by Janice Hanna
“I’m already working on that,” Rena said. “I’ve sent a letter to my brother for the missions society. New furniture should be arriving over the next few weeks. Donated, of course, but I feel sure it will be a lot nicer than what’s here now.”
Carolina sat up suddenly and looked Rena’s way. “Oh, that reminds me of what I was going to tell you earlier today. You’re quite skilled at fixing things up.”
“I do? What makes you say that?”
“Those centerpieces the children put together. And I, for one, am thrilled that this place is going to get a new look. It’s such an eyesore in its current state—and dangerous, to boot. Renovations are much-needed and long overdue.”
“I agree,” Rena said. “I’ve sent a letter to my niece, Sadie. We’ve written several times over the past month about her upcoming trip to Daisy.”
“She’s coming here?” Jenny asked.
“She is. And I can’t wait for you to meet her. Why, she’s the prettiest thing you ever saw, and she has a knack—really, I can’t think of a better word to call it—a knack for decorating. She’s simply marvelous at it. I felt sure folks in Gulfport would hire her in a minute to fix up their homes, but she opted to go to college instead. I believe the timing of her trip to Daisy is perfect. She’ll be such a help to me.”
Carolina snapped her fingers. “Back to what I meant to tell you earlier. There’s one other place in town in need of a woman’s touch, and you’re just the one to tackle it.”
“Oh?” Rena settled onto the sofa, the springs stabbing her bottom.
“Yes.” Carolina’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “The jailhouse.”
“The jailhouse?” Rena sat up straighter. “You think we need to decorate the jailhouse?”
“Well, not decorate it, exactly,” Carolina said. “Just clean it up…give it a bit of color and life. It’s so dank and dreary.”
“Isn’t that what a jail is supposed to be?” Jenny asked.
“In theory, I suppose, though I daresay a criminal would stand a better chance of reforming if you offered him a bit of color instead of those drab gray walls.” Carolina gave Rena a closer look. “Which reminds me—you look radiant in that blue skirt. Don’t know if I mentioned it.”
Rena smiled, overcome by such kindness. “Thank you so much.”
“I feel sure one fella noticed,” Carolina said, winking.
Rena couldn’t be sure if she meant Jonathan or Gene but decided that a change of subject was in order. Before long, they were talking about the rest of the day, laughing over the wooden mouse and bragging on the taste of the pumpkin pie.
“I never really learned to cook,” Rena admitted. “Just one more thing I missed out on, losing my mama at such a young age. Anyway, I’m awfully grateful you’ve been teaching me.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to your parents?” Carolina asked.
Rena shifted her gaze to the fireplace and tugged at her collar. While she wanted to answer Carolina’s question, the words refused to come.
“I’m sorry, dear. I’ve overstepped my bounds. Forgive me?”
“No, it’s not that. Not at all.” Rena felt the sting of tears. “I so rarely discuss my parents.… Reuben didn’t like to talk about them, so I kept my words inside. Well, inside and on the page. I’ve often written down my feelings about what happened to them.”
“Must be very cathartic,” Jenny said.
“Yes. Though it doesn’t take the place of real conversation.” Rena paused for a moment. “And to be honest, I would enjoy talking about what happened to my parents. I don’t often get the opportunity to share aloud.”
“Then tell us anything you like.” Carolina gave her a sympathetic smile.
“I was fourteen when it happened,” Rena explained. “It was a day like any other. I’d gone to school in the morning. I distinctly remember wearing a blue dress and a matching ribbon in my hair. Midmorning, I heard the wail of a siren as the fire truck went by. As children are wont to do, it piqued my curiosity. I never dreamed….” She drew in a deep breath, suddenly feeling the pain of the moment afresh.
“Oh, honey…” Carolina shook her head. “I can imagine what you’re about to say.”
“All was lost.” Rena brushed away tears. “Our home burned to the ground, and my parents…” She began to cry in earnest now.
“You poor girl.”
Rena finally managed to get the rest of the story out. “My brother and sister-in-law had just married. They were living in a new home in Gulfport, not terribly far from Jacksonville, where I’d grown up. They came for me….” She paused, remembering the day they had arrived. “Thank God, they came. And they took me in. I’ve felt the security of their love and care from the beginning. I never felt like an outsider. Only…”
“Only what?”
“Only, after twenty-four years of living with them, I found myself feeling trapped. I’d so enjoyed the comfort of their home that I’d never thought of venturing out into the real world.” She gestured to her surroundings. “This is the real world.”
“Oh, it’s quite real.” Jenny smiled. “And depending on which child you’re with, it can be more real than you’ve imagined.”
“The children are a handful,” Rena said. “And I must confess, there are times when I want to throw my hands in the air and declare defeat. But then I remember what I felt like that first day in Reuben and Virginia’s home. I was a parentless child with no sense of security until they came for me. If you think about it, my situation was the very same as Josephine’s. Only, I had a place to go and she did not. Do you see what I mean?”
“I do.” Carolina squeezed her hand. “I didn’t realize until this very conversation just how much you have in common with these boys and girls. No wonder your heart cries out for them. No wonder you put up with so much. You’ve walked a mile in their shoes and know what they’re going through.”
