Abide With Me (7 page)

T
he answer to one of Andrea’s prayers arrived at her home promptly at ten o’clock the following morning.

Doris Blake was a unique women who defied easy classification. Nothing about her was average, yet not a single feature was extraordinary. But she made quite a memorable impression. At sixty-something, she wore her years with quiet dignity, helped by subtle, artfully applied makeup only another woman would appreciate. Her green shirtwaist dress and matching crocheted sweater were simple, yet professional. She wore her pale gray hair pulled back into a chignon at the nape of her neck. On her, the style was elegant rather than old-fashioned. Her presence was both friendly and businesslike, just like her voice had sounded yesterday on Andrea’s answering machine.

Andrea liked and trusted her immediately. She knew her clients would, too.

With her foot elevated and resting on an ottoman in her living room, Andrea skimmed the portfolio that contained Doris’s résumé, a copy of her real-estate license and references from former employers and clients, both sellers and buyers. Andrea closed the portfolio and handed it back to Doris, who was sitting in an upholstered chair next to her. “You’ve had quite an impressive career.”

Doris smiled. “Thank you. I’ve been blessed. Not everyone gets to make a living helping other people find a special place to call home. But you must know what I mean. My sister, Betty, has told me what a wonderful difference you’ve made here in Welleswood.”

Andrea swallowed hard, remembering how close she came to introducing that scoundrel Bill Sanderson to the community. “Your sister still works at the county library, doesn’t she? Or has she retired?”

“She’s still there, and she’s as involved with the Welleswood Historical Society as ever.” Doris paused. “After my husband, Francis, died, I wanted a change. We’d lived in Barnegat for over forty years, and everywhere I went, I ran into memories. When I finally decided to sell our home last spring, I accepted Betty’s offer to live with her. I was looking forward to having her company and living somewhere new. Frankly, she’s gone from home so much, I’ve gotten a little lonely and a whole lot bored.”

She smiled. “Helping you at the agency is a real answer to my prayers, but I don’t want you to feel obligated in any way. Madge can be rather persuasive, but she’s also a bit impulsive. If you’d rather advertise for an agent to help you
run your office while you recuperate, I understand, though I’m going to be completely honest and tell you I want the position very much.”

Andrea smiled. “You’re hired, but I have to be completely honest with you, too. The position is very short-term.” She paused, debated with herself whether or not to tell Doris about her upcoming chemo treatments, then decided to keep that news in the family for now. “Once I’m on my feet again—”

“I understand completely. I’m not even sure I want something long-term. Not at this stage of my life.”

“I don’t blame you. As a matter of fact, I’ve always worked alone. I’ve never had an employee before,” Andrea admitted.

“I’ll stay and work for as long or as short as you need me.”

Chuckling, Andrea shook her head. “It can’t be this easy.”

Doris smiled and shook her head. “I was thinking the same thing. I only left my message yesterday. I was hoping you’d call back, but to actually be hired within a day…”

Andrea cocked her head. “Have you got any other plans for today?”

“No, I kept the day open.”

“Good. Let’s go into the office together. I’m sure there are messages waiting. You can get familiar with the setup, though we’ll have to rearrange things a bit now that the two of us will be sharing the workspace. We’ll need to stop by Jenny’s on the way. Somehow she wound up with my briefcase, and I need to check my calendar to see about the appointments I had for today. We should be able to catch the clients before they leave. They have a wedding today.”

She pointed at the portfolio in Doris’s hands. “Bring that along, too.”

Doris stored the portfolio in her briefcase before she stood up. “Unless you have something here we can take so you can keep that foot elevated, we’ll need to stop at Betty’s, too. She’s got an old needlepoint footrest you can use.”

No argument from Doris about Andrea going to the office instead of resting at home.

No debate from Doris over the terms or length of her employment.

Only support and concern.

When He answered prayer, He could be…amazing.

Andrea could not wait to see what He had planned for the rest of the day.

By half-past noon, Andrea had a signed employment contract stored in the new folder with Doris’s name on it, along with a full copy of the portfolio and notes of conversations she had had with two of the references Doris had provided. Andrea had her foot elevated on an antique needlepoint footrest that was very old and exquisite, and she was actually quite comfortable sitting in one of the wing chairs in her office. Doris had just finished a virtual online tour of the agency’s listings after familiarizing herself with the office equipment.

“You can use my password online until you join the Tilton County Board of Realtors,” Andrea told her, “and you should see Tim Fallon on Monday to order business cards. He can take your photo, too, and use the template he made for my business cards. I’ll call him first thing to let him know you’re coming and tell him to charge it to my account as well.”

