by Patti Berg
“I know, but I’ve never wanted to be a wimp. I’m forty-nine now. It’s too late in life to change my style.”
Cesar rose from the floor and cradled her face in his hands, and she saw something she’d seen thousands of times before. A man who loved her dearly.
And then the unthinkable dawned on her. “You didn’t leave the bacon frying on the stove, did you? It could burn. We could have a fire.”
“Rafael has breakfast firmly in control. Don’t worry about it, querida. Just think about yourself for a change.”
She rested her head on Cesar’s shoulder. “I need to tell Rafael about this tonight. I can’t put it off any longer.”
Cesar was quiet a moment, and then he sighed. “He already knows.”
Elena frowned. “How?”
“I told him while I was cooking breakfast. He’s been worried about you, and I couldn’t keep it back.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah.” Cesar nodded. “Scared, of course, but so am I. So are you. But we’ve always banded together. We’ll get through this.”
“I know we will.”
At long last she looked at the clock and then pushed up from the bed, knowing she’d better hurry or she’d be late for church. “Do you think you could make me a smoothie before church?”
“Why don’t you stay home today? Put your pajamas back on and stay in bed.”
“I don’t want to miss church. I need to go now more than ever.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Elena gripped Cesar’s shoulders. “I’m going and that’s final. I just need to brush my hair again and dab some makeup on the dark circles under my eyes and—”
“If you insist on going, I’ll go with you.”
Elena frowned, stunned by Cesar’s words. “Did I hear what I think I heard?”
Cesar nodded. “Which means I need to shower and shave and see if I can still fit into a suit.”
“You don’t need to wear a suit.”
“That’s what you think.” He laughed. “You never knew my mother, but she was a stickler for dressing up for church.”
Elena smiled. “Far be it for me to go against your mother’s wishes,” she said, feeling good as new all of a sudden. “Now go shower. We don’t want to be late. I have the feeling your mom was also a stickler for being on time.”
“Are you really going to go to church, Tito?” Izzy asked from the backseat of Elena’s car. “I mean really and truly?”
Cesar looked at Izzy in the rearview mirror, and Elena couldn’t miss the smile on his face—or the disbelief on Izzy’s. “Yes, querida, I’m really and truly going to church.”
“But you have to know how to pray. Have you ever prayed, Tito?”
“All the time when I was young. And quite a bit lately too.”
“Good, because the pastor makes us pray a lot in church. And we have to stand a lot too. And sing. Do you like to sing?”
“It’s okay.”
“Do you sing as good as my daddy?”
“Not many people sing as good as your daddy,” Elena said, hoping Rafael and Sarah wouldn’t be late. “Your daddy has a beautiful voice, and something tells me yours will be just as beautiful when you grow up.”
“Good, then I can be a singing ballerina.”
Izzy chatted on and on all the way to Holy Trinity; and as they drove, Elena could sense tension building in Cesar’s body. He clenched the steering wheel far too tight. His jaw was clenched too.
Was he having second thoughts about going to church?
Please, Lord, don’t let him change his mind.
They followed a long procession of cars into the parking lot, most of them making an immediate left turn in order to find an empty space. But Cesar didn’t turn. He drove straight to the front of the church and when they arrived under the portico, he stopped. He twisted in the seat and looked at Elena. He didn’t wear a smile or a frown. His expression was passive. “I can’t go in, Elena. I’m not ready.”
Elena bit her lower lip. She wanted to argue with him, wanted to get angry and tell him he had to go inside with her, that he had to pray for her sake, if not for his. But she couldn’t. He’d come so far, and she had to let him do this at his own pace. Maybe next week he might actually make it into the church.
She took a deep breath, kissed her fingertips and pressed them against his cheek and climbed out of the car, opening the back door so Izzy could get out too.
Going to church or not was a decision only Cesar could make. It was a compact between him and God, and she wasn’t going to get in the way.
