****
Jody sat at her work computer and re-read the e-mail from Mr. Grossman’s office. In her six and a half years as an administrative assistant at Grossman Manufacturing, an American firm based in Australia, she’d met the big boss only once, and that was at the orientation for new employees. Even back then, he’d seemed formidable and totally unapproachable. When she’d gotten the message earlier that morning to report to his office at eleven o’clock sharp, her imagination had run wild. Why did he want to see her? What could she have done wrong? The misdeed had to be something terrible. She racked her brain for possible reasons for the boss’s summons. It was all she could do to keep from panicking for the two hours before the meeting.
Shortly before eleven, she left her cubicle and headed for Mr. Grossman’s office located on the floor just above hers. Nervously flexing her fists, she took the elevator to the third floor and walked down the long hallway to the large suite at the end. Her heart pounded and her mouth was dry. She forced her mind not to picture the worst. As she approached his office, she rubbed her sweaty palms against her slacks to dry them. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened the door into the reception area.
A middle-aged, well-coiffed receptionist sat at a small desk, her eyes glued to a computer screen.
“Excuse me. I’m Jody O’Dair. Mr. Grossman asked to see me.”
The woman looked up and smiled. “Yes, Mr. Grossman is expecting you. I’ll tell him you’re here. His office is through the door on the right.” She pressed an intercom button and announced Jody’s arrival.
Jody’s heart raced. She walked through the door, and the smell of an extinguished cigar struck her nostrils with force. She coughed. Saundra, her co-worker, had warned her about the boss. He was old-school business, the fading breed that made decisions over strong black coffee and high-priced cigars. He was a patriot, too, and bought only cigars manufactured in the Eastern United States.
Jody approached the desk. The room was large and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Sydney. On one wall, built-in mahogany bookcases displayed leather-bound volumes and several bronze sculptures. In the background, Jody could barely hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons playing on the radio.
She stopped at the desk. Behind it sat the man who held her future in his hands.
He looked up, a sheaf of papers in his hands. “Good morning, Mrs. O’Dair.”
Yes. He was old school, all right, still using Mrs. instead of Ms.
“Please have a seat.”
Jody sat down in the narrow brown leather chair in front of the desk and clasped her hands in her lap. “You asked to see me, sir.”
He pushed his glasses against the bridge of his nose. “Yes. Yes, indeed. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Mrs. O’Dair, but we find it necessary to dismiss you.”
A rush of fear shot through Jody’s veins. “Dismiss me? But you can’t dismiss me. I need this job.”
Mr. Grossman peered at her over the upper edge of his wide-rimmed glasses. “I understand, Mrs. O’Dair. For that very reason, it pains me greatly to have to let you go, but I simply cannot afford to keep you. The board and I have agonized over this decision, but there is nothing else we can do to avoid bankruptcy. Business has plummeted dangerously in the last several months, and I must let several of my lower-level employees go.”
“But what will I do? I have two small children to support.” She would not cry, especially not in front of him. “I’m all alone.” The last words cut deep into her soul even as she spoke them. Yes. She was all alone. No one to go to. Nowhere to turn.
“Perhaps you will find another job, although I know things are tough for everyone in this economy. I will be happy to give you an excellent reference. You have been one of our better employees.”
His words swirled over her, like storm clouds being driven in circles by a raging whirlwind.
She sat there for a moment longer, struggling to process what had just happened. “Are you sure you can’t put me in another department? I’ll do anything. Even scrub floors. Only please don’t fire me.”
Never did she dream that her desire for freedom would bring her to the point of utter desperation. Of abject begging. Of relinquishing her dignity and self-respect just to survive.
“Mrs. O’Dair, if there were something I could do for you, I would surely do it. But there is no work I can offer you at this point.” He stood, signaling her dismissal. “I will, however, keep your file in the event that something does come up.”
