The Gathering Place

by Thomas Kinkade

  “I believe you,” he said, smiling at her. He sat back and took a box from his jacket pocket. Then he handed it to her. “Here. This is for you. Your Christmas gift. A little delayed.”

  “I’ll say it is,” she teased him, excited to open her package. “So you did get me something after all. I thought you didn’t bother.”

  “I bothered. I was just too mad to give it to you,” he admitted. “I hope you like it.”

  She opened the box and pushed back some tissue paper. She found a beautiful handcrafted necklace with amber beads and a small silver medallion that had an Asian symbol engraved in it.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful.” She lifted it to her neck to try it on. “What does the symbol mean?”

  “Double happiness. It’s also a symbol for love.”

  “Oh.” Sara leaned over and happily kissed him again.

  Her phone rang, and she pulled back to dig the phone out of her knapsack. “You have a cell phone now?” Luke asked her.

  “Just for work. Lindsay gave it to me. It must be her,” she said, flicking it open to answer it.

  It was Lindsay, who called to send Sara to cover a story in Newburyport. Sara took down the information and hung up. She looked at Luke, wondering if he’d get annoyed and feel pushed aside by her job.

  “That was Lindsay. I’ve got to run. The teachers in Newburyport are threatening to strike. Sorry,” she added, with regret. She reached over and took his hand. “Can I see you later, after work? It might be late,” she added, remembering that she had to stay late that night at work.

  “Call me when you’re done. It won’t be too late,” he promised.

  He walked her out to the street, where she kissed him good-bye again and gave him another hug. Then she ran to her car, amazed at how some things really did have a way of working out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  SARA DROVE TO NEWBURYPORT, INTERVIEWED A SPOKESPERSON for the teacher’s union, and came back to town before she realized that she’d never eaten lunch. I must be head over heels for Luke, she thought, laughing at herself. She’d been so wildly happy about their reconciliation that the teachers’ meeting went by in a blur; she only hoped her notes were good. As she passed the Clam Box, she pulled over and parked, then ran in for a take-out order.

  It was already three o’clock, and the lunch crowd was gone. She didn’t see Charlie behind the counter. As she looked around for someone to help her, she felt a hand tap her lightly on the shoulder. She turned to see Lucy, wearing her waitress uniform.

  “Hello, front-page-story reporter,” Lucy greeted her. “Can you autograph my copy? I saved it under the counter.”

  “Lucy, come on.” Sara felt herself blushing. “What are you doing here?” she asked curiously.

  “Charlie and I decided to get back together,” Lucy said, with a sigh. “I moved back home with the kids over the weekend.” She looked a little embarrassed, Sara thought. As if she were almost ashamed to have reversed herself this way.

  Sara reached out and touched her arm. “Are you feeling okay about it?”

  “I thought it over a lot. I needed to do what was best for the children, you know? When there are kids involved, it’s different. It gets more complicated,” she said, shaking her head. “Charlie’s agreed to go into counseling. He’s even trying to control his temper. He read this book about it and does little things to keep his cool,” she said, smiling a bit. “I guess we both want to bring our boys up in a happy home. I couldn’t say no. I have to at least try.”

  “I hope it works out for you, Lucy,” Sara said sincerely. “I hope you’re happy.”

  “Thanks, Sara. It feels like the right thing to do. For now anyway,” Lucy said. “Gee, that’s a pretty necklace. A Christmas gift?”

  “Yes, but a late one.” Sara touched the medallion with her hand. “Luke just gave it to me,” she said, with a little laugh.

  “Luke, huh? I thought you two had a fight, and he took a job in Boston.” Lucy smiled knowingly, as if she’d never believed Luke would leave town—and leave Sara.

  “He didn’t take the job. He just got back today, actually. And gave me this present.”

  “So it all worked out. You know, some things are worth waiting for,” Lucy added, with a grin. She pulled out her order pad. “I’ve kept you waiting long enough, haven’t I? What will you have today, honey?”

  CAROLYN STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL A FULL WEEK AFTER WAKING FROM the coma before the doctors decided she could finally go home. Once the word got out, Ben was besieged with offers to get the house ready for Carolyn’s return. He put Sophie Potter in charge and gave her the names of others who had offered to help, so that she wouldn’t have to do everything alone.

  All the paperwork at the hospital went slowly. It was well past noon before Ben was able to meet Carolyn in her room. She sat in a chair, dressed and ready to go. Fortunately the long-term effects of her stroke were few. She had lost some mobility in her left arm and had the slightest slur to her speech, but with therapy the doctors believed she would soon be back to her old self.

  “Ready to go?” he asked eagerly.

  “I can’t wait,” she said happily. She adjusted the turban-style hat Grace Hegman had given her and checked her image in the mirror in her makeup compact. “I’m not used to the way I look with short hair—well, no hair, really.” She sighed and snapped the compact shut.

