“For many years, I was jealous of your family. I watched you as you all sat around your living room, playing games and simply enjoying each other. Even after Denny’s death, you all knew how to care for each other. I have also watched you grow into a compassionate woman. You so freely and without hesitation simply enjoy life. I want you to know that I am ready to go to God and looking forward to that blessing. Do not mourn for me, but celebrate what we have discovered as women—the gift of friendship, laughter, and honest conversations. You, my dear friend, have a lot of love in you; give it away and watch it come back to you in many exciting new ways. Now I think I need to talk to Lindy for a little while.”
Rebecca closed her eyes as Grace let go of her hand and silently left the room. Before she closed the door, she turned to look one more time at Rebecca. Yes, Grace said to herself, That is what an angel looks like.
*
Lindy was sitting at the top of the stairs, knowing that it soon would be her turn. As Grace walked up to her, she just put her hand on Lindy’s shoulder and continued to walk down the stairs. Lindy was well aware of what death looked like and how no two people left this earth in the same way. Some fought until their last breath, while others found a peace to almost welcome their passing. She knew Rebecca would find peace.
When she walked into the bedroom, she noticed a glow around Rebecca’s face. Rebecca quickly took Lindy’s hand and said, “Well, my bigger-than-life friend, we both know that this is the end. I hope that you can see that I am ready. You have been so much fun for me. Where I am dull, you have added color and sparkles. When I was timid, you transferred your big love of the adventure to me. You helped me to be strong. You showed me how to be brave, and yes, at times, you gave me the joy of learning how to act silly. God has given you a very special gift of bringing comfort and honesty to the sick. I know these past few weeks have been very difficult for you. You have been my nurse as well as my friend. However, I need to thank you for being both. Without your assistance, I would have never been able to take the cruise. Oh, what fun we had being pampered, spoiled, and treated like queens. Thank you for making fun-filled memories for all of us. Use your gifts wisely; bring comfort and joy to those who need your special, gentle touch. Your gifts are needed by so many. Now it is time for me to see Mom. Promise me that you will be with her and care for her after I am gone.”
Lindy could not get the words out of her mouth. She simply nodded, gave Rebecca a hug, and left the room.
*
Monica was waiting outside Rebecca’s room. Although she did not mean to, she overheard the conversation that had just taken place. She knew that she was saying good-bye to her daughter. There was nothing that she could do to stop what was happening. Monica would have gladly traded places with Rebecca, but that was not how this day was going to end. Her last gift to her precious daughter would be to tell her it was okay to leave.
When Rebecca saw Monica at the door, she thought that Grandma Ruby was standing beside her. She motioned her to come to her bed. Monica kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed next to Rebecca. She held her as she had held her as a little girl, gently rocking her and kissing her cheeks and forehead. Rebecca sighed and then started to speak.
“It is so strange that even as a grown woman, I still need your hugs and gentle kisses, and most of all, I need you to know how much I love you. You always made me feel that I was loved, wanted, and could do anything I put my mind to. You gave me a sense of purpose in my life. You could have been bitter about how life treated you, but instead, you found happiness in our precious little house on Bancroft Street. I learned to honor others because of Grandma Ruby and the entire heritage she passed on to me. You have sacrificed for me. No one could have given me a better life than you did.
“I know how painful this is for you, and I wish with all my heart that I could take away the pain this is causing you. I want you to know that I am ready. I am ready to see God and soar to heaven. I cannot wait to tell him what a wonderful woman you are. Think of me as being in the arms of God, with Grandma Ruby at his side, and know that it is okay. I love you so much, Mom.”
Monica just continued to hold Rebecca, gently rocking her frail body. Softly, she kissed her cheeks and told her that it was okay for her to go to God. “I am going to be all right,” she told her over and over again. “Rebecca, go to God and rejoice in his glory and grace. You have earned a special place with him. You have been my gift. Now I give you back to him.”
Monica fell asleep with her daughter resting gently in her arms. When she awoke an hour later, Rebecca was gone. She stood up and looked at her child, fixed her hair, and straightened her nightgown.
Slowly she left the room and told the others that Rebecca was gone. Then she took her purse, put on her coat, and left. She walked down the streets of Fergus Falls back to her little house on Bancroft Street. She made a cup of coffee and ate her daughter’s favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. She knew that somehow, tomorrow she would begin to find a way to fill the deep hole within her. She also knew that she would find some way to honor Rebecca’s life.
Two days later, they gathered at Bethlehem Lutheran Church for a small, private memorial service. Rebecca’s body, per her request, was donated for research. Dr. Sal had come to be with Lindy. Emily, Grace, and Lindy sang “Amazing Grace.” They knew they would never sing that song together again.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Two Years Later
Emily
Emily truly adored the home that she had created. The once-cold house had been transformed into a loving home for her and Lindy. They hosted many fundraising parties. There always seemed to be someone at the kitchen table sharing a cup of coffee.