“You’re not obligated to do that,” Doris protested.

Andrea hesitated. “That may be, but it’s how we’re going to do it. Normally agents aren’t hired for a few weeks, either. Have you got a cell phone?”

Doris rolled her eyes. “A necessary evil in this business. I hate cell phones, and I love them. Yes, I’ve got one.”

“Good. You can pay for that.” Andrea glanced around the front office and sighed. “What we really need is a pair of strong arms to help rearrange the furniture. If we add one of the tables from one of the conference rooms, we can set up the work area to accommodate both of us.”

Literally, before her words could fade to an echo, her front door opened and Jamie Martin stepped inside. Through the picture window, she could see his father, Shawn, watching from across the street, but she directed her attention to the young man who approached her.

He walked with stiff determination and stopped a few feet away from her. All arms and legs, he topped six feet already. He had his mother’s dark hair and his father’s pale blue eyes—eyes that shimmered with remorse. “I came to apologize, Mrs. Hooper. I’m really, really sorry about running into you yesterday.” He glanced down at her foot and his cheeks flamed. “Is it broken?”

She drew in a deep breath. Here she was, feeling as bruised and battered as if she had been hit by a truck, and he apparently did not have more than a little scrape on his chin. But he wasn’t a truck. He wasn’t even an adult. He was just a kid. A good kid.

As much as she wanted to lash out at him and hurl every well-deserved criticism she could fathom, she did not have the heart. He looked scared. He looked penitent. He looked
genuinely concerned about her well-being. “It’s a bad sprain, but the doctor said I might be better off if I had broken it. Apparently, it’s going to take a while to heal.”

Jamie swallowed so hard, Andrea could see his Adam’s apple move up and down. “I sprained my ankle once. Hurt like anything.”

Andrea caught a glimpse of Doris, quietly slipping behind Jamie and out the front door. “Skateboarding?” she asked.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah. I mean, yes.” He stared at the floor for a moment. When he looked up, his eyes were clear. He straightened his shoulders. “I won’t be skateboarding for a while.”

She cocked one brow. “You’ve been grounded,” she murmured, and wondered if he would notice the pun.

His eyes twinkled. “Yes, ma’am. For the rest of the summer, at least. Mom and Dad said they’d decide then when I could get my skateboard back. It all depends…”

“Depends on what?”

“How I spend my summer. They left it up to me. I thought about it all night and talked it over with them at breakfast. They agreed with my idea. Dad wanted to come with me.” He nodded toward the window. “I asked him to wait for me across the street.”

Curious and impressed that he had apparently not been forced to come to apologize in person, Andrea nevertheless remained silent.

“Anyway, here’s my idea,” Jamie went on. “Instead of working at the school like I’ve been doing, painting and cleaning gum off the desks and stuff, I’d like to work for you. As a volunteer,” he added quickly. “I feel real bad that
you won’t be able to get around because of what I did, so I figured you could use my help. I can be here to help you get inside when you get to work. I can go to the post office and mail stuff for you. Pick up lunch and bring it back for you. Take out the trash…whatever you can’t do because you’re on crutches, I can do. If you’ll let me.”

Stunned, Andrea sat up a little straighter. “You’d work here all summer?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“For free.”

He never even blinked. “Yes, ma’am.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What about your responsibility to your job at the school?”

“I called my friend, Matt. He’s been looking for a job. Then I called my boss, Mr. Potter. He said it was all right if Matt took my place. I just have to call back this afternoon and let them both know if—”

“If I’ll let you do your penance here?”

He nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

Moved, Andrea glanced at the ridiculous crutches Madge had given her and steepled her hands. The conversation she had had with Madge about forgiveness and the greater blessings received when able to forgive someone else replayed in her mind. Instinctively, her heart reached out and claimed those blessings—for herself and for Jamie. “I’d need you here at quarter to nine. Sharp. You can help me get from the car to the office Monday through Saturday. You can leave at three. We’ll try it for a week, see how it goes, and go from there.”

Relief washed over his features. “When do I start?”

She smiled. “How do you feel about moving some furniture right now?”

That night, Andrea crawled into bed early and switched out her light. Well,
crawled
wasn’t exactly how to describe the way that she had scooted and scrunched into a sleeping position, but it was the best she could manage. Her shoulder was still sore. Pain throbbed in her ankle. But her spirit was hopeful as she waited for the pain medication to start working so she could fall asleep, and she had the “girls” to keep her company until she did.

