Journey To Forever

Mr. Chapman’s eyes lit. “Now you’re thinking!”

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Chapman. I was joking.”

“Call me Ellis. And I’m not. Look at the attention you’d get if every day of the journey you use a different mode of transportation. One day a nonmotorized scooter—I bought one of those for each of my grandchildren one Christmas.” He laughed, obviously recalling something about the holiday.

“My sister broke her wrist using hers.”

“Maybe we should reconsider. We don’t want any injuries.”

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about. She won’t be joining us, and I had no problem with mine.”

“Good. Another day you could take roller skates. We need something to really catch the eye.”

Colin scratched his chin. Ellis had a point. “I’m not trying to be difficult, but are we talking from the east to west borders of the state? I’m game for a few different methods of getting there, to a limit, but I don’t think anything except bicycles are allowed on I-70 through the majority of the mountains.”

“We’ll have to work with the Department of Transportation on that.” He pressed his intercom and asked his secretary to connect him with someone in that government agency. A few minutes later he finished a discussion with the man and turned back to Colin. “Colorado Department of Transportation won’t even consider it on I-70, but they felt we could work something out going south to north. Not all of it could be on the interstate, but there are several sections where foot traffic and bicycles are allowed. If we contact this guy once we have a plan, he’ll push the permission through.”

Colin was impressed. They discussed the personnel needs for the project, how quickly they could pull it all together, and how soon to start publicizing. A lightbulb flashed on. “How about naming it the ‘Back on Track Relay’?”

“Relay? Oh, I see, not a relay where the people change with each leg, but one where the ‘event’ itself would change. I love it!” Mr. Chapman slapped Colin on the back.

“I think this is going to be my best moneymaker yet,” Colin enthused.

“Why don’t we guarantee it? How about if I double the pledges if you finish the trip without any motorized vehicle in a week?”

Double? He held out his right hand. “Deal.”

“Not so quickly. We need to iron out a few more details.”

Colin pulled his hand slowly to his body. “Such as?”

“I’d like my own crew, from the paper, to report every step of the way.”

A watchdog, Colin thought. That shouldn’t have surprised him, either, but it did irritate him. He felt certain God would provide for this project, he couldn’t start doubting His plan already. “Don’t forget, we do have some issues to iron out with the Department of Transportation, and I’m sure that the larger the procession the more problems we’re going to run into getting clearance,” Colin said.

“I’ll keep it small. One or two people, max,” Ellis said with a smile. “In the meantime, you’d better start training again. Who knows how long it will take CDOT to approve the highway permissions. I know they’ll move as fast as they can, but we need to be ready when it comes through. And, as you know, it would be wise for you to spend some time at the shelter to get to know the full scope of the project.” Ellis walked around his desk and offered a hand.

Colin stood, sensing their meeting was over. “I’ll be sure to make arrangements to do that,” he said, confident that he wouldn’t learn anything about the situation that he didn’t already know by heart.

Chapter Three

Pushing a peanut down Denver’s Sixteenth Street Mall was a far cry from walking across the state from New Mexico to Wyoming. Colin wanted to be prepared for anything.

“You’ve been on that cycle for almost an hour now. What’s the scoop?” His bodybuilder buddy eyed Colin suspiciously. “You’re not up to another of your harebrained stunts, are you?”

Colin rubbed the soft stubble on his scalp and laughed. He’d spent two weeks trying to figure out how to break the news to his best friend. Another week and he would find out about it, along with the public, and Colin would never hear the end of it. He may as well get it over with now. “Harebrained—no. Fund-raiser—yes.”

“I thought sitting in fifty-five thousand stadium seats had brought you to your senses,” Jared said, sitting on the stationary cycle next to Colin’s.

“My quads seem to have forgotten about that. And right now isn’t a good time to remind me. I’m already committed to the fund-raiser. It’s not even an option to back out.”

Jared laughed. “Right, like you would if you could. No offense meant, but you never walk if you can run. Never drive if you can ride…”

“Point made already.” He didn’t need to hear a full listing of the childhood pranks they’d pulled, not to mention the publicity stunts he was so well-known for. God hadn’t wired him to sit still, especially when there was something to be done.

