by Lyn Cote
The old downward feeling of “I don’t deserve this” tried to take her Rosa captive. Shaking it off, she turned to the delivery men and teased, “What are you waiting for? Bring in my new furniture!”
With the two barking dogs, Johnny and Marc were at the curb watching with excitement.
Rosa looked at Dr. Fleming. Had he done this before, sent her the bedroom set anonymously? She almost asked him but their relationship had changed. He would tell her now if he’d sent her the furniture, wouldn’t he? She waited, giving him time to tell her. The delivery man pushed past her and started moving the furniture out. She hurried down the ramp to Dr. Fleming. But he remained silent.
“This has happened before, you know?” she said.
“Really?” Dr. Fleming said, watching and making sure the delivery men were taking care with the furniture.
“Yes, someone gave me my bedroom set on the day we moved in.”
Dr. Fleming nodded as he followed the delivery men to the front door.
She could tell he didn’t know anything about the free doughnuts and the free furniture. Would she ever find out who had given her such a needed gift?
Soon the furniture had been carried in, the plastic ripped off and it had been arranged to suit Rosa. “I love it,” she repeated, hugging Dr. Fleming. “But you shouldn’t have. It’s too much. I don’t deserve—”
He silenced her with a finger to her lips. “Yes, you do deserve this. I want none of that guilt-speak. Let me enjoy, savor this moment. My wife never lets me so much as choose a dinner napkin in our house. I had a lot of fun shopping for this. It’s your Christmas present early.”
Rosa hugged him again. “Thank you.” She couldn’t say more. Pure gratitude filled her throat. After the delivery was done, outside Dr. Fleming watched the tree as Marc lifted it out of the pickup bed. And the doctor also paused to study the progress Marc was making on building the two-and-half-car detached garage. Marc had put the shell up and the roof was sheeted and tar-papered.
“You’ve really been working on this,” the doctor said.
Marc nodded. “I’m not working a job yet so I have time. And I want this up for Rosa before hard winter sets in.”
Dr. Fleming grinned. “Good. And Johnny tells me that there’s going to be a wedding.”
Marc’s chest expanded with good pride. “A double wedding. My brother is getting married on New Year’s Eve afternoon. He and his bride-to-be invited Rosa and me to get married the same day. Rosa loved the idea.”
Dr. Fleming shook Marc’s hand. “Glad to hear it. I know Johnny thinks you’re the best.”
“I think he likes you, too, Doctor,” Rosa said, coming out to the men with her coat around her shoulders. “Why don’t you stay and help us decorate the tree.”
“Thanks!” Dr. Fleming beamed. “That’s something else I’m never allowed to help with. My wife hires someone to decorate our multiple trees. What’s the fun in that I ask you?”
They all crowded into the cheery yellow kitchen. Rosa watched Marc drag the tree and put it in the stand. Her great room had been almost bare and now it looked complete, ready for the holiday celebrations. Joy expanded inside her.
She recalled the wreath with its velvety red bow still outside and slipped out to pick it up from the side of the steps. She ran around and hung it on her front door on the hanger she had pounded in earlier. The wind felt arctic. But wrapping her arms around her, she hurried out to the curb to get the effect.
The undecorated tree was visible in the corner of the large front window. And Marc had put white icicle lights along the top of all her front windows. She hugged herself, letting joy warm and fill her from inside out. A joyful tear dripped from one eye. She wiped it away.
Consuela was motioning from the window and Rosa could read her lips—“Get in here. You’ll catch cold.” This made Rosa laugh as she ran to the side door. She rushed inside the cozy house, her home filled with happy people, her and Marc’s home, thanks be to God.
On New Year’s Eve, in the afternoon, prelude wedding music caused Marc to swallow hard. Luke had suggested a double wedding and Jill had concurred. In light of tight finances, and the fact that they didn’t want to wait an extra day, Rosa and Marc had agreed. Keyed up, he stood beside his brother and a cousin at the front of Jill’s church. In their best Sunday suits, the two grooms and one groomsman wore white shirts and red ties, boutonnieres of holly and red berries. Since Luke had insisted, Marc and Rosa would recite their vows first. Waiting for the brides, Marc resisted the urge to run his finger around his tightening collar to loosen it.
