Covered Bridge Charm

by Christner, Dianne;

  “I don’t know anything about that.”

  Carly nodded glumly. “I need to check on Dot.”

  Hall Patroller wheeled by them. “She went to her room.”

  “Thanks.” Carly opened Dot’s door, and the canary chirped a greeting, but the elderly woman was nowhere in sight. The curtains were open, revealing a picturesque vision of drifting snow, if not ominous given the present situation. “Dot,” she called. “Dot?” Each time she called, the canary whistled back. Otherwise, the room remained silent.

  She moved around the pristine room and saw a foot sticking out from beneath the bed. Not again! Compassion swept over her as she knelt and peered beneath. “Dot. It’s me, Carly. It’s all safe now.”

  “Shush! I’m hiding.”

  “No need. Come out, and I’ll sit with you.”

  “I want Crusher.”

  “It’s too nasty for him to come right now. But he’ll come soon.”

  “But he knows how to make it stay away.”

  She tried a more authoritative tone. “It’s safe. Now crawl out from under there.”

  “It’s back, you know.”

  “What, honey?”

  “The Death Angel. It was here last night, leering at me.”

  Carly assumed Dot’s mind was tangling its circuits. She’d run to hide from the collapsing roof, but once she’d gotten under the bed, those earlier memories returned to frighten her. Carly took the Bible verse Martha had written and read Psalm 118:6, “‘The LORD is on my side, I will not fear.’ So you see, God’s watching over you.”

  “I know,” Dot sobbed. Surprising Carly, she repeated the verse. “I say that verse all the time. It helps.”

  “Then come.” Slowly the woman crawled out, and Carly helped her onto the bed, where she hugged her tight with both arms. “You don’t have to fear death,” she whispered. “It’s when we get to see God. He loves you and has prepared a lovely place for you in heaven. Your body will be young and you won’t forget things anymore.”

  Dot began to rock. “I know. But why do I see that ugly face? It hates me.” Carly wished she knew. Felt angry that something evil was tormenting the little woman who had been a churchgoer all her life. “The next time you see it, tell it to go away because you are Jesus’ little lamb.”

  Dot began to sing, “Mary had a little lamb.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  By the end of Carly’s shift, they were officially snowed in with assisted living operating on a small core of personnel: Sherie, Carly, the night shift V. S. worker, Linda the nurse, and Rocco. As far as she knew, Aesop was still missing. Simon couldn’t make it to the center so Sherie took charge. She planned to let them use one of the empty apartments to take naps after the residents were asleep. And she kept the coffee pot filled.

  Carly worried about Cocoa. He might be hungry, but he should be warm as long as the electricity didn’t go out. Surely if that happened, Imogene would check on him. She knew where the extra key was hidden. Carly prayed the electricity would stay on. Assisted living had a backup generator, but the residents in independent living didn’t. She’d overheard Sherie on the phone, giving someone instructions to call in rescue units if that happened. It was too soon to report Aesop.

  The night was uneventful except for the General streaking down the hall naked and Nines’s stubborn refusal to dress for bed. With all the snow, Nines had transported herself back in time to a Christmas of long ago and was determined her husband would be there any moment to take her home. But once those fires were diffused, the center settled into a peaceful quiet. Carly slept soundly during her four-hour break.

  She awoke to sunshine. With relief, she freshened up and hurried to the front desk.

  A frazzled looking Sherie beamed at her. “It’s over.”

  “Thank God.” Carly’s prayers would be fully answered when everyone could be accounted for once again.

  “The snowplows are busy at work. And that crew is working on the roofs again. Go ahead and make your rounds. We’ll have cereal for breakfast, and I’ve got soup we can make for lunch if the kitchen crew doesn’t make it in by then.”

  Carly nodded, taking one side of the hall while the weary V. S. worker took the opposite.

  Nines was already dressed in her black net hat, waiting for Carly to administer meds. Repeater had on his coat, claimed he was going to shovel them out of the blizzard. After she convinced him to go to breakfast first, she checked on Mr. Gadget. He was digging caulking out from around his window with a butter knife.

