Love Finds You in Branson, Missouri

by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

  Is there anything you want me to cook for you while you are here?

  Anything else you can think of that will make you happy?

  If you’ll humor me, I want us to go to the soup kitchen. Just once, at least, so you can see what it’s like.

  Looking forward to seeing you,

  A.

  P.S. I’ll pick you up at the airport, but you have to tell me when.

  Beecher suddenly became aware that he was grinning ear to ear. He shot a look toward the couch, glad that no one was there—awake—to see him. Hitting REPLY, he gave in to another impulse.

  Audrey,

  I am grinning ridiculously after reading your e-mail, like Alice’s Cheshire Cat. And so it seems that all I need to make me happy is—I’ll say it—a word from you.

  I’ll be at La Guardia at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday—Flight 1025.

  Warmly,

  Beecher

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Ellie’s performance Saturday night was at least as good as Friday, according to the observations of her esteemed director. She was on a roll. But what excited her more was the fact that she was going to be baptized—by that director—in the presence of her family. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision that felt eternally right.

  On Sunday morning they all went to church with her and Will, everyone except Opa, who stayed home to rest. Afterward, they went back to the condo and picked him up and then headed out toward Table Rock Lake and Will’s cabin. He’d invited them all out for lunch.

  Before eating, however, the little group assembled at the water’s edge. Will had placed a row of three ladder-back chairs on an even spot in the grass for Opa, Katherine, and Beecher, and as they were seated, he led Ellie out into the water. The lake was as smooth as glass and cool—not cold. Ellie found it refreshing even as it soaked into her jeans. The white button-down she wore as a jacket over her red tank top billowed around her as she went deeper. It was not quite as deep for Will, who was taller, but Ellie was about waist high. A squirrel skittered up an oak tree. Across the way, a fish jumped, causing a ripple effect upon the surface of the water.

  Holding her hand tightly, Will turned to face her. He smiled and Ellie read in his face the expression of total joy, complete satisfaction. She felt his face was a mirror for her own soul.

  He whispered, “Are you ready?”

  She nodded, feeling the tears glistening in her eyes.

  “Ellie asked me if we could do this today, and though it’s a little unconventional, I agree with her that it is God’s perfect timing.” Will addressed the threesome on the shore. “You are her family, the people who love her the most and the ones she loves and trusts completely. It is fitting and right that you be the ones to share this sacred moment in her spiritual journey.”

  He faced Ellie again. “Ellie Heinrichs, do you believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross to save you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you accepted Him as Lord of your life—past, present, and future?”

  “I have.”

  “Is it your desire to follow Him in believer’s baptism, as a symbol of your faith in Jesus and your commitment to follow Him all the days of your life?”

  “It is.”

  “Then it is my privilege to baptize you, my sister in Christ, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

  Gripping Will’s arm, Ellie grabbed her nose to hold it. As he plunged her underneath the water, he said, “Buried with Christ in baptism unto death…”

  And then, as she came up to the surface, Will’s voice again: “Raised to walk in newness of life.”

  From his place on the edge of the lake, Opa started clapping.

  * * * * *

  Ellie’s heart swelled with thankfulness. She hugged Will—still out in the water—and the warmth of their bodies joined like two points of light coming together to form a radiant beam. They climbed out of the lake, clothes completely soaked, and together with Ellie’s family headed for the cabin.

  Will dried off quickly and changed his clothes while Ellie went for the shower. While Katherine and Opa sat on the back porch in wicker rockers, Beecher helped Will get the grill started. Soon Ellie joined them, bringing with her the steaks Will had marinated overnight.

  “Did you put the potatoes in the oven?” Will asked as he took the steaks from the platter, transferring them to the grill.

  “I did—before I got in the shower.”

  “Awesome. Thanks.”

  “Is there anything else I need to do?”

  Will contemplated. “Not right now. I’ve got the salad all ready and the stuff for the potatoes. We just need to remember to put in the bread when it’s time.”

  “How long does it need?”

  “I’d say about fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay. Let me know when the steaks are about fifteen minutes out.”

  As Will had set the table that morning, there was nothing else for Ellie to do. She eased into one of the cushioned chairs on the other side of Opa and put her feet up on the ottoman.

  “Well, Sunshine, you seem pretty at home here.”

  Ellie colored slightly. “I guess it is a pretty comfortable place.”

  “That it is. I like it very much. Will is quite the landscape artist.”

  “It’s so peaceful,” Katherine said. “You’d never imagine you were just a few minutes away from Branson.”

  “Isn’t that the truth.” Ellie ruffled her hair, which was not yet dry.

  “Was the water cold?”

  “No, actually, it was about right.”

  “Table Rock is a beautiful lake.”

  “I was baptized in a lake also,” Opa said.

  Katherine lifted a graceful brow. “You never told me that.”

  “Or me, either,” Ellie added.

  “It wasn’t actually a lake. It was the pond near our house.” Opa chuckled.

  “Ew,” Ellie said.

  “It wasn’t bad. Especially for a little boy who played with bullfrogs.”