Jody caught the cue. She rose, her mind reeling in disbelief. “Very well, then. I’ll clean out my desk and return the office keys before I go.” She turned to leave.
“Mrs. O’Dair?”
Jody’s heart leapt. “Yes?” Maybe he’d changed his mind.
“Thank you for your service to our company.”
Her throat burned. As her world crumbled around her, she could only nod.
****
Sonia turned on the CD of traditional Christmas carols and started trimming the tree. After Rick’s death, she’d purchased a small artificial tree, just the right size for the credenza in front of the picture window in the living room. She could no longer bring herself to go to the tree farm where she and Rick had gone every year since their marriage.
Memories of the four of them making the yearly jaunt together right after Thanksgiving flooded her mind. She could still hear their shouts of delight as they found the perfect tree. Rick would cut it down, tie it with a length of thick rope he’d brought with him, and load it in the back of his pickup truck. Then they would all climb into the cab of the truck and drive home singing Christmas carols at decibel levels that could raise the dead.
A sob caught in her throat. Rick. The man she’d loved for twenty-eight wonderful years of marriage. Their life together had been cut off too soon. He’d been in his prime. The picture of health. Vibrant. Energetic. Excited about the future.
Until Jody’s disappearance.
After that, he’d become a different person, developed a heart condition, and within a few months, he was no longer the same Rick she’d married. He’d grown sullen. Morose. And angry. Sonia had never seen him release his pent up rage. Irritated at times, but never truly irate. Then his anger had turned to bitterness. A bitterness he’d held on to until the day he died.
All of her admonitions to surrender his life to Christ, to be born again, had meant nothing. When she’d urged him to forgive Jody, he’d become either enraged or withdrawn. No in between. No humble seeking of God’s help.
No repentance.
At least not that she knew of, unless he’d repented at the last moment.
Her heart shuddered. Losing Rick physically was bad enough, but the thought of losing him eternally was more than she could bear.
When she’d asked the doctor the cause of death, he’d looked at her a long time before replying. Then, with moistened eyes, he’d said, “Sonia, you know Rick had a heart problem. The stress of not knowing where Jody was weighed heavily on him. His heart just gave out. You could say Rick died of a broken heart.”
A broken heart. Could someone really die of a broken heart? If so, why was she still alive? Could anyone’s heart be more broken than her own? She, the one who’d carried Jody in her womb for nine months? Who’d endured the excruciating pains of childbirth? Who’d given up her own dreams to ensure that her daughter could fulfill her own?
She picked up an ornament from the storage box. Across the heart-shaped gold surface were engraved the words Love Never Fails. A gift from her women’s Bible study group. She hung it carefully on the tree, in a prominent place where she would be reminded of its message. God knew she would need it in the lonely days ahead.
Only she and Ben were left now. And Ben seemed emotionally absent most of the time. After Jody’s disappearance, he’d become bitter. And after his dad’s death, his heart had hardened. At times, Sonia hardly recognized him. The son who had once been so tender and open to her had now grown
distant and cold. Perhaps the Christmas season would remind him once again of the Savior’s love.
She reached for another ornament, and then another. One by one, she relived the memories. A flat silver ornament on a green string held a picture of Jody in the second grade. She’d made it with her own hands and then given it to Sonia and Rick as a Christmas present. On the back, Jody had printed her name and the year with a red crayon.
Tears spilled down Sonia’s cheeks as she hung the ornament right in front on the Christmas tree. Soon all of the ornaments were on the tree. There remained only the Star of Bethlehem to place at the top. She’d have Ben do that since he was much taller than she.
The snow continued to fall. Ben should be back soon. She’d get dinner started right away. Perhaps they could watch a movie. Anything to distract her from the overwhelming sorrow that ate at her heart.
****
By the time Jody reached Hilda’s house, a heavy rain had begun to fall. She parked her old blue Toyota Corolla—the only thing her ex-husband had left her besides a shattered life—alongside the curb and grabbed an umbrella from the backseat. The last thing she needed was for the children to get wet and catch cold.
