The Calling

by Deborah A Hodge

  Throughout the continuing weeks of her mother’s chemo, Cate continued confiding in both David and Matthew. Even though he was struggling, David continued to try to be there for Cate. Regardless of what he or Matthew did or said, Cate grew thinner and more tired.

  It was so difficult for her to be so far away from her parents during the time of her mother’s illness. She admitted to Matthew and David that though the emails and phone calls were good, they were not as good as being there, and being able to see her mother, hug her mother, and talk to her parents.

  Matthew and David finally came up with a solution. They called Edward Randall, a friend of theirs who lived in Quito. Edward worked for an American corporation that did export business in Ecuador. Edward had access to corporate jets and corporate seats on regular airlines, and he had on occasion offered Matthew and David free trips to the U.S. or else where. Neither one had ever taken him up on his offer, but both were willing to approach him about helping Cate go home for a visit. This would be the best early Christmas present they could give Cate, and maybe the best medicine for what was ailing her.

  Edward was glad to help. With transportation for the trip home taken care of, Matthew and David began to take care of the other things so Cate could go home. Once they had taken care of all the arrangements, the only thing left to do was to tell Cate. They decided to wait until the end of school that day.

  As school was letting out, Matthew and David were standing in the door. Cate was hugging her students and telling them goodbye, when she looked up and saw them. Her first thought was something was wrong and that they had come to give her bad news.

  “Is there something wrong with my mother?” she asked, holding her breath.

  Realizing they had alarmed her by their presence, Matthew and David, both spoke, “Everything is all right. We have a surprise for you, an early Christmas present.”

  “An early Christmas present…” Cate’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the two of them.

  “Yes, we’ve made arrangements for you to go home for a visit,” Matthew said.

  Astonished at what she had heard, Cate asked, “Home?”

  “Home,” David said, “and you can stay until after the New Year.”

  “What? How?”

  “Yep, it’s all arranged,” Matthew said happily.

  “But, the cost,” Cate objected.

  “No cost, it’s free,” Matthew said.

  Trying to grasp it all, Cate repeated, “Free.”

  “Free,” David said.

  “But, how?”

  “Don’t worry about how,” Matthew answered.

  “But, what about my classes?”

  “All arranged,” Matthew said.

  “What about someone to stay with Sarah when you’re away?” Cate asked, as she looked at David.

  “Everything has been taken care of. All you have to worry about is packing,” David assured her.

  “When do I leave?” Cate asked, as it finally sank in.

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow, what time?”

  “Around ten o’clock in the morning.”

  “I don’t know who exactly is responsible for this or how it was accomplished, but I’m very grateful. I couldn’t get a better present,” Cate said, with a happiness in her voice that hadn’t been there for a while.

  “We, Dr. Patterson, and a mutual friend helped and we were all glad to do it,” Matthew said.

  “Well, I’ll hug you two now, and Dr. Patterson and your friend later.” Cate said, as she hugged them. “I guess I had better let my parents know that I’m coming home and then pack.”

  “They already know,” David said. “I talked to your dad this morning.”

  Cate shrugged, “Well, I guess I need to pack.”

  Matthew took her arm, “I’ll walk you home.”

  “And, I’ll see you tomorrow,” David said.

  “Huh,”

  “Matthew and I are taking you to the airport.”

  Sixteen

  A trip home was just what Cate needed, to see her mother and know she was all right. Her dad met her at the airport, and she ran to his waiting arms.

  “Catie, welcome home,” he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.

  Cate gladly accepted his hug and kisses, “Thanks, it’s great to be home.”

  “Let me look at you sweetheart,” he said as he held her at arm’s length. “Don’t they feed you down there?”

  “Yes, Daddy they feed me. I just haven’t been able to eat.”

  “Catie you look tired.”

  “Well, you look good to me. Daddy, it’s good to see you,” Cate hugged him and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. She had needed to see him too; he was a tower of strength for her and the perfect example of a godly man and father. She knew she was a lucky daughter and blessed to be home.

