“Time to learn. Doctor’s orders. You’ll probably have a headache off and on for several days, maybe even a few weeks. So it will remind you. Sue, someone needs to stay with him for the next twenty-four hours. Wake him every two to three hours until tomorrow morning at about six or seven.
“You probably remember the routine from his football days. Ask him some questions, check his eyes to make sure they’re both dilated the same. If he starts vomiting, call me. Also call if his headache, dizziness, impaired balance, or memory loss increases. I want to see him on Thursday, regardless.”
“Cindy, did I hit my head?” Will’s voice sounded faint to Megan.
“Yes. Do you remember the rodeo?”
“Yeah. Was supposed to ride Thunder.”
“You did. Dub, did he make the eight seconds before he was thrown?”
“Yes,” Dub said proudly. “Don’t know what his score was, though. We weren’t paying any attention.”
Megan didn’t think it was important at this point whether or not he had the highest or lowest score. Though it probably would be to him.
“I got thrown?” Will’s voice was stronger.
“Did a front flip and bonked your head in the dirt,” the doctor said. “Can you tell me your name?”
“William Charles Callahan.”
“When is your birthday?”
“August first. I’ll be thirty-three.”
“Okay. I’ll go ahead and release you. Too bad y’all will miss the fireworks tonight.”
“What fireworks?” Will sounded groggy again.
“Do you know what day this is?”
There was a long pause before Will spoke. “Uh, no.”
Frightened, Megan looked up at Chance. “Is that bad?”
“Not necessarily. I got a concussion during a football game and didn’t remember it was homecoming. I’d just been crowned king at halftime.”
“It’s the Fourth of July, son.” Sue sounded a lot calmer than Megan felt. “Independence Day.”
“Oh.”
“Tylenol for pain, but nothing else,” Dr. Cindy said briskly. “You can put ice on that bump, but you don’t have to unless it makes it feel better. The main thing is rest. You got that, Will?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“All right. You can head on home. I’m going out in the hall to tell Megan that you’ll live.”
“Tell her she’s gotta keep her promise.”
“Oh yeah?” Cindy switched from doctor to friend. “What was that?”
“Told me if I came to see you, she’d kiss me and make it better.”
The minute they let Megan in the room, that’s exactly what she did.
Chance watched over Will Monday night, and Megan stayed at his house during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday. He slept most of the time, so she used his computer to work on a project for Emily. She cooked his meals and kept him company when he was awake, often along with one of the Callahans because they kept dropping by to check on him.
Dub came over Wednesday evening as Megan was leaving, so she decided to stop by to see Sue. When she pulled up in the driveway at the ranch house, Will’s mom stepped out onto the back porch and waited there until Megan joined her.
“How’s he doing?”
“He has a mild headache, but it’s not as bad as the one yesterday. He slept for awhile after you left this afternoon, then ate most of his supper.”
“That’s always a good sign.” Sue opened the door for them to go inside. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” She followed her friend into the living room. When Sue sat down on one of the couches, Megan sat across from her on the other one.
Sue rested her bare feet on the ottoman and studied Megan for a few seconds. “How are you?”
“Okay, now that he’s better. I was really worried about him yesterday.” She put her feet up on the ottoman, noting that her ankles were swollen again.
“You’ve taken good care of my boy these past couple of days. Will you always treat him so well?”
The question shouldn’t have surprised Megan. Sue Callahan protected her children like a mama mountain lion with cubs.
“Yes, if we’re together, but I don’t know if we will be. He drops little hints, makes promises, and does dozens of other things that make me think he really cares for me.” She shrugged, trying to keep her voice light. “But he’s never told me he loves me, and he hasn’t asked me to marry him.”
Megan shifted her gaze, scanned the room, and gathered her thoughts. Looking back at Sue, she decided to be as blunt as her friend. “Sweet Baby’s father made a lot of promises and did nice things that made me think he truly cared for me too. But he didn’t.”
“And he broke your heart.”
