Authors: Kristin Wallace
“Of course, I know Nicole. Her aunt is a nervous sort.”
No kidding.
“I noticed. Anyway, I'm sure things will blow over in a few days.”
“Of course they will, and I'll help any way I can.”
Why did that suddenly sound like a warning?
****
Four hours later, Mary Grace Austin greeted the world with what the doctor described as a lusty cry. The baby was immediately whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. When Julia finally got to see Sarah, the new mom was sitting up in bed, looking tired, but happy.
“Hi, you,” Julia said, from the doorway.
Sarah tried to smile, but didn't succeed. “Hi. Have you seen Mary yet? I told Eric to go down and stay with her. I don't want her to be alone.”
“I came here first,” Julia said. “I think the doctors are working on her now.”
Tears filled Sarah's eyes. “She's so tiny. Barely bigger than Eric's hand. They said there's a small hole in her heart. They're giving her medication, hoping it will close on its own. They said it's common for preemiesâ”
A shuddering sob escaped, and Sarah covered her face. Panic-stricken, Julia hurried over to the bed and climbed in next to her stepsister.
“I just want to hold my baby,” Sarah cried. “She needs me.”
“You will, I promise,” Julia crooned. “You need to rest so you can get strong.”
Sarah's hands clenched the sheets, as if she might rip them to shreds. “I tried so hard. I stayed in that blasted bed for months. I watched TV till I thought I'd go mad. I even peed into a cup, and it wasn't enough.”
“Listen to me.” Julia framed Sarah's face. “You did everything right. This wasn't your fault. Mary's impatient, that's all. You know she comes from strong stock. Besides, she's going to cure cancer and save my life some day. She has a destiny.”
A soft chuckle took the place of weeping. “I'm such a brat.”
“Yes, you are, but I love you anyway,” Julia said, stroking Sarah's hair.
“Julia, did you hear what you just said?” Sarah asked on a shocked breath. “You used the “L” word.”
Used the word and lightning hadn't struck. A few months ago, Julia would never have been able to utter them. “I did. I can't help it. You're impossible to hate.”
“I love you, too,” Sarah said.
How long had it been since anyone had truly loved her? Like a convict who'd been let out jail, the portion of Julia's heart that had been encased in a hard shell cracked open to touch freedom. If Sarah hadn't been in the room, Julia might have wept, too.
“Even though I'm hard to love?” Julia asked.
“It's not hard to love you,” Sarah said. “Getting you to accept love is the difficult part. Making you believe someone could love you is nearly impossible.”
“I guess I believe it now.”
“Well, it's about time.”
They both looked toward the door, where Grace now stood. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“About time for what?” Julia asked.
Grace's smile was luminous. “To see my girls together again.”
“Have you seen my baby, Mom?” Sarah asked, pulling herself up in the bed.
“I have.” Grace walked over and stroked Sarah's hair. “Mary is beautiful and holding her own.”
“Speaking of Mary, I need to go see the little savior myself,” Julia said, easing off the bed to make room for Grace. “I'll be back.”
The nurse warned her, but Julia could never have been prepared for the sight of the tiny baby hooked up to a million tubes. Mary looked like she was in some sort of lab experiment. Julia's insides clenched like an accordion. She stepped closer, resting her hands on top of the incubator, wishing there was a way to scoop the helpless infant up and run. Get Mary away from all those needles and wires.
“Hi, little girl,” she whispered. “I'm your Auntie Julia.”
The baby squirmed and opened her eyes. Of course, Mary probably hadn't heard, but if she could arrive weeks early and have a chance, anything was possible.
Julia sank down to her knees, until she was level with the baby's head. Their eyes met through the glass. “Listen, you're going to be fine. There are so many people who love you. Your parents are amazing. You have no idea how lucky you are there. I don't know your other grandparents well, but I do know your Grandma Grace is the coolest person in the world. And your Uncle Seth is the best man I've ever known. He's going to spoil you rotten. I can tell. Plus, I have it on good authority that you're supposed to save my life, so you're just going to have to stick it out.”
