Simple Gifts Read online

  The moment I walked into Vic’s hospital room, Joe discreetly excused himself, saying he was going to the cafeteria for a bite to eat.

  Vic motioned me closer. When I reached for a chair, he patted the space beside him and smiled. A weak one, nevertheless, a living, breathing smile.

  “You look considerably better than the last time I saw you.” I moved IV tubing and sat down. His color, though pasty, had improved. They had just given him pain medication and he had the look of giddy oblivion.

  “Little Marly.”

  “Big ole Vic.”

  His grin turned into a forgiving smile, which I offered back. At least he was speaking to me.

  I’d left him, knowing we’d crossed a bridge onto common ground, but still I’d worried that once the crisis passed, the old tension between us would resurface. He didn’t appear intent on a grudge, but right now he wasn’t feeling anything but good. Real good.

  “Guess I owe you one.”

  Shaking my head, I fiddled with the tubing. “We both owe the Lord one. I couldn’t have found you without his help.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t believe how fast the storm moved in. It was foolish to try to outrun it, but I was worried about Dad.”

  “Well, God’s still in the miracle business.” I checked the thick, heavy cast covering his leg suspended in the air. “Three breaks, huh?”

  “That’s what they say.”

  “What about your practice?” Between therapy and healing, he’d be off for months.

  “Dad talked to a fellow vet in Columbia. He’s going to cover for me until I can get around.”

  My heart twisted. “That will be awhile.”

  “Yeah, awhile.” He laced his fingers through mine. “I’m counting on you to help with the therapy.”

  The old, teasing Vic was back. Hallelujah! But were his good spirits and the teasing glint in his eye the result of medication or amnesty? What I’d done was a serious infraction, one that a few halted confessions couldn’t heal.

  “Vic—”

  He stopped me. “With time we’re going to get past this.” His hold tightened around my hand. His voice began to rise. “Right now I’m working through the anger. You’ve got to know I was furious when I found out that Noel was dead—-had been dead all those years! How did you think that made me feel, Marly?”

  “Betrayed.”

  “Exactly!”

  “Don’t yell at me.”

  “Didn’t you trust me to understand?”

  “It wasn’t just you. I’d deceived everyone; Ingrid, Beth, Joe—and there’s something else you need to know. Noel walked out on me when Sara was two.”

  “What?”

  “He left me and married this—this woman—this psychiatrist, when Sara was two.”

  “Noel’s not only been dead all these years, he wasn’t even your husband?”

  I nodded, miserable. What had possessed me to think that I could keep this part of my life a secret?

  Vic shook his head. “I can’t believe this.”

  “I know—and I’m sorry, Vic. I’m so sorry. I know how lame that sounds for what I’ve done, but I deeply regret my actions from all these long years.”

  “Did you perpetrate this lie to keep me away?”

  “Keep you away? You were married.”

  “I know I was married, and I loved my wife, but when Julie died? What about then, Marly? Nothing prevented you from telling me the truth, yet you still continued the farce. For years, Marlene. Were you afraid I would pressure you into coming back here?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Pressure you into seeing me again?”

  “No, I wanted that more than life itself. Every time we talked, I died a little more on the inside. You have to know that. It’s just that…”

  “What? Please tell me. Help me understand.”

  “I was ashamed. It was my pride, foolish pride, that kept me away, and the lie held me in bondage. My life stank, and you’d made lemonade of yours.”

  “I can’t believe that you didn’t tell Dad.”

  “I couldn’t face him with the truth, couldn’t face his disappointment in me.”

  “What about my disappointment?”

  “That, most of all.” I eased closer until there was a hair’s breadth between my lips and his. “Don’t you think I’ve paid dearly for my mistake? When I heard Julie died, I wanted to run to you, to comfort you—to confess my lie, to beg your forgiveness and in time hope that we could begin a new life together. But you were shattered. Then, when you began to move past the tragedy, I’d retreated, believing that what we had was in the past. I was so sure that after letting the lie go on for so long, even if I confessed, I’d never regain your trust. When I came back, I had every intention of disposing of my past—to put you and Parnass Springs behind me once and for all.”

