by JoAnn Durgin
Cassie had mastered the cooking classes Winnie and Lexa had arranged, and he’d gone with her for the Cooking for Two classes. They’d learned to work well together in their own kitchen, experimenting with new dishes and feeding one another. She’d developed into quite a good cook, and he’d learned to make some of the desserts. They listened to jazz and slow danced in their living room. When it was warm enough, they’d sit on the balcony and sip their morning coffee, wrapped in their robes and one another. The sleepy, morning-after gazes were the best, especially when Cassie gave him that shy little smile, even after a year of married life. How he loved this woman. More every day.
Sammie went on evening strolls with them every night except when it was pouring down rain, and even then sometimes. Made going home and getting out of their wet clothes that much more fun. Sammie liked to sleep at the foot of the bed and didn’t like it when they kicked him out for some alone time.
Saturday mornings were a personal favorite. They’d enjoy the lazy morning together and then cook breakfast or go out for brunch before spending a few hours in the library. Arielle still worked there, and they spoke with her on occasion. As much as anything else, the librarian seemed grateful he hadn’t filed charges against her. Every now and then, Cassie would invite Arielle to attend church with them. Bless her heart, she tried, and Mitch knew she’d keep on trying. Another reason to love his wife all the more.
What would a first year of marriage be like without a good, rousing fight or two? They’d only had one semi-serious disagreement over something so insignificant he wondered why they’d fought in the first place. He’d plied her with kisses and even bought a freaky Eddie-type bear and brought it home. That’s all it took to break the ice. As soon as she’d seen that ugly bear, Cassie had thrown her arms around him and promised never to raise her voice again. Small chance of that happening, but he enjoyed the making up that followed.
He’d introduced Cassie to the orchestra, the opera and the ballet. They met Landon and Amy for weekly Tuesday night dinners, often at Café Eduardo. They’d met a number of their neighbors and got together with some of them on occasion. Louie had suffered a mild heart attack early in the year, but he was fine and enjoying a forced early retirement. Tam and Helena were busy as ever with Tam’s Place and both he and Cassie helped with whatever needed to be done as often as they could.
His business was starting to pick up more clients. The income had been a little slow at first as he’d established and started to build a clientele, but now it was steady with the promise of an increase. Together, they’d gone on a short-term mission to Trinidad. He’d worked with the medical team and Cassie taught the school age children. She’d loved it, and he’d admired how well she worked with everyone. With his encouragement, Cassie planned on starting college courses full-time, but not until the following winter semester—one of the primary reasons being the mission to Albuquerque had been pushed back to early October due to scheduling issues.
Taking the Stetson down from the shelf in the closet, she perched it on her head and did a little dance as she moved back to the bed. “Talk to Cassie.”
“When you do that, you know I’m not thinking of talking.”
“Sorry.” She scrunched her nose and blushed.
“No, you’re not.” As distracting as she was, he needed to focus and tell her about the call. “I got a call from Josh today. He’s getting a TeamWork group together to head down to Louisiana to help in the aftermath of Katrina.”
“I figured they’d be going down.” Cassie’s lovely smile faded as she climbed into the bed beside him. “I want to do something to help, too.”
“I’m sure there’s plenty you can do. Help collect food and clothing. I’m sure Lexa and Winnie can give you ideas from what Sam and Josh are telling them. Ever since Josh called today, I’ve been watching the news, listening to the predictions and forecasts. It doesn’t sound good. Katrina’s going to be a monster. God be with the people of New Orleans or wherever it hits. There’s bound to be a lot of devastation in its path.”
~~**~~
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
“Sam, I want to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. When Mitch comes to New Orleans next week, I want to come with him.” Cassie kept her tone steady although inside, she quaked. She wished she could see his face, do this in person, but a telephone conversation would have to do for now.
“I appreciate your willingness to help, Cassie, but I can’t allow it. In my position as Director of Domestic Missions, I’m responsible for those under my watch.”
“What do you mean?”
She could hear his deep sigh, even through the phone lines. “Little One, it’s dangerous. Things are happening there that most people can’t fathom. I won’t sugar coat it. Women are being raped, homes are being ransacked, and children are neglected and running naked in the streets. Animals are being slaughtered for food. It’s heartbreaking and not all that much different than a war zone.”
Cassie flinched at his words. “I can handle it. I saw my own brother killed in front of my eyes. If I survived that, I’m sure I can be tough enough to face whatever’s happening in New Orleans.”
“I’ve seen how strong you can be, Cassie, but this isn’t the time to assert your will or prove your independence. It’s time to be smart and understand there are some things you can’t do, as much as you want to help. Have you talked with Mitch? I can’t imagine he’d agree for you to go.”
She bit her lip. “No. I called you first.”
“Hi, Cass,” Lexa said.