The baby stared, unblinking for a moment, and Julia had the oddest sensation
she
was the one being reassured. A moment later Mary closed her eyes. Julia stood up, shaking from the intense encounter.
The door opened behind her, and she didn't have to look to know who'd arrived. She didn't object when Seth wrapped his arms around her waist. Maybe she should have, but for now she couldn't make herself pull away. Anyway, he only offered a comforting embrace.
Right, Julia?
Rightâ¦
Since it was only comfort, she let herself lean against his chest. He had a remarkably strong chest for someone who sat around writing sermons all day.
“I don't even know how they find enough skin on someone that small to shove all those tubes in,” she said.
His lips brushed her temple. “I keep telling myself those tubes are what's keeping her alive until she can do it on her own.”
“Mary looked at me. She opened her eyes and looked at me.”
“I saw.”
Fierce love rose up, and Julia knew she'd do anything to ensure this little girl lived and never had a worry for the rest of her life. “What happens if she doesn't make it?”
“We can only pray she does. The doctors seem to think she has a very good chance.”
Prayer seemed the least she could do. “Teach me how to do it.”
“Do what?”
“Pray.”
“You don't need anyone to teach you,” he said, with a gentle smile. “Just close your eyes, and say what's in your heart. God doesn't care how eloquent you are. He only wants to listen.”
“Okay.” She closed her eyes. “God, please let Mary live. We need her.”
“Amen,” Seth echoed.
To her shock, Seth had tears in his eyes. Reaching out, Julia wiped them away, like he'd done earlier to her. He caught her hand and touched his mouth to the tender skin on the inside of her wrist.
It would be so wrong to make out with a man over an incubator, wouldn't it?
Yes, absolutely wrong.
“Seth?”
Especially when he was dating the perfect woman⦠who happened to be standing right behind them.
Seth stepped back as Amy drifted closer. Her face revealed nothing, so Julia wasn't sure if she'd seen what Seth had been doing. Not that they'd been doing anything. Nothing they could be arrested for anyway.
“I came to see the baby,” Amy said.
“I'll leave you two alone,” Julia said, edging toward the door. “I'm going to sit with Sarah again.”
As the door closed, she saw Amy take Seth's hand, and rest her head on his shoulder. They both turned to gaze down into the incubator.
Slowly, Julia let the door shut.
A grassy curve next to the road didn't seem romantic, but somehow the spot was the most beautiful place in the world. Mostly because it was where one life had ended, and where today, a new one would begin as Annie Truman became Mrs. Todd Baldwin. Annie had to be the loveliest bride Julia had ever seen. Not physical beauty, but a quiet loveliness born of loss and ultimate triumph. Molded by tragedy and complete joy.
Annie hadn't even changed yet, but her ratty jeans and T-shirt might as well have been silk and lace. Her tennis shoes satin slippers.
“I can't believe this is really happening,” Annie said. “I feel like I'll wake up at any moment and realize I've been dreaming.”
“If you're dreaming, I'm having the same one,” Julia said.
She placed a dainty, white folding chair at the end of a row and stepped back to survey her handiwork. Four more rows of chairs were arranged in front of a trellis festooned with pink roses. About a hundred feet away were tables draped with fine linen. Devon and her crew were arranging long tables for the food to come, and a parquet dance floor had been set up.
Not bad.
“This is amazing,” Annie said, a soft smile on her face. “It looks like a slice of paradise.”
“Hard to believe, isn't it? I'm rather pleased with the results myself.”
“You should be. Julia, it's perfect.”
“I was worried about the weather last night. The storm had me wishing I'd insisted on tents, or an alternate inside venue.”
“I think you worried for nothing.” Annie's gaze tracked upward. “There isn't a cloud in the sky. God must be smiling today.”
“He should, after all you've been through. I'd say perfect weather is the least He could do.”
“Did you tell Him that last night while it was pouring?” Annie asked.
“Nearly. I didn't want to be too demanding, in case He got ticked off. I haven't had the best of luck with weddings so far. Between marauding wildlife, wardrobe malfunctions, and drunken sprees I'm crossing my fingers that the trellis doesn't collapse or that a giant gust of wind doesn't come through and carry off all these fragile-looking chairs.”
