Hope Girl

by Wendy Dunham

  I’m still angry at him and don’t want to talk.

  “River?”

  I squeeze every muscle in my body as tight as I can. “What?”

  “Don’t you need to get ready? Rosa picks you up at seven, right?”

  I take a deep breath. “She used to. But I’m not volunteering now.”

  “Hmmm,” he says. “You know, River, I think it would be good if we talked.”

  “Fine.”

  I start logrolling to the edge of my bed but misjudge the distance and land on the floor.

  Thud.

  “River? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I meant to land face-first. So after I pick myself up, I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” Not only is my life messed up, it’s completely humiliating.

  Once I’m on my feet, I look in the mirror. You are no longer Hope Girl. You are Robot Girl—stiff and made of cold, hard metal.

  I consider brushing my hair and changing my clothes, but nothing matters. I go to the kitchen.

  Dad’s at the table drinking coffee. “What would you like this morning?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Hmmm, I can make French toast, pancakes, or even an omelet.”

  “No times three.”

  “River,” he says, “I’m sorry about yesterday. I had every intention of talking with you first, but when Rebecca asked if Rosa was your mom, the perfect opportunity presented itself. Thinking back, I see how insensitive I was and wish I’d have handled it differently.”

  “And so do I. Don’t you think you’ve gotten yourself in a mess?”

  Dad cocks his head. “I’m sorry, River. I don’t understand.”

  “Seriously, Dad? What’s going to happen if you marry Rosa on Saturday, and Mom remembers everything on Sunday? Or any day after that?” I take a breath. “That won’t be fair to Rosa or Mom. Maybe you should have waited a little longer. You know, just kept being friends without the whole kissing thing? It’s really not hard to do. Billy and I were real good friends, but we never kissed. And look at me and Carlos. We’re friends and we don’t kiss.”

  “River,” he says, “it’s not as easy when you’re adults. When you’re older, you’ll understand.”

  “I’m almost thirteen.”

  “River,” he says, “I’d like to change the subject for a minute. Talk to me about volunteering.”

  “I told you I’m not doing that anymore.”

  “Okay,” he says, “but I have two questions. Does Ms. Ruddy know? And why did you make that decision?”

  I go to the cupboard, grab a bowl, a spoon, and the box of Frosted Wheat Flakes. “No, Ms. Ruddy doesn’t know. And I’m no longer volunteering because everyone will stare and ask about my brace.”

  “First of all,” he says, “Ms. Ruddy’s counting on you. If you don’t show up, you’ll not only let her down, but all the residents too.” He looks at me. “Am I correct?”

  I nod.

  “And you’re right about people staring and asking about your brace. There’s no getting around that until you inform people…something like Henry did for you and Carlos at church.” Dad taps his fingers on his mug. “River, if your grandmother was sitting at this table right now, what would she tell you?”

  “To face the wind head-on like an eagle.”

  Dad nods and sips his coffee.

  I check the clock above the stove. Six fifty. “Dad,” I say between a mouthful of cereal, “in case I’m not ready right at seven, tell Rosa I’ll be out in a minute.”

  Ms. Ruddy’s the first one to see me when I arrive. “Heavens to Betsy,” she says. “What on earth happened?”

  Face the wind head-on, I tell myself. “Nothing happened,” I explain. “I have curvature of the spine, so I have to wear a brace to keep it from getting worse.”

  Before I start volunteering, I check to see if Gram’s in her room. The door’s open like usual, so I peek in. “Gram?”

  “My Sugar Pie’s here,” she says.

  When Gram sees me walk across the room, her eyes nearly pop out of her head. “Well, I’ll be,” she says. “Look how beautiful you are—your shoulders and your hips are already as level as the horizon. And,” she says, “I like how you’re holding your head up high and proud.” I don’t think she realizes I can’t hold it any other way.

