Grace After the Storm

by Sandy Sinnett

  “Oh no! I can’t. You don’t want me to tell her, trust me. I’ll just screw it up. I think this is something you’re going to have to tell her on your own, but maybe now isn’t the best time.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. She needs her rest. Why don’t you go in and see her? I’ll talk to the nurse and ask her if we should tell her about Lois or if we should wait.”

  “I’m scared, Brad. I don’t want her to be mad at me. I need her to be okay.” Clare’s eyes welled with tears.

  Brad put his arm around her shoulder in a side-hug as they both stared into Hannah’s room through the door. “She could never be mad at you. You’re her sister remember? Trust me, I’m the one she likes being mad at. You however… well, you’re her hero. Go on,” he urged.

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Clare walked into Hannah’s room, quietly moving toward her bed. The nurse was still in the room keeping an eye on her blood pressure, but nodded to Clare and smiled, approving her presence in the room.

  “Hi Jules… it’s me, Clare.”

  Hannah opened her eyes slowly, smiling up at Clare. She tried to speak, but her throat was too dry.

  “Here, give her a drink of water.” The nurse said, handing Clare a cup of water. Clare put the straw in Hannah’s mouth and watched her take a few sips.

  “Thank you, Clare,” Hannah said in a dry voice. “I… I’m so sorry,” she stuttered.

  Clare sat down on the edge of Hannah’s bed. “What are you sorry for? I was the one who wanted to go horseback riding. If it hadn’t been for me wanting to go, we would never have been in that storm. I’m the one that’s sorry, Jules.” Clare looked down at the bed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Clare. I love you. I wanted to give you…,” Hannah took a breath, “… to give you your birthday wish. I had so much fun. He’s the one that ruined everything,” she said, pointing to Brad still standing in the hall. No sooner had she said the words, and the monitor began to beep incessantly.

  “Calm down, Hannah,” the nurse said, then looked up at Clare. “Miss, you’re going to have to leave now. She needs her rest.”

  “I… I know – just one more minute, that’s all I promise,” Clare pleaded.

  “One more,” the nurse agreed.

  “I love you too, Jules, but there’s something you should know. I wasn’t going to tell you, but… but I was the one that messed everything up. I overheard Brad talking to that guy and it sounded like he was going to sell the estate, but I didn’t hear the whole conversation. That’s not what he is doing. I didn’t fully understand it, and I jumped to conclusions. He told me everything. Brad’s the one I called when you got hurt and if it weren’t for him, you might have died out there. He called the stables to send help, and he kept talking to me on the phone the whole time. I was so scared, Jules. I don’t know what I would have done without him. He loves you. He loves you so much. He’s making everything better at the winery for you – trust me. Just give him a chance okay? I was wrong.” Clare talked so fast, she could barely catch her breath between words, then waited for Hannah’s reaction after telling her the truth.

  Hannah smiled as a tear rolled down her pale face, then suddenly an image flashed through her memory. It was an image of her dream. Grandma. She said goodbye to me. She’s gone! Oh God, no… please no! She started coughing and the beeps from her monitor sped up, but this time her heart rate kept rising, climbing higher and higher. Within seconds, she was in cardiac arrest. Two more nurses ran inside and pushed Clare away from the bed.

  “Jules! I’m sorry!” Clare shouted. “Please, Jules! Don’t you leave me too!”

  Brad ran in to the room and pulled Clare out, still screaming Jules’ name. He held Clare to his chest as she cried, watching the nurses as they worked to keep Hannah’s heart beating.

  Thud thud…

  Thud thud…

  Thud thud.

  Whatever happened that night, whatever memory Hannah experienced, increased her already high blood pressure to the point that it caused a mild heart attack. Thankfully, they were able to restart her heart. Combined with the swelling in her brain, however, she drifted into a coma.

  They waited…

  One week passed.

  The doctor tried to encourage them. “It’s the brain’s way of protecting itself – just be patient”, he said.

  They waited…

  A second week, come and gone. Still no change.

