Following Rain

by Darrel Nelson

  Paul continued past the front desk and made a right turn at the adjoining hallway. He proceeded to Room 316 and paused to adjust the box under his arm. Pushing on the partly closed door, he stepped inside.

  There, lying in the hospital bed, eyes closed, was Rain.

  Paul tiptoed over and looked down at her, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. He was glad she was no longer hooked up to the heart monitor and to the array of tubes that now hung limp from the IV stand beside the bed. He studied the graceful curve of her profile and thought how serene she looked. Even in the dimness he could see that the color had returned to her face.

  She opened her eyes and blinked several times to focus them. “I must have dozed off,” she murmured. “When did you get here?”

  “Just now.” He bent down and tenderly kissed her. “How’s my girl doing today?”

  Instead of answering, she blinked her eyes again and slowly propped herself up on one elbow. “Oh, Paul. I just had the strangest dream.”

  “It’s the medication.”

  She was silent for a moment. “But it was so real.”

  “Dreams can be that way.”

  “I was standing on a street corner. It wasn’t a place I recognized and I felt anxious, like I was lost. I couldn’t see a road sign or anything to help me get my bearings because it was dark.”

  Paul noticed her tremble. He set the gift-wrapped box aside and rubbed her shoulder. “We don’t have to talk about it right now if you don’t want to.”

  “No, it’s okay. I was looking around trying to figure out what to do when a woman stepped out of the shadows and stopped beneath the light on the other side of the street. She was smiling and a calm feeling came over me. She walked to the edge of the light and I suddenly recognized her. Paul, it was my mom!”

  Paul leaned in closer.

  “She turned and motioned as if signaling to someone, and then my brother stepped into the light beside her. They stood there smiling at me. And then my mom said, ‘We’re okay, Rain. Don’t you see? We’re both okay.’”

  Paul continued to stare at her.

  “And then she said, ‘It wasn’t your fault. Let it go.’” Rain hesitated briefly and then continued, “She and my brother began to walk out of the light. But before they completely disappeared, she looked over her shoulder and it seemed like we were standing face to face in that moment. She smiled at me again and said, ‘Live.’”

  Exhaling slowly, Paul said, “That’s some dream, Rain.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you listened to the last part of her advice.”

  Rain smiled weakly and lay back on her pillow.

  “Some people put a lot of stock in the meaning of dreams,” Paul remarked. “What do you suppose the part about it not being your fault is all about?”

  Tears formed in her eyes. “I wasn’t going to tell you about it. I wasn’t going to tell anyone about it. Not ever!”

  Wiping a tear from her cheek, Paul said, “Well, maybe the dream is telling you that it’s time.”

  Rain shifted uncomfortably and paused for a moment. “I was angry at my dad and mom when they came to pick me up from a party I went to without their permission,” she began. “It was embarrassing because it happened in front of my friends, and I promised myself that I would never forgive my parents.”

  Her chin began to tremble and she paused to control her emotions.

  “As we were driving home, my mom started lecturing me how we all had rules we had to live by. I told her I didn’t want to hear about her stupid rules. My dad got mad and said I couldn’t talk to them like that. Well, that only made me angrier. I flew into a rage and shouted the meanest thing I could think to say.”

  Paul gently asked, “What was it?”

  Her voice broke and a mournful sob issued from her throat. “I said, ‘I hate you and wish you were dead!”

  Pursing his lips, Paul stroked the back of her hand.

  “Dad took his eyes off the road to look at me. So did Mom. Before either of them could say anything more, there was this horrible crashing sound and then everything went black.”

  She buried her face in the bed sheet.

  Paul wrinkled his brow. “So you think the accident was your fault?”

  “Yes,” she wailed. “I distracted my parents. Dad would have seen the other car. It was my fault. I said I wished they were dead . . . and look what happened. In one way or another, I lost all three of them that night.”

  Paul grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and dabbed her eyes. “Yes, accidents happen, Rain. But it wasn’t your fault. You have to understand. The dream came to comfort you and release you from the misguided guilt you’ve been carrying.”

  Peering at Paul through red-rimmed eyes, she said, “I tried to make up for everything. When Charlie—Dad—got out of the hospital, we went to live with my grandmother. But then she was diagnosed with dementia three years later and had to go to a facility. We sold her home to pay for her care. And since we had no other family or friends to turn to, I dropped out of my last semester of high school and took full responsibility for Dad. I worked at any job I could find to support us. We travelled from place to place as my work situation changed. When I was laid off from my job at a fast food restaurant, we had no money and nowhere to go.”

  Rain drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We wandered into Welcoming Hands, hoping to stay a few nights while I figured things out. When Maria learned about our situation, she offered me a part-time job. It eventually turned into a full-time one, and for the past two years she has been like a mother to me. Without her help, I don’t know what would have become of us. But, even so, no matter how hard I’ve worked, no matter how much I’ve tried to make up for it, all I have to do is look at my dad and realize that I did that to him.” Her chest heaved mournfully. “So how do I let go of that?”

