“Yes, that’s right.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Todd’s voice sounded strained, and a vein on the side of his neck bulged. “Did you think I couldn’t handle it?”
“It wasn’t that. I was afraid if I revealed the truth that your father might somehow find out.”
“Dad didn’t know who my birth mother was?” Todd’s eyebrows drew together.
“Oh, he knew alright. It was your flesh-and-blood father I didn’t want to know about you.”
“I’m confused, Mom. Who is my real father, and why didn’t you want him to know about me?”
Noreen squirmed under Todd’s scrutiny as she explained about B.J. “And now, after all these years, B.J., whose real name is Bruce Jensen, made a sudden appearance. He’s been attending the quilting classes with me, but I didn’t know it was him at first. The truth of his identity came out later on.”
“Does he know about me?” Todd asked, sitting back in his chair, while Kara came and stood behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders. They were obviously quite shocked by this unexpected news.
“He didn’t know Judy was pregnant or that she’d given birth to a son until I let it slip during one of our quilting classes.” Noreen drew in a deep breath to help steady her nerves. “The thing is, B.J. has cancer, and according to him, he doesn’t have long to live. So I was wondering if…Would you be willing to meet B.J. after the quilt class this Saturday?”
Todd sat several seconds, reaching back and touching his wife’s hands. “I—I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”
C
HAPTER 39
When the quilting students arrived on Saturday morning, Emma was happy to see that, with the exception of B.J., they’d all finished with the quilted part of their wall hangings and were ready to put the bindings on. She was also pleased that Mike’s wife was with him.
“It’s good to have you back with us, Phyllis,” Emma said.
Phyllis smiled. “I’m glad I could be here for the last class. From what Mike has said, he’s enjoyed getting to know all of you and has learned a lot while taking the classes.”
Emma felt relieved because at first Mike hadn’t seemed comfortable.
She glanced at Erika and noticed that the young woman wore a genuine smile this morning. Apparently, she was happy to be here as well.
Maybe Lamar and I have done some good while teaching this class, Emma thought as she placed several pairs of scissors on the table, along with the material each person would use for their binding. At least everyone had learned the basics of quilting, and they all seemed to have enjoyed the class.
Emma looked at Kim, who was chatting with Jennifer. She was probably still hurting over her breakup with Jan, yet she tried to remain cheerful and interested in what the others were saying.
What a shame, Emma thought. I had hoped things would work out for her and Jan. I wish Star would have given herself the chance to get to know Kim better. I’m sure she would have realized what a sweet person she is.
“Emma, did you hear what I said?”
Emma jumped at the sound of Lamar’s voice, close to her ear.
“Uh…what was that?”
“I asked if you were going to explain to the students how to put their bindings on, or would you rather that I do it?”
“Oh, I was just going to do that,” Emma replied, feeling a bit flustered. She knew better than to let her mind wander like that—especially during one of their quilting classes. It was important to stay focused, and for the rest of the class, that’s what she planned to do.
First Emma explained how to cut, pin, and sew the binding to the edge of the wall hangings. Then, since B.J. had fallen behind last week because he wasn’t feeling well, Emma offered to help him finish his quilting, while the others took turns using the sewing machines to put their bindings on.
B.J. smiled, although it appeared to be strained. He was obviously not feeling well again this morning, and Emma’s heart went out to him. She knew that illness, injuries, financial problems, and many other painful things were a part of life, but it was hard to see people suffer, and she wished there was something she could do to make things better for B.J. She hoped, too, that as soon as today’s class was over, the poor man would make plans to return to Chicago to be with his daughters. He really needed their support during a time such as this. His illness was not something he should have to face alone.
Noreen worked quietly at one of the sewing machines, every once in a while glancing at her watch and wondering if Todd would show up. This morning he’d agreed to see B.J., so she’d given him Emma and Lamar’s address and said he should come by at the end of class. She didn’t want to interrupt their final lesson, and knew that Todd meeting B.J. could end up to be quite an emotional experience.