  “But God had other plans.”

  I sighed. “He always does.”

  “Don’t you think he’s trying to get your attention?”

  “Yes.” I bent and lightly kissed him, testing the waters, tracing the corners of his oh-so-familiar mouth with the tip of my finger. “While I’m confessing, I might as well tell you this. I didn’t faint the night I knocked that display of Cokes over.”

  “You faked that, too?”

  “I’m not proud of my choices.”

  “I hope you’ve learned from them—please tell me you’ve learned from them.”

  “I have. I promise.” I eased closer. “You said you were working through your anger; do you have reason to believe the issue can be successfully resolved?”

  His answer? A long, oh-so-thorough kiss.

  Later I nudged him. “There’s one other thing I need to know while you’re working through things.”

  Grasping my shoulders, he gently moved me back. “What’s that?”

  “That you love me.”

  His gaze gentled. “Isn’t that obvious?”

  “Well…no. You’ve never said you did—”

  “Hold on a minute. How many times have I told you I love you?”

  “Now? When we’re adults?” I asked.

  “All the years leading up to adulthood.”

  “Oh. Well.” I grinned. “Quite a few.” Too numerous to count.

  “Nothing’s changed on my part. How about you?”

  “Nothing’s changed here, either. You have my solemn promise, Vic. I will never lie again, to you or to anyone else. I’ve learned my lesson. Sin does not pay.”

  Gathering me close, he rested his chin on the top of my head. “I love you, Marly Moss. I have from the moment I laid eyes on you, and that has never changed.”

  I closed my eyes, savoring his declaration. Only one more obstacle to overcome. What I was about to say might intimidate some men. I wasn’t sure how the man I love and planned to spend the rest of my life with would feel. “Ingrid told me this morning that I’ll inherit her estate. And that Eugene left Herman quite a sum, which was then left to me in a trust. And then there’s the matter of Aunt Beth’s estate…” I sighed. “You know Ingrid and Beth lived like paupers, fought like men, and did anything possible to spite the other at times. Would you ever have guessed those two women were sinfully wealthy?”

  He stopped me with a long kiss. Afterwards, he said, “What you’re trying to say is that I’m in love with a wealthy woman?”

  “Very wealthy—”

  He frowned. “You don’t have a rock fetish, do you?”

  I giggled and hugged him tight, delighted to have my old Vic back. “No.”

  “Then we don’t have an issue.”

  I whirled when I heard children’s and adult’s voices coming down the hallway. I quickly removed myself from Vic’s side into a chair as Joe entered the room, trailed by Aunt Ingrid.

  The pastor grinned. “Feeling up to more company?”

  “Aunt Ingrid—” I struggled to my feet.

  “In the flesh. Here. Someone dropped these by the house as we were leaving.”
She handed me my lost purse and cell phone. I seized the items; I’d been completely lost without them.

  Ingrid grinned. “I also brought company.”

  Sara and Pete appeared in the doorway. “Mom! “My daughter flew into my arms, babbling like a frightened four-year-old. “We’ve been so worried! When I couldn’t reach you after the storm, we got in the car and drove all the way to Parnass.” She paused, inspecting me. “Look at you! You look wretched. Black eyes, cuts—stitches! Is your arm broken?”

  I stuck out my bandaged foot. “Sprained ankle too.” I wasn’t getting much sympathy these days; might as well milk this for all its worth.

  Petey dove into my lap. “Me-maw!”

  Emma Grace bucked in her father’s arms, clearly wanting some attention. I clasped Petey to my hipbone and reached for Emma with my one good arm. Liquid happiness rolled down my cheeks as I engulfed my family in a wide hug.

  “You drove all the way from Glen Ellyn, with the children?”

  “Well, we tried, but we had to stop around three this morning. Pete had worked a twelve-hour shift and the kids kept waking up in the car. We stopped at a Holiday Inn Express and slept a few hours, then we were back on the road before dawn.” Sara burst into tears. “Oh, Mom. I was sick with worry. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, honey. Terrific. And Ingrid and Joe weren’t hurt. We have much to be thankful for.”

