by Lori Wick
sound of a train so his great-grandfather would be convinced
"And who will you take on your train?"
"Mumma and Mercy and Hettie and Peters."
"What about Grandpapa?" his mother wanted to know.
"Oh, yes!" Drew shouted as he climbed into the old man's ,
lap, never seeing his grimace of pain. "Grandpapa will be up J
in the engine with me, won't you, Grandpapa?"
"Of course I will." Andrew's voice sounded strong, the
only thing that kept Stacy from removing her son from his lap.
Drew was not a tiny child any longer, and Stacy knew how frail
her grandfather's legs had become. His color was better today,
however, and Stacy took that as a sign of hope. Just four nights
past he'd labored for breath for several hours. They had
thought it the end
"What else did you receive?" Andrew asked of Drew.
The child named a few items, but his concentration was on
his train and he didn't really answer. Believing that respect
was important, Stacy would have said something, but her
grandfather looked so content to have Drew now leaning
against him and playing with his train that she went ahead and
told him herself.
"He received a pair of long britches from Hettie. They're
dark brown and fit him perfectly. A red flannel shin came
from Mercy. It's trimmed with brown cord and looks wonderful
with the trousers. Peters gave him a wooden whistle, and
Noel, Elena, and the children gave him the train. The train is
red with black wheels and trim and printed on the side are the
words 'London and Birmingham.' I bought him a new comb,
and I knitted him an afghan for his bed. It's every shade of
green and quite large--wide enough to cover his entire bed."
This said, Stacy placed the edge of the blanket in her
grandfather's lap so he could feel the weave. Drew had moved
to the floor, so Andrew took a moment to handle the blanket.
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'Very soft," he approved. "You always do nice work."
"I'm glad you think so, because I'm working on one for
[you."
"Do I have to wait for my birthday?"
"No. I'm over half done; you should have it sooner than
that."
Andrew nodded. "Drew?" he spoke softly.
"Yes, Grandpapa?"
"Come up here a minute. I want to give you my present."
The word present was enough to shift Drew in a hurry. He
put his train aside, and by the time he stood before Andrew he
was squirming with excitement.
"This gift belonged to me when I was just your age. I'm
going to give it to you, and I want you to take very good care of
it. Do you promise?"
"Yes, Grandpapa."
(Stacy had no idea what the gift would be, and both she and
Drew grinned in delight when Peters suddenly appeared with
a child's wooden rocking chair.
"Oh, Mumma," Drew exclaimed "It's for me!" With that he
plopped his small bottom into the seat and began to rock. His
mother's voice came to him very softly, but with warning.
"Andrew."
"Oh," he jumped from the chair and moved to Andrew.
"Thank you, Grandpapa. Thank you for the rocking chair."
"You're welcome. Does it fit you?"
"I fit," he told him and sat back down to prove it, even
though the old man couldn't see.
Watching her grandfather, Stacy felt something tug inside
of her. He suddenly looked older and more tired than Stacy
had ever seen him, but there was also a contentment about
him. Stacy wondered if maybe the rocking chair had been
quite special to him and giving it to Drew, his only greatgrandchild,
was more significant than any of them realized
"I believe I'll rest now," Andrew told them and stood to go.
Drew hugged his legs before he got away, and Peters began to
lead him from the room.
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"I'll bring you a tray later," Stacy called to him.
"All right," he said and kept walking. Stacy watched,
unable to decide if he was moving more stiffly or not. She
prayed then as she always did that he would understand his
need for Christ while there was still time. Her prayers had
been increasing lately and held a special urgency. It seemed
clear that Andrew's time with them was coming to an end
Two days later, in the middle of the night, Peters wakened
Stacy from sleep. She had been dreaming about Tanner and
Drew, and her first thought was for her small son.
"Is it Drew?"|
"No, Stacy. Your grandfather is asking for you. He's having j
trouble breathing again."
Stacy's wrapper went around her as she ran, and within
seconds she was at her grandfather's bedside.
"I'm here, Papa," Stacy said and watched his eyes open.
She knew the lamplight made no difference to him, so she
turned the wick higher in order to see him.
"Stacy" was all he said before staring sightlessly in her
direction.
"I'm here, Papa. Don't try to talk."
The old man's eyes closed, his breathing labored on.
Stacy's own breath came in gasps as she realized he might be
slipping away before her eyes. Suddenly his eyes opened
"I need to tell you something." Please
don't try to talk," Stacy begged him, thinking he
needed to conserve his strength.
