‘It sure did and Daddy gave it to you because you’re the oldest, Frances. Then we started looking for the third one.’
‘But we couldn’t find one, and then Mama called us to come eat the picnic. We went to the table and I had my flower and Mama had hers. But you didn’t have one.’
‘That was okay. I could look at yours and Mama’s flowers.
They sure were pretty.’
‘Heather, why did God make me so ugly?’
‘God didn’t make you ugly Frances. You were born disfigured because he thought you were special. Only special people get to be made differently.’
‘I know God made me special, but it hurts my feelings when people say I’m ugly. At school today, Bobby Johnson wrote a note and it said he thought I looked like I’d been caught in an airplane propeller.’
‘I wouldn’t believe anything Bobby Johnson said. You won’t be like this forever, Frances. Daddy is working at Mr. Blackburn’s butcher shop after he comes home from the fire house and Mama is sewing dresses for women in the neighborhood. They’re saving the money to have the rest of the operations you need. One day you’ll be the most beautiful girl in the world.’
‘Do you really think so, Heather?’
‘Yes, Frances, I do. Remember how you and I were helping Mama clean up after we ate the picnic today? It was almost time to go home, but we couldn’t find Daddy.’
‘I remember.’
‘Then Daddy came back and handed me the beautiful flower. He’d gone off and found the third one by himself.’
‘Oh, yes, Heather, and then he told us these were special lady slippers. I pressed mine in my memory book. What did you do with yours?’
‘I put it in a glass of water and I’ll put it in my memory book later.’
‘I guess Daddy can do anything, can’t he?’
‘Yes, Frances, Daddy can do anything he wants to. And if he says he’ll get the money for your operations he will. You’ve got to believe that.’
‘I believe, Heather. I began to believe when Daddy came back and handed you the flower and said, ‘Now, I have three lady slippers for my three royal ladies.’
‘I’m glad you believe again, Frances.’
‘Yes, I believe with all my heart. I know now that when I get the operations I’ll be able to talk and I’ll be able to hear. I won’t have to write notes every night to my sister because I can’t talk to her or hear what she says.’
‘That’s right, Frances. It will happen if you believe. Daddy and Mama will make it happen for you.’
‘Good night, Heather.’
‘Good night, Frances.’”
As Heather folded the yellowed sheets of paper, she said, “My sister went to a special school until high school. Though she was several grades behind, she attended regular classes where the teacher taught her lessons by giving her written instructions and allowing her to write her answers. Though she was older than me, we were put in the same classes so I could take care of her. She never got those operations she and I often wrote about because they were only figments of her family’s imagination. We told her these dreams to keep a dying girl’s hopes alive. The doctors had said for years there was nothing more which could be done for Frances. The winter I was sixteen and my sister was nineteen, she developed pneumonia and died, but she’d already lived longer than any of the medical professionals predicted. Today, I know she has both Mama and Daddy with her and I also know someday I’ll see all three of them again.”
Heather moved back to her seat, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel.
CHAPTER 22
They rode the same way to the gravesite as they did coming to the funeral home. In the back seat of Tim’s car, Alex and Heather sat close together, and he had his arm around her.
“You did a beautiful job, Mom,” Tim said from the driver’s seat. “I think Grandpa would have been proud of both of us.”
“As an outsider, I’m definitely proud of both of you.” Alex pulled Heather closer to him.
“You’re not an outsider, Alex,” Tim said. “I heard several people speculating about who the man was with Heather. I think you’ve already been accepted as someone important to us.”
They reached the gravesite and Alex ushered Heather to the chairs set up beside the grave. He sat beside her and held her hand as Tim walked to the head of the casket.
“Is there anyone here who failed to speak earlier who would like to say anything about my grandfather?”
“I want to talk, Daddy.” Ben stood up and waved his arms.
Heather nodded and Tim said, “Okay, Ben. Do you want to come up here and stand by me?”
Ben hopped off the chair beside Juanita and ran to his daddy.
“Can I talk now?”
“Yes, son you can.”
“Hey, Grandpa. It’s me, Ben. I have your name ‘cause they gave it to me. They said you were glad, so I guess you remember that. They put you in a pretty box today, and you have lots of pretty flowers, but they made Grammy cry. She said she was happy, but I don’t cry when I’m happy.” He kicked a rock on the ground then continued. “I have on my fire truck shirt for you. I hope you can see it. Mama said maybe you could because we don’t know for sure.” He paused a minute, then continued. “I’ll miss coming to see you at the old people place. I bet you’re glad to get out of there. Some of those old people weren’t fun like you were. They were grouchy and you won’t have to listen to them complain now.” He took a deep breath and looked upward. “Can you see us, Grandpa? If you can, I guess you know Grammy has a boyfriend. I named one of my bears Alex. That’s his name. He’s nice. His other name is Poppa. I also have a new friend. His name is Jacob. I bet he would wear a fire truck shirt for you, too, if he had one.”
“Yes, I would,” Jacob called from his seat behind Heather.
“Come here, Jacob, and let Grandpa see you with me.” Ben motioned for his friend.