Cassie’s heart lifted, as it always did, when she heard Lexa’s voice. “Honey, Mitch needs to do this for himself as much as anyone else. If you go along, he’ll spend too much time worrying about you and trying to keep you safe. Trust me, I’d love to go with Sam, too, but we need to stay on the home front and be here when they need us.”
“I know, and I have to let him go. Mitch needs to see how the inherent good in people can overpower evil. He saw that to a certain extent when he helped at Ground Zero, but I think he was still in shock at the time and going through the motions.”
“This need is going to be ongoing for years, but we’ll do what we can, when we can,” Sam said. “When he comes back from this experience, Mitch will need you more than ever. Working the effort on the front lines, so to speak, is going to change him in some way. It’s inevitable. It changes all of us. I’ve seen how it’s changed Josh after working with hurricane relief efforts on a much smaller scale than this one.”
“I can’t lose my husband, Sam. In some ways, I’ve only just found him.” Cassie stared at the TeamWork business cards in a holder on Mitch’s desk with TeamWork’s slogan and theme verse: Rebuilding lives worldwide and binding souls for Christ. Next to it were the business cards for his private practice.
“You won’t lose him, Little One.”
Sam’s words gave her renewed hope. “Other than pray, what do you suggest I do while he’s gone?”
“Call him, send him messages, whatever you can to let him know he’s loved,” Lexa said.
Cassie smiled as she remembered the postcards Mitch sent to her from all along his route between Houston and Manhattan. How precious they’d been for her heart.
“Letting him know you care and that you’re praying for him will mean the world.” Lexa’s tone was so full of compassion that it swelled Cassie’s heart with even more respect and love for this couple.
“And tell him you’ll be waiting for him when he comes home,” Sam said.
That I can definitely do.
Chapter 48
Thursday, September 8, 2005
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mitch wept. He’d seen things no man should ever see. The evil men can do to one another indeed. He thought he’d be cleaning, building, feeding and clothing the homeless. Instead, he’d witnessed atrocities that wrenched him apart. Even the tragedy of 9/11 was instigated by those of foreign origin who hated America and the freedoms
for which it’d always represented, but this? To think what horrible things one human being could do to another gutted his very soul. On his home soil, his own country. How could they have a conscience? Did they not believe one day they’d have to account for their wrongdoing?
The lack of hope and respect for others had brought him to his knees several times, dropping to the ground as if felled by a physical blow. He’d been sick at least three times in the last forty-eight hours and emptied the contents of his stomach so that all that remained was bile. And still that came up and out of him. He’d already lost several pounds evidenced by how loosely his clothing hung on him now.
Even in the midst of it all, the citizens of New Orleans worked alongside them, doing anything and everything they could to try and right—or at least mediate—what the natural disaster and resulting self-destruction had wrought on their city. Mitch had seen Josh sitting on what was left of the front steps of a home, his head bowed in prayer with a man and his son. Witnessed Kevin and Sam ministering to an overburdened young family, giving them words of comfort and giving them a Bible.
TeamWork. Rebuilding lives worldwide and binding souls for Christ.
Sitting on the front stoop of the church where they’d camped out for the past two nights, Mitch stared, unseeing, into the twilight. His eyes drawn to the moon, he stared at it, admiring the beams, like a shining beacon. “Wish you were here, Moonbeam, but how thankful I am that you’re not.”
At least the night was relatively quiet. The stench of something—he didn’t want to think what—permeated the night air, but he’d gotten used to the smells. And the noise, making the lack of chaos a welcome relief.
“You got a piece of mail.” Kevin gave his shoulder a gentle nudge and handed something to him.
Glancing down at what he held, Mitch spied Cassie’s lovely cursive. “Moonbeam,” he whispered, running his finger over the front of the card with its photo of the Manhattan skyline. Turning it over again, he read the words:
Hi Mitch,
I ate a Corner Dog today and thought of you. I walked Sammie and thought of you. I sat in the park on our special bench and thought of you. God was there beside me today. Just like He always is. It’s almost like I could feel His arms around me, giving me sweet comfort. As if He was whispering in my heart, “Rest in Me, child. Mitch is safe.”
I’m praying for you. . .and I’m waiting.
All My Love,
Cassie a/k/a Moonbeam
Kevin dropped onto the step beside him. “According to Pastor Evans, the card was delivered somewhere down the street. Cassie had the right address, but the mail carrier left it at the wrong place.”
“I’m just thankful to get it at all.” Maybe it was his overactive imagination, but the card held the faintest hint of her scent. Light, pretty, floral. Cassie.
Beside him, he heard Kevin’s chuckle. They hadn’t found much to laugh about since their arrival in “The Zone” as they’d taken to calling New Orleans.
“You’ve really got it bad, don’t you?”
Mitch allowed a small smile. “Yeah. I love her so much I physically ache for her, Kevin.”
“I know, buddy. You’re still a newlywed. You can go home if you want. Everyone would understand.”
“I’m not a quitter. I want to see this mission through. But when I get back to New York, I’m going to hole up with my wife for a week and love her. Like Sam’s rule says. Just love her.”
