Frank reached out for her to take it, but she refused. He tried one more time to hand it to her before he decided to drop it in for her. Then there were three flowers representing the three still living. All laying on top of the coffin in various positions.
Allie was reminded that she should thank Mrs. Wimble for providing the roses from her garden. It was a kind gesture and showed a side of her that many never saw. She did have a good heart down in there somewhere.
Allie smiled sadly and looked at Frank signaling them to move back to the seats. After Allie sat, a couple of the men that carried her Ma stood and began shoveling dirt atop the coffin, slow at first then with purpose. A tear slipped down Allie’s cheek with each shovel of dirt that fell. She tried to focus on her breathing to keep it under control. Frank squeezed her hand and scooted closer.
She sat for a little while watching, but couldn’t anymore. She stood, looked at Frank, Pa, and Drew. Then she scanned the other faces. Placing a fist covering her mouth and holding her other hand out to stop anyone that might try to stop her she made her second exit of the day.
This time she walked, she didn’t run. She was in control but needed air. She needed to breathe and be alone. No one stopped her. They all understood and knew she would be ok. After Allie left, the others slowly made their exit after saying final words to Pa and Drew. Frank stood with them. His parents stood next to him for a while before they too left. They were the last three, except for those shoveling, watching the dirt fall.
“Frank, will you and Drew head back home. I’m going to stay here for a while longer.” Pa kept his gaze focused on the dirt.
Frank knew Pa meant for him to take Drew home. He knew Pa wanted to be alone.
“Come on, Drew. Let’s go home and see if we can do anything so there is less work for Pa and Allie.
“All right. Bye, Pa.” Drew gave Pa a hug and with Frank headed for home.
Pa remained until the grave was fully covered. The men shoveling left, and he was all alone. He wasn’t sure how he was going to move on, he just knew he had to.
The one he worried about before was fine. Allie was the one he needed to worry about. He would deal with his grief later. She needed him. He said a little prayer for Ma, for himself, for his kids, and asked for help. His faith was always strong. He needed to lean on that now to get him through. He walked slowly home.
Leaving his love buried in the ground was the hardest thing he’d ever done. If he could stay right there forever, he would, but he had living people who needed him. Yes, Ma was in God’s hands now. It was His will and in His time to take her whether Pa wanted it or not. He needed God to carry him through this. He prayed the entire way home.
CHAPTER 21
The days blurred together. Without having to take care of Ma, Allie had more time on her hands. She used that to either sit at the creek or just wander around. She did that for several days before she realized Frank was waiting for her.
He didn’t say anything, and he wouldn’t. He was patient and knew she needed some time, but he needed to get back to Wiley City and his practice. But he wouldn’t leave without her.
Allie needed to help Pa go through Ma’s things before she could leave. She wasn’t ready to do that. She wouldn’t ever be ready. Today was the day they would need to tackle that job. She would tell Frank they could leave as early as tomorrow, if a train was available.
She found Frank in the kitchen with Drew. She stood silently in the doorway and watched for a minute. Even though their backs were turned toward her, she could hear their conversation.
“Now, Drew, you are going to want to add those eggs to this flour and stir them in with the wooden spoon. Be careful not to get any shell in there.”
“I know. I’ll be careful.”
Drew picked up an egg and was tapping it on the side of the bowl softer than needed. The egg wouldn’t crack unless he used a little more force. Frank encouraged him to whack it a little harder. He did, and the egg broke in two.
Allie tried not to laugh out loud. She really did, but she couldn’t help it. It just came out and both guys turned towards her. Frank smiled trying to control his own chuckle. Drew was scowling at her. Which made Allie shut her mouth, but she was still having troubles stopping the laugh all together.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Drew. It’s funny, though.”
“No, it’s not. I need to learn and it’s hard.” Drew stated, turning back and trying another egg.
Frank walked to her and kissed her cheek.
“Your smile is lovely. I’ve missed it”
“So is yours. What are you two doing?” Allie inquired as she leaned to see Drew past Franks head, inadvertently dodging her husband’s attempt for a kiss.
Drew growled as another egg shattered and Allie’s smile grew.
“I’m teaching. Drew approached me the other day. Since it’s just Pa and him, he decided he needed to learn how to do some more to help out. Today I’m teaching him all about biscuits. Well, technically we are stuck on the egg portion, but the goal is to get to the actual biscuit part… soon.” He winked at her and tried once more for that kiss and again missed his mark as Allie turned towards Drew.
Allie’s eyebrows raised.
“Wow, you are amazing Frank. Thank you.”
“Just being a brother to him. He is capable of learning smaller things. It’s good for him.”
“Ma did teach him how to crack eggs, before the accident. He used to be fairly good in the kitchen, but he has forgotten, after, she stopped working with him on things like that.”
Allie kept her words quiet. Then she realized that was the first time she said Ma without tears forming.
“Ah,” Frank nodded his head. Drew broke the third egg and hit the counter. “I better get back over there.”