Izzy sat quietly in the pew next to Elena, both of them listening to the organist play a number of hymns before the service began. If Cesar was going to come back, he’d already messed up his mother’s command that he always be at least five minutes early. The service was due to start any moment now.
Sarah and Rafael slid into the pew beside her with barely a moment to spare, and Rafael leaned toward her, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “I love you.”
Sarah squeezed her hand.
They both knew now. And they’d help her through this worry-filled time of her life.
The pastor walked into the church; Cesar didn’t, and Elena sighed, hoping no one had heard her.
Oh, how she wanted Cesar to come back. To sit beside her. To hold her hand. But it didn’t look as if that would happen. Not today.
The pastor delivered the invocation, offered a prayer, and while everyone else in the church sang, Elena lowered her head and asked the good Lord, one more time, to help Cesar find his way back to the church he’d loved before his mother had died.
She prayed for Cesar to regain his faith, something far more important than attending church.
And then…she heard a door creak at the back of the church.
She twisted around and…Cesar walked toward her—tall, handsome, and smiling.
There was an empty space next to Elena, as if it had been set aside just for Cesar, and as he sat, he took her hand in his, clasping it tightly. “I was all the way back home,” he whispered. “I don’t know if it was the wind or road noise, but all of a sudden I thought I heard my mom as clear as day.”
Elena smiled softly. “What did she say?”
“‘Get back to the church right this instant, young man.’” Cesar grinned. “I don’t remember ever disobeying her, and I wasn’t about to start today.”
Elena kissed Cesar lightly, right there in front of the pastor and her friends and God Himself. She felt wonderful, and truly, truly blessed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
ELENA TOOK FRIDAY OFF FROM WORK. THERE WERE simply too many last-minute things to do for the walk, one of which was to hang a purple flag outside Cesar’s office. City ordinances kept her from doing a lot of decorating outside the police department, but she was determined to “paint” at least a small part of the Deerford Police Department purple.
Better late than never.
As she draped Cesar’s desk with purple ribbon, much to his chagrin, the police radio in his cramped office space squawked, filling the room with static and numerous calls for assistance. There was a high-speed chase on the highway between Deerford and Chicago; a cow was in the middle of the road somewhere just outside of town, and officers were needed to get it back in its pasture; there was a domestic dispute that was escalating into a full-scale war.
And, Elena realized, life goes on, no matter what.
Sitting in the guest chair in Cesar’s office, Elena nibbled at her turkey sandwich, piled high with lettuce and tomatoes. They chatted about anything and everything—except cancer. This weekend, with the Walk for a Cure and all the events surrounding it, was meant to be a celebration of life, of survivors and victims.
And she was so ready to celebrate. To have fun.
“Are you ready for the walk?” Cesar asked. “It starts at six tomorrow morning, right?”
Elena nodded. “I don’t think we could be any more ready. Of course, I have li
st upon list that I’ve checked and rechecked, just to make sure nothing’s overlooked.”
“Like everything else you do, it’s going to go off without a hitch.”
She certainly hoped so.
“I’m hoping to run at least a hundred laps,” Elena said, staring at her sandwich and thinking about taking just a small bite or two.
Cesar, on the other hand, had finished one sandwich and was starting on his second. “Isn’t that overdoing it?”
“You know as well as I do that the church gym isn’t all that big. I’ve run marathons before. A hundred laps should be a piece of cake. Besides, I’ve received nearly a dozen pledges. If I complete a hundred laps, I’ll raise over a thousand dollars. And that’s my goal.”
“I’d tell you not to do it, querida. I’d tell you to stand on the sidelines and watch, but I know you too well. Once your mind’s made up, there’s no stopping you.”
“That’s right. I’m doing a hundred laps, and that’s that.” She smiled. “And how many laps are you hoping to run?”
Cesar grinned. “A hundred and one.”
“Mind if I join you?” Rafael stood in the doorway, his appearance taking both Elena and Cesar by surprise. “I’ve got some good news.”
“Well don’t hold anything back. Tell us,” Elena said. She wanted to hear nothing but good news this weekend.
“The job offer was made official today. In fact, I start the academy the Monday after Thanksgiving.”
Elena pushed out of her chair and almost launched herself into Rafael’s arms, hugging him tightly. When they looked back at Cesar, his eyes had reddened, pooling with tears.
“You’re not supposed to cry, Dad. This is good news.”
“It’s the best news,” Cesar said, as he embraced Rafael, patting him on the back, but the look in his eyes when he looked at Elena said far more. I need even more good news, Elena. I need to know that you’re going to get well, that you’ll be with me forever.
She wished she could wave a magic wand and make that happen, but she couldn’t. She was a mere mortal, and all she could do was ask the Lord to fit a long life into the master plan He’d already laid out for her—for them.
And keep her faith strong. Something that would be even easier now, with Cesar’s faith restored and growing stronger every day.
“Good morning, Deerford. It’s Walk for a Cure day, so head on over to the Church of the Good Shepherd and take part in the fun. Cheer on your friends and your family members, and while you’re at it, make a pledge. You’ll be happy you did.”
Elena could still hear the DJ’s words from that morning as she raced around the track. As she’d hoped and prayed, the crowds had come out in full force. The entire event had so far gone off without a hitch, and donations were pouring in.
This was truly a great day.
Of course, Elena ran the walk as if her life depended on it. In truth, her life could very well depend on it. The money raised in the Walk for a Cure would go to research. Without it, there wouldn’t have been as many advancements made toward finding a cure.
So many lives depended on that research, and she was determined to do all she could to raise big bucks.
Around the track she went. One lap. Ten. Then twenty. She wasn’t exactly running, but a brisk walk and an occasional jog never hurt anyone. The best part of all…Cesar was at her side every minute, their strides timed with each other’s, looking like twins in their purple Tshirts and jogging shorts.
“Still think you can do a hundred laps?” Cesar asked, smiling at her as they slowed to a near crawl.
“Maybe a hundred and ten,” Elena teased. “What about you?”
“I stop when you stop. Not a moment sooner.”
Elena laughed. “I thought you planned to outdistance me by one lap.”
“Changed my mind.” Cesar winked. “I’d rather stick by your side.”
Cesar’s words put an extra bounce in her step. When he reached out and took her hand, they were both able to run a little faster and, she knew, they’d be able to run a little farther.
The crowd was amazing, a steady stream of Deerford residents cheering their favorite participants. Flags flew; banners waved. Up on stage, Rafael played with his cousin’s mariachi, the singing and music so joyful it renewed her spirit, gave her strength she’d almost forgotten she had.
She and Cesar jogged another lap and another. They were on number thirty-nine when James drew up beside them and slowed his pace. “Hurry up slow pokes,” he hollered and then put distance between them.
Oh, goodness. Elena had pledged a buck a lap for James. For a couple of other participants too. At the rate those she’d sponsored were going, it was highly likely that she’d go broke before the day was through.
But…it was worth it.
When Heath and Candace flew by, Elena couldn’t miss the unbelievably loud cheers from Howie and Brooke, who stood on the sidelines. A minute later, Elena and Cesar passed Anabelle and Cameron, wearing matching purple Tshirts and baseball caps. Anabelle said there was no way she and Cameron were going to run, but they had their fast walk down to a science, outpacing most other sixtysomethings Elena had seen on the track.
Fern was walking, too, with her trusty cane, sometimes with James, sometimes without, and she and Elena hugged each time they crossed paths.
They were having a ball.
And Elena already knew that next year’s walk—one she fully intended to coordinate—would be bigger and even better.
All along the sidelines, Elena saw the smiling faces of so many people she knew—friends, family, and acquaintances—all of them pledging to keep the walk going for twelve hours. And the bake sale…oh boy, the bake sale was rolling in the dough.