Kevin blew out a breath. “Tell me about it. I can’t wait to get back home to Rebekah.”
“I can’t imagine a soldier sees much worse than what we’ve seen the past few days. Cassie’s my first thought in the morning, my last thought at the end of the day and every waking thought in between. I can’t stop thinking about her.” He glanced over at his friend. “Not that I’d ever want to. Makes it hard to concentrate sometimes. Being around all this devastation makes me realize how much I’ve always taken for granted. I never wanted for anything like Cassie did when she was growing up. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but her dad was in jail a lot. In the last year, he’s straightened himself out some. He’s been doing some volunteer work and staying out of jail for the most part.”
“Rebekah and Cassie are close and she’s shared some things with her. You’re not giving away any confidences you shouldn’t.”
“Did you know about her brother?”
“Tagg? Yeah. Cassie’s been through a lot, but it shows how strong she is. I know she wanted to come with us and help in the relief effort, too, but I heard Sam and your New York TeamWork Director wouldn’t allow it.”
“She feels helpless being on the sidelines.” Mitch waved his hand at their surroundings and breathed out a deep sigh. “Cassie would be the first person to tell me how she’s lived like a queen compared to what we see here. How can this happen, Kevin? As crazy as it sounds, in some ways Katrina was the least of their problems. And it was the instigator for more hardship.”
“It happens because people are lost, like they are everywhere else in the world.” Kevin’s voice was quiet, filled with deep emotion. “They don’t have a center in their lives and no sense of what’s right and wrong.”
“No hope.” Mitch rested his arms on his propped knees. “It’s the only answer my mind can comprehend or accept. That’s at the root of it, isn’t it? And that’s the saddest thing of all.” A tear slipped down his cheek, and he didn’t bother to wipe it away. “I’ve been on mission trips to some of the most desolate areas of the world, and yet what I’m seeing here—in our own country—breaks my heart.” He’d shed more tears in the past seventy-two hours than he could ever remember. In some ways, he felt like he’d aged since their arrival.
“If it helps, you gave a glimmer of hope to one mother and her little girl today,” Kevin said. “Don’t think what you’re doing here has no impact, Mitch.”
Mitch raised his head and looked at his friend, focusing through glazed eyes. That little girl earlier tore his heart out with her big eyes brimming with hurt. “I want the kids, especially, to see that people can be good. Not all people are bad and want to hurt them or take something precious from them. But sometimes I feel like we’re up against a brick wall.”
“That’s why we have to keep going. These people have lost it all and then some.” Kevin paused a few moments before continuing. “Like God’s word tells us, our job is to plant the seeds and sow righteousness. The world operates differently than we do. We know that, and it’s all about cause and effect, Mitch. What they don’t understand is that every action has consequences, and one day we’ll have to stand before God and account for every one of our decisions.”
“I remember my dad preaching from Galatians,” Mitch said. “In chapter six, it talks about how God is not mocked. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
He dropped his head in shame. “I’ve lived both ways.”
Kevin placed a hand on his shoulder. “But you’re forgiven. A man of God. You’re living for Him now and that’s what matters. By the way, do you know the reason Marc’s not here?”
“No.”
“Natalie found out she’s expecting and she’s having a difficult time with the pregnancy.”
Mitch nodded. “Praise God since they’ve been trying for a while now, and if anyone understands the importance of keeping your loved ones close, it’s Marc. I’ll pray everything’s okay.”
“I’m sure they will be, and I’m really glad you’re here with us, buddy.” Kevin nudged Mitch’s shoulder.
“As difficult as it is to say now, I am too, Kevin. I am, too.”
~~**~~
The Next Morning
Friday, September 9, 2005
The men—Mitch counted twenty-three—sat in a circle on chairs in the church basement. Even at seven in the morning, it was sticky and hot but still the coolest area of the building. His shower had been pointless since sweat
already coated his brow and ran down his back. After singing a few hymns and a time of sharing, Sam began his short message before they headed outside to another day with its new challenges.
“I’d like to read from Second Timothy, Chapter 3, verses 1 and following. As it always does, God’s Word speaks for all time. This particular passage spoke to my heart when I prayed what message I could give this morning that might encourage you.”
With his glasses in place, Sam began to read. “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth. . .”
Mitch lowered his head and closed his eyes even as he absorbed the words that spoke to his very soul. He wished his father could sit beside him now. In some ways, perhaps he was. But if he could be here, Mitch knew he’d probably read that very same scripture Sam read.
Sam continued, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Lowering his Bible to his lap, Sam glanced around the circle. Mitch liked how their TeamWork leader had a way of making every person in the room feel important and special. He accepted them. Among the group, they’d had a few squabbles. Tensions had been high, sleeping and showering in tight quarters, but—like soldiers in barracks—any one of these guys had his back. He’d do anything to watch out for each of them.