“Mark said you found out the story of this quilt.”
Rodney, fighting the urge to look at Caroline, remained focused on the road since he was pushing their luck doing fifty in these weather conditions. “More like we found out a story about the quilt.”
“Was it the quilt in the picture your aunt sent?”
“No,” Rodney said with a slight shake of his head. “But the picture did help us figure it out.”
“So there was another clue in the picture?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Rodney saw Caroline unfold the quilt and tuck it around her legs.
“Are you cold?” Rodney reached to adjust the heat.
“No, your quilt brings me comfort, and right now I need that.”
She just gave him the perfect opening. He wished he could look at her, but the weather situation didn’t permit it. “I hoped I could be the person who brought you comfort.”
A gasp broke through the swish of the wipers on the windshield and the buzz of the heater blower.
“I know, I blew it. You’ll never know how sorry I am that I wasn’t forthcoming about my health issues.” Nerves caused Rodney to speak the words too rapidly.
“Rodney.” Caroline rested her hand on his forearm. “The comfort I need, which your Lily of the Field quilt provides, is the reminder of God’s care. How He loves and provides for His children. ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ ”
Relief eased through him. At least his actions hadn’t destroyed her faith.
“Please go on and tell me about this wonderful quilt of yours. I’ve been bursting with curiosity since Mark dropped off the flour sack for you. What was in the picture that gave you a clue? Was someone sewing a block?”
“No, the picture held no information; however, my nephew Caleb did. I guess we should have forwarded the digital pictures to the youngsters in the family, too. We’d have solved the mystery right away.” When Rodney hit a deep pocket of snow, the pickup lurched toward the ditch. He gripped the wheel tight, guiding it back to what he thought was his lane. The county plows hadn’t bladed the road yet.
“So?” Despite her casual conversation, worry filled Caroline’s voice.
She was obviously trying to occupy her mind with something other than the terrible conclusions that worrying caused. He could help with that.
“Well, it seems Caleb was visiting Mom and they took a walk in the nature preserve just outside of town. Halfway through the walk, a thunderstorm blew up. They made a run for a shelter and, once inside, found the quilt lying on the floor. Mom changed her mind and decided they’d use it as a shield from the rain and make it to her car. It’s a good thing they did, because lightning struck a tree that then fell and smashed the shelter. Caleb said Mom told him the quilt saved their lives. I guess that’s why she kept it.”
Rodney didn’t look over, but by the rustle of fabric, he could tell Caroline was rubbing her hands over the quilt blocks.
“It’s not an heirloom, then.”
“I’m sure it is for someone, just not for our family.”
“So I guess we know the story about how and why your mom had the quilt, but we don’t know the quilt’s story. Why it was made, I mean.” Caroline sighed.
Rodney lifted his foot from the gas as they passed the business bypass exit for Vermillion. The truck slowed, making braking easier as he made his way through town. At the red light he turned to Caroline. Before she faced whatever situation awaited her at the hospital, he wanted her to know that he loved her and she could count on him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Caroline lifted a gloved finger to his lips to hush him.
“Thank you for keeping my mind occupied on the way to the hospital.” Knowing blue eyes searched his face. “See, Rodney, I do need you in my life, because I love you, too.”
Her declaration of love fortified his heart in ways medicine, surgery, or exercise never could.
Rodney released his grip on their entwined fingers as soon as she saw Jason leaning against a hallway wall, head down. She ran but let her fingers run the length of his hands until their brushed fingertips ended their small embrace.
“Jason.” She held her arms out. He lifted his head, then wiped his forefinger across his eyes before moving into her arms.
“Oh Mom,” he whispered.
He laid his head against her shoulder just as he’d done so many times in his life. She stroked his hair and kissed the top of his head.
“How’s Angela?” She rested her cheek against his head.
“Scared but okay.” His words were muffled as they bounced off her parka.
“What happened?” Caroline pushed on Jason’s shoulders. He eased back. Caroline placed her palms on his cheeks, stroking her thumbs back and forth to wipe away the tears, leaving her own tears to trickle freely down her face.
“Her back’s hurt all day. Then all of a sudden she had intense shooting pains in her abdomen. That’s when we came to the hospital.” He covered Caroline’s hands with his, removing them from his face but holding them tightly between them. “I guess she’d been in labor all day. We just didn’t know.”
“And…”
“And your granddaughter was born about twenty minutes ago. Angela was dilated to ten centimeters when they examined her, so they broke her water and she delivered the baby.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Caroline changed their hand positions. This time it was her doing the squeezing from excitement. “I’m a grandma.”
“I knew you’d be on the road, and I didn’t want you answering the phone while driving.”
Caroline pulled Jason into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you. I mistook your tears of joy.”
Jason pushed free and took her hands in his. “My tears weren’t tears of joy.”
“Does something about being a father scare you?” She searched his face for a sign.
He shook his head and lowered his eyes. When he lifted them to meet hers, dampness glazed them. “No, I’m mad that my daughter doesn’t have a Grandpa Baker.”
It’s a good thing she had ahold of Jason, because his admission knocked the wind out of her.
