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Chapter 21

When I woke up the sun was just coming up and the tops of the hills were bathed in light. I did not know exactly where we were but the view was beautiful. Sometime during the night it must have rained and then turned to ice. It was so beautiful that I had to go take a better look, so I gingerly climbed out of bed. My arm still throbbed with the slightest movement and my side was still stiff and sore but the pain was manageable for now. I figured that I had another couple of hours before I had to take another pain pill. Slowly I made my way over to the window. When I finally made it, the view almost took my breath away. The tree branches were sparkling like diamonds. While the meadow itself was shrouded in mist. Through the mist I could make out the outline of an old barn on the other side of the meadow. Even though I knew it must be cold and uncomfortable out there, it was so beautiful that it gave me a few moments of peace from all that was going on.

Then it made me wonder with all that was beautiful in the world why did some people only want to hurt and destroy. It was sad that someone like that would never see the beauty that was there. To them, people and objects were the same. If you did not like something about a person you just tore them down like a tree or an old barn, after all objects were meant to be used they don’t have feelings or value.

Each and every person is unique and that is where the beauty is found, in that uniqueness, sadly that it the very thing that caused the fear in people like Mitch. While others would see the uniqueness of each person as the very definition of what it meant to be human. Mitch and others like him felt only fear and in that fear justified almost any behavior. How sad it was to have only fear and hate as your motivation. I knew all too well where that path would take you. If you can’t let go of the hate and fear it just eats you alive. Mitch and his followers had thrown away the future in following a path that was strewn with destruction. Josh, his mother, Matt, Timmy, his father, and myself were just some of the victims of their fear.

I took one last wistful look at the meadow before I turned and headed to the bathroom. I shivered and wondered how many people would look and only see the negative.

I was still in an introspective mood as I headed out of the bedroom. With the painkillers and the stress of being shot I did not remember the layout of the house at all.

It was an older house with the bedroom hallway leading into a nice size den. Matt and Timmy were snuggled together on the sofa bed. Timmy had his arms wrapped protectively around Matt. Both were still deep in sleep and they looked so peaceful. It was good they had found some peace in this situation.

Looking across the den I could see the kitchen and I was surprised to see Steve making coffee. He beckoned me to come and join him. I was more than ready for a cup.

Gingerly I settled into a kitchen chair and he sat a cup in front of me. Then he sat down to wait for the coffee to finish brewing.

Quietly he asked me, “Joe how did you sleep last night?”

“Not bad considering. I could not get comfortable but that was because of my ribs and my arm. With the pain medication I sort of drifted in and out.”

Changing the subject I said, “Steve did you see the sunrise?”

He nodded. “It was beautiful wasn’t it?”

Steve smiled and said, “I have always loved watching the sunrise out here. This is where I was raised. My mom and dad have been married for 45 years and have lived here for over 35 of them. It used to be a working farm. But none of the kids wanted to take it over and my dad has most of the land leased out now. However he has said many times he would never let anyone get there hands on the 10 acres around the house. That includes the meadow out back. He has had many offers from developers but he said he could not live with himself if he let anyone tear it apart to build houses or condos.”

The coffee was ready and Steve set the carafe down on the table and got the cream out of the refrigerator. He sat back down and we both fixed our coffee. I stirred in my sugar and cream and we drank our coffee in silence both lost in thought.

I was the first to break the silence and said, “Steve how are the kids dealing with all of this?”

He paused as if searching for the right words and said, “Timmy is more worried about Matt than himself. He says that Matt has withdrawn a lot and does not want to talk about what happened. Of course that is what you would expect when you someone you love is injured. You are his safety net emotionally and as his provider. He has been through so much in such a short period of time. It is amazing he is dealing as well as he is.”

“Yeah he is a amazingly strong young man. But I am not taking any chances. I have already asked Zack to make him an appointment with his therapist, so he can get some help dealing with what we have been through. Hopefully Zack was able to get through to Dr. Woodlief and Matt already has an appointment. I had better call Zack and find out when it is. I looked at the clock in the kitchen and it was 7:45 AM. I knew I had to call now if I was going to catch Zack so I borrowed Steve’s cell phone and dialed him. It rang and I heard Zack answer, “This is Zack.”

“Zack this is Mr. Brooks.”

He broke in and said, “Mr. Brooks how are you doing this morning. Steve filled me in on how things went last night. But I am glad you called so I could check on you. I tried the store number and the home number but no one answered.”

I felt really low about doing that to him. He was a good friend and had done so much to help me.

“Zack I am so sorry with everything that was going on I forgot to have someone call you and let you know where we were.”

“It’s ok Mr. Brooks I figured I would hear from you today. Do you need me to go in today and get things cleaned up? The police told me that they should be through by early today.”

“Thanks for the offer Zack but I would not be comfortable with you being there alone yet. They still have not caught those idiots. Till they do I don’t want anyone there alone. We can take care of cleanup after the insurance adjuster makes their estimate. But thanks for being willing to do it.”