Allie left them to their work and went in search of Pa. It didn’t take long as he was in the barn brushing down one of the horses. He saw her, nodded once, and went back to work. Allie grabbed another brush and went to work with him. They stayed in silence for a moment before Allie broke it.
“I think it’s time, Pa.”
Pa didn’t need an explanation of that. He knew what needed done.
“I reckon you’re right.”
Pa had avoided the room as much as possible, staying up late and going in to sleep after dark. Then he would wake before daylight and leave. His eyes were tired and bags had formed below them. Allie wasn’t sure if he was sleeping at all when he was in there.
“I’ve been thinking about what to do with her things. Most of her clothes could be donated to the woman’s quilting club. Ma spent many hours quilting blankets for people around these parts. Those clothes could be pulled apart and turned into more quilts. She could still be doing her work in a way.”
Pa cleared his throat.
“That is a wonderful idea. I think she would be very happy with that,” he paused his brushing, lost in thought. “You should go through her other things first and see what you would like to keep. You can pick something out for Drew as well. I’m sure he would appreciate having something of hers.”
“Of course,” Allie agreed as she put away the brush. “Would you like to help me?”
“Not just yet. I’m going to finish up out here first. Let me know when you have all of her clothes taken care of. Then you can pull the other things out onto the table and I’ll look them over before deciding what to do with them all.”
Allie put her hand on Pa’s arm.
“Sure. I will let you know as soon as that’s done,” Allie softly agreed and kissed his cheek, squeezed his arm, and headed to work.
Opening the door to her parents’ room, Allie could slightly smell the remainder of death, although it wasn’t as strong as it was in the days leading up to the passing. She walked to the window, tugged the cheery yellow curtains to the sides and opened it to let some fresh air in. She stood looking out the window, breathing the fresher air and tried to prepare herself for the task ahead. She decided she wou
ld lay the clothes out on the bed. Once they were all laid out she would see if Frank would take them to Mrs. Wimble for her. Allie wasn’t ready yet to socialize, but she knew Mrs. Wimble would be more than happy to take them to the group for her. She went drawer by drawer pulling out all of the clothes. The undergarments would not go to the quilting group. Mrs. Wimble may know if they could be used by any of the local women. She tucked that thought back to mention to Frank when he drove them in.
Once those drawers were finished, she moved to collect the little trinkets and such. Ma had a bottle of perfume that she only occasionally wore, a small jewelry box with a few pieces in it including a brooch from her mother, a couple of hair pins, and her gold band that Pa placed there, her hair brush and hand mirror totaled everything that was on the dresser.
Allie bent down and pulled out the items from under the bed. There Ma kept a few items from Allie’s childhood, a small doll and some wooden blocks Pa had made. Both Allie’s and Drew’s baby blankets were tucked under there, too.
Ma had made both while she carried them. In the middle was a square of needlepoint that depicted the season in which the baby was to be born. Allie’s was white and green and Drew’s was white and yellow, although the whites had become a dingy yellow color. The blankets were small and folded together. When Allie unfolded them a handful of needlepoint squares fell out. Each one with a picture of a season. That confused Allie.
Those must have been made up ahead of time to make more blankets when needed. Perhaps they were for her future grandchildren.
Allie knew her parents dreamed of more children, but that wasn’t in God’s plan for them. They were happy with the two they had, or so they’d said. She briefly thought of including those with the clothing, but decided to wait until she could speak with Pa.
She carried everything out in two trips. From there, she explained to Frank her plan with the clothes and he agreed to hitch the team and drive them in today. Then she called for Pa to come in and go over everything with her.
Standing before the items as she waited for Pa she felt sad. Those few items were all that was left of her Ma. Of course, the dishes, cookware, blankets, towels, etc. were all a part of her, too. Those would remain here. Pa needed all of that to run the house. One day all of that would need sorted, but for now, just these few items were to be taken care of.
Pa walked in a bit reluctantly at first, and then changed to a determined get-in-and-get-done attitude. He scanned the table and turned to Allie.
“Have you decided what you might like to keep?”
“I have. I would like my baby things and I think Drew might like his. I would also love to have her brooch if that’s all right with you.”
Pa didn’t speak for a couple of minutes thinking things over.
“That sounds fine. Ask Drew if he wants anything else. I will take her band and keep that.”
“Pa, I found something I haven’t seen before. I was wondering if you could tell me what they are and what I should do with them.” Allie pulled the squares out from under her blanket.
Pa began rubbing his beard.
“Well now, uh, your Ma made those to speed the blanket making up when needed. The needlepoint part took more time than the quilt part. She had more time before you and Drew were born. She knew that’d be the case and made those all up beforehand. Yours and Drew’s were made before, too.”
“Oh. These are beautiful. Would you mind if I take them to use in case I ever have the need?” Allie’s voice caught and she cleared it. Pa knew the story and knew the chances were stacked against them, but hope remained.
Pa pulled his little girl in for a much-needed hug.
