Angel Promises Fulfilled

by Angel Promises Fulfilled (v5. 0) (epub)

  Henry only heard bits and pieces of what James had said. As soon as he stated that he wanted Jenny back and that she belonged back home in Ottawa, a heavy cloud covered his thoughts.

  “Are you there? Mr. Pederson…”

  Fortunately, Henry had listened enough to grasp the gist of James’ rambling and slowly began to respond.

  “I see…” said Henry, not really knowing what to say in the light of all this.

  “I know, Marjorie, that is…Jenny, has fond feelings for you and may be interested in reviving an old relationship with you…I would like you to discourage that. If there is some money or anything you need or desire I will do anything to help you.”

  Henry remained silent. This was such an unusual conversation and the furthest thing from his mind was to lose Jenny. She had come to Regina for her daughter, Camilla, but hopefully also for him. They had already expressed such love for each other that had never been lost. And yet, he was speaking to her former husband who had a right to express his desire to have her back…

  “Well, really Mr. Hamilton—”

  “Please call me James. Better yet, Jim, if you prefer.”

  “I think this is all up to Jenny, James. You will have to ask her what she wants to do. I really have no say in the matter.”

  “How long have you been seeing Jenny since she returned to Regina?” James wanted to know.

  “Not very long; less than a week. I just discovered the other day that I had purchased her home and made it to the hospital just before she passed away.” Henry suddenly realized that he didn’t need to divulge that information. Yet, to give their relationship some depth, he quickly added, “We have known each other since we were fifteen, however.”

  James couldn’t believe that Henry Pederson had purchased Marjorie’s home and yet he felt relieved that they had just started seeing one another.

  “Like I said, Henry, since you’re only beginning to see one another, it should be easy for you to discourage her…you know, tell her that you are not interested; it will help sway her to return. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “I know exactly what you are saying, James, but I could never do that because I am very fond of Jenny…in fact, deeply in love with her. To be honest, I was hoping since she was no longer married that we might get together after all these years.”

  “How could you and Mar—Jennifer possibly be serious? You haven’t been in touch for years. It should be easy for you to cut things off. You’re dealing with her husband who was married to her for twenty two years. Surely that should take precedence over just a few days?”

  Henry could hear James’ breathing get heavier; his frustration and growing anger were intense. He fully expected to get a blast like he had years ago when James had called to speak to Jenny.

  “It may be just a few days, however, our feelings go back a long way before you and Jenny met. Something…” Henry’s words trailed off. He didn’t need to explain how this relationship remained intact over all these years. He loved Jenny and wanted her more than anything…even more than considering her former husband’s desire to have her back. It felt right and yet it didn’t feel right…he felt confused and remained silent.

  James had already gotten his staff to get some background information about Henry. James knew Henry was an artist and owned a gallery and gift shop in Regina. He now resorted to tactics he and his CEO’s sometimes used in their business dealings. James was reluctant to do this, but he was getting desperate.

  “Look, Henry, I know a lot of people and have many connections. I could very easily stop a lot of product coming to your shop. I could do a lot to put you out of business… Look, I wouldn’t do that…sorry, it’s something I perhaps would have done.” James hesitated for a moment, to allow Henry to absorb what he could be capable of doing, just so he understood the gravity of the situation. It was a scare tactic that he never employed, but it sent a message of what could possibly happen. James went on.

  “Look, Henry, I need your help and will do anything to get it…I don’t mean to sound tough but it’s a cruel world out there…”

  “I told you before, it’s all up to Jennifer and I will do everything I can to win her love. You had your chance and obviously it didn’t work out. And please don’t call me again if it’s in regards to this matter.”

  Henry hung up the phone. He heard James yell some profanities at him before the connection was terminated.

  James stormed out of the house onto the patio. He failed to understand how some guy who had seen his wife for a few days could stand in his way to saving his marriage. Surely, their relationship of some thirty years ago couldn’t have any real value. It wasn’t as if they had been divorced and Henry had been seeing Jenny for years after the fact.

  What could he possibly do?

  He thought for sure if he got Matilda’s help, his son on board, and got this Pederson guy to lay off, that he could persuade Marjorie to return. But so far all of his efforts were failing.

  He still hadn’t got the results back from the tests and x-rays he had undergone a week ago. He knew however what they would find. His cancer was returning. He could sense, it, feel it, smell it; he was in a race against time. Life support and freezing his body would buy him time if it came down to that. But how much time would it give him? And how meaningful would it all be?

  Perhaps he would talk to Thomas some more on the matter. What was it that drew him back again and again to the gardener? It was difficult for James to accept the fact that his employee knew more of life than he did. And yet James didn’t feel he was lowering himself, in fact, just the opposite. The thought sent a soothing feeling through him, which he didn’t quite understand until his discussion with Thomas centered on pride.

  Chapter Forty One

  Thank you for helping me tidy up the place, Mable. It needed a good vacuuming and dusting.”

  “No problem Henry, I’m just so happy that Jenny is coming home. She was so excited when I went up to see her yesterday. For awhile there, I thought she would never see her beautiful home and yard again. Who said miracles don’t happen?”