“I thought so at the time.” Lately, she realized he’d hurt her pride more than her heart. She hadn’t loved him, though she might have someday if he’d been the man she thought he was. Mostly, she hated being taken advantage of and made to feel stupid.
It was a different story with Will. If he walked away, she didn’t know how she could bear it. “I know Will is a thousand times better than Ken, but I’m still afraid he’s just leading me on. I want so much to hope for a future together, but I’m scared to trust him.”
A tiny frown wrinkled Sue’s forehead. “Will doesn’t lead women on, and he doesn’t make promises, even subtle ones, that he won’t keep. You can trust him.” She paused, her frown deepening. “What about you? Will he wake up some morning and discover that you and your baby are gone?”
“No. The only reason I’d leave is if he decides that I’m not the woman for him.”
“Then neither of us have anything to worry about. That boy is head over spurs in love with you.” Amusement tinted Sue’s smile. “He just hasn’t worked up the courage to tell you yet.”
“A Callahan afraid of something? I’m not buying that.”
Sue laughed. “Those three little words spark fear in the bravest of male hearts. I expect he’s just waiting for the right moment.”
“Wish he’d hurry up.”
“Shall I give him a nudge?”
“Better not.” Megan smiled and slowly got to her feet. “But if he doesn’t get his act together soon, I might reconsider it.”
28
As Sue drove the Lincoln into the church parking lot on Thursday evening, Megan stifled a yawn. She hoped the ladies’ meeting was interesting enough to keep her wide awake. It would be embarrassing to yawn while some nice woman was talking.
Will had felt much better today, and Dr. Cindy had agreed that he could ease back into his normal routine. Megan had barely slept since he was hurt. If she’d had her druthers, she’d have stayed home and gone to bed early.
She’d agreed to come to the meeting because Sue said she should, and she wanted to be as active in the church as possible. Which was why she baked a Black Forest cake the night before to help with the desserts.
Jenna and Emily had arrived early because they were helping, so Megan rode into town with Sue and Ramona. After Sue parked the car, Megan handed the cake box to the housekeeper and scooted out of the backseat.
Ramona eyed the box as Megan shut the car door. “I think I’ll pick up some of these next time I’m in Abilene. It sure makes it easy to take a cake somewhere and leave it.”
“As if there will be any left,” Sue said with a laugh. “You have a round cake and a square box. How do you keep the cake from sliding against the side and smashing the icing?”
“The cake is basically centered on a square cardboard base the same size as the box. I’ve used one with a round cake plate too, but it’s a little trickier. I crumpled up masking tape and filled the corners and also put a piece of double-sided tape beneath the plate to hold it in place.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see this cake and taste it.” Sue opened the outside door to the fellowship hall and held it. Ramona headed straight to the kitchen to leave the cake. Megan stepped into the large room and stopp
ed a few feet from the doorway.
One end of the room had been set up for the meeting, though she thought it odd that the chairs were arranged in a circle. A semicircle or rows would have been more appropriate to listen to a speaker. Then she noticed a long table decorated with a white tablecloth, pink streamers, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers along with small baby things—booties, a bib, a tiny pair of lace ruffled socks, and some rattles. In the corner, a round table was piled with gifts, with even more sitting on the floor. Some were in gift bags, some were wrapped boxes, but all proclaimed baby in one way or the other.
Oh, dear. Why hadn’t Sue told her it was a baby shower so she could pick up a gift? Then she wondered why Sue or Ramona hadn’t brought gifts.
“She’s here,” called Peg.
Jenna, Emily, Ramona, and two other ladies came out of the kitchen. Everyone else—at least twenty women—ended their conversations and turned toward the door.
Grinning from ear to ear, Jenna called, “One, two, three . . .” and everyone shouted, “Surprise!”
Megan was too stunned to speak.
Sue rested a hand on her shoulder. “Welcome to your baby shower.”
