He was able to purchase all three items Teresa had asked for at the store, and the salesclerk even helped load the boxes into the back of his truck. For the next hour, he listened to the same country music station, and every single song seemed to have a message for him. Luke Combs was now singing “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
He could sure enough agree with every word except for the thing about beer. Whiskey and his own stupidity had been the two things that had caused him to hit rock bottom and get his heart broken in the process. On the day after Thanksgiving he’d have been sober for six years. He’d found a meeting in Sulphur Springs and tried to get in one a couple of times a month. So far that had been enough, but still the day might come when he would want to fall off the wagon, and if that happened, he knew where to go.
Jason Aldean was singing “Rearview Town” when he turned off the interstate north toward Birthright. “Another omen,” Noah whispered. “Only it should say life in the rearview rather than town.”
The crunch of gravel in the driveway sent Teresa’s pulse up a notch or two as she sat on the porch with Kayla and Miss Janie. Noah was home.
That last word played over and over in her head. Was Birthright really her home? True enough, it had been the most stable place she’d ever lived. She’d seen a sign years ago at a craft fair that said “Home is where the heart is.” If that was the truth, then no place was home. Since she was a little girl, her heart had been floating around like one of those fancy satellites in space.
As Noah got out of the truck, she could see the tiredness in his face. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and his smile had dimmed. Whatever job he’d been on had robbed him of good sleep. She recognized the signs from the times when she had spent sleepless nights in the trailer worrying about whether one of her mother’s boyfriends might either knock her around or get all handsy with her.
“Luther!” Miss Janie squealed and clapped her hands. “You made it home.”
“I sure did. How are you, Miss Janie?” He crossed the yard.
“Why are you callin’ me that?” She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. “You always call me Sarah Jane.”
“Sorry,” Noah apologized. “You look so cute with your friends, I thought you looked like a Miss Janie today.”
She giggled. “I kind of like it, so I forgive you. Come and tell me about the war. You know I always crave news about where you’ve been. You don’t write nearly often enough.” She held up her arms for a hug. “Mama says it’s because that woman you’re keeping company with takes up all your time.”
Noah hugged her and then sat down on the top step of the porch. “Let’s talk about you instead, and you can tell Mama that I’m not dating that girl anymore. I’m getting serious about a nurse I met. What have you been doing since I was home?”
A shot of jealousy chased through Teresa’s heart. Was Noah talking about himself, or was he pretending to be Luther? Had there been a recent serious relationship in his life?
“I broke my legs,” she answered. “My nurses told me that you’d bring me a wheelchair to use until they get well. Did you remember?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” He pointed toward the truck. “It’s right out there, and look what else I got you.” He brought a chocolate bar out of his shirt pocket.
“You always remember how much I love candy.” Her old eyes sparkled as she reached for it.
“Be careful,” Teresa warned. She could feel a blush creeping up the back of her neck, but she couldn’t get rid of the picture in her head of him with another woman, and she flat-out did not like it. “You might fall off the swing.” Kayla took the candy from him, tore the wrapper free, and handed it off to Miss Janie. “Noah is sweet to remember to bring you something.”
“Why are you talking about Noah?” Miss Janie asked. “This is Luther, silly girl. Noah couldn’t buy candy. He only had whatever they took on the ark, and he lived a long time before I was born.” Miss Janie took a bite. “This is so good. I haven’t had one of these since you