  “Well, I’m a perfect example of one, too. This has all been an incredible two weeks.”

  “I think you have put everything in its place Henry. The home looks to me exactly like it did the day Jenny left for the hospital. I looked after it for weeks and I can’t see anything out of place.”

  “Ever since I purchased the home, I left it as I bought it. I loved everything about the home so much. I never dreamed of changing anything. I always felt like I was a guest, privileged to have such a wonderful place to escape to from the business. Except for the odd book I may not have put back exactly in the same place on the book shelf, I would agree with you, it’s exactly as I found it.”

  “It’s amazing that you were the one that purchased the home. Anyone else and God only knows what might have happened to this or that.”

  “Yes, Mable, I believe it was all pre-planned. Jenny and I are big believers in guardian angels and we attribute most of these incredible happenings to their involvement.”

  “Well, I can’t argue with you … someone upstairs was definitely working to bring this all together almost like a fairy tale. In any case Henry, I am so happy for you and Jenny.”

  Henry checked the clock on the kitchen wall. “It’s one thirty, time to pick up Jenny. I think I will just drop her off when I bring her back. Give her a chance to be alone and re-orientate to her life.”

  “Yes, that’s considerate of you. Things have been so hectic for her since her recovery. She was elated, when I saw her yesterday, that Dr. Kreake said she could come home.

  “See you later, Mable, and thanks again for your help.”

  Henry held Jenny’s make up case with one hand and unlocked the front door with the other. He removed the key from the door latch and handed it to Jenny. He stepped back, allowing Jenny to open the door. She walked into the foyer and Henry followed. The beep of the security system sou
nded, piercing the stillness. Jenny turned and automatically keyed in the numbers and the beeping stopped.

  “You didn’t change the code.”

  “Actually Jenny, I didn’t change a thing. When I first walked into this house it was like coming home. I loved everything about it exactly the way it was. It should be like the day you left and admitted yourself into the hospital.”

  Jenny turned towards Henry, filled with gratitude that words could not possibly express and whispered, “Thank you so much.”

  Tears welled up in both their eyes. Jenny set down her overnight suitcase and threw her arms around Henry’s neck and they warmly embraced.

  “I’m going to go now Jenny and leave you to settle in. You have a beautiful home. It gave me such peace over the past few months. I knew it was special, I knew it belonged to an angel.”

  Henry kissed Jenny tenderly and then turned to leave. Just before he closed the front door behind him he said, “When you have a minute, check the angel’s basket in the backyard, you’ll see something amazing. I think it’s another miracle.”

  Jenny smiled, a twinkle in her eye suggested that she knew already what she would find there.

  As soon as Henry closed the door, tears of joy and thanksgiving flowed from Jenny’s eyes. “Thank you dear Lord for bringing me home again.”

  She walked into the living room and made her way to the fireplace. The book, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis was lying open and face down on the end table next to the sofa. The HB pencil was beside it just as she had left it. She gazed at the painting above the fireplace but her vision was too blurry to make it out. She wiped the tears with the back of her hand, turned and went into the dining room. The surface of the table shone in the light coming in through the window. Jenny knew it must have just been dusted. The odour of lemon wax still wafted off the surface. Mable or Henry must have done it. She slid her hand over the walnut surface near the edge as she walked towards the kitchen.

  The sun was just making its way to the back yard between the tall fir trees. Rays of light snuck into the kitchen window, brightening the room. A sliver of light fell on the open cookbook lying on the counter. Jenny went to it and smiled … she was going to make chicken marsala with mushrooms that evening. Memories, good memories were coming back.

  Henry knew they would, that is why he left me be. He must have walked through this home so many times and wondered about it all. I know he sensed my spirit, I just know it … and I sense his spirit here as well.

  I feel his love…

  Resting beside the cookbook, was an envelope addressed to her. It was Henry’s handwriting. She opened it and noticed the title to her home and accompanying letter. She unfolded it and read:

  Here is the title to your home. It’s a gift from me to you. Never have I ever purchased anything that has given me so much joy. I hope someday you will let me become a permanent resident! Thank you for letting me into your home.

  Love you with all my heart, Henry.

  Jenny gazed out the kitchen window. A very light snow had fallen that morning, covering everything with glistening snowflakes. The snow on the winding path to the gazebo had already melted. However, the brightness of the sun drenched snow, surrounding the Angel of Thanksgiving, was glistening so brightly it made her squint at first glance. She smiled through tear filled eyes as she saw what Henry had alluded to just before he left. The angel’s basket was filled with a beautiful bouquet, looking fresh and alive. She recognized the flowers; they were the very same ones she had picked and left there on the day she went into the hospital last fall.

  “Oh thank you my angel so dear for granting my prayer to bring Henry and Camilla back to me. And thank you for having Henry buy this house. Where would I have gone if he hadn’t and someone else had? Everything that I have loved and had given me spiritual sustenance over the years while living with James would have gone and, and…I would have been homeless.”