  “You look beautiful to me,” Ben said honestly. “Besides, a bad haircut is a small price to pay for what you just survived, wouldn’t you say, dear?”

  “True enough. God was good to spare me. I’m thankful every minute of the day,” she said in a far more serious tone.

  “Yes, we all are,” he said softly. He rested his hand on her shoulder. “When I thought you might not make it, I felt so lost. I didn’t know how I would ever carry on. I felt as if my faith had just about failed me,” he confessed quietly. “I can see now I was thinking only of myself, imagining how empty my life would be without you and not thinking at all of your salvation or even God’s greater wisdom and will. I feel ashamed,” he added. “I’ve asked God to forgive me.”

  “Oh, Ben. I know you’re a minister, but you’re also human.” She reached up and patted his hand. “Your feelings were only natural, it seems to me. I’m sure God has already forgiven you.”

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Let’s get you home now,” he said, pushing on her wheelchair. “I think it’s time.”

  They returned to the rectory midafternoon. As they pulled into the drive, Carolyn noticed familiar cars parked nearby.

  “Oh, those are just friends from the church who offered to get the house in order. I didn’t think they’d still be here, though,” Ben said. “They must have waited to say hello.” He turned to her with concern. “Are you up to it?”

  “Oh, yes. I feel great. Besides, I’m so used to having visitors these past few days, it would seem a little quiet in the house without anyone,” she admitted, with a laugh.

  They had expected a few visitors, but when their front door opened, Ben could see it was more than the handful of helpers he had assigned. It was a large party—a surprise party of sorts, he realized at they walked in.

  “Welcome home, Carolyn.” Sophie came up to Carolyn and gave her a hug. “I know this might seem a little overwhelming, but people were actually arguing over who should have the privilege of coming over here today to help. We even tried to pull straws. I knew I couldn’t keep them away, so we put together a little party. We hope you don’t mind,” she added.

  “Mind? I think it’s wonderful of you all,” Carolyn said, sounding close to tears. She hugged Sophie and then Grace, who was standing right next to her.

  “We won’t stay long, and we’ll clean up every last crumb,” Tucker Tulley promised. Dressed in his policeman’s uniform, he looked very official, as he cast a warning look at the group.

  “We just wanted to wish you well,” Jessica said.

  “And everyone wanted a closer look at Wil
liam,” Emily Warwick added.

  Guided by Ben, Carolyn had walked into the living room and gazed around. “Where is that darling boy?” she asked.

  Rachel brought the baby over to her mother. “Here’s your grandson,” she said, her eyes shining with happiness. “Welcome home, Mom,” she murmured, kissing her mother’s cheek.

  Mark appeared at Ben’s side and patted his father’s back. He didn’t say anything, just stood beside Ben and watched Carolyn, a small smile on his lips. Though the gesture had been unconscious and fleeting, it had touched Ben’s heart.

  The somber winter afternoon turned to a dark frigid night, but no one in the rectory seemed to notice. Small groups of visitors came and went, careful not to overwhelm or tire out the guest of honor.

  The party was now winding down, Ben noticed. When he had entered the rectory this afternoon, he had honestly felt overwhelmed and even distressed by the unexpected gathering. But now, as he sat surrounded by friends and well-wishers and saw the radiant glow on his wife’s face, he realized he’d been worried for no reason. Worried about the thorns instead of appreciating the roses. He would have to do better than that now, Ben promised himself. He would have to learn something from this ordeal.

  The affection and fellowship of their dear friends was the best tonic for Carolyn—and for himself as well.

  LATER THAT EVENING EMILY ARRANGED THE KINDLING AND LOGS IN HER fireplace. She still felt her spirits lifted by Carolyn’s homecoming party, but she would be happy when January was over. She always found it a hard month, a letdown after the holidays, with spring nowhere in sight.

  Then again, Dan would probably be gone by the end of the month or soon after, she thought, as she lit the fire. It was harder every day not to call or try to see him. She sometimes wished he would just go and get it over with. All these delays had been bothersome for him but sheer torture for her.

  She curled up on the couch with a book Sara had loaned her and tried to concentrate. The fire made her sleepy and before long she felt herself dozing off on the couch.

  She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out when the sound of the doorbell roused her. She sat up and ran a hand through her hair, then stumbled to answer the door.

  It was Dan. He stood on her doorstep with a box in his arms and an odd expression on his face, she thought. Or maybe she only thought that because he’d shaved off his beard.

  “I just dropped by to bring you this,” he said, holding out the box to her. She glanced at it. The five-in-one emergency lantern.

  “Oh, what’s the matter? Doesn’t it work right?” she asked.

  “It works just fine. It’s just that I won’t be needing it now. You ought to return it, get your money back. I’ve decided I’m not going on my trip. I even shaved off my beard. See?” He touched his chin. “Won’t need it now.”

  “I noticed.”

  Emily could barely believe she’d heard him right. She didn’t know what to say—and was afraid if she said anything, she would reveal how happy the news made her.

