Joy Express

by Jody Day

  “I’m gonna go out to storage and get some more chairs, Brenna,” I said.

  “I know what to do. I’ll check with Toppy, then go around and refill coffee,” she said, eyes sparkling. She pulled the apron she’d tossed over her shoulder and put it on.

  I tied the back and then headed to the front door. I ran smack into Javier, who came in the front door, two chairs in each hand.

  “Oh, sorry. Hope you don’t mind. Toppy told me where to find them.” He stopped cold, a blush creeping over his face. Man, he must have it bad for Tracy. Did he think I disapproved?

  “No, I appreciate it. How many more?” I scooted past him to the front door.

  “I think maybe six. I’ll be right behind you,” he said.

  I watched him set an extra chair at four different tables, then motion some of the standing customers to take a seat. He joined me at the door and we went around back.

  “I guess there’s no getting out the back door,” I said, grabbing more chairs from the storage shed.

  “No, sir. Hamburgers and salad and chicken flying around in there like a tornado. Mr. Toppy and his wife can really cook it up.” He picked up more chairs.

  “What is all that, anyway? They don’t look like kids.”

  “No, the bus says Grapeside Christian Church. They are a senior adult group on a trip from Dallas to Jefferson, for the historical tour over there.”

  We walked back around to the entrance. “Well, it’ll be great for business. How’d everybody get here so fast?”

  “Not sure. I came to have breakfast with Tracy, and Dr. Harkin was already here. Toppy and his wife were already here too. Tracy and her mom came in, then the guys from the washout, then their girlfriends. Miss Phoebe was serving us all breakfast when the busses pulled up,” Javier said.

  We went inside and placed more chairs. Finally everyone was seated.

  I took orders. I loved how my friends gravitated to the diner. Family. Bailey would love this. I felt a little guilty that we were all here together. It reminded me of when she’d first arrived. A school bus pulled up, and she’d pitched right in and helped. Didn’t even know any of us. That would have been an ideal time to fall in love, but it happened the first time I saw her. “Queen o’ Sheba, Queen o’ Sheba, Queen o’ Sheba,” Dad called her when he first came into the washout to tell me someone waited in the office. Five minutes later Bailey became the Queen of my heart.

  I heard the bell on the door ring, and turned to see Bailey coming in the door, a carry seat in each hand.

  “Whoa, here let me help you,” I said. I took Paul from her and looked around for a place to put him.

  “I got lonesome, so I got us all ready and drove down here, by myself,” she said, glowing with pride.

  “I can see that. You could have called,” I said.

  “I need to do this by myself. It wasn’t that hard. A little logistically challenging with two, but we made it.” She blew her bangs with a “whew”.

  “Over here, ma’am, we’re done already,” an older man in a gray polo shirt said. He and a few other men rose and motioned Bailey over to their table, which was close to the counter.

  We headed that way, and Bailey plopped down in the chair. “That’s a workout, I’ll tell ya.”

  “I know. Let me situate the littles and I’ll bring you a cup of coffee.”

  “Just a half cup, please,” she said. “Don’t want too much caffeine while nursing, and I’ve already had one at the house.”

  I nodded, the babies came first. Soon, I’d positioned the carry seats in two upside down boosters. Oh, the hacks one learned when children come along. I glanced at Bailey before I went for coffee. She looked a little pale, and her eyes seemed red. “What’s the matter, Bailey, you OK?”

  She leaned her chin on one hand, and the grabbed a napkin from the dispenser with the other. “Not bad, really, and I hate to say anything after you went to so much trouble, but,” she began, but stopped.

  I sat down in the empty chair. “What, Beloved?”

  She sighed and shook her head. “The front porch, where he snatched me from. The thought ruined the beautiful moment you created for me.” Tears welled up. “Will I ever be able to separate my memories from the things, the places I love so much?”

  I’d gotten over the desire to kill the dead man, but I still had to deal with anger sometimes. How could I fix it? “I’ll build you another house, and we’ll make new memories.”

  She blinked and raised her head.

