Serenity

by Dixie Land

  Serenity

  Serenity

  Dixie Land

  Alabaster Books

  Kernersville, North Carolina

  USA

  Serenity is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Other names, characters, places, and incidents portrayed herein are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally.

  SERENITY Copyright  2003 by Dixie Land Jakubsen. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced or reused in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Published by Alabaster Books P.O. Box 401

  Kernersville, North Carolina 27285

  Book design by Jeff Pate

  Cover art by Janice Polanski-Beihoff of Franklin, Wisconsin

  FIRST EDITION

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2003091005

  ISBN: 0-9725031-0-2

  ACKLOWLEDGEMENTS

  THANKS! To my best friend, number one enthusiastic supporter and constant sounding board, Larry. I couldn’t have finished any of my novels without you. I love you.

  My gratitude to my children Brad and Diane, for encouraging me from the start. A very special thanks! Alex, Ross and Ryan, you’re a constant inspiration to me.

  Linda, I’m so glad you moved here. I don’t have to mail you my manuscripts any more.I appreciate all of you who have read my work, and liked it. You motivate me to continue my writing.

  Chuck Smithers, what can I say? Thank you is far too inadequate for all of the time you gave to each of my manuscripts. What a favor you did me when you introduced me to Jan Beihoff. Such an artist!

  My wonderful friends and writers of the Triad Writers Roundtable: Lynette Hampton, Chuck Smithers, Kathy Fisher, Joanne Clarey, Patti Morgan, Elizabeth Hedgecock, Dave Shaffer and John Staples; your input is invaluable. Chris Roerden; thanks for taking the time to answer my many questions in such depth. Jeff Pate, thanks for your willingness to help whenever I called. I am blessed that you’ve shared your artistic creativity with me.

  Knowing each of you enhances my life! For Jane and Ken,

  Wish you were still here. I love you. Thanks for absolutely everything.

  ChapterOne

  aggie Thornton squinted as the summer morning sun emerged from behind a cloud casting a blinding glare on the windshield of her green Ford Taurus station wagon. She adjusted the visor then slid her brown-framed sunglasses from the top of her head down over the bridge of her nose. She lowered her right hand and let it rest on the side of her neck. She was surprised to feel a little chill shoot across her shoulders and down her back as her fingers touched the tender nodules there. She began to knead them. Another testament as to how tense she had been without even realizing it.

  An involuntary shudder shook her as the impact of her life-altering decision finally began to sink in. The tragedies of the past months had made this the most difficult year of her life. But this last situation, this discovery about Michael, had pushed her beyond her endurance. It had broken her; given her reason, or perhaps an excuse, to do something quite out of character for Maggie. She had fled everything: career, relationship, so-called friends and even location. She had retreated from it all. She must try to begin again.

  She had completed her packing in the wee hours this morning, loaded up her car and left the furnished townhouse she had rented in Alexandria, Virginia, for the past year. She glanced at the clock on the dash and realized she’d been on the road for more than five hours. No wonder she was tense. She’d always hated long drives alone.

  During the first two hours of the drive she had vacillated between tears and angry diatribes directed at Michael. She’d made a brief stop at a rest area to rinse her face and try to compose herself and hadn’t stopped driving since.

  “I need another break,” she said aloud. “ I’ll stop at the next exit and stretch my legs.”

  As she continued on, she began to have doubts as to the wisdom of the decision that placed her on this North Carolina highway heading she wasn’t quite sure where.

  She had been close to tears when she handed in her resignation Friday at the end of her shift at Lee General Hospital. Her only measure of comfort in the entire day had come from what she perceived as genuine regret that Martin Forsythe expressed at losing her.

  “You’re one of my best staff nurses, Maggie, I don’t want to lose you,” the administrator had told her. “This is so sudden. What can I do to keep you?”

  Maggie had pled personal reasons.

  “Has something happened that I should know about? Do you want to talk about it?”

