Tender Love (21 page)

“Why don't you take a break and join me for a cup of tea, Ethel? I'd like to talk to you. I believe you take sugar in your tea.”

Ethel didn't reply, but when Alice had the water boiling and had placed the cups on the table, Ethel sat down.

“I'm asking you to forgive me, Ethel. I should have been more understanding of your situation. You'd been good to Mark and his family, and I do appreciate it. We didn't treat you very well, and I'm sorry for that.”

Ethel's face flushed and her eyes filled with tears.

“I did love him,” she said, “and I thought he'd turn to me when Clarice died. Of course, I know now, you're the one for him. You'll be a better mother than I could be, but it's hard to accept.”

Alice reached across the table and put her hand over Ethel's tense fingers. “I can't apologize for wanting to marry Mark, for I love him very much, but I am sorry that you can't be happy, too.”

“I'll get over it,” Ethel said, swiping tears from her eyes. “It's not the first disappointment I've had. Being here in the house has made it easier, although I dreaded to come back.”

“Can't we be friends? It would mean a great deal to the children, for you're one of the few ties they have to their mother. Besides, Mark and I don't like to be at odds with anyone.”

“When are you going to get married?”

“I don't know. Mark wants to wait until he feels the definite leading of the Spirit for his future. When he's so unsettled—not knowing where he might be called to serve—we decided to wait. And, of course, Eddie and Kristin need to get used to the idea.”

After a month, the doctor checked Alice and, with a light brace on her arm, he said she could resume her household duties with caution. Ethel discontinued her daily visits, but she went with the Tanners' standing invitation to visit them at any time, especially when they moved into their renovated home and had a spare bedroom.

Alice was still not up to her usual activities, and after she got the children off to school the day after her trip to the doctor, she sat in the family room to read her Bible and pray. The last two months had been so full of trauma and pain, both physical and
mental, that she had trouble sorting out the good and the bad, but as she thought about it, she decided that the good outweighed the bad. She couldn't wish away the bad days when she considered the positive results of the charges against Mark and her near-tragic accident.

The appearance before the Ordination Committee, and the dropping of the charges against Mark, had improved his standing with the state organization, rather than having an adverse effect. Several churches had already contacted him with tentative proposals for ministry.

And her accident had brought some needed reconciliation with her family, too. Her parents, who'd been standoffish since she'd refused to finance a house for Nancy, had come to see her at the Tanner home, and after staying in Richmond a few days had gone home convinced that her decision to marry Mark was a good one. Since Alice had awakened in the hospital, Kristin's attitude had changed, and more than once, she apologized for her earlier treatment of Alice. Gran had been as attentive as her disability permitted during the days of Alice's recuperation.

Alice had only one worry—why did Mark still hesitate to marry her? She knew it had nothing to do with his love for Clarice. The children were no longer objecting, and Eddie asked almost every day when they were going to get married. Any question about an immoral relationship between them had been aired to the community and they'd been pronounced innocent. What made Mark reluctant to set a date? Was he still worried about the money she'd inherited?

But she learned the truth about Mark's hesitancy
when he breezed into the kitchen that evening. He'd telephoned that he had an appointment and would be later than usual. Alice was busy at the stove, and for the first time since her accident, he put his arms around her. She winced a little, saying, “My ribs are still tender, Mark. Be careful.”

He dropped his arms and bent to kiss her. “Sorry, but I'm so happy to see you standing there that I had to touch you. And I have some outstanding news, too. I've just come from a meeting with the official board of Tyler Memorial Church. The pastor is resigning, and they want me to come back as their senior minister.”

“Oh, Mark! Is that what you want to do?”

“Yes, it is, although I didn't know it. When I learned what they wanted, the most outstanding sense of peace and comfort entered my heart. I've been fearful that God no longer had a place for me in His service, especially after I was so wayward in trusting Him during the crises of my life. When I've had interviews with other church boards, I felt nothing—no enthusiasm, no interest in their propositions. Now I know why—God expected me to take up the cross I laid down at this local church two years ago.”

“When will you start, Mark?”

“Their pastor doesn't leave for two months—that will give me ample time to tender my resignation at the bank. When can we get married?” he added eagerly.

So it was spiritual anxiety that had kept him from marriage!