After Rebecca’s death, Emily decided to become involved in city politics. She knew that she would never sell the house or live anywhere else but in Fergus Falls. She served on a committee to bring new business and industry back to the downtown area and helped to organize a fundraising drive for the expansion of the high school. She had been successful in bringing a new vitality back to Lincoln Avenue. Emily felt that she had finally found her purpose in Fergus Falls.
To her great amazement, she was asked to run for mayor. The local bank and many prominent business owners quickly endorsed her. They loved her exciting, new ideas to bring Fergus Falls back to its days of glory. In November, she won the election and became the first female mayor of Fergus Falls. The morning she was sworn into office, her two best friends, Grace and Lindy, held her Bible as she promised to fulfill the duties of her office.
Shortly after Christmas, her doorbell rang. Emily opened the door for a long-awaited visit from the McMahons, who had easily found her on the Internet. She stared with wonder into the face of Rebecca Grace McMahon. Her name suited her well, with her curly auburn hair and big blue eyes. It did not take long for Emily to realize that although Rebecca had Danny Driscoll’s physical features, she also had the gentle and caring nature of Emily.
For most of their two-day visit, they all sat around the kitchen table and talked for hours. The McMahons brought their photo albums to show how Rebecca had grown over the years. Rebecca told Emily how much she enjoyed music and her choral group in high school. Emily shared with them her childhood memories. She told them all about the girls of SOLA and how they had reconnected as women. She told Rebecca all about her namesakes and why she had chosen those special names for her. Before they left to return to Wisconsin, Emily drove them around Fergus Falls, stopping at the newly constructed hospice. Emily asked the McMahons’ permission to take a walk with Rebecca before they left for home.
Together, the mother and daughter, separated since birth, slowly walked around Lake Alice. First, there was silence, and then Emily began to speak. “Rebecca, giving you up for adoption was the most honest act of love that I have ever committed. You need to know deep in your heart that it was because I loved you so much that I knew
I had to make sure your life was filled with love and caring parents. At that time in my life, I had nothing to offer you. As soon as I met the McMahons, I knew my prayers had been answered. I am sure you might not understand my decision; however, you do need to know that I pray for you every day and you are always in my thoughts. Thank you for finding me and giving me a glimpse into your delightful life.” Rebecca simply took Emily’s hand as they finished their walk around the lake.
Just before leaving, Tom McMahon asked if it was possible to obtain a medical background on both Emily and Rebecca’s father. Rebecca had some allergy problems, and their doctor had requested more family medical history. Emily promised to get as much information as she could find for them.
Rebecca and Emily’s relationship was in the early building stage, but it held the promise of becoming a new dimension in Emily’s life. Emily was so pleased to see what a caring young woman Rebecca had grown up to be. There was something in her smile that reminded Emily of the lady she had been named after. Emily had no idea where their relationship would go, but she was so grateful that the young Rebecca had come to meet her. After Rebecca left, Emily wrote a letter to the McMahons thanking them for loving and raising this very special young lady.
Emily kept her promise to provide family medical information to the McMahons. It did not take too long for her to find out how Danny’s life had turned out. She Googled Danny Driscoll and found several articles about him. Sadly, she read stories about his arrests for drug possession. Emily sighed as she read an article detailing his standoff with Madison police and his suicide three years after she had left him. After many more hours of searching the Internet, Emily was never able to find any of Danny’s family.
That night, she spent a long time in conversation with God. She thanked God for the beautiful daughter that she had been given. She also thanked him for giving her the wisdom to leave a lifestyle that was so wrong in so many ways. Finally, she asked God to forgive Danny for all his poor choices and to give him the peace that he had never found in his life.
*
Tonight was the second anniversary of Rebecca’s death. One year ago, each of them simply tried to get through the day alone. It had proven to be far too painful. This year, they were all gathering at Emily’s for a special meal and a celebration of Rebecca’s life. Emily prepared the dinner herself with all of Rebecca’s favorite foods. Monica was invited and told Emily that she would bring dessert. Emily knew it was time to move forward. As she set the dining room table with her special Norwegian dishes, she smiled and remembered a special time not so long ago.
Grace
Grace had wept for days after Rebecca’s death. Then she realized that Rebecca would want her to get back to her normal life, although now there would be a “new normal.” Life without Rebecca left a hole that Grace decided to fill by working as many hours as she could each day. She knew that she needed to get back to Claire’s. It would soon be time to make the annual buying trip. She had responsibilities to her staff and her customers. A week later, she was in the window putting the finishing touches on the Valentine’s Day display when she heard a tap on the window. She turned around to see Warren and his three daughters smiling back at her.
Warren invited her to join them for an ice cream sundae across the street at the Viking Café. Without hesitation, Grace accepted. From that day on, her life changed. She adored the Brooks girls, and they quickly became attached to Grace. She helped Warren with their clothes and took them to her hairdresser for stylish new hairdos. She taught them how to ice-skate on Lake Alice. On cold winter evenings, she taught the girls how to knit.