Jared crossed his arms over his chest and groaned. “Seriously, Colin. I haven’t seen you here in a long time. You don’t want to overdo it.”

“I play roller hockey every week with no problems. Don’t worry, I’m feeling great.”

“So, how long do we have to get you ready?”

“I’m not sure. I’d like to wait until the temperatures are out of the hundreds, at least. September would be just about right.”

Jared looked at the readout on the cycle and shrugged. “Not a bad time for someone who hasn’t been to the gym in over a year. And what’s the cause this time?”

Colin hesitated, but knew he had to get ready to face the public with his support. “A new homeless shelter.”

Jared’s eyes opened wide.

“The existing downtown shelter has been over-booked for two years,” Colin said before Jared could expound on his reaction.

“Whose idea was the shelter?”

“Chapman Communications’s board. What could I say? He’s my boss.”

Jared’s almost silent click of the tongue confirmed that he knew Colin had really jumped at the opportunity. “You’re kinda between a rock and a hard place with the boss then, aren’t you? And I don’t suppose you considered…”

Colin ignored his friend’s dubious expression. “I’ll work through it. I’m hoping you’ll come along to keep me going.”

“Keep you going?” Jared said in surprise. “Just how far is it this time?”

He hadn’t added the mileage up completely, he hated to admit. “We’re still working on permission from the Colorado Department of Transportation, so I don’t have an exact figure yet…”

“The Department of Transportation!” Jared whacked him on the shoulder. “What are you thinking?”

“Suffice it to say, it’s a lot more than ten miles. I estimate roughly three hundred and twenty-five miles, depending on how much we can travel on the interstate and how much we have to take side roads.”

Jared barely let him get the sentence out. “Have you forgotten the reason your baseball career really ended? The one you kept quiet? Asthma is nothing to ignore.”

At least Jared had the decency to lower his voice so there was no chance anyone else could hear. “I haven’t had any recurrences in four years.” Colin looked around the gym when Jared stood, noticing that the patrons were clearing out as the workday started. “The doctor never even confirmed it was an asthma attack. If I wasn’t willing to endanger my life for baseball, you know I wouldn’t risk it for anything else. Look, I’m having no problems.” Colin took a deep breath and forced it out without any problems. “See, I’m cured.”

“Have you totally lost your mind? Your own well-being aside, raising money for a homeless shelter is a touchy issue these days. Haven’t you read all of the letters to the editor lately?”

“Of course I’ve read them. Why do you think I’m doing this? Someone has to do more than complain about the problem. It isn’t going away.”

“This isn’t like the money you raised for cancer research, Colin,” Jared stated as he handed Colin a water bottle. “Who could argue the nobility of that? Unfortunately, society doesn’t look at the homeless person in the same way as it does a sick person.”

Colin guzzled the water while Jared spouted off his objection to the project. “You don’t have to remind me of that, either. It’s a perfect opportunity to educate the public. No one is immune to this problem.”

“You aren’t worried that someone will find out that you lived in a shelter? Your dad didn’t handle it well at the time. I doubt he would appreciate you bringing it up again.”

“I don’t relish the idea of revisiting that time, but I explained it to Dad already. He’s hoping it doesn’t have to become public knowledge, either, but he understands it will help others in need, so he’s supporting me in my decision. It was twenty years ago and I was eleven, after all,” Colin said with a shrug. It was the fear of upsetting his family’s lives that worried him, but he knew it would be callous of him to let his past stand in the way of helping those in need. “This is just as important as any other epidemic. More and more families have become victims of the economy. On my first visit to the shelter I met a couple who had gone through the husband’s battle with cancer, only to be evicted from their home when he’d barely been released from the hospital. What kind of a landlord would kick a sick man’s family out?”

“We don’t know what the landlord had been through.”

Colin nodded. “I shouldn’t be so idealistic, I know. But I can’t help feeling sympathy for those families who move from place to place to put a roof over their heads. The public complains about people sleeping in the parks and on the streets, so we’ve come up with a possible solution.”

“How are we supposed to keep up with the growing need? We can’t just keep building more shelters. All around you hear about problems with people abusing the systems that are trying to help them.” Jared grabbed the spray bottle of disinfectant and the terry-cloth towel and wiped down the vacant equipment next to Colin.