“Your welcome Mr. Brooks. You and Matt are my friends and you have already done plenty to help me out. So it’s the least I can do.

The police were everywhere yesterday. They interviewed me for about an hour last night. I am afraid I was not much help. It all happened so fast I heard the glass break then I heard the shot. The only thing I could tell them was that there was a light blue minivan parked in front of the store right before it happened. I don’t know if it will be helpful or not.”

They said they would be talking with you sometime today so you might want to call them let them know where they can get a hold of you.”

“Ok thanks Zack I will do so. I am sure Steve can get me in touch with them. Oh before I forget did you get in touch with Dr. Woodlief?”

“I left a message for him but I did not have a phone number to give him.”

“Ok thanks Zack I will call his office and see what they have available. Zack thanks again my friend you take care and stay safe.”

“You to Mr. Brooks. Bye for now.”

“Steve what’s the number here”

Steve wrote it down on a scrap piece of paper for me.

I dialed Dr. Woodlief’s office and left the number along with a brief description of what had happened. I knew no one would be in the office till Monday morning but I wanted the message to be there when his secretary came in.

Then I called a contractor friend of mine and asked him to contact the police and see when he could board up the front of my shop. I was worried about everything being exposed to the elements. He agreed to take care of it first thing this morning. I was glad to have been able to get it taken care of so easily.

I told Steve and he assured me that there would be a patrol car going by the shop every couple of minutes.

That’s when I remembered that there was supposed to be one there last night.

I frowned and said, “Steve something has been troubling me about last night. Please don’t take this personally but I thought there was supposed to be a patrol car there last night. Do you know why there was not?”

He looked down for a minute and sighed heavily, “Who ever planned this knew more than they should have about the situation. You have got to keep this to yourself for right now, but somehow they knew there would be a patrol close by. They called in a fake accident with injuries report to dispatch. They knew enough to call it in for a location near enough to you to draw off the car from in front of the shop. I cant get mad at the dispatcher or the officer they both followed proper procedure. They responded to what they thought was a life and death situation. Someone knew about the car being placed there and I intend to find out how they knew. They obviously planned this out very carefully. And that makes me even more worried. That makes them even more dangerous. I am sorry we let you down Joe.”

“Steve you did not let us down. You have been there every step of the way for us. It’s not your fault that some idiot wants to hurt or kill us. You can’t go blaming yourself for what they are trying to do.”

“I know but this is personal now. You are my friend and our children are dating and someone is trying to harm all of you.

That is why we are all going to stay out here today. And don’t worry I called the detective in charge of the case and he is going to come out and interview you today. So you don’t have to go back into town.”

“Thanks Steve. Would it be ok if I fixed something to eat? I need to take my pain medication and I am supposed to take it with food.”

“In the first place I am going to do the cooking not you. You just got out of the hospital after being shot. Please don’t make me go into mothering mode. It ain’t pretty.” He said with a half smile. But he left no doubt that he was doing the cooking.

“Ok, Ok I get the point. But I am not used to other people doing things for me. I will try and behave though.”

“Good.”

He turned on the oven so it could preheat and pulled some biscuit mix out and started to make some up. By the time he was finished the oven was ready and he put them in.

He turned to me and asked, “Joe is bacon and eggs ok with you?”

“Sure.”

“Over easy.”

“That is fine.”

“How about Matt?”

“He likes his sunny side up if that is ok.”

“Sure.”

Within minutes the smell of bacon cooking woke Timmy up. I looked over as Timmy gently shook Matt and said, “Breakfast is cooking Matt. It’s time to get up.”

Matt stretched and sleepily smiled up at him as Timmy gave him a quick kiss. Then Timmy got up and headed for the bathroom. Matt lay there for a few more minutes then slipped off the sofa bed. He stretched again and noticed me for the first time and said, “Uncle how are you doing?”

“Matt I am doing fine I am a little stiff and sore but ok. I told you I was going to be fine didn’t I.”

He came over to me and I could see that he was trying not to cry.

He said, “I thought you were going to die and I did not know what I was going to do.”

With that he lost it and started to cry. I pulled him into a hug and said, “It’s going to be ok hon, and I am fine. We will get through this I promise.”

All the while I just held him and let him cry.”

I heard a muffled, “Uncle I love you.”

I started to cry as well and said, “I love you to Matt. You have made me so very proud of you.”
I looked up and saw that Steve was close to tears as well.

Just then Timmy came back in and saw Matt crying and said, “What’s wrong Matt?”

Steve said, “He is just glad his uncle is ok. He was really scared for him.”

“I know he was.”

“I know you do son. Now come over here and give your old man a hug. I was worried about you both.”

For a second Timmy hesitated. I could almost hear him thinking to himself. Dad there is someone else here. But he went over to his Dad and gave him a hug. They held if for a long moment and then Steve said, “I love you Timmy don’t ever forget that.”