Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series)

by Andrea Boeshaar

She waved off his offer. He stood and put the spoon to her lips, so she forced herself to eat it. It tasted okay.

  “How ‘bout one more bite?”

  “No, Logan.” Marilee turned her head away. He had already spoon-fed her a good dose of the blandest chicken and rice soup she’d ever tasted.

  He took a seat on the edge of her bed. “When Ronnie was a baby, I’d feed her sometimes. I’d have to pretend the spoon was an airplane and it was coming in for a landing in order for her to open up.” Logan tried those antics on her, complete with sound effects.

  Marilee pushed his hand away. “I’m not a child. Stop treating me like one.”

  Without a word, he stood and set the pudding back on metal dinner tray. “I’ll be right back with your juice.”

  As he left the hospital room, Marilee’s eyes filled with tears. She hurt all over. She felt like screaming. Her head ached, and she wished Logan would go home and leave her alone. She hated for him to see her like this―at her ultimate worst.

  All too soon he returned with a can of grape juice and Marilee grimaced. She couldn’t stand grape juice.

  “I’m going to hit the road, okay? I have some studying to do for tomorrow and I should probably try to get a good night’s sleep.”

  “Sure.” But suddenly she didn’t want him to go. Up and down. She’d been riding an emotional roller coaster all afternoon. Her mother had warned her that this might happen. Already, her hormones were off balance.

  “I’ll stop by tomorrow after church.” Logan collected his jacket.

  Marilee swatted at the tears on her cheeks.

  He froze. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, Logan, I’m a mess.”

  He tossed his jacket into the chair and came to stand at her bedside. “I wish I had the perfect answer for you, but I haven’t said anything right in the past two hours.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “Me, too. And I’m beyond tired right now, so I need some sleep.”

  There was an edge to his voice that broke Marilee’s heart. But she understood. She’d feel crabby too in his position.

  She closed her eyes so he wouldn’t catch sight of the fact that she was still crying.

  “Your parents should be back from dinner any minute.”

  She swallowed

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Marilee listened to his footfalls as he left. Once she couldn’t hear them any more, she pulled the sheet up to her face and released the sob she’d been holding inside. She cried for the baby to whom she’d never give birth. She cried for the fiancé who didn’t understand. She cried and cried until she didn’t think she had another tear left.

  When it was all over, she didn’t feel a single bit better.

  Staring up at the ceiling, Marilee forced herself back into some semblance of sanity. Feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t change her situation. She had to accept it.

  The memory of a song she’d sung with her students just the other day at music time came to mind.

  When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

  When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

  Count your many blessings name them one by one,

  And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

  Marilee croaked out the chorus. “Count your blessings name them one by one.” She cleared her throat. “Count your blessings―see what God hath done. Count your blessings―name them one by one; Count your many blessings―see what God hath done.”

  She began the second stanza. “Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?” More tears suddenly filled her eyes. “Count your many blessings every doubt will fly…”

  She couldn’t go on. Her voice gave way.

  A familiar, masculine voice finished the song for her. “And you will be singing as the days go by.”

  Surprise and a twinge of embarrassment filled her. She turned her head toward the doorway and saw Logan standing there. “I thought you went home to bed.” She drew in a ragged breath and pulled the tissue box onto her chest. Then she wiped her face.

  He hurried forward into the room. “I had to come back and share the news.” He grinned like one of her eight-year-olds.

  “What is it?”

  He leaned over her bed. “My dad called. My birth mother became a Christian tonight.”

  “That’s…that’s great, Logan.” Marilee wished she felt more elated, but her own sadness loomed over her like a dark shadow.

  “Get this―Dad was the one who led her to the Lord.”

  Now that was a miracle!

  “Know what I think?”

  “What?”

  “Had you not been in that car accident last night, Marilee, my dad’s heart would have never been moved to the extent it was. He would have never agreed to visit my birth mother. Not in a million years.”

