Gift of Wonder (18 page)

 

Jonah parked his truck up on the road and walked the short distance to the park. He didn't want anyone to see him wandering around out here. It was close to dusk and the chill of the gloaming made the swamp and woods seems quiet and sleepy. This was a time when everyone came in to dinner and families held hands and said grace underneath the glowing light of a dinner table. He still wondered what that was like. He'd always dreaded early evening because it meant he'd go home alone.

He'd had no choice but to come back. He had to end this thing, once and for all. The truth of his past wasn't anything like the pretty picture he'd carried with him all of his life. But the reality was that he'd made a commitment to the people of this town, and he aimed to finish that job. The rest he'd have to put in God's hands. Because he was so weary of trying to shoulder the burden on his own.

When he looked up and saw Alice standing on the porch of Rosette House, he remembered the first day he'd seen her there. Maybe Samuel was right; maybe things had come full circle.

Jonah didn't move toward her but instead just stood underneath the old oak, watching as she walked across
the yard. She was wearing a striped turtleneck sweater with a flowing brown skirt over her favorite cowboy boots. Her hair was in that careless upswept do, a sliver of a bronzed clip holding the erratic curls at bay.

And she was carrying something. A plate with a piece of pie on it. And one lone candle burning on top.

When she came to the top of the curving bridge, she stopped to look across at him. And Jonah figured she was waiting for him to meet her halfway.

He walked toward her, his eyes on her. When he got a foot away, he said, “Hi.”

“Hi,” she said back, her hands holding the plate of pie close. “I remembered it's your birthday. All week long.” When he didn't say anything, she balanced the plate on the wide bridge railing, then turned to ask, “So…how are you?”

“Not so good,” he admitted. “I've been away.”

“We noticed.”

“No, I mean, I…found my mother. Samuel tracked her down.”

He saw the sharp intake of Alice's breath. “That's good, isn't it?”

“Not so good, actually.” He looked across at her, his fingers brushing the aged, splintered wood of the railing. “It seems she took me to that orphanage because…well, because she wanted to be free and clear. She wanted me to have a good life and she didn't think she could give me one. She tried, for years, but…every time she looked at me she remembered all that had happened. All that she'd done. And so, her guilt caused her to run. She abandoned me and she never looked back. Never once.”

Alice didn't move, but he saw the sheen of shock clouding her eyes. “What about justice? Didn't she ever want justice, at least?”

“There is no justice,” he said, his tone flat. “There was no rape, Alice. She panicked and made that up to try and force the issue. When it backfired, her father and brothers got greedy and tried to blackmail the sheriff and my…dad, just like Samuel told us. They took the money and they left and then…I came along. By then, Esther had taken up with another man and he didn't really like having a kid around. So she left me and she headed to New Mexico. And that's that.”

Alice stepped toward him, but he couldn't move. “But…she had to be glad to see you? Jonah?”

He shook his head. “She's not glad. She doesn't want anything to do with me. She thinks it's better that I just forget all about her.” He glanced over at Rosette House, his gaze taking in the shadows of light and darkness as the sunset began to fade behind him. The house, with Alice's silhouette just in front of it, was washed in a golden-pink brush of dusk. It had never looked more beautiful. Alice had never looked more beautiful. “She's a painter. Her paintings are lovely.” He shrugged. “She left that sketch with me because she wanted me to have that kind of life one day, the life she never had. She told me she sat over here day in and day out, dreaming of being on the other side of this water. But that never happened. She wants that for me, if nothing else.”

Alice reached out a hand to him. “Jonah, I'm here. I'm here. Do you understand? I'm so sorry for every
thing, but I'm here and we can start over. You and me. And I promise you, you can have that pretty picture. We can make it happen.”

He almost backed away. Almost. But the weariness was taking over again. And he thought about all the years he'd been so alone, holding himself back, watching—just watching. “I guess I've had this image in my mind for so long, I just thought it would all be perfect. You know, if I could just find her, talk to her, understand her. And now that I do—I can't seem to feel anything. Nothing is ever simple, is it? And nothing is ever really perfect, not the way we have it in our mind.”

“No,” Alice said, her hand still reaching. “No, but…we have to try. We have to do the best we can, and when we mess up we turn to God and each other for comfort. Jonah, let me help you, please? Let me…love you.”

He looked over at her, that huge swelling of pure love filling his heart again. “I blamed you,” he said, his voice cracking. “I blamed you, but you were just the messenger. And I've blamed God, too, but He didn't cause any of this. Greed and revenge and anger and manipulation—that's what caused this. That and a young girl stuck in poverty and pain.” He put a hand up, then let it drop. “I just need it to be over, Alice. I just need it to be over.”

“It is,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “It is. We can start fresh. I can't promise it'll be perfect, but I can tell you this—if you take my hand and let me help you, I'll work so hard…to show you what a real family is like, I promise. Jonah, please?”

