The Calling

by Deborah A Hodge

  “Sure, I should know. What will they do in the surgery?”

  “They will probably have to remove her right breast and some lymph nodes.”

  “Oh, Daddy, what can I do?”

  “You can pray.”

  Cate closed her eyes and saw her mother and father, “I know, but what else can I do?”

  “There’s really nothing else to do, but trust God with the situation.”

  “How’s mom?”

  “She’s a little shaken, but she’ll be fine. Your mother has strong faith.”

  “Yes, she does. I envy her faith.”

  “Catie, you have strong faith too. You got that from your mother.”

  “I thought I got my faith from you.”

  “Maybe, you got it from both of us. Anyway, you have faith and I know you’ll rely on it.”

  “Dad, can I speak to Mom?”

  “Sure, honey, she’s right here, waiting to talk to you.”

  Her father passed the phone and Cate choked up when she heard her mother’s voice, “Cate.”.

  Cate searched for words, but found only sobs.

  “Cate, honey, don’t cry. Everything will be all right.”

  Even with her mother’s pleading, Cate couldn’t stop crying.

  “Honey, please don’t cry.”

  Finally, Cate found words, “Mom, I am so sorry… so very sorry.”

  “I’ll be fine, honey. God is in control.”

  “But, Mom, why you? Of all the people in the world, why you?”

  “Why not me? What makes me different from anyone else? I have no exemption from cancer.”

  “But, Mom, you’re one of the best people I know.”

  “Cate, I’m not so sure about that, but I’m sure that good people get cancer. I trust that God knows best in what He allows and that He will take care of me no matter what. Honey, I need you to trust Him too.”

  “Mom, what can I do to help you?”

  “I just told you. You can entrust me into God’s Hands and trust that He will do the right thing no matter what that is.”

  “But, Mom…”

  “Cate, we’ve got to trust Him. There is no other way.”

  “But, Mom, I love you so much.”

  “I know you do, honey, and so does He. We have to trust that Love.”

  “Mom, I’m coming home.”

  “No, Cate, don’t. It costs too much and they need you there. I just wanted you to know, and I wanted to hear your voice; I wanted to tell you that I love you.”

  “Oh, Mommy,” Cate uttered, sobbing again, “I love you so much.”

  “Darling, I know that, and I know that we’ll get through this. I promise you that.”

  “Mom, can I speak to Dad again?”

  When her dad took the phone again, Cate renewed her argument, “Dad, I want to come home.”

  “Honey, your mom is right. It’s too expensive, and you have a job to do there. We’ll keep you in the loop. I’ll call you Monday as soon as the surgery is over.”

  “Daddy, will you hold the phone so you and mother can both hear?”

  “Sure,” her dad answered. “Okay, we are both here.”

  “I love and appreciate you both. You have always been there for me. Even in my darkest times, I knew that I could count on you. I want both of you to know you can count on me. I wish I could be there to give both of you a great big hug and tell you in person how much you mean to me. I don’t know what I would do without either one of you. I promise I’ll be praying and I’ll be trusting.”

  “Thanks honey. We knew we could count on you.”

  “You’ll call me on Monday, right after the surgery?”

  “Sure, I will,” her dad assured her.

  “Call me at the school, okay? You’ve got the number, right?”

  “I’ve got the number, honey.”

  “Daddy, I hate to hang up.”

  “I know, but I promise I’ll call you on Monday. By the way, we are praying for you too.”

  “I know. Thank you. I’ll talk to you on Monday,” she reluctantly hung up.

  Cate sat silently on the couch for several minutes. Tears were streaming from her eyes and a prayer was rising from deep within her. “Oh, Lord, please I pray that my mother will be all right. Please help the doctors get all of the cancer. Please Lord, I’m not ready to give up my mother. Please Lord; let my mother be all right.”

  Finally, Kim ventured into the room. “Cate, is everything all right?”

  Cate shook her head.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “My mother has breast cancer.”