Two ushers walked Consuela, their mother and grandmother down the aisle to the front pews. Bud walked behind them, looking proud and serious. Then, to the wedding music, Jill’s shy cousin walked down the aisle in a royal blue dress, carrying a bouquet of white flowers with red bows and holly leaves. Then the pianist sounded the chord which announced that the first bride was coming.
All the guests rose and turned to watch Dr. Fleming and Johnny, proud in his first suit, escort Rosa down the aisle. Rosa wore Naomi’s 1951 vintage veil and wedding gown, altered by Consuela. Rosa, you’re so beautiful. Marc tried to breathe and found that tears smarted in his eyes. After Rosa took her place near Marc, the pastor asked Dr. Fleming, “Who gives this woman to this man?”
“We do!” Johnny declared and pumped his arm. Everyone in the church chuckled. Then Johnny hugged Marc around the waist. While ruffling Johnny’s bangs, Marc saw his mother and Consuela dabbing their eyes with lacy handkerchiefs. Marc swallowed with difficulty again. Dr. Fleming gave Rosa’s hand to Marc and then led Johnny to their place near Consuela.
Next Jill’s father proudly led his daughter down the aisle. When they reached the front, the pastor asked the same question about Jill. Tom, sounding gruff, said, “Her late mother and I do.” He then placed Jill’s hand into Luke’s and stepped back to sit in a pew on the bride’s side. Jill and Luke dropped hands and took their places as best man and maid of honor.
Marc drew Rosa forward. He listened as the pastor led them through their vows. Marc felt as if he would never forget the feeling of this moment, these precious words that bound him and Rosa for life; a good life, which would be filled with love and family. Finally, the pastor told him to kiss his bride. As he raised Rosa’s veil, the old temptation to say “I don’t deserve this” tried to take hold. But Marc banished it. God had taken away the false guilt. He and Rosa would live life, trusting in His boundless grace. Marc brushed Rosa’s sweet yet trembling lips. “I love you,” he whispered.
“And I love you,” Rosa whispered back, a tear sliding from her eye.
He wiped the tear from her cheek. “Our time for tears is over,” he whispered. Rosa kissed him again.
Then they smiled and turned to receive the applause as the pastor declared, “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Marc Chambers.”
Dear Reader,
I hope you have enjoyed the love story of Rosa and Marc. Two special people who had love to give but no one to receive it. Both of them suffered from guilt—some actual guilt and some false guilt. Guilt is a thorny emotion. If one is truly guilty, then confession can lead to healing even if one can’t make things right.
Remember when King David finally confessed to the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, he confessed that he had sinned against God alone. It is good to tell those you have wounded that you’re sorry. But confessing to God and then accepting His forgiveness is the way to be free of the hurtful past.
And if someone has wronged you and will not admit guilt, free yourself. Ask God to heal your heart and make things right. Let the pain go. Let God set you free from grudges. It has been said that holding on to a grudge is like drinking poison and watching for the despised person to die. How much sense does that make?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Why did Rosa carry guilt?
Why did Marc carry guilt?
Which of the two carried false guilt that is guil
t over something unavoidable?
Does it make a difference if guilt is imagined or real? Does one affect a person less or more than the other?
Do you know a single mother? After reading about Rosa, do you see some ways you could help her carry the load of single parenting?
How did Naomi and Consuela try to help their grandchildren? Do you have good memories of your grandparents and their part in your life?
Why did Rosa and Marc want to pursue a career in law enforcement? How did you choose your career?
Have you ever had an experience like Marc’s where you witnessed or were part of a tragedy? How did you cope with the effects of this?
Trent’s father had a heart attack and that caused him to evaluate his life. Have you or someone you know well had a similar experience?
In the scene where Marc runs into his old high school teammate at the soccer practice, he compared himself to the friend. Have you ever done that? Was it good or bad for you?
By the end of the story, Marc had decided that he wanted to pursue a different career. That happens often. The average American has five careers over a lifetime. How many have you had so far?
Did you know that one out of every eight couples in the U.S. met online? Have you ever known anyone who met someone through an online dating service? How did it turn out?
Many people volunteered to help build Rosa’s house. Have you ever volunteered in your community?
Have you ever had to watch a loved one suffer and been unable to help? How did you handle this?
What would you say to Trent or someone like him? Is there hope for Trent?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6644-9
SHELTER OF HOPE
Copyright © 2010 by Lyn Cote
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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††The Gabriel Sisters
**Bountiful Blessings
*Sisters of the Heart
†New Friends Street
‡Harbor Intrigue