  I couldn’t read her expression. Maybe she thought that wasn’t the answer. I guess my timing wasn’t exactly perfect. But I would build her a house, and do my best to make her happy there. “Remember, Michele said it’s a process. We’ll just keep walking through it, OK? Together.” I reached for her hand and squeezed it.

  “Yes, that’s true. She’s really been a help to both Brenna and me. I’m hoping and praying Brenna can get a handle on things. I’d like her to grow up without the same crippling hurts I had.” Tears spilled over.

  “Prayer can do it, and we know it can, right?”

  She smiled and wiped her tears. “Coffee.”

  “Right, be right back.”

  Two cups of coffee in hand, I returned to the table and found David sitting with them. “Hey, man.” I set my cup of coffee in front of him. No available chairs, so I leaned against the counter.

  “Hey, and thanks for the coffee. Listen, Bailey, see Melissa way over there by the front door, waving at you?” He pointed across the room.

  “Yes, she’s back! But why doesn’t she come over?” Bailey waved back, and blew Melissa a kiss.

  “She’s had a really bad cold, and still has it. I don’t want her around the babies. I relegated her to the far corner by herself, with strict orders to stay away from you and Brenna.”

  “Ack. I really miss her. How’s her mom?” Bailey craned her neck to wave at Melissa again, and point to a nearby table where Brenna was pouring coffee. She mouthed, “That’s Brenna.”

  Melissa nodded and put her hand over her heart. She mouthed back, “She’s beautiful!”

  “Her mom is much better, but I was afraid Melissa would stay with her through the holidays. I seriously want her here for Christmas.” David shifted in his seat, and took a sip of his coffee.

  “And why might that be?” Bailey asked, with a mysterious wink at me.

  “Bout time, Doc,” I said. I might have to get that suit out again.

  The conversation turned to plans for the hospital Christmas party. David asked Bailey’s advice on a gift for Gwen. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out. “Text from Melissa. I guess she’s ready to go home, or jealous of me getting to talk to you guys so near the babies.” He read the text, and then stood up so quickly his chair fell over.

  “What in the world?” I followed him.

  He rushed toward Brenna, who was sitting on the floor.

  I’d never seen skin so white. He knelt on the floor beside her. “Brenna, what’s the matter?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Call 911!” He yelled, while taking her pulse. “Wait, never mind. It will be faster if we drive her there. He scooped her up in his arms and made his way to the front door.

  “What’s wrong?” Bailey called over the crowd that had gathered around the scene.

  “Please, everyone back to your seats,” I said, and to Bailey, “Brenna’s sick. David’s driving her to the hospital. I’ll go with him.” I followed David to his car. He put her in the back seat and I got in with her, putting her head in my lap.

  “Drive!” I yelled at David, who tore out of the parking lot.

  “David, she’s not conscious now.” I patted her cheeks. “Brenna, honey, wake up.”

  No response.

  26

  I just stood there, staring at the door where they’d just carried my sister out, limp and terribly white.

  Toppy and Mom came out of the kitchen.

  “What’s going on?” Toppy asked.
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  The babies started to cry, and it shook me out of my stupor. I sat down in the chair.

  Mom rushed me. “Bailey, what’s wrong?” She took Paul out of his seat and bounced him on her shoulder.

  “Brenna got sick. David and Scott took her to the hospital.” I retrieved Helen from her seat and tried to soothe her. “I don’t know what to do. Mom, you don’t think,” I began, but couldn’t say it.

  “Of course not. Kids get sick all the time.”

  “But in her condition?” I began to shake.

  “No use speculating,” Toppy said as he tore off his apron and toque. “We’ll just get there quick as we can. Folks, I’m sorry, but we’ll have to close down for the day.”

  I glanced at the full diner.

  The seniors had gathered in groups, hands held, and prayed.

  Tracy and Javier approached me, as I put Helen back in her seat, and Mom did the same with Paul. “We’ll watch the babies, Bailey. You go on.”

  “Yes, ma’am, and Mr. Toppy, I’ll shut everything down and lock up.”

