Once they were all checked in, they had dinner at the hotel and firmed up plans for the week.
“This is gonna be the bestest fun time,” Cole announced that night.
And so it was.
On Sunday, Luke and Reagan joined them on a tour of the city, complete with a visit to the Statue of Liberty and a cruise around the harbor. It was the first time Elizabeth had been to the city since the terrorist attacks, and she and the others were quiet as they took in the changed skyline.
“Still makes you want to cry, doesn’t it?” She leaned her head on John’s shoulder, her voice a whisper.
“It really happened.” John narrowed his eyes and gazed at the place where the twin towers had stood. “Until you see it for yourself, I guess it’s hard to believe.”
The twelve of them had an early dinner together at a place near Central Park, and then walked to the New Amsterdam Theatre on Forty-second Street for a performance of The Lion King.
When they were filing in, Ashley leaned over and kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom . . . for making this happen.” She held Cole’s hand as they made their way down to their seats. “Cole’s never seen anything like this.”
When they were all seated, the lights dimmed, and the theater came to life with a procession of dramatically costumed actors, each playing an animal from the play.
“Hey, Grandma.” Cole tugged on Elizabeth’s sleeve. “They’re real! I can’t believe they’re real!”
Elizabeth wasn’t sure which was more fun to watch, the stunning drama taking place on the stage or the awe and wonder on the faces of her grandchildren. In the end, she split her time watching both, grateful that from the beginning of the play, Maddie and Cole were captured by the story.
Afterwards they walked down Forty-second Street and found an ice-cream parlor where they relived the play’s highlights.
“We’ll have to come back in a few years when our little girl can enjoy it.” Erin took Sam’s hand and grinned.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “Little girl?”
“Wait a minute.” John lowered his ice-cream cone. “Are you making an announcement?”
Sam chuckled and looked at the faces around the table. “We found out the day before we left. The birth mother is having a girl.”
“Yay!” Kari held Jessie’s hand in the air and made a victory hoot. “A girl cousin for you, Jessie.” She high-fived Erin across the table. “That’s perfect.”
“Hey, boy cousins are good, too.” Cole crossed his arms and made a half-serious pout. “I’m the only boy cousin in the family.”
“Don’t worry, Cole.” Ashley grinned at Erin and Sam. “They’ll adopt a boy next, right guys?”
Erin laughed and slipped her hand into Sam’s. “Sounds fine to me.”
Ashley nodded at Kari and Ryan. “And I’m sure Aunt Kari will have a boy one day, too, right?”
“If I have anything to say about it.” Ryan chuckled and kissed Kari on the cheek.
“Do we have a name for this newest little granddaughter?” John anchored his elbows on the table.
Elizabeth studied him. In light of the moment, he looked younger, more full of life than he had in years.
Erin and Sam exchanged a look, and Erin grinned at the others. “Amy Elizabeth.” She looked at Sam again. “We came up with that on the plane ride here.”
“Really?” Elizabeth felt giddy, her heart even lighter than before. Amy Elizabeth? A grandchild with her own name? She smiled at Erin and Sam. “I’m honored.”
“That’s beautiful.” Kari punctuated the statement by raising her ice-cream cone in the air. As she did, her top scoop bobbled off the cone and splattered chocolate on her white shirt. Kari peered down at her blouse and muttered, “Very nice, Kari.”
Ryan stifled a laugh, but then couldn’t contain it. He patted Kari on the back, “We’ll call this one Grace.”
“I’ve called her that since she was four.” John laughed. “If only her agent could see what goes on when the cameras are off!”
Kari stood and did a little curtsy for the group, and then held up a finger as she headed for a stack of napkins at the front counter.
Everyone was still laughing, and the conversation splintered into several silly discussions. Elizabeth watched them, the happy way they looked, and she wished with all her heart that the moment would last forever. They were together, whole and healthy, this side of so many uncertain times: Erin and Sam’s marriage troubles; Ashley’s jaded attitude after Paris; Luke and Reagan’s separation, the way they almost missed out on finding each other again; Kari’s traumatic times with Tim and his murder and her struggle about when to let go of her husband’s memory, when to move on and let herself be with Ryan the way she’d dreamed since she was a schoolgirl.