"I talked to God, Stacy. For the first time, I really talked to
God. I've lived my life for myself, but when I almost died last
week, I knew I wasn't ready to meet Him. I think I took care of
it, but tell me again, Stacy. Tell me how you come to God"
189
Stacy's voice shook with emotion and she didn't know how
she would speak, but the words came. "The Bible says believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, Papa. I simply
told God that I need to be saved from my sins and that I
believed His Son could save me. I asked Him to be the Lord of
my life."
Andrew's eyes closed again. "It's taken care of then. I was
certain that it was, but I needed some reassurance from you.
I'm not afraid to die now. I wish I could be here with you and
Drew for years to come, but my body is tired and I'm not afraid
to go. God will take care of both of you. I'm sure of that for the
first time."
"It might not be time, Papa." Stacy was so overcome with
emotion she could barely talk. "Just rest now. I'll be here."
The old man nodded and slept for nearly an hour. Stacy sat
in a chair right by his side, her heart so full she could hardly
move. Her grandfather had come to Christ! Her heart was
overflowing with thanksgiving. She wanted to shout and
dance.
He's Yours now, lord. I would love to have more time with
him, but even if tonight is the night, he's Your child and You've
given us both your peace. Stacy, whose throat was clogged
with tears, couldn't pray anymore. She sat trembling, half with
fatigue and half with joy, her heart too full to form thoughts.
Stacy had just began to doze when Andrew woke. He asked
Stacy to read to him. She chose the Twenty-third Psalm, a
meaning in the last three and a half years. She was now certain
it would be new to her grandfather as well.
She read and then prayed, andAndrew listened as best he
could The night moved on in such a manner--Andrew and
Stacy dozing for a time and then waking to share the Scriptures
again and again. Andrew said little through this, speaking
only once to thank her for showing him the way, to tell her of
his love and to ask her to tell Drew of his love also.
In her exhausted, emotional state, his words were almost
more than Stacy could bear but she praised God for hearing
190
them since this was in fact Andrew's last night with her. He ft
asleep just before dawn, and this time he did not waken.
Stacy had no more than let Drew finish his breakfast
before she scooped him up and headed to the pond. She
sidestepped all of his questions concerning his grandfather
and didn't really start to talk to him until they were seated by
the big willow that sat at the edge of the water.
"Where are the poles?"
"We're not going to fish today, Drew. I need to talk with
you."
"We can't show Grandpapa our catch."
"No, we can't, but our having a talk is more important right
now." Stacy stopped then. Where to start? He was so little, but
she knew he had to be told. He was much too aware of
Andrew's movements to hope that he wouldn't notice or miss
him.
"I talked with Grandpapa last night, and he told me something
wonderful," Stacy began as Drew sat in her lap and
looked trustingly into her eyes. Her voice wobbled only
slightly, but she continued. "Grandpapa told me he loves Jesus.
Isn't that wonderful?"
"We love Jesus too. And God," Drew told her with big eyes.
"Yes, we do," Stacy said with a smile, knowing he did not
yet understand that God and Christ were one.
Stacy glanced up at the tree, wondering how she should
continue. She had to tell Drew that his Grandpapa was gone,
and she simply didn't know how.
"I think that fish is dead"
Stacy's head snapped down in surprise. She thought he'd
been watching her, but she now saw that his attention had
begun to wander. Stacy's own eyes drifted to the dead fish that
floated on the water, and suddenly she had the words.
191
"How do you suppose that fish died?"
"I don't know," Drew answered, his eyes intent on the
=ady decomposing fish.
"Things do die, don't they, Drew?"
"Urn hmm. Mercy and I saw a dead mouse in the kitchen."
, "I remember that. Drew," Stacy called his name and
praited for him to turn to her, "people die too. Did you know
Ml?"
The small boy didn't answer, but only stared at her. The
^subject was new to him.
"Everything dies--mice, fish, and even people, but when
that happens we know that it's all a part of God's plan. He
gives life, and He says when it's time for someone or something
to die."
Stacy hesitated. Drew still watched her. Tears filled her
eyes when she said the next words. Drew had never seen his
mother cry.
"Grandpapa died this morning, Drew. His body was old
and tired, and God said it was time for Grandpapa to leave this
earth. Before he died though, he told me he loved Jesus, and
that's why I'm certain God took him to heaven to be with Him.
"He also told me that he loves you, but that he knows and
trusts that God is going to take care of you and me. We won't
have Grandpapa here with us anymore, Drew, but God is
going to take care of us."
It was not surprising that Drew had no questions. She
knew that much of what she said had been too old for him, but
she would just keep telling him and reassuring him until he
understood
Stacy had already thought out the aspect of Drew seeing
Grandpapa's body and decided she would not subject him to
that. The man he knew--the loving, alive, vibrant man--was
gone. She saw little or no point in showing Drew his cold,
white, earthly shell.