Hilda greeted her at the door, one twin in her arms, the other tugging at her dress. “Oh, Jody, you missed a special event today.”
Jody didn’t think her heart could sink any lower, but it did.
“Micah rode his tricycle all by himself today.”
Jody burst into tears.
A look of concern spread across Hilda’s face. “Dear me, child. Did I say something wrong? I thought you’d be right proud of your boy.”
Jody couldn’t stop crying.
“Here now. Let’s get you in out of the rain.” The babysitter drew her into the room and shut the door. “I’m hopin’ those are tears of joy.”
Jody found a tissue in her purse and blew her nose. “I’m sorry, Hilda. It’s just that... It’s just that...”
“There, there, now. Not bein’ a mum meself, I don’t understand these things, but I dare say Micah has done a good thing, eh?”
Jody got control of herself. “A very good thing, Hilda. A very good thing, indeed.” She stooped down to Micah’s level. “Micah, mommy is so very proud of you. You are such a big boy.” Jody burst into tears again and drew Micah toward her in a tight embrace.
The boy nestled his head in the crux of her neck. “I rode my tricycle all by myself today, Mommy.” Then he lifted his head and gave Jody a smile that melted her heart.
“Hilda, I need to talk with you. Just for a moment.”
The older woman took Jody’s hand. “By all means. Would you like a cup of tea while we chat?”
“No, thank you. I need to get the children home. The rain is coming down hard, and I don’t want them out in this bad weather.”
“All right then. What would you tell me?”
Jody took Hilda’s hand. “I was fired from my job today. So I have no money to continue paying you. Of course, with no job, I can take care of the children myself—until I find another job, that is.”
“Oh, lassie. I’m so sorry to hear the news. But don’t you go worryin’ your tender little heart. The Lord, He will provide a way.”
Jody’s emotions stirred as she held Hilda’s gaze. “My mother used to tell me the same thing. That the Lord will make a way.”
“Well, your mother was tellin’ you the truth, child.”
“Hilda, as soon as I find another job, I’ll call you. There’s no one I trust more than you to take care of my children.”
“Thank you. That makes me glad. But I wonder if your own mother might make a better sitter than I.”
Jody’s muscles tensed. “My mother lives almost ten thousand miles away. On the continent of North America. In the state of Virginia.”
Hilda gasped. “Ten thousand miles! My, oh my. That’s far indeed. I know little about Virginia, except for what I’ve seen on the television. From what I remember, ‘tis a lovely place.”
For the first time that day, Jody smiled. “It is very lovely, Hilda. I wish I could take you there to see for yourself.”
“Will you be goin’ back?”
Jody’s heart caught. “I’d love to go back, but... “
“But what, child?”
Jody drew in a deep breath. “Let’s just say I left under difficult circumstances. I’m not sure my family would welcome me back.”
Hilda’s eyes grew wide. “T’ain’t no mother on earth in her right mind wouldn’t welcome a child who’d been gone, regardless of the reason.”
Jody took Hilda’s hands. “I’m afraid you may be a bit naïve, Hilda. Some mothers would rather never see their children again than forgive them.”
“But surely your mother is not one of them. If she were, she could never have produced a child as good as you.”
Jody suppressed a smile. “You don’t know me very well, Hilda. I’m not all you think I am.”
The older woman furrowed her brow. “You’ve been lyin’ to me, then?”
“Oh, no. Not lying. I’ve never lied to you, Hilda.” Jody lowered her eyes. “It’s just that I walked out on my family without telling them where I was going. I just left them a note. To this day, they have no idea where I am.”
“Lord, have mercy. You must tell them then, child. They’re probably frantic and worried sick over you.”
“Yes, I’m certain they are.” Jody looked up. “But it’s been seven years, Hilda. Seven long years. They’ve gone on with their lives without me. For me to contact them and try to re-enter their lives would be very selfish, wouldn’t it?”
