Patricia Hoving
Miracle Walk
Copyright © 2019 by Patricia Hoving
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
First edition
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I publish for God and I thank him for everything he has done for me and I praise him for the talent he has given me.
Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
Contents
Also By TRS Books
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Boaz
Ruthie
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Boaz
Ruthie
Epilogue
The End
Sneak Peek
Repairer Of The Breach
About the Author
Also By TRS Books
TRS BOOKS PRESENTS
Christian Romance Line
THE DESIGNED LOVE SERIES
Six Words
Miracle Walk
STANDALONES
Repairer of The Breach
and more to come. . .
1
Ruthie
The family table at Christmas time is filled with nothing, but joy, love, and acceptance. A true celebration of Christ’s birth. I’m not sure I can say the same thing about our table.
At present, we only had two out of the three right. Sadly our table was devoid of all its joy, leaving only the bare bones. An outsider looking in might see the table filled with a feast that could feed three households, with beautifully decorated Christmas décor straight out of a home goods magazine, and think we had it all. They would see us bowing our heads as we said grace and notice the love in our every action as we reached for each other’s hand across the table. They may even begin to lament how they wished their own families were that close. Until they saw the empty plates at the end of the table.
We stopped inviting people over to our house for dinner because we didn’t want to have to explain the empty plates. Never-mind coming over for Christmas dinner where people might actually have to sit in their spots. The thought was just unimaginable for any of us. Naomi finished the prayer and we all said Amen before she mentioned that she had received some mail from her hometown that she had yet to open. “I’m actually interested to see what my old home will be up to in the upcoming year,” she said, spreading her napkin over her lap. “Every year they send out the town newsletter of events, but this will be the last year as everything goes digital in 2018.”
I shrugged. “Such is the way of the world.”
“Yes, but I’ll miss the personalization of a letter, Ruthie. Lord knows I don’t check email as often as I should.”
Opal got up and brought the turkey in and set it on the table. As she struggled to cut it with an electric knife that she had bought from our local grocery store. I was reminded of Eli, who used to always cut the turkey before his death. “Remember when I bought Eli a special engraved knife set,” I said, giving Naomi a shy smile.
“He used them for every holiday after that, ham for Easter, pizza for a birthday. It didn’t matter,” Opal replied when Naomi didn’t immediately respond.
I handed Opal my plate and she slathered on a few chunks. I didn’t have the heart to ask her for more she seemed to be trying so hard. Reaching over for Naomi, my mother-in-law’s, plate and putting some turkey on hers.
Opal’s lip twisted in a frown as she plopped down in her seat, chunks of turkey on her plate. “Mailer wasn’t much better at it either. He was just better at talking about it.”
I knew this was tough on Naomi to talk about, but talking about it was the only way we, as there wives, wouldn’t cry about it. “Kohen was so upset when mom gave the duty to Mailer.”
Anyone who knew the battle of the great turkey carving would have cracked a smile, but Naomi just kept heaping stuffing on to her plate as if she didn’t even hear me.
I looked back at my own plate and blinked back tears trying to remind myself that no one, but God could make this better for her. Eli her husband was the first to pass away of Cystic Fibrosis. She got through it because of the support of her sons. Kohen and I moved into the house to keep her company soon after. It wasn’t until ten years later that we lost Kohen and Mailer to the same genetic disease. That was three years ago.
We finished dinner, and I cleaned up the table while Opal washed the dishes. Naomi had retired to the living room to go through her mail. I fanned myself with a paper plate before going over to the thermostat to turn the heat down. “Is it possible for a woman her age to still be hot flashing?” I asked Opal.
“No, but it is possible for a woman your age to be really cheap,” Opal laughed, cutting off the water and drying her hands on a towel. “Now you want to tell me what’s that about or are we pretending like everything is fine.”
“Everything is fine.” Disappearing upstairs to retrieve my robe. It was a birthday gift from four years ago from my husband, a simple soft pink cotton robe.
I came back down the walnut stairs to find Naomi turning the thermostat back up in the kitchen. The mail discarded on the aged white coffee table. I made a mad dash for them and removed all the bills. Almost tripping on the grey shag rug. Folding the bills and stuffing them into the pockets of my robe. I looked up to see Opal standing in the archway of the kitchen. She shook her head as she took a sip from the thanksgiving mug in her hand.
I bent down and kissed Naomi’s forehead as she filed past me to sit in her favorite grey armchair. Despite a few wrinkles and graying hair, the woman was still youthful. Opal watched as Naomi picked up the remaining mail seemingly unaware that it was a little lighter than before. Opal looked at me a pensive expression on her face.