“I’m sleeping late tomorrow. It’s Sunday. Jenny and Michael won’t be picking me up until eleven for late services,” she murmured to the cats, as Redd found her usual spot and settled down against Andrea’s cheek. Redd’s sisters, Sandy and Missy, curled up on either side of Andrea’s bandaged ankle.

Andrea sighed and closed her eyes. Normally, she could not sleep on her back, but tonight, she could have slept lying upside down. “What a different day this has been from yesterday. Thank you,” she whispered. She had scarcely begun her evening prayers when the doorbell rang, startling her.

She groaned, reached over and turned on the light.

M
adge hit the doorbell a second time and reached into her handbag for the key. She was not anxious to repeat what had happened the last time she had let herself into Andrea’s house, but she did not want Andrea to try to get up from the couch to answer the door, either.

She let herself in, punched in the code to deactivate the alarm and knew in a single glance Andrea was not on the couch reading or watching television. “It’s only me,” she yelled, setting her tote bag and purse down on the floor next to the door. Since the kitchen was dark, Madge immediately went to Andrea’s bedroom and found her sister in bed. “I’m sorry. It’s only half-past eight. I saw the light on in the living room and thought maybe you were still up reading or watching television.”

Andrea covered a yawn with the back of her hand and
patted the mattress next to her. “Sit for a minute. Sorry, I had a busy day.”

The moment Madge eased next to her sister, the cats scattered, as always. “I heard. I thought the doctor wanted you to rest for a week or so before you—”

“I’m resting now,” Andrea explained.

“That’s not the same thing, and you know it,” Madge insisted.

“You’re looking very glamorous tonight. I don’t think I’ve seen that dress before. I would have remembered one with lavender sequins. Big date?”

Madge waved an objection. “Don’t be ridiculous. Russell’s still in Ohio. The county horticultural society’s annual banquet was tonight. I left right after the awards ceremony so I could stop by and show you the plaque I received.”

Andrea’s eyes widened. “That was tonight? Oh, I’m sorry, Madge. I forgot all about it. Why didn’t you remind me? I know Jenny couldn’t go, but with Russell away, I would have gone with you.”

“You have enough on your mind. Besides, you’re supposed to stay at home to recuperate.”

“I can sit and recuperate almost anywhere,” Andrea protested, “especially at a dinner where my sister is being honored.”

Madge lifted a brow. “Or at your office? I heard you went to work today,” she admonished.

“Doris went with me. She’s a treasure. Thank you. She took me to the office so we could work out our arrangement. We had to move the furniture around a bit to make room for her, but I feel much better having someone so capable handling all the legwork.”

Madge’s relief was short-lived. “Don’t tell me you helped move furniture!”

The doorbell rang. Andrea grinned. “Saved by the bell?”

“No, you’re not,” Madge warned before she left to answer the door. “I’ll be right back to get an answer.”

“If I’m not here, I’ll be out jogging.”

Madge poked her head back into Andrea’s room. “Not funny,” she snapped, and hurried to the front door. She peered through the peephole, saw Jenny standing on the porch and let her in. “What brings you over?”

Jenny held out one bag, then another with her other hand. “Treats. I was going to your house next. The girls fell asleep on the way home, and Michael wanted to spend a little time on the computer, so I thought I’d make a few special deliveries. Besides, I needed to check on Andrea and I wanted to see your plaque. How did it go tonight?”

Madge could not have held back a grin if she tried and retrieved her tote bag. “It was so nice. Everyone applauded. I mentioned you and Andrea in my speech, and Russell, too. He called me on my cell phone right after I got the award. The banquet manager promised me a copy of the videotape so I could show Russell when he gets back next week. Then you can have it. I’ll have copies made to send to the boys.”

“I can’t wait. Is Andrea still awake?”

Madge led her sister to the bedroom. “Did you know she went to work today?”

Jenny frowned. “I heard. She’s got to be tired. Maybe we can look at the plaque together, have a quick treat, and let her get some rest.” She yawned and covered her mouth with the back of her arm.

“You look beat.”

“Long day, like always, but the bride was radiant and the food at the reception was yummy. I brought some wedding cake home.”

They found Andrea sitting up in bed and grinning when they entered her room. “Did I hear you say wedding cake? Let’s have a picnic right here.”

Madge set down her tote bag. “I’ll get some forks and plates.”

“Got ’em,” Jenny said. She climbed up on the far side of the bed, crossed her legs Indian-style and opened her bags of cake while Madge settled in on Andrea’s other side. Within moments, they were nibbling away.