  “God…God used my accident? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “It’s my belief that He did. Another soul is born again and the angels are rejoicing in heaven. And just think, Marilee,” he added, leaning toward her, “this is only the beginning. Who knows how many other lives might be impacted by the trial we’re facing.” His eyes darkened with emotion. “God has a plan for our lives, and he’s going to use us. You and me. The dynamic duo.”

  His vehemence and optimism were contagious. She especially liked his use of the words “we,” “our,” and “us.” For the past twelve hours, he’d promised over and over again that he would stick by her. Somehow Marilee didn’t believe him. Somehow she thought Logan would want to reconsider their engagement since she could no longer have kids. But suddenly she knew for certain that such was not the case. She could practically see the devotion shining in his brown eyes.

  “Oh, Logan…I love you with all my heart.”

  “I love you with all my heart too. And I’m so happy right now, I think I could stay up for another two days.”

  Smiling, Marilee reached for him and he took her hand. In that moment, her skewed world righted itself. In time, everything would be fine―just fine.

  Chapter Thirty

  The heels on Allie’s flats echoed through the empty parking lot as she traipsed to the extended-stay hotel. Once inside the main entrance, she waved to Jack who’d followed her in his car, insisting on making sure she arrived to her temporary home safely. The big worry wart.

  Smiling to herself, Allie marveled at this incredible night. Cynthia had confessed the wrongdoings of her past to the Lord Jesus Christ and believed in her heart that God raised Him from the dead on what Christians celebrate as Easter morning. Having done that, Cynthia could trust in the biblical promise from Romans chapter ten verse nine: thou shalt be saved.

  And if that weren’t enough to thrill Allie―which it had been―Jack agreed to sign on with Lakeland Enterprises and develop a training program for its security personnel, beginning at Arbor Springs. He shared some of his ideas with her and they sounded fabulous.

  Evan and the rest of the Board would be pleased.

  Reaching her suite, she kicked off her shoes and entered the bathroom. A bubble bath was in order. She turned on the hot water in the tub, adding some fragrant soap. Minutes later, while she soaked her tired and still quite sore body, she thought back on the pleasant dinner that she and Jack shared tonight after Cynthia had fallen asleep and they’d left Arbor Springs.

  At the restaurant, with its peaceful ambiance, Jack said he felt like a man set free from years of bondage. He admitted the hatred he’d felt toward his ex-wife all these years had enslaved him. He’d never known just how much until tonight. But that same hatred had vanished when he’d seen Cynthia’s withered form. How could he hate such a helpless creature? Jack said it was as if God’s Holy Spirit took over from that point on.

  Allie smiled. What a miracle! Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be a part of it!

  Feeling relaxed and drowsy now, she stepped out of the tub and put on her nightgown. She crawled int
o bed and prepared to drift off into a contented sleep but then her cell rang, startling her. She reached for it, nearly knocking over her alarm clock in the process.

  “Hello?”

  “Angel!”

  She perked up at the sound of the man’s voice on the other end. She didn’t recognize it. “Who is this?”

  “It’s Nate…you know, the RN at Arbor Springs.”

  Allie relaxed, although she couldn’t imagine what he called for. She wasn’t on the clock. “Hi, Nate, what’s up?”

  “Sorry. I got your number out of the computer…from when you had your lab work done.”

  “Okay, so what can I do for you?” She stifled a yawn.

  “I figured I should call somebody, but I didn’t know who. There’s no family member listed in the chart.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  A pause. “Mrs. M passed away a few minutes ago.”

  * * *

  White puffy clouds inched their way across an azure sky. Allie watched them through the tall windows of Parkway Community Church. She sat in one of the floral armchairs in the lobby, Jack sat on a nearby loveseat, and Logan paced, his Bible tucked beneath one arm.

  “You’re going to wear out the carpet,” Jack told him.

  Logan stopped in mid-stride. “I’m just sure how to handle this. Do I tell Patrice and Kelly before the service that our mother died, or so I wait until afterwards?”

