Norah's Ark

by Judy Baer

  Then I glanced up and saw Lilly standing on the far side of my patio door.

  I put down my muffin muttering, “Oh, sure, you save those for her. Well, my friend, you’d just better remember which side your birdseed is buttered on.”

  Lilly looked unsure, so I waved her into the room.

  “Is it okay that I came?”

  “Of course. Coffee? Muffin? Juice?”

  “No thanks. I just wanted to stop by and tell you something.”

  I took a deep breath. If this is about her and Joe, I don’t want to hear it.

  Lilly hurried on. “I miss you, Norah. I miss you so much I can hardly stand it.”

  “I haven’t been anywhere, Lilly. You’re the one who disappeared.”

  “I know. That’s what makes it so much worse. I cut you out of my life. I did the very thing I accused you of doing. I called myself your friend and then acted as though you were my worst enemy.” She bit her lip as she looked at me. “I’m so ashamed.”

  “It’s done now. Past. There’s no way to unwind it, so we have to move on.” As I said it I realized that I really did believe that and had shockingly few regrets about it. If this had been a test to really discover how I felt about Joe, then I had my answer.

  “I said something else to you for which I’m ashamed.”

  Wolf whistles and confessions before breakfast. What next?

  “I accused you of being a lousy Christian and told you that if you were what a Christian looked like, then I didn’t want to be one.”

  “Or else I wouldn’t have ‘stolen’ your man? I remember.”

  “I’ve come to take back what I said.” Lilly raised her chin. “You have been more gracious and forgiving than I dreamed you—or anyone—could be. I recalled what you told me about Christ living in you.” She looked at me as if I were an oddity in a carnival sideshow. “He really does live in you, doesn’t He?”

  “He sure does. I’m not the best condo He has, but He’s here.” I pointed to my chest with my index finger. “All moved in and ready to stay with me forever.”

  “I see that now. It’s not just about going to church and being ‘good,’ is it?”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  “The change takes place inside you first and then you are able to act the way you did when I betrayed you?”

  “Only by God’s grace. On my own, I would have scratched your eyes out.”

  “Norah, I don’t know where this thing will go with Joe and me but we want to see it out. What I do know is that I want what you have, that kind of faith. I want to be more like you.”

  I shook my head and pointed upward. “More like Him, you mean. Do you want to talk about it?”

  It’s pretty cool how God works. He doesn’t waste an opportunity to further His kingdom, no matter how miserable, awkward or uncomfortable the circumstance might be.

  Feeling pretty good on Wednesday morning despite Winky’s admonitions to go play in the street and Asia Mynah’s suggestions that I’m overworked and underpaid, I decided to take Bentley for a walk.

  “You’re getting a little tubby, my boy,” I told him. His tail was wagging slowly as if he knew that this was not going to be a short walk around the park. Bentley has an approach-avoidance attitude toward outdoor activity. He loves it and he’s terrified.

  “I know too many people with phobias, Bent. I can’t have a dog with them, too. You’ve got to get over this fear of fresh air.”

  I hadn’t even coaxed him to the front door when someone started pounding on it.

  When I opened it, Bryce Morris bolted in with a whoop which set off Winky and Asia. When the din subsided and I got him to sit down, I could finally ask him what was going on.

  He beamed at me, his grin so wide I could see his molars. “Auntie Lou gave me the pinball machine! Can you believe it?”

  Frankly, no, I can’t. It’s an expensive item and since being in the hospital, Lou’s income has dropped. I don’t believe she can afford to give away something as large and pricey as that pinball machine.

  “Wow,” I finally stammered. “How did that come about?”

  “I just came into the store and she said I could have it.” He paused. “Oh, yeah, and she said I was supposed to come and get you because she needed to talk to you.”