Watching her family now, Elizabeth was reminded of a Scripture about Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible mentions that after Jesus was born, Mary pondered what was happening around her and treasured the moment in her heart. That was Elizabeth now, knowing that her family was together only for a short time before life would take them in different directions again.
But here, now, celebrating Christmas and Luke’s wedding in New York City, knowing the joy of being together, Elizabeth pondered every moment and treasured the sum of them in her heart. Where she would treasure them until she drew her last breath.
Monday sped past as the family took a tour bus to Niagara Falls, over the bridge to the Canadian side, where the view was amazing. The trip would take six hours each way and would make for a full day with only two hours at the falls, but Elizabeth watched her family and didn’t think any of them minded. The ride was pleasant and gave them all a chance to visit, commenting often on the sights and the excitement ahead with Luke’s wedding.
They arrived at the falls at just after one o’clock, and despite the cold weather, the sun was brilliant overhead, glistening off the ice that floated at the basin. The mist from the falls was thick enough that they purchased rain slickers for the group and walked along the pathway overlooking the dramatic flow of water.
Maddie grabbed hold of the handrail and peered over the stone wall at the mighty force of water. Her eyebrows lifted and in a voice only Elizabeth and John could hear, she said, “I’m glad Hayley didn’t fall in there.”
Elizabeth’s heart slipped to her knees. She lowered herself to Maddie’s level and soothed her hand over the child’s hair. “Me, too, sweetie.”
“Know what?” Maddie took hold of Elizabeth’s hand, her eyes wide and earnest.
“What?” Elizabeth kissed Maddie’s cheek and silently thanked God for healing her of her fevers. She couldn’t imagine life without this precious granddaughter.
“Hayley can’t swim anymore.” Maddie looked over her shoulder at the roaring water rushing down the falls. “Her arms and legs don’t work; that’s why.”
“No, they don’t work yet.” Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek and brushed Maddie’s damp bangs off her forehead. “But one day God will make her arms and legs better. Maybe she can swim then, okay?”
“Well . . .” Maddie looked at Elizabeth again, but this time her expression was stern, like a miniature Brooke. “Only if she wears a life jacket.”
“Yes.” Elizabeth swallowed back the lump in her throat. “Only if she wears a life jacket.”
The rest of the group was a few feet ahead, so Elizabeth took Maddie’s hand and the two skipped together until they caught up.
Ryan was saying, “Maybe we should take the boat trip, get the other view of all that water.”
“Actually—” Elizabeth made a subtle motion to Maddie—“we can see it pretty well from here.”
A look of understanding filled Ryan’s face. “True. Besides, we’d get too wet down there, right, Maddie?” He made a funny face at the child and patted his own head. “I can’t let my fancy hairdo get all messed up, can I?”
Maddie giggled, and the sorrow that had come over her was suddenly gone.
Th
ey took an entire roll of film, breaking into small family units, and then asking a passerby to finish the roll with pictures of the entire group.
Before they left, Cole pointed at the falls and looked at the grown-ups around him. “Did God build that thing?”
Ashley smiled at her son. “Yes, only God could’ve built Niagara Falls.”
“God’s a good builder.” Cole planted his hands on his hips and studied the force of the water. Then he turned to the rest of them and patted his own head. “When he was finished with all that water, he builded me and Maddie and Jessie and Hayley.” He gave a serious nod of his head. “That means God’s a busy guy, I think.”
Elizabeth smiled and covered her mouth with her fingertips so Cole wouldn’t see her giggle. Of all the grandchildren, Cole would always be special. For three years of his life, he was with her and John more than he was home with Ashley. It wasn’t until Landon became a greater part of Ashley’s life that she seemed to wake up and realize what she had in that special son of hers.
Ashley hadn’t called Landon, hadn’t asked him to join the group this week. Things had obviously cooled in their relationship, and Elizabeth could only figure it had something to do with her health. Ashley would never have wanted to put Landon at risk, but still . . .