  Day after day, Brad was slowly losing hope.

  I’m tired of being patient, he thought.

  13 – Beginning Again

  Mitch stared at his phone as he sat with Laci in her doctor’s office waiting room, anxious for Brad’s call, and nervous for their first sonogram appointment since the miscarriage. He remembered vividly the last time they were there, how they had exited through the back door. A solemn ending to a once hopeful beginning. Today however, they began again.

  “Brad will call as soon as Hannah wakes up. She’s going to wake up. She has to,” Laci said, trying to assure him.

  “It’s been two weeks and she’s still not responding. She could be in a coma for months, or years – what if she never wakes up?” Mitch rambled. His heart was keen to Brad’s pain, knowing how it felt when he almost lost Laci to cancer last year.

  Laci shifted in her seat to face him. “Look at me, Luke Mitchell Young. I know this baby is going to be fine and I know Hannah will wake up. Trust me. I just know it. We have to have faith, okay?” She took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “Laci Young?” the nurse called out from the side door. Mitch smiled and kissed her on the cheek, then they walked back to the exam room.

  After Laci was prepped and ready, the sonographer left and the doctor came in the room to perform the sonogram. “Good morning, Laci, Mitch. How are you both today?” the doctor asked, making conversation to lighten the tension in the room.

  “Hi Dr. Greene. We don’t usually see you this early in the visit. Is everything okay?” Laci asked.

  “I’m sure everything is fine. I wanted to perform the ultrasound myself though, in light of your history. I hope that’s alright.”

  “Of course, that’s fine. I’m glad you’re here… makes me feel better actually,” Laci smiled.

  “Well, let’s take a look and listen then, shall we? This time, I’m going to use a 3-D Doppler ultrasound. We can listen for the heartbeat, and check to see how the blood is flowing through the baby’s umbilical cord at the same time.”

  The doctor moved the wand over Laci’s tummy and within seconds, a loud pulse came echoing through the little speaker. A strong heartbeat.

  “Thank God! I hear her!” Laci exclaimed.

  Mitch couldn’t speak. The joy on his face was enough and no words were needed. Their baby was healthy and everything looked good. The doctor pointed to a blob on the screen, and as they watched, they saw a tiny little arm raise up, then go back down again.

  “Oh look! He’s waving to mom and dad!” the doctor said, pointing to the screen as they watched the baby’s hand go up slowly “Congratulations to you both. You have a healthy baby in there. It’s a little early yet to see what the sex is, but we should be able to tell next month.”

  Laci looked at Mitch. “Mitch? I… I don’t want to find out this time. Let’s be surprised.”

  “What? Are you sure?”

  “I don’t care what we have. I want it to be like Christmas morning when it arrives!”

  Mitch laughed. “You would find a way to tie this to Christmas.”

  “She’s actually pretty close, Mr. Young.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Based on her measurements, it looks like it just might be Christmas when this baby arrives. I’d say your due date is on or around December 23rd.”

  Laci’s eyes grew as big as bottle caps. “Are you kidding me? Oh Mitch… this is going to be the best Christmas ever!”

  Back home, Laci and Mitch shared th
e good news with their kids and Mitch’s mom, then Laci called her parents to tell them. Everyone was overjoyed to hear the good news about the baby, but Mitch felt somewhat guilty for celebrating, knowing Brad was hurting on the other side of the continent. He picked up his phone and dialed.

  “Hey little brother. How are things in the NC?” Brad asked, his voice melancholy.

  “Everything’s fine here, but I’m calling to see how you are doing. How is Hannah? Any change?”

  “Nothing. I visit her every day and still no change. I can’t help but think I did this to her somehow. She was so mad at me that night.”

  “Don’t go there. You said yourself that Clare shared the truth with her before she took a turn for the worse. You can’t blame yourself,” Mitch tried to console him.

  “Something happened though. Clare said she was smiling at first, but then it was like she had a terrible thought and it caused her heart rate to shoot up.”