  Her answer had been no.

  “Then let’s make it a leave of absence,” Martin had said. “I know how difficult this past year has been for you. Maybe you just need a little time away.”

  She had consented and then felt guilty for the lie. But it seemed the most expedient way to end the discussion. She had no intention of returning to this hospital or even to the area ever again. After leaving the hospital administrator’s office she’d gone directly to the hospital employee’s credit union and had withdrawn her life savings of $4,500.37. She took $3,500.00 of it in traveler’s checks and kept the rest in cash. Then she’d gone home to pack up her belongings. She’d worked into the night and all day Saturday to get her things together, clean the apartment, pay a few bills and write the necessary letters to utility companies and to her landlord. She hadn’t slept before leaving, but she wasn’t tired. All she wanted was to get on the road and away from everything that reminded her of Dr. Michael Kerns. He hadn’t attempted to contact her, and for this she was thankful. He was the very last person on earth she wanted to talk to then and now.

  She drove on several miles before she saw a road sign. Serenity, North Carolina: 1 mile.

  “That sounds inviting,” she said aloud. She always talked to herself when she drove alone. Maggie flipped on her turn signal and moved into the right lane of traffic.

  When she reached the exit, she drove up a long curving incline and stopped at the stop sign. She made a right turn then drove down a slight incline into the most tranquil, quaint little village Maggie had ever been in. She immediately felt a sense of having been transported into the past. For the first time in months she felt a slight sense of comfort. All of the shops that lined the cobblestone-street looked as if they had been there for a hundred years, yet all of their exteriors looked freshly painted. The carved wood signs in front of the shops were hung from black wrought iron posts; neatly laid brick sidewalks formed a path between them.

  Maggie drove past a bookstore, an antique shop, a library, a curio shop, drugstore and a pantry before coming to a row of frame houses. Daisies, phlox, lilies, hollyhocks and canna grew among the stately oak trees that lined both sides of the street. Their leafy heads linked in the center of the broad road forming an arch of softly filtered sunlight over the little community.

  “Serenity is the perfect name for this lovely little spot,” Maggie whispered.

  Chimes broke the silence. In the distance she saw a church steeple. She drove on and stopped in front of the whiteframe chapel. The sign in the yard read, “Welcome all. Leave your cares on the steps of the Lord’s house. Sunday service, 11:00A.M.”

  Oh gosh, it is Sunday! Maggie thought, and aloud she asked, “Why not?”

  She glanced at the Timex on her arm; it showed 10:58. Not surprising there was no longer anyone going inside. She hoped her watch wasn’t slow.

  She found a parking place on a side street and stepped out of her car. She stood for a moment as she smoothed her denim skir
t and red cotton pullover. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the delicate scent of jasmine and honeysuckle. A sudden breeze tousled Maggie’s short wispy chestnut-brown curls and blew her skirt against her thighs as she hurried the short distance to the steps of the church. When she reached the top, she saw a large empty basket. There was a sign on it that read, “Care Basket, leave your excess baggage here.”

  “You don’t have enough room for all the baggage I’m hauling,” she said under her breath.

  Maggie pulled open one of the heavy wooden doors. She stepped into the sanctuary as the preacher rose from his chair behind the pulpit and stood before the congregation.

  “Good morning,” he greeted his parishioners.

  “Good morning,” reverberated back.

  Maggie slipped into the pew at the back of the church and sat down as the rest of the congregation rose, hymnals in hand, and began singing, “How Great Thou Art.” She rose quickly as the little woman beside her smiled and moved her hymnal closer to share with Maggie.

  When the song ended and the congregation was seated once again, the minister began walking down the center aisle toward Maggie.

  “I’m happy to see we have a visitor today. Would you mind standing and telling us who you are, and how we came to have the pleasure of your company?” He stopped beside Maggie and offered her his hand. He was a tall slender man with wavy silver hair and gray-blue eyes. His voice was very deep but there was gentleness in his tone. As Maggie looked into his eyes, she was reminded a little of her late grandfather, Joseph Thornton.