  Not even thinking of the fire hydrants Bentley would have to pass on the way to Auntie Lou’s Antiques, I dragged him out the door behind me.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Bryce and I were almost to Auntie Lou’s when I realized that Bentley had not dropped to the ground or refused to move. His little legs churned along willingly and he passed two fire hydrants without flinching, an inexplicable phenomenon in Bentley’s world.

  Bryce was busy telling me how cool it was that Lou had given him something as awesome as her pinball machine. I, on the other hand, was growing more alarmed by the moment. Was there something she wasn’t telling me? Normally people don’t start giving things away until they think they aren’t going to be around to use them much longer.

  Lou had an appointment with Dr. Andrews the other day. Had he found something? An aneurysm? A blockage of some sort?

  I heard my heart pounding in my ears by the time we got to the store. Auntie Lou was in one of her rockers wearing—do my eyes deceive me?—a purple dress and a red hat, just like the mob of older ladies that sometimes come by the busload to shop on Pond Street and do a dinner cruise. She was wearing black stockings and black slippers and, I could tell by the expression on her face that she thought she was very foxy.

  “There you are! I was afraid that Bryce wouldn’t find you before I left.” She had her teeth in and, wonder of wonders, lipstick on her lips.

  “Left?”

  “Julie is giving me a ride to her church. There’s a group going out to lunch and then to a play. I’m going to go along.”

  I hadn’t even noticed Bryce’s mother until Lou gestured toward her with her cane. Julie was standing there, gazing at Lou, looking as proud as a mother hen.

  “Doesn’t she look wonderful? Lilly brought her the outfit.”

  “Amazing.” I had no idea Lilly allowed clothing like that into her shop.

  “I take a couple days off and look what happens!” I couldn’t help smiling. Lou looked so happy—and so charmingly ridiculous—that it warmed my heart. “And Bryce told me about the gift you’ve given him….”

  “He’s been such a help to me it was the least I could do,” Lou said. “Besides, he’s leaving it right where it is so he can visit me whenever he comes to play.”

  “Is that right, Bryce?” I turned to the boy who’d suddenly turned shy.

  “Sure. Why would I want the old pinball machine without Auntie Lou?”

  Why, indeed? Since Bryce and Auntie Lou had teamed up, he’d gone through a complete transformation. His clothes were not always black, his hair was often without its neon-colored tips and there was often a smile on his face. Auntie Lou and Nick had managed a turnaround in this kid that was miraculous.

  “Who’s going to mind the store while you’re off gallivanting around?” I teased. “Silas?”

  “That’s my other bit of news.” Auntie Lou straightened proudly. “I’ve taken on a partner.”

  One more surprise and I’m going to fall over.

  “Julie Morris is now half owner of Auntie Lou’s Antiques.”

  I turned to stare at Julie who wore a wide, delighted smile.

  My mouth was opening and closing but no sound came out. For a woman who’s never at a loss for words, it’s a pretty eerie experience.

  “Julie told me that her husband has expanded into Internet sales and since he is always at the store during business hours, there’s no need for her to spend so much time there. She said she wished she could think of another business to open on Pond Street.” Lou made a grand gesture with her hands. “And I said ‘Why not antiques?’”

  “It’s going to be perfect,” Julie added. “Lou will make all the buying and selling
decisions. She’ll work the store the hours she sets and I’ll take the rest of them. I can do the things that she’d like to cut back on—dusting, cleaning and bookwork. If she doesn’t feel well one day, I’ll open the store for her. If she feels wonderful and wants to work, she can hang out in the store as much and often as she likes.”

  “It will ease my worry about what will happen to the store,” Lou concluded, “and I’ll have both income and what the Morrises are paying me for half ownership. If I do need more help and can’t be upstairs any longer, I’ll be able to call my own shots and decide where I want to go.” She looked at me and smiled serenely. “And it will take some of the pressure off you, Norah. I know how you’ve been concerned about me.”

  “I…ah…oh, Lou, I’m so happy for you! It’s perfect.”

  It was a huge load lifted from my not-so-broad shoulders. Auntie Lou would have others in her life. We can share her. She certainly has enough personality to go around.

