Around the Bend (Sandy Cove Series Book 4)

by Rosemary Hines

  An hour’s time flew by as they shared their stories and plans for the future. They spoke of the hard times and commiserated. They laughed over the silly things they’d said or done, some of which had seemed too serious at the time but now were tales of levity as they divided their burdens and multiplied each other’s joys. At one point, they laughed so hard they both cried.

  Eventually, they lapsed into silence. Just gazing out over the sapphire sea and watching pelicans soar overhead.

  Michelle reveled in the calm, comfortable ease of their friendship. “This is good,” she said. “Really good. Just being with you like this. I miss it. Our walks and talks about life.”

  “Me, too,” Kristin agreed. “It’s not the same with the phone and emails.”

  Michelle nodded.

  Turning to her, Kristin said, “Hey, let’s make a pact that we will get together at least twice a year no matter what.”

  “I like it,” Michelle replied with a grin. “You come here at least once, and I’ll go to you at least once.”

  “Deal,” Kristin said. “And your first visit will be when this little guy arrives.”

  “You’ve got it,” Michelle said, draping her arm over her friend’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Kristin, Mark, Sheila, and Joan were all at Michelle’s house for a casual barbecue dinner when Michelle’s brother Tim arrived.

  He surprised them by showing up a day early. Sheila planned to have him stay at her house, but no one expected he’d have someone else with him—a beautiful girl with red hair and a peaches-and-cream natural beauty. She stood by his side when Michelle opened the front door.

  “Tim?”

  “Hi, `Shell,” he replied, giving her a hug. “I want you to meet my friend, Traci.” He took the girl’s hand and drew her close. “Traci, this is my big sister, Michelle.”

  It was clear that Traci was more than a friend. Michelle had never seen Tim so smitten. He looked like he was walking on air. “Welcome, Traci. What a wonderful surprise! Come on in, you two.” She turned to her brother and added, “Mom and Grandma are out back with the rest of the gang.”

  After introductions had been made all around, Michelle encouraged Tim and Traci to help themselves to some of the dinner. Once their plates were full, they sat close together on the bench of the picnic table. Maddie, who usually hung on Tim, held back as if uncertain how to act around him now.

  Caleb, on the other hand, immediately squeezed into the spot on the other side of Tim and began telling him all of his latest news, including Amber’s impending arrival the following day. “Sounds exciting, bud,” Tim replied.

  Traci was sweet but seemed a little shy in the face of so much family. Kristin immediately gravitated toward her, starting up a conversation.

  Just like Kristin, Michelle thought. She always knows how to reach out to people and make them feel at home. It was one of the things she most admired and treasured in her friend.

  Soon Traci was opening up about her own family and herself. “So we’ve lived in Long Beach since I was little. Tim and I met at a coffee shop in Belmont Shore. When I told him I’d always wanted to learn how to surf, he offered to teach me.”

  “You surf?” Caleb asked.

  “I do now,” she replied, smiling at Tim.

  “Cool. Uncle Tim is going to teach me to surf, too, right?”

  “That’s right, Caleb. Next time you are down in Seal, we’re hitting the surf.” He draped his arm over Caleb’s shoulder and gave him a hug.

  Joining in the conversation, Sheila asked Tim if he would help her bring the dessert out from the kitchen. “Grandma baked some of her berry pie,” she said.

  “Sure, Mom,” he replied, winking at Traci. “Be right back.”

  “I’ll help, too,” Michelle offered, as she followed them into the house. “Your friend seems really sweet,” she said once they were out of earshot.

  “She’s pretty special,” he replied.

  “Are you two serious?” Sheila asked.

  “We’re not engaged or anything if that’s what you mean. But I really like her. We’ve been dating for a few months.”

  “I’m happy for you, bro,” Michelle said. “It’s about time you found a girl.” She gave him a playful shove.

  “So where are you and Traci planning to stay while you’re here?” their mother asked casually, beginning to slice the pies.

