Until Forever (Women of Prayer) (20 page)

Everyone continued to work through the afternoon. Jessi left to run some last-minute errands. She also stopped by the cemetery on her way to the store, her last good-bye until next year. She brought flowers and set them by his grave. “Hey, buddy, it’s Mom. Olivia and I are headed home tomorrow, and I just wanted to come and say good-bye. Things are going good. Better than they have in a long while. I’m sure you’d be happy for me. I feel better, Ethan. I’m going to share everything about you with your sister. I’m even going to put out your pictures so she can get to know you too. She doesn’t have any memories, so I will share all mine with her. I love you, Ethan.”

Jessi spent a little more time sitting there reminiscing before she headed to the store to get the things she needed for the trip. Even these visits were getting easier.

Back at home, Aunt Merry and down-faced Olivia set the table and got everything ready for supper. “I’m going to miss you, Aunt Merry.”

Jessi walked into the house smelling hot, baked rolls and teriyaki beef with roasted vegetables. It smelled wonderful and made her stomach rumble. She’d not realized how hungry she’d gotten while getting all her work done. Olivia looked so cute she had to laugh. As she walked in the dining room, Olivia, in a pint-size apron, was carrying a bowl of fresh green beans to the table. The sight of it reminded her of her own childhood and the meals that she used to help with. She’d end up with flour in her hair, on her face, and all over her clothes. It was more work to have her help than to have her play on her own, but Aunt Merry insisted she’d rather have her helping. It was no bother. She did have some wonderful memories, things she wouldn’t trade for the world.

“It smells like it’s time to eat. I hope so, ’cause I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

Olivia, always the practical one, started laughing. “Mommy, but we’re not having horse for supper. Aunt Merry made a different supper. It looks really good.”

Sniffing again, Jessi commented, “It smells really good too! Is it time to eat?”

Aunt Merry walked into the dining room carrying a large platter with the beef and vegetables. “It sure is. We started putting everything on the table when we heard you pull in. I’m glad you’re hungry, ’cause I’m sending you off with a good meal to hold you over till I come.”

“You won’t hear me arguing. You are the best cook around.”

Everyone took their places at the table, and Aunt Merry asked Olivia to say grace. “Dear God, thank you for all this good food that Aunt Merry and me made. Thank you for my mommy and my daddy, and thank you for letting us be a family again. Jesus’s name, amen.” Olivia looked up and grinned at her mother. Jessi just shook her head.

While Jessi was filling Olivia’s plate, she told her the news. “Guess what, Olivia? Aunt Merry is going to come and spend Christmas with us.”

“Really? Is it true? Oh, Aunt Merry, you’ve never come to visit us before. This is going to be so much fun. If there is snow, do you want to go sledding with me? It’s really fun. We can go really fast down the hill. We can build a snowman too. Have you ever built a snowman before?” Actually giving Merry time to answer, she plopped a bite of beef into her mouth.

“Yes, it’s really true. But I don’t think I would make a very good sledding partner. I can watch you, though. How does that sound?”

Olivia smiled in response.

“As far as the snowman is concerned, we’ll have to see. I’ve never built one before, and I have to admit, it does sound like fun. When I was little we always lived in the south, and I never did get to play in the snow. A few times it would flurry a little bit, but there would never be enough to play in. I think I missed out, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I love playing in the snow. Someday Mom is going to take me skiing. Right, Mom?”

“Yep, that’s what I told her. We’d go skiing together. It may be cold in the north during the winter, but there sure are a lot of fun things to do. You don’t have to go too far outside of the house to make a snowman, and you can take plenty of breaks for hot chocolate, so you might want to take her up on her offer. A well-built snowman is an accomplishment to be proud of, that is for sure.”

Olivia looked hopeful, and Aunt Merry took the bait. “Okay, I’ll make a snowman with you; that is, if your mom has hot chocolate ready for us when we’re done.”

Jessi and Olivia spoke up at the same time. “Deal.” Everyone started laughing. It was a pleasant evening for everyone, and before heading to bed, Jessi tried to talk Olivia into leaving first thing in the morning. “Olivia, you know if we wait to leave after church, then we’re not going to have much time to swim when we get to the hotel. Is that what you really want?”

“Mom, we’ve already talked about this. You said we could leave after church. You promised. I want to say good-bye to my friends, and I like my class. My teacher is having a special class tomorrow because I am leaving. We can’t leave early. We just can’t.”

“Don’t go all dramatic on me. It was just a suggestion. I know what I said. I just wanted to remind you about the swimming thing. So, no complaining if we don’t get there in time to swim, all right?”

Olivia crossed her arms rather stubbornly. “I’d rather go to church.”

Jessi dreaded it because it also meant she had to go, that was if they were to take off right after the service. She’d planned on driving through Sonic and eating on the go since they were getting such a late start, that way Olivia could get her last fix of cherry limeades for the year. “Then to church it is. It’s time for bed. Come on; I’ll read you a story and tuck you in.”

Olivia looked a little sheepishly at her mom. “Mom, do you think it would be okay if Aunt Merry tucked me in tonight. Seeing it’s our last night and all?”

“Oh, sure. Why don’t you head up and brush your teeth and put on your jams, okay?”

Olivia took off for the stairs, smiling all the way. Before Aunt Merry headed up, Jessi went toward the kitchen. “Do you want a cup of tea before we turn in?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

“I’ll put the tea water on while you are upstairs.”

Aunt Merry entered Olivia’s bedroom just as she was getting into bed. She had one small gift to give her before she left and wanted to do it when they were alone. She took the package from behind her back and handed it to Olivia. She had it wrapped at the gift shop in pretty pink paper with pink ribbons. There were parts of Olivia that were pure tomboy, and other parts that were all girl.

Olivia looked from the package to Aunt Merry. “A present, for me?”

Merry looked at the child with pure adoration and nodded her head.

Olivia tore open the package. Inside was a brand-new children’s Bible with gold edging and a picture of Jesus on the front. She’d seen some of the other children at Sunday school with this type of book and knew it was a Bible. Her teacher had also read stories from this book. She liked it a lot. “Thank you, Aunt Merry. Just think, my very own Bible. When I learn how to read, then I can read it all by myself.”

“That’s right. You can. But until then you’ll have to ask your mommy to read to you.” Merry felt a little guilty for being so sly, but if this was the only way to get that girl to read the Word, then so be it. She’d live with the guilt. “Tonight I will read to you. How does that sound?”

Olivia snuggled deep into the covers. “I’m ready.”

Merry read her the story of “Daniel and the Lions’ Den,” one of her favorite stories from her childhood. She spoke of obedience and explained that God wants us to obey him, even if it means other people won’t like what we do. Then she told her all about how God protects his children and keeps them safe. “No matter what else happens in life, God is always with us. He will never leave us, just like he didn’t leave Daniel and his friends in the lion’s den.”

After tucking Olivia in, Merry turned on the night light and walked toward the door.

“Aunt Merry?”

“Yes?”

“I’m really glad God won’t leave me. Even if bad things happen, like being thrown in the lions’ den, God will be with me. Thank you for reading me that story.”

“You’re welcome, Olivia, and I am glad too. Good night. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Merry turned off the overhead light and went downstairs to drink her tea and spend a little time with Jessi before bed.

“I was beginning to worry about you. I thought you might have fallen asleep as well.”

“No, just spending a little alone time with my great-niece before she ups and leaves me tomorrow. Before I know it she will be all grown up and have a family of her own. Time passes so fast. I just want to cherish each moment I have. You are so blessed; you know that, don’t you? She’s a beautiful little girl, Jessi. She reminds me so much of you when you were that age.”

Jessi remained quiet and listened to her aunt’s memories.

“Before your mom and dad left you here for good, you loved to come and visit. It wasn’t until after they left you and you felt the pain of being abandoned that you didn’t want to be here. At Olivia’s age, almost six, you relished coming here to visit. You would sit with me, and we would read Bible stories. Do you remember ‘Daniel and the Lion’s Den’?”

Jessi nodded her head yes.

“That’s what we read tonight. I remember when I first read that story to you. You ran around for days pretending to be a roaring lion. Then you would pretend to be a lion that couldn’t open his mouth. You were always so dramatic about everything; Olivia is just like you. She’s going to want to go to church; you know that, don’t you? She has a thirst for knowledge just like you did when you were her age. I hope that you will consider taking her. She needs this from you, Jessi.”

Jessi didn’t want this evening to end on a sour note, but she wasn’t able to make promises she wasn’t sure she could keep. “I’m not sure I can do that, Aunt Merry. I mean, it’s not like God and I are exactly on speaking terms. I’ll think about it, though. I’ll give you that much. It’s all I can offer right now.”

“Then I will have to accept that, now won’t I? Now where is that tea you were making?”

“I turned off the water when you didn’t come down right away. It will only take a minute to heat back up. Do you want some honey in your tea tonight, or sugar?”

Both women enjoyed their tea while talking about school and Aunt Merry’s upcoming visit. It was decided that she would make the flight arrangements and then let Jessi know when she was arriving so she could pick her up. It had been a long time since Merry had been on any kind of trip, and she was really looking forward to it now that the decision had been made. They finished their tea and went to bed—one anticipating morning, and one dreading it.

***

Service wasn’t nearly as bad as Jessi remembered it. She didn’t notice a single person staring and whispering about her, although she was certain a few did comment to one another when she wasn’t looking. Pastor Pruitt spoke to his congregation in soft tones; he didn’t yell at them like her memories of childhood. And he spoke about love and forgiveness like it was something he really believed in. She wasn’t sure, but it almost seemed as though he also loved the people who were seated before him. He wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. After service she stood in line and shook his hand, like everyone else. When he reached for her hand, he held it in one and covered the top with the other and smiled warmly at her, like he knew her. “I’m so glad you could be with us today. I hope you enjoyed the service.”

“I did, thank you.” Jessi didn’t know what else to say, so she continued to move forward. At the car there were hugs all around and promises of the upcoming visit. Jessi and Olivia drove off in their fully loaded car to go home. It would be a long drive with too much time to think. Maybe leaving for home right after service wasn’t such a bright idea. She had no illusions of what she would be thinking about, a soft-spoken man with gentle words of a loving God.

Chapter 24

Mark carried the last box to the U-Haul. “Well, this is it.” He sure was glad his sister sold half her stuff to the couple who bought the house, or else they would never have fit it all in the truck. “You are such a pack rat.”