Luke started to stop Jacob, but Heather stood. Tears were running down her cheeks, but she was smiling. “Yes, Jacob, you go up there with Ben. His great-grandpa would love to see the two of you together. He’d also love the tribute his great-grandson is paying him, and I think we all love watching and hearing it.”
She sat down and reached for Alex’s hand as Jacob ran to stand by Ben.
Ben continued speaking. “This is Jacob, Grandpa. Grammy said you’d like to see us together so here we are. We’re going to play after we get back to Grammy’s house. You know I keep lots of toys there. Jacob, do you want to say something to Grandpa?”
“Yes,” Jacob said. “I want to say hi. I don’t know you, but you’re nice ‘cause Ben said you was. I guess ‘cause Poppa loves Grammy you get to be my grandpa, too. I hope so. Ben and me will be cousins, I think.” He paused and looked at Alex. “Will we be cousins, Poppa?”
Alex nodded and Jacob looked at Ben. “I don’t know nothing else to say right now.”
“That’s okay. We’ve said enough, but we need to say good-bye to Grandpa together.” Their two young voices rang out as they said, “Good-bye, Grandpa.”
“Now,” Ben said. “Let’s wave at him in heaven.” The two boys looked up and began waving at the sky. “See us wave, Grandpa? Tell Jesus we said hi.” Ben looked at the people standing around the funeral tent. “Why don’t you wave? Don’t you want Grandpa to see you wave good-bye?”
Heather stood and began waving at the sky. Alex stood beside her. Soon the entire group was waving and trying to hide tears. As the hands began to drop, Heather turned toward the boys and held out her arms. They both ran to her.
“Well, Daddy,” she said, putting an arm around each child. “You wanted a different send off, and you got it. I hope you liked it as much as I did.” She then nodded to Tim.
Tim cleared his throat. “Grandpa requested that the last thing he wanted done at his funeral was for everyone to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Shall we all now pray it together?”
After amen was said, Heather looked down at the two boys. �
�Guys, you did a great job. I know Grandpa loved it. Now, you can go play if you like.”
They both grinned at her and she watched as they walked toward the car with Luke and Brenda.
Taking Alex’s hand, Heather led him to the grave. She put her hand on the casket. “Daddy, this is the Alex Ben told you about. You would’ve liked him.” She reached into the basket of flowers, took out two lady slippers and placed them on the coffin. “Take one of these to your queen and the other to the princess you have with you now. I’ll be along later. Good-bye, Daddy. I love you.”
Alex reached out and touched the casket. “Good-bye, sir. As long as I live I’ll take care of your little one.” He then took Heather’s arm and led her back toward the car.
Nobody noticed the strange woman hidden behind a tombstone laughing at the funeral scene.
CHAPTER 23
It was five o’clock when they returned to Heather’s house. “I know it’s too early for dinner,” Heather said, “but I have several desserts friends and neighbors have brought. Would you like something?”
“That’s a good idea, Mom.”
Soon the grown-ups were gathered around the dining room table having coffee with the sweets. The boys had a glass of milk and cookies before scurrying off to play in the sunroom where Heather kept Ben’s toys.
“I’m amazed at how quickly they’ve become friends,” Brenda said.
“I’m glad,” Juanita said. “Most of the families around us have girls, and the only time he gets to play with boys is at school. Now that it’s out, he mostly plays by himself.”
“Weren’t they something at the graveside service?” Luke offered.
“They made everything perfect.” Heather smiled. “I was so proud of them.”
“Since they hit it off so well, we may have to get together more than one time at the beach,” Tim said. “Where are you staying, Luke?”
Luke told him the name of the condo complex where they had reservations.
“That’s only a few blocks from Mom’s condo.”
All eyes went toward Heather and Alex. Finally, Brenda said, “It’s as if God planned it this way.”
Alex reached over and took Heather’s hand. “I’ve felt all along God wanted me to meet this lady. This confirms it. Now, He wants these two families to get to know each other.”
“And what better way to do it than on vacation?” Tim looked at Luke. “Are you going down tonight?”
“We plan to.”
Tim turned to Juanita. “Honey, we have everything packed. Why don’t we go tonight, too?”
“I don’t see any reason why we can’t. Can you get everything ready to leave tonight, Heather?”
Heather shook her head. “I’m sure there’ll be some things I have to handle with Daddy’s estate before I can leave, but that’s no reason you can’t go tonight. I’ll join you next week.”
“We’re not going to leave you here by yourself, Mom. We’ll go when you can.”
Alex butted in. “She won’t be alone, Tim. I’ll be with her and we’ll come as soon as she feels she can leave here.”
“Thank you,” she said with a loving smile to him. She turned to Tim. “Then it’s settled. All of you can leave today and Alex and I’ll be down the first of the week.”
Juanita stood and began gathering their plates and cups. “If we’re going to do that we’d better get things arranged so we won’t be so late getting there.”
“You’re right, Juanita.” Heather stood. “Leave this. I’ll put them in the dishwasher later.”
“Are you sure this is what you want us to do, Mom?”
“Yes, Tim.”