“Remember how I accused you of being mad at Dad for dying?”
Caroline nodded her head but remained silent.
“Well, I’m the one mad at him. He died too soon. How could he do that to us? He’s missing everything. Everything. I managed to keep that anger under control until you started to move on, build a career, and see other people.” Jason’s eyes moved to a spot over her right shoulder. She braced for the worst, but instead he looked back at her. “When you put his pictures back out, I knew you’d moved on but I hadn’t, so the anger turned to rage. I guess I lashed out at everyone for something that no one can control, not even Dad.” Jason stopped.
“Jason, you should have said something sooner.”
“I’m so glad you came.” Jason pulled her into a hug. “I worried that you wouldn’t.”
Caroline savored the moment with her son before she pushed him to arm’s length. “Jason, I will always be there for you. That’s one reason I started my own quilt business. I can adjust my schedule for babysitting.” They’d experienced sadness and anger. It was time to let joy sneak back into their hearts.
Caroline laughed at the lightbulb-just-switched-on look on Jason’s face. He laughed, too.
“You’re a father.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m a grandma. Rodney.” Caroline twisted her neck to see over her shoulder. “I’m a grandma.”
“I heard.” Rodney joined them and pulled Caroline into a side hug. She laid her head on his shoulder. He offered his hand to Jason.
“Congratulations.”
Jason’s eyes lowered to Rodney’s hand; then he looked at Caroline. She hoped her eyes conveyed her message to her son. She watched as his eyes moved to Rodney’s.
“I’m sorry for everything I said and the way I acted.” He grasped Rodney’s hand.
“Thank you for coming with Mom. You’re taking good care of her, I can tell. Please forgive me?”
“Bygones are bygones.”
“Can we see Angela and the baby yet?”
“Sure.”
Rodney released Caroline’s shoulder. “I’ll be in the waiting room. Take as much time as you need.” He smoothed a stray ringlet behind her ear.
“Aren’t you coming, too?” Jason asked.
Caroline’s chest burst with pride. She slipped one hand in Jason’s and the other in Rodney’s as they walked down the hall.
Angela looked up from marveling at her newborn daughter and smiled at the chain of people that walked into her room.
Jason gingerly lifted the pink bundle from her arms. “Mom, meet your granddaughter, Brooklyn Mya.” Caroline knew her face reflected the same love that Jason’s radiated as she looked from her “baby” to the new addition to her family. She gathered their bundle of joy from Jason with practiced ease.
Rodney stood to her side and peered over Brooklyn’s head. “She’s so tiny.” He reached to touch her but pulled his hand back.
Joy bubbled through Caroline, and she laughed. “You can touch her. She won’t break, you know.”
Rodney stepped around Caroline and brushed the backs of his fingers on Brooklyn’s face. She grunted. He jerked his hand away. “Did I hurt her?” Concern filled his eyes.
“No.” Caroline shook her head, then rocked back and forth sideways.
A flush crawled up his neck and colored his cheeks. He turned to Jason and Angela. “I don’t have much, well, any experience with this.”
Caroline noticed Angela blinking her heavy eyelids, tired from childbirth. Caroline bent and kissed the top of her granddaughter’s head, then handed her back to Jason.
“Are you leaving?”
“Just for a while.” Caroline nodded to Angela. “Someone needs her rest.” She walked to the bed, then took Angela’s hand in hers. “Thank you for the beautiful granddaughter. You rest now.” She straightened. “We’ll be in the waiting room.”
Rodney twisted the cap from the bottle of water he bought Caroline from the vending machine and handed it to her.
She sat on the edge of a waiting room chair.
She pulled a long drink from it, thirstier than she thought. Rodney sat beside her, lifted her hand, and clasped it between his. His eyes conveyed the message. She knew what he was about to say.
“I love you, Caroline.”
She might have known what he was going to say, but she wasn’t prepared for the response it evoked within her—overwhelming happiness threaded into every cell of her body.
“I don’t want to cause you further worry, but I can’t guarantee I won’t have future health issues.”
“I know that now. And I can’t promise you I won’t worry from time to time, but I’ll try to keep it to the events of the day.”
Rodney put his arm around her and eased her back into the chair cushion. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“This is a much better reason to be at the hospital than our last trip,” Rodney said.
“Yes, it is,” Caroline agreed.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the EMTs call you Mrs. Harris?”
“Yes.” Caroline giggled at the memory.
“How’d you feel about that?”
Caroline rose up and palmed Rodney’s cheek. “Truthfully, I kind of liked it.”
Rodney slid her hand to his shoulder, leaned close, and pressed his lips to hers, not once but three times.
“Me, too,” he whispered and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, squeezing her closer.
She rested her head back on his shoulder. Contentment washed through her. She’d worried all those months for nothing. Just like the lilies of the field, God took care of her. His plans for her future were better than any she could have imagined.
Epilogue
Is my girl ready?”
Rodney’s voice boomed through the closed door, causing six-month-old Brooklyn to kick her legs, making the buckling of the small patent leather shoes a harder task. She cooed and stretched her arms toward the door.
