A Heart Healed

by Jennifer Johnson

  Walking back to the pond, she slipped out of both shoes and sat down on the bank. She placed her hands against the firm earth and stuck her feet in the edge of the cool water. Lifting her face to the heavens, she closed her eyes. “God, fill me with Your presence. Clean me up, Lord. Make my faith strong again. I need Your joy.”

  She wasn’t much of a singer, but a contemporary song about God’s amazing love floated through her mind, and Callie lifted her voice in praise. She still felt as weak as Princess must have been with a broken leg, but her heart was starting to fill up again. Not enough to go back to her nursing job or to run back into Kirk’s arms, but enough to get her through another day. Maybe even a week. However long, she knew God still cared for her.

  Chapter 6

  Kirk loved kids. Never minded having a slew of them running around the farm. He enjoyed watching boys and girls slide down the slides, climb the hay bale mountain, swing on oversize swings and spin on the merry-go-round. His heart warmed each time he saw a girl’s eyes light up when a goat ate from her hand or a boy cheer as he rode a pony.

  Middle school kids were a different story altogether. Every year the local middle school brought their seventh graders for an end-of-the-year field trip. Every year Kirk dreaded it.

  Inevitably, a group of girls would act snide and cruel to another group of girls, or in worst cases, a single girl. Boys would try to show each other up on the playground, and someone would wind up injured or destroying property. They had to watch for stolen kisses and fistfights behind the hay bales. And though much older than the other students who visit the farm, seventh graders left the biggest mess and made the most noise. Part of him wished Mom would stop saying they could come. Course he knew if she did, there’d be a ton of community members none too happy with them.

  He harrumphed, noting the few chaperones for the two hundred kids. Only teachers. Parents must not be overly excited to spend the day with their adolescents, either.

  “Hey, Mr. Jacobs.”

  He glanced at the scrawny, dark-haired girl with an aluminum smile. She giggled as she gripped her blonde-haired friend’s arm. “My friend thinks you’re cute.”

  He bit back a growl as the blonde girl’s face turned bright red before she squealed and raced away from her friend.

  Kirk rolled his eyes when the dark-haired girl chased after the blonde one. He spied Ben beside the petting area. His brother had a couple of girls surrounding him. Kirk knew Ben received even more young adolescent attention than he did. It was a blessed day when his younger brother became the heartthrob of the family, and Kirk would miss Ben next year if he didn’t make it home for the middle school field trip.

  He made his way to the hay bale mountain and walked around it. A short kid with dark brown hair pointed to a tall, lanky boy wearing a middle school baseball team T-shirt. Several other boys stood around them, all sporting the same shirt. “Ain’t nobody gonna beat Tyler. He’s the fastest kid in seventh grade.”

  The sandy-haired kid grinned, exposing a big gap in his two front teeth. He lifted his chin, and Kirk noticed a couple girls standing a few feet away, ogling the obvious jock of the grade. Kirk bit back a grin at the boy. Cocky as a rooster in a hen house, but built like a foal that still hadn’t grown into his legs.

  Another boy, this one a bit on the chunky side, patted another kid’s shoulders. That kid looked a little familiar, and Kirk furrowed his brows trying to place him. “Bet he can’t beat Justin. He works on his pa’s farm every day.”

  Kirk nodded. Yep. He knew the kid. He was Tim Reynolds’s boy. Owned the farm a few miles over. Kirk hadn’t realized his boy had gotten so big. The last time he’d paid attention to the kid, he’d been no taller than Kirk’s hip. Course, he was still a bit on the small side, but Kirk had no doubt the boy was scrappy. He knew Tim made his kids work hard on the farm.

  Only one other boy stood with Justin and his friend. It was an obvious match of the jocks versus the country boys. Kirk bit the inside of his mouth as he remembered his middle school days. He’d never played sports, too busy working the farm, and he’d loved working the farm. But, oh, how the jocks used to burn him up. If he’d wanted to take them on, he could have showed them what real work was.