“Let's sit down, Mark. I've been up more today than usual.”

He held the chair for her as she sat at the table.
“The contractor telephoned today, and he says that the renovations have gone well, and we can move in a couple of months, which will be after the first of the year. But let's be married sooner than that—perhaps before Christmas.

“Sounds good to me.”

“If I can get Aunt Margaret to come and look after Gran and the kids, I'll go to Alexandria and prepare to close that house as soon as my ribs heal. I need to choose the furniture that I'll leave there and what I'll bring to our new home. If Aunt Margaret will come, I won't feel rushed.”

“Then, I assume that you have no objection to my return to the local church. I told the board that I wouldn't give an answer until I talked it over with you.”

“That's sweet of you, Mark, but I'll be delighted to continue worshiping there. All of us have many friends at Tyler Memorial, and I especially appreciate the support they gave us during your hearing with the ordination board.”

T
he insistent ringing of the doorbell awakened Alice, and for a moment she was tempted to ignore it. She hadn't activated her telephone service for the few days she intended to be in Alexandria, and she couldn't imagine who would even know she was here.

She wasn't sleeping well, for the extra exertion of cleaning closets and tugging on furniture was arduous, making her realize she wasn't fully recovered from the accident. Her arm had hurt all night, and she'd counted the passage of time by listening to the grandfather clock in the lower hall tolling the hours. It had been past four o'clock when she'd gone to sleep. Noting that it was only seven o'clock, she rolled out of bed and slipped into a robe as she hurried downstairs. She looked through the peephole before she opened the door.

Betty!

“What's wrong?” she said breathlessly, as she admitted Betty St. Claire to the house.

“Eddie's sick.”

Alice stumbled into the living room to the right of the hallway. She dropped heavily into an antique chair and motioned Betty to sit down.

“Is it his heart again?”

“The doctors don't think so, but the malady is hard to diagnose. It's a bacterial infection of some kind. He got sick at school the day after you left. Whatever it is, it's really sapped his strength.”

“How bad is he?”

“Bad enough that Mark wanted me to come and get you. He didn't think he should leave.”

“Dr. Zane warned us that Eddie would be more susceptible to sickness than other children. His condition must be serious.”

“I went to the hospital to see him last night, and I think he's in a coma.” Alice gasped at Betty's words.

“Poor Mark! How's he taking it?”

“As strong as an oak tree! He's reacting the way he did the ten years he served our church. Strong in his faith and an encouragement to everybody around him. Even though he's worried sick about Eddie, he's being a tower of strength to everyone—even Dr. Zane, who's so concerned because he doesn't know what else to do.”

“I'll leave as soon as I can dress. Thanks for coming to tell me, Betty.”

“Do you want to go back with me? I don't like to have you driving alone.”

“No, I'll be fine.”

The hundred-mile drive usually passed quickly for Alice, but in her anxiety for Eddie, she thought the trip would never end. Adding to the mental strain
was the certainty that Mark and his family faced a situation now that she couldn't fix. Had she been guilty of considering her money a panacea for everything? If she had, Alice knew now that all her money wasn't sufficient to save Eddie's life. If the best doctors in Richmond were stumped, there was nothing Alice Larkin could do. “When all else fails, pray.” Was she the type of person who believed that? Did her security depend upon the fortune John had left her?

“God, forgive me,” she muttered aloud. “I can't be Miss Fix-It anymore. I admit defeat— I can't make Eddie well, but You can. Please keep Mark from suffering the death of his son.”

Admitting her own inadequacy and turning Eddie over to God calmed Alice's fears. She turned on the tape player and listened to the words of the Bible that she always played when she traveled alone. The narrator read from the book of Luke, and after listening for a half hour to the miraculous works of Jesus, she took particular note of the words, “But Jesus…healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.”

Was this her assurance that Eddie would recover? Alice didn't know, but she had learned a needed lesson. Alice Larkin was a finite person who had little power to do anything; only God could be called great!

 

Alice had passed Richmond Children's Hospital several times during the months she lived in the city, but she hadn't been inside the building. The receptionist was helpful, and soon Alice stood before the
closed door behind which she would find Eddie. Her hand trembled when she turned the doorknob and walked in without warning.

