Bob gave him a frown. “Don’t talk disrespectfully about Mrs. Scrooge, Son. She’s a lovely lady. It’s just that her—priorities—are different than ours. She’s never had a family, so she doesn’t understand.”
“Why doesn’t she have little kids, Daddy?” five-year-old Megan asked from her place at the table, her little hands cupped about her mug of cocoa. “Doesn’t she like them?”
Bob smiled at his daughter. “I’m sure she’d like little children, if she ever got to know them. You have to realize Mrs. Scrooge has never been around little people. She’s never been a mommy, so she has no idea how wonderful being a mommy is. I’m sure if she had a baby, she’d love it like your mama loved you.”
“But she’s stingy, right, Dad?” Bob Jr. asked, refilling his mug with more hot cocoa.
Bob paused, as if not sure how he should answer. “I wouldn’t exactly say she’s stingy. I’d rather say she’s careful with her money, which isn’t a bad thing.”
“Does she put money in the offering plate at church?” Megan asked.
Bob screwed up his face. “I wish I could say she did, and that she loved our Lord as much as we do, but I doubt Mrs. Scrooge has been to church in a long time.”
“Why?”
Turning to stare off in space, Bob seemed to flounder for an answer. “I don’t know, sweetheart, but I do know Mrs. Scrooge needs our prayers.”
Megan lifted her little hand in the air and gave her father a big smile. “I’ll pray for her, Daddy.”
Seeming relieved the conversation had taken a slight turn, Bob nodded at his daughter. “I think that would be very nice.”
Bowing her head, Megan began. “Dear Jesus, help Mrs. Scrooge to like little kids. Amen.”
Bob bent and wrapped his arm about the child. “Thank you, Megan. I’m sure God will answer, and until He does, we’ll keep praying for her.”
Staring thoughtfully at his father, Bob Jr. lifted a brow. “Do you actually like Mrs. Scrooge, Dad?”
Bob nodded. “Oh, yes, Son. I like her a lot. She was my first love.”
Bob Jr. made a face. “Yuk! You loved her?”
Gazing off in the distance, Bob smiled the little crooked smile Eleanor had always loved. “Yes, I’ve loved her ever since I was about your age. It’s a little hard to explain, but at one time I saved Eleanor’s life. Though I was too young to fully realize the danger the two of us were in when she nearly fell through the ice on the pond near our school, I was willing to risk my life to save hers.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “You really saved someone’s life? Wow!”
“Yeah, I guess so. At least we both got off the ice safely. Everyone, including Eleanor, said she would have drowned if I hadn’t gone out on the ice after her.” Bob sat down at the table, eyeing first one child then the other. “That’s an old adage that says if you save someone’s life, you’re responsible for them the rest of their life. I’ve always felt responsible for Eleanor. I guess I always will.”
“But,” Bob Jr. said, obviously intrigued by his father’s story, “you said you loved her.”
Bob paused a moment before answering. “I do love her. She’s always been special to me.”
“Do you love her more than our mama?” Megan asked, handing baby Janelle a marshmallow.
Bob shook his head. “Not more than your mama, honey. I loved your mama in a different way, and because of that love, God gave us five wonderful children.”
“If Mrs. Scrooge wanted to be your wife, would you marry her?” Ginny asked, chiming in on the conversation for the first time.
Bob straightened in the chair. “Not unless things were different.”
“What kind of different?”
“Number one: Mrs. Scrooge would have to get herself right with God and become a dedicated Christian. Number two: She’d have to love you children as much as I do. Not that she could ever take your mother’s place, but she’d have to love you, want to care for you, and be there for you. And number three: She’d have to love me, and right now, I’m not sure Mrs. Scrooge loves anyone.”
“Would she have to give you a raise?” Bob Jr. asked, his expression one of innocence.
Bob let out a chuckle. “Yes, I guess she’d have to give me a raise, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to support her!”
❧
Eleanor stared at Bob. He’d actually said he loved her! “Do you suppose he meant it?” she asked Hope warily.
