“Yeah, I had another spell at home, so I made an appointment and got in to see my doctor within a few days.”
“How did that go?”
“The doc said he wasn’t able to give me a diagnosis yet, but he did a thorough exam and sent me to get some blood tests. I should know something when I go in next week.”
“It’s good that you went,” Lamar said. “Emma and I will be anxious to hear the results of your tests, and I certainly hope it’s nothing serious. Of course, we’ll be praying for you, Mike.”
“Thanks.” Mike couldn’t believe Lamar’s concern. Most people who didn’t know a person that well probably wouldn’t have even thought to ask how he was doing, much less offered to pray for him. Mike was beginning to realize that Emma and Lamar were caring people who lived their religion and showed it to others by what they said and did.
Maybe when Phyllis gets home, the two of us ought to start going to church, he decided. She’s mentioned it a few times, but I’ve always been too tired or too busy to go. Between now and then, it probably wouldn’t hurt if I said a few prayers of my own, ’cause I’m nervous about the outcome of my blood tests.
“Sorry for taking so long,” Kim apologized to Emma after she and Jan had returned to the house. “We got a little carried away talking about our bikes.”
“That’s okay,” Emma said. “The machines are free now, and you’re just in time to start sewing,”
Kim smiled. “Oh good. I’ll get right at it then.”
While Kim went to one of the sewing machines, Jan meandered over to the table where B.J. sat with Noreen and Erika. He seemed genuinely interested in what they were doing. Though she resisted the idea, Kim had to admit, there was something about Jan that intrigued her.
I can’t believe I agreed to go out with him after class, Kim thought as she took her seat at the sewing machine. I barely know Jan, and since he’s not from around here, there’s no chance of us ever getting to really know each other or develop a relationship. Maybe that’s for the best, she decided. Less chance of any romantic involvement that could lead to another dead end for me. Well, I’ve already said yes to his invitation, so I may as well go and try to enjoy the afternoon.
Kim started working on her quilt squares, and at the same time, she thought about the day she’d met Jan on the beach and how irritated she had been when he said she ought to keep an eye on her dog. But after visiting with him outside by their bikes, she’d seen him in a different light and actually found herself yearning to know him better, even though he would be leaving in a few weeks.
I can’t worry about this right now, Kim told herself. I need to concentrate on making my wall hanging.
At eleven o’clock, Emma suggested that everyone take a break for refreshments.
“What’d you fix for us today?” Mike asked. “I hope it’s not oranges again.”
Emma shook her head. “I made a couple of strawberry pies, and there’s also a fruit platter with strawberries, bananas, and grapes.”
“Guess to be safe, I’d better stick to the fruit and leave the pies alone,” Mike said.
“That’s good thinking.” Lamar gave Mike’s shoulder a squeeze.
“While I’m getting the refreshments, the rest of you can visit or keep working on your squares,” Emma said, starting for the kitchen door.
“I’ll help you with that.” Jennifer left her seat and followed Emma to the kitchen.
“How did your week go?” Emma asked as she took the pies from the refrigerator. “Did your husband find a job yet?”
Jennifer’s shoulder drooped as she slowly shook her head. “Randy’s getting really discouraged, and he proved that when he did something totally out of character the other day.”
“What happened?”
“He charged up a bunch of furniture and other things for the baby that we really can’t afford.”
“Oh dear.” Emma placed the pies on the table. “How will you pay for everything if he doesn’t find a job soon?”
“Even if Randy found a job today, we’d have a long ways to go in catching up with our bills. But we don’t have to worry about paying for the baby things, because I insisted that he return them.” Jennifer sank into a chair and lowered her head. “I felt bad for him. He seemed so proud and happy when he showed me what he’d gotten for the baby. This whole situation with him being out of work is taking a toll on our marriage.”
Emma remained silent as she let Jennifer continue.
“I couldn’t let even more money problems get in the way of us trying to keep it all together. If I wasn’t due to have a baby in a few weeks, I’d go back to the styling salon where I used to work, but even if I could, I wouldn’t make enough to support us and the baby.”
Emma placed her hands on Jennifer’s trembling shoulders. “I know it isn’t much, but I have a box of food I want to send home with you today.”
“I appreciate it,” Jennifer said tearfully, “but I’m not sure how Randy will respond to that. He’ll probably see it as a handout, because he’s too proud to admit that we need help.”
“Would you like me to ask Lamar to speak to your husband?”
Jennifer sniffed. “That might help—if Randy’s willing to listen.” She paused and wiped her nose on a tissue she’d pulled from her pocket. “You know, Emma, when I got home from your class last week and showed Randy the fruit and cookies you’d sent home with me, he said he’d like to have you and Lamar for supper sometime to say thanks for your kindness.”
Emma flapped her hand. “What we did was nothing big, and no thanks is needed.”
“But if you came for supper, it would give Lamar a chance to talk to Randy,” Jennifer said.
Emma nodded slowly. “You might be right about that. If you’ll let us know what night would work best for you, we’ll plan to be there.”
“Any night this week should be fine. Why don’t we make it Friday?”
“Friday would be good for us,” Emma responded.