They took a long walk before going back to Morgan. In
that time Drew did not mention his great-grandfather. Not
until he was going down for a nap did he say he wanted to see
192
him. Stacy had to remind him that the old man was gone aiw
Drew cried because he wanted his grandfather and didn'i
understand why his mother would keep him away.j
Stacy allowed him his tears and lay next to him long after'
he slept. Stacy's own tears finally came. Not a torrent, because'
her wonder and joy over Andrew's salvation was too wonder
ftil for it to be a time of complete sadness. She joined Drew in
his nap while she was still praising God for His saving love
GrtWtfoGw
the mourners around the grave were few. Andrew Daniels
was an old man, and many of his friends had passed on
before him. The bishop was present, but Stacy had asked Noel
to officiate the ceremony. He did a wonderful job, and Stacy
nearly broke down several times as Noel honored and praised
God for His love and mercy. That, as well as the way Drew's
little hand clung to her own, made her aware of just how
vulnerable Drew was right now. She felt him tremble at times.
She knew that this had little to do with the actual death,
because he did not fully understand the word, but his world
had been turned upside down with the "disappearance" of his
great-grandfather, as well as the appearance of strangers in
the forms of Roddy and Lucinda.
They were positively taken with the child, but he was still
feeling a bit overwhelmed with the events of the last days to
get overly close to them. They wisely did not push their
attention on him, but Lucinda broke down on several occasions
over what she exclaimed was the most precious child in
all the world. Such actions were unusual for her, but Stacy
believed it had much to do with the passing of her brother.
Everyone gathered back at Morgan when the funeral service
was over. The staff was visibly upset, but all rallied and
prepared a large meal for the mourners. Stacy acted as hostess,
seeing to it that all were comfortable. It never occurred to
194
her to have someone else take over. Lucinda would have the logical choice, but she was too distraught to do mu
anything.
At one point, when there was a lull in the activities, a
and Elena found themselves alone. They embraced wanna
"Did Noel tell you about Papa's decision?" Stacy askeaj
"Yes." Elena's eyes were glowing.
"Oh, Elena." Stacy's voice was awed, her own eyes wi
with wonder and joy. "I've been selling my Lord short. I neve
dreamed He would save Papa so near the end, but He did
already miss him so much, but God has given me such a pe;
that I can hardly--"
Stacy had to stop. Sometimes words weren't necessai
be
tween close friends; this was such a time. Elena huggecrf
Stacy again before they finally made themselves comfortablel
and really began to talk.
"Roddy and Lucinda have already talked to me about
coming back to London with them."
Elena nodded. "Roddy spoke with Noel. What are you-going
to do?"
"I'm not sure yet. The thought of leaving you is dreadful,
but what if this is God's way of repairing my marriage? I know
that Tanner is never going to come here; he's had over three
years to prove that. Maybe if I was back in London, he'd want
to see me."
"And that's what you want?" There was no censure in
Elena's tone, only caring.
"As frightened as I am of Tanner, I would like my marriage
back. I would desperately love for Drew to know his own
papa. When Lucinda mentioned our coming to live with them,
she also offered to get us a place of our own if we preferred
that, so I know we'll be taken care of. I just don't want to do
anything that's going to be harmful to Drew. Tanner can be so
hard, and the London gossips can be ruthless."
"You could always give it a try," Elena told her.
"What do you mean?"
195
a mean that Noel, the children, and I are going to move
i to Morgan just as we all decided, but Noel would never
I of our place. It's not very big, so if things don't work out
. and Drew in London, you can move back here, either
p organ or our house."
"Oh, Elena" was all Stacy said. Such a thought had never
red to her. For weeks now she'd prayed about some way
pj^en a door between her and Tanner, and now this might be
^She knew she was going to have to be the one to reach out,
I although her faith was small concerning the outcome, she
3 willing to try.
The image of Tanner's angry face, as he'd been in the
onservatory and then at Winslow the day he'd sent her away,
lashed through her mind. The fear she felt took her breath
/ay.
"Stacy, what is it?" Elena had watched her pale.
"I was thinking of Tanner. He still has the power to terrify
me, but I've got to do this, Elena. I don't know how I'll be when
we're finally face-to-face, but I've got to try to save my marriage."
"It's going to be all right, Stacy." Elena's voice was soothing.
"I've already gotten a letter off to Sunny about Andrew's
death, knowing you would be too upset to write. You've had
lots of contact with her in the last few years, and I know she'll