  “They might not even show up.” Allie pulled her gaze from the window.

  “Why don’t you just play it by ear?” Jack suggested.

  Allie glanced at him and decided he looked dashing in his charcoal-gray suit.

  “If they show up and there’s time before service,” he continued, “tell them. If there isn’t, wait until later.”

  “There’s wisdom with age.” A spark of amusement lit Logan’s eyes. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his navy blue slacks. But he couldn’t hide his obvious weariness. Even so, Logan put up an enthusiastic front.

  Jack chuckled at his son’s quip.

  Several teenage girls approached Logan, asking him about Marilee. He gave them a brief update and encouraged them to keep praying. They promised they would, and then they giggled and babbled on about everything Logan missed after supper at Friday night’s bonfire event.

  Allie couldn’t suppress a laugh as the girls chattered like little magpies. Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head.

  “See what we missed by not having daughters?”

  “No comment,” Jack replied.

  Allie laughed again, but out of the corner of her eye, she spotted four people walking through the parking lot and heading for the front entrance. Two were males, one a brunette and one with light brown hair, and two females who looked very much like Cynthia’s daughters.

  Standing, Allie interrupted Logan and pointed to where the couples had just stepped inside the church. He excused himself from the teens and walked over to the guests.

  Allie and Jack followed.

  “Welcome to Parkway. I’m Logan Callahan, he said, extending his right hand.

  Both young ladies accepted the greeting and Logan continued with the introductions. Patrice and Kelly remembered Allie, and they made Jack’s acquaintance with polite smiles, commenting on how much Logan looked like his dad. Patrice and Kelly, in turn, introduced their boyfriends, Matt and Chris.

  “So, you’re a pastor at this church and…you’re supposed to be our brother?” Kelly studied his face. She had dressed in a knee-length black leather skirt and a silky red blouse, over which she wore a black leather jacket. Her dark brown hair was parted in the middle and hung in waves to her shoulders. “Ma never mentioned you.” She looked at Jack. “Ma never mentioned you either.”

  Allie watched as Jack sort of shrugged off the remark. This wasn’t exactly the best place to discuss his less-than-blissful marriage.

  Logan was the one to reply. “Yes, I’m both a pastor here and your half-brother.”

  “Hard to believe,” Kelly, the younger of the two girls said.

  “Yeah, but for the life of us,” Patrice added, her reddish-brown hair pulled back into a clip, “we can’t figure out why you’d lie. I mean it’s not like we’re the Judds or something.”

  Kelly laughed.

  “Well, it’s a long story,” Logan answered with a patient smile, “one I’d like to tell you at lunch, assuming you’ll accept my invitation.”

  The girls looked at their boyfriends who both shrugged.

  “Yeah, sure.” Patrice adjusted the collar of the white sweater she wore over a tea-length light-blue skirt. “We can do lunch after church.”

  “Great. In the meantime…” Logan flipped open his Bible and pulled out the same photographs Allie had seen earlier in the week. “I’ve got some pictures you can look at. It’s our mother…on her wedding day and with me as a baby.”

  After examining them, Patrice and Kelly looked at each other and then at Logan.

  “So we really do have a brother,” Kelly murmured, appearing surprised that it was true. “And Ma never told us, that witch!”

  “I have a good mind to tell her what I think about her deceptive little ways,” Patrice retorted. “I wonder what else she hasn’t told us.”

  Allie bit her lip and glanced at Jack who’d been quietly looking on.

  “And I suppose you just found out about us too, huh?” Patrice glowered.

  Logan gave her a solemn nod. “Listen, there’s something I’ve got to tell you both…”

  “Ma’s always been like this,” Kelly went on. “She lied all the time. We could never trust her.”

  Jack stepped behind Allie and approached Matt and Chris who held their own private discussion. “Why don’t you guys come with me and we’ll find a soda or a cup of coffee.”

  At first the young men didn’t budge. But then Jack encouraged them with a friendly wave of his arm, and they trailed him across the lobby.