  I spend my volunteer shift mostly explaining to everyone about my brace. It’s not that anyone’s nosey—they ask because they care. But it’s tiring to keep explaining, so I call Dad to pick me up. I can’t last to the end of Rosa’s shift.

  When Dad arrives, he wants to say hi to Gram before we leave. Since she’s not in her room, we look for her. We look everywhere—in the dining hall, the activities room, the therapy room, and the library. All of a sudden, we hear Gram shout from the opposite end of the unit where the Eagle’s Nest is. “Eight ball in the corner pocket! Yee-haw!” We follow her voice to the billiards room, where Gram and Myrtle are high-fiving two gray-haired gentlemen. Each one of them (including Gram) has a pool stick in one hand and a cane in the other.

  Gram sees us and shouts, “You missed my winning shot!”

  Dad laughs. “We didn’t see it, but we heard it. And look at the progress you’ve made, walking with only a cane now.”

  “And watch this,” Gram says, raising her left arm clear over her head. “Those therapists can’t believe how good I’m doing. In fact they said I can go home in a couple weeks. But I’ve been thinking,” she says, “I’ve got friends here, and I’m having so much fun that I plan on moving down to this end—to the Eagle’s Nest.”

  “Gram,” I say, completely shocked, “are you serious?”

  “Sugar Pie, I feel the wind blowing me to the Eagle’s Nest, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, you gotta follow the wind. Besides,” she says, “a little bird told me there’s gonna be a wedding. I figure you can all live in my house while you’re building a bigger one. And if I want to move back home then, I will. But I may be so comfortable in my nest that I’ll want to stay put.”

  27

  Letter from Sparrow Harbor

  When Dad and I get back to Gram’s house, I’m real tired, but I hurry to the mailbox just in case Mom wrote back. I reach in the mailbox and pull out a stack of mail. There’s the water bill, electric bill, and the Birdsong newsletter. The last letter in the pile is for me. The return address says: 731 Swift Road South, Sparrow Harbor, West Virginia. I tear it open.

  Dear River,

  Thank you so much for writing to me and reminding me about such a precious time in my life. For the first time, I’m starting to remember you. I’ve had little flashes of memory come to me … I remember your dad and I having a picnic when we chose your name, I remember when you were born, and I remember when you had the chicken pox. My memories are coming back in little pieces. I’d love to have you come visit for a week. The more time we spend together, maybe the more I’ll remember. Please talk this over with your dad and get back to me.

  With much love,

  Mom

  For the first time, I cry because I’m happy. I hurry to the house and burst through the door, taking Dad by surprise.

  “My goodness,” he says, “what’s all the excitement?”

  I hold up my letter. “Mom remembers! Well, not everything, but lots of things. And she wants me to come visit for a week!”

  Dad shakes his head. “Unbelievable.”

  I wave the letter around the kitchen. “So when can I visit? She said she wants to know, so I have to call her back—”

  Dad laughs. “Now slow down there and take a breath.”

  “Okay, okay, but when can I go?”

  “How about after the wedding? I’d like to take Rosa on a honeymoon, so that would work out good from my end.”

  Every bit of happiness I’m feeling slips away from me. “Dad, even after this letter, you’re still planning to marry Rosa?”

  “River,” he says, “yes, I’m marrying Rosa.”

  “But what if Mom wa
nts to be back with us? How’s that going to work? Moms and dads are supposed to be together.”

  Dad puts his hand on my shoulder and guides me to the chair. “River, you’ll still have both of us, but your mom and I can’t be together. You’ll have two families… more people to love and to love you back.”

  I fight the lump in my throat again. “But I asked God to work things out like they’re supposed to be… and this doesn’t make sense.”

  Dad takes a deep breath. “What if having the three of us back together isn’t how it’s supposed to be?”

  “How could it not be?”

  “Did you ever think God’s plans might be different than yours?”

  “No, because all I’ve ever wanted was the three of us together.”