  Kirk grinned. If he was a betting man, his money would be on Justin.

  “Let ’em race, then,” said the short kid as he patted Tyler’s shoulder.

  Justin glanced at the group of girls watching the boys’ bantering. Kirk wondered if Justin had a crush on one of the girls. He remembered his crush in seventh grade. Took all the way to sophomore year to get over that girl. Then he’d seen the freshman, Callie, for the first time. A flash of pain whipped through his gut. Still hadn’t gotten over that freshman girl.

  “I’m ready if he is.” Justin leaned forward with his elbows bent and his left foot forward.

  Tyler blew out a breath. “This will be a breeze.” He leaned forward, as well.

  Kirk bit his tongue to keep from cheering for Justin. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. His mom probably wouldn’t let the boys race, but as long as no one got angry or acted foolish, he didn’t think there was any harm in a bit of competition.

  “All right, then,” the chubby boy announced. He clapped his hands together. “On your mark—”

  Shorty held up his hand. “I’ll say go. Not you.”

  The chubby kid lifted his hands. “No problem. Either way Justin’s gonna show you up.”

  Kirk grinned. He wished he’d had that much confidence in middle school. Man, that was an awkward time in his life.

  “On your mark. Get set. Go!”

  The boys took off. Tyler’s long legs should have given him an advantage lifting himself from one hay bale to the next, but Justin had done this before. He’d spent his life climbing over and around hay bales. He scaled the mountain easily. He was on his way back down while Tyler still hadn’t reached the top.

  Justin jumped off the bottom hay bale and Chubby and their other friend patted his back. Chubby turned toward the boys. “Told ya he could beat him.”

  Kirk snarled as the baseball boys didn’t acknowledge the country guys and walked toward the other side of the hay bale mountain, where Tyler had jumped down. The ball crew couldn’t even lose like men.

  Kirk cocked his head. Probably because they weren’t men. They were boys. Full of energy and competitiveness and an inability to know how to handle all of it. He walked up to the threesome and patted Justin’s shoulder. “Good job scaling that mountain. I reckon your dad would be proud to see how fast you made it up there and back.”

  Justin’s gaze lingered the slightest moment on the couple girls who followed the group of baseball players to the slides. He looked up at Kirk. “You know my dad?”

  “Sure. You’re Tim’s boy, aren’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “Tell him I said hello.” Kirk lifted his hand and Justin gave him a high-five. “Good win.”

  The boy grinned, and Kirk watched as he and his friends walked toward the petting area. Pamela seemed to have her hands full with a group of girls trying to feed too much to Old Tom. The dumb goat wouldn’t stop eating even if his stomach was about to explode.

  “Uncle Kirk! Come quick!”

  Kirk jumped at the urgency in his youngest niece’s voice. “What is it?”

  “It’s Grandma. She fell.” Tears raced down Emmy’s cheeks. “Something is wrong.”

  “Where?”

  “She’s on the front porch. She fell and...”

  Kirk didn’t wait for his niece’s explanation. He ran to the house.

  * * *

  Callie flattened the quilt on the bed in one of the guest rooms of the main home that they also used as a bed-and-breakfast. They’d named this room the Sunshine Room, and it was by far her favorite. The pinwheel quilt reminded her of
the sun with its various shades of yellow and splashes of orange-and-salmon colors. Long yellow curtains pulled back with oversize white bows gave the room an overly feminine feeling. The clean white walls appealed to Callie’s need for refreshment in her life. A taupe wingback chair sat in the corner beside an end table and lamp contraption. The lamp shade matched the curtains, even had a white bow tied around the bottom of the yellow fabric. A velvety afghan was draped over the back of the chair and a devotional book was placed in the seat.

  “Mom, what happened?”

  Kirk’s voice boomed up the stairs. He sounded as if he was on the front porch. Peeking out the window, she spied Tammie sitting on the ground holding her leg. Callie raced down the stairs and out the front door.

  “I fell off the porch. I don’t even know how I did it.”

