“She’s on the other side of your bed.”
He tilted his head toward the right.
The fingers on his right hand twitched, and he slid his hand over hers.
Mawmaw laughed in her guttural voice.
The corners of Carlton’s lips tilted slightly. He’d heard her.
Suddenly, I felt as though we were invaders in this intimate moment of reunion. I straightened, glanced toward Mama, and then toward Anthony and Aunt Mel. They must have been feeling the same because Anthony nodded toward the kitchen and Mama stood and reached for my hand. “I’ll fix us a cup of tea.”
“Sounds wonderful.” I blinked back the sting in my eyes. A love smothered so long ago had been rekindled, if only for a brief moment. The amazing thing—no words had exchanged.
That was the power of love. I reveled in that. For Mawmaw. For Carlton. For all of us. It gave me hope for all of us lost souls struggling to survive in a world that would rather we stay lost. I was so blessed to see it was never too late to forgive and receive forgiveness.
Mama dabbed at her eyes while she stood at the sink filling the kettle. “Wow, I believe we just witnessed a miracle.”
I smiled, my heart bursting with bittersweet joy. “Yes, I believe we did.”
Thank You, Lord.
Epilogue
One Year Later at the Bijou Bayou Fais do do
“Cheryl, dance with me.” Beau stood next to our table his hand outstretched. The sounds of the lively accordion, fiddle, washboard, steel guitar, and a bevy of other instruments belted through the hot humid Saturday afternoon. A Cajun tune blared from the stage, one Pawpaw would have called, chancky, chanck music.
I wasn’t sure if my two-step skills were still intact, but I was willing to give it a try. It was nice to reflect on my history and know that I’d gotten so much from so many. A rich heritage, one that I grew more proud of with each passing day. I stood and placed my hand in Beau’s. “I would love to.”
We reached the dance floor, a portable platform, under the lighted limbs of several mighty live oaks. The trees framed the parish property where the fais do do was held each year. As I began to move around the floor steered by Beau’s expert guidance, I couldn’t help but smile. Life was good.
“What’s so funny?” Beau met my gaze and smiled also.
“I was just thinking how nice it was out here in Podunck Bayou Dullsville.”
He laughed. A tilt-your-head-back, from-the-belly laugh. And I joined him as he twirled me around the floor until the end of the song. The pink chiffon dress I wore bellowed out with each swirl. Mawmaw’s pink chiffon dress. The idea from last year had been such a hit the committee decided to repeat it this year. The dress still had the subtle scent of her perfume and reminded me of a young Clarice in love with a young Carlton.
At the table, Mawmaw beamed in an amazing white dress made by the one and only Mrs. Mouton, Beau’s great-grandmother. The dress she’d intended to marry Carlton in. This was the second time she’d worn it. The first was at his funeral. A week after they’d reunited, he’d died while holding the hand of his beloved Lady S. From the first day of their reunion, she’d never left his bedside.
Her walking improved with the help of her steady companion—her Quad cane. She was still the feisty independent grandmother I adored. Her speech had improved also, but she continued to communicate mostly with her board. Mama and Aunt Mel have gotten her to attend church on Sundays.
She regretted all the years of not being with Carlton. And the years of secrets that caused the family so much pain. She writes often about the day they were reunited. But she’s quick to assure us that she lived a good life with Pawpaw and loved him very much. She says she can’t wait to see them both in heaven.
Mama has been faithful to church and Bible study. The change in her has been remarkable. No violent mood swings. She’s happy. That makes me happy. As I see the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eye, I know she’s in a good place.
She danced with Dr. James Scarfield, the new dentist who moved to town from a small town in Colorado. She’d met him last week at church. She proudly wore Mawmaw’s lilac dress. So there we were Mawmaw, Mama, Aunt Melanie, and me. All dressed in one of Mawmaw’s old dresses. Surprisingly, they fit with only a few alterations.
Anthony twirled Angelle around the dance floor. He had proposed at Christmas with a wedding scheduled in September when the weather would, hopefully, be a bit cooler. Anthony’s brilliant smile reminded me of Mama’s. His eyes lit up when he looked at his fiancé, and my heart swelled with happiness for him.
Aunt Melanie, dressed in the more subtle of Mawmaw’s dresses, had started her own business. A bakery called Lagniappe. She had the whole town coming by for the star of the menu—her red velvet cake. I’m one of her best customers. What can I say?
“Miss Cheryl, would you take a picture of me and Christy?” Steven handed me his cellphone. He’d brought a girl to the party, much to Beau’s chagrin. He didn’t want to admit his boy was getting older. I snapped the photo and returned the phone. “It’s a great picture. Send me a copy.”
“I will. Thank you.” His cool, athletic grin didn’t fool me. I saw the mirth dancing in his eyes as he escorted Christy to the dance floor. It was fun to see the younger generation embracing the Cajun heritage. I knew that so much stood to be lost as the older generations died. But change was inevitable, and I looked around and saw my family and friends gathered around. All different people than what we’d been. And that’s a good thing.
Beau sat next to me and handed me a red snoball. “Anthony said you’ve been dying for one of these.”
Tante Lulu’s anisette snoball. Life was good. I kissed Beau’s cheek. “You are a life saver.”
As I delved into the sweet crushed ice, I thought of Carlton and how much I missed him. My short time with him had given me such joy, and I’d learned so much about my family and myself. And about God. How He can use the most unlikely people to show Himself. And by yielding to God’s will, we can do so much. Even forgive.
I’d been truly blessed by getting to know Carlton. A sweet gift.
Darcy and I have moved on to other assignments and share our compassion and care to new patients. She’s become a true and trusted friend. So has Debra. The three of us meet often for coffee.
Somehow, Carlton had touched all of us in a way that made us better. Better as individuals and better as a family. And, as I look around and forge through this earthly life, I know that’s all any of us could hope for.
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Harbourlight Books
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
The Vigil Page 23
