BROWNIE: An Angel's Visit

by Linda Stanley Dalton

  “Merry Christmas,” she replied with a smile and made her way into the elevator. “God bless you, young man!”

  “Merry Christmas, Ma’am,” Marcus replied just before the door closed between them.

  Brownie’s words had found their mark deep within what Marcus’ felt was his very soul, forcing him to see God in a way he never had before. There was a painful image in his mind of a saddened God, disappointed over the way people perceived Him—if they thought of Him at all—like a magic genie one summoned when they wanted or needed something, and then just as quickly forgot, leaving Him on a shelf until He was needed again for something. It pained Marcus to see that in God’s eyes he was no better. While he had asked God to heal his daughter, he saw now that he hadn’t put much effort into it. His parents prayed for Angela and at their request, others prayed for her as well—he had been comfortable with that. Wasn’t it better to let those who actually prayed petition the throne of God? That was what he had allowed himself to think.

  Obviously someone’s prayers had reached Him, and it was humbling at the very least to realize that neither his nor Morgan’s were counted among them.

  Chapter 23

  “Not much has changed, Poppa,” Seth commented as he and Bernie walked through the hospital lobby. The gift shop was exactly the way he remembered it, lots of tempting items in the showcases to help cheer the young patients, cards, and balloons and the like. “And then there’s that smell.” He wrinkled his nose at the odor of the mysterious disinfectant all hospitals seemed to use. “I guess some things just never change,” he chuckled.

  Bernie smiled, he was happy to be spending time with his only child. “I stopped noticing it years ago; it’s just part of the air to me.”

  As they turned the corner toward the elevators, Bernie noticed Marcus Cole was standing in the middle of the hallway wearing an uncharacteristically bewildered look. “Marcus, is everything okay?” Bernie asked as he quickened his pace toward the other man while Seth followed. “Is Angela alright?”

  There was a pause of several seconds or so before Marcus responded as he tried to collect his thoughts. “Angela is great. It’s just been a very strange morning,” he offered quietly, still stunned over his experience with Brownie.

  “I see,” Bernie replied, still perplexed about the confused state they had discovered him in. “Marcus, I don’t think you’ve ever met my son, Seth. He’s visiting from Florida with his wife and daughter. Seth, this is Marcus Cole. He’s a member of the hospital’s Board, one of the best I might add.”

  “It’s my pleasure to meet you,” Marcus said as he and Seth shook hands. He was struggling to focus on the conversation; part of him seemed to have stayed behind in the elevator attempting to process what he had witnessed. “Are you in town for the holidays? It must be wonderful to live where it’s warm, and not have to deal with this cold weather on a regular basis. We haven’t had much snow yet, but my daughter is certain we’ll have some for Christmas. Of course, you know how children are.”

  “Yes,” Seth agreed with a cordial smile, “that childlike faith. We could learn a lot from them. Sadly, we lose most of ours as we grow up. Ah, maturity. We go from trusting our parents to provide all our needs, to not being able to trust anyone or anything.” He shook his head. “It’s too easy a trap to fall into.”

  “Seth is a Messianic Rabbi, Marcus. He’s in town for a few days at the request of a church pastor in Piqua. He’ll be performing their Christmas Eve service before they head for home.”

  “Forgive me for asking, but what’s a Messianic Rabbi? I’ve never heard that term before,” Marcus pondered.

  “Succinctly, I am a Jew who believes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, hence the distinction of being Messianic,” Seth explained, keeping it simple. “No one was more surprised than I at the path I followed.”

  Bernie found himself playing—and enjoying—the role of the proud papa. “Seth met his wife, Sondra, in Israel. I have the most beautiful little granddaughter you’d ever want to see!”

  “You believe in Jesus?” Marcus asked. Seth nodded. “Would you happen to have a moment? I, uh, well I really need someone to talk to if you could spare a few minutes.”

  “I’d be delighted,” Seth said and exchanged a most curious but subtle glance with his father. “Poppa, I’ll see you in a bit upstairs?”