  Allie stayed with Logan and his half-sisters.

  “Ma told us there was insurance money if we took care of her,” Kelly said. “We quit school and everything. Forfeited our scholarships…”

  “But there wasn’t any insurance money,” Patrice added, “because she’d let the policy lapse just to be vindictive.”

  Kelly nodded. “All our lives she acted like we asked to be born or something.”

  “Ladies, you need to listen to what Logan has to say,” Allie chimed in. “It’s important.”

  He cleared his throat and began again. “The Bible makes it clear that we’re to honor our parents, and God doesn’t give us exceptions.”

  Patrice and Kelly appeared unimpressed, but they ceased their grumbling long enough to hear Logan out.

  “Your mother―our mother―died early this morning,” he said in a somber tone of voice. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.”

  The young women’s expressions remained impassive.

  “We knew it was coming,” Patrice said at last. “It’s not like some big surprise.”

  “Yeah, she actually lasted longer than we expected.”

  “Well, there’s good news in all of this too,” Logan said. “Our mother made a decision for Christ shortly before she died.”

  “Decision for Christ?” Kelly frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Logan smiled. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

  Allie stepped back while Logan told them about Jesus. She prayed God would reach through their hardened exteriors and touch their hearts. Seeing Jack as he returned with Matt and Chris, she smiled. He smiled back, and Allie noted each man carried a small Styrofoam cup.

  “Ah, success,” she said. “You found the coffee.”

  “The office down the hall had a pot. I’m sorry, I should have asked, Allie. Did you want some? I’ll go back…”

  She shook her head. “No, thanks, I’m fine.”

  A new topic of conversation ensued and Allie kept a watchful eye on Cynthia’s daughters. Neither, however, se
emed remorseful. Quite the opposite, they laughed every so often at something that was said. Before long, Steve, Nora, Veronica, Rick, and Rachel joined them and more introductions were made.

  Melodious strains from the piano and organ filled the lobby, signaling the beginning of the service. Jack collected cups and headed for the trash bin while Logan ushered his guests into the sanctuary. Allie walked behind Nora and Steve, finding a seat next to Patrice. Moments later, Jack claimed the aisle seat right beside her.

  The service began in an ordinary fashion. After worship, announcements and prayer time where the congregation heard about Marilee’s accident, the lights in the sanctuary dimmed. Pastor Warren strode to the pulpit with a welcoming smile and a determined sparkle in his eyes. But he didn’t even get ten minutes into his message when Patrice began sniffling. Lifting her purse into her lap, Allie found a Kleenex and handed it over.

  “Thanks,” Patrice whispered. Her voice sounded constrained from emotion.

  Allie slipped a comforting arm around the young lady’s shoulders. While she empathized with Patrice’s sense of loss, she also felt a measure of relief and gladness to know at least one of Cynthia Matlock’s daughters felt remorse enough over her death to shed a few tears.

  Forty-five minutes later, the service ended. Patrice, and a majority of the Callahan family regrouped in the lobby. Nora exited the sanctuary with her matronly arm around Kelly’s shoulders. Upon closer scrutiny, Allie noticed the young lady’s bleary eyes.

  Thank You, Lord, for breaking these girls’ hearts over their mother.

  “Hey, everyone, I know the plan was to eat out this afternoon,” Nora said, Kelly still at her side. “But I’d like to extend a lunch invitation to my place. We’ll be more comfortable there than at an impersonal restaurant.” She gazed at Allie, then at Jack. “What do you think?

  “Is Steve cooking?” Jack smirked.

  “Cooking? No, no, no. I’m grilling.” Steve lifted an indignant chin. “Chicken, hamburgers, Italian sausage, hotdogs…whatever Nora hands me, I’ll slap it on the grill.”

  Jack rolled his eyes. “In that case, we’d better put the fire department on alert.”

  Steve laughed and gave him a brotherly sock in the arm.