  “Well, I guess, we had better go get your luggage and get home. Your mom is waiting.”

  They made their way to the baggage area, retrieved her luggage and started home. Now that she and her dad were face to face, she had nagging questions about her mother’s illness and prognosis.

  “Daddy, is mom going to be all right?”

  “The doctors think so, and so do I.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure, I told you that in my emails.”

  “I know dad, but when you’re far away... It’s sometimes difficult to really believe it.”

  “Believe it honey. Your mom is going to be all right.” Her dad tried to prepare her for what she would see, “Catie, she’s lost a lot of weight, and doesn’t have much hair, she’ll probably be wearing a scarf around her head.”

  “I’ll be okay, Dad.”

  “I just wanted you to be aware that you’ll probably be shocked when you see her.”

  “I know, Dad. It’ll be okay.” She reached over and placed her hand on her father’s, “I just can’t wait to be able to hug her and tell her that I love her.” Cate was determined to master her emotions and be a source of strong support for her mother.

  When she entered the house and walked toward the living room where her mom was waiting, she said a quick prayer. She was shocked when she saw her mom, but she prayed the Lord would help her handle it. She walked quickly toward her mother.

  “Oh, Mom, you don’t know how glad I am to see you.”

  “Oh, Cate, me too.”

  Cate and her mother hugged and held each other for a long time, exchanging “I love you and I’m so glad to see you” several times. They all talked until it was time to go to bed. Cate and her parents went to bed that night offering the Lord thanksgiving that she was home.

  Being home was good medicine for Cate’s mom. Even though she had given her only daughter to God, she missed her tremendously. She hadn’t realized how much until Cate walked through the door. Having Cate home for the holidays made the holidays more special.

  Cate had arrived home in time to help her father decorate for Christmas and finish shopping for Christmas presents. They enjoyed the decorating, and even though her dad had never liked shopping, this year, he seemed to. Cate liked shopping, but she loved spending time with her dad more.

  She was glad to step in for her mom, even for the Christmas entertaining. Each year, her dad held a Christmas party at his home for the church staff and their families. He had wondered how he was going to do it this year.

  “Dad, have you had the staff party yet?”

  “No, honey I haven’t.”

  “Can I help you prepare for it?”

  “You want to help with the party?” her mother asked.

  “Sure I do, it will be fun.”

  Her mother looked at her dad with a surprised but pleased expression.

  “Well, if you’re sure,” her dad said.

  “Great, when were you thinking about having it?”

  “How about a week from today?”

  “Sure, mom can help me decide on the menu, and you and I will shop for the food.”

  He
r dad laughed, “You want me to be your shopping buddy?”

  “Yep, unless mom feels up to it.”

  “I’m afraid not, at least not now,” her mom said. “And, I have something else for you and your shopping buddy.”

  “What?”

  “Christmas presents. We need Christmas presents for your brothers and their families.”

  “Okay shopping buddy,” Cate said, “looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

  “Yeah,” her dad muttered.

  “Jonathan, it’ll be fun,” Cate’s mother chided.

  “Carolyn, you must be delirious.”

  They all laughed. Cate loved it; she was home.

  She and her father did have fun shopping, and her mother laughed as they talked about their escapades. They all wrapped presents together and reminisced about Christmases past.

  Preparation for the staff party was something else they did together. Cate and her dad cleaned, cooked and her mother supervised. When the night came for the party everything was ready and looked beautiful, even Cate’s mother. Carolyn Jones had always been a beautiful woman. And while the treatments had taken her dark brown hair, the sparkle from her blue eyes, and had caused her to have a sickly pallor and lose weight, this night no one noticed. Cate and her father bought her a pretty dress and turban for the occasion. Cate helped her with her make-up and everyone was amazed as she entered the room.