Jennifer tapped her fingers along the edge of the table. “I hate to even ask this, but do you think your friend Jan would feel bad if he wasn’t included? It’s not that I would mind having him,” she quickly added. “I just don’t think Randy would open up to Lamar if someone else was there.”
“I understand,” Emma said. “And I’m sure Jan won’t mind fending for himself that evening. Maybe he’ll even have a date by then.”
“This pie is sure good, Emma,” Jan said as everyone sat around the table, enjoying the refreshments Emma had provided.
“Thanks, I’m glad you like it.” Emma looked over at Noreen, and her gaze came to rest on the green scarf she’d worn around her head in turban fashion today. Emma had been tempted to ask about it but didn’t want to be rude.
Perhaps Noreen couldn’t get her hair to look the way she wanted this morning, Emma thought. Maybe she had what I’ve heard some Englishers call a bad hair day. Well, it’s Noreen’s right to wear whatever she wants. After all, I wear my head covering, and no one here has questioned me about it.
“Tell us more about your artwork, B.J.,” Lamar said. “Are you self-taught, or have you had professional lessons?”
“I painted and drew pictures on my own throughout my childhood and teen years,” B.J. said, “but after high school I went to college and majored in art.”
“What school did you go to?” Erika asked. It was the first time today that she’d joined in the conversation.
“The college was in New York,” B.J. replied.
“So is that where you’re originally from?” Erika questioned.
B.J. shook his head. “I grew up in Columbus, Ohio.”
“Did you say ‘Columbus’?” Noreen asked with a curious expression.
“That’s right, but after I graduated from college, I didn’t move back home. Took a job as an art teacher in Chicago, which is where I still live.”
“What a coincidence,” Noreen said. “My sister and I grew up in Columbus.”
�
�Really?” B.J. reached for a cluster of grapes.
“That’s right. We lived on the north side of town.”
B.J.’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s interesting. So did I.”
“I’m curious,” Noreen said, leaning slightly forward. “What does B.J. stand for?”
“Bruce Jensen,” he replied. “But I’ve gone by B.J. since I was in college, when some of my friends started calling me that.”
“Did you say Bruce Jensen?” Noreen’s mouth twisted at the corners, and she stared at him as though in disbelief.
He gave a quick nod.
“Did you by any chance have a girlfriend in high school whose name was Judy Hanson?”
B.J.’s face blanched. “Why, yes, I did. What made you ask that question?”
Noreen lips quivered. “Judy was my sister, and you’re obviously the man who broke her heart.” She pushed back her chair with such force that it nearly toppled to the floor. “I’m sorry, Emma, but I have to go!” Noreen quickly gathered up her things and rushed out the door.
C
HAPTER 21
How many times are you going to clean things in here?” Lamar asked as he watched Emma scrub the kitchen counters. “I think they’re clean enough, don’t you?”
“You’re right, Lamar, but staying busy helps when something’s on my mind.”
“And what would that be?”
Emma dropped the sponge into the sink and turned to face him. “I’m upset with how things turned out today, and I’m beginning to think we’ll never be able to help any of our students.”
“Now don’t you go thinkin’ negative thoughts like that,” Lamar said with a shake of his head. “Things aren’t really that bad.”
“Are you serious?” Emma leaned against the counter and folded her arms. “Not only is Erika still being very negative, but Jennifer shared with me how depressed her husband has become because he’s still unemployed. All I could do was offer her some food.”
“I’m sure she appreciated it, Emma.”
“I know, but it just didn’t seem like enough. I don’t have any answers for her, and I wish we could do more.”
“Well, you said Jennifer invited us to their house for supper on Friday night, so maybe we can take them another box of food.”
“That’s a good idea, and I’m sure it will help some.” Emma sighed deeply. “I’m also worried about Mike. I could see how anxious he was about his health, yet he wouldn’t really open up and share his fears.”
“He talked some to me,” Lamar informed her. “I think he’ll feel better once he gets the results of his blood test next week.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Emma said. “And with his wife away, I’m sure Mike feels even worse.”
“You’re probably right,” Lamar agreed. “I told Mike we’d be praying for him.”
“That’s good, Lamar. We also need to pray for B.J. and Noreen. He looked devastated when Noreen yelled at him, and she seemed terribly upset when she ran out of our home.”
Lamar tugged on his ear. “I wonder what was up with that.”
“Apparently B.J. did something to hurt Noreen’s sister, and Noreen’s angry about it.” Emma slowly shook her head. “We’ve never had a class like this, Lamar. Everyone has a problem, but no one seems willing to say much about it, or ask for our help.”
“They don’t need to ask,” Lamar reminded. “We just need to be there and offer our support. Remember all the other classes? Even though we had our doubts at first, in the end, things turned out for the best.”
“That’s true, and I have to remember that God seldom swoops down and fixes everything. Some things take time, and people need to be willing to allow Him to help them cope and manage their problems.”
“Well said. And you know, Emma, one good thing did happen today,” Lamar commented.
“What was that?”
“I do believe that Jan may have found himself a lady friend.”
Emma smiled. “I think you could be right about that.”