  Looking at her in earnest, Paul replied, “I don’t have all the answers, Rain, but I’ll tell you this. The accident would have happened, anyway. I looked at the final police report. The young man ran the stop sign. In the end, his family hired good lawyers, and he got off without having to go to jail. But here’s what I believe. Your life was spared so you could be there for your dad. Maria called me an angel of mercy, but you are the true angel of mercy. The love you’ve shown your dad and the care you’ve given him is amazing. Imagine how his life would have been if you hadn’t been there. He would have been stuffed away in some facility and wouldn’t have progressed to the degree he has. And he is progressing, Rain. I can see it. And he has you to thank for it. So instead of feeling responsible for what you think you did to him, think of what you have done for him. You have been a blessing in his life. And whatever debt you feel you owe him has been paid many times over. I mean, you stepped in front of that bullet!”

  Tears were now streaming freely down her cheeks.

  “Remember the dream and how it made you feel,” Paul added. “Remember what your mother said in the dream. ‘Live.’ She meant more than just not dying.”

  Rain sniffed back her tears. “I was afraid people would hate me if they ever learned the truth.” She reached up and stroked his cheek. “I was afraid you would hate me.”

  Paul reached for the gift. “Let me show you something.”

  “What is it?”

  “Open it and see.”

  She undid the ribbon and the wrapping and lifted the lid. Then she reached in and carefully removed the object inside. “A sailboat!” she said, holding the wooden figure in her hands.

  “Harold made it as a special order.”

  “It’s beautiful. The sails look like they’re made from linen fabric. Is this a model of the Pricilla B?”

  Paul pointed to the rigging. “No, count the masts.”

  “There are three.”

  “The Pricilla B only has one. And check out the name.”

  She studied the model carefully. There, carved in graceful letters on each side of the hull, was the word Destiny.

  “My d
ad bought the Pricilla B as an anniversary gift for my mom,” Paul explained. “When he showed it to her, he said: ‘Let’s sail together for the rest of our lives.’ Of course, he was talking about more than just yachting. And so am I. ” He sat back in his chair and folded his arms expectantly.

  Rain’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh, Paul, do you really mean it?”

  Chuckling, he leaned forward and kissed her. “Does that answer your question?”

  “Yes!” Then her expression suddenly clouded over. “But . . . is it really fair to you?”

  “We’ll have to move to a bigger place, but the three of us will be just fine.”

  Rain’s fingers trembled as she held the model. “I want this to sit on our mantel, where we can see it every day.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Paul carefully replaced it in the box. “Until then, hang on to it for safekeeping.”

  She clutched his hand and pressed it to her cheek. “I intend to.”

  Voices sounded outside the door just then and Charlie came into the room, followed closely by Maria.

  “Hi, Rain,” he said. “Missed you.” He held a hand toward her, his thumb and index finger pressed firmly together.

  Rain returned the gesture.

  Paul had seen them exchange the gesture before and made a mental note to ask them about it sometime. It was obviously a special communication because it always produced warm smiles.

  “How are you feeling, dear?” Maria asked, giving Rain a hug.

  “The nurses had me up walking today, or at least trying to walk,” Rain replied. “I could only shuffle along like an old woman.”

  Paul squeezed Rain’s hand encouragingly. “That’s wonderful news.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Rain teased, “The old woman part?”

  “Hey, at this point I’ll take anything. I thought I’d lost you the other night.”

  Rain lay back on her pillow and glanced up at the ceiling. After a pause, she said, “I don’t remember much of anything. It’s all a blur.”

  Just as well, Paul thought.

  Perhaps the memory would return to her and perhaps it wouldn’t. But for Paul the memory was eternally etched in his brain. The truth of the matter was that she had died in the ambulance that night. Her heart had stopped beating and nothing the paramedics could do seemed able to restore it. Her time of death was recorded as 3:12 A.M.

  Paul had spun out of control mentally and emotionally, too wrapped up in his grief at the moment to know that after a short debate, the second paramedic had cranked the defibrillator to 360 joules, its maximum capacity, and convinced his partner to try one more. For a moment Rain’s heart still hadn’t responded and then miraculously . . . it began to beat. Neither paramedic dared say anything until it maintained a steady rhythm. Then they broke the happy news, rescuing Paul from the abyss into which he had plunged.

  Now as he looked at Rain, he decided against explaining the details. There would be time—that precious gift now granted them—to discuss things later.

  A solemn mood had fallen over the room. Maria lightened things up when she clapped her hands and said, “The open house was a success, and with Thanksgiving approaching, this is truly a time to give thanks.” She stroked Rain on the arm. “We have so much to be grateful for this year. They’ve put up some Thanksgiving decorations in the hospital foyer.” She motioned toward the wheelchair. “Are you up for a ride to go see them, dear?”

