Dear God, I’m sorry for not coming to you earlier and trusting you with the pain in my heart. I guess I was so caught up in trying to get rid of my feelings and heartache that I forgot to trust you with them. I’ve never felt close to anyone before until I met Michael. But God, you know that I’m afraid to get close to anyone. I don’t think my heart can stand the pain if we didn’t work out. So can you please take these feelings away from me? Help me heal so I can move on with my life? I know you probably had a good reason for why Michael was put into my life. I know you wanted me to witness to him, but why did you let him soften my heart? You know I can’t do relationships. If it’s in your will, please help me forget about Michael. And if it isn’t, please show me what I’m supposed to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heather opened her eyes and felt a renewed hope for the future, knowing God was in complete control. But even though she had placed her complete trust in him, she couldn’t ignore the sudden sense of foreboding that something was terribly wrong back at Crystal Cove. Something sinister or evil had happened and someone she cared about needed her help. Did something awful happen to Linda? Had her jealous boyfriend lost control during a fit of rage and physically abused her?
Heather’s body shuddered as she tried to dismiss the disturbing images of Linda in the ER room. Or did Evelyn have a relapse of her cancer?
Heather wrestled with her thoughts momentarily, trying to decide if her subconscious was tricking her into caving into the desires of her flesh. Here she had just trusted God with her future and now she felt the sudden urge to return back to Crystal Cove. Was Satan tempting her? Or was God trying to tell her something?
Heather wasn’t sure, but in her mind, God had opened the doors to France and that was the direction her life would follow. She needed to clear her mind of any nonsense about returning to Crystal Cove or seeing Michael.
She pushed all thoughts of the Robbins family into the recesses of her mind and focused on the list of activities for the day. She needed to shop for the final items on her travel list and later that night she was having a girls’ night out with Kelly and Liv where they planned on seeing a movie together.
In fact, Liv was so excited about spending time out with the girls that she even hired a babysitter to watch Harry for the evening. They each had assigned roles before their gathering. Since they were meeting at Liv’s place, she would focus on cleaning and organizing the house. Heather was in charge of picking out a movie while Kelly was responsible for making their food.
Heather finished packing her things before heading to the local supermarket to pick out the best romance movie she could find. As she scanned the newest releases, her heart stopped when she saw a picture of Thrill Mountain on the ad board mounted on top of the video dispensing machine. Splashed across the sign in large letters was an advertisement enticing viewers with an opportunity to win free tickets to Thrill Mountain as they rented more videos.
The ad brought back memories of her trip there with Evelyn. The meals at the tea house restaurant, the cotton candy that got stuck in Evelyn’s hair, and the thrill they had on the Razorback ride. How could Heather forget all the fun times they shared together? If she had wanted to marry a man with children, Evelyn would have been the perfect stepdaughter. But it seemed that no matter how she felt, there was no place for her in the Robbins family. Michael had chosen the woman he felt was fit to rule over his household, and unfortunately, Heather didn’t qualify.
The thought of Cynthia trying to win her way into Evelyn’s heart with her insincere actions brought a sick feeling to Heather’s stomach. Evelyn was young and impressionable, qualities a conniving woman like Cynthia could use to her advantage. Before she left the Robbins estate, Heather debated on having a one on one talk with Evelyn so she could expose Cynthia for the fraud she really was. But she knew it wasn’t her place to slander the woman Michael had chosen to marry. How could she bring more heartache to the only man she had ever cared about?
It crossed Heather’s mind to call Evelyn so she could say good-bye before leaving for France. She was sure the girl would be upset if she found out Heather left without saying good-bye. Surely there was no harm in finding out how Evelyn was doing? If she were lucky enough, she might even be able to avoid speaking to Michael. Not that she didn’t want to hear the sound of his soothing melodic voice, but Heather was afraid any interaction between the two of them would reopen the buried chest of emotions she had cast into the depths of her soul.
But she couldn’t live with herself knowing how upset Evelyn would be if she didn’t at least say good-bye. She retrieved her cell phone from her purse and prepared to press the numbers when an unknown call rang in. Heather stared with curiosity at the number, wondering who could be calling from the Palm Springs area. There was only one person she knew from that area, and she hoped everything was alright. She thumbed a button and answered the call.
“Hello, is this Miss Parks?” an older gentleman asked in a hesitant voice.
“Yes, it is, can I help you?” Heather could detect the tension in the stranger’s voice and moved toward the privacy of the corner of the store.
The stranger breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad I found you. I’m Mr. Beasley, Mrs. Covington’s younger brother. I’m sorry to trouble you, but I’m calling on behalf of my sister, and I understand you were very special to her.”
Memories of caring for the obstinate woman brought a smile to Heather’s lips. “Yes, she treated me like family, especially since her kids didn’t seem to care about her. How is Mrs. Covington doing?”
There was momentary silence on the other end of the line before the man cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to break the news to you, but Mrs. Covington went home to be with the Lord five days ago.”