“Naomi, what do you think about getting a smaller place for just you and Ruthie?” Opal said, daring me with her eyes to interject. “You could use this place as a rental property. Or sell it and use the money to travel the world and go on exotic vacations.” She had been trying to push this idea since she found out about our money issues. I was beginning to regret telling her. “You’re not betraying Eli’s memory if you move on.”
The look Naomi sent her could have turned her to stone. “When we first moved in here. It felt like we had finally done something good for our family. How can you suggest that strangers move in when they won’t appreciate what this house has meant to u
s?”
She moved to stand in front of the television blocking Naomi’s view of her favorite show, Wheel of Fortune. I made a face, then tucked my legs beneath me. Opal knew that I hated having such conversations in front of Naomi she had a lot she was dealing with already.
“That’s the point. The fact that this place has so many bad memories right along with the good hasn’t done any of us any favors. I can’t even remember the last time you ventured outside? And Ruthie is not working. You guys can’t live off the insurance money forever?”
Opal caught my eye and pleaded with me without even saying a word, to tell the truth. I looked away running my hand over the white cushions. Opal just didn’t believe that I could handle things on my own. We had just entered a rough patch and once we were through it things would calm down.
“Why don’t we table this discussion for a later date and we can have some dessert instead,” I yelled, louder than I intended to let Opal know that I wouldn’t be hopping on this freight train of hers.
“Ruthie.” She put her hands on her hips. “Why don’t you tell Naomi how things are fairing with the insurance money?”
“Nothing,” I replied. “There’s nothing to report. It was less than we would have assumed, but we are still getting by.”
Naomi resumed rocking in her chair without missing a beat. “Well, that’s good to know. Eli’s death was a surprise. So was Mailer’s, but Kohen was sick for a long time and it required a great deal of finesse on our parts to continue with the bills, while still paying for the guy’s plots, and we still had a nice nest egg left over.”
I blew out a breath in relief and reached for the remote turning the volume up on our flat screen. Grabbing some matches from the side table to light the small cluster of candles on the coffee table. Casting a warm glow across the room. Ignoring the fumes coming off Opal in waves as she plopped down on the chaise on the other side of me.
“But maybe Opal is on to something.” Everyone in the room went silent waiting for her to issue a decree like she alone could save us all. Clutching the brochure of events from her hometown in her hand. “I could use a vacation, and it would be nice to return home to German Village for a while or at least for the Haus and Garten Tour coming up in July of 2019.
“We can’t afford—-”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I interjected, avoiding Opal’s gaze as I tried to figure out how I would come up with the money. No one deserved this vacation more than her.
2
Boaz
“You’re going to be okay.” My heart raced. “Jerry clear the back room.”
I hit the corner switch bathing the office in a bright light. “I’ll take her from here, Mrs. McCarthy. You did right rushing her over.”
The pug’s legs stiff like an ironing board as she panted heavily, laying on her side in a red wagon. The normally smooth tan fur around her feet now matted and damp. He grabbed the handle of the wagon and pulled it towards the back room. Kicking open the sliding double doors with my foot and easing the wagon through.
“We’re going to find out what’s wrong with you in just a bit.” It was Christmas, the first time I’d ever been allowed to leave work on time, and who better to dash that hope away then Mrs. McCarthy. Thankfully he was always prepared for one of her emergencies. It usually required a stethoscope, a temperature reading and then a clean bill of health, but Pugsley, the pug was actually looking ill. “I’ll have you on the proper medicine and on your way to barking at cars before you know it.”
Inside the examination room, I lifted Pugsley onto the exam table. “Jerry, can we start with some X-rays?”
Jerry was my assistant, the only one who knew my struggle with leaving on time, a tall and lanky fellow that had been with me since the beginning. Also, the only one who didn’t mind helping me triage some of the holiday pet mishaps that always seemed to arise. Especially as the only vet hospital around without heading to the city.
I gently lifted her back legs and noticed that her teats appeared enlarged. I reached behind me for some plastic gloves. Before examining the area, some milk dripping onto my glove. “Looks like Pugsley is pregnant.”
“Do you think Mrs. McCarthy is going to jump for joy or have a heart attack? I think I’m going to enjoy seeing either one.” He laughed before sliding the dog onto a dog stretcher and wheeling him into the connected room.
I moved to sit behind the computer and pressed a few buttons while Jerry made sure the X-ray was over her stomach. The machine roared to life like an achy old man. Causing Pugsley to whimper as Jerry did his best to keep her calm. “I liked to think that she would be relieved that it’s not a tumor, but you can’t really be sure with her.”