  “Would you like to come in?”

  “Yes, thank you. I would.” He stepped inside and took off his down parka. Emily led the way to the living room.

  “Oh, a fire. That’s nice,” he said, sitting down on the couch. “It’s a cold night.” He rubbed his hands together, looking uncomfortable.

  She sat down on the other end of the couch. “So, why aren’t you leaving? Is Lindsay having problems at the paper?”

  “No, not at all. Took to it like a duck to water,” he said. He sat leaning forward, his hands on his knees, as he stared at the fire. “Nothing’s really happened. I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking. I know this might sound odd . . . but it feels like something is telling me not to go.”

  Emily smiled. It was true. It did seem like one unexpected thing after another had come along to keep him here. She sat back in the corner of the couch, with her legs curled under her. This is getting interesting, she thought.

  “Do you mean just something? Or Something with a capital S . . . like God, for instance.”

  He looked even more uncomfortable now that she’d brought God into it. But she couldn’t help asking. They’d only talked about spiritual matters in the most glancing way.

  “I mean Something with a capital S, if you want to put it that way,” he ventured. “You know I’m not much of a believer, but I can go that far. So many unexpected things have happened to me these last few months, Emily. It makes you think.

  “Look at the way things worked out at the paper. Who would have guessed Lindsay, and not Wyatt, would be sitting in my chair right now? Or take my accident. If it wasn’t for that, you and I would probably never have gotten to know each other.”

  “I’ve thought about that myself,” she said carefully. She wondered where he was going with all this. She had her hopes, of course, but didn’t dare voice them right now. Not after so many weepy nights and feeling as if she’d made such a fool of herself over him.

  He sat there, staring at his hands for what seemed like a long time. At last he said, “I can’t go on this trip. I can’t leave you. I don’t know how I ever thought I could,” he stated finally, as if it was the most obvious truth in the world. “Why in the world would I take off on some stupid trip? I love you.”

  He finally turned to look at her. She could barely breathe.

  “I love you, too. I have for a long time now,” she admitted. “I never thought I’d get a chance to say it, though.”

  He moved toward her quickly and put his arms around her. “I just told you. I’m not going anywhere.” He smiled tenderly, holding her face with the palm of his hand.

  Emily felt stunned, as if she might be dreaming. Only the cherishing look in Dan’s eyes assured her that this was real.

  “But . . . what about everything we talked about on New Year’s Eve?” she asked finally. He hadn’t mentioned any of that. She was almost afraid to ask and ruin everything.

  “You mean about wanting to get married again?”

  She nodded.

  “It was hard to hear that. I couldn’t stop imagining coming back here someday and finding you married to someone else.”

  “Didn’t like that idea, did you?” she teased him.

  “No, ma’am, I did not,” he said firmly.

  “I didn’t say it to make you jealous. I was just being honest.” Secretly she was thrilled that he’d felt so possessive about her.

  “That’s what made it really stick,” he admitted. “You acted as if you didn’t care.”

  “Then I am a better actress than I thought,” she said, with a laugh. Her expression became serious again as she forced herself to ask the hard question. “But what about having a baby? Did you imagine me pushing a stroller down Main Street, too?”

  “That was harder, Emily,” he warned her. “I have to admit, the prospect of changing diapers and walking the floor at four in the morning made the sailing trip seem more appealing again. I’ve done that already. I’m at a different stage in my life—or at least, I thought I was.”

  “Yes, I know you feel that way.” She squeezed his hand.

  “But I do love you. I want to make you happy, Emily. That’s what it’s all about.” He sighed and smiled at her. “Let’s just try and see where this takes us. One thing I’ve learned these last few weeks is you can plan too much. You can close yourself off to the possibilities. To the unexpected blessings that life . . . or Something . . . drops in your lap.” His grin got wider. “You’re the one for me.”

  “You are for me, too. No doubt about it,” she said quietly. “But I don’t want you to feel boxed into something.”

  “I think we both need time. Then we’ll know what to do. The more I think about it, the more I feel I might like another crack at fatherhood. Especially with you,” he added.

  He really meant it. She could see it in his eyes. He wasn’t just saying it to please her.

  Emily melted into his embrace, reveling in the happiness of loving and
being loved. Finally, she settled back in his arms, and they watched the fire, neither of them feeling the need to say anything anymore.

  She sent up a silent prayer, thanking God for bringing Dan into her life. His love was an unforeseen gift from above. There would be issues and questions still to come, she knew. But she believed in her heart that she and Dan would work it all out somehow, in tune with God’s plan. A favorite verse from the Bible came to mind. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. . . .”

  After a few minutes, Emily sat up with a start. “Oh, no! I just realized something.”

  “What’s the matter?” Dan asked.

  “Now you’ll have to meet my mother.”

  Dan stared at her a moment, taking in her serious expression. He laughed out loud and hugged her tight.