Page 651 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Figures. Sydney’s eyes narrowed. Sean was only sitting by her because Jessica wasn’t available. Why was it that everywhere she turned, Jessica was right around the corner? There just didn’t seem to be enough room for the both of them in StoneyCreek. They watched the game in silence from that point on.

Sydney focused her attention on Kendall, watching him interact with each player as they came off the field. She could see the tension in his neck and shoulders when Glenwood went for a field goal and made it. She closed her eyes and prayed that Kendall wouldn’t look up in the stand and see Sean sitting beside her.

The band playedThe Eye of the Tiger, and Glenwood kicked off to Stoney Creek. Stoney Creek ran the ball back to Glenwood’s thirty-five yard line. The crowd went wild and everyone jumped to their feet. Stoney Creek’s players lined up for the next play in a shotgun formation. The ball was snapped. Reggie dropped back to find his receivers. The crowd continued to scream. Reggie drew back and threw to the wide receiver in the back of the end zone. The ball flew through the air, and both the wide receiver and cornerback leaped for it. The stunned crowd watched the ball slip through the cornerback’s hands and into the waiting hands of the Stoney Creek wide receiver. He brought it in for a touchdown. The game was over. Another victory for Stoney Creek.

Sydney and Jarilyn were jumping up and down and hugging each other. “Let’s go out on the field and congratulate them,” Jarilyn said.

Sydney turned to leave and almost bumped into Sean. In all of the excitement, she’d forgotten that he was standing next to her.

He cleared his throat. “That offer still stands for a bite to eat.”

She reddened. “No thanks. I need to go and talk to Kendall.”

“Suit yourself,” he said and walked away.

24

“FOR I WAS AN HUNGERED, AND YE GAVE ME MEAT; I WAS THIRSTY, AND YE GAVE ME DRINK; I WAS A STRANGER, AND YE TOOK ME IN:” —MATTHEW 25:35

Tuesday Phillips’ broad smile was the first thing Sydney saw when she stepped in the room. “Sydney, I’m so glad you made it.”

The activity had not yet started, and children were running wild in the building. Tuesday led her down the hall and into the kitchen. “The chil’ren are gonna be practicing for their program,” she said. “Afterwards …” She motioned. “Honey, can you hand me that plate? Oh yes, like I was saying. We need to make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for ‘em. Hand me that knife in the drawer over yonder. Cut them into squares.”

Sydney washed her hands and got down to business. All the while she tried to think of a way to broach the subject of Buford’s death—a task that was proving to be impossible, considering that Tuesday was fluttering in and out of the room like a butterfly, not staying in one spot long enough for Sydney to ask her the simplest question, much less something more.

When the sandwiches were made, Tuesday ushered Sydney out of the kitchen, telling her that she would enjoy watching the children practice. The eager faces of the children were a stark contrast to the pinched expressions of the adult leaders who were trying their best to get the children to sit still and payattention. A fair-haired boy sitting on the front row was having an especially difficult time. He was up more than he was down, much to the chagrin of his teacher.

Tuesday was quick to inform Sydney about each child. “See that there group on the back row?”

Sydney nodded.

Tuesday lowered her voice to a whisper. “They’re all Nolans.” She spoke the name with such significance that Sydney halfway wondered if Mrs. Phillips expected her to know something about them. “There are about five of ‘em, I believe. Like stair-steps. Impossible to tell ‘em apart.” She shook her head. “Them chil’ren’s father’s a no-count drunk. Patsy, their poor mother, like to of worked herself to death, trying to keep ’em fed and a roof over their heads. I’ve been out to their trailer once or twice before. It ain’t fit for pigs, much less all them chil’ren. Bless her heart, poor Patsy’s in her late thirties but looks like she’s in her fifties.”

The oldest Nolan girl got up to say her part. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and she looked like the sheer act of public speaking put her on the verge of tears. Long black tresses framed her oval face, and her shirt was wrinkled and too big. Her hair would have been beautiful if it had been combed. The girl sat down and other children got up to say their parts, but Sydney didn’t hear any of them. She kept hearing the little Nolan girl with her timid voice and shy eyes.

After practice was over, the children ran toward the kitchen like racehorses that had been let out of the gate. The peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a hit. Most of the children had already gone home when the oldest Nolan girl approached Sydney.

“Excuse me, ma’am.” Sydney smiled down at her. “Yes?”

The little girl shuffled her feet back and forth, and Sydney wanted to help her get the words out.

“Um, I was wondering if …” The girl looked at the floor.

Sydney bent down in an effort to hear her.

The words came out in a rush this time, almost as though the girl was trying to speak faster so she could bring herself to get it all out. “I was wondering if I can take them left-over sandwiches home.”

Sydney paused. “I’m sure that’ll be all right.”

The girl’s countenance brightened. In an afterthought Sydney added, “You know you can eat as many sandwiches as you want while you’re here, don’t you?”

“I wanna take them home to my mama and brothers and sisters.”

All of Sydney’s personal worries vanished. She looked at the girl’s thin frame and hollow eyes and wondered how often she went hungry. “Here, let me get you a bag. I’ll wrap up these sandwiches, and you can also have the leftover jars of peanut butter and jelly.” The bread was all gone, but Sydney gave her the rest of the potato chips.

When Sydney got ready to leave the church, Tuesday gave her a bear hug. “Thanks for comin’ today.”

An image of the Nolan girl flashed in her mind. “No, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I’m glad I was a part of this.” It felt good to do something for someone else for a change. She reached in her purse for a pen and rummaged for a scrap piece of paper but came up empty-handed. She looked at Tuesday. “Do you have a piece of paper? I’d like for you to give me the address for the Nolans.”