  Jenny looked at the bouquet again as well as the flowers peeking through the snow. She marveled at the number of times this miracle had happened when she lived at James’ estate both during the summer and winter. Jenny was so overwhelmed that she began to twirl around in the kitchen. True happiness had finally come to her. She prayed that Henry desired to marry her as much as she desired to marry him. What if he wants to live alone? Or his family doesn’t want him to marry again? Jenny felt certain Camilla would have no objections. They had already had some good talks when she came to visit her in the hospital.

  These thoughts made Jenny think about her son. How would J.J. react to her getting married? The way he had acted towards her when he visited was so uncaring. And the manner in which he handled the sale of her house, without discretion or concern for her privacy, was very disappointing. For a moment Jenny realized that she should be upset with J.J. but then what good would it do other than rob her of the immense peace and joy she was experiencing?

  No, she decided to deal with it in the same way she dealt with all the nonsense that James threw at her. She simply refused to allow other people’s shortcomings and lack of considerations to control how she felt or her fate in any given precious moment the Lord granted her. In time people will get their just rewards. For now, she was just so grateful for all that had befallen her way.

  A waterfall of tears gushed forth as Jenny thought about all the blessings she had been showered with. She raised her hands in praise and thanksgiving, twirling once again in her happy kitchen which seemed to have just grown brighter with each passing moment.

  As Jenny swayed to the new music playing in her life, she gradually made her way to the bedroom. She flicked on the light and gazed around. Everything was as she had left it. She went to the bed and sat on the edge. Her fingers ran over the floral bedspread. She wondered if Henry had slept in it. She tried to feel his warmth. She was sure he had. Slowly, Jenny leaned forward and placed her head on the several pillows piled against the headboard and raised her feet on the bed. She was so happy; she felt as if she were on a magic carpet, floating into paradise. She closed her eyes, and wept tears of joy, until a brilliant white light, filled with the peace of her ever present guardian angel, Hannah, surrounded her.

  Jenny awoke shortly before seven o’clock p.m. She decided to take a shower and perhaps make the recipe that she had planned the day she left for the hospital. Sure enough, two chicken breasts were in the freezer. Jenny took one out and put it in the microwave to thaw. Henry had thoughtfully placed a bottle of white wine in the fridge. She would need it for the chicken marsala. She poured a glass of wine and went into the living room and opened the door to the console. She noted Henry had left a classical record in the changer. She turned on the player and immediately recognized “Dreamings” by Schumann, one of her favourite solo piano arrangements.

  Jenny marveled at their similarity in tastes, in music, books, furniture but most of all, in their respect and consideration for each other. She noted that Henry had placed kindling and paper in the fireplace so it would be ready for her. She lit the paper and stood back, as the flames quickly caught the logs and danced before her.

  She recalled when he came to the hospital, he read her diary and that was how he knew the house he purchased was her home. She wondered if it was still in her secret hiding place or if Henry had it. She opened the drawer and pulled on the ring. The partition opened and … yes, the diary was there just as she had left it. Henry was so considerate of everything. Trying to make certain that he in no way invaded her privacy.

  Jenny also remembered that when she checked out of the hospital the letter she had received from Henry was no longer in the drawer of the night table. She wondered at the time if had been thrown out. She asked Nurse Johnson but she didn’t know what happened to it. She meant to ask Henry when he came up to visit her but forgot. A sudden thought came to her that maybe Henry had found the letter that morning he came to her…if he had…she felt prompted to make her way to the bedroom. She opened the closet door and took down her mother’s ch
est and placed it on the bed. As soon as she opened the lid, there it was, Henry’s letter emitting a special glow.

  Down to the very last detail, Henry made certain everything was in its place. But how did he know that the letter should be placed there? This is all so angelic, Jenny thought. There was just no other way to explain all the wonderful happenings. If only she had this kind of relationship with her spouse and son…but she also knew James was changing. She wondered if he was part of the miracle that had happened to her and Henry and Father.

  The latter thought made her think about calling J.J. and Nora and let them know of her miraculous recovery. She felt Nora would care but hoped her son would too.

  Later that evening Jenny nervously dialed J.J.’s telephone number. After several rings, Nora answered the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi Nora, this is Jenny.”

  “Oh, hi Mar … Jenny, I’ve been thinking of you so much recently. How are you feeling?”

  “Nora, I have had a miraculous recovery. I had passed away in the hospital and then when I returned to the land of the living, all the cancer that had ravaged my body was gone!”

  Nora remained silent for a long moment. “Jenny that is wonderful …and you are completely cured? When we visited you last October you were so ill—”

  “Yes, I recall…but it’s all gone. I’m totally healed. I believe it was Father Engelmann’s and Henry’s prayers and of course our guardian angels that were responsible for it all.”

  “Father Engelmann, Henry…who are they?”

  “Of course Nora, I’m sorry, I should have explained who these people are. Father Engelmann is a priest who came to visit me in the hospital and Henry was a boy I met when I was 15 years old and my parents and I lived in Regina for the summer. It turns out that when J.J. put the house up for sale, it was Henry who purchased it. I should explain that Henry was my first teenage boyfriend …” Jenny chuckled embarrassingly. “Oh, Nora, this all gets very complicated. I’ll explain it all to you when we visit.”