Eddie was lying, eyes closed, still as death, in the bed—his body small and frail under the thin sheet. Mark knelt by the bed, his head in his hands; Kristin and Gran sat nearby, their hands clasped.

When Alice saw how terrible Eddie looked, she started sobbing. Mark lifted his head, saw her grief, and rushed to her side.

“Oh, sweetheart, don't cry. He may get well—we can't tell yet,” Mark said, and Alice sensed Mark's strength that Betty had mentioned. No faltering, no indecision anymore. Mark Tanner had recovered his faith in God and his purpose in life.

“I love him so much,” Alice sobbed. “He can't die.”

During most of their relationship, Alice had always been the one who'd comforted Mark, but Mark had become the protector now, and how good it was to lean on his strength!

Kristin tugged at Alice's hand. “Don't cry, Alice,” but tears were pouring from her eyes, and Alice left Mark's embrace to kneel beside Kristin. She wiped Kristin's tears. “I'm sorry I was away when this happened.”

“We've missed you so much—you always make things better.”

“Mark,” Gran called excitedly. “Eddie is moving.”

“Maybe the sound of your voice brought him around,” Mark said, as they all gathered around the bed. “Talk to him, Alice.”

Alice perched on the bed, took Eddie's right hand,
careful not to dislodge any of the tubes connected to his little body. She caressed his face and brushed back the curls that had fallen over his forehead.

“Eddie,” she whispered. “I've come to see you. Won't you wake up and talk to me?” She bent over and kissed him.

Mark's hand gripped Alice's shoulder. Slowly, Eddie licked his lips. His eyes fluttered a little, finally opened, and they brightened when he recognized her.

“Alice,” he whispered, and the weakness in his voice distressed her. “I've missed you.”

Alice heard a sob escape Mark's lips, and she lifted her fingers and covered his hand on her shoulder.

“I was only gone a few days.”

“It seemed like a long time. I don't like to go home from school when you're not there. Aunt Margaret is fun, but I wanted you.”

“You hurry and get well, and I'll be waiting when you get home from school.”

“Alice, I've been asleep for a long time and I've been dreaming a lot. One time, I dreamed I was talking to Jesus, and he took me by the hand and told me He would show me my new mommy. And it was you, Alice—it was you! He wants you and Daddy to get married.”

Overcome, Alice slumped on the bed beside him, and everyone cried except Eddie. Mark put his arm around Alice. “We won't wait any longer, Son. As soon as you're well enough to come to the wedding, I'll give you a new mama.”

 

Eddie was released from the hospital a few days later, still weak, but definitely on the mend. Each
night, Alice stayed at the hospital with the boy, so that Mark could continue his work, because his resignation would soon be effective, and he wanted to meet his obligations before then.

He was able to sit at the table and eat his meal the first night he came home. Alice watched him anxiously even though the doctors had assured her that he was out of danger. Mark went upstairs with Eddie and kept him company for an hour, but before he went to sleep, Eddie asked for Alice.

“Are you going to sit with me tonight?” he asked.

“I don't believe that's necessary. Your daddy will be right down the hall, and he'll be listening for you to call if you have trouble. Also, I'll leave my bedroom door open and you can ring your bell if you need me. I'll check on you again before I go to bed.”

“What're you going to do until then? Why don't you stay with me?”

“Because I've been spending every night with you for over a week and I've had no time with Mark. Daddies need to know you love them, too.”

“All right,” Eddie said, “but you will come back before you go to bed?”

“You can count on it.” Alice bent over and kissed his soft hair.

Mark waited at the bottom of the stairs. He put his arm around her, and they went into the family room and sat together on the couch.

“When can we get married?” Mark said.

“The sooner the better,” Alice answered with a smile. “The doctor said that Eddie can go back to school in a week, so any time after that.”

“Do you want a big wedding?”

Alice shook her head emphatically. “No. Let's go
to Tyler Memorial and have a short ceremony with only a few friends and relatives.”

Mark hesitated. “Since I'm returning to the church as their pastor, I believe the members will be disappointed if they aren't invited to come. We could have the current pastor perform a simple ceremony, without fancy clothes or attendants, but invite anyone who wants to come.”

“You're right, of course—I hadn't thought of it that way. Will your parents come?”

“I'm sure they will, if my sister has time to look after the business.”

“My family will want to attend too, so we'll have several relatives.”

Mark stretched out his long legs and relaxed beside her.

“I've been so worried over the past few weeks that I wondered if I could ever be happy again. And now, you're here in my arms, and Eddie is upstairs asleep in his own bed.” He drew her head down on his shoulder, and caressed her hair.

“Mark, I want to legally adopt Kristin and Eddie. I don't want to be a stepmother—I want to be their
mother.
Do you think they'll mind, or do you object?”

He laughed lowly. “Why would I object? You're paying me a compliment to adopt my children so they will be ‘ours.' That's wonderful, but what if we have a child? That would put Kristin and Eddie on the same legal basis as your child, and, considering your assets, that's a significant decision.”

“That's one of the reasons I want to adopt them.”

 

As soon as the wedding was over, Eddie started calling Alice, Mama, but the matter of how to ad
dress Alice seemed to be a major problem for Kristin. For several days, she didn't call her anything, but one evening when she was helping Alice prepare the evening meal, and they were alone in the kitchen, she said, “Why can't I call you ‘Mother'?”

“I'd be happy to have you call me ‘Mother.'”

“Mama sounds too babyish, and besides that's what I called my other mother.” Alice was gratified that she didn't say “my
real
mother.”

“I prefer to be called Mother, rather than Mom, so that sounds like a good choice.”

Alice didn't report the conversation to Mark, but the first time he heard Kristin address her as “Mother,” he lifted his eyebrows, and his dimple deepened. He was pleased.

 

When Alice awakened on the Sunday morning that Mark was to preach the first sermon of his renewed pastorate, her husband was seated in a chair near the window, a Bible in his hand. She sat up in bed, and he turned toward her. “I didn't mean to interrupt your meditations. Shall I go back to sleep?”

“No, come join me,” Mark said, and he held out his arm to her. She slipped on a robe and went to sit on his knee.

“Nervous?” she asked.

“No. I've prepared my sermon well, and I've been praying just now for the Spirit's leadership when I face my congregation. It's strange that even though I was their pastor for years, it still seems like a beginning.”

Alice caressed his face, feeling the roughness of his beard beneath the fair skin.

“I'm looking forward to hearing your sermon, and I know you'll do great. But we'd better get a move on if we want to get our whole family gussied up for the day. We don't want you to be ashamed of our appearance.”

After a quick breakfast, while Mark helped the children to dress, Alice went across the hall to see if Gran needed any assistance.

The older woman was struggling to put on her stockings. “I'm getting slower all the time, Alice. I can't be ready in time.”

“I'll help you. Mark is taking care of the kids.” Alice knelt before her and pulled on the hose, then she lifted a dress over the older woman's head and secured the zipper.

“I wish I had a new dress, since this is such an important occasion, but I haven't bought anything for a long time.”

“I'll take you shopping someday soon, so you can buy new clothing, and you might find some new items under the Christmas tree.”

Gran patted Alice's hand. “You're good to me, Alice, as much as if I were your own grandmother, but I'm a burden to you. I think it would be better if I just go into a nursing home when you move.”

Alice laid her arm around the angular, stooped shoulders.

“Gran, when I said ‘I do' to Mark, I said ‘I do' to his family. You're family, and unless you get completely disabled to the place that I can't take care of you, you're welcome to stay with us. So stop fretting about it. You're the nearest relative the children have, except their father, and it's important for them to have some ties to the past.”

Alice had bought new clothes for Mark and the children in honor of this special occasion. Kristin wore a burnt-orange sweater with a brown skirt. Eddie had on a pair of blue trousers, a white shirt, and a light-blue silk tie. And Gran, in spite of her disability, presented a neat and gracious appearance in an aqua woolen dress. Before her stroke, she'd been above average in height, and Alice believed that in her youth, Gran had been a beauty.

Alice didn't have new clothes, but she dressed in the most expensive wool suit she'd ever owned. She'd bought it on sale a few months before she'd met Mark and his family. Mark whistled when Alice pirouetted in front of him for inspection. With the dark-brown suit, she wore a pink blouse that emphasized her pink-and-white complexion. She put on coral pendant earrings and fastened a matching brooch to her suit lapel.