  Tammie’s voice shook, and Callie noted tears pooling in her eyes. Her khaki capris were ripped at the hem. A stream of blood flowed from her knee down her calf. Already her ankle appeared swollen, and Callie feared this injury would require more than tweezers and a butterfly bandage.

  “I got help, Grandma.” Emmy ran from the playground area and grabbed hold of Kirk’s hand.

  Callie glanced at Kirk. His face had turned pasty-white, and he seemed frozen in place. A lot of good these Jacobs men were.

  Callie shook her head. “Emmy, go get me a wash rag and a big bowl of warm water.” She nudged Kirk’s arm. “You could help her, if you’d like.” She snapped her fingers. “And I’ll need a bag of ice, too.”

  Kirk guided Emmy into the house, and Callie knelt beside Tammie. She gently pushed the capris farther away from Tammie’s knee. “So, what hurts?”

  “My ankle.” Tammie bit her bottom lip, and Callie knew her friend fought to keep her composure.

  “I thought so.”

  “I think it’s broken.”

  “I do, too.”

  “It snapped.”

  Callie nodded. “Then it’s probably broken.”

  Tammie’s lips curved up ever so slightly, though she continued to bite the bottom one. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me, too. I think Kirk would have just stood there looking at you.”

  Tammie nodded. “Most likely. Mike’s the only one who holds it together when one of us gets hurt.”

  “Where is he? I thought he was with Kirk, Pamela and Ben and the middle school kids.”

  “Went to town. Sink isn’t working in one of the guest bathrooms.” A large tear escaped, and she swiped it away. “We have two couples coming to the B and B tomorrow night.”

  “Don’t you worry a moment about that. Everything will be ready. We’ll make sure of it.” Callie looked around her shoulder at the front of the house. Where were Kirk and Emmy? All she’d asked for was a bowl of water, a washcloth and some ice.

  The door flung open, and Emmy bounded out with a washcloth in one hand and a bag of ice in the other. The door sprang back and hit Kirk’s hands, splashing water all over his shirt and pants. Emmy lifted her shoulders. “Sorry, Uncle Kirk.”

  He didn’t respond as he pushed open the door then brought the bowl to Callie. She gently placed the bag of ice on Tammie’s ankle then took the washcloth, dipped it in water and wrung it out. She blotted Tammie’s scuffed knee, ensuring to get all the dirt and any pebbles out of the spot, then wiped off her leg. “Emmy, do you know where the bandages are?”

  Emmy nodded.

  “Will you go get me a big one for Grandma’s knee?”

  She nodded again then raced back into the house.

  Callie looked at Kirk. “She’s going to have to go to the hospital.”

  “Why?”

  “I think my ankle’s broken.” Tammie winced and sucked in her breath.

  Callie touched her arm. “Don’t talk. Just focus on breathing. You’re doing a great job holding it together in front of Emmy.” She stopped herself from adding, “And Kirk.” The guy still looked like he could star in a ghost movie.

  Kirk stood. “Fine. I’ll get the truck.”

  Callie stood beside him. “I’m taking her.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Callie, I don’t know what makes you think you can just waltz back into our lives and—”

  She touched his arm. “Look at you, Kirk. You’re shaking like a leaf. You’ll wreck and hurt both of you.”

  “I will not.”

  “You will.”

  “I’m taking her, and that’s final.”

  “Kirk, you’re being ridiculous. I’m a nurse.”

  “There are nurses at the hospital.”

  “I know that, but—”

  “She’s my mother.”

  “She’s like a mother to me.”

  “A good way you have of showing it. Leaving without a word for five years.”

  Tammie clapped her hands. “That’s enough. I’ll not listen to another word.” She winced again, and a shiver of guilt slipped through Callie for fussing with Kirk in front of her. “Callie will take me to the hospital. Kirk, you will help your sister finish out the middle school field trip.”

  Callie lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, preparing to argue with Kirk if he continued. He narrowed his gaze and stared at her for a moment before blowing out a breath. “Fine. I’ll bring the truck up here and Callie can take you.”