“If you don’t mind my sayin’ so, I think you’re sorely mistaken.” Hilda picked up Greta and cradled her face. “Look at this cherub. If she disappeared for seven years and then came back, what would you do?”
Tears filled Jody’s eyes. “I’d hug her ˈtil there was no strength left in me. Then I’d hug her some more.”
“There now. You see.” Hilda tapped Jody’s arm. “And that’s exactly what your own mother will do when she sees you again.”
Jody sighed. “I wish I could be as confident as you.”
“Listen, child. I ain’t one to be givin’ advice unless asked, but I feel I need to give you my opinion. Go home to your family. Now is the best time. Look, the Lord has made a way for you by havin’ you fired.”
Jody laughed at the irony of it all. “So God had me fired?”
“Why, of course. Don’t you see? He’s wantin’ you to make amends with your family. Now’s the time, child. Now’s the time.”
A clap of thunder interrupted Jody’s thoughts. She placed a hand on Hilda’s arm. “Thank you. You have no idea how you’ve helped me today. When I left the office, I was in a daze. I had no idea which way to turn or what direction to take. But now I know what to do. I’m going to empty out my meager savings and go back home to Virginia. I have a better chance of finding work there. Best of all, my children will grow up around their grandparents and their uncle.”
Hilda smiled. “That’s the right thing to do, child. The right thing to do for sure.”
“Oh, Hilda. If I go, can you use a car? I have to get rid of mine.”
“̍Twould be a good thing to have, but I’m not able to buy it from you.”
“No, Hilda. I want to give it to you. It’s falling apart and hardly worth anything, but it will do for local traveling.”
Hilda hesitated.
“You’d be doing me a big favor by taking it. Otherwise, I’ll just donate it to a junkyard.”
“Well, if that be the case, then I’ll take it off your hands.”
“Thank you. I’ll drop it off on my way to the airport and then take a cab from here.”
Hilda nodded. “I’m much obliged to you for the gift.”
“I’m the one who is much obliged to you, Hilda.” Jody embraced the babysitter who had become like a second mother to her. “Stay well.”
“You too, child.” She chuckled. “
You got a lot of livin’ to do yet takin’ care of those angels.”
Jody laughed. “Let’s go, angels. Say goodbye to Auntie Hilda.”
Hilda picked up the twins one at a time and gave them a bear hug. Tears rolled down the older woman’s cheeks. “Now you be good for your mommy, you hear?” She handed Micah to Jody and took Greta by the hand.
When they reached the door, Jody embraced Hilda a second time. “Thank you again. When I get back home, I’ll write to you. Maybe one day, you’ll come to visit.”
The older woman laughed through her tears. “Imagine that. Old Hilda McNulty flyin’ in a big airplane to the other side of the world. That’ll give the neighbors somethin’ to talk about for a long, long time, won’t it now?”
Jody laughed too, grateful that the bad news of the day had turned into the prospect of a better future.
Or at least she hoped so.
****
The sound of the key rattling in the front door awakened Sonia. She lifted her head from the couch. “Ben, is that you?”
“Who else would it be?’ His words slurred.
Sonia pushed back the coverlet and sat up. “What time is it?”
“Half past eleven.”
“Half past eleven?” She rose and straightened her clothes. “Where have you been?”
He smelled of alcohol.
“Just out with my friends, catching up on life.”
Sonia approached him. “Ben Pettit, have you been drinking?”
Ben gave her a weak smile. “Come on, Mom. Can’t a guy have a beer once in a while?”
“I think you’ve had more than one. And I’m worried that it’s becoming more than once in a while.”
His face contorted, and anger flashed in his eyes. For an instant, Sonia feared him.
“Look, Mom, I’m not a drunk, if that’s what you’re worried about. I can handle my liquor.”
A Christmas Homecoming Page 2