  “No. I want everyone she loves at the hospital, including the babies.” Please God, don’t take her yet. If this was it, I wanted her surrounded by her family.

  A brief freeze frame stopped us all.

  “I’m Pastor Lankford. Can I help?” The dark-haired man stepped into our paralyzed circle.

  Toppy took keys from his pocket and handed them to the pastor. “Please, just turn everything off and lock the door. I’m sorry, but we’ve got to go.”

  “You got it.”

  Javier and Tracy each carried one of the car seats. We pushed through the praying seniors toward the door.

  Melissa held the door open as everyone passed through.

  “You come too, please,” I said.

  She hugged me. What did a cold matter now?

  “I’ll drive, Melissa,” Phoebe said, “and I’ve called Jack. He’ll meet us there as soon as he can.”

  I hugged her with thanks and gave my car keys to Javier. “You know how to put those seats in their docks?”

  “I’ll figure it out. We’ll be right behind you,” he said.

  The Pearson boys and Mandy and Macy got into Greg’s truck and drove off.

  I got in the car with Mom and Toppy.

  “What happened?” Mom asked as Toppy took the Interstate off of Exit 477.

  “I’m not sure. All I know is that David, Scott, and I were talking then David got a text from Melissa, which sent him running to Brenna. I guess she noticed Brenna getting sick.” Please. I couldn’t pray, only kept repeating please in my heart.

  My cell rang.

  “Scott?”

  “We just got here. David actually had a siren light in his car. Dr. Lewis happened to be here. He’s with her now.”

  “She’s alive?”

  “Yes, but still unconscious.”

  “We’re on our way,” I said.

  “Beloved, I love you.”

  Beloved. Had that entered into Brenna’s heart yet? That she was beloved of God? That she was enough the way she was, and nothing that happened was her fault? “Scott, please get to her and whisper that in her ear. Please, do that for me, for her. It’s important.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Please.

  27

  “Kind of like snow at our wedding,” Scott said, as he yanked the last piece of tape from the dispenser.

  “Huh? What’s like the snow at our wedding?” I’d just peeked in on my sleeping babies, and then joined him to finish wrapping presents.

  “I was thinking about how I wrecked our wedding plans last year because I couldn’t get my act together after I got sick. Everybody surprised us by pulling it off anyway. I remember thinking that, as wonderful as they all were, they couldn’t make it snow. You wanted that so badly in your heart of hearts. He made it happen,” Scott said pointing to the heavens, his index finger poking through an empty tape dispenser.

  “Yes, He did. And to think I’d forgotten all about it in the chaos of those days, but God hadn’t forgotten. He remembered the desire of my heart. But what do you mean by “like” the snow at our wedding?” I fished around in the box of Christmas wrapping paper, found a new roll of tape and tossed it to him.

  “Thanks. I mean that in our heart of hearts, we want Brenna to get better, and she has, at least for the time being. We have no control over her health, but I believe God made her better the other night. Then I got the idea to have Christmas in her room, just like at the wedding.” He continued taping paper around a mysterious little box.

  “Have you been into the Christmas cookies? I think the sugar rush is clouding your brain. I don’t follow.” I scooted across the couch and pulled his forehead to mine. “Or maybe it’s my distracted mommy brain.”

  He gave me a quick kiss. “Sorry, random, I know. What I mean is that when it started to snow, I got the idea to order Mr. Ballard’s horse and carriage to take us away from the church. When God answered your snow prayer, I knew exactly what to do. The carriage ride in the snow was pretty awesome, you’ll have to admit.”

  “Perfect,” I said.

  “When Dr. Lewis finally came to the waiting room that long, long night two days ago and told us that Brenna would be all right, that he just needed to adjust her chemo dosage, I thought about the snow at our wedding. Suddenly I knew exactly what to do to save Christmas for her.” He put the small, now wrapped box into his red flannel shirt pocket.

  The wisdom of his words tried to sink in. I pulled an afghan from the back of the couch and wrapped it around my shoulders.