  Rain nodded. “I’d like to get out of the room for a while.”

  Charlie rolled the wheelchair forward and held it securely while Paul and Maria got Rain situated.

  As Charlie pushed her out into the hallway, Rain looked over her shoulder at Paul. “Are you coming?” she asked.

  “I’m right behind you,” Paul answered.

  She held out her hand. “I prefer you right beside me.”

  He caught up and interlocked his fingers with hers.

  Charlie picked up the pace as they headed down the hallway, smiling as he looked at Paul. Then bending forward, he kissed Rain on the top of her head and whispered, “Hang on for the ride, Pumpkin.”

  About the Author:

  Darrel Nelson is a retired schoolteacher and lives with his wife, Marsha, in Raymond, Alberta, Canada. They are the parents of four children and are proud grandparents. Darrel is the author of two previous novels, The Anniversary Waltz and The Return of Cassandra Todd. This new novel, Following Rain, is his first venture into publishing with Amazon.

  Correspondence for the author should be addressed to:

  Darrel Nelson

  P.O. Box 1094

  Raymond, Alberta, Canada

  T0K 2S0

  Or you can visit his website (www.darrelnelson.com) and post comments there.

  More from Darrel Nelson:

  The Anniversary Waltz:

  "A thoroughly enchanting story full of a wide range of emotions. The characters leaped from the pages straight into my heart." - Lena Nelson Dooley, award-winning author of Mary's Blessing and Maggie's Journey.

  At their sixtieth anniversary party, Adam Carlson asks his wife, Elizabeth, for their customary waltz. After the dance they gather the family and share their story--a story of love and courage overcoming adversity and thriving in the face of overwhelming odds.

  It's the summer of 1946, and Adam has just returned from the war to his home in Reunion, Montana. At a town festival he meets Elizabeth Baxter, a young woman going steady with his former high school rival and now influential banker, Nathan Roberts.

  When Adam and Elizabeth share a waltz in a deserted pavilion one evening, their feelings begin to grow and they embark on a journey, and a dance, that will last a lifetime.

  The Return of Cassandra Todd:

  "I was riveted by the storyline, the characters' dilemmas, and the real-life dialogue. I loved it! I'm a forever fan." - Eva Marie Everson, author of the Cedar Key Series.

  When the popular girl whose friends bullied him in high school suddenly reenters his life, little son in tow, Turner Caldwell must put the past behind him if they are to survive.

  Turner Caldwell works at a local motel as a handyman while attending college full-time. On his way to class one day, he is shocked to see Cassandra Todd and her young son in town. The sight of her brings back powerful memories of being bullied in high school--she was the popular head cheerleader and he the target of her friends' mean-spirited pranks.

  When Cassandra and her son check into the motel where he works and she asks for his help in eluding her abusive husband, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous drama that will require him to forgive and draw on every skill he has if they are to survive.

  Look for these titles from other Hartline authors:

  Buck Storm's Miracle Man: Welcome to Paradise, a sleepy, backwater town in the mountains of Southeastern Arizona where police chief Luke Hollis is perfectly content to concentrate on nothing but issuing the occasional speeding ticket. Well that and working up the nerve to approach his dispatcher, Ruby Brooks, for a date. When an unexplained healing occurs during a service at the Mount Moriah Pentecostal Church of God, Hollis finds his simple belief system challenged and his life changed forever. Throw in a struggling minister, a world-class grifter, and a stranger with an unbelievable story of love and redemption and the stage is set for The Miracle Man. By the time it's all over everyone involved will come face to face with a power that's greater and more wonderful than any of them could have ever imagined.

  Susan J. Reinhardt's The Christmas Wish: Freddie Gilroy faces each day, wishing his daddy would return for him and his mother. His hope keeps him going even though a bully threatens him on the way home from school. Christmas is still months away, but he holds fast to his wish. But wishing isn't always enough. When the Director of the homeless shelter challenges Norma to help Freddie accept the fact Daddy isn't coming back, she stands her ground. As troublesome events pile up, she begins to doubt. A former resident, Marcel Lamonde, showers her with flowers and gifts. Will she hold on
to her Tommy's promise to return or will she succumb to the Frenchman's enticing offer of a home and security? Annaliese and Aaron's continued disagreements on how to raise Katie reach a serious impasse. Will they have the courage to set aside their anger and believe for their own Christmas Wish? Striker returns to the area and sets up shop. When his plans are foiled, he decides on a new method to accomplish his goals. Ellie and John Zimmerman agree to help the Gilroy family even though they're weary from their own near disaster. Will they stay the course when they discover their old nemesis, Striker, is back in town or will they continue to believe for Freddie's wish?