  “Cate, I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Just pray for her.”

  “You know I will. Matthew is quite worried. Is it okay to tell him and Janet?”

  Cate shook her head that it was all right. She was still battling tears and praying silently.

  Kim disappeared into the kitchen and minutes later Matthew came through the kitchen door into the living room. Matthew walked directly to Cate, put his arms around her and drew her in close. As he held her, he whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  Cate cried as Matthew held her. He didn’t say anything, he simply held her and let her cry. Finally, she stopped and took comfort from Matthew’s embrace. After several minutes, Cate spoke, “Thanks for being here Matthew, and for letting me cry.”

  “I’m glad I could be here.”

  “I know it’s really late. You need to go home and get some rest.”

  “I’m here for as long as you need me.”

  “I’ll be fine now. I think I’m cried out,” Cate assured him.

  “You think you can sleep now?”

  “I think so.”

  “I’d like to pray for your mother, your family and you before I go.”

  “That would be great,” Cate said, as she accepted his offer.

  They bowed their heads and clasped each other’s hands as Matthew prayed a beautiful prayer of intercession and compassion. When he had finished, he looked Cate in the eyes and assured her, “Everything’s going to be all right; you know.”

  “I know; thanks again,” Cate answered, as he drew her close again.

  “I love you, Cate,” he kissed her softly.

  “I love you too,” Cate said, still in his arms.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gently released her and headed for the front door.

  Cate silently nodded as she followed him to the door. As he opened the door and started out, he kissed her softly one more time.

  Cate went to the kitchen; the light was on, but no one was there. Kim and Miss Janet had already gone to bed, so Cate followed their example. She fell asleep while looking out of her bedroom window at the silhouetted mountains in the distance. Those moonlit silhouetted mountains comforted her; they had become a constant symbol to her of the Lord’s help and strength.

  Twelve

  She began the next day conscious of God’s gracious watch-care. When she realized that she had slept late, she dressed for church and went in for a quick breakfast.

  Miss Janet and Kim were already dressed and sitting in the living room, reading newspapers from home.

  Cate greeted them, “Good morning.”

  Miss Janet looked up from her newspaper, “How are you this morning?”

  “I’m fine. I see you’re both ready for church. Thank you for allowing me to sleep a little longer than usual today.”

  “We weren’t quite sure when you finally got to sleep,” Kim said.

  “I’m not quite sure either, but I’m sure the extra rest did me good,” Cate forced a smile.

  “I’m sure it did,” Miss Janet said, “You look refreshed.”

  “I am, and I’m hopeful.”

  “About your mother’s situation?” Kim asked.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Miss Janet said.

  “Is your mother going to have surgery and treatme
nts?” Kim asked, with genuine concern.

  “She’s having the surgery tomorrow morning, but I don’t know about treatments. My parents didn’t say, and I forgot to ask.”

  “They probably don’t know about the treatments yet,” Miss Janet said. “That determination will probably be made once the surgery has been completed.”

  “I guess. I don’t know much about breast cancer.”

  “I know about it,” Miss Janet continued. “My sister had breast cancer.”

  “What happened with her?”

  “She had to have a double mastectomy and months of both chemotherapy and radiation.”

  “But, everything turned out okay?” Kim asked.

  Cate held her breath as Miss Janet hesitated to answer.

  When Miss Janet saw the look of panic on Cate’s face, she answered, “Yes, she’s alive and well in Sacramento. She’s a teacher too, and has been cancer-free for fifteen years.”

  “How old was your sister when she was diagnosed?” Cate inquired.

  “She was only twenty-eight.”

  “Twenty-eight,” Kim echoed.

  “Twenty-eight,” Miss Janet nodded.

  “Wow,” Cate said.

  “She was the same age as Cate and me,” Kim said.

  “That’s right. Cate, how old is your mother?”

  “She’s almost fifty-two.”