“What a beautiful day it is to be on the beach,” Kim remarked as she and Jan sat on a bench facing the water, eating burgers and fries. “For me, this is the best part of living in Florida, having the gulf and its beaches so close at hand.”
“Think I could get used to this kind of life.” Jan tossed a fry to a squawking seagull and laughed when three more gulls moved in and tried to grab it.
“If you like it here, why don’t you relocate?” Kim asked.
He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m a roofer, and my business is in northeast Indiana.”
“You could start over. That’s what I did when I left my home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Of course, I didn’t have my own business to worry about.”
Jan threw several more of his fries on the sand and watched as the hungry birds attacked. “It’d be hard to start over with a new business here. I’d probably have some stiff competition in an area as big as Sarasota and the surrounding towns, and it would take some time to get my name out there.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Kim finished her burger and leaned back with eyes closed and head tilted toward the sun. “My advice is to enjoy every moment of your vacation. By the time you leave, you’ll be nice and relaxed and probably go home with a really nice tan.”
Jan gave no reply. He didn’t give a rip about getting tan or being relaxed. When he’d first met Kim on the beach with her dog, he’d been intrigued. Now, he just wanted to spend the time he had left in Sarasota getting to know the perky little blond sitting next to him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, and almost choked on a french fry, seeing Kim’s face lifted toward the sun. Her smooth tan skin and those long, thick eyelashes lying against her cheeks were almost his undoing. Her silky hair coming loose from behind her ears and gently bobbing with the warm breezes made him wish once again that he could wrap a strand of it around his finger.
“Are you all right?” Kim asked when she opened her eyes. “You’re looking at me strangely.”
Jan coughed and swallowed to regain his composure. “Yep, I’m just fine. Those dumb seagulls made me laugh and I almost choked.” Boy, did that sound stupid, he thought. But I couldn’t come right out and tell her the truth.
“Yes, they are crazy birds.” Kim pointed toward the water. “Would you look at that?”
“What is it?” he asked.
“There’s a dog out there, standing on a paddle board, and a woman is pushing it along.” She giggled. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before.”
Jan smiled. “Guess it takes all kinds.”
“You’re right. That’s what makes the world such an interesting place.” Kim closed her eyes again. “It feels so good to just sit here and soak up the sun. I feel totally relaxed.”
“Same here.” Jan thought about how he and Kim had ridden their own bikes to Lido Beach, which meant they couldn’t visit on the way. It didn’t matter, though. Ever since they’d first stepped onto the sand, they’d been talking pretty much nonstop. They’d shared things about their families, jobs, and what kinds of things they enjoyed doing just for fun. Jan couldn’t remember when he’d felt this comfortable with a woman—not even with Star’s mother, Nancy, whom he’d nicknamed Bunny. He’d only spent part of a day with Kim, and already he felt as if he’d known her for years. He’d been attracted to Nancy physically, but their personalities were as different as fire and ice. Even better, he and Kim had a lot in common. They both owned motorcycles, liked to bowl, enjoyed eating pizza, and ironically, they each owned German shepherds.
What a shame they lived so many miles apart. Why couldn’t he have found a gal like Kim back home? Even if they established a friendship while he was here, it would probably end when he returned to Indiana. It would be too hard to have a long-distance relationship. Phone calls weren’t the same as spending actual time together.
Appealing as it sounds, I sure can’t pull up stakes and move down here, Jan reminded himself as he took a drink of ro
ot beer.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Kim said, opening her eyes. “Are you bored with my company now?”
Jan jerked his head. “What? No! Just the opposite, in fact.”
She smiled. “Does that mean you’ve enjoyed being with me as much as I have you?”
He gave a nod, pleased that she’d said what he’d been thinking.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure thing. What do you want to know?”
Kim pointed to his arm—the one with “Bunny” tattooed on it. “I’m curious about that name.”
“It’s a nickname for someone I used to date—my daughter’s mother, in fact.” Jan slapped the side of his head. “I didn’t have much in the way of brains when I had that tattoo done. Guess I figured I’d spend the rest of my life with Bunny.”
“Things don’t always turn out the way we think they will,” she said.
“Nope, they sure don’t.”
They sat quietly for a while, watching kids squealing with excitement as they ran out to meet the water, and couples walking hand-in-hand along the sandy beach. Turning to Kim, Jan touched her arm briefly and said, “Would you be willing to go out with me again? Maybe we could go bowling, catch a movie, have another picnic on the beach, or take a ride on our bikes.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“Which one?” he asked, tipping his head.
“Everything you suggested.”
He snapped his fingers. “Great! Let’s do all four.”
“All in one day?” Her eyebrows lifted.
“Sure, why not? We could start by taking another ride on our bikes and come back here to the beach. We can lie in the sun, splash around in the water, and eat some lunch. Then we can take in an afternoon show and end the day at the bowling alley.”
“Whoa now! That all sounds nice, but maybe we should space those things out a bit. I have a job, you know, and don’t forget about Maddie. I don’t like leaving her alone for long hours.”
“Maybe we can do something together on your next day off, and either take Maddie along or just not be gone all day.”
The Healing Quilt Page 13