Megan stared at her, then she looked at the blur of smiling faces watching them. “I-I don’t know what to say.” She caught her breath. “I never expected anything like this.” It had never entered her mind that they would throw a party for her. No one ever had, for any reason.
“You’re part of our church.” Jenna joined them. “This is one of our traditions.”
“Thank you.” Megan smiled at her dear friends and the others. Though she knew several of the ladies, there were some she’d never met. She was astonished to see Kim with Peg. “Thank you so much. I’m overwhelmed.”
“Don’t be.” Emily led her over to a pale green, striped swivel rocker that Megan recognized as coming from Jenna’s living room. “You sit right here and have fun. Ladies, if everyone will take a seat, we’ll get started.
“We can’t have a party without a few games. Jenna, will you give everyone a clothespin?” As Jenna passed them out, Emily continued. “I see by your smiles that most of you have played this game. If you cross your legs, whoever notices it first can steal your clothespin. Right before we have dessert, the one who has the most will get a prize. So clip those pins where they’re easy to reach and see.”
“Does crossing your ankles count?” Peg asked with a big grin.
“Yes, ma’am. And if you’re wearing sandals, don’t cross your toes, either, ’cause we’ll count that too.” Several women laughed. “Now, you know we can’t have only one game.”
Lindsey began passing out blank sheets of paper and pens.
“Megan hasn’t decided on a name for her baby, so we need to give her some suggestions. They can be good ones or funny ones. It’s a girl, so come up with both a first and middle name.” She waited a minute until everyone had a sheet of paper and a pen. “There are two parts to this game, so you only have one minute to think of a name, beginning now.”
Lindsey sat down next to Megan. “Any suggestions?”
“Nope.” She had a sheet of paper and a pen, but she didn’t plan on writing anything down. She had half a dozen lists at home already. It was more fun to sit and watch everyone else.
“Okay. Did anyone come up with a funny name?” asked Emily.
“Sparkle Plenty,” called the pastor’s wife.
“Ester Emu.” Sue grinned at her.
Emily joined in the laughter. “Good ones. Now, the next part of the game—”
“Do you want to hear the nice ones?” Peg asked.
“We’ll collect the papers when we’re done so Megan can take them home and look them over. She might find something that’s just right. The second part of the game is to make as many words as you can using only the letters in the names you suggested. You don’t have to use all the letters in each word. Whoever comes up with the most words in five minutes wins.”
“Oh, good.” Mrs. Snyder, the florist, laughed. “I’m glad I picked Victoria Elizabeth.”
“That’s what I get for trying to be clever,” Sue muttered good-naturedly.
“Didn’t they tell you what games they were playing?” asked Kim. She looked prettier tonight, more relaxed, happier. Things must be going well between her and Mike. Or between her and some handsome guy.
“No, the sneaky people.” Sue wrinkled her nose at her daughter.
Everyone scribbled away, sometimes laughing or showing a friend something they came up with.
Kim looked up, glanced around the room, and hopped up to steal a clothespin from Mrs. Snyder, causing more laughter.
After a few minutes, Megan decided to see what she could do with Sue’s Ester Emu. Tums, me, must, steer, rest, meet, rust, strum, tee, use, sue, set, sum, mute, rum, seer . . .
“Time’s up.”
Megan counted her words and grinned. Sixteen. Not bad, but several people had many more. The winner was Natalie Jones with fifty-six. Natalie was the senior English teacher at the local high school and had taught all three of the younger Callahans. Her husband, Buster, was one of Dub’s cowboys. They had lived on the ranch for years.
As Natalie chose a wrapped prize from a large basket, Jenna picked up the pens and papers. Megan wondered how many of the people in the room were connected to the Callahans in some way other than the church. Three ladies were in the Historical Society with Emily and Sue. Another was the family insurance agent. Still another was on the bank board with Will.
Peg Renfro had helped bring Sue’s children into the world. Others besides Natalie had taught them in school. The Callahans were woven into the fabric of the town and the church. She doubted there was a single person in Callahan Crossing who couldn’t name each member of the family on sight. Most probably knew them personally.
