Just Above a Whisper (8 page)

The bank manager had not expected her calm logic. She had seemed so compliant when she first came in. He had not expected her to stand up for herself.

“Yes, well,” he said quietly, seeing that he might have been a bit overzealous. “I can give you money today, it’s the twenty-sixth, and I’ll do so on this day each month.”

“How much am I to receive?”

His mind scrambling, Mr. Jenness listed a number that was quite low, but Reese didn’t argue. She knew it wasn’t enough to live on but thought she might have said enough at the moment. However, she had another thought that had to be expressed.

“And where are the papers I am to sign concerning this agreement between the bank and myself?”

Mr. Jenness sat up as though he’d been stung. “I see no need for such papers.”

“No?” Reese asked, almost gently. “Mr. Zantow just dropped dead over his worktable, leaving me at the mercy of this bank. I want some documentation stating the terms we’ve agreed upon today.

“And,” Reese went on, not caring anymore if she said too much, “I want Mr. Leffler to witness it.”

Mr. Jenness’ face flushed with anger, but Reese didn’t back down. Not even when he stood and stomped his way to the teller’s counter and had a few words with Mr. Leffler.

That Mr. Leffler was uncomfortable with the whole situation, entering the office and casting stunned glances at his boss, was lost on Reese. It was finally hitting her like a blow to the heart: She was where she’d always been.

“Doc,” Reese called as she opened his door. “Are you home?”

“In the back, Reese.”

Reese went to the small room where he prepared poultices and remedies and found him on a stool up close to the table, his head bent over a clear glass bowl.

“How are you?” he asked when she walked in.

“I’ve been better,” she said quietly.

“What’s going on?”

Reese explained what had just happened, her voice calmer than her heart.

“The bank retained your papers,” Doc MacKay said in wonder. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“That makes two us. Unfortunately Mr. Jenness would not agree, and he’s the man in charge. He seemed completely delighted with the idea.”

“And what exactly will you be doing for the bank?”

“Well, I’ll clean the bank twice a week and go every day for a list.”

“Reese,” the doctor replied, working to stay calm, “that makes no sense. A bank has no need for a woman to be on staff to clean.”

Reese shrugged, not able to explain.

“I did stand up to him,” she finally put in.

“How so?”

“I made him put in writing that I would get money to live on. And he paid me for the first time today.” She banged her hand against the table for emphasis. “And Mr. Leffler witnessed it!”

Doc MacKay laughed until he asked how much she was being paid. The amount Reese named tested the doctor’s emotions all over again. He kept his mouth shut, however, and simply asked Reese if she had told Douglas and Alison. When Reese said she’d come directly to him, the helpful doctor told her he’d go with her to the Muldoons.

“How do I tell Cathy what happened to us yesterday?” Maddie asked Jace over dinner the next day, glad that Clara was at her own home for the day.

“Maybe you don’t right now.”

“You think it might be best to stay quiet?”

“It’s all so new, Maddie. I know what I said in my heart to God was real. I confessed my need for a Savior and my belief in His Son, but I’m just starting to understand what it all means.”

Maddie nodded but didn’t comment.

“Remember how changed Eden was?” Jace spoke of his sister. “She changed so much that we couldn’t help but notice. Now I know you’re not an abrasive person like Eden was, and your aunt and uncle might not notice a huge change, but I’d still rather we give this some time and not talk about it until we’re a little more sure of what we’re going to say.”

This made sense to Maddie. Could she even explain what had gone on yesterday? She had never done a good job of telling people why she’d been so uncertain and unsettled. The first person to ever understand was Mr. Muldoon. Not even Jace had seen the situation clearly until quite recently.

But Jace was right. She needed to stay quiet right now. It didn’t diminish the quiet peace she felt inside or that she knew in her heart and from a verse that Douglas had shared with them that God was willing to wait. Always a little troubled with worry, Maddie wondered what would happen if she was never able to tell her aunt and uncle about her belief in the Lord Jesus Christ but then realized how foolish that was. If God would wait for her, He would also wait for Doyle and Cathy Shephard.

“I’m sick of talking about myself, Doc. I’ll let you tell Douglas and Alison what happened at the bank. I’m going to go play with the kids.”

That said, Reese had exited the Muldoons’ parlor moments after they arrived, gone to the kitchen, and shut the door behind her. She found Joshua, Peter, and Martin at the kitchen worktable. Reese joined them and picked up a piece of string she found there.

“Hi, Reese,” Peter opened.

“Hey, Pete. What are you guys doing?”

“Having a quiet time,” Joshua explained.

“Are you in trouble?”

“No, just helping Marty,” Joshua matter-of-factly reported, working not to be bored. “He doesn’t sit so well these days.”

Reese looked to Martin. “During services?” she asked. “Is that the problem?”

Martin nodded. “I wiggle and itch.”

Reese had all she could do not to laugh.

“The time’s almost up,” Joshua informed them, and at the moment they heard someone on the small back stairway that led into the kitchen. It was Hillary, Jeffrey in her arms. Reese wordlessly held her hands out, and Hillary surrendered the littlest Muldoon with a smile.

“Still sitting?” their sister asked.

“We’re done now.”

“How’d it go, Marty?”

“I only itched a little.”

Reese finally felt free to laugh at this, and the Muldoon children joined her. The baby still in her arms, she suggested a game. The family was all for that, and Reese couldn’t have been more thankful. She didn’t want to think about what was being discussed in the other room.

Alison’s elbows were propped up in her lap, her hands covering her face. She’d been in this position for a full two minutes. She wanted to sob her eyes out but knew it would do no good. She listened to the men in quiet discussion, trying to take in their words when all she really wanted was for Reese Thackery’s circumstances to change.

“
How much
is she getting?” Douglas asked, sure he’d heard wrong.

“You heard correctly,” Doc MacKay told him. “But that’s not my big worry. There are enough of us in the church family to aid her. My fear is that she’ll be vulnerable to someone again. Whose houses will she be cleaning? Will Jenness expect his house cleaned and try to take advantage of her physically—the same way Zantow tried?”

A shudder ran over Alison’s frame. Douglas noticed it but didn’t say anything. He was asking God for a rescue in this situation. He didn’t want to go and argue with the bank manager. He didn’t want to challenge his authority in the matter. But neither did he trust him to have Reese’s best interest in mind.

“She can live here,” Douglas finally said. “If she does that, maybe we’ll be able to keep an eye on her. She can tell us how long a job should take, and if she’s not back, we can check on her.”

“That’s perfect,” Alison said, so desperate to help this younger woman. “Do you think she’ll agree, Doc?”

“I don’t know. She’s weary of taking people’s time with her problems. She won’t want to be a burden.”

A squeal and laughter floated in from the other room, and Douglas spoke.

“If she only knew what a wonderful addition she would be.”

The doctor and pastor’s wife both nodded. All three were ready to head to the kitchen and tell her she had a home, but before they could do that, there was a knock on the front door.

Reese Thackery could be formidable when she chose to be. She was much too thin, but her height—inches that totaled six feet—was hard to ignore. Doc MacKay was an inch taller, but she looked Douglas directly in the eye. She towered over Alison and Mrs. Greenlowe, the woman who had come to the door.

“How did you learn about the bank and my papers?” Reese asked of Mrs. Greenlowe, looking none too happy.

“This is Tucker Mills, Reese! What did you expect?”