  “Traci’s actually got a friend from college who lives up the coast about half an hour. So she’s going to stay there. I thought I’d just crash on your couch,” he added, looking at Michelle.

  “That’s fine. The kids will be happy to hear that.”

  “So will Traci be coming to the memorial service?” Sheila asked, as she finished scooping out the pieces of pie.

  “If that’s okay. I want her to know as much as she can about Grandpa. I’m bummed she never got to meet him.”

  Sheila smiled at him sadly. “I’m sure your grandfather would have loved to meet her, honey. It’s good that she’ll be at his service.” Placing several plates onto a tray, she headed out back. “I’ll take these out, and you two bring the rest.”

  Once they were alone, Michelle started grilling her brother. “So how serious are you really, Tim?”

  “I think she might be the one,” he replied. “But I’m pretty terrified to propose to her.”

  “Why?”

  “What if she says no. Or yes. They both scare me.”

  She laughed. “I think that’s pretty normal, especially for someone who’s been as independent and free-spirited as you.”

  “So, how do I know for sure?” he asked.

  “That you should propose?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When it scares you more to think of living without her,” she replied with a smile.

  Tim spent the morning playing with the kids and Thumper, while Traci visited with her old college roommate. In the afternoon, he ducked out, heading north for a double date with Traci’s friend and the girl’s fiancé.

  Steve took Caleb and drove out to the airport to pick up Amber, while Michelle and Madison straightened up the house and got ready for her arrival. It was nearly dinnertime when the van pulled into the driveway, and Michelle hurried out to greet Amber and welcome her back to Sandy Cove.

  “It’s good to see you,” she said as she drew the young lady into an embrace.

  Amber clung to her for a moment, replying, “You, too.”

  “Come on, Amber,” Caleb urged, taking her by the hand and pulling her toward the house. “I want to show you our new dog.”

  Michelle glanced at Steve. “Our new dog?” she mouthed.

  He shrugged and grinned.

  As Amber and Caleb disappeared into the house, Steve retrieved her luggage—a gray duffle bag—from the back of the van.

  “Is that all she has?” Michelle asked.

  “Yep.” He slung the bag over his shoulder and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before heading inside.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  All the arrangements had been made for the family memorial gathering. Joan requested it be held outside on the church grounds. With white folding chairs and many new freshly planted flowers, the area was more beautiful and inviting than ever. Three rows of seats formed an intimate semi-circle facing a small white podium skirted by a lovely summer bouquet.

  A friend from the church worship team played soft cello music as the family and close friends gathered and took their places. Michelle was flanked by Steve on one side and Madison, Caleb, and Amber on the other. Rick and Sheila sat front and center beside Joan, with Tim and Traci next to them. In the second row were Kristin and Mark, Jim and LouEllen, as well as Ben and Kelly’s large family.

  Various friends from the two Bible studies Michelle and Steve attended occupied the third row. An elderly gentlemen, who Michelle didn’t recognize, also sat in back.

  As the cellist finished her song, Ben stepped to the podium.
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  “Let’s pray,” he began. “Lord, we are gathered here to remember and celebrate the life of Phil Walker, one of your servants, and a man I feel honored to have known. Although we miss him already, we know he’s standing in your presence now, completely healed and whole.

  “As we share our memories here today, Lord, will you help us recall those special times when his humanity was touched by your divinity? Will you preserve in our hearts and minds his gentle voice, his loving ways, his contagious sense of humor, and his spiritual example to all of us? And will you comfort the family, especially his precious wife, Joan, as they adjust to this season without him?

  “We’re so thankful for Phil, for the time we shared together here on earth, and for the promise of heaven where we will see him once again. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”

  “Amen,” the voices of those gathered echoed.

  “In a few minutes, I’m going to give people an opportunity to share about Phil. But first, he had a request for today’s message—something he conveyed to Joan, and she passed along to me.”