  “Tell us about it,” Katherine urged.

  “I had been through confirmation, which to me was no empty ritual. I had a true experience like Ellie found here. When it came time to be baptized, though, I got the idea I didn’t want to be sprinkled. I asked to be baptized in the pond, and my parents humored me. We did it at the annual church picnic.”

  Ellie slapped her knee. “Opa, you never cease to amaze me!”

  “Why did you let me be sprinkled?” Katherine asked.

  “That was your choice. I don’t think God cares how it’s done, since it’s not the water that makes you clean, anyway.” Opa’s eyes crinkled around the edges, and he drew his fist to his chest. “It’s what happens in your heart.”

  * * * * *

  Will called them inside, placing a steak on each plate around his large dining table.

  “Oh no, I forgot about the bread,” Ellie told him. “You never told me—”

  “That’s okay. I got it on.”

  As everyone took their seats, he poured red wine into green glass goblets.

  “I love these pewter plates!” Katherine said admiringly.

  They passed a large bowl of mixed salad greens, and after that the bread and potatoes. Will had butter on the table, some homemade vinaigrette, and a mixture of sour cream and sharp cheddar cheese for the potatoes that looked delicious.

  “That’s clever,” Beecher commented. “Do you cook a lot?”

  “Not really. I have about three meals I do well, and this is one of them,” Will admitted.

  “Well, thank you for having us,” Opa said. “This is quite a treat.”

  * * * * *

  After the meal, they all moved to help clean up, but Will would not allow it. “I can do this. You all relax.”

  “I hate to admit this, but I am very tired.” Opa’s face was gray and worn.

  Will offered, “Would you like to lie down here?”

  “That’s very kind. But, if it�
�s okay with you, Katherine, I think I need to go back to Ellie’s.” He motioned for the door.

  Ellie grabbed her bag from a hook by the door. “Why don’t I take you back, Opa?”

  “But what about Will?” Katherine asked.

  “He’s got some fun plans for you and Beecher that I don’t want you to miss. I can do it anytime.” Ellie took Opa by the hand. “You guys stay here, and Will’s going to bring you home on the boat.”

  “Cool!” Beecher’s response.

  “Okay,” said Katherine, “sounds wonderful to me.”

  * * * * *

  Opa fell asleep in the car as Ellie maneuvered their way back to Branson Landing. She was completely comfortable driving the side roads now and marveled at how much stress it saved her. Without these shortcuts, I could never live in Branson, she mused. How could anyone?

  Rousing Opa slightly after she pulled into the garage, she helped him into the house and up the stairs. She turned back the bed in the guest room, where he’d been sleeping, and he crawled in, as though just short of collapsing. He seemed to shrink as the bed swallowed him. Ellie thought his face looked ashen. Kissing his cold cheek, she tucked in the covers around him. He was already snoring.

  After taking Dot out for a good long walk, Ellie returned to the condo feeling tired herself. The weekend had been wonderful, with the play opening and all of her family being there. But it had also been taxing. Knowing it would be a good while before the boaters showed up, she decided to take a little nap of her own.

  As Ellie headed toward her bedroom, she stopped. Like a breeze stirs up leaves into a dance with an unseen partner, her spirit was stirred in another direction. She turned and walked to the door of the guest room.

  Opa had shifted in the bed from the way she left him. Now he was facing the far wall, away from the door, and with the covers wound around him he looked like two big uneven lumps of sugar. Ellie’s heart warmed when she saw him. She remembered seeing him this way many times, when as a child she would wake up very early in the morning. Some days he would take a nap with her in the afternoons. Other times she and Beecher had padded into his room in the night when they heard a scary noise.

  Silently, she crept over to the bed. Without pulling back the covers, she lay down on top of them and inched toward Opa. His silver hair was mussed in the back and he smelled fresh, like Dial soap. She faced the wall like he was and drew up close to his back, snuggling in behind him. She laid her head on his pillow, and the tip of her nose touched the rugged lines carved into the back of his neck. Bending her legs to match his, she gently wrapped her arm around him, just above his waist. His breathing was a bit more labored than usual, it seemed, but it was even. He found her hand with his rough one and laced her fingers through his, placing it on his chest. She could feel the steady, reassuring beat of his heart.

  Ellie and Opa slept like this for over an hour. When she woke, she didn’t want to speak or move for fear of disturbing him, but he surprised her by speaking first—or rather, singing softly.

  “You are my Sunshine, my little Sunshine.

  You make me happy when skies are gray.

  I think you know, dear, how much I love you.

  Please don’t ever go too far away.”

  The tears streamed down Ellie’s face even as she laughed. Opa had modified the words of the song to fit his liking long ago and sung this version to her and Beecher every night, as children, as far back as she could remember.

  “There’s a lot of Heinrichs family philosophy in that little song,” she said, still holding on to him from behind.

  “You are right, Sunshine. It says almost everything that is really important.”

  She gave him a little squeeze. “Do you know, Opa, that you are also my Sunshine? And Mother’s and Beecher’s?”