  “But she’s married and has children. You need to accept that.”

  I pull my hand away and head out the door.

  Dad tries stopping me. “River, would you—”

  I turn back and cut him off. “Dad, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but can we talk when I get back?”

  “Sure, that’ll be fine.”

  I head down Meadowlark Lane toward the birding place. Once there, I get on my knees and lean against the log. I figure if I’m going to talk to God seriously, this is probably the best position to be in. “Okay, God. First, thanks for helping my mom remember some things about me. And please don’t think I’m ungrateful, but I don’t understand why you didn’t work things out like I thought. But since you’re God, you know more than me. So right now I decide to trust you. It looks like Dad and Rosa are getting married, and Mom’s staying with her family. Now I’ll have two families… I guess you gave me double what I asked for.”

  When I get home, Dad’s still in the kitchen. “You okay?”

  I smile and nod. “I am now.”

  He gives me a wink. “Before you left I was going to ask if you’d like to have Rosa and Carlos over for sundaes this evening. I thought we could put our heads together to plan the wedding.”

  “That sounds good, but first I have to call Mom and tell her I’m coming.”

  28

  Sweet Smell of Happiness

  After supper Dad, me, Rosa, and Carlos sit around the picnic table in the backyard eating hot-fudge sundaes and making wedding plans.

  We brainstorm until it’s dark and only the big dipper’s shining on us. Rosa takes notes on every wedding detail, from the time and place, down to Gram’s corsage (which will be a flower called the camellia because it represents gratitude). Dad chose that flower because he’s grateful Gram raised me all those years I was missing.

  Carlos’s boutonniere will have a gladiolus, which represents strength of character.

  I’ll carry two types of flowers—a zinnia for Billy, which represents thoughts of absent friends, and for me Dad picked baby’s breath for innocence and pureness of heart.

  Dad chose a bouquet of orchids for Rosa because they mean rare beauty and love. And for Dad, Rosa chose a primrose, which means I can’t live without you.

  Dad says I don’t have to wear my brace at the wedding so I won’t feel like everyone’s staring. I felt happy about that until Carlos said, “I wish I had that option.” Even though he was joking, deep down I think he meant it.

  The rest of the week flies by, and Saturday’s finally here. The bridal party (which includes Dad, Rosa, me, and Carlos) waits inside Dad’s studio while the guests arrive. We don’t want anyone to see us.

  Rosa and I hide in Dad’s office so Dad and Carlos won’t see us. They wait in the kitchen. I can hear Dad pacing back and forth across the kitchen.

  Rosa looks beautiful. Her gown is made of a shimmering ivory, and she’s wearing a matching veil, which falls over her eyes. A delicate pearl hangs from her neck. I smile from deep inside and say, “You look real pretty, Mom.”

  She smiles and fixes the ribbon on my dress. “So do you, my beautiful daughter.”

  Rosa and I peek out the front window of Dad’s office. Main Street is already lined with cars. Then we peek out the back window. The rows of chairs are filled. It’s almost time.

  Just then the piano lady begins, and we hear the kitchen door open. Rosa and I peek out the back window again and watch Dad walk along the stone path to the pergola (which is still covered with coral roses). Pastor Henry’s there waiting.

  Then there is a knock on the office door. Carlos says, “Is Miss River ready for her escort?”

  “She is,” I tell him. When Carlos opens the door, his jaw drops. “You, Miss Starling, look radiant.”

  He guides me through the kitchen door and along the stone pathway, where I meet Dad and Uncle Henry beneath the pergola. Gram smiles and blows me a kiss from the front row. And sitting next to her is my real mom, my step-dad, Michael, and my half brother and sister, Bennie and Livvy. My real mom’s holding the bouquet of May flowers I gave her, and as the wind blows my way, it carries the sweet smell of happiness, reminding me my life’s complete.

  Carlos lets go of my arm and goes back inside. Now we wait.