“This is great cake!” Madge took another bite, certain the cake was McAllister’s famous pound cake. “I was so excited at the banquet, and so many people came up to talk to me that I never did get to eat my dessert tonight.”

“It’s been a great day, and this is a perfect way to celebrate all the blessings we’ve been given,” Andrea remarked.

Jenny looked from Madge to Andrea and back again, wearing a puzzled expression. “I know why you’re celebrating, Madge. Come on, unveil your plaque.”

Madge leaned over, pulled the plaque from her tote bag, and held up the wooden frame with her fingertips so both of her sisters could see it.

Andrea traced the border of raised flowers on the ceramic inlay. “It’s lovely.”

Jenny read the inscription aloud: “Madge Stevens. Forty-First Home Gardener of the Year. Tilton County Horticultural Society.” She sighed. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Me, too,” Andrea murmured.

Madge turned the plaque around, studied the face again and smiled as she stored the plaque back in her tote bag.

“What about you?” Jenny asked Andrea. “What could you possibly be celebrating today?”

“I’m actually celebrating two things,” Andrea told her. “First, I’ve hired my first employee. Temporarily, of course. Doris Blake will be helping me at the office until I can back on my feet. Thanks to Madge.”

Jenny looked as relieved as Madge felt. She had not really been sure how Andrea would take her meddling, as good intentioned as it was to ask Doris to work for Andrea before she’d consulted with her.

Jenny took another bite. “And the second?”

“I agreed to let Jamie Martin work in the office this summer, too,” Andrea announced.

Madge nearly choked. So did Jenny.

Andrea quickly explained her decision. By the time she’d finished, Madge was so overwhelmed she had to blink back tears. Andrea’s capacity to forgive was a model of faith that she would have to spend the rest of her life emulating. “You’re an amazing woman,” she whispered.

Jenny beamed. “I’m so proud of you.”

Andrea actually blushed. “Enough. You both would have done the same thing. So…Madge and I both have a lot to celebrate tonight. What about you, Jenny? We shouldn’t leave you out. Have you got something to celebrate today?”

When her baby sister grinned, she caught and held Madge’s attention. “As a matter of fact…I do. Michael and I do have something to celebrate.”

Madge clapped her hands. “He finished his book, and
now he can go back to teaching so you can stay home with your little ones!”

Jenny’s smile faded. “No. But it won’t be long now. He’s hoping to have it done by the end of the summer. Then he’ll be sending it out in the hope of finding a literary agent, but there’s no guarantee this book will ever find an agent or get published. In the meantime,” she added defensively, “I plan to keep working and supporting him while he pursues his dream.”

Andrea jumped into the conversation and changed the focus from Michael and his book to her sister. “I know! You got promoted to nursing supervisor, and with your raise, you’re putting in a pool for the girls,” she suggested.

Jenny shook her head. “No promotion for me, thank you. I like it right where I am. And
no pool!
The umbrella sprinkler is quite enough for now,” she added with a chuckle.

“So you can forget any ideas you have about swimming fully clothed,” Madge teased. “Let’s see…something to celebrate. You’re getting a new car?”

Jenny grinned. “Wrong.”

Andrea tried again. “You’ve decided to move and you need me to help you find another house?”

“Wrong again. You two must be getting old. Here. I’ll give you a hint.” Jenny rested both of her palms on top of her stomach and smiled. “Ready to guess again now?”

“A baby! You’re having a baby!” Madge squealed, and Andrea’s voice joined in unison.

“Finally!” Jenny beamed. “Katy and Hannah are going to have a baby brother or a baby sister in February.”

After hugs and kisses all around, a bit restrained to ac
commodate Andrea’s injury, Madge and Jenny left for home. Jenny waited until Madge drove away in her purple convertible before starting her own car. Instead of pulling out, however, she gripped the steering wheel and took several long, deep gulps of air to clear her mind and to try to understand why she was feeling so emotional after being with her sisters tonight. She was thrilled for Madge and her award. She was worried for Andrea and concerned about her accident, while cautiously optimistic about her chances for beating cancer. She was ecstatic about having another baby, but she was…jealous. She wanted to have the free time Madge had. She wanted to be home with her girls and with this new baby. She wanted to support Michael’s dream of becoming a writer, but what about her own dreams? Her own needs?

The moment Andrea’s image flashed through her mind, guilt grabbed hold of her heart and nipped at the self-pity that seemed to consume her right now. Andrea was in a virtual battle for her life, a reality that was more than sobering.

Humbled, Jenny brushed away her tears. She pulled away and drove toward home. All she needed was a good night’s sleep. She’d feel better in the morning, wouldn’t she?