Noble Pursuits Read Online Free PDF Page A

into the house. Irritated by Grace’s lack of cooperation in protecting herself from the evil pizza swapper behind him, the deliveryman drove away. “You got my Chinese. I sent you a pizza. They didn’t have lasagna, and pizza was the closest they could offer.”
    “Uh huh, bub! I don’t give up Chinese easily.” Grace sniffed the box. “Kung Pao and egg rolls at the least. My favorite.”
    Nolan laughed and started to say goodnight. Before he knew what happened, Grace snatched the pizza box and disappeared inside, calling for him to wait. After a few awkward minutes, she re-emerged carrying a tray holding the pizza and two heaping plates of Chinese food. She placed the food on a wicker table and motioned for Nolan to sit in the nearest chair. “Would you like something to drink? Water? Soda? What can I get you?”
    Nolan hesitated and then asked for soda. “Water makes the spices stronger and my mouth burn longer!”
    Once drinks were procured, the multi-cultural dinner commenced. They ate in comfortable silence at first. Eventually, Grace asked where Nolan was from, and he in turn, questioned her about the neighborhood, different churches, and the length of Grace’s residence in her house. That question got him more than he could have expected.
    “I was born here.”
    “Born here as in this town, your parents lived in this house at the time; you were born in this house? Which?”
    Grace shook her head. “No. Here. On these steps. They couldn’t move my mother, she screamed in pain if they jostled her the slightest bit, so, three ladies held quilts up for privacy while I was born right on this porch. My brother drove everyone nuts by sneaking over the back fence to come find Mom and see me.”
    “I guess you could say that you have roots in this house, then, couldn’t you?” Nolan tried to imagine a woman giving birth in such a public way but didn’t quite succeed.
    “Mom used to joke that when she decided to try for a natural birth, she went all the way.” Grace’s laughter was infectious.
    Grace’s neighbor, Verily Wirth, walked to his mailbox, apparently to make sure that the mail carrier hadn’t decided to make a late night delivery. When she was finished, Grace gathered the plates onto her tray. Nolan offered to help clean up from the meal, but Grace demurred. “Thank you for offering, but I’ll get it. I should go in. Mr. Verily is likely ready to call my brother and give him a play by play of our meal. Have a nice evening, and thank you for providing dinner. I was hungry.”
    “Happy to do it. You’ll have to introduce me to Mr. Verily sometime. He sounds like a man I’d like to meet.”
    After a moment scanning his face to see if he meant it, she nodded. “If you need help moving, finding your way around town, or just need a cup of sugar, please don’t hesitate to ask.” She turned, dragged the screen door open with her foot and without looking back added, “Oh, and if you hear rattling late at night, it’s Joe Alden’s dogs from across the fields getting into the old metal trash cans in the alley behind your fence. I’d appreciate it if you’d get rid of those.”
    She heard him chuckle as he wandered back to his dark, empty house. Minutes later, she saw Nolan’s headlights flash across her living room wall as he made a U-turn and drove out of the neighborhood. “Well, at least he has a sense of humor. That’s a good thing, isn’t it, Grace?”
    Her hearty laughter rang out a short time later as she heard the faint rattling of metal trashcans. “I think he’s is taking them away tonight! Wait ‘til Craig hears about that.”
    ~*~*~*~
    Grace sobbed into her pillow, wondering how she was going to get through the night. After three showers, Grace felt no more relaxed than she had when she saw Cade’s little body fly through the air. At the thought of the thud that must have followed, a fresh wave of tears threatened to overtake her. Pulling her Bible back to her, Grace re-read