Annie laughed in earnest and gave Julia a hug. “All right then, I'm going to get dressed.”
“I'm amazed you took the time to come out here at all.”
“I wanted a moment to see everything before the wedding. Banish all the horrible images of this place once and for all.”
“I can't believe how calm you are when you're about to pledge yourself to someone for the rest of your life.”
“Considering that the alternative is Todd not being here at all, I can only thank God I'm able to pledge myself to him.”
How could Julia disagree with such a statement? “Put like that, getting married seems almost trivial.”
“Maybe not trivial, but I'm vowing to be grateful even for the difficult times.”
“I'll call and remind you of that ten years from now.”
Annie rolled her eyes. “Listen, I haven't even told you how grateful I am that you've managed to put this whole thing together in such a short time.”
“I didn't do that much.”
“You don't take compliments very well, do you?” Annie said, shaking her head in exasperation. “Would you please just accept my thanks?”
Julia stepped back and made an I-surrender gesture. “Okay, okay. You're welcome.”
“There, that wasn't so hard, was it?”
“Not too bad.”
“Then my work here is done. I'm off to make myself glamorous.”
Hours later Annie returned with the bridal party. If she'd been beautiful before, there were no words to describe her now. She looked almost ethereal. This time she was dressed in a sleek column of white silk. A riot of curls fell about her head, with long spirals bouncing around her neck and shoulders. Dainty white baby's breath had been woven in among the curls. Three young women in wine-colored gowns trailed behind her, and bringing up the rear was Annie's mother. They all looked like they'd stepped out of a wedding magazine.
A long length of lattice had been erected behind the rows of chairs to hide the arrival of the bride. Even now Julia could hear the string quartet warming up on the other side of the barrier.
The only thing they needed now was the bride. Annie smiled as Julia approached. “Everything ready?”
“Guests. Check. Musicians. Check. Food. Check. One very impatient groom. Check,” Julia said.
A delighted chuckled escaped, and Annie kissed Julia's cheek. “This is why I love you. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably be a blubbering mess by now.”
“Oh, I can guarantee you won't get through this ceremony without major blubbering. It's that kind of day.”
Everyone joined in the laughter, and from the looks of things, a few of them were on the verge of tears already.
Julia took Annie's hand. “Let's do this. I think you've waited long enough.”
Mrs. Truman beamed before wrapping her daughter in a hug and then going to take her place down front.
Annie's father appeared to walk his little girl down the aisle, while Julia slipped around the lattice wall to cue the quartet to start the processional. The bridesmaids, including Annie's sister, her college roommate, and a friend from her first day in kindergarten, floated down the aisle.
Julia sent the maid of honor down the aisle and turned back to Annie. “Okay, Miss Truman, this is it.”
“Miss Truman?”
“It's probably the last time you're going to hear that. I thought you might appreciate it.”
Miss Truman immediately started to tear up. “That is so sweet.”
“Oh, gosh, don't start that now,” Julia said, waving her hands in panic. “You haven't even seen Todd yet.”
“Well, you started it,” Annie complained. “Bad, bad girl.”
The tears were contagious, and Julia rolled her eyes, mainly to keep from losing it herself. “Come on now, get going.”
One more cue, and the music began. Annie and her father turned the corner, emerging from behind the lattice wall. Two pairs of eyes met. Todd took a deep breath. Even from where she stood Julia could see his eyes fill.
Floodgates opened up all around because it was simply that kind of day.
Seth was officiating the service. He smiled at Annie and Todd, and then turned to address the guests. “Friends, loved ones, we are gathered here to witness more than a union of two people,” he began. “We are gathered here to celebrate the triumph of love over tragedy. We live in a cynical world that doesn't make it easy to believe in love of any kind. I'm often asked to read
1 Corinthians 13
at weddings, but the sad truth is we have made a mockery of those verses. In our society, love is impatient, and often unkind. It envies and boasts and is filled with unseemly pride. It is rude, selfish, easily angered, and keeps a record of every wrong. It delights in things evil and rejects the truth. It fails to protect, abuses trust, dashes hope, and walks away rather than persevere.”