In the meantime, she also discovered that Warren was a wonderful man. They began to date on a regular basis, both with and without the girls. Quickly, they discovered that they had fallen into a very comfortable love. Grace spent many of her evenings and weekends at Warren’s house, working side by side with him on his remodeling projects. Grace often smiled as she looked out Warren’s front window to see Emily’s beautiful house next door.
In May, Warren surprised Grace by stopping in Claire’s and requesting a special outfit for each of the girls. As he was walking out of the store with new outfits and a big smile on his face, he asked if she would join them for dinner that night. Grace gladly accepted and told Warren there was no need to be so formal. He simply smiled and said, “We will see you at seven o’clock.”
When Grace arrived, she found the table in the dining room beautifully set and fresh flowers everywhere she looked. The girls were all dressed in their new outfits and Warren in his best business suit. Warren offered her a seat in the chair by the fireplace. The girls were sitting quietly on the sofa as Warren carried in a tray with five Waterford crystal champagne flutes. Two were filled with Asti and three with apple juice. Before Grace could ask what was going on, the girls jumped to their feet, begging Warren to “do it now.”
Warren handed the champagne to Grace. Then he knelt down in front of her and said, “Grace, I know you might think this is too sudden; however, I have a question for you. All of us would like to ask you if you will marry us and join our family. You have given us the love that we have been missing for such a long time. We want to begin a new life with you.”
Grace simply said, “Yes, I would be honored to become a Brooks girl.” They all had a group hug with tears in their eyes.
In August, they were married, in a church filled with friends. They took the girls with them on their honeymoon to a cabin on Ottertail Lake. When they returned to Warren’s home overlooking Lake Alice, Grace and Warren began to remodel the last of the rooms in their home. Four months later, Grace announced that their family would be expanding. To their surprise, her doctor informed Grace that she was having twins. On a beautiful spring day, Grace welcomed Claire and Dennis Brooks into the world. Grace thanked God as she softly sang “Amazing Grace” to her two miracles.
Grace went back to work after six weeks with the babies. They had created a small nursery for them at the store, and they became the center of everyone’s attention. Grace loved her new life and knew how truly blessed she was.
*
Tonight she was going to dinner next door at her best friend’s house alone. She felt deep in her soul that Rebecca was part of her life. She prayed that her daughters would grow up to be loving, caring women, just like her friends. As she stepped onto Emily’s front porch, she was overwhelmed with memories of the past. However, tonight, she also felt the warm, gentle presence of all the joy that Rebecca had given to her over the years. It was time to cherish those memories; the pain was almost gone. It had been replaced with a certainty that Rebecca was watching over them.
Lindy
Wow, what a busy day Lindy had today, but the timing seemed to be perfect. This morning, she attended Emily’s swearing-in ceremony. This afternoon, Lindy and Dr. Sal had the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of Rebecca’s Place. The hospice would accommodate twelve patients in their final days. The building was across the street from Lake Regional Hospital; however, you would never guess that this quaint building was a hospice. The one-story building was shaped in a large square. Each of the spacious and beautiful rooms faced a quiet courtyard that had a large statue of an angel in the middle of a pond. The courtyard would be filled with flowers in the spring and summer. During the fall, the large maple and oak trees would change colors; and at Christmas, Lindy planned to decorate the area with thousands of tiny white lights.
Emily and Lindy also decided that Emily’s spare bedrooms would be offered to family members as a place to go and rest from their daily sorrow and pain at the hospice. Lindy had moved to the third floor of Emily’s house and created a delightful loft, where she spent hours painting and creating wonderful pieces of art, which had now found a home at Rebecca’s Place.
As the crowd passed through the hospice, people commented on the feeling of peace that seemed to surround t
hem in each of the rooms. Dr. Sal and Lindy proudly greeted everyone as they arrived. After Rebecca’s funeral, Sal had told Lindy that although Chicago was where his family was, he knew that Fergus Falls was where his heart was. They fell into a comfortable relationship. They worked side by side to design the special hospice. They were committed to working with a staff of dedicated and caring people.
Lindy had learned a week after Rebecca’s death that she was named the executor of Rebecca’s multimillion-dollar estate. Rebecca had written each of the girls a letter. In Lindy’s letter, she told her to make sure that her mother, Monica, was always cared for; the balance of the money should be used to do something for others. She told Lindy that she was sure that she would find the right project and then do it with her special flair. As Lindy watched the people coming to see the finished dream, she knew that Rebecca was happy with her choice.
Once the last of the crowd left, Sal and Lindy were in a hurry to prepare for their first patients. A forty-year-old woman in her final days after a long battle with breast cancer was scheduled to arrive in two hours with her husband and two teenage girls at her side. They knew they were prepared to give this family a comfortable place to stay.
Sal found Lindy putting away the punch bowl in the community room. He turned her around and held her in his arms, giving her one of his wonderful hugs. Then he said, “My precious Lindy, we have completed one project today, and my wish is to begin a new one before sundown. Will you give me the honor of marrying me?”
Sisterhood Of Lake Alice Page 23