Margaret Daley - The Courage To Dream and The Power Of Love - The Courage To Dream / The Power Of Love

Bess finished the last of her tea and set the cup on the desk among the mess. “It looks like you could use some help here. I could stay if you needed me to.”

“Thanks for the offer, Bess, but I think we have everything under control.”

Mabel snorted and mumbled, “That’s debatable.”

“Come, ladies.” Gabriel helped Bess from the chair, then guided her toward the front door. “Mabel, we’ll be gone for about half an hour.”

“Sure, boss.”

“I do believe that was sarcasm coming from Mabel,” Rebecca said when the door closed behind them.

Gabriel’s laugh filled the spring air. “I do believe you’re right.”

Rebecca slid into the back of the squad car while Bess rode up front. On the short drive to the nursing home, Rebecca listened to Gabriel chat with the older woman with affection in his voice. He had a way with Bess that touched Rebecca. The people in his town were more than just names to Gabriel. Being the police chief was more than just a job to him. He cared about the townspeople, and they knew it.

“You know what I miss the most since I moved to Shady Oaks?” Bess asked Gabriel when he pulled up to the nursing home.

“Your garden?”

“No. I hate getting my hands dirty. I miss my dogs. I had three of them. My niece gave them away when she brought me to the home.”

“Why?” Rebecca asked, sliding from the car and opening the door to assist Bess.

“Because dogs aren’t allowed in nursing homes. You know, child, animals love you unconditionally. That’s the best feeling. Nothing like it. Well, maybe, if you’re lucky enough to have the love of a good man.” Bess looked right at Gabriel then at Rebecca. “If you know what I mean?”

Rebecca blushed and averted her gaze from Gabriel. She felt him look at her and wished Bess hadn’t said anything. They were friends. That was all she wanted, all she could handle right now.

As they entered the nursing home, Rebecca saw several elderly people in the lounge area off the foyer. One, in a wheelchair, watched a big screen television. Two ladies played a card game in the corner. Bouquets of flowers brightened the area, and their scent pushed the antiseptic odors permeating the building into the background. The place felt homey, Rebecca thought.

Susan greeted them in the foyer, her head shaking, displeasure on her face. “I’m sorry, Gabriel. She got away from us again. Bess, they’re playing bingo in the main lounge. Why don’t you join the others?”

“Oh, bingo. Next to shopping that’s my favorite thing to do.” She ambled toward the lounge.

“Don’t forget about Sunday afternoon. I’ll be here around two,” Rebecca called.

Bess paused at the entrance into the game room. “Sunday afternoon? What’s happening Sunday afternoon?”

Rebecca blinked, at a loss for words. “I’m coming to visit you.”

“Oh, that. Good.” Bess disappeared inside the room.

“May we have a few words with you, Susan,” Gabriel said, “in your office?”

The director indicated a door on the other side of the large foyer. “Did she shoplift again?”

“Again?” Rebecca asked, following the two into Susan’s office.

“Ben caught her taking a watch last week.”

“No wonder the man was so upset.”

“Have a seat.” Susan pointed to two wing chairs while she sat behind her desk. “I think we’ve figured out how she’s escaping.”

Rebecca frowned. “You make it sound like she’s in a prison.”

“A lot of the people staying here would wander off and not know where they were if we didn’t lock the doors to keep them inside. Many of our residents have problems with their memories.” Susan turned to Gabriel. “I’ve fixed the door in the kitchen. It shouldn’t happen again.”

“I hope not. Ben forgave her this time. I don’t know if I can talk him into a third time.”

“She didn’t remember taking the perfume. I don’t think she did it on purpose,” Rebecca interjected, thinking how close in age Bess and her grandmother were.

“I agree with you, Rebecca, and that’s why Ben finally calmed down. Ben isn’t an ogre, but he does have a family to support and lately there has been some shoplifting going on at his store. I think it’s kids. He’s extra sensitive about it at the moment.”

“May I make a suggestion?” Rebecca asked, straightening in her chair as though she were readying to do battle. If need be, she would. “I’d like to take Bess shopping with me once a week. I’ll keep a close eye on her and make sure nothing’s taken that isn’t paid for. She needs someone to care about her. What happened with her family? Her niece?”

“Her niece moved to New York City,” Michael said. “That’s why she placed Bess in Shady Oaks. With Bess’s memory problems, she didn’t think the big city would be a good place for her aunt.”

“I’ll have a word with her niece, but I doubt she’ll object to you taking her out for an afternoon. This might help Bess. She seems so lost right now. Her niece had to give her dogs away. I want to give her something to look forward to.”

“I have an idea, Susan. My dog had puppies last month. I’ll be looking for homes soon for them. I’d like to give Bess one of the puppies to take care of.”

“A dog? Here?”

“It’s not unheard of to have pets in nursing homes. It would be wonderful therapy for Bess, for all your residents. Bess summed it up when she said animals love unconditionally. That’s the best feeling in the world, Susan. If memory serves me, you’ve got a dog and a cat.”

“But if I let Bess have a dog, the others will want a pet.”

“Maybe that isn’t such a bad idea. Think it over. I’ll see if I can get you some literature on it. I’ll hold a puppy for a while until you make up your mind.”

“I don’t know, Gabriel. I can’t imagine it staying inside all day.”

“You have a fenced yard out back. All I’m asking is that you think about it.”

Susan rose. “Fine. Send over any information you have on it, and I’ll see. I’ll talk with the doctor and nurses and get their opinion.”

“That’s all I ask.” Gabriel opened the door for Rebecca. Outside Shady Oaks he took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Susan does a good job with what she has, but still I wish there was another way to take care of our old people.”

“The puppy for Bess was a great idea. I hope Susan approves it.” At the squad car Rebecca caught Gabriel’s gaze over the roof. “Have you given any of your puppies away yet?”

“The kid next door wants one. Why?”

“I wonder if I could buy one for Peter for his birthday next Saturday.”

“No, you can’t.”

Rebecca climbed into the car, trying to keep the disappointment from showing on her face. “Then do you know where I can get a puppy for Peter?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “I won’t sell you a puppy, but I’ll give you one.”

“You will?” Relief flowed through her.

“Lady isn’t any fancy breed, but she’s a good dog. She wandered into my life not long after Judy died. Just appeared on my porch one morning, cold and shivering. I think the Lord sent her to me to help me mend. She was starving and near death. I nursed her back to life and in the process found a reason to go on.”

Tears lodged in Rebecca’s throat. Had the Lord sent her Gabriel to help her heal?

“I’m home,” Rebecca called as she walked into the kitchen from the garage.

Rose cradled Josh in her lap while she fed him.

Rebecca rushed to take Josh from her grandmother. “I’m sorry I’m late, but I was bound and determined to get all the folders logged on the computer and filed away.”

Rose waved her away. “I can handle this. You know I raised three children. Sit and relax. You’ve been working all day.”