Broken Things to Mend

by Karey White

  Celia put her hand on her stomach. “At first I thought I could never keep it. It would remind me of him. But I love this baby. And honestly, he reminds me more of being here. This is where we were the whole time I knew I was pregnant. This is where I felt him move and watched his heart and felt his hiccups. I tried so hard to find him a different family and nothing felt right, but as soon as Silas said I should keep him, I felt joy.”

  “What about you?” Nancy asked Silas.

  “It won’t be hard at all. I have the chance to help Celia take something that was wrong and m-make it right. We’ll do it together.” He put his arm around Celia and kissed the top of her head and Celia wrapped her arms around his waist.

  Nancy smiled at the two young people she loved. “Tomorrow should be a good day. We have much to be thankful for.”

  After a gray and snowy Thanksgiving weekend, Celia was surprised when she woke to sunshine. It had to be a good omen that they would be married on a bright, yellow day. She smiled and turned onto her side. The gray dress and pink cardigan Nancy had bought on Saturday hung on the closet door. Celia was glad Nancy had insisted they go shopping. She had planned to wear the same dress she wore almost every week to church. It would be nice to have something special for the wedding.

  Celia threw back the covers and pushed herself to a sitting position. She gasped and braced herself on the side of the bed. It felt like the baby had pinched the inside of her abdomen. Hard. The sensation was short, and when Celia stood, she felt a dampness between her legs. Was she wetting herself?

  At the bathroom door, a rush of water ran down her legs and puddled on the floor.

  “Nancy?” When Nancy didn’t answer immediately, Celia called her again with more urgency. “Nancy?”

  “Did you need me?” Nancy asked as she stepped into the hall. When she saw Celia gripping the door frame, she hurried to her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I’m pretty sure my water broke.”

  At first Celia was worried the baby was coming too soon, but the delivery nurse at St. Charles hospital assured her that two weeks early was fine. With the concern for her baby’s safety calmed, her thoughts turned to the wedding that was supposed to happen. She wanted to ask Mr. Walker what would happen with the birth certificate since they wouldn’t be married when the baby came. Whose name would be put down as the father? Why hadn’t they asked more questions? Why had they been so careless as to presume the baby would wait for them to marry?

  Celia was surprised at the intensity of the contractions. For several minutes she could talk and relax then an ache in her back would turn to a searing pain that felt like her entire midsection was being squeezed by a tourniquet of straight pins. Then the pressure would ease and all she was left with was the dull ache in her back. She was in the middle of one of these when Silas hurried into the room. He had gone to work that morning so he could make arrangements to get his job in order so he could take a few days off.

  “Are you okay?” He sounded alarmed.

  Celia, who clutched both bed rails, gave one quick nod while she blew out short, sharp breaths. When the pain subsided, she reached out her hand for Silas.

  “My water broke. He’s going to come before we get married.” Before the words were out, tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Silas held her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “It’s okay. We’ll still get married.”

  “But the birth certificate. What will they do?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “I don’t want it left blank and I don’t want his name on it.” She fought to keep the panic out of her voice as she whispered. “I don’t even know his last name.”

  “We’ll work it out. Don’t worry.”

  “Can you call Mr. Walker? Please? Ask him what will happen?”

  “Of course.” Silas leaned over the hospital bed and kissed Celia gently. “I’ll go call him.”

  “I love you,” Celia called as he left the room.

  “You’re doing great,” the nurse said as she looked at the monitor beside Celia’s bed. “It looks like you’re about six minutes apart. How are you feeling?”

  A fiery contraction seized Celia’s back and abdomen and her knuckles turned white on the rails. After the pain eased, she answered the nurse. “I’m doing pretty good until that happens.”

  “Dr. Vernon said he’s on his way.”

  “Where’s Silas?” Celia asked Nancy when the nurse had left the room. “He’s been gone more than an hour.”

  Nancy stroked Celia’s arm. “Maybe he’s having a hard time getting through to Mr. Walker. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.” She reached under her chair for her purse. “I’ll bet you’d feel better if we brushed through your hair.” Celia leaned forward and Nancy gently lifted Celia’s hair away from her back and brushed through it, smoothing out the tangles. Surprisingly, when she relaxed back onto the pillow, she did feel better, and she let her eyes close as she waited for the next wave of pain.

  “That’s it. Just rest for a few minutes while you can.”

  Celia slipped her arm under her back to try and ease the ache that wouldn’t let up. A few minutes later, she heard Silas and Dr. Vernon talking. And then she heard another voice. It was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

  She opened her eyes and looked questioningly at Nancy. “Who’s with Silas?”

  Nancy smiled, but before she could answer, Silas, Dr. Vernon and Pastor Davies entered the room. Silas walked to the bed, picked up her hand, and kissed the back of it. “Are you ready to get m-married?”

  Celia turned to Nancy. “I’m sorry about the dress.”

  Nancy waved her off. “There will be plenty of time to wear that dress. The most imp—”

  Celia didn’t hear the rest of her words as a contraction tore through her midsection. She gripped Silas’s hand and bit her lip until it gradually passed.

  “I’d suggest if we’re trying to beat this baby here that we don’t waste another minute,” Dr. Vernon said.