“To some extent, yes.” She shivered. “Though I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be here without any family members at all, as some of the children are. It has to be a terribly lonely feeling. That’s why I must do what I can to make them feel loved. And special. They are special, even when they’re naughty. They have great value—to me and to the Lord.”
“You’ve done a wonderful job of conveying this to the children,” Jenny said. “I have a feeling that Josephine and the others will all thrive under your care. I’ve already noticed a remarkable difference in her attitude at school, if that makes you feel any better.”
“It does.” Rena smiled.
“It all comes down to seeing ourselves through God’s eyes,” Carolina added. “I’ve told Gene this a thousand times.”
“Gene? He struggles with feeling valuable?” Rena could hardly believe such a thing was possible.
“He does,” Carolina said, “whether it shows to others or not. And it’s spilled over to the boys. I’ve never met two needier children when it comes to worth. And I’m not talking self-worth, either. In and of ourselves, we don’t have worth. Nothing we ever do—or accomplish—in this life will change that. But resting in God’s worthiness is key.”
“Amen to that,” Jenny said.
Rena leaned against the sofa, thinking through Carolina’s words. They stayed on her mind as the ladies took to chatting about the upcoming Christmas season. And they lingered still as Jenny and Carolina rose to leave.
Rena bid them good night and headed up the stairs. As she slipped into her nightgown, the feeling of exhaustion was so deep she wondered if she would make it to the bed.
This day had worn her out on every conceivable level. The children under her care had been taxing as always, but William and Jacob were the toughest of the lot. No one could deny it, not even Gene. The youngsters were filled with anger. Not that she blamed them. Oh no. Losing a parent would bring out all sorts of emotions.
Losing a parent.
The words flitted through her mind, holding her captive. In that moment, a w
ave of sadness swept over her and she was fourteen years old again, sitting in class with her best friend Abby at the desk next to her. Just an average school day in East Texas, unlike any other. She was working on her math problems—strange, that Rena even remembered the specific algebra problem—when Mrs. Linden, the principal, came rushing into the room.
Only three words stood out now:
Fire.
Parents.
Dead.
A cold chill swept over the room, and Rena tried to push back the emotions that threatened to follow this memory. In spite of her attempts, the tears flowed anyway.
She tumbled onto her bed without even pulling back the chenille cover, as the familiar feelings of emptiness and devastation overtook her. With her face buried in the pillow, the sobs came. They flooded over her with such intensity that she could barely catch her breath.
Oh, but how could she control such emotion? She remembered the terrible nightmares. The pain of losing her mama.
Mama!
Her mother’s dear face came into view at once. That perfect china-doll face with the beautifully rounded lips and compassionate eyes. Her voice…that soothing, calming voice…silenced forever.
And Papa! That godly, heavenly man. His resounding laughter would no longer echo across the house.
The house.
Rena shivered, remembering the moment she’d laid eyes on it after the fire. A hollow, burnt shell of what it had once been.
Reuben and his new bride, Virginia, had come for her at once, of course. Those first few weeks at their house in Mississippi were strange and terrifying. She’d never felt so lost.
Strange house.
Strange bed.
Strange town.
Near-strangers caring for her.
Everything…strange and unfamiliar.
Oh, how terrifying it had all been. However had she survived?
Only one word came to mind, and it calmed her at once: love. The love of a brother and sister-in-law who had poured themselves out on her behalf. Their love had given her a reason to go on. And the love she carried inside of her was more than enough to share with those who needed it most, even those most difficult.
Rena paused and reached for her hankie to wipe her face. As she did, she thought of William and Jacob once more. Sure, they took their anger on each other. Well, who could blame them? They’d lost their parents and then their adoptive mother. It was a wonder they could still function at all. And Josephine…God bless that dear little girl! How sad, to go from everything to nothing all at once.
Rena sat up in the bed, suddenly invigorated. She would pour herself out for all of the boys and girls in Daisy…every last one. And they would be won by her love, a love so deep, so strong, that it would tear down walls and lift broken spirits.
With renewed hope, Rena rose, washed her face, and dressed for bed.
Chapter Fifteen
TIPS FOR DEALING WITH UNRULY YOUNG’UNS—As Daisy’s only doctor, I’m fascinated by the scuttlebutt over the town’s orphan children. My wife and I raised six strapping boys. Six. Sure, they gave us fits at times, but they’re grown and married now with children of their own. My method of dealing with the boys was different from most: I reasoned with them. Sat them down and talked with them, face-to-face, man-to-man. I won their respect that way. Now that they’re grown, I see them talking to their own sons with just as much respect. Hopefully those grandbabies will grow into fine, respectable citizens like their parents.
—Doc Moseley, Daisy, Oklahoma
Rena spent the better part of the next week reworking some of her dresses into usable clothing for the girls. With a bit of maneuvering, she turned a woman’s skirt into two darling pinafores for Lilly and Callie. She could hardly wait to get started on their Christmas dresses. She’d chosen an older red velvet dress passed down from Virginia. With a bit of lace, it would be just the thing for festive holiday dresses for the two sisters.