When she thought she was too tired to go on any longer, Sarah showed up with Izzy, the two of them standing hand in hand, wearing the sparkly purple cheerleader outfits Sarah had helped Elena create, waving purple pompoms, and cheering Elena and Cesar on.
“Go, Buela, go!” Izzy shouted. “Go, Tito!”
For Izzy’s sake, for Rafael and Sarah, for her dear friends and loved ones, and especially for Cesar, Elena would keep on running.
Another lap and another, round and round they went. The mariachi picked up steam, the trumpets and guitars playing “El Tirador,” and an extra loud roar rose from the crowd. Something special must have happened. But what?
Elena looked toward the stage draped with a purple Walk for a Cure banner. Helium-filled purple balloons with long purple streamers floated above the band. She saw Izzy standing off to one side of the stage, waving her pompoms and jumping up and down.
When the mariachi parted, the band members moving to either side of the stage, she saw Rafael and Sarah in the very middle, dancing the Jarabe Tapatío, as if they were the headliners of Ballet Folklorico. They danced and swayed, their arms linked, while Sarah swished an invisible skirt, her movements so dramatic Elena could almost see the brightly colored fabric, all orange and yellow, red and green and blue.
Rafael smiled at Sarah. She smiled back.
Elena thought she might cry right then and there. But how could she when her son, Sarah, and Izzy looked happier than she’d ever seen them.
Soon almost everyone was dancing, laughing, and singing, and Elena felt a new spring in her step. Life was definitely good, and with Cesar beside her, with the Lord beside both of them, they’d make it through her surgery. Just a few more weeks—sometime before Christmas—she and her loved ones, friends and family alike, would learn what lay in store for her.
Waiting wouldn’t be easy, but she’d pray for patience, for strength.
And the Lord was great at answering prayers.
Cesar reached out and took her hand. “With all this newfound energy around here, should we try for a hundred and twenty laps?”
“I’m game if you are,” Elena said, her smile widening as her heart filled with hope.
“With you by my side, querida, I’m ready for anything.”
About the Author
USA Today best-selling author Patti Berg began penning stories while in elementary school, when she wrote the script for a puppet show that she and her friends put on at a local hospital. Thirty years later, one of her dreams came true when the first of her many warm and lighthearted novels appeared in bookstores.
Scared of dogs until the age of fifty, Patti now goes out of her way to pet every dog she gets close to and would happily bring home all of the puppies in the pound if her less impulsive husband would only let her. He’s had less success keeping her from saying yes when family, friends and others ask her to volunteer. A past president, secretary and newsletter editor of the Sacramento Valley Rose chapter of Romance Writers of America as well as past president, Web site and conference coordinator for RWA’s Published Authors’ Special Interest Chapter, Patti is currently volunteering with the Ada County Idaho Sheriff’s Department.
She lives in southwestern Idaho with her husband of thirty-three years and a huggable Bernese mountain dog named Barkley. To learn more about Patti, go to pattiberg.com.
Read on for a sneak peek at the next exciting and heartfelt book in Stories from Hope Haven!
New Beginnings
by
Charlotte Carter
FERN AND I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING LAST night,” James Bell said to his friend Anabelle Scott. Standing in the small kitchen area of the staff lounge at Hope Haven Hospital, James handed a cup of coffee to Anabelle and then poured himself a cup. “I think we’re both worried about Elena.”
Anabelle took a sip from the Styrofoam cup. In contrast to James’s blue scrubs, she wore a white lab coat, which was appropriate for her Nurse Supervisor position. Her reading glasses, attached to a chain around her neck, were tucked into the breast pocket of her coat.
She sighed. “I think we’re all worried about Elena.”
James blew on his coffee to cool it. “It’s two days until her surgery, right?”
“Yes, and it’s just so close to Christmas.” Her eyes dimmed by concern, she shook her head. “Cancer is such a frightening possibility, particularly ovarian cancer. I know she can’t help but worry, and not just about the surgery. If they do find cancer, she’ll probably have to have chemo and radiation. Not a prospect I’d look forward to.”