  Michelle glanced at her grandmother and saw her smile and nod at Ben.

  “Phil was a man who lived his life with purpose every day. He treasured the calling God had placed on his life to be a pastor and teacher. Even after his retirement from full-time ministry, he refused to retire from the call, spending hours each week ministering to Alzheimer’s patients at the Tranquil Living residential care facility.

  “Although, because of their disease, many wouldn’t even recognize him when he came to speak or fellowship with them, they all loved Phil. His upbeat spirit and his friendly demeanor broke down walls and opened hearts to God’s unconditional love.”

  “Much as he valued his call and God’s equipping to fulfill it, he considered his wife and family—all of you,” he said, gazing at them, “to be his greatest gift and most important ministry.”

  “In his final days before going home, he spoke to Joan about the brevity of life and the importance of living each day to the fullest. That message spoke directly to this pastor’s heart,” he said as he patted his hand on his chest. “How easy it is to get swept away by the busyness of seemingly urgent demands and end up missing the essential things in life.”

  Michelle could see his eyes travel to the back row where Kelly and the kids sat listening. She reached over and took Steve’s hand. Lord, help me not lose track of what Grandpa knew was most important.

  Ben cleared his throat and continued. “God has appointed the number of our days, and none of us know when we will be called home. Let’s honor Phil by determining, in our own hearts, to live our lives to the fullest just like he did. That includes putting God first in every aspect and relationship of life. It means treasuring our families and seeing them as our first ministry. And it means using the gifts, talents, and time God has given us to reach out to others with His love and truth.”

  Michelle’s heart swelled with emotion as she thought about how fitting Ben’s words were to her grandfather’s life and purpose. Grandpa Phil was actively involved in ministry, but he always had time for her or anyone else in the family. She remembered how he was so attentive to her when she needed someone to talk to, making her feel like she were the only person in the world during that time.

  And he never traveled without Grandma Joan, saying he didn’t want to miss a single day with his bride.

  Michelle pulled her attention back to the podium, where Ben was inviting people to come and share their memories. Her brother, Tim, stood and walked to the front.

  “I know I should be saying some super spiritual stuff about Grandpa,” he began. “But my very favorite memories of him were the times we went for donuts.”

  Gentle laughter washed over the group like a fresh breeze.

  “We’d get up extra early and sneak out before Grandma could catch us,” he said, glancing over at Joan, who smiled and shook her head. “Grandpa said the donuts were freshest then, and we didn’t have to listen to Grandma’s lecture about how bad they were for us.

  “It seems like such a dumb thing to remember and talk about, but the truth is Grandpa and I had some great talks over those donuts. When I was a little kid, we’d talk about what I wanted to be when I grew up—something I’m still working on, I’ve got to admit.”

  More chuckles.

  “But as I grew up, and we had the rare chance to go on an early morning donut run, Grandpa would listen to my insecurities and questions about myself, my future, and even God. He never made me feel like a loser or some shiftless teen. Instead, he talked to me about his own youth, his struggles, and his daily prayers for more faith.

  “So, anyway, here’s to you, Grandpa,” he said, pulling a mini cake donut out of his jacket pocket and lifting it to the sky. Then he glanced at Michelle, winked, and went back to his seat.

  Michelle had already determined that she wouldn’t speak today since she’d already given her own tribute to her grandfather at the church service back in Mariposa. But she did briefly rise from her seat, turn to Tim, and give a thumbs-up. As soon as she was seated again, Amber surprised her by walking to the podium.

  “So…uh…hi, everybody. My name’s Amber. I just wanted to say something, too, even though I’m not family or anything.” She looked over at Michelle as if seeking approval, and Michelle smiled and nodded.

  “Okay, so I don’t have tons of memories about Phil Walker, but I’ll never forget some of the things he said to me when I was in Sandy Cove last time.”