  “Hang on to her smile and don’t give up. She needs you there. Clare needs you too. When Hannah wakes up, she’ll have to regain her strength, and then she’ll have to cope with the loss of her grandmother. It’s still amazes me how everything happened at once.”

  “Yeah, that little thunderstorm caused a whole different type of storm around here. My head is still spinning.”

  “I was in the middle of storm once, and I heard Laci’s voice. It changed the course of both our lives. Maybe that’s the only way God can get our attention sometimes – he wakes us up with a storm so he can pour out his grace. Hang in there, okay? I don’t think he’s finished yet.” Mitch always had a gift for putting Brad at ease, no matter what was going on.

  “I’m ready for a little grace I can tell you that. In the meantime, Clare and I are taking care of guests and working on getting things ready for the grand re-opening of the B&B. She’s been a huge help. I’m not sure I could keep everything running if she wasn’t here. She’s a special kid – I can see why Jules is so crazy about her, although she drives me crazy sometimes. Teenage girls are a complete mystery to me. One minute she’s fine and happy, the next minute she’s whining and crying about her hair. Who does that?” Brad laughed.

  “I know what you mean. Laci’s little Emma is growing up fast. She’ll be thirteen soon and I’ve just learned to leave the house or go hide in the winery when she is in one of her ‘moods’. It’s the safest place I know.”

  “Well, I’d better get back to work. Tell Laci and the kids I said ‘hey’.”

  “Um… there’s one more thing actually. I wasn’t going to tell you, but I don’t think I can keep it from you much longer,” Mitch was hesitant.

  “Spill. What’s going on? It’s okay – I’m a big boy,” Brad joked.

  “Well, God willing… you’re going to be an Uncle again soon. Laci’s pregnant.”

  The momentary pause felt like forever as Mitch awaited Brad’s reply. “Let me guess… she got pregnant on your little road trip up here, didn’t she? She had to have. Jeez… she’s pretty fertile for a forty-something gal isn’t she?”

  “Hey buddy, that’s my wife you’re talking about.”

  “Well, she is!” Brad laughed. “Look, I’m really happy for you Mitch – for both of you. Honest. I can’t wait to have another little niece or nephew.”

  “Thanks brother. We’re pretty excited, especially after today. We saw the baby wave at us during our sonogram appointment – right on the screen! Heartbeat was loud and strong too. That was a huge relief.”

  “I guess her visit to the rain paid off in more ways than one then. Maybe there really is something to her theory.”

  “I think there is – it’s served her pretty well so far,” Mitch replied.

  “Thanks for telling me. It’s nice to hear some good news for a change.”

  “Try to stay positive about Hannah. She’s going to come out of this and you two are going to be together. I’ll let you go, but keep me posted okay?

  “You got it. Love ya,” Brad said.

  “Love you too, man.”

  Mitch made his way out to the winery and saw Laci sitting in the office, but she didn’t notice him approaching. Before walking in, he simply stopped to stare, still in awe that she was his. She was wearing her favorite pink Cannon Beach t-shirt, and that day, wore her glasses instead of contacts. It changed the whole look of her face – somehow making her look even smarter than she already was, if that was even possible. Laci was back to her old self – happy, content, full of life, and beaming her beautiful smile. Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders in loose curls – what she called her ‘sexy hair day’, and it brought a smile to his face. How did I ever get so lucky? He thought. I know it was you, God, but it’s still hard to believe sometimes. Why is it, that even after we both spent over 20 years with another spouse, I feel like she was always meant to be mine? I guess timing really is everything… Laci looked up and smiled, waving him in.

  “Hey Darlin’, what are you doing out here?” he asked.

  “Needed a little breathing room I guess. The kids were going nuts in there with all the baby news. They’re already working on a list of names. Travis thinks we should have a boy and name him Jake, after his favorite cartoon character. Emma started to argue with him and said we were having a girl.”

  “Did she suggest a name too?” Mitch asked, sitting on the desk beside her.