Heather’s heart sunk like a lead weight. Even though the woman was up in years, Heather was sure her feisty attitude would keep her alive and kicking until her nineties. Something beyond her control had to have caused her early demise. “It can’t be. She seemed so full of life the last time I saw her. What happened?”
“It was very unfortunate. She was taking a shower and somehow she slipped and broke her neck against the tub during the fall. It was terrible how it happened. I’m still in shock over it.”
Heather pressed a hand over her mouth. “Oh, how awful.” She remained motionless as the shocking news sunk in. “How’s her family taking it?”
“They’re very shocked at what happened to their mother ... very shocked. But ... unfortunately, it seems they’ve become embroiled in a controversy over the proceeds of their mother’s estate.”
Heather shook her head in disapproval. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. Mrs. Covington told me how her family was.”
“Well, ma’am, I couldn’t agree with you more. There will be a private funeral this Saturday at the Sacred Grace funeral home, and her lawyer Mr. Tillman made a special request that you be there for the service.”
Heather’s brows tilted lower. “My flight for France leaves in two days. Mrs. Covington was a special woman, and I would like nothing more than to pay my respects to the dear woman. But I’m not sure I have the time to drive up to Los Angeles before my flight leaves.”
“I don’t know, ma’am. I was just told to contact you and make sure you’ll be there.”
“Can Mr. Tillman discuss this on the phone with me?”
“I’m afraid not. The instructions were explicit that you needed to be there in person at the funeral. Sis wouldn’t request that unless it was very important.”
Heather pressed her lips together. There was one week left before her nursing program started, and she really wanted to be in France early so she could get settled before her training started. But Mrs. Covington had a special place in her heart, and she couldn’t find it in her to disrespect the woman’s wishes now that she had passed to another life.
Heather figured she could leave LAX Monday afternoon and still have several days to get settled in before school. If Mrs. Covi
ngton had insisted on her presence at the funeral, it was the least she could do to honor the woman’s wishes.
“Alright, I’ll be there Saturday morning. Please tell her family they have my condolences.”
“I will. If something comes up, you can contact me directly.”
Heather retrieved a pen from her purse and jotted his number down on a scrap of paper before ending the call. She reminisced about the quality times they spent together and the times when the woman’s friends would come over for game night. Even though the elderly woman lived a shorter life than Heather expected, she knew it was a fulfilling one, and she could see the woman in heaven having a grand ole time questioning God about how the universe was made. The image brought a smile to Heather’s face, and she was thankful that God had allowed her to make a difference in the dear woman’s life.
Heather finished selecting a romantic video from the machine before heading back to Liv’s place and enjoying what would be one of her last few nights in San Diego before her new life in France.
Chapter 15
Saturday morning came quickly, and Heather found herself standing in the main parlor of the lavishly decorated funeral home. She had chosen to wear her only black dress, one that was understated with lace trim and had caught Michael’s attention. As she made her way into the small chapel her gaze drifted around the room. There were only a handful of people there, but she recognized two women who were regulars at Mrs. Covington’s game nights.
A mature man wearing a gray suit made his way up front, standing next to the shiny dark wood casket before addressing the audience.
“Good morning everyone and thank you for coming to help us praise God, be a witness of our faith, and celebrate and honor the life of Mrs. Covington. My name is Pastor Charles, and I’ve had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Covington for the last twenty years. I’m going to start off by reading Psalms 23, a psalm of David.
Pastor Charles recited the psalms before quoting John 14:1-6 and then segued into how Jesus encouraged his followers to face the future without fear. Heather listened intently, knowing the pastor’s words were meant for her. For so long, she had refused to get involved in any relationship, afraid of getting emotionally hurt. But when Michael walked into her life, it challenged her resolve to remain single forever. Could it be possible to have a lasting and fulfilling relationship with someone who seemed custom made for her? Her parched heart absorbed every drop of wisdom from the pastor’s speech, and she suddenly realized that going to France was her way of escaping her fears about love. Love that she adamantly denied to her deficient heart.
Heather now knew that she had failed to trust God with her fears, and instead had marched to the beat of her own drum. A drum that only led her away from the happiness that only God knew was best for her. She treated relationships as if they were a predator, running from what would cause her emotional pain and devastation. But God had used Mrs. Covington’s departure to gently remind her that God would help her through every fear, including the emotional ones. All she needed to do was be obedient and trust God with the rest.
God, are you telling me that I need to return back to Crystal Cove? How can I go back when Michael’s already married?
Heather waited for an answer, but only the monotone sound of the pastor’s voice answered her pleas. She couldn’t fight the growing feeling that God wanted her back one last time at Crystal Cove before she could move on to France. Heather began to ponder how she would approach Michael, but before she could get too far, Pastor Charles had wrapped up his sermon and called upon the audience to share their respects.
Heather wasn’t expecting to give a formal speech, but she felt it in her heart to read from scripture and offer a few words of respect for her beloved patient. She stood up in the pew and maneuvered past several elderly women before making her way up to the wood podium. Her hands felt moist, and she could feel the heat slowly rise up her neck. Giving presentations during high school had always made her nervous, but Heather wasn’t going to let her fear of public speaking stop her from letting others know about the wonderful caring part of Mrs. Covington’s personality.