  Flying across the room, she stilled his hand. “What are you doing?”

  “Gettin’ rid of this snow.”

  “If you take your meds, I’ll let you eat your breakfast in front of the garden window. It’ll be fun to watch the squirrels in the snow. Would you like that?” He agreed, and she had just stepped into the hall when she heard Aesop’s one-of-a-kind stammer. Ecstatic that he was all right, she hurried toward him. Crusher was there, too. She snapped one of Aesop’s suspenders and hugged the sinewy security guard. “I’m so glad to see you. I was worried about you.”

  “I—I found Crusher out in the storm. We—we holed up at his place.”

  She turned to the older man. “Crusher,” she admonished.

  “I would’ve come, but Aesop threatened me with his gun.” After that, he started down the hall with his customary glass of juice for Dot.

  Aesop shrugged. “I heard about the maintenance room.”

  “I’m so glad you weren’t in there.”

  They spoke more about the storm, and then Carly motioned toward the kitchen. “Get some coffee. Stay for breakfast and warm up. I’ve gotta finish my rounds.” She started down the hall and froze when a loud eerie moan erupted from Dot’s room.

  A man’s groan. Crusher’s. Her heart leapt with fright. She hurried toward the room and entered to find him embracing his wife’s rigid body. Whipping her phone out, she called the nurse’s station and talked to Linda’s volunteer. Next she called Adam. Then she shrank against the wall and watched Crusher release his grief over the woman he had adored.

  By noon, Dot’s body had been confirmed dead and removed to a funeral home. Adam took Crusher home and helped him make a list of people he wanted to notify. Once Miranda and a relief caregiver arrived, Carly carried the canary’s cage out beside Magnificent.

  Shrugging into her coat, she left the building. First she trudged to the destroyed maintenance room. A sign indicated maintenance was temporarily headquartered around the corner in an adjoining closet-sized room containing the center’s communication equipment. Inside, Rocco was helping Aesop use the emergency intercom to check up on all those in independent living.

  Outside, the world was sparkling with snow jewels, and various Sweet Life workers were scurrying around. A friend had passed, but life continued.

  She pounded her boots against Crusher’s porch and let herself in. “How is he?”

  Adam’s face said it all. “He’s resting. His daughter’s coming in from Texas. She’s renting a car in Portland and should arrive late tonight. Think I’ll stay with him until then.”

  “That’s good.”

  “But now would be a good time for me to take you home.”

  She nodded. “If you give me Crusher’s list, I’ll make the calls.”

  Relief flooded his face. In the truck, she told him about Dot claiming the Death Angel had returned. “What do you make of that?”

  “We know she was a Christian. In spite of her dementia, God knows her heart. I think the evil one used her weakness to torment her.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. But she seemed peaceful, as if she’d died in her sleep.” Carly wondered if she could have done more to help the woman endure her last lonely months. Dot had seemed to enjoy the Bible study with Martha. But she couldn’t always pull up the verses on her own. Was it like Auntie had claimed? Her fears worsened in the end because she’d never overcome them when she was of strong body and mind? That lifelong character
traits exaggerated in the elderly?

  As if reading her mind, he consoled, “You did everything you could. She’s in a better place. Even Crusher admits that.”

  Adam walked her to the door, and she was relieved to see Cocoa lively and well. He didn’t thump, scratch, or bite, but just licked snow from her boots. She swept up the rabbit and gave him a squeeze.

  “I gotta go.”

  “All right. Tell Crusher, I’m making his calls.” Adam kissed her and left.

  After she fed Cocoa, she sat at her table with Crusher’s list in front of her. But before she could make any calls, she would allow herself to mourn her friend.

  Already feeling vulnerable from grief and lack of rest, Carly returned to Sweet Life Thursday morning to find Helen engrossed in deep conversation with Sherie at the front desk. Dread trickled down her spine, and with head dipped, she hurried past them. She placed her coat in the staff room and glanced at Helen’s back, rushing down the hall to start her rounds.