  “A few, but she was mostly messing around with Travis. She said it’s too soon to pick a real name.”

  “Ah. Well, maybe she’s still a bit uncertain about things. That’s normal.”

  “I know. Until I’m as big as a house, I guess I’ll be a bit uncertain too.”

  “Do you have a name in mind yet?” Mitch asked.

  “No, but whatever name we do choose, I want it to be written on our hearts. The minute we say it, it will be a name that simply feels right to all of us. Does that sound silly?”

  “Of course not. I believe this baby will be a new beginning for our family. The tie that binds, so to speak.”

  Laci stood up and wiggled between his legs, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You never cease to amazing me, Mr. Young. Have I told you how much I love you lately? Because I’m absolutely crazy about you.” She smiled and brushed his lips with a gentle kiss.

  “Good, because you’re stuck with me, Darlin’,” he said. He pulled her in tight, resting his chin on her head, and enjoyed the tenderness of the moment.

  After a few minutes, Laci looked up at him. “Now, are you going to update me on Brad and Hannah? I know you called him.”

  “Nothing gets past you does it?” he laughed. “Well, I wish I had good news, but there’s no change. She’s still in a coma, and he’s strung out worrying about her, taking care of Clare, remodeling the B&B, helping guests, and spending every other waking minute at the hospital with Hannah. I feel helpless. He was with me every minute when Karin was sick and never left my side. I can’t help but think I’ve abandoned him when he needs me most.”

  “Don’t you dare think like that, Mitch Young! You are an amazing brother and he knows it. He doesn’t expect you to leave your wife and kids. He didn’t have any other family but you back then remember? It makes a difference. You’re supporting him by being here and taking care of your family’s business – just like he did when you were with me. He’ll get through this, and she is going to wake up. It’s all in God’s timing – and his timing is not always our own.”

  “You’re right. I’m just worried about him that’s all.”

  “I know, babe. I know.”

  *****

  The patio and fire pit were finally finished and Brad stood back to take in the view, wishing his Jules was there to see it with him. He smiled, and knew in his heart she would see it soon though. After a quick shower, he got dressed, prepped the breakfast for the next morning, and headed off to the hospital. When he arrived, he found Clare sitting by her bed, reading Hannah’s favorite Nicholas Sparks book, The Lucky One. She visited her every day and re
ad for at least an hour. After finishing the book, she would start reading it again from the beginning. Clare was determined to be at her side when she woke.

  “Hey Squirt… care if I sit in a spell?” Brad asked.

  Clare tilted her head back and smiled at an upside-down Brad, standing directly behind her chair. “I guess. You’re a crappy reader though. You might even wake her up and scare her with your horrible pronunciation and monotone voice. Better stick to talking out loud for her sake, dude,” Clare giggled.

  “Ouch, that hurts. You really know how to hurt a guy when he’s down,” Brad joked, walking around in front of her.

  He had grown quite fond of the back and forth banter between him and Clare, and was thankful that he had her in his life. “I got some good news today. Want to hear?” he asked.

  “Sure! Let me guess… you’re a new member of the AARP?”

  “Ha ha… very funny. No, I’m actually going to be a new uncle soon! Laci is pregnant.”

  “Oh that’s awesome! Will she bring the baby up here so we can see it after it’s born?” Clare’s excitement made Brad feel even better.

  “I’m sure they will. You’ll be the baby’s honorary aunt you know, seeing as you’re like my little sister now too.”

  Clare’s expression shifted from one of excitement to humbled, shocked by Brad’s comment. “Are you serious? You really think of me like your little sister after all I’ve done? If it weren’t for me, Jules wouldn’t even be laying there right now.”

  “Stop. You’re not allowed to take on that burden remember? That was our deal. And yes, I am proud to call you my little sister,” Brad knelt down next to her, now at eye level. “You saved my life, kid. I don’t know what I’d have done these last several weeks without you.”

  “You’re not bad for a ‘Putz’ either I guess,” Clare laughed and punched Brad in the shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance.