Leave a Candle Burning (16 page)

Dannan was tired, but he knew he wouldn’t fall back to sleep. He picked up his Bible from the dresser and settled back into bed, not willing to go downstairs until she woke. His plans lasted only about ten minutes. He fell back to sleep, and when he woke again, Corina was standing by his bed calling his name with not so much as a hint of tears.

“I’ve gathered everything I can find,” Scottie reported to Iris. “I’ve stacked it in the parlor.”

“You mean Eli’s toys? I was going to take care of that.”

“You just said you were behind on your baking,” Scottie stated reasonably. “And Eli has been talking about it all morning.”

“Well, behind on the baking or not, I’ve got to have a look at those.”

Scottie followed Iris into the parlor, knowing exactly what her reaction would be. Scottie was right. The older woman laughed as soon as she saw the toys lined up on the table in the parlor.

“I haven’t seen these for years,” Iris said as she picked up the wooden meetinghouse from the Tucker Mills town set. “Mrs. Peterson had these made special for Eli’s one-year birthday.”

Finn chose that moment to come from Eli’s room, and he joined Iris in her perusal of the toys.

“Why don’t you gather a few of these, Finn,” Scottie suggested. “I think Eli would love to see them.”

“I’ll do that. This town set especially.”

Scottie watched him pick up the small painted block of his own house, a house he didn’t use right now. The detail was amazing. Each little window and door was painted on with painstaking precision, and the slanted roof even looked as though it were covered with shingles. Even the bushes that sat outside the front door had been painted into place. And to top it off, a small chimney piece was adhered to the side.

And they were all like that. Scottie remembered seeing these somewhere along the line but didn’t remember the bright colors and splendid detail. To pick each one up was like taking a walk down the green.

Finn gathered almost all of them into his arms and started back upstairs. Scottie trailed him, gaining her husband’s bedroom in time to see his face light up with pleasure.

“The town set! I haven’t seen these in years.”

Finn had dumped the blocks on the side of the bed and gone on his way. Scottie pushed them aside just enough to make room for herself and watched her husband’s inspection of each piece

“Finn’s house.” Eli’s voice was fond. “And Iris’. What memories.”

“Did it hurt to look at them and be stuck in bed, or did it help?” Scottie asked.

“It helped, because Mother always told me exactly where she was going or where she’d been, and I felt like I’d gone along. I wasn’t anxious about her, but I would put them in a circle that began and ended with our own house.” Eli picked that block up and smiled with contentment as he studied.

“Who made these?” Scottie asked, Doyle’s store in her hand.

“I can’t remember, but I suspect they’re outdated, or at least incomplete.”

Scottie continued to examine the block in her hand, and for a moment, Eli studied her. His mind had swept back in time to when she’d come to them. Scottie Davis had been her name then. She’d come on a trial basis to work for his mother and ended up staying on. She’d been too thin, too quiet, and too serious. They had all taken to her in a heartbeat, but it was some time before Scottie realized she could stay as long as she wanted; it was to be her home.

“What are you thinking about?”

“You,” Eli admitted.

Scottie’s head tipped as she looked at him. After a moment she smiled.

“I don’t think I want to know any more.”

Eli smiled back. “Why is that?”

“You have a mischievous look about you right now, and I’m not sure you can be trusted.”

Eli laughed his soft laugh, still watching her. He didn’t comment further, and neither did she. Finn joined them a short time later, and the subject did not come up again.

“I’m headed out,” Conner told Reese Saturday morning. He’d been working at home for a time, and she now came from the kitchen to kiss him goodbye. “Valentrina,” he called out before she reached him.

Reese stopped and tried to look severe. She had thought he was done with this topic.

“No, Conner. And if you really think it’s a girl, how about suggesting some real names?”

“What fun is that?” Conner asked as he started toward her.

Reese was having none of it. She backed away and watched his brows rise.

“Is this how it’s to be?” he asked, moving relentlessly closer.

“Yes,” Reese answered, backing away all the while. “I’m not going to be hugged and kissed by such an insensitive man.”