Her eyes slowly roamed over the small crowd of visitors and family members that sat toward the front of the room. Heather could tell by the look in their eyes that their minds were focused elsewhere, their faces expressionless and without sympathy. In that instant, she knew the crowd had never experienced the softer side of Mrs. Covington, and she knew this was her opportunity to leave a positive lasting impression of the woman in their minds.
Heather cleared her throat and smiled at the crowd. “Most of you who knew Mrs. Covington knew she wasn’t afraid to express her opinions. But if she knew I was standing up here today, she would be speechless because she knew how much I hated speaking in public.
A few laughs could be heard from the audience.
“I know most of you probably only experienced the sharp side of Mrs. Covington. She was often misunderstood and often neglected. Some of you were her partners in business and only knew the tough side of her. But I was lucky enough to experience another side of her personality. A side that was gentle and encouraging to others.” A snicker could be heard from the audience.
Heather continued as if nothing had happened. “She challenged my determination, and as a result, I was able to share my Christian faith with her. Mrs. Covington loved God and had a genuine interest in people. Even though I got to experience a small part of her life, she definitely shaped me into the woman I am today, and for that, I am eternally grateful. If you would have taken the time to see past her tough exterior, you would have found a beautiful and genuine mother and friend, someone who would have sacrificed a lot to help you because she really cared. I’m sorry you didn’t get to experience that side of her personality, but I’m so glad God has given me the opportunity to share that with you.”
Heather turned and faced the woman’s family. “I hope her memory lives on in your lives and that you make sure future generations remember what a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother she was.”
A line of tears ran down Heather’s face. “I will never forget Mrs. Covington. She will be missed.” Heather wiped a hand across her face before flipping to a page in the Bible she held in her hand. “Just before I left here for another assignment, she gave me this Bible. It was a gift from her late husband, and I wanted to share with you what he wrote inside.” Heather thumbed through several pages before stopping.
“To my beautiful bride, today is our 50th wedding anniversary, and I am not well. I know as I write this that you will outlive me in years, but I also know you will never know the end of the love I have for you. I plan to love you twice as much with every breath I have left so that when I am gone, you will have enough of my love to last you until we are reunited in Heaven. I can only pray that you know that only God can love you more than I do my darling.”
Heather closed the Bible and remained silent for a moment. “I would like to think that we’re not here today to say good-bye to her, but rather celebrate the life she lived here and know that she is being welcomed into Heaven by Jesus and her late husband. She was a good woman with much love for everyone, and I pray that as we celebrate her life today, know that she is happy, and she will always live on in our memories.” Heather drew her lips into a smile. “Thank You.”
She stepped down from the podium, tears streaming freely down her face. She walked with reverence next to the casket and rested a hand on top of the cool casket as her lips whispered a silent prayer for her friend’s safe deliverance into Heaven. When she had finished, Heather remained by the casket momentarily before proceeding down the aisle and back to her seat.
She sat for the remainder of the service and listened as three elderly ladies and Mrs. Covington’s daughter each acknowledged the influence the woman had in their lives. When the service was finished, Heather spent several minutes offering her condolences to the immediate family before heading to her car.
As Heather exi
ted the double glass doors of the chapel, the sound of a man’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Ms. Parks. Can I speak with for a moment?”
Heather pivoted on her heels and watched as Mr. Tillman strode up to her, his chest moving like an accordion as he tried to catch his breath.
“How can I help you, Mr. Tillman?”
Mr. Tillman’s face flushed with pink as he jogged to a stop in front of the nurse, his chest pumping rapidly.
“Are you okay, Mr. Tillman?”
He held up a hand and waited several seconds before answering. “I’ll be okay. I had to catch you before you left. I had explicit instructions to be sure you got this.” His hand reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a thin business envelope. “She was adamant that you got this envelope right after the service. “Here.” He stuck the envelope out at her.
Heather raised a brow and took the envelope from his hand.
“The letter should be self-explanatory, but I know you’ll have plenty of questions after you read it. I’ll be available Monday morning after nine to answer any questions you may have.” The bald headed lawyer gave her a smug smile and turned to chase down another woman before Heather could respond.
She lowered her gaze to the envelope in her hand. What did her dear friend have to say? Heather’s curiosity began to grow, and she decided to open the envelope.
“My dear Heather, if you’re reading this, then I’ve finally gone home to a better place. I suppose to the rest of my family, those words might seem harsh, but you know what I mean. Even though I love my children, I can’t help but express my disappointment at how selfish and greedy they’ve become. My only wish was that they grow up being generous children of God and have an empathetic heart like you.
I know I can be a difficult woman, and many times I wished I had told those closest to me how much they meant to me before it was too late. You were one of the few people in my life who demonstrated true compassion and caring for others, and for that, I am truly blessed to have known you. You taught me more about God’s unselfish love than any of my closest friends, and God has placed it in my heart to reward you for being a faithful woman.
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