  The Christmas staff party was a wonderful success. Everyone enjoyed the good fellowship, food and fun. Cate answered many questions about Ecuador and her work there.

  “Cate, it’s wonderful to see you,” Mrs. Overton said.

  “Is Ecuador as beautiful as they say?” Mr. Hill asked.

  “How is the teaching going?” Clay Mitchell inquired with interest.

  “How’s Jenny’s little girl?” Raven Taylor wanted to know.

  “How’s David?” Benton Powell asked.

  Cate was glad to see everyone and told them what they wanted to know. It was fun to laugh and see her mother be the wonderful and warm hostess she had always been. When it was over Cate hated to see the night end.

  In preparation for the rest of the family coming home for Christmas, Cate and her mom made sugar cookies and candies. Her brothers and their families would be home on Christmas Eve and Cate’s sisters-in-law would help with the preparation of Christmas breakfast and Christmas lunch, Christmas dinner would be leftovers.

  Her brothers and their families arrived right on schedule and Cate happily greeted them.

  “Hey, you guys,”

  “Hey, sis,” her brothers yelled, as they walked toward the trunk of their cars.

  “Hey, Cate,” her sisters-in-law waved as they joined their husbands.

  “Aunt Cate!” the nephews and nieces squealed as they swarmed her with hugs and kisses.

  Cate stood back to eye the children, “Wow, I can’t believe how much you all have grown.”

  Her brothers and their wives were taking the suitcases and boxes of goodies from their cars. Cate went to assist, “Can I help?”

  “Sure,” Thomas, her oldest brother, loaded her down.

  “She’s not a pack mule,” Keaton, his wife, pointed out.

  “My mistake. She looked a little horsey to me.”

  “Very funny,” Cate said.

  “She looks a little skinny to me,” Paul, her other brother, said.

  “So, she’s a little philly,” Thomas joked.

  “And, she shouldn’t be trying to carry that load you gave her,” Keaton repeated.

  “I’m okay,” Cate replied.

  “No, you’re not,” Hope, Paul’s wife said.

  “Okay, all ready. Sis, give me some of that,” Thomas reached for the packages.

  “Nope, I’ve got it, I told you.”

  “You’re right Keaton. She’s not a horse. She’s a mule, a stubborn mule,” Thomas said, as Cate started toward the house with her load.

  Soon the cars were unloaded and everyone was settled in their rooms. The nieces and nephews occupied themselves with board games, card games and television, while the adults reminisced about past Christmases.

  Observing family tradition, soup, sandwiches, chips, dip, Christmas cookies, and candies were consumed for Christmas Eve dinner, and afterwards, Cate’s dad read the Christmas story from Luke 2. After he finished, he led the family in a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s great gift of His Son, and prayed for his wife and his family. It was a wonderful time of family worship.

  Cate watched her mother throughout the celebration and traditions of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Her mom was happy, and Cate was grateful she was there to witness it.

  Cate had seen her mother gaining strength throughout her time at home. From the first day she arrived, she could tell the difference. Her mother had had a treatment on the Monday after Cate had arrived and still she seemed stronger than she had been the day Cate had arrived. She was smiling more and eating more. Cate and her dad thanked God for the improvement.

  “Having you and the rest of the family home has been good medicine,” her dad told her.

  Her mom looked much different to her. She was still skinny, but she didn’t look as sickly. Her family was a source of joy for her, and their presence this Christmas was particularly enjoyable.

  As she talked with her brothers and their wives, Cate discovered they had also noticed the difference.

  “Mom, sure looks better,” Keaton observed.

  Thomas smiled and added, “When I saw her two weeks ago, it hurt me to see how thin and sickly she looked.”

  “Cate must be good medicine,” Hope said.

  “I think having us all here is good medicine.”

  “I think you’re right sis,” Paul said.

  “She does love her family,” Keaton pointed out.