  A fresh wave of grief hit her when she saw Dot’s closed door. Swiping her eyes with her sleeve, she gripped the handle to Nines’s room when Martha popped her head into the hall and motioned her over. “I could use some help.”

  Hastening across the hall, she followed Martha into her room. The elderly woman was struggling to breathe, so Carly readied her breathing machine. “Your daughter’s here.”

  “Not a good time.”

  “It’s hard losing Dot, isn’t it?” Carly asked.

  Martha nodded and pulled her mask aside to speak. “I’m glad I started that Bible study with her.”

  “You were good friends. And you’ll meet again someday.”

  She sank back against the recliner’s headrest, her shoulders slumped, and allowed the medicated air to help her breathe. When the treatment was finished, Martha closed her eyes. “I’m so tired. Can you help me back to bed?”

  Carly rose and placed her palm against Martha’s forehead. No temp. But she understood. “Sure. Unless you want to wait for Helen?”

  “Nope.”

  So Carly removed Martha’s shoes and helped her into bed. She removed her covering and tucked the covers under her chin. Martha turned onto her side, facing the wall.

  Widow Martha stared at the wall, entertaining all kinds of evil thoughts. Why had she been born with asthma? Why was it getting worse? If only she could breathe well enough to rest. She was so tired, she just wanted to sleep and never wake up. It hurt bad that Dot was gone. Oh, the real Dot had been gone a long time, but losing her felt even worse.

  Her friend’s death reminded her that her own time was shortening. And she didn’t think she had the strength to see it through. She should pray or read scripture, but she just didn’t have the strength. Maybe if she fell asleep, her daughter would leave, and she wouldn’t have to talk and be reminded she was growing forgetful. Anyway, she’d been having some delicious dreams lately. She felt someone kiss her check and flinched. Carly. God’s special gift.

  Carly turned to leave. But Helen was blocking the door from where she’d been observing them. She summoned her with a crook of her finger.

  With dread, Carly stepped into the hall. “Do you want to go someplace private to talk?”

  Helen shook her head. “I just want to apologize.”

  With a wave of relief, Carly replied, “No need.”

  “Yes, there is. I was so frightened when Mom got snowed in. And then when I learned about Dot, I saw things more clearly. It’s my own fault Mom’s lonely. She’s taking this hard and I don’t know how to help her.”

  “Just walk through it with her. We’ll help her together.”

  “But I said such terrible things to you. They weren’t true. I knew it when they were spewing out of my mouth. I just haven’t known how to cope with Mom’s situation.”

  “I understand. I’ve been thinking, too. It wasn’t fair I didn’t warn you about James.”

  Helen gave a harsh laugh. “For months Mom’s been obsessing over her birthday. Now she’s obsessing about playing bingo with James. Well, she was before Dot’s death. And I don’t have the strength to fight it. Maybe we need to let her have her way. It might cheer her, letting James come to bingo. But you will make sure they’re chaperoned when he’s here? I don’t trust that old geezer.”

  “I’ll make it a personal point to chaperone them. But his grandson, Jason, will always be with him.”

  “Good.” Helen sighed. “It’s rough. But I’m going to try to do better. I don’t know what I’ll cut out of my schedule, but something’s got to go. I don’t want any regrets when it’s Mom’s time to pass.”

  Carly didn’t want to think about that day. Of all the residents, Martha had wiggled her way right into the center of her heart. Maybe because she was a little tough like Aunt Fannie.

  Later that morning, she found a few minutes to slip away to Simon’s office. He was happy to hear the report that Helen was no longer holding a grudge. He claimed they’d had a good talk on the phone. His fatherly pat lifted her spirits.

  During the afternoon, Carly had a sudden inspiration. Sherie affirmed her suggestion because the storm had cancelled some of their scheduled weekly programs. It only took one phone call. And with the schools closed, Ann was able to round up a helper and bring several children to the facility.