“I’m sure if he said it, he meant it. Like a woman, a man rarely forgets his first love. Hasn’t Bob told you he loved you and wanted to marry you before you rushed off to New York to become a fashion designer?”
Eleanor searched the woman’s face and found no condemnation there, which surprised her. “Yes, but I thought any love he’d felt for me disappeared when he married Lydia.”
Hope gave her a kind smile. “Did you ever love him, Eleanor? Truly love him?”
Not able to mask her true feelings, Eleanor nodded. “Yes, I’ve never loved another man like I loved Bob.”
“Would you have wanted children?”
Eleanor searched her heart. “I would have said no, years ago—but now that I’ve experienced life without them. . . I—I think so. Yes, I’m sure of it. With a man as loving as Bob as a husband, I know I would have. My life, although satisfying in material ways, has always lacked something. All the wealth, money, and fame I’ve acquired haven’t given me the satisfaction I’d expected they would. Maybe a husband who loved me and a family would have been the answer—the gratification I’ve been seeking.”
“And what about God?”
Eleanor lowered her gaze and became thoughtful. What part would God have had in her life if she’d become Mrs. Bob Rachette instead of Mrs. Everett Scrooge?
“Children are a gift from God.”
“That’s what Bob has always said. I’ve often wondered what my life would have been like if I’d married Bob instead of running off to New York. Would we have had children? Maybe a child with a birthmark like Ginny’s?”
Hope leaned toward Eleanor and gently kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear, “You’re about to find out.”
Nine
Eleanor opened her eyes and looked about the room. Where was she? It was a bedroom, but it wasn’t her bedroom. Her bedroom was much larger than this one—and done in red velvet with large, dark cherrywood walls and oversized Victorian furniture. Where am I?
She looked down at her nightwear and found, instead of her usual expensive, pure silk designer pajamas, she was clad in a simple cotton gown trimmed with eyelet. Never, since she’d married Everett Scrooge, had she worn such a garment.
The sheets on the bed were not the luxurious Egyptian cotton she was used to—probably an inexpensive cotton and poly blend. Eleanor fingered the fabric. What’s going on? Whose house is this?
Tossing the covers back she reached for the cotton robe at the foot of the bed and was surprised when she noticed a man’s robe neatly draped over a nearby chair. The unfamiliar surroundings and the circumstances in which she found herself caused her to tense up with fear. Who had brought her here? Had someone kidnapped her? Maybe drugged her? Is that why she had no memory of how she’d arrived at this place? Was she being held for ransom?
Looking around quickly for a way to escape, she hurried toward the window only to find the room was on the second floor. Now what? How would she ever get away from her captors? Trembling and being as quiet as possible, she tiptoed across the cold hardwood floor toward the door and opened it carefully, listening for any sound from the floor below.
“You up yet, hon? Coffee’s ready.” A male voice echoed up the stairway.
Startled at the voice, she pressed herself against the wall and remained silent. Someone was making coffee? And why, if they were holding her for ransom, hadn’t they locked her in the room?
“Come on, sleepyhead,” the same voice called up cheerfully. “Rise and shine. We’ve got a big day ahead of us, El.”
He calle
d me El! Bob Rachette is the only one who ever called me El! It sounds like him, but why would he be in this house? Could it really be him? If it is, surely he’ll help me escape.
“Yeah, Mom, hurry up. The skating rink opens in an hour.”
The voice sounded like that of a young girl. Eleanor shook her head to clear it. A strange house? Bob calling her name as if nothing were awry? A young girl calling for her mother? This was all too bizarre.
“So what do you think?”
Her heart dipping into her shoes, Eleanor whirled around and found an amazingly beautiful woman standing on the landing at the head of the narrow stairway. Her flowing hair, which reached her waist, was as black and shiny as a raven’s feathers. Her deep brown eyes sparkled as she spoke, and her iridescent gown filmed her slender shoulders and fell in soft folds at her feet. In many ways, she resembled Faith and Hope.
“Hello, Eleanor,” the woman said in a voice as mellow as a tinkling silver bell.
