Margaret Daley - What the Heart Knows

“I understand from your sister your husband died not long ago?”

“Eighteen months.”

“His death was sudden, wasn’t it?”

“An accident at work. At first, I thought Mark’s unusual behavior might be because of his close relationship to his dad, but now I don’t know. I know teens can be moody and difficult, but I think this is more than that.”

“You might be right. If he won’t come in, I’m not sure what I can—” His eyes brightening, Jared snapped his fingers. “No, I have an idea. I’m the director of the youth group. Maybe if you can get him involved in the group, I can observe him indirectly. That might be a start.”

“I know his cousin is part of the youth group. I might be able to get him to attend a meeting. After that, I don’t know.” After wiping her face one last time, Kathleen balled the handkerchief in her fist, then stuffed it into her pants’ pocket to clean later.

“There’s a meeting Sunday evening. Maybe if he gets to know me, he’ll feel more comfortable with coming to see me.”

“As you can see, I don’t have many choices. I’m willing to try anything,” she murmured, for once feeling a ray of hope. Maybe that was the answer.

“I’ll walk you to the car. I’ll say something to Mark about the meeting Sunday evening.”

“He used to be very involved in the youth group in Shreveport until a few months ago. I hope you can convince him to come.”

“If not, I’ll think of something.” Jared fell into step next to her on the stone path leading to the parking lot.

“Frankly, where my son is concerned, I don’t know what to think anymore. Right after his father died he was so strong. He was a wonderful comfort to me.” Guilt wove its way through all the other feelings she was dealing with. Everywhere she’d gone in Shreveport, she’d been reminded of her deceased husband. All her friends had been John’s friends, as well. It had just gotten too painful for her to stay. She’d longed to be around her family; to renew the feeling of belonging she’d had when she’d lived in Crystal Springs as a child. Had she been wrong to leave Shreveport and her old life behind? To want some control back in her life? Had she driven her son to this behavior?

At the edge of the parking lot Kathleen glanced toward her silver Taurus, relieved to see Mark leaning against its hood with his arms crossed over his chest and his shoulders hunched. “For a while he talked to his school counselor, but even that stopped six months ago.”

“Let me see what I can do.”

She paused two rows away from her car and faced Jared. “My sister has a great deal of faith in your ability. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help.”

He offered her a reassuring smile that brightened his blue eyes. “The reason I became a doctor was because I wanted to help others when they were in trouble. Mark is in trouble. If there is a medical reason, I want to find it and make things better for him. If there isn’t a physical reason for his behavior, I still may be able to help him. I have to try.”

There was a touch of desperation in his last sentence that caused Kathleen to wonder what had put it there. She wished she knew him well enough to ask. “Thank you for being here.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It was the right thing to do.”

Dressed in a long-sleeved blue chambray shirt and tan slacks, Jared presented a confidence that gave her hope his plan might actually work. Observing Mark interacting with others and his environment was a start. She would continue to encourage her son to go to the doctor for a checkup, but without his cooperation she doubted it would work. “Not everyone would care,” she murmured, realizing this man had chosen to get involved in her and her son’s life when a lot of people, having witnessed what happened on stage, would run the other way.

“But that’s not what Christ taught us.”

Kathleen started to reply when she heard, “Mom. Come on.”

Shrugging, she said, “I’d better go.”

Jared followed her the rest of the way and offered his hand to Mark while he introduced himself. Her son limply shook it, his fingers barely touching Jared’s.

“I’d love to see you at the youth group meeting this Sunday evening. You probably know some of the guys who attend. Your cousin is one of our leaders.”

Mark avoided eye contact with Jared. “I don’t know if I can make it,” Mark mumbled to his chest.

“We’re going to plan a fundraiser, then continue our volleyball tournament. I can always pick you up if you want or you can come with your cousin. What do you say, Mark?”

Kathleen marveled at the persuasive tone in Jared’s voice and hoped her son agreed.

“I’ll think about it,” Mark mumbled, this time lifting his head and looking Jared in the eye for a few seconds before dropping his gaze again.

“Good. Summer around here can get long and boring without some things to do.”

Mark yanked the door open. “Let’s go, Mom.”

Over the top of the car Kathleen mouthed, “Thank you,” then slid behind the steering wheel.

After pulling out of the parking lot, Kathleen stopped at the corner and studied her son’s slumped posture and sullen expression. “I can take you if you want Sunday evening.” Her son had refused to get his driver’s license three months ago when he’d turned sixteen.

With his gaze glued straight ahead, Mark tensed. “I said I’d think about it.”

Kathleen eased her foot onto the accelerator and maneuvered the car out into the flow of traffic. At least her son hadn’t flat-out refused. There was hope. In fact, because of Jared Matthews she felt more hope than she had in a long time. Maybe this move home was going to turn out for the better after all. She needed to believe in something again. After John’s death she had lost faith, her prayers had gone unanswered. Then the recent events concerning Mark had found her drifting even further away from God.

Parking in her driveway, she curled her fingers tightly around the steering wheel and watched her son’s quick escape into the house. “I am not alone. I have my family here and someone who may be able to give me some insight into what’s going on with my son.” The words whispered in the quiet confines of the car reassured her for a moment until she saw her son come to his bedroom window and lower the black shade he’d insisted on having.

Lately Mark preferred to live in the dark, but she wouldn’t. No matter how much she wanted to do everything on her own, she couldn’t refuse help—not now when her son’s health was at stake. If she had an ounce of strength left in her, she would discover with Jared’s assistance what was wrong with Mark.

Kathleen sat at her table in the kitchen looking out her bay window into the backyard. A green blanket of lush grass extended to a rock garden where a stone bench and birdbath beckoned. Watching a male cardinal land on a branch of her maple tree, she thought about her encounter the night before at the church with Dr. Jared Matthews. There was a presence about him that gave her some hope he might succeed where she hadn’t been able to with her son. Maybe he would be able to reach Mark.

As she brought the cup of hot tea to her lips, the doorbell rang, startling her from her musings. She checked the clock on the wall and noticed it was still early in the morning—eight. Quickly, before the person rang the bell again, she hurried to the door. Mark hadn’t been asleep long and she didn’t want anyone waking him up. He had been so tired after the talent show, and yet she’d heard him roaming around until a few hours ago.

When she opened the front door, she blinked several times, surprised to find Jared Matthews standing on her porch, his chest rising and falling rapidly.