Landon belonged with Ashley—and he definitely belonged with Cole.
The thought reminded Elizabeth of her daughter’s uncertain health. Another reason to hold on to today, to rejoice in the moment. Because tomorrow held no guarantees. If God had taught her one thing over the years, it was that. However good or bad a season was, it would change. Nothing stayed the same.
They were tired when they returned from Niagara Falls, but they made time for carriage rides through Central Park. By the time they reached the skating rink, a light snow had begun to fall. As they strapped on skates and made their way around the ice, Elizabeth took another mental picture, one she knew she would recall forever. She couldn’t have scripted the moment any better.
Tuesday they met for breakfast and afterwards, the guys headed for the city golf range, and Elizabeth and the girls took two cabs to Fifth Avenue. The next few hours took them to FAO Schwarz and a dozen other high-ticket stores.
“This is torture!” Kari had two bags full of gifts hooked to Jessie’s stroller, and it wasn’t lunchtime yet. She kept stopping the group every few feet, marveling over one window display or another. “I’m falling in love with everything I see.”
Elizabeth grinned. “You always were a shopper, Kari.”
“I know what I’m getting you for Christmas.” Ashley gave Kari a teasing elbow to the ribs. She had rented a stroller for Cole and Maddie as well. Otherwise the walking would’ve been too much for them. “A suitcase so you can carry it all back to Bloomington.”
“The question is . . .” Kari cast a quick smile at Ashley. “Will we have enough wrapping paper?”
Reagan had been walking next to Elizabeth. Now she took a few quick steps and squeezed in between the sisters. “Not to worry.” She slipped an arm around each of their shoulders. “My mother has an entire carton of wrapping paper. She hits the sales when Christmas is over. All year long we have to navigate a forest of Christmas wrapping paper every time we use the storage closet.”
“Mother!” The word came in unison from Kari, Ashley, and Erin. All three of them turned and looked at Elizabeth and surrendered to an instant case of giggles.
“Okay, okay . . .” Elizabeth held her hands up in mock surrender. “Reagan’s mother and I have something else in common.”
The shopping trip ended and that afternoon, they all met up at the hotel to wait for Brooke’s arrival. She called Elizabeth as soon as she and Hayley were in a cab headed for the Marquis.
“We made it!” Brooke sounded tired but happy. “Meet me in front of the hotel.”
When the cab pulled up, Elizabeth, John, and Ashley were on the sidewalk ready to help. Brooke stepped out first. “Yeah . . . we’re here!”
Her face was lit up, and Elizabeth studied her. She should’ve looked worn-out, defeated, and devastated over the turns her life had taken in the past three months. Instead, Brooke seemed genuinely joyful. Stronger than before, and more connected to the rest of them. Maybe because for the first time in her life, she couldn’t rely on her own intelligence. As a result, she’d had to depend fully on her faith, and that, in turn, had brought life to her heart, life she hadn’t really had before.
John stepped forward and helped release Hayley from her car seat. “How was the flight?”
“Good.” Brooke lifted the strap of one of her bags onto her shoulder and went around to the trunk for the other one. “Hayley slept the whole way.”
At that moment, the child woke up and looked dazed, a vacant stare on her face. Her nose tubes were out, but her mouth still hung open. A wet spot on her pink T-shirt was proof she’d been drooling. Her eyes grew wide, and she looked at the faces in front of her, fear written across her expression.
“Let’s get her upstairs where it’s quiet.” Elizabeth came to Hayley and smoothed her fingertips over Hayley’s forehead. Seeing Hayley again, being reminded once more of how she wasn’t even close to the way she used to be, made Elizabeth’s head and heart ache. If only she could give her granddaughter a nudge or a tap, a gentle shake, anything to wake her up and bring her back to the high-spirited pixie she’d been before the accident.
“Here, I’ll do the stroller.” Ashley took it from Brooke and popped it open. Then she motioned to John, and the two of them strapped Hayley in, while Brooke found a bellhop to help with her luggage.