“You have to be related to Faith and Hope,” Eleanor told her, moving to stand before her, feeling much relieved that she probably hadn’t been kidnapped after all.
“My name is Charity. Do you know what the word charity means?”
“I think it means love.”
Charity walked slowly toward her. “Yes, it means love. Have you ever experienced true love, Eleanor?”
A bit miffed by such a personal question coming from a stranger, Eleanor locked her arms across her chest and gave her head a slight flip before answering. “Of course I have. I married Everett Scrooge, didn’t I?”
“I didn’t ask you if you’d ever been married; I asked if you’ve ever experienced true love.”
Not sure how honest she wanted to be with this person—who was perhaps only a figment of her imagination—Eleanor chose her words carefully. “I assume you’re talking about the kind of love we see in movies or read about in romance novels. Though I respected Everett and enjoyed the lifestyle and companionship I had with him as his wife, the kind of love I felt for him was not that kind of love.”
“So are you saying you’ve never experienced true love?”
For some reason, Eleanor felt compelled to be honest with this person—that she could trust her to keep her confidence. “I was truly in love—once—when I was very young,” she said in an almost whisper, her gaze trained upon the huge diamond she still wore on her left hand though she’d been a widow for some time now.
“Oh? What happened? Why didn’t you marry the young man?”
Eleanor frowned. “Don’t play games with me, Charity. If you’re like Faith and Hope, you know everything there is to know about me. You already know the answer.”
Charity’s deep brown eyes focused on Eleanor, making her extremely uncomfortable. “Yes, you’re right. I do know the answer. That young man loved you deeply and would have done everything in his power to care for you and make you happy.”
“You’re talking about Bob?”
“He is the only man you ever truly loved, isn’t he?”
Eleanor dipped her head shyly. “Yes, he is.”
“Have you ever been sorry you took off for New York, leaving him and the engagement ring he’d bought for you behind?”
Since the woman seemed to know even the things buried in the innermost recesses of her heart, for the first time in her life, Eleanor wasn’t afraid to be totally honest. No façade. No pretense. Lifting misty eyes, she began to bare her soul. “I’ve—I’ve never admitted this to anyone, not even to myself—but, yes. I have been sorry. I’m only now beginning to realize that riches and fame cannot bring you true and lasting happiness. I’ve missed so much—the love of an adoring husband, and although I’ve never told this to anyone, the love of children. Can you believe it? I’ve never even held a baby in my arms!”
“Not even nieces or nephews?”
“No, in fact, I’ve had no contact with my sister since I left for New York. Several years ago I drove by where our old trailer house had been, but it was no longer there. The lot was empty. A neighbor told me my mother died a few months after my father walked out on her, and she had no idea where my sister had gone. I never tried to find her.” A pang of regret nipped at her heart. “Oh, Charity, was I so blinded by success, fame, and fortune that I turned my back on the most precious things life has to offer?”
“Only you can answer that.”
“I may have nieces and nephews I’ve never even met.” Eleanor couldn’t avoid the deep sigh that escaped her lips. “So many times I’ve wondered what my life would have been like if I’d accepted Bob’s proposal. Would we have been happy? Had a family?”
“Would you like to know what it might have been like to be Mrs. Robert Rachette?”
Eleanor gave a quick nod. “Oh, yes. I’ve never stopped loving Bob. He’s the finest, most honest man I’ve ever known.”
“Remember a question you asked earlier? About Ginny?”
Eleanor searched her memory. “I don’t remember asking a question about Ginny.”
“It wasn’t a question you asked me, or Hope, or Faith. It was a question you asked yourself.”
Embarrassed, Eleanor dipped her head. “You mean about her birthmark? You knew I wondered about that? I never voiced my concern to anyone.”
“Yes, I knew. You wondered if you and Bob had married and had children, if one of your children would have had an awful birthmark like Ginny’s.”
“I–I’m not sure I could have handled it.”
Charity reached out her hand. “Then come downstairs with me. Perhaps we’ll find out.”
When the two reached the landing at the bottom of the steps, Eleanor grabbed the railing and let out a scream. “Look! That woman in the housecoat! She’s me! Bob is talking to me!”
