Free Healing the Boss's Heart by Valerie Hansen Page B

Looking into his eyes she saw more than intelligence; she saw empathy. And pathos. They might have laughed together over trifles mere hours before, but that didn’t mean he didn’t comprehend the weight of what others were going through.
    “All right,” he finally said. “We’ll go eat. I just hope we don’t run into Tommy and have to tell him we came back without his dog.”
    “I don’t suppose he’d be the least bit impressed to hear that we rescued a child instead.”
    “I seriously doubt it. He told me that mutt was his only friend.”
    “I was afraid of that. What’re we going to do?”
    “Hope the dog finds its way home, I guess.”
    Little else was said as they made their way back to the busy church grounds. Gregory held the door for Maya and followed her into the noisy, crowded fellowship hall.
    She was astounded by the number of survivors gathered there—and more were arriving by the minute, far more than they’d seen over by the new town hall. These folks were mostly women and children, Maya noted. That figured. Lots of men were probably still working, still digging, still part of the initial efforts to restore order.
    “I’m going to grab a sandwich and coffee and head out again,” Gregory said. “No sense just sitting here when I can make myself useful.”
    “Okay. The food’s over there and you can wash your hands in the kitchen.”
    She led the way to the dwindling stack of sandwiches and handed him a paper plate after he’d dried his hands. “I feel the same way about not wanting to stand around, but I have no idea what else I can do.”
    “Probably nothing tonight,” he said as he took several half sandwiches and a handful of chips. “By tomorrow I’m sure things will be better organized. They might even have the power restored so they can pump enough water to reach the rest of the town.” He looked around. “Are you going to sleep here or go back to the apartment?”
    “These people will need what little bedding the church has collected. As soon as I’m sure there’s nothing more I can do to help, I’ll leave.”
    “Okay. When you get to the apartments, let yourself into mine and take whatever you need. It’s not locked. There are extra pillows and blankets in the hall closet. You can pull the loose cushions off the sofa and take them to your place. I’ll help you move your bedroom furniture tomorrow.”
    “Really, there’s no need for all that.”
    He was adamant. “Yes, there is. There’s not a lot I can actually do, no matter how much I want to. Letme help you and Layla. Please? It’ll make me feel much better.”
    Smiling, she nodded in assent. “All right. Since you put it that way…”
    Apparently satisfied, he turned and walked away. Maya watched him go, thanking the Lord that Gregory Garrison had decided to hire her, considering their families’ past differences.
    Reverend Michael would surely say that the Lord worked in mysterious ways if she told him her story, but Maya didn’t need anyone to reaffirm that. Her boss had stopped her from risking her life when she had panicked, had kept her safe from the worst of the storm and had provided a place for her and her daughter to live in its aftermath. There was no more to say.
    She smiled to herself. Whether Gregory Garrison liked the idea or not, God was working through him to help the helpless and comfort the fatherless, just as scripture taught.
    Someday soon, she vowed, her smile becoming a wide grin, she was going to tell him exactly that.
    And in the meantime, she had to locate Tommy and explain to him that they hadn’t found Charlie. It was not going to be easy.
     
    Maya had assumed she’d have to leave the church grounds and go to the Otis house to find Tommy, but when she walked outside she was relieved to spotthe boy nearby. He was engaged in earnest conversation with an elderly woman who was apparently preparing to rescue displaced pets.
    “You gotta find Charlie,” Tommy explained to the