  “Kirk, we have guests coming tomorrow. I don’t want you leaving tire track marks in the yard. Can’t you just carry me to the truck?”

  “What if I hurt you?”

  Callie stifled a chuckle at the sudden panic that wrapped his features. Taunting him, she said, “Big guy like you can’t carry his own mama.”

  Kirk sneered, and Callie almost laughed out loud. She loved goading him. It didn’t take much. One time she’d watched him jump three feet in the air when a garden snake slithered over his boot. She’d teased him for weeks until... She sobered. She didn’t want to think about those times with Kirk. That was a long time ago. A lot had changed since then.

  “I’ll be fine,” said Tammie. “Just put your hand under my knees and around my back.”

  Before he lifted her, Emmy ran out the front door holding a large bandage. Callie took the bandage and put it on Tammie’s knee. Even with the ice covering it, Callie noticed the ankle had swollen more. The doctor wouldn’t be able to do anything until the swelling went down, but they could still determine the severity of the break and also give her some pain medication.

  “Run on back and tell your mom everything is fine,” said Kirk. “I’ll be right over there in a minute.”

  While Emmy raced back to the playground area, Kirk carried Tammie to the truck, and Callie hopped into the driver’s seat. After easing her down, he kissed his mom’s forehead. Longing niggled at Callie’s heart as she wished to be cared for so much.

  “Take care of her,” he said.

  Callie lifted one eyebrow. “You mean your mom or the truck, ’cause if I remember right you had mighty strong feelings about your vehicles.”

  Kirk growled, and Tammie released a laugh and a wince at the same time.

  Callie sobered. “You know I’ll take care of Tammie.”

  “I’ll tell Pamela and Ben what’s going on, and I’ll text Dad.” He looked at Callie. The concern for his mom she saw on his face tugged at her heartstrings again, and she fought the urge to tell him to come around the truck and give her a kiss, as well. “Call me when you know something,” he said.

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake, I’m not dead.” Tammie swatted his arm. “Go help your brother and sister.”

  Callie started the truck and waved at Kirk. She bit her bottom lip as she remembered how he’d once worried over her like he did his mom.

  Chapter 7

  He saw
it in her eyes. For only a moment. But it was there. The love she’d once felt for him. Maybe it wasn’t love just yet, but she still felt something. He knew it.

  He pulled out his cell phone and texted his dad about Callie taking Mom to the hospital then walked back toward the play area and petting zoo. Jacobs Family Farm had seen more activity in the past few weeks than he could remember in a while. Callie’s return. Little Timmy’s injury. Now his mom’s ankle. Normally, life ran smooth. Consistent. Same routine day in and day out. He wasn’t one for change, but each day he found himself happier that Callie had returned.

  She’d been attending church with them. Not once had she chosen the seat beside him, but having her there, in the pew with the family, had filled him with a peace he hadn’t felt in years. When she’d left, she’d taken a piece of him with her.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the caller ID. “Hi, Dad. She’s okay. She stepped off—”

  “What happened? Did she fall? What was she doing?”

  Kirk pulled the phone away from his ear, while his dad ranted. Dad had always been overly protective of Mom. When his dad took a breath, he tried again. “She stepped off the porch weird. Ankle is probably broken.”

  He pulled the phone away again as Dad continued his rampage of questions. He sounded angry, but Kirk knew it was concern coming over the line. He reacted the same way when it came to Callie. All gruff and grumbles, but deep down it was pain and fear that ate at his insides.

  “Go on over to the hospital, Dad. We’ll all meet you there as soon as the students leave.”

  It took a few minutes, but once he was able to get off the phone, Kirk joined his sister and brother. The students loaded into the buses while Kirk, Pamela and Ben cleaned up.

  “What did she do?” asked Ben.

  “Looks like she broke her ankle.”

  “How?” Pamela knotted an overflowing bag of trash and pulled it out of the container.

  Kirk picked up two plastic cups off the ground and placed them in the second trash can. “Would you believe stepping off the porch?”