Page 38 of Love Story
Harry drew a soft gasp. “Patsy...” He stood as Andi helped him to his feet. Her name was a whisper on his lips.
Then in the most beautiful moment, Patsy lowered her hands from her face and their eyes met.
Harry began to walk to her. “Patsy, you’re home!”
She walked a little steadier with Harry in sight. Andi stepped back with Caleb as the older couple fell into each other’s arms and embraced, both of them crying.
“It’s a miracle.” Caleb’s arm brushed against Andi’s. “They found her at a neighbor’s house. I guess the neighbors had already evacuated, and when Patsy and Harry got separated in the floodwaters, she swam across the street.”
Andi wasn’t sure what she was enjoying more. The reunion playing out before her eyes, or the nearness of Caleb. She tried to concentrate. “Unbelievable.”
“I know.” Caleb stood a little closer to her. “She stayed on the kitchen counter and drank water from the sink. When the waters receded a bit, she ate canned tuna and apples from their cupboard.”
“By herself?” Andi couldn’t imagine the desperation the woman must’ve felt.
“Yes.” Caleb looked at her and their eyes held. “After a week, she moved to the wet sofa.” He shook his head. “It’s extraordinary that she isn’t sick.”
Extraordinary.Andi smiled. She liked that about Caleb. The way he had such command over the English language. Caleb went on to explain that Patsy had already been evaluated by a doctor. “Their home is gutted. Rushing water must’ve poured through the place all day. The swim across the street was all that saved her life. That and the food and water.”
Andi felt a certainty in her heart. “And the prayers.” She grinned. “Itwasa miracle, remember?”
He chuckled. “Touché.”
Caleb’s faith was different from Andi’s. He believed in God, but didn’t believe God interacted with His people.
Harry and Patsy were still clinging to each other, hands locked together. Andi couldn’t hear them, but she didn’t need words to understand the beauty of their reunion.That’s what I want someday, Lord. A man who will look at me like that.
Just as quickly as the thought landed, Andi let it go. She enjoyed Caleb, and maybe one day they might find a way to date. If he chose to stay in the United States, or if she felt like moving to Amsterdam. But for now she didn’t dare dream of having a love like Harry and Patsy’s.
She looked at the old couple again. Still...
They moved up the aisle and as soon as they reached the workstation, Caleb grinned at her. “By the way... you got the assignment you wanted.”
For a few seconds Andi hesitated. “Not the animal shelter?”
“Yes!” Caleb hugged her and the two of them swayed together for a bit. Then he pulled back and searched her face. “Me and you... the two of us!” His accent was so thick she could barely understand him. But she was getting better at it. “They like us there for work after lunch.”
Andi felt joy rush through her. Even though she had no doubt helping people was exactly what she should be doing, there were times when it drained her, left her unsure when her next smile would come. Working with lost animals would give her a break, and a little of the happiness she needed. And working with Caleb... well...
“This is the best news.” She hugged him again, quicker this time.
“God is good, yes?” Caleb reached out and squeezed her fingers. “That’s what you would say.”
He held her hand for a minute, which made Andi’s head spin a little. Caleb liked her, she had no doubt. And now that they’d be working more closely together, anything was possible.
She studied the man in front of her. He looked more handsome today than yesterday. His voice was balm against her tired soul. In fact, now that she thought about it, her heart hadn’t drifted to Cody in a few days.
Caleb was waiting for her response. “Yes, God is good.” She felt the sparkle in her eyes. “All the time.”
•••
SEVENTEEN DOGS ANDeleven cats were housed at the temporary animal shelter. Andi and Caleb arrived with instructions to check the animals for injuries, give them vitamins to ward off illness, clean their cages, and spend time with them. As much as possible.
Andi looked across the array of crates. “Poor babies.” She headed through the door. By the looks on the animals’ frightened faces there was no time to waste. “Let’s get started.”
The room stunk and as soon as the animals heard her voice, half of them started crying or barking. The cats were generally wide-eyed and silent. Terrified, their lives turned upside down.
Caleb loved animals. He and Andi had already talked about that. He stopped at the first crate. A beleaguered poodle cowered at the back of it. “Every day more owners find their way here for picking up their pets.” He shook his head. “But many of the people are still stuck in a shelter. Most think their dogs and cats are lost forever.”