  “That’ll work,” Bernie replied and fondly patted Marcus on the shoulder. Of all the Board members who had come and gone, Bernie genuinely liked this young man. “Good to see you, Marcus. Give Angela a hug for me, would you?”

  “She would like that; she loves everyone here.”

  “Marcus, if memory serves me correctly, there’s a chapel down that corridor.” He pointed in the opposite direction. “Do you mind if we talk there?”

  “That will be fine.” Marcus couldn’t think of a better location himself for what he wanted to discuss.

  “Excellent,” Seth agreed as they walked the short distance to the hospital chapel. The small, dimly lit room was deserted; white candles in glass jars glowed and flickered on a large wooden table at the front of the room. There were several rows of pews as well as some large chairs in the back that looked comfortable and inviting, perfect for quite conversation. Bibles rested on the small end tables that divided the chairs into groups.

  “Shall we sit over there?” Marcus pointed toward a pair of chairs set off in a corner.

  Seth followed him and the two men took off their coats and settled into the chairs. “What it is you want to talk about? I sensed the moment I saw you that something is troubling you.”

  Marcus wasn’t sure where to start. All he knew was that he felt an urgent need to make things right in his life with his relationship with God, and he was ready to begin right away. “You might think I’m crazy but, well, I had an incredible experience in the elevator a few moments ago,” he said and smiled, feeling a bit awkward. “Rabbi, this may sound a bit strange to you, but do you believe that angels can make their presence known to us?”

  Prior to his own experience with Teerah, Seth wouldn’t have thought so. Teerah’s visit had changed all that and Seth knew it was not only possible, but likely, if directed by God.

  He nodded. “I’ve had a bit of an experience myself lately, so yes, I do believe it is possible. Are you sure this…that what you saw was an angel?”

  “He told me he was an angel of God, and after he talked to me and showed me some things about myself I’d chosen to ignore, he disappeared right there in the elevator.”

  “Was it sort of all glowing and sparkly?”

  “Yes!” Marcus’ eyes grew wider at Seth’s question and he leaned forward in his chair. “How on earth did you know that?”

  Not even Sondra knew about Seth’s experience in his study with a pink teddy bear that dissolved the same way Marcus described. Still, he felt comfortable sharing with Marcus, despite their being strangers and sensed that it was no accident that he and his father happened upon him at that very moment. Seth recognized this as a divine appointment. “Last Sunday night, an angel revealed herself to me in my study back home in Florida. Her name was Teerah, and believe it or not, she was a pink teddy bear.”

  “A pink teddy bear?” Marcus asked as the vision of what it might have looked like danced through his mind—bubblegum pink, with a sweet smile, maybe dressed like a ballerina, and something Angela would squeal with delight at the sight of.

  “A little girl shade of pink,” Seth replied with a smile. “She wore a wreath of fragrant pink-and-white roses around her head and had the loveliest smile.” He chuckled softly. “My daughter would have loved her!”

  “Mine was a teddy bear named Brownie, but he is apparently also a male nurse named Kevin Browne,” Marcus said. “This may sound really strange, but he is a beautiful man, not Hollywood-handsome, or male model, but uniquely beautiful. He and my daughter grew quite close while she was a patient here.”

  Marcus went on to explain what Brownie had told him. �
�I left God out of the equation of my life, even when my daughter was diagnosed with a fatal illness. I don’t know how I did it; I didn’t even know I had! Somehow, I still thought of myself as a believer, at least until a little while ago when I realized I’d convinced myself that I was a good person and that would be enough.” He shook his head. “It’s like I forgot everything I knew when I was a child! If it happened to me, it must be happening everywhere to all sorts of people. I mean, I had a wonderful foundation of faith, parents who are great examples. I didn’t realize that I’d, well, walked away from God. This has been an eye opener for me.”

  “You’re right; it’s happening all over the place. But there’s something different in your case, my friend.”

  “Different? What’s so different about me?”

  “The difference is that you’ve been given a chance to see where you stand and readjust your position. An angel revealed to you that you were a part of his mission here. How incredible a blessing you’ve received! I don’t know about you, but I don’t think you should ignore it.”

