Free A Matter of Destiny by Bonnie Drury Page A

"What were you going to tell me about Luke?"
     
    Her voice was uneven, Joe thought. Maybe she wasn't completely immune to him.
     
    But what could he do about it? He should ask his fellow guardians how they'd handled similar situations. His body was experiencing some very painful human reactions.
     
     
     
    Sharon studied the man across from her as he spoke. She finally had to admit there was a strong attraction between them, in spite of her recent loss. It was something she'd never experienced before and she was appalled at herself.
     
    What kind of woman was she?
     
    "...and Luke felt left out," Joe was saying. "He thinks you care more about David. I told him that wasn't true."
     
    Joe's words tumbled into her thoughts. "What? Luke doesn't think I love him?"
     
    Joe clasped his hands. "I didn't say that, but he covers up a lot of hurt, and it's beginning to affect his actions again. He was making fun of one of the other kids during practice, and they started shoving each other around."
     
    "Luke's never picked on other kids."
     
    "I didn't think so, but he's expressing his confusion in different ways than he normally would."
     
    Sharon couldn't believe she knew so little about her son. "Did he tell you how he felt about his brother?"
     
    Joe smiled. "Not exactly. I asked a lot of questions, and it appeared to strike a nerve when I brought up David."
     
    She sat quietly, thinking over what he'd said. She didn't seem to be able to keep track of her sons' adjustment to their grief at all.
     
    "Thank you for telling me." Her eyes met his and she saw the longing and loneliness that echoed hers.
     
    Joe stood and reached for her hand, pulling her up. Sharon was going to refuse if he tried to kiss her again, but inexplicably felt hurt when he didn't.
     
    He simply held her hands and said, "If there's a problem, I want you to call me, anytime of the day or night, all right?"
     
    She smiled. "You've already been a friend above and beyond the call of duty. I don't want to take advantage."
     
    "It's okay with me if you take advantage." He moved closer, his hand resting against her cheek. She lifted her face, only inches from his, waiting, wanting...
     
    The front door opened and Sharon stepped backward, but not before David had seen them together.
     
    No one spoke for a moment, until Joe broke the silence. "Well, now you have David to wait with you. I'll talk to Luke at school tomorrow, unless you want me to find him now."
     
    Sharon shook her head. "No, thanks, he told me where he was going. I'll call over there."
     
    The look on David's face told Joe he didn't belong here. They hadn't done anything wrong. Why should he feel guilty?
     
    "Good night, Sharon," he said in a low voice as he brushed by her, grabbing his coat.
     
    He heard her, "Thanks, Joe," but didn't acknowledge it.
     
    He wanted more than her gratitude and told himself for the hundredth time, he had no right. He decided to try harder to help her sons instead. That was probably the most important thing he could do for Sharon.
     
    "Good night, David." No answer. Joe was upset. David had no reason to dislike him so intensely. In fact, the teenager could've been here himself to stop his brother from running off.
     
    Joe shut the door behind him. An ironic thought crossed his mind as he headed for his car. He'd figured a year at a country school would be relaxing, more like a vacation. Even guardian angels took a vacation now and then. So much for that idea.
     
    This assignment was turning into his toughest ever, and that was saying a lot. He'd been sent to stop wars, deflect an assassin's bullet, save children from disaster, but this...
     
    He flooded the car by pumping too many times on the gas pedal. Now, he had to sit in glum frustration, staring at the Quinn home until the engine would turn over.
     
    Would he be able to forget her when his mission was completed?
     
     
     
    "What was he doing here?" David asked his mother.
     
    She heard