“Yes, Eleanor, it is you. Come on; let’s watch! Let’s see what your life would have been like as Mrs. Robert Rachette.”
❧
“There you are, sleepyhead.” Bob pulled El to him and kissed her cheek. “Is baby Janelle still asleep?”
Eleanor leaned into his embrace. “She went right back to sleep after I nursed her. Like our other children, she’s such a joy, a real gift from God.”
Bob kissed her again. “That she is, and so are you, my beautiful wife.”
Eleanor blushed. “I love you, my handsome husband, and I love your compliments. Sometimes, when I’ve had an especially hard day, I feel anything but beautiful, but you are always there to bolster my morale with your wonderful sweet words.”
He lovingly nuzzled his chin in her hair. “I love you, too, my darling. I believe God created us to be together, and I love the family He has given us.”
Suddenly, Eleanor glanced about the room with concern. “Where’s Ginny?”
Bob’s expression turned serious. “As usual, she’s in her room. That girl spends way too much time alone. I just wish we could do something about her birthmark. She’ll be in high school in a few years. I’d always hoped that by the time she was a teenager her birthmark would have been a thing of the past, but try as I may, I still can’t come up with the money to pay for her treatments. I keep thinking God will provide a way.”
Eleanor reached up and cupped his face between her palms. “He will, my darling. We must keep praying and never give up hope.”
“I know you’re right, but—”
She gently placed her hand over his mouth. “Shh. Don’t even say it.”
“I know. I constantly cling to the many promises He gave us in His Word, but the waiting for an answer is so hard. I’ve never understood how kids can be so cruel. Even some of her classmates, those who know her best, at times, treat her like a freak. No child should have to endure what she has. Ginny is such a sweet girl and would never hurt anyone. If it weren’t for her friends at church, I don’t know what she’d do.”
A tear rolled down Eleanor’s cheek. “I know. It makes me sad to see her so unhappy. I—I wish God would have given that birthmark to me instead of her. I would gladly do anything t
o spare her such misery.”
“So would I. She’s such a delicate, undemanding child. This waiting is killing me. I feel so helpless, El. I’m her father! I should be able to protect her from things that would hurt her.”
“Don’t put yourself down, Bob. You’re a wonderful father. The very best. She’s lucky to have you.”
He walked to the window and stared out into their small backyard. “I have to do something, El. Time is running out. I desperately want her to be able to live a normal life. I haven’t wanted to tell you, since I knew it will upset you, but Cal Bender wants me to work even more hours for him—help him with some important computer marketing promotions.”
“You’d quit Scrooge’s?”
He gave his head a vigorous shake. “No, I’d never quit that job. Mr. Scrooge has been too good to me, and he’s been more than fair with my salary as head of his accounting department, but it’s just not enough to cover the huge expense of Ginny’s treatments. Cal wants me to work more hours each weeknight and even work on Saturdays. If we save everything I make, maybe, just maybe, eventually, God will lead us to a specialist who through of the goodness of his heart would take Ginny on as a patient at a lesser fee.”
“You’d be away from us more every evening and Saturdays? What would we ever do without you?”
“I don’t want to be away from you and the children at all, El, but there seems to be no other way.”
“I can’t imagine being separated from you any more than we already are. You wouldn’t even be here to lead us in our family devotions!” Eleanor circled her arms about his waist and leaned her head against his chest. “I—I wish there were some way I could help. Maybe I could take a job. I’m good at sewing. Maybe I could work in the alteration room at Scrooge’s.”
“I don’t want you to work, El. You need to be right here at home. Kari, Ginny, and Bobby are in school all day so they wouldn’t be a problem, but by the time we’d pay a baby-sitter to take care of Megan and baby Janelle there wouldn’t be much left over.” Bob wrapped his arms about her tightly. “God gave these five children to us, and He’ll provide for them. You’re the perfect mother. Our children, especially Ginny, need you here at home, and so do I.”
Truly Yours Contemporary Collection December 2014 Page 11