't then you'll be thinking about her when you dream tonight."
That brought a genuine smile to the child's face. Crane assured him, "Adam, I am really, really tired of being grounded."
"Really? Tired enough to never again bring me home bad grades or bad conduct reports?"
"I promise."
"Good. But remember that I punished you for a reason, and part of that reason involves your duties and responsibilities in this family."
Adam moved Crane against the other pillow and slid off the mattress. He leaned down to kiss the top of the blond head again. "Already say your prayers?"
"I did a long time ago."
"Excellent. Night then, I love you and make sure you're asleep when I get back up here."
"Love you, too."
Adam closed the door softly behind him and tapped softly on Brian's door before opening it. With the hall light to illuminate the darkness of the room Adam saw Brian had already slipped into bed and fallen asleep sprawled caddy wampus across the covers and pillows. Adam straightened the blankets as well as he could before kissing his younger brother's cheek.
He made the rounds and repeated his actions for Daniel, Evan, Ford, and Guthrie before peeping in on Stella.
When he rejoined Isabelle she had moved into the living room and settled on the sofa. She looked relaxed. "Everybody good?"
"Wonderful," he confirmed. "The sad thing about bedtime is I always delude myself that once the kids are in bed I can tackle this project or chore, or devote time to hashing out solutions to a problem. Despite my good intentions, by the time they fall asleep I'm so tired I'm ready for bed myself."
"I know exactly what you mean," she giggled. "Oh, the perils of adulthood!"
Adam sank into the recliner's embrace. "Ok, so to continue our conversation, you said you married this Ian Alvin, a construction worker who has developed a drinking problem."
"Yes," her tone turned wistful. "I really wanted my marriage to work and I poured my heart and soul into our relationship. Unfortunately, I was the only one committed to the relationship. Ian considers me his personal property, someone to dominate and threaten. He is insanely jealous and has a quick temper, so coupled with the drinking, life has been a living hell. I just can't stay in that toxic a situation and I refuse to allow my child to suffer any longer because of it."
She paused and blinked rapidly to keep herself from crying. Adam reached for the tissue box and passed it to her. She wiped at her eyes and he saw her hands shook.
"You're afraid of him, aren't you Isabelle?"
She nodded rapidly and lost control of her struggle to keep the tears at bay. They cascaded down her cheeks and her weeping promptly escalated to sobbing.
Adam changed his seat and moved beside her on the sofa. He let her cry but offered more tissue and rubbed her shoulders and arms to comfort her.
Finally the deluge began to slow.
Isabelle leaned back against the sofa frame and remained quiet until she could speak again in shuddery breaths. "Ian has…."
Upset over her heartbreaking situation, Adam interrupted, "Enough for tonight- we can finish this conversation later."
"No, I need to tell you now Adam. I want you to understand my motivation."
"Ok, then, when you're ready." He resumed his seat in the recliner and sat patiently as he waited for her narration to resume.
"Ian hit me two weeks ago and he smacked me again Friday. He's a pretty big man, Adam, and I can't defend myself against him. No way."