Vacation
Day Three
Kirsten wasn't happy about being stuck on the ground. It made her worry, and she hated that helpless feeling. She purposefully avoided breakfast, and attempted to feign sleep when someone came to check on her. It probably would have worked if that someone hadn't been Coop. The tiny old bed creaked as he sat down on the edge of it. She could tell he was measuring her breathing against his.
"Look," he began quietly. "I know how you must feel right now. But you need to look at this as a good thing. You need time to heal. Stressing over this, and making everyone's lives living hell around here isn't going to help."
Kirsten buried her face deeper into the pillow. "If I can't work, I'm useless."
"Not true." Cooper countered immediately. He still didn't shift or move, refraining from touching the Marine. "You handle these kids like nobody's business. Give yourself some credit." His weight shifted as he turned toward her slightly; for a moment, he reached out, like he was going to lay a hand on her shoulder, but he paused, and retracted it. "I'll get the heavy labor done for you.. you just take care of your family, okay?"
Kirsten turned just enough to eye Coop critically. "I owe you."
"Take me out for a beer when this is all done, and we're even."
He stuck his hand out, and she accepted. Pulling her up to her feet, he let her stretch momentarily, before he grabbed the back of her shirt to check the bandages. She swatted his hand away, but he'd seen enough to be satisfied. She wasn't bleeding through; the nuns had done a bang-up patching job. Lifeline would have been proud. They headed down to the common room side by side, much to the delight of a few of the kids. Kirsten scolded them and threatened to load on more school work, which got them all to clam right up.
"School work?" Coop asked once they had made it out the front doors.
"I was the last one to go to a public school," Kirsten admitted sheepishly. "I got in so much trouble, the nuns started homeschooling all of us that year."
Coop could only nod to answer her. He thought he figured out why this place meant so much to her. They continued in silence outside, guiding him with slight signals toward the back of the church. He knew what he was in for. Roofing...
The sun baked down. Cooper and the boys had long ago shed their shirts in effort to remain cool. All three of them now wore their shirts covering their heads, like a makeshift turban, protecting them from the worst of the sun, it seemed. Toby and Rafe chattered merrily among themselves as they worked to pry up old, rotted shingles from the roof over the dormitories. Coop followed them with a load of new shingles to replace. From the rooftop, Coop felt like he could see for miles, over swaying cornfields into the wilds beyond.
"Hey, Mister Mac?" A shadow fell over Cooper's thoughts as the kid spoke up. It was the younger of the duo, tow-headed Rafe. Cooper grunted in response as he set his load of shingles down again, to work on the spot the boys had just finished clearing.
"You really saved Kirsty from the jungle, huh?" Rafe asked with the innocence that only a ten-year old can muster. "Didja already like her then or, is this new?"
Cooper peered at the kid. "Like her? Squirt, you should get some shade. The sun's messing with your head." Shaking his head, he wondered where Rafe had gotten such an idea. Like her. She was a Marine! They completely just weren't meant to get along. "I'm just here to keep her outta more trouble."
"Oh." Rafe was disappointed. "I thought you might want to make her happy." The kid shrugged, and picked his way back to Toby, dejected. Cooper watched as the teen ruffled Rafe's hair, and gave him half a hug. The two of them turned their backs to him, and crouched down low to work on a stubborn spot.
Cooper settled back on his heels, and glanced around. Down below, Kirsten had the other three kids scrubbing at what looked like a cattle yolk. She was doing her best to be good, and not help, but even then she was on her knees with the kids, bracing the weighty leather and steel harness so the kids could really lean into the scrubbing. At one point while Cooper was watching, Tyler purposefully splashed in the bucket of soapy water, spattering Miranda with soapsuds and water. The two girls mounted a retaliation that dumped the entire thing back on him, and left Kirsten in peals of laughter.
Cooper caught her wince here and there, when the kids weren't looking. But she glanced up and caught him staring. For a moment, she looked almost shy, but then let her smile carry that away. She raised her brows once, and nodded appreciatively. Getting to her feet, she looked about ready to say something, when a loud whistle caught all their attention from the main church.
"Snacktime!" one of the Sister's called out, sending a wave of kids bolting for the church. Toby and Rafe scrambled down the ladder, and ran for the house, their shirts coming loose from their heads and flapping behind them like broken wings. Cooper climbed down more sedately, only to find Kirsten waiting for him at the bottom of the ladder.
He unwound his shirt from his head and shoulders, using it to mop the sweat off his chest. Kirsten fell into step beside him. Silence surrounded them in a comfortable globe as they walked. Her pace was measured against his. Just before they reached the door of the church, Kirsten lay her hand lightly on his arm. Coop froze midstride, unwilling to dislodge her hand.
"I know I said I owe you, but it's not the same," she began softly, looking up with a smile. "So, thank you, Coop." Her fingers slid off his arm, as she pushed through the doors into the church. Cooper lingered behind for a moment, until the phantom voice of a little boy made him shake his head.
No way could that boy be right.