Sue reached over and stole Peg’s clothespin.
“Your kids aren’t the only ones who are sneaky.” Peg wagged her finger at her old friend.
Jenna and Emily took their seats, and a tiny silver-haired woman cleared her throat. Frannie Scott was a museum volunteer, and one of the kindest people Megan had met in Callahan Crossing.
“Megan, I’ve been asked to share a little tonight. Since I have eight kids, Jenna thinks I know something about raising them,” Frannie said with a gentle smile. “They’ve all turned out well, so perhaps I do. She also knows that I don’t spout off for very long, so we’ll get to the presents soon.” That prompted some light laughter and many nods of agreement.
“Psalm 139 says, ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.’
“God is knitting your precious baby together, Megan. He is weaving together her body, mind, and spirit to make her a whole being, a child created especially for you by our loving heavenly Father.
“I know from our chats at the museum how much you love this baby. I’m certain you’ll be the very best mother you can be. Keep in mind that you’ll make mistakes. We all do. Seek God’s guidance and wisdom every day. Praise him for his goodness and mercy, for the blessing this baby will be to you.”
She scanned the faces of her audience. “All of mine were blessings, even if a couple of them were scamps when they were younger, as some of you know.
“Enjoy your little girl. Take time to play with her, to teach her, to love her as only a mother can. Treasure her laughter, comfort her tears, ease her fears.” Frannie beamed her a smile. “The Lord has his hand on this child, dear. He has claimed her—and you—as his own. Rest in that assurance.”
When the older lady nodded, indicating she was finished, Megan wiped her eyes. “Thank you, Frannie. I’ll take that to heart.”
“I know you will, dear. Now, Jenna, is it time for her to open her presents?”
“Yes, ma’am, it is.” Jenna stood and walked over to the round table behind Megan. “I’ll hand you the gifts, a
nd Lindsey will keep track of who brought what.”
Kim stole another clothespin. She and another woman—Audrey, maybe?—were in fierce competition for that prize.
For the next half hour, Megan opened presents and passed them around the circle so folks could comment on how cute everything was. Frilly little outfits, sleepers and gowns, bibs and pacifiers. Blankets and a beautiful handmade quilt, sheets and soft baby towels. Onesies and booties, rattles and soft toys. There was a mobile to hang above a crib, fun little toys to fasten onto a car seat or stroller—and the combination stroller/car seat from the Callahan ladies to go with them.
Lindsey gave her a beautiful handmade scrapbook so she could keep track of her baby’s firsts and fill the pages with other memories. Ramona had crocheted her an adult-sized multicolored afghan so she and Sweet Baby could snuggle on the couch on cold winter evenings.
Megan handed Lindsey the last gift and looked around the group. “Thank you for all the gifts and for coming tonight. This has been wonderful. I’ve never had anything like it.”
“Kind of like Christmas and your birthday rolled into one,” said a lady whose name she didn’t remember.
“Even better.” Much better. Many years there hadn’t been any presents on Christmas or her birthday. Her mom came through with a little something about every other time. Uncle Riley had given her a doll when she was six, but it got lost in one of their moves.
Emily pointed to Kim and Audrey. “Okay, you two, count your clothespins.”
Kim tapped each one as she counted. “Eight.”
“Eight for me too.”
“Good thing we brought extra.” Emily held the basket out to Audrey, then Kim, so they could pick their prizes.
Sue thanked the Lord for the desserts and asked his blessing upon them. Megan didn’t think he’d zero out the calories despite Lindsey’s murmured request after she said amen. Folks bragged on Megan’s cake, and she bragged on Lindsey’s key lime pie and asked her for the recipe. She didn’t get a chance to taste the cheesecake someone else brought.
After the party was over, some of the other ladies cleaned up while the Callahans and Ramona loaded her gifts in the Lincoln and Emily’s van.
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