Maybe it would have been better if I’d suggested some other place for Todd and B.J. to meet, she thought. She’d chosen the Millers’ home because she knew they were good people and would have wise counsel to offer should things get sticky or too emotionally charged.
How different things would have been for me and Ben if Judy had married Bruce Jensen and they’d raised Todd themselves, Noreen continued to muse. Judy and Bruce were really young back then, so marriage and raising a child would have been a struggle for them, but Ben and I would have helped in any way we could.
Noreen had always wondered why things happened the way they did. Was there some big master plan for everyone’s life? It was true Judy would have struggled even if B.J. hadn’t been informed and she’d tried to raise the baby alone. Noreen knew that she and Ben would have given Judy a home and helped to make things easier for her and the baby.
But Noreen was certain of one thing: she had no regrets about raising Todd. She and Ben had been able to give their son a stable home. And if they hadn’t adopted Judy’s son, they would have missed out on the privilege and joy of raising him.
She lifted her gaze from the strip of material she’d been sewing and looked at B.J., who sat at the table beside Emma. She was pinning B.J.’s binding in place while he watched. Lines of fatigue etched his forehead, and the sparkle that had been in his eyes during the first quilt class was gone. The poor man probably wasn’t feeling well and wished he was home in bed.
Should I say something to B.J.? Noreen wondered. Maybe give him a heads-up that his son will be coming to meet him? Or would it better to wait and let him be surprised?
Noreen’s thoughts were halted when Jennifer, sitting at the sewing machine next to hers, groaned. Feeling concern, Noreen pivoted in her seat and said, “Are you okay?”
Jennifer rubbed the small of her back. “My lower back hurts this morning, and I’m having a hard time finding a comfortable position.”
“I’m almost done with my binding now,” Noreen said. “Would you like me to finish yours so you can sit on the couch and rest?”
Jennifer shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be okay.”
The truth was, Jennifer wasn’t okay. She’d been having sharp pains in her back since she got up this morning, and they seemed to be getting worse, no matter what position she was in. Could these pains mean she was in labor? Oh, surely not. Contractions were supposed to be felt in the stomach, not the back. Then again, as she recalled during one of her childbirth classes, their instructor had mentioned that some women had back pain during labor.
I’m sure I’m not one of them, though, she thought. My back just hurts because I’m so top-heavy up front.
“If everyone’s ready for a break, I’ll bring some snacks in now,” Emma said, rising from her seat at the table.
“I’ll help you,” Jennifer volunteered. She hoped that standing and moving around for a while might ease the pain in her back.
When they entered the kitchen, Emma placed a container filled with cookies on the table, and also a tray. “If you’d like to put the cookies on the tray,” she told Jennifer, “I’ll cut up some cheese and apple slices. Those will be be
tter for Mike than cookies.”
Jennifer nodded. “Oh, and Emma, I wanted to tell you that Randy and I found out who left the things on our porch,” Jennifer said as she placed several cookies on the tray.
Emma’s eyes widened. “Oh?”
“She’s a young Amish woman who works as a waitress at the restaurant where Randy works now. Her name is Anna Lambright. Randy said you know her, right?”
Emma’s cheeks colored. “As a matter of fact, I do. Anna used to live in Middlebury, Indiana, and she was a student in one of my quilting classes.”
“Did you know she was secretly helping us?” Jennifer questioned further.
“I knew she’d paid for your classes, but she asked me not say anything.” Emma put the cheese she’d cut on a second platter. “Anna went through some problems with her folks before she moved to Sarasota, and because of it, she’s become sensitive to other people’s needs,” Emma explained. “I hope you and Randy were able to accept her gifts without reservation.”
“We both felt funny about it at first, like we did when you and Lamar gave us food,” Jennifer admitted. “But after thinking things through, we realized that we needed to appreciate what had been done for us and not let our pride stand in the way.”