“How did she let Pugsley get this big anyway? She’s usually in here every other week.”
“Yeah, but she went out of town to visit her daughter remember and took Pugsley with her. I suspect these pups are the product of a one night stand,” I said pressing the green start button.
The image slowly appeared on the screen one inch at a time, and it usually took ten minutes for a full image to load. Normally we would have the animal under some sort of sedation, but it didn’t look like Pugsley was going anywhere. She looked pretty miserable.
“Ohhhh, do I get to tell her it was a one night stand?”
“No,” I laughed, but still leveling a glare at my assistant. “For all, we know this pregnancy was planned.” Mrs. McCarthy gave him and the receptionist the hardest time as he sometimes filled in for our receptionist’s lunch breaks. Calling every hour for advice on Pugsley’s hangnail to whether she should switch dog food brands.
“And the verdict is three pups and they appear to be normal size. So she should be able to have them on her own without difficulty.”
I pressed end. Making sure to print out a copy that I could show to a shocked Mrs. McCarthy. Jerry moved the dog back to the stretcher and took him into the exam room. I placed the X-ray against the light making sure there were no other dangers that I could be missing. Everything was normal. Pugsley was in prime health. For all extensive purposes, this should be a normal birth. He grabbed the X-ray and brought it into the exam room. He had to go find Pugsley’s file.
“Her vulva is more relaxed. Shouldn’t be long now.” Jerry said, scratching her behind her ear. “Her temperature is also registering 98 right now.”
“Alright, let’s get her off this table and find her a warm place to have these pups.” Please, Lord let this birth go smoothly, I thought. “I’m going to go hunt down her file and let Mrs. McCarthy know what’s going on before she comes charging back here,” I told him, taking off my gloves and tossing them in the trash.
He left the exam room and made his way over to his office. He cut on the light and headed over to the file cabinet. “I don’t think I can ever remember a time since I started this practice when I left at 5 pm.” Pugsley - Mrs. McCarthy jumped out at me as I hit the P section. I pulled it out and headed back to the front.
“So I’ve got good news, Mrs. McCarthy.” He showed her the X-ray. “It’s not a tumor, but puppies. Three to be exact.”
She seemed genuinely surprised clutching at her chest as if she was having some sort of cardiac arrest. I grabbed her arm and directed her to the dark green waiting chairs. Offering her a cup of water from the fountain to which she declined. Before taking the seat next to her in the hopes of alleviating some of her concerns. I rubbed her back reassuringly. She was positively shaking. Please, Lord, don’t let this turn out to be a whole thing that we will be dealing with for several weeks to come.
With a deep breath and an answered prayer, she said, “Paul isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“Well you have options,” I said, with hopes that my voice would somehow sooth whatever was going on in her head. “I’m sure that once the pup is of age to be removed from her mother that we can put it up for adoption and find it a good home.” This was a dog loving town and I had at least two people in mind already.
>
I scanned her face and grabbed her shaky hands. “It’s not the end of the world. I’m sure you two will be great grandparents for the time being.”
“It’s just poor timing. Paul’s health is getting worse. It’s hard for me to dedicate the time I need to Pugsley least of all an energetic puppy. I’m scared to leave Paul alone sometimes just to walk the dog. I do take him with sometimes. But he can be like a child, wandering off, getting into trouble. If he got hurt it would be like a hundred nightmares rolled into one.”
I slid the X-ray back into the file in his hand and looked at Mrs. McCarthy confidently. “Truly, you have been sent by God. I’ve been struggling with this idea to expand the hospital’s services and possibly start a dog walking business. But I was not sure of the demand for such a thing.” I got up and went over to the reception desk pulling out a postcard for the dog walking business that he had her shelve. Instead, he brought over one for Mrs. McCarthy to keep. “What do you think? Would that be something that you’re interested in?”
After putting on her glasses from around her neck, and reading the short print. “Of course. You do such a great job on Pugsley I’d trust you guys to also walk her for me.”
I let out a breath in relief. “Good, then it’s settled. I’ll let you know when we are up and running, which will be a few weeks, but in the meantime, I’m sure we can work something out so that this new puppy isn’t so much of a burden. For the most part, mommy will take care of it.”
After giving her access to a phone so that she could check on Paul and let the nurse know that she will be later than usual. I returned to the back room to check on Pugsley’s progress. Everyone knew that Paul had Alzheimer’s, and although Mrs. McCarthy could be quite annoying, the reason she called so much was because she was in dire need of adult conversation. It just came off as a bit abrasive at times.
Miracle Walk (The Designed Love Series Book 2) Page 1