  “There have been tremendous breakthroughs in treating cancer since my sister’s recovery. Your mother has an excellent chance at full recovery.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure that’s right,” Cate said. I hope so.

  Miss Janet pointed at the clock on the wall, “Well, girls, we had better start walking so we won’t be late.”

  As they walked the two blocks to the church, Cate’s heart felt lighter. Miss Janet’s words about her sister had encouraged her.

  When they arrived at the church, the other parishioners greeted them. Matthew motioned for them to sit with him, and Cate, Kim, and Janet took their seats. Mrs. Garcia brought Sarah to sit with them and when Cate inquired as to where David was, much to their surprise, Mrs. Garcia pointed to the front. As they looked up, David entered from the pastor’s study and took his seat on the platform. Because the pastor was suffering from laryngitis, David would preach the sermon that Sunday.

  Cate whispered to Matthew, “The last time I heard David preach was seven years ago when he was on staff at my dad’s church.”

  “I don’t know how he was back then, but I’ve heard him many times and he’s a good preacher.”

  Kim leaned over to add her comment. “He’s one of the best I’ve ever heard.”

  “She might be a little prejudiced,” Matthew winked.

  “I’d say she’s a lot prejudiced,” Miss Janet said, with a smile.

  Kim shook her head, and defended her opinion, “Cate, I promise you’ll be inspired by his preaching.”

  Cate’s eyes held promise, “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Every song, every scripture, and David’s sermon about Lazarus’ sickness and death, spoke to her. He spoke of Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus and his words to Martha as he reminded her that she would see the glory of God if she believed. Cate knew this had application for her life and her situation with her mother. She knew God was speaking to her heart about trusting Him with her mother, in the midst of perplexity and uncertainty.

  When the service was over, Cate hugged David tightly, “Thanks for the sermon. I needed it.”

  “You’re welcome,” David said awkwardly, embarrassed by her depth of gratitude and method of expression, especially since Matthew, Kim, and Janet were standing there. In Matthew, Kim, and Janet’s faces, he saw empathy for Cate.

  “David, I liked your sermon too. Its applications were very practical,” Matthew said, as he nodded toward Cate.

  David realized there was something wrong, “Cate, are you okay?”

  “Sure, I-I’m okay.”

  Confused, David looked at the others, “Is there something going on?”

  Matthew, Kim and Janet nodded their heads ‘yes’, and Cate saw them point toward her. Haltingly, she began, “I found out last night that my mom has cancer.”

  This time David hugged her, “I’m sorry, Cate.”

  “I know,” she wiped her eyes.

  Matthew was holding Sarah, who was confused about what was happening.

  “Mr. Matthew, why is Cate crying?”

  Cate answered, “Sarah, I’m all right… I’m just a little sad.” She took Sarah in her arms and Sarah helped Cate brush away her tears. Cate smiled at the love and thoughtfulness of such a little girl.

  Matthew put his arm around Cate. “Hey,” he said, “why don’t we all go to Mama’s Hacienda for lunch?”

  “Sure, let’s do it,” David agreed.

  Madre’s Hacienda wasn’t fancy, and wouldn’t be the choice of most tourists, but it was clean and had authentic local entrees. The children of the restaurant owner attended the mission school. They were proud that the headmaster and his teachers came to their establishment.

  The restaurant had begun to fill up, but when they arrived Mama Rosa saw them and ran to greet them.

  “Buenos Días, if you will follow me, I have special table for you.”

  She led them to a table that would accommodate the party of six, and ordered the servers to make the dining festive and special.

  “May I suggest our special entrée?”

  “Is it your special chicken, Mama Rosa?”

  “Si, Señor Matthew.”

  With a smile and a wink at Mama Rosa, Matthew said, “Well, that settles it for me.”

  Everyone concurred.

  “Six specials it is,” Mama said, as she motioned for the two servers, “If I may, I would like to have the servers bring you some of the punch that you like. It is my gift to you.”