“Which one?” Caroline called back and smiled at her granddaughter’s reaction to Rodney’s voice. She managed to tuck the small trap through the buckle. Angela stood Brooklyn on her lap while Caroline adjusted the quilted yoke of the small dress before she pulled the white satin skirt into place.
“The little one who doesn’t talk back to me.” Humor infused Rodney’s response.
Caroline imagined his brown eyes twinkling with teasing merriment.
“Yet,” Michelle added, and all the women in the small room laughed.
Caroline stood behind the door as Michelle opened it, and Angela slipped her wiggling daughter through to Rodney’s waiting arms.
“There’s Grandpa’s girl,” Rodney said in a tone an octave higher than normal. “Let’s go find Daddy.”
Brooklyn sputtered excited gurgles and coos in answer.
Happiness ensconced Caroline’s heart from all directions. Jason and Rodney had become friends as they spoiled the same little girl. It was Jason who first referred to Rodney as Grandpa.
“Time for the finishing touches.” Angela carried the quilted jacket to the bride.
Caroline slipped the ivory jacket over her satin sheath. She’d designed and sewn all the dresses for her wedding. She’d quilted a small flower pattern similar to the daisies on Rodney’s quilt back into ivory satin using gold thread. Her collarless jacket matched the dress’s knee-length hem. Hooked over center buttons, a gold chain fastened the jacket together. Michelle’s and Angela’s jackets, quilted with the same pattern, served as a blouse, with skirts from the same satin fabric as Caroline’s sheath. At her age it seemed silly for only the bride to wear white.
Jason knocked on the door before entering. “The men are in place.”
Caroline took one last look in the mirror. She smoothed her jacket and strained to see if her French twist remained intact. “Did I mess up my hair?”
Michelle adjusted a few ringlets around Caroline’s neckline and checked that the jeweled hair combs stayed secure.
“I think you’re ready.” Angela handed her a bouquet of white peace lilies.
Caroline smiled. She was definitely ready, not just for the ceremony or becoming Rodney’s wife, but for whatever lay ahead of her in life. That was why she’d chosen lilies for her wedding bouquet, her reminder not to worry but to trust God.
“Mom, you look beautiful.” Jason gingerly kissed her cheek so as not to mess up her makeup, then held out his arm.
“Thank you.” She slipped her hand through his elbow and they followed Michelle, then Angela out the door.
Caroline surveyed the sanctuary as she waited her turn to walk down the aisle. Ten-inch quilt blocks of every color with the Double Wedding Ring pattern decorated the pews where most brides placed bows. The Lily of the Field quilt draped the altar where the unity candle stood flanked by mixed flower bouquets like the one Rodney had given her the night of their first date.
The music cued her entrance, and as she and Jason took the first step, he whispered, “I love you, and I’m glad you’re happy again.”
She gripped his arm tighter and nodded, unable to speak through the tightness in her throat. She scanned the smiling faces looking her way, but when her eyes fixed on Rodney, handsome in the traditional black tux, everyone else became a blur. The tightness in her throat slipped down into a swell of love in her chest. She blinked and a warm tear imprinted a path down her cheek.
Jason squeezed both of their hands as he placed her hand in Rodney’s and took his seat beside his daughter in her infant seat. Brooklyn’s coos continued after the music stopped and through most of the ceremony.
Unlike earlier in the year, Caroline savored every precious moment of the service. She cherished each word the pastor spoke, bathed in the tenderness of Rodney’s voice as he pledged his love to her, and felt the joy conveyed
on his face as she promised to love him in sickness and in health.
JOB’S TEARS
To Gert and Tom Stevens, a real life MS heroine and her hero. Thanks for your research help. Your friendship means the world to me.
Chapter 1
I don’t know. Managing a business building may be too stressful with your recent…”
Sarah Buckley watched as Karla Ward, her best friend since grade school, swallowed hard. A lump of emotion no doubt. Even though the doctor had diagnosed Sarah with multiple sclerosis almost eighteen months ago, Karla still seemed to be taking it harder than Sarah.
Had Sarah known this was where their conversation would lead, she’d have chosen a corner table in the rustic coffeehouse chain versus this table in the open area where their discussion could be overheard.
Karla stared into space and tapped her paper cup on the high-glossed wooden table. Finally, her water-filled eyes close to brimming over, she looked at Sarah. “I just mean maybe now’s not the best time to try a new career.”
Sarah sighed, her good mood now dampened like her friend’s eyes. Sarah had hoped for a little girl talk, wanting Karla’s opinion on a man she’d recently met. Sarah thought he might be interested and wanted to bounce his actions off Karla. She shouldn’t have agreed to meet Karla at the coffee shop before the evening quilting class that she’d looked forward to all day.
After two months, Sarah had a few doubts about her new career choice, but Karla’s pessimism made her determined to maintain a positive outlook on all the changes in her life.
Maybe there was still time to turn the conversation around. “No time like the present.” Sarah shook her fist in the air in a “go forth and conquer” fashion to show enthusiasm about the changes in her life and hoped it’d rub off on her friend.
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