  She paused as if searching for words. “Some pretty bad stuff’s happened in my life, and some of it’s my own fault.” Her voice shaking, she glanced over at Michelle again before continuing. “But Pastor Phil, well, he didn’t make me feel like a loser or try to paint a rosy picture of the future. He just listened, cared, and sorta helped me see that there is hope, even for someone like me.

  “He talked to me about how God can make even the bad stuff end up working out for good, and how nothing is wasted in God’s economy.” She nodded to herself. “So, anyway, I just wanted to say that, and thank him for helping me realize I can still have a good life and actually maybe help other kids the way he and Michelle,” she gestured toward Michelle, “have helped me.”

  Looking back at the whole group, she said, “Okay, so that’s all.” Then she smiled nervously and returned to her seat.

  Michelle reached across Madison and Caleb and squeezed her trembling hand.

  A rustling sound drew Michelle’s attention to the back row where the elderly gentleman, who sat off to the side alone, was struggling to his feet. Ben quickly moved to his side and helped him gain his balance.

  Then, clearing his throat, the man said, “I just want to say amen to the young lady who just spoke. Your Pastor Phil reached out to me when I didn’t deserve a second glance. He helped this broken old man through the consequences of some very bad decisions. He couldn’t fix what I’d done, but he helped me understand God’s forgiveness. And he introduced me to this man,” he said, pointing to Ben. “So, I’ll be forever indebted to him.” He sat down, resting his hands on the cane that stood in front of him.

  Who is that guy? Michelle wondered. She leaned over and whispered to Steve, “Do you know who that is?”

  He nodded and squeezed her hand, continuing to look straight ahead as Michelle’s friend Kristin went up to speak.

  “Even though Grandpa Phil wasn’t my grandfather, that’s always how I knew him. When he would come to Seal Beach to visit my best friend’s family,” she looked at Michelle and smiled, “he always had time for all of us kids. Telling funny stories, taking us to the beach and getting us ice cream on the way, and sprinkling our lives with laughter and joy. He never met a stranger and never made what we said or our little childhood concerns seem unimportant.

  “I remember one time thinking, ‘I’m going to marry someone just like Grandpa Phil.’ And guess what? I did.” She beamed as she set her gaze on Mark. “Now, we’re expecting our first baby, a
little boy, and I hope and pray he will grow up to become a man of love, compassion, faith, and joy just like my husband and Grandpa Phil.”

  As Kristin started back to her seat, she paused to bend down and hug Joan, Sheila, and Michelle, whispering, “I love you,” into her best friend’s ear.

  After Ben closed the ceremony with prayer, the cellist began to play again, and everyone stood and mingled. Lots of hugs were passed around. Out of the corner of her eye, Michelle spotted the old man hobbling away and Amber headed in his direction.

  She turned to Steve. “Honey, look. Who is that guy?”

  Steve nudged Ben and tipped his head toward the pair in the distance. Ben nodded and discreetly worked his way in their direction.

  “What’s up?” Michelle persisted.

  “That’s the guy who was driving the car that killed Chad,” he replied. “Your grandfather talked to him briefly after the accident, and Ben’s been counseling him ever since. I guess he told the guy about Phil’s memorial today.”

  Concern gripped Michelle’s spirit. Surely Amber had figured out who he was. She might have even recognized him from the scene of the accident. What would she say to him? Would she lash out and fall apart in front of everyone, including Madison and Caleb?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  The old man could feel someone following him, and he tried to walk faster, but his cane and his shaky balance made it an impossible task. I never should have come, he thought, his heart pounding and his lungs failing to keep up with his fears.

  “Hey, mister,” a young woman’s voice called out.

  Taking a deep breath, he turned to face her, bracing for what was to come.

  “I know you, don’t I?” she said. “You were the guy driving the car that hit us.”

  He felt lightheaded and struggled to hold his footing. “Yes,” he replied, “Yes, I am. I’m so very sorry about your friend.”

  “Well that won’t bring him back, you know.”

  He nodded. “I know. Believe me, I’d trade places with him if I could.”