  Everyone smiled and said, “Thank you Mama.”

  The servers had arrived at the table and began to serve the punch.

  “I will go to the kitchen now and prepare your plates myself,” Mama said, with a smile.

  “Muchas gracias,” came the chorus from the table.

  Everyone took a sip and finished with an “ummm.” Mama’s punch hit the spot.

  Kim dreamily closed her eyes, “Fruit never tasted so good.”

  “You can say that again,” David agreed.

  “This punch is the best,” Sarah added her seal of approval.

  “I’ve never had better,” Miss Janet said.

  Cate had remained silent during the conversation. She was drinking her punch, but was in another place. Everyone noticed, but said nothing. Mama and the servers brought their plates; and once again everyone raved over the food, except Cate. She picked at her food with her fork, but didn’t eat much and everyone left her to her thoughts.

  When lunch was almost finished, David decided a little intervention was necessary.

  “Matthew, Kim, can I see you outside for a minute?”

  Matthew and Kim looked confused until David nodded toward Cate.

  “If you ladies will excuse us for a moment, it seems we are needed outside,” Matthew helped Kim with her chair.

  “Of course,” Miss Janet replied.

  Realizing that he was leaving, Sarah asked, “Daddy, where are you going?”

  “Be back in a minute. Finish your chicken and rice.”

  “Okay.”

  Miss Janet motioned for the server to bring Sarah some more punch. Mama Rosa saw her and came instead.

  “Si, mi bambina, you need some punch.”

  “Si, Mama Rosa.”

  Mama smiled and filled her glass.

  “Señorita Cate, do you need more punch?” Mama Rosa asked.

  Cate’s eyes stared at the wall across the room.

  Sarah said loudly, “Cate, Mama Rosa is speaking to you.”

  Cate came back from where she had been. “What, Baby Girl?”

  “Mama Rosa wants to know if you would like more punch.”
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br />   Cate saw Mama standing with the pitcher, “No, thank you; I’m fine.”

  “Are you well Señorita Cate?”

  “Yes, yes, I’m well.”

  “She has a lot on her mind,” Miss Janet said.

  “I see,” Mama returned to the kitchen.

  David, Matthew and Kim returned, and sat down.

  David brushed Sarah’s hair away from her face, “Sarah, if you’re finished, Kim and Miss Janet are going home. They would like you to go with them.”

  “But, Daddy I want to stay with you.”

  “Sarah,” Kim said, “how about we take you to see Mr. Ramon’s ducks?”

  “I’d like that,” Sarah clapped her hands.

  “Well, let’s go see the ducks,” Miss Janet rose and offered Sarah her hand.

  Sarah wiped her hands and mouth. She kissed her daddy and Cate goodbye, and left singing one of her favorite songs.

  Cate folded her napkin, placed it on the table and leaned back in her chair, “Okay, what’s going on?”

  “We sent them home because we didn’t want to talk in front of Sarah,” David answered.

  “I understand,” Cate refolded the napkin, “I’m guessing that you want to talk about my mother.”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind,” David replied.

  “If you do mind, we’ll understand,” Matthew said.

  “I don’t mind. What would you like to know?”

  “Kim told us she would be having surgery tomorrow morning,” David answered. “But, how are she and your dad doing?”

  “You know my dad. He’s a rock. He’s trusting God, but I could tell by his voice that he’s very concerned.”

  “I’m sure he is,” Matthew added.

  David nodded; he knew Cate’s dad. “And your mom, how’s she holding up?”

  “She’s trusting God, and surrendering the whole thing to Him, just like Dad.”

  “And,” David paused, “how are you?”

  “I’m trying to do the same thing. That’s why your sermon meant so much to me. But, I can’t help but worry about Mom and Dad. They’ve always been very close. They count on each other. I know this is hurting Dad deeply.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. I’ve always envied your parent’s relationship,” David said.

  “You have?” Cate’s eyes showed surprise.