He saw her hand, saw how she was shaking as she moved toward him and without another thought, he reached out to her, taking her hand in his so he could draw her close there in the middle of the bridge. “Alice,” he said, whispering her name as he held her tight and took in the scent of jasmine in her curls. “Alice.” He kissed her face, tasted her tears and then kissed her on the lips. “Alice.”

“I love you, Jonah. I love you.”

He savored those words, letting them slip over him like a warm wash of water. “I love you, too.” Then he looked up and into her eyes. “You might have to show me. I haven't had much practice, but I love you.”

“I'll be glad to show you,” she said, sniffing. “Make a wish and blow out your candle before the wind does it for you.”

He lifted his head and closed his eyes, taking a quick breath and inhaling toward the plate. The candle flickered out.

“What did you wish for?”

“This,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “Always this.” Then he buried his nose against her hair. “You smell like pumpkin pie.”

“I have both pecan
and
pumpkin pie,” she whispered. “I'm willing to share.”

“Did you cook it?”

“No. Paulette made it.”

He groaned. “I haven't had a decent meal since I left this place. I'm starving.”

“Then I'll feed you,” she said. “You'll never be hungry again, even if I can't cook.”

Jonah smiled for the first time in days. “Are we crazy, Alice? Can we really make this work?”

She stepped back, then swept her hand toward the frame of the house behind him. “Look. See what you've done, Jonah? You built on solid ground. You created something good out of something bad. Yes, we can do this.”

“I'm calling it Bryson Branch,” he told her. “That hasn't changed. But I think I'll call the park something else. Maybe Alice Park.”

Tears formed in her eyes again.

“Are you sure? Maybe you should name it after Esther. And maybe you shouldn't give up on her yet, either.”

He glanced back at the land across the bridge. “You might be right. It can serve as a reminder to me every day to be a better person—for you.”

“You are the
better
person,” Alice said, pride in her words.

“And Miss Betty Nell—I haven't forgotten her house. We start on it next week. I've secured a low-cost loan so she can afford it.”

“She'll be so happy.”

“What if I can't make
you
happy?” he asked, his doubts moving like shadows across his mind.

“You will,” Alice said as she tugged him across the bridge, and toward Rosette House. “I believe in you, Jonah. That's all you need to know.”

Jonah stopped her at the foot of the bridge, kissing her again. “Let me get that piece of pie.” He grabbed it and then smiled as she took him by the hand.

“C'mon inside,” she said, her smile bright with joy, her eyes sparkling with hope. “And, Jonah?”

“What?”

“Welcome home.”

Jonah looked up at the house he'd dreamed about for so long. And he realized the picture had finally changed. Now he had his own house across the way and the hope of sharing his life there with the woman he loved.

Then he heard the sweet cry of a baby coming from inside Rosette House and he closed his eyes and thanked God for showing him the real meaning of a home.

It truly was a gift of wonder.

Dear Reader,

Thanksgiving is always a time to come home to family. But in this story, Jonah Sheridan had never had the strength of a real home and family in his life. When he saw how close Alice and her sister, Lorene, were, he envied them. And he longed for a family of his own. Alice had taken her blessings for granted. She had to show Jonah that he could have the kind of life she'd always known. But Alice hadn't really given herself over to God, so she was also missing the strength that faith can bring. Together, they learned that with God anything is possible. Including finding the gift of wonder in the simple, everyday treasures of life.

Since Louisiana has been changed forever by hurricanes, I wanted to write a story that showed the hope of rebuilding—both our physical homes and our home in God's love. I hope you will consider taking some time to say a prayer for all the people in Louisiana and all along the Gulf Coast who have suffered through the loss of their homes. May they'll all find their way back one day.

Until next time, may the angels watch over you. Always.

1. Why did Jonah come to Bayou Rosette? What was he really hoping to do once he got there?
   
2. Why was Alice so wary of Jonah? Have you ever lost trust in someone?
   
3. Did Alice resent her sister's happiness? Has this ever happened to you?
   
4. Do you think Lorene resented Alice because Lorene had to sacrifice things in order to take care of her younger sister?
   
5. Why do you think it was so important for Jonah to find out the truth about his mother?
   
6. Do you think Alice should have minded her own business, or was she right to be curious about Jonah's past?
   
7. Do you think Alice should have been honest with Jonah about doing research on his behalf?
   
8. Do you think Jonah was doing the right thing in trying to rebuild the bayou houses?
   
9. Do you think it's important as a Christian to help
   the environment and to try and conserve our planet's natural beauty?
   
10. Have you ever gone into a devastated community to help rebuild after a natural disaster? Why do you think this kind of mission work is so important?
    
11. Why did Jonah always stand just outside of Rosette House? Have you ever been afraid to become a part of someone's life?
    
12. Do you think Jonah will eventually forgive his mother? Do you understand her motives for abandoning him?