  They gathered the residents in the lobby by the Christmas tree to sing carols. Helen managed to convince Martha to come and listen. Even the Hall Patroller left her station. Klepto’s hands touched only the children, and the General was fully clothed.

  The angelic faces, so earnest and radiant, sent positive feelings throughout the center. Everyone laughed when the birds joined in with the singing. Miranda seemed happy. And for at least that hour, Carly was completely content.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  By Friday, all the roads were plowed, so Shirley decided that since so many activities had been cancelled during the week, they would hold their regular Thursday bingo a day late. Knowing that she now had Helen’s permission, Carly called Jason and arranged for him to bring his grandfather down for the afternoon.

  When Martha wouldn’t come to breakfast, Carly thought it might be because of her excitement about bingo. When she went to check on her, however, she was shocked to discover Martha still clothed in her nightgown, rocking in her chair and staring at the wall.

  “Hi, sweetie.” Carly sat on the edge of Martha’s sofa. “Did you remember what today is?”

  Martha turned a vacant stare at her. “The days are so long. At one time I thought they sped by. Now they just drag on and on.”

  “Not today. Today’s going to be fun.”

  “Why?” Martha grunted. “You come to give me a breathing treatment?”

  “No. Did you remember that today’s bingo?”

  Instantly a spark of interest lit Martha’s eyes, but she argued, “Today isn’t Thursday.”

  “No, it’s Friday. But Sherie’s organized it for today to make up for all the other activities we missed because of the snow. And James Irish is coming to join in the game.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I had a dream about him though. He was at my party. The silly part—you know how dreams can be—he was there both as a young version and an old version of himself.”

  Feeling as if she’d fallen into some kind of sci-fi zone, Carly managed a smile. “That wasn’t a dream, honey. It’s real. His grandson brought him to your birthday party.”

  Martha’s mouth gaped. Carly watched her put the pieces together. “And Dot died?”

  “Jah. She’s gone to heaven.”

  Nodding, Martha said, “I’m having trouble thinking straight, I guess.”

  Carly watched the woman’s struggle as she tried to convince herself that she wasn’t losing her mental faculties. “So let’s put on your best dress and get you ready for bingo.”

  “But I don’t want him to see me this way.”

  “He won’t, we have time.”

  “No. I mean… old like this.�
��

  Carly smiled. “But, he’s old, too.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Oh.”

  Martha presented herself at the game table early, announcing to everyone who came to join, “I’m saving this seat for a friend.”

  “Saving for a friend,” Repeater mimicked. “Ain’t we friends?”

  “Shush! There he is.”

  Carly turned to see Jason and James crossing the lobby. Jason wore a gray sweater and tight jeans.

  Widow Martha glanced at James with delight. After Carly convinced her she hadn’t been dreaming about him or the birthday party, she’d found the book of poetry he’d given her. Helen had stashed it, along with the carvings, inside the linen closet. Hurrying across the lobby, she greeted him.

  “It’s like a wonderful dream that you’re here.”

  “Life is a vapor, my dear. But I’m all yours today.”

  Giddy with the emotions of young love, she hooked her arm through his. “I missed you.”

  He squeezed her arm. “We still have things that’ll keep us apart, but I don’t see why we can’t enjoy each other’s friendship. Do you?”

  “Certainly not!” she said, breathless.

  His eyes teased, “You’re a lot easier than when you were young.”

  “No, just wiser.” Wise enough to realize that she would live one day at a time. She would enjoy James. Have a little bit of heaven on earth before she moved on to the more glorious land. Meanwhile, she’d thank God for the blessing of friendship and trust Him to provide the strength she needed.

  Carly watched the joy on the elderly couple’s faces and heard Martha say, “It’s like a wonderful dream you’re here.”

  Beside her, Jason said, “Gramps was really stewing about the storm.”

  “Martha’s best friend passed away this week. She’s struggling.”

  “I’m sorry. Hopefully this will do them both some good. Say, what’s going on outside? They have that smaller building barricaded off.”