Rena struggled a bit with the pedal on the old sewing machine she’d located in the closet but managed to get quite a bit accomplished in spite of it. Of course, she had to work at night so that the children wouldn’t see what she was up to. This left her exhausted most mornings, but she felt sure it would be worth it, as soon as the girls saw their new Christmas dresses.
The following Saturday Rena made the decision to go to town. She needed to visit the general store so that she could purchase some lace and other trim pieces. Carolina agreed to watch the children, but Rena decided to take Lilly with her. The youngster’s bed-wetting problem was still very much an issue, though they never discussed it. She might as well face the problem and take the child to the doctor just in case.
She managed to keep Lilly’s fears at bay long enough to convince her to go alone with Doc Moseley and his nurse into his small inner office. Who could blame her for not wanting to go with them? It smelled of camphor and rubbing alcohol. The doctor emerged several minutes later, a concerned look on his face.
“I hate to tell you this, Miss Jewel, but Lilly has pinworms.”
“Pinworms?” She shook her head, trying to make sense of his words.
“Yes. I daresay most of the children probably have them.” He explained, in simple terms, how bed-wetting often occurred as a result, and Rena groaned.
“This is all new to me,” she explained. “I’m such a novice. What do we do?”
“First, I would suggest getting rid of the dirt under the children’s nails. But this next part won’t be as easy. You’ll need to feed them as much garlic as they can stand.”
“Garlic?”
“Yes. You can make it into a paste to be swallowed or cook it up in sauces and stews. Either way, you’ll need to use plenty of it.”
Rena sighed.
He gave her a compassionate smile. “I know. It sounds awful, but it’s necessary. Within a few days the pinworms will be gone and you should see a marked improvement.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Yes, but I must warn you, bed-wetting has now become a habit for Lilly. For that reason alone, I would suggest you keep her from drinking anything in the four hours before bedtime. She’s still very young, you know. Sometimes little girls have a hard time, especially if they’re of a nervous nature. If you can get her to relax, well, perhaps things will go better for her.”
“I will do my best,” Rena said. Still, she could hardly stop thinking about the garlic she would need to buy. How in the world would she manage such a thing?
“My nurse is still with her,” the doctor explained, “but you can go in now. She didn’t care much for the exam, I’m afraid, so she’s shaken. But she will recover.” He placed a hand on Rena’s arm. “And just for the record, I think what you’re doing for these boys and girls is admirable. I only wish the director before you had exuded such kindness and patience. The children will thrive under your care, I’ve no doubt about it.”
“Why, thank you.” She hardly knew what to say. His words bolstered her courage and gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
“I raised several boys myself.” He appeared to lose himself in his memories for a moment but finally looked her way with a smile. “Seems like a lifetime ago. They’re not young for very long, you know. They grow up all too soon. I’m proud to say my boys have turned out to be fine, upstanding citizens.”
“Thank you so much for that reminder. It’s hard to imagine what these children will be like when they’re grown, but I pray they are wonderful, productive citizens like your boys.”
“With you guiding the way, I’m sure they will be.”
She couldn’t stop the smile from turning up her lips at his encouraging words. Still, she had a teary-eyed child to deal with.
As they left the doctor’s office—Lilly still bawling—Rena turned toward the general store. “Since you were a very good girl at the doctor’s office, I’m going to let you pick out a special treat at the store.”
“A treat?” Lilly gazed up at her and brushed away the t
ears. “Really, truly?”
“Yes.” Rena knelt beside her. “Any candy of your choosing. How’s that? And if you like, you can also pick out a piece for each of the boys and girls.”
Lilly’s eyes widened and her tears dried up at once.
They arrived at the store and Lilly went to work, looking over the jars of candy. She oohed and aahed over the licorice, the cherry sours, and the gumballs. In the end, though, she went with the lollipops, choosing a red one for herself and a multiplicity of colors for the other children.
Rena turned her attention to the fabrics but found herself distracted as Henry walked into the store. He shoved something in his pocket then moved in the direction of the comic books. Everything about his movements spoke of mischief.
“Henry, what are you doing in town?” Rena felt as if her heart had gravitated to her throat.
For a moment he looked surprised to see her. Then he smiled. “Miss Carolina sent me.” He held out his hand to reveal several coins. “Said she needed carrots and peas.” He gestured toward the street. “The farmers come to town on Saturdays with their wares. See?”
“I suppose.” Still, none of this made sense. Since when did Carolina send the children to town alone? And why would she trust him with money? Besides, he didn’t appear to have any carrots or peas in his possession.
“Guess I’d better get on back to the house.” He turned toward the door.
Something suspicious caught her eye. She gave him a second look to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. “Henry, is that a wad of chewing tobacco in your mouth?”
He did not respond, but his face now looked a bit ashen.
She lowered her voice to a whisper so as not to arouse the suspicions of the other customers. “Where in the world did you get that?”
A shrug followed.
“Don’t lie to me. Where did you get it?”
Henry spoke around the wad in his cheek. “Mrs. Hannigan.” He pointed to the woman at the register. “She sold it to me.”
“You’re telling me she sold tobacco to a child?”
“I’m not a child.” Henry looked offended. He also looked a little sick.