He took a quick shower, put on some clean clothes, and had just finished brushing his teeth when Julia pulled in the driveway.
“Hey, you’re up. I thought I would have to throw a cold bucket of water on you to get you out of bed.”
“If it wasn’t for Olivia, not even cold ice would have done the trick. I’m so tired. The nap helped, but you’re right, we need to get some real sleep. We’ll need to be clearheaded to keep up with everything that’s going on and make good, solid decisions. I think I’m going to talk to Jessi about your offer. Then, once we get caught up on some sleep, we can start taking turns sleeping with Olivia in her room.”
“I can sleep in that recliner in her room, no problem. You guys can relieve me in the morning so I can go and get cleaned up. It will work just fine.”
Julia and Mark pulled into Jessi’s driveway at seven fifteen. She was dressed and ready to get in the car. “I talked to Aunt Merry a little while ago, and she said she and Olivia have a surprise for us. I hope she found a way to put a smile on that little girl’s face. If she is going to improve at all, it has to start with her attitude. She was so depressed earlier, and I don’t know what to do to bring her out of it.”
Mark agreed. “Yeah, it’s not like we can get her new toys; she’ll just be reminded daily of why she can’t play with them.”
“When I just think of the words
quadriplegic
or
paraplegic,
my stomach turns. I am praying so hard for a miracle here, Mark. You have a closer relationship with God than I do. What do you think he is saying?”
Mark looked at Jessi, knowing what she wanted to hear yet afraid to speak anything but the complete truth with her. “I do have a peace about the whole situation, but that doesn’t mean God’s will is my will. I’ve had to learn that simply means trusting God to know what is best and believing that he has my best interest in mind when making his decisions. I’m sorry it’s not exactly what you want to hear, Jess, but it’s the best I can do. We have to trust him.”
Jessi spoke out loud something that both of them had been thinking about since the accident happened. “Mark, I don’t think we should have the wedding until Olivia is well enough to be there. The doctors say she could be in therapy for some time, that is if she gets any movement back at all.”
“I agree, Jess. But I don’t want us to wait forever. Even if she doesn’t regain mobility, it will take the two of us to properly care for her without wearing one of us completely out. It is going to be all right. Somehow I know that much.”
Julia pulled into the hospital parking lot, and the three of them walked together to Olivia’s room. The first sounds they heard were giggling. Jessi was so happy she almost had tears. Not wanting to ruin the moment, whatever it was, they stayed outside the door to listen for a minute. They had not heard Olivia laugh since before the accident, and the sound was beautiful to their ears.
After eavesdropping, they walked into the room bearing gifts. Mark brought in a big bouquet of daisies that had a silly balloon tied to it, something that he was sure Olivia would like. Jessi brought the DVD player and a new movie that Olivia had been wanting to see, hoping that would keep the boredom to a minimum. The smile they saw on Olivia’s face stopped them all in their tracks. She was glowing, absolutely glowing. Jessi put her bags on the table and went to her daughter. She held her face in her hands. “Your smile is the most beautiful thing God has ever created.”
Olivia pulled away from her mother’s embrace. “Mommy, I think your smile is the most beautiful.” Then she lifted her hand ever so slowly and traced her mother’s lips. Everyone in the room started crying at once, including Aunt Merry, who was already aware of what God had accomplished that afternoon. The doctor who had stepped into the room wiped his eyes when he witnessed the scene. The girl had worked awfully hard this afternoon and had surprised everyone when she began to move her fingers. Now she was not only moving her fingers and hands, but lifting her arms as well. It really was nothing short of a miracle.
Jessi stayed with Olivia while Mark took Julia and Aunt Merry to get some dinner. He promised to bring them back something really good to eat. Jessi hoped so because she felt like she could eat a horse. After they left, Jessi pulled out Olivia’s Bible to begin reading to her. Olivia took the Bible from her mother. “Mama, can I read to you?”
She helped Olivia hold onto the Bible. Olivia began to read in an almost perfect manner. Jessi was astounded. “Olivia, when did you learn how to read?”
“I didn’t want to tell you before because then you wouldn’t read my Bible to me.”
How did this child get to be so smart? “So you figured I would make you read the stories all by yourself?”
“Sometimes you did that already. You didn’t finish some stories, so I would read them after you left my room.”
Jessi didn’t realize Olivia knew the difference. She never gave the child the credit she deserved. She was a smart one, this child of hers. “Yes, I did do that, didn’t I? I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings. Sometimes Mommy wasn’t ready to hear about Jesus and the things he did. I knew that if I chose to let Jesus love me I would have to love him, and if I loved him, then I would have to change some things that I wasn’t ready to change. I’m sure that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but it’s how I felt then.”
“Aunt Merry told me you love Jesus now. Do you?”
“Your Aunt Merry is correct. I do love Jesus very much, and I am very thankful that he loves me too.”
“Now we can be a family, right? And live together in the same house like mommies and daddies do?”
“Pretty soon, sweetie, we will do just that. First, we have to get you better. That is the most important thing to your daddy and me. Then we’ll think about having the wedding.”
“Mommy, I want us to still have the wedding when we said, when school is out, so we can go visit Ethan together on our honeymoon. Why do they call it a moon?”
Jessi laughed. “I really don’t know why they call it a moon. I’ve never thought of that, Olivia. I suppose it’s called honey because you go with the person you love and sometimes you call that person honey. I have no idea why it’s called a moon, though. Maybe your aunts or your daddy will know the answer to that. We’ll ask them when we get back. Would you like to finish your story now? I really like you reading to me.”