  It wasn’t the wedding most girls dream of. Celia wore a light blue gown with tiny, navy triangles scattered across it. There were no flowers or guests and the proceedings were accompanied by voices in the hall and the uneven shoosh-shoosh of the uterine monitor.

  “Do you have the marriage license?” Pastor Davies asked and Silas pulled it out of his shirt pocket.

  The ceremony was short. Nancy and Dr. Vernon served as witnesses and Pastor Davies didn’t even bother to ask if anyone opposed the marriage. Before the next contraction came, Celia Edwards had become Celia Toller, Silas and Celia had shared a passionate kiss, and the minister had signed the certificate.

  Three and a half hours later, Jack Alexander Toller slipped into the world.

  Pearl stepped into the parlor at the Halifax House Bed and Breakfast, her laptop tucked under her arm.

  “I hope you’re not planning to go anywhere,” said a pink-cheeked girl as she straightened a few magazines on the coffee table. “We’re expectin’ a blizzard this afternoon.”

  “No, my dear. I plan to cozy up to this fire and check in on some old friends.”

  “Can I get you anything?”

  “A cup of hot cocoa would be lovely, if you have some.”

  “Comin’ right up.”

  Pearl took the seat closest to the fireplace and tucked a throw over her legs. Snow whirled outside the window and she was happy to be indoors.

  It had still been dark outside when a glass-rattling wind had awakened her. As Pearl had stared into the darkness, two names had been come to her mind. Silas and Celia. Two nights ago, Pearl had seen Celia in a dream, and as she had suspected before she left Sisters, Celia had been pregnant.

  Ten months had passed since Pearl had persuaded Silas to drive her to Bend, almost ten months since she had arranged for Celia to board with Nancy.

  Not every couple she matched stayed with her. Pearl knew some stories from the day they met until the time they died. Others she barely knew th
eir names. Most often, Pearl worked her magic then moved on. There were so many who needed what she had to offer. But there had been something unusual about Silas and Celia, something so tragic in their pain and loneliness that it reminded her of her own losses, and she felt compelled to be sure they didn’t carry the burden of those sorrows forever.

  “I hope ya don’t mind. I added a spoonful of marshmallow cream.” The young lady handed Pearl a steaming mug.

  “It smells wonderful. Thank you.”

  Pearl took a sip of the hot cocoa, carefully placed it on a coaster then opened the laptop. After a little searching, she found what she was looking for. In the Central Oregon Bulletin she found a birth announcement.

  Delivered at St. Charles Hospital, Bend.

  Silas and Celia Toller, a boy, Jack Alexander Toller, 7 pounds, 2 ounces, November 26.

  Pearl closed the laptop, relaxed back in her chair, and took a sip of hot cocoa. She smiled. How many years would it be before she felt the urge to use her magic for little Jack Toller?

  I have loved this project. I’m thrilled to have been able to collaborate with these amazing authors and I can’t wait to see how they have Pearl meddle in the love lives of their characters. It should be a fun year!

  I’d be an ungrateful jerk if I didn’t thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to read this book. With so many books out there to choose from, it’s a privilege for me to have shared Celia and Silas’s story with you. Thank you.

  I’d love to have you stop by my website and subscribe to my newsletter. I promise not to inundate you with silly stuff—just updates on my books.

  As an author, I hope to have happy readers who spread the word about my books. If you’d be willing, I’d be so grateful for a review on Goodreads or Amazon or wherever else you might share your thoughts on books.

  Happy Reading!

  Karey

  More Power of the Matchmaker

  Not Always Happenstance by Rachael Anderson

  If We Were a Movie by Kelly Oram

  Love is Come by Heather B. Moore

  Power of the Matchmaker Series

  Several years ago, my family drove through Sisters, Oregon on our way to the coast. I fell in love a little bit and decided someday I’d like to live there. Since a move has become less and less likely, I decided to do the next best thing, and use it as a setting. Sisters was a perfect place for Celia to start over and heal. Yes, the Three Sisters mountains (Faith, Hope, and Charity) are real and they’re beautiful. The whole town is. This past summer, my husband and I spent three days in Sisters talking to the locals, eating at the restaurants, and soaking in the small-town atmosphere. The quilt show is a real thing and if you feel inspired to attend, watch for me, because I fully intend to be there next summer (and maybe every summer after that). Thank you to all the kind people who shared their lovely town with me. Especially Suzy, from the Chamber of Commerce, who loaded my arms with literature, my mind with information, my heart with enthusiasm, and my imagination with ideas.

  Thank you to Dad, Mom, and Lori, Rachael, Corinne, Stephanie, Kathy, Missy, and Amanda. Having early readers who are honest but encouraging is such a blessing. I’m so grateful for your input.

  Thank you Natasha and Rachael for the beautiful cover.

  A special thank you to Rachael, my dear author friend, who is always there to bounce ideas off of, to offer pep talks, and to share the ups and downs of the life of a writer.

  Finally, huge props to my husband and kids, who support, encourage, and keep the edges of my life from fraying and coming apart. I love you guys!

  Also by Karey White

  My Own Mr. Darcy

  The Husband Maker

  The Match Maker

  The Wife Maker

  Lost and Found

  Maggie’s Song (found in A Timeless Romance Anthology)

  For What It’s Worth

  Gifted