Emma began cutting the apples. “We all tend to be prideful at times, but God teaches us about the importance of humility. I believe that includes being willing to accept help from others.”
“I agree.” Jennifer picked up the tray of cookies. “Should I take these into the other room now?”
Emma nodded. “I’ll follow as soon as I’m finished with the apples.”
Jennifer had just entered the living room, when a sharp pain stabbed her lower back, this time, radiating around to her stomach. So much for feeling better when I’m on my feet, she thought, wincing.
“How did everyone’s week go?” Lamar asked as they all sat around the table eating their snacks.
“Mine was good,” Erika spoke up. “Last Saturday after class, Dad and I went to the beach. While we were there, we saw a group of sightless children being led on a rope.” Erika’s dimples deepened when she smiled. “Then one of their helpers, who I know from high school, came over and talked to me. After we visited awhile, I found out that they’re in need of volunteers at the blind school, so I offered to tutor a few kids who are having trouble in math.”
Emma left her seat and stood behind Erika. “I’m pleased to hear that, and I’m sure your help will be greatly appreciated,” she said, placing her hands on Erika’s shoulders. It did Emma’s heart good to hear the enthusiasm in the young woman’s voice and see the look of joy on her face. While she knew she couldn’t take any credit for this, Emma was glad Erika had made a turnaround from her negative attitude and found some purpose for her life. She prayed that God would guide and direct Erika in the years ahead to do His will and make the best of her situation. If there was one thing Emma had learned over the years, it was that most people, including those who were faced with physical limitations, had the ability to do something positive with their lives.
Emma noticed that Jennifer’s face was screwed up as though she were in pain. “What’s wrong, Jennifer?” she asked with concern.
Jennifer took a deep breath and placed her hands against her back. “I—I think I’m in labor.”
Just then, there was a knock on the front door. Emma hurried to answer it, and as she was about to ask the tall dark-haired young man who stood on her porch if she could help him, he said in a deep voice, “Is Bruce Jensen here? I was told that he’s my father, and I need to speak to him.”
C
HAPTER 40
Goshen
Star had just come out of the grocery store, when she spotted Ruby Lee Williams in the parking lot. Ruby Lee had taken the same quilting class as Star, and they’d gotten to know each other quite well. Ruby Lee’s husband, Gene, was a minister, and Star attended his church whenever she could, along with her dad.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Star asked, joining Ruby Lee at the trunk of her car, where she was loading several sacks of groceries.
Ruby Lee turned and smiled. “It’s going well, Star. How are things with you?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“I heard you and your dad went to Florida. How was your trip? Did you have a good time?”
Star shrugged her shoulders. “The beaches were nice, and the weather was warm, but Dad and I didn’t spend much time together.”
Ruby Lee’s dark eyebrows lifted slightly. “Really? How come? I thought the reason for the trip was so you two could spend some quality time together.”
“That’s what I thought, too, but Dad had other ideas.”
“Such as?”
Star folded her arms. “Dad met this woman named Kim, and he spent most of his time with her instead of me. You should have seen ’em, Ruby Lee. They acted like a couple of lovesick teenagers.” Star stuck her finger in her mouth and made a gagging sound. “It was just plain sickening.”
Ruby Lee’s surprised expression turned to one of joy. “So Jan has a girlfriend now? I think that’s wonderful, don’t you?”
A cold wind blew across the parking lot, causing Star to shiver. “Not really. I told Dad in a note how upset I was because he seemed to care more about Kim than me.”
“What’d he say about that?”
“Said it wasn’t true, and that he didn’t want anything to get in the way of our father-daughter relationship, so he broke things off with Kim.”
Ruby Lee tipped her head. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Sure, why not? I mean, Kim lives in Sarasota, and Dad lives here, so a long-distance relationship would have been dumb.”