Olivia finished reading, and they were halfway through a game of Sorry, with Jessi being sorely beaten, when the two aunts and Mark got back from dinner. He had a box with cheese pizza in it, and Olivia was glad to be able to eat the pizza all by herself.
Now that everyone knew what she was capable of, along with the fact that Jessi had not flat out refused her request to keep the wedding in June, Olivia had the desire to succeed, the attitude to make great strides in her therapy, the support of her family, and God, the most powerful ally she could have.
Chapter 40
Mark and Jessi, with the help of Aunt Merry and Julia, fell into a good working routine with Olivia. On the way home one afternoon, Jessi brought up the discussion she had had with Olivia about the wedding. “She still wants us to marry when we originally planned; that’s why she has been working so hard. If we don’t, it’s going to break her heart.” Jessi looked at Mark for his opinion.
“Well, let’s tell her nothing’s changed, then. If need be we’ll wheel her up the aisle in a wheelchair. Wedding’s on, just as we planned.”
“Should we tell her tomorrow when we go in? I think the news will give her even more determination to get better.”
“It looks like we’re getting married in June. Should we start making plans when we go in each day? You know, talk about the cake and food and colors and all that? It might keep her mind busy during the tough times.”
“I think that is a good idea. Maybe tomorrow we can stop and pick up some invitation samples on our way.” Jessi reached over and squeezed Mark’s hand.
Mark pulled into Jessi’s driveway. Julia was spending the night tonight with Olivia, and today was Aunt Merry’s day to stay home. They both went in and found a pot of beef stew on the stove and some fresh bread, hot and ready for supper.
Mark gave Aunt Merry a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. This smells so good.” He washed his hands and sat down at the table, waiting for the ladies to sit with him. “Julia was in her pajamas and all ready for bed when we left. It was really nice of them to let us put a rollaway bed in her room. I didn’t relish the idea of Olivia waking up in the night scared and not sure or awake enough to get the help she needs.”
Mark ladled out stew into everyone’s bowl while Merry sliced the warm bread.
Jessi buttered her bread and dipped it into the stew. “I think our schedule is working out pretty good.” She took a bite and sighed. Jessi spent Friday night, Sunday night, and Wednesday night at the hospital, Mark was there Monday night and Thursday night, Julia spent Tuesday night and Saturday night, and Aunt Merry spent five days a week at the hospital praying and working with Olivia, reminding her why she was working so hard at becoming well. The miracles were not instantaneous, but they were miracles all the same. Each day brought new victories.
Aunt Merry agreed, although she had been more than willing to sleep at the hospital, seeing as everyone but her had to go to work the next day. “I have to admit, things have been going well. The hospital has been so understanding about us being there with Olivia.”
Mark was not saying too much; his mouth was full most of the time. “This is really good. I was so hungry. We were too far out of town working for me to make a fast food run for lunch, and I didn’t grab anything when I stopped by the hospital ’cause I knew you’d have something awesome for supper.” He took another bite. “And I was right.” He filled up his bowl again.
Jessi watched how much he was eating. “Where do you put it all?” She shook her head, unbelieving. “Aunt Merry, Mark and I have some news.” Jessi looked to Mark and continued on. “We have decided to continue with our wedding plans as they are. We debated putting it off until Olivia was better, but Olivia wants us to keep the plans, and we think it will give her reason to keep working hard at getting better.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I think you will see that child fly through therapy. If she can manage to manipulate her hands and arms in one day, imagine what she can do in two months if she puts her mind to it, with the Lord’s help, of course.” Merry rose from the table and took a pie out of the oven.
Mark looked from his half eaten bowl to the pie. “You could have told me we had pie.”
Jessi started laughing. “I don’t think you are going to have a problem finding a place to put it, Mark.”
They finished eating, and Mark helped clear the table and wash the dishes before he left for home.
On Sunday after church, everyone met at the hospital to eat lunch with Olivia. Mark, Julia, and Aunt Merry went to church together in Julia’s car since Jessi would stay the night with Olivia. Jessi announced the wedding news to Julia and Olivia. “We’ve decided to go with your suggestion, Olivia, and keep our wedding date the same. You have been doing so well, we don’t think it will be a problem for you. So we stopped and picked out some invitation samples. We’ll have to send them out really soon.”
***
Everyone helped in getting ready for the wedding, and it wasn’t long before things were falling into place quite nicely. After six weeks of therapy, Olivia was able to sit up on her own, feed herself, and manipulate all the fingers and thumbs on both her hands. She had some feeling in her toes and was beginning to wiggle them. She was doing amazingly well.
The plans for the wedding were also progressing. The invitations were sent out, and Jessi and Julia were trying to find spare time to pick out dresses. Julia decided to take her laptop to the hospital and look at ordering dresses online, that way Olivia could be part of the decision-making process. Jessi picked out a tea-length ecru dress, and Julia and Olivia fell in love with mint-green summer dresses with matching hats. She placed their order. “Well, that was easy enough. We’re having the wedding and the reception at the church, and Mark and I already picked out the menu. We’re having true picnic fare. A local catering company is providing all the food, and when we went to counseling with the pastor this week, we talked about the actual service. It looks like everything is working out.” Jessi let out a deep breath. “I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it. It’s been a long six weeks.”