  Feeling flustered, she rose and put her hand in his as she cleared her throat. Maggie heard the rustling of people turning in their seats. She took a deep breath then began softly.

  “I’m Maggie Thornton, and I’m a registered Nurse. I’m in the process of relocating, and I stopped in Serenity to take a driving break. Your town and church looked so charming and inviting to me that I wanted to join you for the service.”

  “I’m Reverend Donald Townlee, and we’re all so very glad you’re here, Maggie Thornton. Welcome.”

  The parishioners punctuated the minister’s welcome with applause.

  “Today is our homecoming,” Reverend Townlee continued. “We’d love to have you join us after the service for a delicious meal. I can guarantee you won’t go away hungry. And, wait till you taste Martha Walker’s apple pie.” He rolled his eyes, and a wide grin transformed his face to that of an impish little boy. Turning around to where Martha was seated, he asked, “You did bring the pies didn’t you, Martha?”

  The woman beamed at him as she nodded.

  “Thank you. You make it sound tempting,” Maggie said. “I’ll give it some thought.”

  The minister released her hand and returned to the pulpit. The woman next to Maggie leaned toward her, touched her arm gently and whispered, “Might as well stay. We have some mighty good cooks around here, and you have to eat someplace.”

  An hour later the service ended with the singing of “Just A Closer Walk with Thee,” and the parishioners, perhaps onehundred people, filed out and began to mingle outside the chapel. The woman Maggie had been sitting beside walked out with her.

  “I’m Lillian Bingham, but everyone in town calls me Lil,” she told Maggie. “ I work at the drugstore just down the street. You had to pass it when you came into town.” Lil’s ready smile was so broad that her blue eyes crinkled until they nearly shut as she looked up at Maggie.

  “It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Bingham,” Maggie said smiling back at her. “You’ve made me feel very welcome.” She studied the little woman’s round face peering up at her from beneath a bright pink straw hat, complete with plastic strawberries and daisies attached to the brim. It appeared to have come straight out of the nineteen forties. Maggie couldn’t help but wonder just how many churches she’d have to visit before finding another bonnet quite like this one that adorned Mrs. Bingham’s graying-locks. This quaint little town with its friendly people truly seemed a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Alexandria.

  “Now, Maggie honey,” the woman continued, “you call me Lil, and you’ll make me feel comfortable. And, tell me where you’re headed.”

  “As I said—I’m going south.”

  “Where south, Honey?” Lil pressed.

  “I… I haven’t made up my mind which city,” Maggie confessed. “But somewhere in Georgia.” She was relieved to have Reverend Townlee join them. Perhaps Lil would stop asking her questions.

  “So, Maggie Thornton, have you thought over our invitation and smelled that appetizing aroma long enough to decide to join us?” As he spoke, he guided the women toward the side yard of the church where several ladies were arranging large bowls and trays on tables that had been set up beneath green and white striped canopies.

  “I think I really should head on, but thanks for the offer.”

  “Nonsense!” Lil chimed in. “She doesn’t even know where she’s going.”

  “Is that right, Maggie Thornton?”

  Maggie didn’t reply.

  “You’ll have to excuse Lil. When she thinks somethin’ she doesn’t keep it to herself. She’s got a good heart, and everyone knows that’s where it comes from. We love her.” He said putting his arm around Lil’s shoulder and smiling down at her. “Why Lil, I think you’re blushing.”

  The apparent affection between the two was comforting to Maggie.

  “That’s alright,” She said with a chuckle. “No offense taken.” She found herself liking this chatty little woman in her pink print cotton dress and straw hat. And she liked this kindly old preacher who called her by her full name each time he addressed her. She felt more comfortable here in this beautiful little village, with these folksy people, than she had felt anywhere else in a long time.

