Read Online In Shadows by Chandler McGrew - Free Book Online Page A

this skill when he was only six. She’d been trying to explain to him that he couldn’t have toast for breakfast because the toaster was on the fritz. When she came back into the kitchen she discovered burnt crumbs all over the counter, and Pierce screwing the appliance back together with a butter knife. Miraculously, when she stuck a piece of bread into it, it worked even better than before. After that, Pierce began to fix other things. A radio that got nothing but static, a vacuum that kept burning up belts. Dr. Burton said it was a savant talent, but Mandi had done some research and discovered that most people with those had very low IQs. Pierce was far too intelligent to be called an idiot savant.
    Mandi parked as close to the front doors of the church asshe could. The tall wooden steeple had a definite lean so that the bell seemed ready to leap out the side opening. But the building had been standing for over one hundred years, and the steeple hadn’t fallen down yet. As they walked down the aisle toward the tiny kitchen in back Pierce tapped his cane across her shins to get her attention, and she stopped. His brow was furrowed, and his brown eyes seemed to be searching the pews. She stared at him, imagining that he
could
see, that he was as normal as any other boy. It was a daydream that haunted her often. One that she would live with until the day she died.
    She reached down and took his hand.
What is it?
    I’m listening
, he signed back, continuing his search.
    Listening?
she signed, frowning.
    Pierce frowned, too.
It’s here somewhere.
    What?
    The thing in the valley. Now it’s here. I can hear it.
    There’s nothing here, honey. Honest. Nothing but us.
    But Pierce shook his head, unconvinced.
    She stared up at the two stained-glass windows, one of Jesus, one of Mary. Pierce had never heard a single sound, just as he had never seen light or shadow or color, and no one had ever tried to teach him to talk. The doctors had told Mandi that a limited form of speech was possible, but there was no state money for the training, and she couldn’t afford a therapist. She felt guilty about that, as any parent would, but what could she do?
    She bowed her head and said a prayer that whatever was happening was God’s will, and she told God that she would deal with it no matter what. But she sure would appreciate it if He would take care of her boy, since in her opinion Pierce had already had more than enough bad things dumped on his plate. She patted his shoulder reassuringly, guiding him toward the kitchen door.
    She found him a folding chair in the corner of the kitchen and brought him the braille Bible Ernie kept in the church for him. Then she began digging out serving dishes, wiping them clean and setting them onto the table out front. She plugged in the big coffee urn and filled it, then ripped open packages of paper plates and plastic knives, forks, and spoons. As she worked she began to sing.
    “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound . . .” As she checked the coffee and began to load a tray, a strong male voice chimed in from the front of the building. She smiled, continuing on through the end of the chorus.
    “Coffee ready?” asked Ernie, poking his head through the door and reaching over to ruffle Pierce’s hair. Pierce grabbed his hand, testing both sides with the tips of his fingers.
    Hi, Ern!
he signed.
    Ernie ruffled the boy’s hair again in reply.
    “Mandi,” said Ernie. “There’s a couple of people here Pam said you ought to say hi to.”
    Mandi rested the tray she was holding on the counter and followed Ernie out into the church proper. She nodded at Pam—who hurried away to greet people arriving at the front of the church—and leaned around Ernie to meet the two men behind him.
    “Jake!” she said, startled as he stepped out of the big black man’s shadow.
    “Hi, Mandi,” said Jake, glancing away from her toward Pam, who smiled wickedly as she flounced away up the aisle. “This is my