  At that moment, we all heard a hiss so loud it sounded like a leak in a blimp. I spun around to see Bentley quivering like an aspen leaf but holding his ground as Silas tried to intimidate him into retreat. The pair were nose-to-nose. Silas’s fur was standing on end and his tail looked like a bottle brush. His teeth were bared and he looked very fierce. Even I would have been intimidated by him at that moment. Amazingly, though, quivering, gelatin-kneed Bentley was not backing down. He was making a sound in his throat that was half growl, half plea for mercy.

  As we watched the scene play out, Silas grew bored with his theatrics, gave one last hiss, turned his scrawny rump toward Bentley and stalked off. With a leap, he jumped into his rocking chair, made three circles around the cushion, sat down, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

  Bentley, when he was sure the cat was serious about abandoning the game, sank trembling to the floor like a KO’d boxer.

  “You did it, Bent. You stood up to that cat. Good boy. Brave boy.” I felt a little like a mother whose sweet but clumsy child had just managed to hit a home run or send a free throw swishing through a basketball hoop. Whatever had possessed the dog to choose today to become brave, I have no idea. I’m just glad it happened at all.

  “Bryce,” I asked, “will you run Bentley home? I think I’ll stop by the store and see how Annie’s doing.”

  Again, to my surprise, Bentley trotted off without a backward look at me. What was going on with him? Has he been watching therapy sessions on the medical channel?

  Before I went home, I stopped at the market to pick up something for dinner. As I made my way to the checkout counter with my low-calorie frozen dinner and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, I ran into Nick, who had jumbo shrimp, colorful red peppers, a steak, onions and fresh mushrooms in his basket.

  “Looks like you’ve got a balanced meal planned,” he commented. “Protein, vegetables, dairy—plenty of dairy.”

  “There’s something really annoying about a man who knows more about cooking than I do,” I shot back.

  He whistled under his breath. “Touchy?”

  “I just learned something that surprised me. I should be used to bombshells by now, considering all the times that I’ve been targeted lately.”

  Without a word, Nick plucked the frozen dinner and the ice cream out of my basket and handed them to a shelf stocker who was passing by. “She’s changed her mind. Could you put these back?”

  “What am I supposed to eat? Bread and water?”

  “How about shrimp cocktails and shish kebabs?”

  “You’re making that for yourself?”

  “If I don’t, who will?” He smiled at me. “And I’d like to have you join me, if you would.”

  How could I resist? Especially in a case where the cook is as delicious as the food he cooks?

  “That’s nice of you.”

  “I heard about Joe and Lilly,” he said softly. “Are you okay?”

  “I am. Really. Fine, actually. I feel slam-dunked but definitely not out of the game.”

  “You’re a remarkable woman.”

  “Not so remarkable. Joe deserves someone who’s not constantly putting him off. He’s the kind of guy who wants to settle down. If there’s any chance Lilly is the one for him, then I wish him all the best.”

  “See what I mean about remarkable?” Nick took me by the arm and steered me into the street. “Let’s go home. I’ll start dinner and you can tell me what else happened today.”

  His house, warm and inviting, cocooned me within its walls. With Nick calmly filling skewers with meat and vegetables as I sat at the counter and watched, a sense of tranquility descended over me. There was jazz music playing in the background. With a glass of iced tea in my hand and a moment without any responsibility whatsoever, I finally began to relax.

  “What else happened?” Nick asked. He stabbed a wedge of yellow pepper on the tip of his knife and held it out to me.

  I popped it into my mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “Auntie Lou sold half her business to Julie Morris. And she gave Bryce the pinball machine in her store.”

  Nick looked up. “How do you feel about that?”

  “I feel fine, Dr. Freud, thanks for asking.”

  “About doing this without your knowing, I mean. That’s a big decision and you’ve been Lou’s main confidante for some time now.”