  Pete introduced himself and shook hands with Joe. Vic lay in bed, his eyes on the spectacle. Suddenly I realized he’d never met my child and grandchildren.

  “Sara.” I pulled my daughter closer to the bed railing. “This is Vic Brewster, town vet and acting mayor of Parnass Springs.”

  Sara flashed a grin. “Hey Vic. Looks like you didn’t fare so well during the storm.”

  Vic focused on Sara; he was clearly drinking in the sight of my daughter. In a way, she was a part of his past—a part he’d never met.

  “Yeah, had a little tangle with a tornado.”

  Pete stepped to the bed, and the two men engaged in conversation. Docs. They were seldom at a loss for words.

  The room took on a carnival-like atmosphere; conversations flowed on every side of the bed. I stepped back to catch my breath, suddenly so full of love I was about to burst. I’d made mistake after mistake, but God was still on his throne, still in the blessing business.

  My dad’s words, shouted on that Sunday so very long ago, penetrated my mind, and I heard Herman’s joyful cry above all others in the crowded hospital room.

  Good news! Good news, Marly! Jesus loves you!

  Seventeen

  And so, it is with great pride, that I dedicate the Herman Moss Animal Sanctuary to the town of Parnass Springs, Missouri. Because my father, Herman Moss, loved animals, all animals, this shelter is a no-kill, nonprofit sanctuary dedicated to helping any needy animal, regardless of species or breed.”

  A year had passed since that stormy night; one unbelievable but exhilarating year. I grinned as applause filled the common area. A blue May sky formed a canopy over the enthusiastic crowd.

  With one snip, the scarlet ribbon fell away, and the gleaming rebuilt glass and polished-wood structure officially reopened. When clapping died away, I nodded to Petey and Emma.

  “Now Me-maw?”

  “Now.”

  My precious little rug rats skipped to the canvas-covered statues, and when I gave the signal, they pulled on one set of ropes and canvas fell away to reveal a bronze Butchie.

  Giving a second nod, the children raced from canvas to canvas, jerking coverings away. Nine Butchies in all, each one an original. Herman’s Butchies hadn’t been cut from the same mold, and most called them mutts, but he loved each one. The compromise had thrilled the town. Applause swelled.

  Stepping down from the podium, I went straight into Vic’s arms and we embraced.

  “Nice job, Mrs. Brewster.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Brewster. I’m envious that I didn’t think of the idea first.”

  Everywhere one looked, they were reminded of Butchie and how each dog had enhanced a simple but smarter-in-ways-that-count life. I was grateful that for every time I’d failed my dad, a Butchie had been there to soften the rejection. But most of all, I was thankful for the one man whose elemental goodness and innocence had changed my life.

  “Mom! What a great idea! Dogs!” Sara approached and wrapped her arms around my waist.

  “Not just dogs—Butchies.” I grinned. We hugged, our eyes on Petey and Emma playing on the statues, romping, laughing with other children. What a glorious day. What a glorious life!

  “Mom, you’re serious about staying here, aren’t you?”

  My alarm bell went off. The past year had been a taste of heaven, starting with Vic and our wedding nine months ago. Sara had been accepting of my “newfound love,” even when I’d told her that love had been around a lot longer than she had. Even the fact that we had decided to live in Aunt Beth’s house while Vic had it remodeled hadn’t upset her. The old home was lovely beyond words, with a new sunroom, three-car garage, and the interior restored to the day Beth first purchased it. Vic’s former cottage in back of Joe’s house had been replaced. Parnass Springs had rebuilt, and all that remained of the storm were memories shared at the local café over mugs of strong black coffee.

  Ingrid approached, walking right sprightly for a woman her age. The Parishes trailed her. The three had formed a tenuous friendship over the past year; Ingrid even visited Woodlands on occasion. Lexy was overjoyed with her new friend. I visited my mother fairly often, never revealing to her who I was. Lexy loved me, the way she would love a friend who faithfully came to visit. She knew me only as Marly. As far as I could tell, she never remembered having a baby and, with the exception of the ring and a tattered crayon picture of a clown with Herman’s name scrawled across the bottom, I could find no evidence that she remembered my father. When asked who drew the picture, she’d only smile and say, “my best friend.”