Stopping to make more room in the trunk, Ruby Lee removed the last sack of groceries from her cart. After slamming the lid shut, she clasped Star’s arm, looking her right in the eyes. “I can understand the way you feel to a point, but don’t you think you’re being rather selfish trying to keep your dad from falling in love and making a life with the woman he loves?”
Star rubbed the back of her neck, where the frigid wind seemed to have settled. “He loved my mom once, but when she walked out of his life he got over it.”
“That’s not the point, Star,” Ruby Lee said gently. “I think I know Jan pretty well, and I don’t believe for one minute that he would push you out of his life if he fell in love and got married. There’s room enough in that big heart of his to love more than one person, and I personally think you ought to give him the freedom to date and fall in love with whomever he chooses.”
Star dropped her gaze to the ground, suddenly feeling like a heel. “I know Dad’s been miserable since he got home, and I suppose it’s my fault. Guess maybe I oughta do something to make it right. I just hope it won’t backfire in my face.”
Sarasota
Emma had just called the restaurant to let Randy know that Jennifer was in labor and had no more than hung up the telephone when it rang, startling her. Too much was happening too fast here today, and her stomach quivered from all the excitement. First, Jennifer going into labor, and then the young man showing up, proclaiming to be B.J.’s son. It was a bit overwhelming.
“Emma, aren’t you going to answer that?” Lamar asked, gesturing to the phone, still ringing.
“Jah, of course.” Emma picked up the phone and was surprised to hear Star on the other end.
“I hope I’m not calling at a bad time,” Star said, “but I was wondering if you had Kim’s phone number. I need to talk to her about something.”
“I do have her number, but Kim is here at the house right now, so would you like me to put her on?” Emma asked.
“Sure, that’d be great.”
Emma called Kim to the phone, and after Kim had taken the receiver, Emma moved back to the living room where Noreen, B.J., and the young dark-haired man stood near the door. She glanced quickly at Jennifer, now lying on the couch, waiting for Randy to come. Mike’s wife, Phyllis, sat nearby, offering
encouraging words to the expectant mother, while Erika and Mike looked on with concerned expressions.
“What’s this about you being my son?” B.J. asked, stepping up to the young man who had shown up a few minutes ago. Could it be possible, or was this some kind of a hoax?
“This is my adopted son, and he’s yours and Judy’s boy,” Noreen spoke up.
B.J.’s throat constricted as he stared at Todd, noting that the young man had some of his own characteristics—thick dark hair, like he’d once had, oval face, and slender build. However, he had Judy’s dark brown eyes and dimples.
“I’m happy to meet you,” B.J. said, extending his trembling hand to Todd. Then he turned back to face Noreen. “I thought you didn’t know where my son was.”
“I—I’m sorry, and I’m ashamed of myself, but I lied.”
“Why’d you keep it from me?” B.J. rasped, feeling weak and shaky.
“I didn’t think you had the right to know because I blamed you for Judy’s death.”
“And now?”
“After I learned of your illness, and thought things through, I changed my mind.” Tears welled in Noreen’s eyes. “God spoke to my heart, and I realized it wasn’t right to keep the truth from you any longer.”
B.J. swallowed hard, barely able to keep his own tears from falling. He looked back at Todd and said, “If I’d known about you, I never would have broken up with your mother or gone off to another state to attend college. I would have stayed in Columbus and done the right thing by Judy.”
“When Mom and Dad found out Judy was pregnant, they sent her to me and Ben, since we lived here in Sarasota by then, and they knew that nobody in Columbus would be any the wiser,” Noreen interjected.
“Did you plan to adopt me from the very beginning?” Todd asked, turning to face Noreen.
She shook her head. “But after Judy died, we knew adoption was the best thing for you, as well as us, since we truly wanted you, Son.” Noreen touched Todd’s arm. “We never regretted it, either. You were a blessing to both Ben and me. We loved you as if you were our flesh-and-blood son.”
The Healing Quilt Page 25