  “Do you have family, child?” Lil asked.

  “Actually, I don’t. I… that is to say… I have two aunts— one in Savannah and one in Macon, Georgia. They’re the only family I have left and that’s why I’m heading south.” She didn’t add that her aunts had no idea about her plans, and that she hadn’t even checked to see if they were at home before she packed up and left Virginia.

  They both looked at Maggie in silence. She continued.

  “My father and my only sister were killed in a plane crash over Wyoming about a year ago. You may have seen it on the news.” She could feel that old pain creeping into her chest. “My mother died of cancer a couple of months ago,” she concluded softly. Suddenly she was acutely aware of someone’s eyes on her.

  She shifted her gaze to her right. It was the same woman who had turned to look at her several times during the church service. Now that woman approached her. A tall man with graying hair followed a few steps behind the woman.

  “Mornin’ Caroline, Charlie,” Lil said with a nod.

  “Mornin’ Lil,” the woman replied without taking her eyes from Maggie. She stopped in front of Maggie. The man waited several paces behind her.

  “Maggie,” the newcomer said softly.

  There was something so compelling in her sad, gray eyes as she looked at Maggie that Maggie couldn’t take her eyes from the woman’s. She felt as if they were making a spiritual connection. For that instant, Maggie felt as if they were the only two people standing in this beautiful churchyard.

  “Maggie,” the woman began once more. “I want you to stay with Charlie and me.”

  Lil and Reverend Townlee drew in a breath in unison.

  Caroline didn’t seem to notice. “We have a furnished apartment over our garage, and I want you to stay in it if you need a place to live. You can stay for as long as you want.”

  Maggie was at a loss for words. She didn’t know these people, yet they were offering her the sanctuary she needed, and she felt strangely comfortable with them. It seemed eerie to her. Actually, from the moment she had entered this curious little village, the entire morning had seemed a bit surreal to her.

  “That’s all right, child,” Caroline said te
nderly. “No need to give me your answer now. Stay and eat dinner with us, and we’ll talk about this later.” She embraced Maggie ever so briefly then turned and walked to her husband. He wrapped his arm around her, and they headed toward the food tents.

  Maggie watched the couple for a moment before turning back to Reverend Townlee and Lil.

  “Maggie,” Lil said so softly that it was almost a whisper. “Do you have any idea what just happened?”

  ChapterTwo

  aggie shook her head. “No. Other than that a very nice lady with sad looking eyes offered me a place to stay.”

  “I hope you’ll consider her offer,” Reverend Townlee said. “That is if you don’t have any definite plans, Maggie Thornton.”

  A man across the churchyard caught the minister’s eye and beckoned.

  “It appears I’m needed. It’s almost time to ask the blessing. You ladies come along now; don’t let the food get cold.” He hurried on ahead of them toward the tents.

  “Maggie,” Lil began wide-eyed, “what just happened with Caroline, that was wonderful! And I think I know what triggered it. I noticed her watching you during the service, and I could see what she saw. I knew just what she was thinkin’, cause I thought it too.”

  “Thought what?”

  “It’s this, Maggie girl. You put her an awful lot in mind of her daughter Joy.”

  “I do? I still don’t understand, Lil.”

  “Joy was up at Carolina getting her nursing degree two years back, and she and her fiancée, Jason Porter, left to come home for the weekend one Friday night. It was late, after her three to eleven shift was over. A drunk driver ran a stop light and plowed into them. Both of ‘em were pronounced dead at the scene. It was one of the saddest times I can remember in Serenity. Jason was in medical school, and they was both gonna come back when they graduated and open a clinic here, sort of take some of the load off of Doc Miller. He, by the way, is lookin’ to hire another nurse.”

  “Oh, Lil, that’s so sad.” Maggie could certainly relate to the awful pain of losing those you love. She had lost five people she loved in the last year. “Losing loved ones tears at your very foundation,” she said softly. She could feel her eyes moistening.