  My thoughts returned to Sara’s question. “Yes, honey, I know you’re disappointed I’m selling the Glen Ellyn house, but baby, I’ll fly home every three weeks and stay a week.” My groom suggested the compromise, and like anything Vic Brewster said, I thought the plan was brilliant. After all, he was brilliant, and the good Lord knew money wasn’t a problem.

  “That’s not good enough, mom.” My daughter’s tone took on an edge that I knew meant trouble. “Petey, Emma, and baby Ellie are growing up without you, and I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t like it either.” Separation from them was the one fly in the ointment, as Ingrid liked to remind me. Now that we were a family—a real family—Sara, Pete, and the children were the only missing pieces.

  My daughter flashed a grin. “Well, who knows? One of these days, Pete may decide to move his practice.” Her eyes skimmed the area. “And Parnass might need a new doctor. Someday.”

  For a split second I wasn’t sure I’d heard correctly. My eyes flew to Vic, who was now deep in conversation with Pete. The two men had taken to one another like sidewalk chewing gum to shoe soles. Vic had baby Ellie in his arms, like any doting grandfather. I giggled. Vic a grandpa. The handsome, virile man I’d married was anything but grandfatherly.

  I swung back. “What?”

  “Mom. Did you hear a word I said?”

  “I think you said…no. I must have heard incorrectly.”

  “I said Parnass isn’t so wretched. Golly, who knows? Maybe Pete and I and the kids will move here someday so we can be closer to you.” When I just gawked at her, she silently mouthed. “Parnass Springs. Build a home here. In Parnass? Someday. Maybe.”

  “Here—this Parnass—the jumping off place of the earth?”

  “Yeah…maybe. No promises, Mom, but—”

  Who squealed? Me! I lunged for her, catching her close. “If you’re teasing me, young lady, I’ll ground you for months.”

  “Ha! I’d like to see ya try it.” Her cheeky grin was as cheerful and unexpected as her bombs
hell.

  Vic and Pete sauntered over, Pete grinning like a shelter cat. “What are you two giggling about?”

  I clamped my lips shut. “Pete…I…” Emotion overcame me and I stepped into my son-in-law’s waiting arms and bawled. Someday, God willing, Sara and Pete and my grandchildren would be with me. This is too much, God. You’re too good!

  Ingrid and the Parishes stopped, and I blurted out Sara’s thoughts.

  Ingrid beamed. “My goodness, we’d be family, a real family.” Her eyes misted over. “Shame Beth couldn’t be here to see this.”

  A cell phone tinkled. Seven of us fumbled in pockets and purses, but Ingrid calmly reached and unhooked a snap on a belt clip and pushed the talk button. “Ingrid Moss speaking.”

  I gaped at her, then at Vic. Ingrid with a cell phone? What was the world coming to?

  My aunt’s features turned brittle. “I thought we’d settled this.”

  Someone said something on the other line.

  “Fine.”

  Someone said something else.

  “Fine.”

  Someone must have clipped a threat.

  “Have at it.”

  Someone hung up.

  Ingrid calmly replaced her phone on the belt clip. When all eyes were on her, she shrugged. “The hussy won’t give up.”

  “Prue?”

  I thought the matter over Eugene’s foot had been settled a year ago; I’d even mailed a round-trip ticket to Maui two months ago. What happened? “She still wants Eugene’s foot?”

  “No, she wants to be buried on the other side of Eugene. It’s my lot. Bought and paid for with my money. Now she wants to be buried there.” My aunt threw back her head and guffawed. Immediately sobering, she said, “When pigs fly.”

  That’s when I mentally threw up my hands. All life’s problems couldn’t be neatly wrapped in a tidy bundle.

  “Pops! Hey Pops!” Petey bounded for Vic, Emma close on his heels. Vic passed Ellie to me and then scooped the two imps into his arms, nuzzling their necks.

  Closing my eyes, I breathed deeply of clean air and friendly fragrances. A person couldn’t pick a better place to live than Parnass Springs. Just ask me.

  I’m an expert on happy endings.