All of us here do our part with the piece of the effort we are given. I don’t know anything else to do.”
When the last sip of Port was consumed and the leftover whipped Grand Marnier was scraped from each dish for its delicious flavor, Gavin made his way back to his quarters. Joshua crossed his mind, and he wished him well, but the libation haze let him know everything was going to be all right. Just like Mr. Ruftan told him it would. Sleep came quickly, as did Leo’s morning knock.
Into the Lion’s Mouth
Gavin had his restraint unbuckled before the helicopter touched down. He fumbled with the door handle before the pilot unlocked the door and gave him the thumbs-up. He raced to his car, which had two tickets sticking out from under the wiper blade. Maybe Lucifer’s connections aren’t that great , he thought.
In less than an hour, he was at the hospital, walking into the mental ward he had gotten to know well. The leaves of the maple trees flanking the entrance were starting to turn a tinge orange. Knowing he would need his driver’s license to sign in, he felt around in his pocket for it.
He recognized Ms. Shelby through the sliding glass doors. She was plump, with closely cropped hair and little oval glasses that always made her look like she was squinting.
“Well, hello there, Pastor Pennings. I’m so sorry to hear your son is back,” she said, her voice dropping off.
“Room?” He smiled.
“2010. I just need to take a copy of your ID.”
“I’m here more than I’m in my office, Ms. Shelby. Don’t you have it on file?”
“Those are the rules, Pastor. Sorry ’bout that.” She held out her hand.
She photocopied his license and printed a sticker badge he could affix to his shirt with a barcode, picture, and his name, and then he took off down the hallway. He saw Noila’s back turned to the door; she was speaking with someone, but he couldn’t see who it was. He didn’t want to be rude and barge in on their conversation. It could be one of her girlfriends, and he always respected their private conversations. He stopped short of the threshold then caught a trail of cologne he had smelled recently. It smelled like expensive cigars, tobacco, sugar, and a leather-bound book swirled together. It was the smell of Lucifer. Gavin’s mind made the connection when he got closer and saw Lucifer’s arms wrapped around his wife. He was clad in a tight-fitting black corduroy jacket, with gold stitching holding the quilted, black, patent-leather elbow pads in place. His hand rested next to Noila’s sandy-blond hair. He gave Gavin a warm smile that said, “Come join in our hug.”
“I’m so glad you’re here! Say, Noila and I were just talking…gorgeous name—I can’t get over it. And I’d like to bring Joshua aboard the ship to meet with Dr. Cristofari.” He turned back to Noila. “Gavin has had the great pleasure of meeting her, and well, this isn’t a medical opinion, but I think she’ll do wonders for him. What do you think?” He pushed a few stray blond locks out of his eyes and glanced at Joshua, who was either asleep or pretending to be so he wouldn’t have to interact with the doctors and his family.
“My wife and I need a moment alone to discuss this,” Gavin said.
“We do?” Noila asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Yes.”
Lucifer put his hands up and walked out of the room.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into with him. When did he show up anyway?” Gavin asked.
“I don’t know. Twenty or thirty minutes ago. He said you knew he was coming here.” She looked over at Lucifer, who was standing in the hallway, and whispered to make sure he couldn’t hear her, “What’s the big deal? He seems like a really nice guy, so charming.” She was blushing a little.
Gavin guessed Lucifer had this effect on most women. He looked squarely at his wife and took her hands in his. “I’ve just spent the last day with him—that’s where I was. I didn’t want to tell
When the last sip of Port was consumed and the leftover whipped Grand Marnier was scraped from each dish for its delicious flavor, Gavin made his way back to his quarters. Joshua crossed his mind, and he wished him well, but the libation haze let him know everything was going to be all right. Just like Mr. Ruftan told him it would. Sleep came quickly, as did Leo’s morning knock.
Into the Lion’s Mouth
Gavin had his restraint unbuckled before the helicopter touched down. He fumbled with the door handle before the pilot unlocked the door and gave him the thumbs-up. He raced to his car, which had two tickets sticking out from under the wiper blade. Maybe Lucifer’s connections aren’t that great , he thought.
In less than an hour, he was at the hospital, walking into the mental ward he had gotten to know well. The leaves of the maple trees flanking the entrance were starting to turn a tinge orange. Knowing he would need his driver’s license to sign in, he felt around in his pocket for it.
He recognized Ms. Shelby through the sliding glass doors. She was plump, with closely cropped hair and little oval glasses that always made her look like she was squinting.
“Well, hello there, Pastor Pennings. I’m so sorry to hear your son is back,” she said, her voice dropping off.
“Room?” He smiled.
“2010. I just need to take a copy of your ID.”
“I’m here more than I’m in my office, Ms. Shelby. Don’t you have it on file?”
“Those are the rules, Pastor. Sorry ’bout that.” She held out her hand.
She photocopied his license and printed a sticker badge he could affix to his shirt with a barcode, picture, and his name, and then he took off down the hallway. He saw Noila’s back turned to the door; she was speaking with someone, but he couldn’t see who it was. He didn’t want to be rude and barge in on their conversation. It could be one of her girlfriends, and he always respected their private conversations. He stopped short of the threshold then caught a trail of cologne he had smelled recently. It smelled like expensive cigars, tobacco, sugar, and a leather-bound book swirled together. It was the smell of Lucifer. Gavin’s mind made the connection when he got closer and saw Lucifer’s arms wrapped around his wife. He was clad in a tight-fitting black corduroy jacket, with gold stitching holding the quilted, black, patent-leather elbow pads in place. His hand rested next to Noila’s sandy-blond hair. He gave Gavin a warm smile that said, “Come join in our hug.”
“I’m so glad you’re here! Say, Noila and I were just talking…gorgeous name—I can’t get over it. And I’d like to bring Joshua aboard the ship to meet with Dr. Cristofari.” He turned back to Noila. “Gavin has had the great pleasure of meeting her, and well, this isn’t a medical opinion, but I think she’ll do wonders for him. What do you think?” He pushed a few stray blond locks out of his eyes and glanced at Joshua, who was either asleep or pretending to be so he wouldn’t have to interact with the doctors and his family.
“My wife and I need a moment alone to discuss this,” Gavin said.
“We do?” Noila asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Yes.”
Lucifer put his hands up and walked out of the room.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into with him. When did he show up anyway?” Gavin asked.
“I don’t know. Twenty or thirty minutes ago. He said you knew he was coming here.” She looked over at Lucifer, who was standing in the hallway, and whispered to make sure he couldn’t hear her, “What’s the big deal? He seems like a really nice guy, so charming.” She was blushing a little.
Gavin guessed Lucifer had this effect on most women. He looked squarely at his wife and took her hands in his. “I’ve just spent the last day with him—that’s where I was. I didn’t want to tell
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