“It’s not a perfect system, but we’re trying to help. Even if I can’t stop the injustices, I can’t leave people to sleep in the parks. We have to do something!”

“We?” Jared shook his head then laughed and held up his hands in defeat. “I have yet to figure out what drives you to do these crazy things, but you know I’m not about to miss the fun.”

“Glad to keep you so entertained.” The stationary cycle came to a steep hill setting and Colin stopped talking just long enough to work his muscles through the burn. A comfortable silence encompassed the room, broken only by the soft whirr of the exercise machines. Colin enjoyed today’s workout and wondered why he’d stopped coming. Had it been the injury, or was that simply an excuse? He loved the old warehouse that Jared and Sandra had renovated. The gym overlooked the South Platte River, the city’s largest amusement park and on a clear day he could even enjoy a view of the Rocky Mountains. All that, and the gym wasn’t far from Colin’s loft apartment in the newly fashionable lower downtown, or “LoDo” area. He had no good excuse for not working out more often.

“On a lighter note,” Jared interrupted Colin’s peaceful retreat. “We’re having a Fourth of July barbecue and Sandra is inviting a few friends.” He crossed his formidable arms across his chest and feigned innocence. They both knew his wife was itching to find Colin another girlfriend.

Colin inhaled deeply, preparing for the imposing hill ahead on the simulated bike trail. “I’m busy, but thanks anyway.”

“Busy, or not ready?”

“Both.” Colin knew he shouldn’t hold it against anyone else that his ex-girlfriend had expected him to spend every penny of his savings on an engagement ring. His blood pressure went up every time he thought about it. For that amount he could have furnished his entire loft and had some left for a rainy day. As painful as it was to learn they had different attitudes about what was important in life, Colin was thankful for the incident. Friends and family had warned him about her exclusive tastes and indulgences. It was his own fault that he had chosen to ignore their concern until it was nearly too late.

“It’s been almost a year,” Jared reminded him. “Besides, you-know-who’s not even invited.” Colin had tried for months to convince himself that just because she’d been a friend of Jared and Sandra’s, it didn’t mean all of their friends were the same.

“I certainly hope not,” Colin said, trying not to sound bitter. “She’s moved to where the ‘real’ money is.”

“Oh,” Jared said. “Then there’s nothing to stop you from coming. You’re not my only single friend, and there aren’t just single women coming, either.”

Colin’s eyes opened wide and he looked at Jared. “I can find my own dates when I’m ready. Thanks anyway.”

“That came out all wrong. I meant we have married couples coming, too. Happily married. And a few singles. The purpose of our barbecue is not to set you up, okay?”

Colin shook his head. “You can stop while you’re ahead. I’m working that day, but thanks for the invitation.” After a few minutes, Jared gave up and left Colin alone to battle his own issues.

Across the room Colin noticed another tortured athlete taking revenge on the equipment. He glanced over to make sure Jared wasn’t keeping too close a tab on him before taking another look at the woman. His friends meant well, but he simply wasn’t ready to date again. Especially not if it meant being with another socialite like Bev.

Jared left the room, and Colin again admired the woman, getting the feeling that he had met her before. The very fact that she was here, at the most reasonably priced health club in LoDo, told him one thing about her, she appreciated a bargain. Her name-brand sweats and shoes looked soft from heavy use. He considered her choice of modest, well-worn sweats and T-shirt, which impressed him a lot more than the skintight leggings and equally revealing athletic tank tops many women wore. Obviously she didn’t care what anyone thought. Her attention was focused on the view as her ponytail bounced in rhythm with the movement of her feet. A baseball cap hid her eyes.

He recalled his mother’s disapproval of his usual choice in women, Bev in particular. Too thin, too fussy and only after his money. He guessed Mom’s instincts had been right after all.

Colin glanced at the woman again. She’d mastered the orbital machine, the same one that had sent him flying like an uncoordinated geek the first and last time he’d tried it. She seemed to be concentrating on whatever was playing on her headphones instead of trying to impress anyone else. Why did she look so familiar?