  “I do know that. As I hope and believe you all know that you are mine.” Opa’s voice was raspy, not far above a whisper.

  “You’ve always done a good job of showing us. I’ve never had to wonder how my Opa felt about me.”

  He cleared his throat. “Now that you have Jesus, Sunshine, there is really only one other thing that matters.”

  “What’s that?’ Ellie whispered in his ear, rising up on one elbow.

  “Write it on your heart that those you love are what really matters. Being together and loving—that’s what life is all about.”

  Ellie pressed her cheek to his weathered one, finding his was also wet with tears.

  “I’ve had Jesus, and been loving you, your mom, and Beecher for a long time. I am a most blessed man.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  In the time it took to go by boat from Will’s dock on Table Rock Lake to Lake Taneycomo, and the White River Catfish Co. restaurant at Branson Landing, Beecher decided that he liked Will. It had been building, the feeling that this was a cool person who might be worthy to date his sister. Will’s artistic background and accomplishments in his field were impressive to Beecher, who measured a man in large part by his brain. Then there was the issue—not always to be trusted—of Ellie’s affection for Will, the apparent happiness he brought her, the things in common they obviously shared.

  Furthermore, Beecher liked how Will treated Ellie at the cabin; his honor toward her and her family at the baptism, their obvious companionship over lunch, the gentle tone of his voice when he spoke her name. He also lacked the weirdness Beecher usually associated with Protestant Christianity.

  The deciding factor for Beecher, however, followed the moment when, unexpectedly, his cell phone rang when they were out in the middle of the lake. Will slowed the boat to a crawl so Beecher could talk.

  It was Jackson Jenkins. “Hello, Beecher?” “This is Beecher.”

  “Hey, this is Jackson Jenkins. I wanted to let you know that I talked to my friend who’s involved in the theater in New York.”

  “Wow, that was quick.”

  “Yeah, well, I have some really good news. He’s preparing to direct a revival of Tennessee Williams’ Streetcar Named Desire. If Ellie is interested, he’s willing to give her an audition.”

  “You’re kidding! That’s awesome!”

  “Could she go to New York next week?”

  “I can’t speak for her, but for a chance like this, I imagine so.”

  “I need to let him know.”

  “I’ll see her in a few minutes. I’m out on the lake right now.” Beecher looked at his watch. “Let me talk to her and have her call you tonight. Will that be okay?”

  “That’s fine.”

  “Is this number good?”

  “Yeah. She can call me back at this number.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  Beecher eyed his mother, then Will. He traced his index finger along the side of his loafer. “Wow.”

  “What was that all about?” Katherine peered at him with eyes as clear as the water.

  “That was Jackson Jenkins.”

  “The New York investor you met with?”

  “Yes.”

  Katherine made a face. “What did he want, calling you on a Sunday out here on the lake?”

  “It was about Ellie.”

  Will blinked, as though just registering the conversation with Beecher’s latest sentence.

  “What about Ellie?” Katherine asked.

  “Well, you know, he was at the play the other night, and he’s apparently into theater. He was impressed with Ellie’s acting. He said something about it, but I wasn’t expecting anything to come of it—”

  “Come of what? What did he want, Beecher?” Katherine leaned forward.

  “He wants Ellie to go to New York.” Beecher glanced back and forth from his mother’s face to Will’s. “He got her an audition with a director friend of his on Broadway.”

  Katherine’s mouth dropped open, and she clapped a French-manicured hand over it.

  “Jenkins talks like the guy’s the next Elia Kazan.” Beecher laughed nervously, and the sound scattered, disappearing into a heavy silence.


  Will looked out at the lake.

  For a moment nobody spoke, and then Will said, “Well, that’s wonderful. She’s so deserving.”

  Katherine searched both of their faces. “Do you think she will want to go? I mean, things are going so well for her here.”

  “She has to go.” Will set his chin toward the wind and picked up speed. “It’s her dream.”

  As they docked the boat at White River, Beecher called Ellie and Opa to let them know they were there. He, Will, and Katherine got a round table on the deck outside, directly on the water, and waited for the twosome to walk down Branson Landing and join them. A server came with iced teas, hush puppies, and coleslaw. It wasn’t long before Opa and Ellie appeared.

  “You guys look refreshed.” Katherine scooted over so Opa could take the seat next to her, and Ellie sat down between Will and Beecher.

  “We had a good nap.”

  “Yes, we did.” Ellie winked at Opa. “How was the trip on the boat?”

  “It was lovely.” Katherine patted her windblown hair. “Quite an amazing experience. Will is a very good tour guide.”

  “They were excellent passengers.”

  “I’m surprised Beecher let you drive.” Ellie smiled at Will.

  “He had an important phone call.”

  Ellie turned to Beecher with a bemused look. He sensed that she disapproved of his taking a call when he should have been getting to know Will.

  “You took a call on the boat?”

  “Well, yes. It was Jackson Jenkins.”

  “Who?”

  “You remember—Jackson Jenkins, whom we met at the reception?”

  “Oh, yeah. What on earth did he want?”