The smile he gave her was positively wicked, but Reese was up for the challenge. She scooted into the dining room, putting the table between them and waiting for his next move.

“Now this is tricky,” Conner said, never taking his eyes from his prey. “If I chase you, you might fall. But I can’t have you running away from me, now can I?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Reese countered, keeping the table between them. “I think running from you is a lot of fun.”

“Now or when I catch you?”

The smile she gave her husband quickened his pace. He was pursuing her in earnest when they both heard Troy at the door.

Reese was on the door side of the table and calmly walked to the hallway to meet him.

“Hi, Troy,” she greeted lightly. “You’re a little early.”

“Yes, is Conner still here?” Troy asked absently, heading toward the study.

“He’s coming right now,” Reese said, her voice not giving a thing away.

The soft pinch Conner gave her as he passed and the meaningful look he shot her way told Reese that he was not done yet. She was still able to smile at him, however, knowing she had won this round.

It was slow for a Saturday, but Doyle didn’t mind. There was always dusting and straightening to do, but besides that, he was thinking about his wife. Tomorrow was Sunday. They would attend services at the meetinghouse. It wouldn’t occur to Cathy Shephard to do anything else, but Doyle desperately wanted to ask her why. Why did she attend in the first place? Why did she keep attending?

He might be able to do this. The simple question might make for good discussion or conversation between them, but it also might make her defensive. Doyle never knew.

This is when You want me to trust You, Lord. This is when You want me to believe that You are in charge and have a plan for all things. I do believe, Lord, but sometimes I’m weak. Help me trust You with all of myself, and help Cathy to that same end, Lord. Help her to find You. Let me be the husband she needs and never a hindrance in her path to You.

Doyle thought he might have stood there all day and asked for God to increase his faith and save his wife, but a customer came in. Doyle turned with a ready smile, but his mind was not entirely on his job.

Corina had been doing very well during the service. Dannan had seen to her needs prior to taking a seat, and so far the wiggles had been few. What Dannan hadn’t planned on was the bee that had joined them in the meetinghouse. It hadn’t come very close to him, so he hadn’t noticed it, but it was a different matter for Corina. She saw it from a distance and wanted in his lap. Dannan didn’t object, wanting her to stay quiet, but when the bee came close, nothing worked.

“Bee!” she cried out, and Dannan put some fingers on her mouth.

“It’s all right,” he whispered. “He’s gone.”

And it was gone for a few seconds. Corina was quiet and watchful until the bee landed on the pew in front of them.

“A bee, Mama! A bee! Help, Mama, help!”

Corina was attempting to scale Dannan when he stood and took her from the room. She sobbed and called for her mother the entire time, cries that could be heard until Dannan strode away from all the open windows.

No one older than 15 turned to watch Dannan. All had eyes for Douglas, who suddenly found himself without a voice. He stared at the door and then his wife, whose eyes had flooded. Douglas’ head dropped for a moment as he worked to compose himself. When he spoke again, his flock could barely hear him.

“I feel brokenhearted for that little girl,” Douglas admitted. “Dannan too.”

The congregation—those who could see through swimming eyes—still stared in frozen silence at their pastor, not having seen him like this very often.

“I’m hoping that Dannan and Corina can join our family for dinner today so we can learn how he’s doing. And I tell you that so you won’t think me completely insensitive when I say that no matter how my heart feels right now, it knows nothing compared to the pain God feels when I choose my way over His.”

Douglas swallowed and tried to clear his throat.

“I’m going to be done with the sermon now. I want you to come to me if you think I could have handled this better, but I’m nearly finished with my points, so I’ll just wait and share those that remain with you next week. Right now, I want us to pray together for Dannan and Corina.”

It was a relief for everyone to close their eyes. Douglas prayed, not a lengthy prayer, but his voice was still measured, as it had been since Corina began to cry for her mother. When Douglas was finished, he opened his eyes to find Dannan and Corina back inside.

“Again,” he said, not dismissing them just yet, “I don’t wish to seem heartless, but I don’t want us to forget the good words we heard this morning from Scripture. We want to work hard this week or until we meet again. Know that I’ll be praying for all of you this week. God bless you.”