The arrival of a few more customers stole his attention, saving him from making a fool of himself right here in front of Jared, who paused briefly to greet his customers then made a beeline to Colin.

“You’ve been riding for nearly ninety minutes. No need to overdo it the first day back.” Jared said. “And since you’ve officially asked me to take care of you, check your pulse and take ten minutes to stretch before you leave.”

Colin touched his index finger to his carotid artery and leaned forward to see the clock, conveniently located near the woman who had motivated him to ride half an hour longer than he’d planned, hoping for an opportunity to introduce himself.

Unfortunately, everyone in the gym pretty much kept to themselves. This was not the “in” place to meet available singles. Of course, in his college days, he hadn’t needed to find a place to meet girls. They’d found him. He had been the only baseball player in the state to make it to the major leagues.

“Right on target,” Colin said a few minutes later as he stretched. “I haven’t turned into a couch potato just because I haven’t been here, you know.”

“Obviously not, or you’d be in real trouble about now. Hope to see you more often with your new project in mind. Make sure you let me know the dates so Sandra and I can put it on our calendars.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. I should be able to give you more details then.”

He showered, stopping to say goodbye to Jared on his way out, half wishing for another chance to run into the blonde, but she was long gone. “Think about the barbecue.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Colin didn’t feel especially festive lately, and besides, the last thing he needed right now was the distraction of a woman.

Chapter Four

Colin’s day had been dampened by another article in the morning Gazette about the group of home owners planning to fight the sale of property for the proposed shelter. Ever since Ellis made the public announcement, the editor had received a barrage of letters arguing for and against it. When Colin saw protesters marching outside the station, he felt as if monsoon season had broken loose over Denver. Mr. Chapman had to be pleased with the results of his plan so far. Papers were selling like never before.

After training for two months straight to get ready for the event, Colin would hate to see the project fall apart. He leaned heavily on Paul’s advice to the Philippians—“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Keep the faith. God started this project, He’ll see it through to the finish.

Despite the discouragement, Colin hoped Jared and Sandra’s Labor Day party would cheer him up. He walked up the steps and rang the doorbell, not really expecting anyone to answer. With a lush yard like Jared and Sandra’s, there was no need to stay inside. Laughter spilled through the seams of the fence and Colin made his way around the house to the trellised gate. Their black Labrador Lizzy greeted Colin with her fierce bark. When Colin said hello, the dog gave him an embarrassed look and wagged her tail in welcome.

“Colin! I was afraid you were going to stand us up again,” Sandra exclaimed, glancing at her watch. “Better late than never. The good news is there’s plenty of food left, the baseball game is almost over, and you didn’t miss the Rockies’ fireworks display.”

Heads turned and friends waved. He felt like a show-boater with Lizzy’s bark and Sandra’s booming voice announcing his late arrival. “Thanks. Looks like you’ve been busy.”

“Can I fix you a plate?” Sandra was a hostess extraordinaire, a disgrace to the feminist movement, according to Colin’s sister. The Hayes’s barbecues were traditionally standing room only. Tonight was no exception.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll make my way to the buffet table in a while.”

Jared arrived with a tall glass of lemonade and yelled, “Forty-five minutes until showtime!”

Colin found an empty chair in a dark corner of the yard and sank into its cushions, fearful that he’d fall asleep and miss the fireworks display altogether. This last week he’d been pushing twenty miles a day. “Looks like you and Sandra outdid yourselves as usual.”

“Yeah, too bad you…” Colin didn’t hear another word Jared said. His attention fell on the blonde from the gym and he realized immediately where they’d met. With her scruffy workout clothes and baseball cap she had looked nothing like she had at the board meeting.

Jared followed Colin’s gaze. “I didn’t think you were interested in dating again.”

“I’m not.” Colin shrugged and shook his head. “I’m just surprised to see her here. Did you invite all of your patrons?”

Jared laughed. “No, but she’s a regular. Let me introduce you.”

Colin looked at her again, and their eyes met. She immediately lowered her chin and turned away, as if she didn’t want to talk to him, either. “No thanks, I’m not interested in being set up.” Which was exactly what had to be happening. What were the odds of running into the same woman three times in a couple of months without someone’s intervention?