  “I don’t intend to,” Marcus was quick to reply. He wondered how it had happened that Martin Bernstein and his son, a Messianic Rabbi, were there when he exited the elevator. He wondered just what the chances were of that being coincidental.

  “Would you like to reaffirm your faith?” Seth asked.

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Marcus answered as he looked down in quiet shame at the dark woven carpet pattern of red and violet flowers and green leaves beneath his shoes.

  “Why can’t you?” Seth asked, confused. “I don’t understand. I thought you said that you want to get your life right. There’s only one way I know of to do that.”

  Marcus looked up. “I’ve never accepted Jesus as my savior,” he admitted. “I always meant to, but stuff got in the way; nothing major, just the common garden-variety stuff we get into each day and manage to ignore. When I was younger, there were girls and, well, I’m sure you can guess the rest.”

  Seth laughed softly. “Yes, brother, I know exactly what you mean. By my own choice, I was estranged from my parents for a very long time. I had an ache inside of me I couldn’t explain, couldn’t get rid of. I tried everything I could find to kill that pain, but nothing worked; not sex, not drugs, and I resented that I seemed condemned to a life of misery. I was so hard-headed and cold-hearted; I never came to see Poppa after my mother died. So you see, I know all about the stuff you’re talking about; I know it all too well.”

  “How did you become a Rabbi?” Marcus asked.

  “That’s a very long story. The condensed version is that I went to a synagogue in Orlando, Florida, unaware that it was a Messianic temple. After awhile, I didn’t care about that and when I felt Jesus calling to my heart, I went forward and accepted Him.”

  “I’m ready to accept Him, I’m ready right now.” Marcus said and blinked back tears that were suddenly stinging his eyes. “He went through a lot of trouble to get my attention. I’m ready now to give Him my heart.”

  “Praise God! You recognized what was happening and are acting on it. Angels in Heaven are dancing in the streets and rejoicing!”

  “Wow,” was all Marcus could say.

  “Unfortunately, Marcus, not everyone does.” Seth placed his hands on the man’s shoulders and they began to pray together.

  Unseen by the two men engaged in prayer, Bernie stood in the doorway of the chapel. He watched, transfixed by the scene before him. He couldn’t hear the words his son and Marcus spoke, but even from the distance he felt the intensity of the moment, and something else—a presence he had never felt before. He looked up and wondered: Isabel, are you watching this? Deep within Bernie’s soul, he sensed that something in him had begun to change. It was as if something had closed, and something else sealed deep within him was opening. Though it caused him to be a bit apprehensive, he was determined to find out what it was, as he had seen too much in the last few days to simply ignore it.

  Bernie decided at that moment that he would go to Florida with his son and family. He needed to spend time with Seth, to get to know Sondra and Isabella. If Seth wanted him to study with him, to show him why he believes in this Jesus, then he’d try to listen this time with an open heart and spirit. He had nothing to lose. Maybe, just maybe, he thought, I can make Isabel proud of me.

  ***

  Jeb looked at his watch as he moved along the corridor past the patient rooms on the first floor, the sound of the hem of his trousers slapping against the tongues of his black Nikes. It was nearly two o’clock and he wondered if Kenni was back yet from her prenatal check-up. The demands of his patients had not allowed him to go with her this time and he was disappointed to have missed it.

  He and Doctor Anderson had been in the middle of some tests on Michael, then another little boy went into a crisis and the morning passed into afternoon. Michael’s condition remained unchanged, but they were hopeful that his coma seemed a little lighter today; they took hope wherever they could find it.

  The other child had developed pneumonia and was in serious condition. Strangely enough, they had not lost a patient in several days and Jeb wondered how long the trend would continue. In time, the streak would end and someone would become death’s first victim.

  As he entered the small hallway outside his wife’s office, he saw her from behind as she unlocked the door and went inside. He quickly followed, anxious to receive a full report on how their child was progressing.

  “Hey gorgeous!” he greeted as he stuck his head in the doorway of her office.