  “It’s a relief, frankly. I’ve been wondering what was going to happen to her and the store when she couldn’t be there any longer. It appears she’s taken care of that all by herself. Julie’s willing to let Auntie Lou be as active in the store as she likes. She wants to learn the business and she’ll be able to take it over someday.”

  I reached across the counter and grabbed another pepper, red this time. “And I think the fact that this happened is, in great part, due to you.”

  “Me? I doubt it.”

  “You helped them with Bryce. Now that he’s out of trouble and away from his old friends, he’s turning into a great kid. It wouldn’t surprise me if someday he went into geriatric medicine or something. He’s wonderful with older people.”

  “You give me too much credit. I was just doing my job.”

  “You take everyone you deal with to the State Fair?”

  “No, sometimes I take them to an equally thrilling county facility,” he joked. Nick picked up the plateful of skewers and carried them to the grill. When he returned, he put out his hand and beckoned me into his living room.

  “Sounds like things are changing in your life, Norah.”

  “Too fast. Joe, Lou, Lilly…nobody except Bentley and the other animals seem to need me anymore. I’m beginning to feel a little…irrelevant.” Instead of being pivotal in my friends’ lives, I’d suddenly become superfluous. Lilly had Joe. Lou had Julie and Bryce. Only Bentley and Hoppy have me. Ever since Connor told me he loved me, my mind has been doing cartwheels about that bit of information and it was clear that despite his charm, his money and his good looks, he isn’t the guy for me. No bells. Not even a tinkle.

  Nick studied me in such a manner that I might as well have been standing in a police lineup. He scrutinized my face with such intensity that I could practically feel his gaze searing my skin. “Who do you want to be important to, Norah?”

  I hadn’t thought of it like that. I’ve focused on what is slipping away, not what I now could bring in to my life.

  “There’s always God. His love for me doesn’t change. My family, my pets, those are all givens. Who else? I don’t really know.”

  “So the pets rank right up there with God and family?” His voice was curiously flat.

  “Every person has a purpose on the planet, Nick. It’s evident that mine involves animals. Taking care of them, protecting them, showing others how much joy they can bring. Animals are a huge part of the Biblical story—Christ was born in a barn—His birth witnessed not by kings and politicians, but by God’s creatures. We call Him the ‘Lamb of God.’ Scripture is filled with references to nature. A dove was the first to let Noah know the earth was no longer
covered with the waters of the flood. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove. Daniel in the lions’ den, sacrificial lambs…”

  “And in Proverbs,” Nick reminded me, “it says that ‘Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly.’”

  “You would know that one, wouldn’t you?”

  He didn’t say anything but went to the deck and returned with the food. We ate in silence and when we were done, he held out his hand to me and led me to his couch. The music swelled around us and I sank down beside him. It felt perfectly right and natural to lean against him with my head on his shoulder.

  I dozed off and when I awoke, Nick was gently curling a strand of my wild black hair around his finger.

  “Sorry I’m not much company. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I finally relaxed.” I sat up and turned my body so I could look at him. A lock of dark hair fell onto his forehead and his eyes held such kindness that it nearly took my breath away. “You’re different from anyone else I’ve ever known, Nick. You’re a…a…safe place to fall.”

  “Safe? That’s the kind of description a man really likes to hear from a beautiful woman.” He touched my cheek with his finger and I felt a shiver of pleasure throughout my body.

  “You know what I mean. When I come here, it’s like coming to a place I most want to be. Being with you is like…coming home…for me.”

  He looked at me oddly and was quiet a very long time before he spoke. “And you’re like that for me, Norah, except…”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood up—another Scriptural thing. The hair of my flesh bristled….

  “‘Except?’”

  “I can’t feel the same way about animals as you, Norah. I might have at one time, but it’s no longer in me.”

  “Sarge…”

  “Is the exception. What you care about most is what I prefer to avoid.”

  “And you believe that’s never going to change for you?”

  “It hasn’t so far. I don’t anticipate it will now.”