“Aren’t you at least a little curious? She’s not like the others, trust me. She’s…”

“No offense, bud, but I’d be more interested in watching a documentary on ant migration.” Colin ignored Jared’s comment, heaved himself out of the chair and headed for the food, Lizzy close behind.

“I don’t think ants migrate.” Jared tossed his paper cup into the trash and blocked the stairs through the garden. “You don’t understand…”

Colin glanced over his shoulder and noticed the woman walking toward Sandra. “Oh, too bad, she’s leaving…” Colin said with quiet sarcasm. “Now can I eat?” He rushed to the table and started filling his plate with salads and warm barbecued ribs.

“She’s not like Bev, or Robin…”

Colin tossed Lizzy a grape, watching her roll it around in her huge mouth as if it were a toy. “Do you see a pattern developing here, Jared?” Colin pushed his way past Jared and away from the woman. “You have a propensity for finding me women with expensive tastes and no heart.”

“I beg to argue with you there,” Jared said defensively.

Colin grabbed a handful of chips then reached for the ladle to add extra sauce to the ribs. “You already have the perfect wife. Find me another Sandra, and I’ll let you introduce us. Until then, I don’t want a thing to do with another one of your rich friends.”

Jared cleared his throat and popped open a soda tab. “Hi, honey. Hey, Nikki.”

Colin didn’t want to believe Jared would stoop so low as to be joking about this. “Nice try,” he said to his friend, and turned, hearing Lizzy yip seconds before she lunged for his plate. Colin spun around to get it out of Lizzy’s reach.

The plate crumpled against the blonde and the ladle flipped from his hand, splattering her head with warm barbecue sauce, sending it dripping down her beautiful face.

“Oh, no,” Colin said, feeling the earth shift to slow motion. “I’m so, so sorry.” He motioned to Lizzy, who was leading Jared on a wild scramble through the yard, ribs dangling from her mouth, sending guests in every direction. “I, uh, Lizzy…uh, that all happened so fast.”

She leaned forward to let the sauce drip off her face and tugged her hair back into a ponytail. He wasn’t totally sure if she was smiling or crying.

“Here are some napkins,” Colin instinctively wiped the spicy sauce from her forehead, eyes and high cheekbones, overcome with an inkling to kiss it from her lips. Now that’s a brilliant way to convince Jared that I’m not interested in romance.

“Let me get you a wet washcloth,” Sandra said, right before she disappeared into the house.

“Ooh, it’s burning my eyes,” Nikki said, closing them tighter.

Colin grabbed another handful of napkins and started at the top of her face again. “I think this is going to take more than a washcloth, I’m sorry to say. Here, you have something on your lip.” He was reaching up to pluck the piece of onion from her upper lip when she pursed her lips and blew it off, right onto Colin. He flinched, then started laughing. “Guess I had that coming.”

She covered her mouth with her hand and her eyes blinked open, then she immediately closed them again. “Is there some water around? I really need to rinse my eyes.”

“I’ll help you inside. Sandra’s probably getting a shower ready.” He thought about the light-colored carpet and glanced again at the bright red sauce she wore from head to toe. “Slip your shoes off out here and I’ll clean them while you shower.”

He helped her balance while she blindly tugged the red leather mock cowboy boots off. Colin noted her tiny feet and slender ankles.

Sandra appeared just as he started to direct her through the door. “Here you go.” She tucked the washcloth into Nikki’s hand.

Colin looked at the mess he’d made and back at Sandra. “It’s in her eyes and hair. Do you mind if she showers?”

“My thought exactly. I set towels out on the floor already, so come on in.”

“Are you sure it’s that bad? I need to be at work in an hour,” Nikki said, still blinded.

“Trust us, you’ll want to get that off as soon as possible.” Sandra led her into the privacy of the master bath and Colin returned to the yard. Jared had finally retrieved the ribs from the dog and was examining her jaw.

“Is Liz okay?” Colin asked as he wiped the spatters from Nikki’s boots.

“Yeah,” Jared said from inside the fenced kennel. “I’m just making sure she didn’t get any bone slivers stuck in her cheeks. Luckily I got all but one rib from her before she could eat more. I’m sorry about this.”