Hayley started to cry, the repetitive monotone sound that all of them were now familiar with. But only Elizabeth, who had stayed next to her, could hear it. She stooped down and hugged Hayley close. “It’s okay, baby; we’re here. Everything’s okay.”
Then, despite the crowds of people bustling around them, despite the noise from the street, Hayley stopped crying. She looked at Elizabeth and peace replaced the confusion in her eyes.
“That’s right, Hayley.” Elizabeth smiled at her. “We’re here, honey.”
And then Hayley did something Elizabeth hadn’t seen her do since the accident. With her eyes still focused on Elizabeth’s, she smiled the way she used to smile. A smile from days gone by. And despite the miles of recovery that lay ahead, the ache inside Elizabeth was instantly gone. Because the smile on Hayley’s face wasn’t merely a handicapped child reacting to external stimuli. It was Hayley, her Hayley, knowing Elizabeth’s voice and letting her see that she remembered, that somewhere inside, Hayley was still there.
For Elizabeth, it was the highlight of the trip to that point.
After Brooke and Hayley were situated in Ashley’s room, the group rested for a few hours and then set off for Luke and Reagan’s rehearsal. The wedding was to be in Reagan’s family church, a century-old cathedral in the Upper East Side, not far from where Luke and Reagan and her mother lived.
With all the activities from the past few days, the reality of why they had gathered in Manhattan hadn’t really hit Elizabeth. But now, situated in the second row of the church, watching the minister go over the details of the ceremony with Luke and Reagan, she was struck by the truth.
Luke was about to get married.
Her only son was going to pledge his life to a woman other than herself, a woman who was perfect for him in every way. But still . . .
She watched him, tall and handsome, his blond hair cut short, the angles of his face striking as he joked with the minister and cast frequent smiles at Reagan. Suddenly she remembered her own mother, the conversation they’d shared in the days after Luke was born.
“Enjoy him while you can,” her mother had said. “A daughter’s a daughter for life; a son’s a son till he takes a wife.”
Every now and then while Luke was growing up, her mother’s words had come back: “A son’s a son till he takes a wife.” And she’d known it wasn’t true. Maybe for other mothers, but not
for her and Luke. Out of five children, he was her only boy, and she’d been convinced that he would marry a local girl, raise a family a few miles from the Baxter home, and spend his life stopping in for weekend dinners and summer barbecues.
She studied Luke.
He would stay in touch. She would receive calls on holidays and her birthday, and once or twice a year he’d bring Reagan and his family home. But for the first time, Elizabeth realized that her mother had been right. Come tomorrow evening, Luke would be gone from her life, gone to a bigger purpose, a grander priority.
“Elizabeth?” She looked up and saw Reagan’s mother, Anne. “Can I sit by you?”
“Of course.” Her sadness took a backseat as the two women smiled at each other. “Reagan is simply glowing.”
They were quiet for a while, listening to the pastor lead Luke and Reagan through the parts of the ceremony, watching Kari and Ashley and Erin and Brooke giggle and whisper as they tried to figure out in what order they would walk down the aisle. Across the church, Ryan and Sam talked football with Reagan’s younger brother, Bryan.
“Tomorrow should be beautiful for everyone.” Elizabeth smiled at Anne.
“Yes.” Anne leaned closer and said, “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure . . .” Elizabeth angled her body toward Anne’s so she could hear her better.
“You did a wonderful job with Luke. I love him like he’s my own.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth clutched her bag to her waist and willed her eyes to stay dry. “I wouldn’t want him to marry anyone but Reagan.”
“They’re good for each other.” Anne looked at the young couple again. “I’ve wondered if it’s been hard on you, having Luke so far away from home.”
Elizabeth lifted her fingers to just beneath the corners of her eyes and caught two tears before they could fall. “Yes.” She forced a single laugh. She wouldn’t cry, not now. “I miss him.”
“He’s a good daddy to Tommy.” Anne shifted her gaze back to Elizabeth. “It’s hard to believe six months ago they weren’t speaking to each other.”
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