  “I want to thank all of you for helping out while mom’s been sick. I’m sorry I haven’t helped more,” Cate said.

  “Hey,” Thomas put his arm around Cate, “that’s what family is for.”

  “Yeah, but I can’t take turns staying to help take care of mom, cook and clean like you guys do, and I feel guilty,” Cate’s eyes moistened with tears.

  “Cate, you’re in Ecuador where God wants you to be. We’re here where we are supposed to be and we’re doing what we need to do. We’re doing it for you too, so let us little sis,” Thomas said.

  “Cate, we’re proud of you.” Paul lovingly touched her shoulder, “You’re an inspiration to us and your nephews and nieces.”

  “All of our kids pray for you every day,” Keaton told her.

  “They tell all of their little friends about you,” Hope said.

  “Wow, thank you. I love you guys.”

  “We love you too, sis,” Thomas said, for all of them.

  “Cate, how’d you get so skinny?” Paul squeezed her shoulder, “Don’t you like the food in Ecuador?”

  “Yes, I like the food in Ecuador. I’ve just been a little preoccupied with mom’s condition.”

  “Well, you’ve got to stop,” Keaton demanded, gently.

  “I’ll be fine now, Now that I see how well mom is doing.”

  “You’d better be fine. You’d hate for me and Paul to come to Ecuador to kick your tail,” Thomas said, in big brother fashion.

  “Nice,” Cate shook her head.

  “It could happen you know,” Thomas assured her.

  Cate smiled because she knew it was his way of telling her how much he cared about her.

  “Anyway, mom’s only got three more chemo treatments to go,” Paul said.

  “And, then comes the radiation,” Hope replied.

  “Yep, and after that, we’re looking forward to hearing that there’s no cancer,” Keaton added.

  “That’s what we’re praying for and the doctors are very positive.” Thomas pointed out.

  Cate loved talking to her brothers and their wives. Her brothers, Thomas and Paul were tall, dark haired versions of her dad, right down to their a
thletic build. They weren’t preachers, but they were both leaders in their local churches.

  They asked her about Ecuador, her work, and her friends. Cate had written them letters, but they had questions about things which she had not written.

  “How’s your work going in Ecuador?” Keaton asked.

  “It’s great; I love teaching there. I love the kids.”

  “How are David and Sarah?” Thomas asked.

  “They’re doing well.”

  “What about the caretaking thing? How’s that going?” Hope asked.

  “It’s great. Sarah’s a doll.”

  “What about your boss, Matthew Kennedy? Didn’t he and David help make your trip home possible?” Keaton inquired.

  “Yes, they did. Matthew’s wonderful.”

  “Wonderful, huh?” Thomas arched his eyebrows, “Maybe you had better tell us more.”

  “Matthew is a really good, godly guy. We’ve been spending time together.”

  “You have,” Keaton said.

  “We have.”

  “And, how does David feel about that?” Paul asked, as Hope tried to shush him.

  Blushing a little, Cate answered, “Paul, David and Matthew are very good friends.”

  Realizing how uncomfortable the question made Cate, Hope poked her husband, “Paul, don’t tease your sister like that.”

  “I’m sorry, Cate. I was kidding.”

  “It’s okay, Paul.”

  “Well, folks it’s getting late and Christmas comes early tomorrow. I think I’ll hit the bed,” Thomas rose, trying to give his sister a break. He knew how she felt about David. They all did.

  After everyone went to bed, Cate found herself thinking about Ecuador. Talking about it had made her homesick for Ecuador, but that didn’t make sense, I ‘am’ home.

  Seventeen

  The day after Christmas, her brothers and their families left for home. Cate and her parents hated to see them go.

  During her last week at home, Cate spent the time with her parents. She accompanied them to her mother’s treatment. Her mother seemed to do better this time, with fewer side effects. Cate learned that her parents knew more about her last few months in Ecuador than she’d realized. “I’ve enjoyed my time here more than I can say.”