“Then let’s go to our house,” Tim said to Luke. “We can all change into comfortable clothes for the ride.”
After hugs all around and kisses from the boys, the two families left. Heather turned to Alex. “You didn’t have to stay with me you know. You could go with your family.”
“I want to stay with you.”
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek. “It means a lot to me to have you here.”
He didn’t answer. He simply put his arm around her and hugged her tight.
“I think I’ll go get out of this dress and into something more comfortable before cleaning up,” she said when he released her.
“That sounds like a plan. I don’t really like sitting around in a suit and tie.”
Heather went into her room and changed into a pair of slacks and a pink shell. She hung her clothes up and went back into the dining room. She heard Alex walking around upstairs as she cleared the table and carried the used dishes to the kitchen. It made her feel warm inside to have him in the house.
She was closing the dishwasher as he came up. He was wearing khaki pants and a checked western shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She smiled at him. “You look more like yourself now.”
“I feel more like myself.” He smiled at her. “Now, what can I do to help you?”
“Being here is more than enough for you to do right now.” She put her arm around his waist and headed him toward the living room. “But if you insist on doing something, I wouldn’t mind riding back to the graveyard to make sure they put the flowers where Dad wanted them.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
The flowers were all on her father’s grave. “I was afraid of this.” She picked up the arrangement of flowers she’d gathered and put them on her mother’s side. “There, that’s better.”
Alex didn’t say anything. He put his arm around her and led her to the car. “Now, where to, my lady?”
“Am I?”
“Am you what?”
“Your lady.”
He pulled her close to him. “You have been ever since I stuck that book in front of your face. When you looked up at me with those indigo eyes of yours, I didn’t have a chance of coming away without getting involved. I fell head over heels for you right then and there.”
“Do you realize that was only a short time ago and here we are acting as if we’ve known each other forever?”
“Strange, isn’t it?” He looked at her. “I think the kids were right. God had His hand in this whole thing.”
“He sure must have, because I never dreamed our chance meeting would turn out like this. Alex Hargrove is not only a special man in my books, he’s special in my life.”
He tucked her in the passenger side of his car, then climbed into the driver’s seat. “I never dreamed I could fall in love again… and look at me now. I’m completely and deeply in love with you Heather Masterson.” He leaned over and kissed her. “You know at our age, everything seems to go faster. Maybe falling in love does, too.”
“I think you might be right.”
He pulled the car back into the main street. “Have you decided where you want to go now?”
“I know we have food at the house, but I can freeze most of it. Why don’t we go by the super market and pick up a couple of steaks to grill later tonight? I’m kind of in the mood for a steak.”
“I knew this was meant to be. You already know my favorite food and I’m not sure I told you what it was.” He glanced at her. “I’m a whiz on the grill. I hope you’ll let me cook.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
At the grocery store they decided on t-bones. It didn’t take long to find a nice thick one for him. It took longer to find a thinner one for her. “I like my meat done and I find the thicker ones get tough when they’re cooked,” she explained. “I bet you eat your meat half raw.”
He chuckled. “No, I don’t want it raw. Medium is fine with me.”
“I have potatoes and the makings for a salad, but the only dressing I have is one I make myself. What type do you like?”
“I’ll try yours. I guess I’d better start getting used to your cooking.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him, but only said, “Then let’s pick up some French bread to toast and that’s all we’ll need.”
CHAPTER 24
The
telephone rang as they opened the door. She hurried to the kitchen and picked up the portable.
“Heather, where the devil have you been? I read in the paper about your father’s funeral. Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve been there.”
“It was a private service, William.”
“I read that, but I didn’t think that meant me. I’m sure you needed me to support you. Why didn’t you call?”
“I had my family for support.”
“I know you had Tim, but a woman needs her man at a time like that.”
Heather took a deep breath and glanced at Alex. He was watching her and she smiled at him. “I had my man with me, William.”
Alex smiled back and winked. He then busied himself putting the food away.
“What do you mean, you had your man? I wasn’t there.”
“William, I thought I made it clear that you were not my man, nor will you be my man in the future. I met someone special in Asheville, and we love each other very much.”
“You’re acting like a fool, Heather. He’s probably after your money. You know how those country boys are. Love them, get what they can out of them, and leave them flat is the creed most of them live by. Is this the dude who stayed with you when you were in the mountains?”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business who he is.”
“I’ll have a little talk with Tim. He won’t let his mother make a fool of herself.”
“Tim has met Alex and likes him very much. As a matter of fact, William, Tim and his family and Alex’s son and his family are on their way to the beach as we speak. Alex and I will join them in a few days.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Only what I said.”
“Heather, you’re acting like a slut. You’ve just met this man, and now you have him staying with you in your home. I can’t believe I can fall in love with you, now. What do you think of that?”
“William, we were never more than friends, and that was all we could’ve ever been. But you’ve destroyed even that. I would’ve appreciated it if you’d offered your condolences for the loss of my father, but you didn’t, and I certainly don’t appreciate you meddling in my private life. I think it’d be best if you lose my number and never call me again.”
Stalking her Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 1) Page 11