  Everyone stands while the piano lady plays the bridal march. Then after what feels like forever, Carlos walks through the door with his mother at his arm. She is the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. He guides her along the stone path, bringing her to Dad, then steps aside.

  Uncle Henry smiles as he looks out at our friends and family. “Today we celebrate the union of two lives, Rosa Amaranta and Jay Whippoorwill.”

  After Uncle Henry talks about love, patience, and cherishing each other, Rosa and Dad exchange rings, repeat their vows, and say, “I do.” Then Uncle Henry turns to Dad and says, “You may kiss your bride!”

  When Dad leans in to kiss Rosa, Rebecca stands up and shouts, “They’re kissing again?” Of course everyone laughs. Then they clap and throw rice as Dad and Rosa run down the aisle.

  As Carlos takes my arm and we follow our parents, he turns to me and says, “I thought you weren’t wearing your brace today.”

  I turn my robot body toward him and say, “I didn’t want my brother being stared at all alone.”

  Carlos smiles. “I knew you’d be an awesome sister.”

  Discussion Questions

  These questions can be used as a springboard for group discussion:

  • River had to wait twelve years before she met her father. Have you ever had to wait a long time for something you really wanted? Share about that time.

  • When River hears about the tragedy Carlos has been through, she starts to feel like her problems aren’t so big. Has that ever happened to you?

  • When River lies about her age in order to purchase a bus ticket, she recalls Gram’s words, “One lie leads to another, causing a too-big sticky mess you can’t pull yourself out of.” Has there been a time when you’ve lied, only to get yourself into a sticky situation?

  • Carlos goes to church for the first time the same Sunday that River wears her brace there for the first time. River is worried about people staring at her. Carlos encourages River by saying, “You got this,” but then he also helps put the situation in perspective by telling her, “Now it’s time to get your mind off yourself and show me around. Don’t forget, I’m the new kid.” What are your thoughts about Carlos’s encouragement and advice to River?

  • River reaches the point when she accepts the fact that God’s plans are not like hers. God answered her prayers, but differently than she expected. Instead of God providing River’s original family, he gave her two families—more people for her to love and more people to love her in return. Share about a time when God answered your prayer different than what you expected.

  About the Author

  Wendy Dunham is a registered therapist and works with children who have special needs. Although she enjoys writing for children and adults, her passion is writing middle-grade fiction. She is the mother of two adult children, who she loves to the moon and back. She enjoys reading, writing, gardening, kayaking, repurposing old furniture, walking, and biking with fri
ends. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as the local chapter in the Rochester area (RACWI), and Word Weavers International and, again, her local Western New York Chapter.

  Her desire is to honor her Creator with whatever it is she’s writing about. Whether a poem, an article, a thought-provoking devotional, or a novel, her goal is to share pieces of hope, encouragement, and unconditional love—things we can all use a little bit more of.

  She shares her home with Casey, Theo, Smokey, Tiny Tim, and Bentley (her four-legged friends that keep her company).

  One of her favorite quotes is by Mother Teresa: “We can do no great things–only small things with great love.”

  Visit her website at www.wendydunham.net

  About the Publisher

  * * *

  To learn more about Harvest House books and to read sample chapters, visit our website:

  www.harvesthousepublishers.com

  HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

  EUGENE, OREGON

  * * *

  Enjoy Another Great Book by Wendy Dunham

  My Name Is River

  by Wendy Dunham

  It’s 1983, and twelve-year-old River Starling’s life is anything but normal. She was adopted on a whim and came without a birth certificate. Her adoptive parents gave her up to her grandmother when she was only two, but River is certain her parents will come back.

  River’s hopes fall apart when Gram uproots them from their farmhouse and decides to move to Birdsong, West Virginia. There she makes an unlikely friendship with an unusual boy and learns about acceptance, hard work, forgiveness, and her heavenly Father.

  Discover the unforgettable story of one girl’s search for her real family.