Pie Town - Lynne Hinton [95]
“What?” Malene exclaimed.
“It was my idea to do a flier. We need to come together. We need the church. We need Holy Family. It needs us.”
And then, just like that, Roger and Malene understood. They understood that the meeting was what he and Angel had been discussing in private when she had last visited and that she had been the one who made the flier, then copied and delivered them all across town. They recalled that before she left the house after her visit she had made the comment that she had some errand to run for Alex, but neither of them had paid any attention. Roger had taken her to the station to use the computer and copier without ever questioning what she was doing. He thought she was contacting old friends on the Internet or making something for the boy. He was busy and never noticed how many copies she ran.
When she left, explaining that her ride was supposed to meet her at the diner, Roger had tried to talk her into staying but then gave up after seeing the look on her face, knowing his pleas were useless. He walked back to his desk, understanding that his daughter had come to town, seen her son, and done what she thought she needed to do. He was not going to make her stay, and all he thought about was how he was going to explain her departure to Malene and Alex. He never considered that she was making fliers for her son to organize the community. And now he realized that she had left the station and walked or driven around town to every house, every car, every establishment, without being seen or recognized, and delivered Alex’s fliers.
“Why?” Malene asked. “Why do you want the town to come together?”
“Don’t you see this is why I can’t be in the hospital?” He shook his head. “Somebody has to tell people.”
“Tell people what?” Roger asked. He had gotten up and moved over to Alex, kneeling in front of his grandson.
“Tell them that we need Holy Family. We need the church,” he repeated. His face was flushed, and Malene began to worry that he was feverish.
“Baby, the diocese will decide that. We don’t get to say whether or not they have a church here. Look, we can go to one of the other places if you want Mass.” She knelt next to Roger, placed the back of her hand on the boy’s forehead. He was warm but didn’t seem to have a fever.
“No,” Alex exclaimed. “The diocese isn’t the one to make that decision. We have to make it. We have to show it is important. And it is important. Pie Town has to have this church. Father George has to stay.” He pounded his fist on the arm of his wheelchair. “I have to tell them!”
“Okay,” Roger said, backing away. “Okay, just calm down. Let me change clothes, and I’ll get your coat, and we’ll drive over in the squad car.” He turned to Malene and shrugged. “It’s what he wants,” he said.
She nodded. “Let me get dressed and I’ll go too.” Then she looked back at Alex. “You want to go in your pajamas?”
Alex glanced down. Clearly, he hadn’t thought about what he was wearing. “Maybe I’ll put on a pair of jeans,” he said and then smiled. “I’m sorry,” he added. “I know how you worry about me, but this is something I really need to do. This place is going to need this church in order to be a home for people. Pie Town is going to need Holy Family.”
Malene nodded. “Okay, fine. I understand. But how about after you put on your jeans, you have some juice and a piece of toast before we go?”
Alex noticed the clock. It was not quite ten o’clock. He nodded, realizing he had time. He took a few deep breaths and seemed to relax. Malene got up and began fixing him some breakfast while Roger wheeled the boy back to his room and helped him get dressed.
“Doesn’t he look good this morning?” Roger said to Malene when they returned to the kitchen.
“You mean Grandma looks good this morning,” Alex replied and smiled. “I saw how you two were gawking at each other at the table.” He added, “It’s sort of disgusting.”
Roger grinned and tousled Alex’s hair. “Well, now that you mention it, she certainly does look good, and it is not at all disgusting.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “You