A Gathering of Memories

by Lori Wick

  “Mandy, I’ve been wanting to talk with you and I haven’t had a chance. Can we talk now?”

  “Of course,” Mandy answered, even though she knew that Carrie was going to tell her about her new religion. What Mandy didn’t know was that the words Carrie had chosen were going to affect her tremendously. They sat on the edge of the bed facing each other.

  “We’re family, Mandy,” Carrie began without warning, speaking quickly lest she lose courage. “And nothing can ever change that. I think we’re closer than most sisters, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. But I realized after we moved in with Silas and Amy that there was another family I wanted to be part of and that’s God’s family.

  “I don’t think there’s ever been anything that we haven’t shared in, but this—” She stopped for a moment, afraid that Mandy would be angry with her. “This is something we can’t share in, Mandy—because you don’t think people sin. And I’m telling you, Mandy—you’re wrong. I want you to know that I’m praying that you’ll understand how wrong you are and come to Jesus.”

  There were tears in Mandy’s eyes, and it was almost too much for Carrie. She knew Mandy was hurt, but her soul was more important than a few earthly tears. “Mandy, I love you,” she continued softly. “That won’t ever change. Today is my birthday, but I wasn’t really born until last Sunday when I told God I needed a Savior.”

  Mandy was speechless. Carrie’s face shone with contentment and peace. This wasn’t some religion, some Sunday morning ritual. This was a changed life.

  “Will you think about what I’ve said, Mandy? Think about how much Jesus Christ loves you and what He did on the cross to prove that love.”

  The older girl nodded almost with relief. They hugged, each with their thoughts in a whirl—Mandy, trying to absorb all that Carrie had said, and Carrie, praying fervently that she’d used the right words, and nearly begging God to save her big sister.

  27

  “You mean the entire family is coming?” Carrie asked the question in incredulous surprise when she saw the tables Amy had set for supper.

  “That’s right. You don’t turn 15 every day, and that makes it something to celebrate.”

  “Well now,” Silas spoke as he came into the kitchen. “If you aren’t a sight for tired eyes.” Silas smiled at his adopted family, who sparkled visibly under his words of praise. Rebecca stood quietly in a peach-colored dress and matching pinafore. She didn’t notice Silas looking at her because her eyes were fastened on the cake sitting on the sideboard in the kitchen.

  The boys were freshly scrubbed, and their plaid shirts and navy blue pants were spotless. Levi already had his shirttail tugged out, but he was still in good shape for the party.

  The older girls smiled back at Silas, feeling special under his approving gaze, and then watched as he approached his wife. Amy was in light blue and if the look in Silas’ eye was any indication, breathtaking. She stood still under his scrutiny and raised her face for his kiss when he stopped in front of her.

  The children were long since used to such displays of affection, and it was obvious to each of them that this couple was in love. Levi and Clovis found the entire episode sickening, whereas Carrie and Mandy thought it was the most wonderful thing on earth. At 15 and 18 they couldn’t help but dream of someday having someone like Silas Cameron in love with them. They could even visualize who they wanted that someone to be, but there were last minute details to be handled for supper and no more time for daydreams.

  “If everyone has had enough, let’s go into the living room for presents. We’ll have the cake later. Oh, and leave the dishes.”

  The family did as Amy bade, and Carrie suddenly found herself the center of attention. Seated in the middle of the sofa with a very pregnant Christine on one side and April on the other, she looked at the low table in front of her, covered with presents. She had never seen so many. And they were all for her!

  Biting her lip, Carrie looked up, uncertain of what to do next. The eyes she met were Silas’, and he said gently, “Go ahead, honey, start anywhere you want.”

  She looked at Mandy before reaching for a package and received an encouraging smile.

  “Start with this one, Carrie. It’s from Pastor Chad and me.” Aunt April rescued her by giving her a starting place, and Carrie smiled at her gratefully before tugging the paper from a low, flat package. There was no immediate reaction to the book she unwrapped, until she turned the binding up to see the words—Holy Bible.

  “Oh, Aunt April!” Carrie cried as she threw her arms around the woman next to her. “Is it really my very own Bible—one I can keep?”

  “It’s all yours,” April spoke through the stranglehold on her neck. Every adult in the room was having trouble swallowing, as they watched Carrie slowly open the Bible. Touching the pages as though they would tear under her lightest touch, Carrie raised her head. Her smile was blinding. She searched out Pastor Chad among the sea of faces.

  “Thank you,” Carrie said softly, and he nodded from across the room.

  The next present was the comb-and-brush set from Ross. Again Carrie beamed at the provider of the gift, touching and looking at it as though there had never been anything more wonderful. She went on to receive a pair of cuticle scissors and two cotton handkerchiefs from Grandma Em and a small leather coin purse, a box of hair pins, and a string of beads from her sisters and brothers.

  Silas and Amy bought her a lovely pair of high-top shoes in jet black leather. They looked like they would be a perfect fit, and again Carrie was thrilled.

  The last gift was from the Luke Cameron family, the Mark Cameron family, and the MacDonalds. They had gone in together and bought a tiny gold cross, brightly polished and delicately engraved. It hung on a gold chain.

  Amanda, who had been sitting on the floor next to Ross, leaned forward as her sister pulled the chain from the box. Carrie caught her movement, and the girls exchanged astonished looks.

  “I can’t accept this,” Carrie said the words after a moment. “It must have cost a fortune, and I might lose it or something.”

  “We want you to have it, Carrie. Remember, all three of our families went in together, and none of us think you’re likely to lose it.” Luke spoke for the group, and Carrie glanced at him before her eyes locked with Mandy’s.

  There had never been jewelry in the Jackson family. Their mother hadn’t even owned a wedding ring. Ross, silently watching the entire exchange, suddenly had the impulse to shower Amanda with jewels. It wasn’t financially possible of course, but he desperately wanted to give her something as lovely as the cross—anything to see the look of longing disappear when she received something of her own.

  In the silence following Luke’s words, Mark moved toward Carrie and gently took the necklace from her hands. Mark worked the clasp, and then Carrie looked down in silent awe as the cherished gift fell to a perfect length for the neckline of her dress.

  “Thank you,” she said, and met the eyes of each of them. “I’ll treasure it always.”

  Much laughter and talk followed, and Mandy stayed where she was, hoping Carrie would join her. She got her wish and the girls communicated wordlessly as Carrie knelt down in front of her and let Mandy look her fill. Mandy’s hand reached out and lifted the tiny cross, her thumb moving carefully over the slight furrows in the gold. She let the cross go and it dropped softly back against Carrie’s chest. The girls’ eyes met again and they both giggled in delight and threw their arms around each other. The words came then, in a torrent.

  “It’s so pretty.”

  “I just love it.”

  “You mustn’t lose it.”

  “I’ll only wear it on Sundays.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “You can wear it, Mandy.”

  “No, it’s yours.”

  “I know, but you can.”

  “Oh, Carrie.”

  They laughed together then because they felt so good and the evening had been so wonderful. Carrie moved of
f to see someone else, leaving Ross and Amanda alone.

  “She got nice things, didn’t she?” Mandy said with genuine pleasure.

  “Yes, she did. She certainly looked pleased.” Ross was once again taken by her selflessness. She didn’t seem the least bit jealous of all the gifts and attention her sister was receiving.

  “It was thoughtful of you to bring her something, Ross.”

  “It was my pleasure. Pete said to tell her happy birthday. I forgot to tell her when she was just here.”

  “Are you two all settled in your house?”

  “I think so. We have more furniture than I imagined we would, thanks to Pete’s Uncle Preston.”

  “Preston Culver?”

  “Right. Do you know him?”

  “I know of him, but then everyone in Baxter can say that. It seems like he owns everything in town.”

  “I don’t think everything, but he’s a very successful businessman. He’s also a very nice guy. You would probably like him.”

  “You might be right, but it’s doubtful I’ll ever meet him.”

  “He goes to the church, Amanda.”

  “Oh, I guess I didn’t see him.”

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll be at the ceremonies on Wednesday, so I’ll have to introduce you.”

  “I can’t believe it’s nearly the Fourth of July.”

  “This will be my first one away from Hayward.”

  “Do you miss your family?”

  “Not as much as I thought I would, but yes, I do miss them.”

  “And your girlfriend. You must miss her.”

  Ross looked at her in surprise. Her voice had sounded so resigned, and she was looking at him in a way Ross was not ready to deal with.

  “Time to sing and have cake,” Silas called from the doorway. Not until Ross had his cake and he and Mandy were separated by many people, did he realize he hadn’t told her that he no longer had a girl.

  28

  “Oh, Luke! That was a bad one,” Christine gasped. “You better go for Mark.”

  “I’m going. I’ll run over and ask Amy to sit with you.”

  “Fine.” She gasped again as another contraction seized her. The last had subsided and another had started when Luke’s horse raced toward Silas’.

  Mandy, having heard the horse approach, was out of her bed and on the stairway when Luke pounded, making her the first to the door.

  “I have to go for Mark. Please ask Amy to go over with Christine.” He was racing for the horse when Silas’ shout stopped him.

  “Luke, stay with Christine! I’ll go for Mark!” It took a moment for the words to sink in and then Luke was swinging back off the horse and running for his house.

  “I’ll go over and see if there’s anything I can do, Silas. I’ll be dressed in a minute.”

  “Mandy, that’s not a good idea. It’s not very pleasant for a woman—”

  Mandy’s laughter stopped him. “Silas, you’re forgetting I’m the oldest in my family. I was three years old when I watched Mama have Carrie.”

  Silas heard her move off in the dark before rushing to Amy to tell her what was going on. Amy was still standing in sleepy surprise at the bottom of the stairs, long after the sound of the horse’s hooves had died away.

  “Did Silas tell you I was going next door?”

  “Oh, Mandy you startled me. Yes, yes he said you were going over. Would you rather I went?”

  “No, I’ll be fine.”

  Amy was secretly relieved. She had listened to the stories her sisters-in-law told, and she wasn’t really sure she wanted to be anywhere near a woman in labor.

  “No one heard me knock, so I came on back.”

  Both Luke and Christine were vaguely surprised to see Mandy enter their bedroom, but Christine’s labor overshadowed everything. At the moment they gave very little thought to the fact that this young, unmarried woman was coming to help a woman on the verge of giving birth.

  “I told Amy I would come see if I could be of any help. Luke, we could use a little more light in here.” Sounding distracted, she moved toward the bed, all her concentration on Christine. She bent over the bed and put her hand beneath Christine’s back. The contraction subsided and Mandy smiled at the older woman.

  “They’re coming hard, aren’t they?”

  “I want to push.”

  “No, Christine! Don’t push, do you hear me?” It was a command. “Now, you’re nearly suffocating in these covers.” She turned to Luke who was coming in with another lamp. “We need some sheeting and a light blanket.”

  Luke moved to obey and then sat on the bed by Christine and watched in fascination as Mandy readied the room. Mark’s nurse, Maggie, always took care of this, and Luke realized that he would not have known what to do.

  “Have the wash basin ready. I washed up in the kitchen but Mark will want to wash up in here.” Luke only sat staring. “Please, Luke, take care of it.”

  After that Mandy forgot he was in the room. She sat with Christine and talked with her, bathed her face, and supported her when contractions came.

  “Mandy, I have to push.”

  “No!” The word was shouted and Mandy whipped back the sheet to check on her patient. “Christine,” she said in a voice almost angry with concern. “Don’t push! You want Mark here to bring this baby into the world. Now just hold on a little bit longer.”

  But there was no answer from the woman on the bed whose eyes were dilated with pain, a woman who was losing the battle with her body and had to push this baby out or die, she was sure.

  “I can see the head!” Mandy wailed. “Try to hold on Christine, please!” Mandy, intent on Christine and the baby, didn’t hear Mark enter the room and quickly scrub his hands. Quickly deciding not to move Mandy, he merely bent over beside her and gave Christine a few instructions. When the next contraction hit, a tiny baby girl slid into his waiting arms.

  “It’s a girl, Christie,” Luke said from his place beside her as he tried to see more of the new little miracle God had given them.

  Mark and Mandy’s hands worked in easy rhythm and in moments the smallest Cameron was dried and wrapped in a clean, warm sheet. A few moments later Maggie Pearson, Mark’s full-time nurse, was ushered to the door by Silas. Mandy, seeing she was no longer needed, slipped quietly from the room. Silas had gone to the kitchen, but Mandy walked past him without a word.

  “Mandy?”

  “I’m going back to the house.”

  Silas walked behind her out the door and watched her stop in the yard. He followed her off the porch and down the steps and came up beside her. The moon, just a sliver in the sky, kept him from seeing her face, and he wondered what she was thinking.

  “What kind of God can make a perfect little baby like that and then take the mama of five children when they need her so badly? What kind of God can keep their pa away, so that they wait and wonder all the time and can’t be sure about tomorrow?

  “Amy’s uncle talks about God’s love, but He doesn’t love everyone the same. He’s given something to Carrie that I can’t have. He’s hiding something special from me and I can’t find it. He doesn’t want me to find it.”

  “That’s not true, Mandy,” Silas said quietly and then was afraid to go on. She was exhausted, the note of hysteria in her voice told him that. He believed they should discuss this after she’d had a full night’s sleep.

  “I’m tired,” she said suddenly. “I have so many questions, but I just can’t think straight.”

  “Let’s go home.” Taking her arm, he felt as well as heard her first sob. She was crying in earnest by the time they reached the house.

  Carrie and Amy met them at the back door. Amy looked to Silas in near panic, thinking something had happened to Christine. Silas told her quickly that they had a niece but that Mandy needed to be put to bed.

  Carrie helped Mandy undress and in no time at all she was cleaned up and in her own bed. Carrie, worried about her sister, climbed in beside her. They were both asleep ver
y quickly.

  Silas, downstairs in bed with his wife, spoke just as they went off to sleep. “Tomorrow is the Fourth, so Luke and I will do no more than feed. Then Mandy and I are going to take a drive. She has questions and I hope I have answers. Either way I’ve got to talk to that girl about things that just won’t wait.”

  29

  “It won’t work, Silas. We have a million things to do to get ready for this afternoon. Plus Josh and Kate are here as well, and I can’t abandon Amy.”

  Mandy sailed off in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Silas in frustration. She had been so receptive to the idea of a drive. When he had mentioned talking over her questions about God she was thrilled, almost astounded that he really cared that much. But when he suggested they leave right then, Mandy had not even hesitated in her reply.

  “There is so much to do. But thank you for thinking of me.”

  “We’re not going to be gone all day. In fact, we could just take a walk.”

  “It won’t work, Silas,” she had begun, and Silas had not known what to do. Maybe it’s my will, Silas thought, and not God’s will that we talk. I’ll have to leave it for now.

  Everyone was going to Grandma Em’s for a Fourth of July supper and then to the edge of town for the fireworks display. Josh and Kate were at Silas and Amy’s to give Christine and the baby some quiet, and Mandy was right, there were many things to do.

  There was a lull in the activity just after lunch when Luke came to get Kate to put her down for a nap.

  “Mandy, would you mind coming over with me? Christine wants to talk with you.”

  “Sure, I can come.” Mandy was pleased, not because she felt she deserved any thanks but because she wanted to see the baby.