  “I think I see. Last year with our troubles, and now with Brenna and everything that happened recently, it was all completely out of our hands. We couldn’t do anything but pray. We just didn’t know what to do about anything. But God works behind the scenes the whole time, answers our prayer, and then somehow we know what to do next. I guess we’d better learn this lesson well, if our life continues to be chaotic,” I said.

  Scott rubbed his forehead, no doubt recalling how we’d bumped our heads together several times in those first few days. “Beautiful chaos, Beloved.”

  I laughed, pulled him to me for a kiss, but then the wailing of two babies crying at once broke the mood.

  “I better get to the diner and grab some of those Christmas decorations for the party in Brenna’s room. Wow, they must really be hungry, Bailey. Duty calls.”

  “Love calls,” I said.

  He walked to the front door, opened it, then turned to me, his eyes shining. “Merry Christmas, Beloved.” A big smile spanned his face as he nodded. He patted the little box in his pocket and left.

  ****

  We all gathered in the hall outside Brenna’s room. I don’t suppose we could have gotten away with it if she’d been any sicker, or if weren’t for Christmas. The rooms for cancer patients were larger because of so much equipment, but Mom had the nurses move the extra bed out of her room anyway, because we were all coming.

  “I’ll go first.” I knocked on the door, then tip-toed inside. “Brenna?”

  “Bailey!” She extended both hands toward me.

  “Up for company?” I asked.

  “Lots and lots. I miss everyone, especially the babies. Did you bring them?” She threw back the covers.

  She wore the Christmas pajamas Tracy bought her, red, with elves and candy canes all over. The outfit gave her a bit of color.

  “Shhh,” I said, my finger over my lips. I opened the door and motioned in Mom and Toppy, who each held one of the sleeping babies.

  The bigger-than-her-head bow that Mom had put on Helen sparkled with tiny red sequins in the light. Her little red velvet dress, trimmed in white, and the tiniest pair of shiny black Mary Jane shoes I’d ever seen made my baby girl look like a little Christmas princess.

  Paul’s little green suit and red bow tie melted my heart.

  Mom had topped his head with a red velvet newsies cap. He refused shoes, or socks, kicking and fussing
.

  Scott thought it was hilarious, since he thought the whole outfit was sissified.

  I helped Brenna get propped up on pillows. Mom handed Helen to her, and baby and aunt cooed. Brenna kissed Helen’s little hand. I sat at the foot of the bed and Toppy handed Paul to me. Brenna reached for his little bare foot and squeezed it.

  “Be right back,” Toppy said, and he and Mom left the room.

  Brenna and I traded babies, and the cooing and cuddling continued.

  A sigh started somewhere in my heart, and made its way to my lips. No words would come as I watched pure joy light up her face.

  A soft knock sounded at the door. Scott stuck his head in. “Hey, up to more company?”

  “Yes, please,” Brenna said, eyes shining like twinkle lights.

  Scott opened the door and propped it wide with a chair. He popped out for a second, then he and the Pearson brothers scooted in with a giant, decorated Christmas tree. Some of the ornaments and tinsel fell off as they dragged it all the way across the room. The very top bent over at the ceiling.

  Brenna’s laughter bubbled like the little brooks she read about in the Anne books she loved so much. “Isn’t that the tree from the hospital entrance?”

  “It’s just for an hour. Bailey’s mom said it would be all right,” Scott said.

  Greg and Todd did their best to reposition the balls that had rolled off in the transfer. They were less adept at the tinsel.

  “Can I try?” Brenna asked.

  “Sure, why not,” I said, and motioned for Scott to take Paul from her. She slipped off the bed and walked to the over-sized tree in her bare feet. I started to stop and insist on socks, but decided it could wait.

  Brenna seemed to be in some kind of joy bubble, and I couldn’t bear to burst it. She directed the boys just where to put the tinsel that was out of her reach. She touched the ornaments, red balls and green with gold trim, as though they were precious diamonds. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. “Prettiest one I’ve ever seen.”

  Mandy and Macy bustled in, their arms full of gifts. They placed them under the tree and settled in the respective crooks of Greg and Todd’s arms, their engagement rings sparkling.