“I think she would love that. It would be a way she could give a part of her to her grandchildren.”
“Pa, we know there might not be any. I have to keep telling myself that.”
He released the hug and looked into her eyes.
“God can work miracles, Allie. Don’t lose hope. If a family is what you’re supposed to have it will happen.”
Allie nodded and blinked several times to clear her eyes. Pa grabbed her chin and gave it a squeeze while scrunching his nose at her. She smiled back at him.
“Go ahead and see what Drew might want. I’m fine with all of this. He headed back outdoors and Allie forged ahead with finishing the task at hand. She would tell them all during supper that she was ready to head for home.
Pa seemed sad, but she knew he would get through this. Having Drew gave him something to do and reason to continue on. If they had placed Drew in the home like everyone wanted them to do after the accident, the situation may have been different. She was always glad they chose to have him remain home. She had an added reason for that now.
CHAPTER 22
In reality only a handful of weeks had past, but Allie felt as though months had gone by. Allie was worn out. She didn’t want to leave Pa and Drew but knew she must head home with Frank.
Blinne came by to spend the last little bit with her, which she was grateful for. Allie had been working to make sure Pa was stocked up with bread and with a few meals put together as well as getting all of the chores for the week done. His work load would greatly increase when she left. Blinne was helping her with the last of it all.
“I’ll take these blankets in from the line and get the beds made up,” Blinne said, pulling them off the clothes line. She carried them into the house leaving Allie tending to the neglected garden.
Ma and Pa had been able to get it in together and Pa kept it watered, but with everything going on, the weeds were not a priority. They were putting in a fair attempt at taking over space. Pa would need this food to put up for the winter. If there were only weeds, they would be mighty hungry.
Frank headed to town to say his goodbyes to his family and Doc. He also needed to purchase their fare for the train. Later he would be back and would also pitch in and help with the last minute chores.
Company had slowed now that Ma passed. What was once a revolving front door of friends, neighbors, and community members turned into a wooden shield that very few tried to penetrate. She supposed they were just giving her family some grieving space, but the quiet only added to drawing out the length of the day.
Going home to Wiley City would be a nice break. Moving about and doing daily activities without anyone giving her looks of pity or empty words of condolences would be a breath of fresh air.
Allie didn’t need anyone’s help in making her feel horrible, she did that all on her own. She deeply missed her ma and knew the hole that formed when she passed would get bigger before it could start to heal. She couldn’t help thinking about herself though. Losing her ma wasn’t the real creator of the empty space within her. It just opened it up more. She had been feeling empty for too long to count now.
“Hello, sweetie. How’s my wonderful wife doing?”
Oh, how she loved that voice!
Allie looked up and blocked the sun that was brightly shining in her eyes to see Frank standing before her. He was smiling and offering her his hand. She took it and pulled herself up.
“I’m all right. How are your parents?”
He wrapped her in a hug and kissed her temple.
“They’re great. Both will miss us, though. They enjoy having us in town, but understand that we need to get back. I was able to see Doc for a bit. Glad, too. I picked his brain on typhoid. We have to figure out where it’s coming from. Everyone knows water, but that could still mean any number of things. Doc gave me some information on treating it and things I should investigate. Boiling the water, he agrees, is the best approach for prevention at least until we know how it’s spreading.” Frank bent down and began where Allie had left off with the weeds.
“I would like that figured out soon, too. I’m not really sure I can deal with another death,” Allie sighed.
“I understand that,” Frank nodded. “Why don’t you go in for a while? I’ll finish up here.”
“That I will do,” she turned
to leave and then looked back. “Were you able to get the tickets?”
“I did. We leave in the morning.” Frank didn’t look up, but kept working at the weeds.
Allie left Frank to get a drink of water and check on Blinne. She found her up in her old bedroom changing the sheets.
“Care for me to help?”
“That would make this go faster, I suppose,” she smiled and handed a side of sheet to Allie and together they made short work of this bed.
“We’re leaving in the morning. Frank was able to purchase our fare.”
Blinne paused. She was going to miss Allie dearly. They would go back to corresponding, but it just wasn’t the same.
“Sounds like after we finish, we should get you packed up.”
Allie nodded. She and Frank had been staying in this room. Repacking her trunk would take little work. She hadn’t brought much along, three dresses including the one she was wearing, undergarments, her apron, and a few toiletries. Her trunk was packed in a matter of minutes.
“Allie, I have something for you. Wait right here. I’ll be back in just a moment.”
Blinne headed downstairs and left Allie guessing what it could be. She hoped Blinne hadn’t purchased anything for her.
When Blinne returned she had something hidden behind her back.
“One of the times I was here before, I was given something to hold on to and give to you after.”
Allie was confused.
“Please just tell me. What is it?”
Blinne pulled a book from behind her back.
“I promise I haven’t read it. It’s private and meant for your eyes only.” Blinne reached the book towards Allie, her eyes fixed on it.
In His Time (Carried Through Chaos Book 2) Page 10