  “I must warn you, I’m a married woman!” She smiled as she hung up her coat. “What’ve you been up to, Doctor Hastings?” She put her purse into the bottom drawer, straightened her hair and returned her attention back to her husband.

  “So how did everything go at your appointment?” Jeb asked and reached out for her hands. “Is everything going okay?”

  Kenni nodded. “I heard the heartbeats…good, strong heartbeats.”

  “Heartbeats?” Jeb asked. Always a stickler for correct grammar and pronunciation, it wasn’t like his wife to say things incorrectly.

  Kenni took his hands and squeezed them lovingly, placing them on her belly as she looked up into his eyes. “Heartbeats, love; plural, more than one. I promise I haven’t suddenly become grammatically challenged.” Her eyes sparkled and she giggled at the confused look on Jeb’s face as he stared at her in confusion with his wonderfully warm hazel eyes. “Sweetie, I’m carrying two babies; we’ve made twins!”

  Jeb’s eyes widened as his mouth opened at her words. “Twins? Are you sure? Sometimes heartbeats can be deceiving, can’t they?” Kenni’s smile dazzled him as she looked into his eyes. He had never seen her look more beautiful, more alive and content.

  “Doctor Clancy ordered an ultrasound,” she said softly. “I’m late getting back because I had to wait for the tech to squeeze me in.” She pulled two pictures out of her pocket and placed them in his hand. “Meet your children. One’s definitely a boy…I’ve temporarily named him, Brian, and we’re not positive the other is a girl. I have a feeling, though; temporarily her name is Maureen, which is, of course, subject to change.”

  Jeb looked at the ultrasound pictures. He couldn’t believe his eyes. To the best of his knowledge twins didn’t run in either of their families. “Brian, and Maureen, I like that.”

  “That means I’m going to get a whole lot bigger, Daddy!” Kenni teased happily as he slid one arm around her. “Can you believe it, Jeb? We’re having twins!”

  Jeb smiled before he placed a slow, deliberate kiss on her lips. “I couldn’t be more pleased,” he whispered and sighed with satisfaction. “And I couldn’t possibly love you more than I do right now.”

  ***

  Morgan Cole had been trying for most of the day to reach Marcus and frowned as she placed the phone back in its cradle. The office had closed at noon and his cell was going to voicemail. She hoped she was correct in her assumption that
if he had been in an auto accident that someone would have contacted her.

  “That’s strange,” she said and turned toward her brother-in-law who had arrived to take Angela out Christmas shopping. “Jack, have you heard anything from Marcus?”

  “No.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and checked to make sure he had not missed any calls. He saw the shadow of concern, the worried look in Morgan’s eyes. “You know Marc. He’s probably out doing some more shopping and lost track of time. He’s like a little kid this year and he wants you all to have a special Christmas. You know how he can get completely absorbed into something that interests him.”

  “I suppose, but it’s still not like him. Marcus never ignores his phone.”

  “Uncle Jack!” Angela squealed as she bolted into the living room and jumped up to hug him. “I asked God for it to snow for Christmas.”

  Jackson laughed and spun around with his niece in his arms. “Then I guess you’d better dress warmly, huh?”

  Pushing aside her apprehension about Marcus, Morgan smiled at her daughter. “Go get your coat, and your hat, and your scarf, and your mittens, Sweetie. It’s cold out.”

  “Yes, Mommy,” Angela said with a smile and Jackson lowered her to the floor. “I’ll be right back, Uncle Jack! Don’t go without me!”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, your majesty,” he replied with a dramatic bow and laughed as she ran from the room. “It’s awesome to see our little princess actually running again!”

  “Even when she’s running in the house,” Morgan mused. “Let me give you some money for Angela’s shopping trip.”

  Jackson held up his hand. “No need. Marcus took care of that already. And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to take Angela out to eat before I bring her home. Seeing as I’m only home for a couple of weeks, I’d love to spend as much time with her as I can.”

  Morgan helped Angela put on her winter coat and accessories, kissed her on her cheek, and then watched from the living room window as Jackson drove off to start their shopping adventure.