Leave a Candle Burning (21 page)

“I’ve been thinking about God and death,” Cathy told Douglas in the morning. He had come to breakfast at their house, and though it had taken most of the meal for her to admit it, she had remembered her question in the night.

“And how does it seem to you, Cathy? Is God in charge of it all or not?”

“I think He must be, but we always give Him praise. Why can we never blame Him?”

“I think we do blame Him,” Douglas stated. “Every time we don’t thank Him and recognize the sovereign work of His hand in our lives, we end up blaming Him and having the view that He’s not doing His job.

“Now, Cathy,” Douglas went on swiftly. “I don’t think that’s what you meant, so I won’t go with that thought right now, but I will tell you that our only response to God can be thanks.”

“Even when someone we love dies?”

“Yes, and the reason is all tied into who God is, how much we can trust Him, and how much He’s in control.”

“I know that He knows more than we do,” Cathy said, “but it’s hard to think that He would want His children in pain.”

“It’s how He gets our attention. If this old sinful world is too easy to live in, we might forget that this is not the final place.”

“Eternity is hard to imagine,” Cathy admitted.

“I think you’re right. Everything here is so temporal. Everything here ends or dies. Life that goes on forever baffles the human mind, but we can trust what God has told us about that in His Word—”

“That trust in God’s Son means eternal life with Him,” Cathy supplied, telling both Douglas and her husband that she had been listening.

“And it also means we have a choice to make,” Douglas continued. “Do you think you know enough to make that choice, Cathy?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, just as Doyle realized they were out of time. He had no choice but to mention that he should have opened the store ten minutes past.

“I’ll tell you what,” Douglas said. “If you think of anything else you want to ask, or if you just want to talk again, let me know.”

The thanks Cathy gave Douglas was completely sincere. Things were not settled, but she didn’t feel quite so adrift in her thinking. Doyle walked Douglas to the door, also sincere in his thanks. Doyle came swiftly back to Cathy’s side, giving her a hug and then heading next door, his heart asking God to keep Cathy’s heart hungry.

Nine

“Corina, this is Mr. Peterson.” Dannan introduced her as soon as he arrived Tuesday morning.

The little girl’s eyes were wide and solemn as she studied the man in the bed, but she didn’t shrink back or try to hide.

“Please say hello.”

“Hello.” The little voice was soft.

“Mr. Peterson,” Dannan prompted.

“Mr. Son,” Corina tried, and Eli smiled in delight.

“It’s nice to meet you, Corina. I hope you can come upstairs and visit me often.”

Dannan spotted Iris in the hall just then and knelt down next to Corina.

“Why don’t you go with Iris, and I’ll come and say goodbye before I go.”

When Iris appeared in the doorway, Corina went with her quite willingly, allowing Dannan to speak to Eli alone. The doctor found a seat—the very one Douglas used on Monday afternoons—and made himself comfortable.

“How are you?” Eli asked.

“I think we’re doing all right. It hasn’t been without adjustments, but we’re managing so far.”

“You probably didn’t plan on being a father before you were married,” Eli said, and even though it was not a comment Dannan expected from him, he replied.

“It’s funny you should say that. I just began last night to think of myself in that way. I prayed about that very thing.”

Eli nodded compassionately, quietly impressed with this man.

“I want to thank you,” Dannan continued. “The house looks great. Corina’s room is wonderful. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Scottie and Iris did the work. And that furniture was sitting in rooms here not being used by anyone, so your house is the best place for those pieces.”

Dannan nodded, wishing he could find words that would truly describe how grateful he was.

“How are you liking the book?” Eli rescued him.

“I’m almost done. I should be ready to discuss it with you next week.”

“Join Scottie and me for dinner. I’ll tell Iris.”

“Thank you, I’ll plan on that.”

Again Dannan fell silent as memories from the recent past surfaced. This was the man whose wife Dannan had admired. His heart had been in such turmoil since Grant’s death that, for a time, Scottie had slipped away from his thoughts, but he still remembered standing in this room, learning she was Eli’s wife, and working with all his might not to show his surprise.

“Scottie’s around here somewhere,” Eli suddenly mentioned, and Dannan eyed him. There was something in the older man’s eyes that he couldn’t quite read. He found it hard to believe that Eli would play games with him, but just for a moment, he wondered.

“I should be off,” Dannan announced as he stood. “I’ve got patients to check on.”

“Well, I’m glad you stopped.”

“Thank you. You look like you’re feeling very well,” Dannan added on his way to the door.

“I am, thank you.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Dannan.” Eli sent him off, relaxing his head back against the pillows Finn stacked high for him each day. A small smile played around his mouth. He had to be careful how he proceeded, but not proceeding was simply not an option. Dannan was the man he’d been hoping would move to Tucker Mills for a very long time.

“It’s hot for mid-June,” Mrs. Greenlowe said to Doyle. “I don’t like it this hot.”

“It’s a warm one,” Doyle agreed. “What do you do to keep cool?”

“Oh, you know me, Doyle. I just complain and keep working.”

The storekeeper couldn’t help but smile.

“You haven’t seen Reese today, have you?” Mrs. Greenlowe asked.

“No, ma’am, I have not.”

“Good. I’m headed to the big house to pay her a visit, and I want her to be home.”

“Going to surprise her?”

“That’s the plan,” Mrs. Greenlowe told him with pleasure. Just moments later, she was gathering her full basket and heading toward the door. Doyle went as far as he needed to watch which way she went. Sure enough, she walked in the direction of the big house.

“One of my dresses is done,” Scottie told her husband after breakfast. She was wearing an old one.

“How did it turn out?”

“Nice.”

“Why aren’t you wearing it?”

“I thought I would save it for services.”

This was news to Eli, but he held his tongue.

“Eli,” Scottie went on. “I want to take some of that fabric I bought and make a new dress for Corina. I haven’t made a child’s dress in a long time, and I think it would be such fun.”

“I think that’s a great idea, but I was still thinking you needed more than one new dress.”

“I’ll have two.”

“You don’t have another piece of cloth that would work for someone as small as Corina?”

“Oh, I guess I do.” Scottie was surprised, not having thought of it herself.

“What’s really bothering you?” Eli suddenly asked, and Scottie sat very still. Eli didn’t press her but knew something wasn’t right. He gave Scottie some time to reply, but when she continued to sit and look troubled, he began to worry. He wanted to know what was bothering her, but more than that, he wanted to rescue her.

“You don’t have to talk about it right now, Scottie.”

Wanting to unburden, Scottie looked at him but wasn’t sure she had the words. She thought Corina MacKay was precious, but having her in the house was stirring up old, very unpleasant memories. This was not something Scottie had anticipated, and these recollections had taken her very much by surprise.

“I keep thinking about my past,” was all Scottie could manage, pain covering her features.

Eli picked up her hand. “It will wait,” he said softly.

Scottie nodded, relieved by that fact and thankful that her husband understood. Indeed, he did not press her about the subject again, and when she said she had work to do, he sent her off with a smile. She was not aware of the way he worried about her and even spoke to Finn when that man checked on him.

“Could it have something to do with Corina?” Finn asked once he’d heard him out.

“What made you ask that?”

“Iris said Scottie hadn’t met her—didn’t want to overwhelm the little thing.”

If Eli hadn’t seen his wife looking upset, he would have thought her only being kind, but this added to his worry. He usually felt better for having spoken with Finn, but not this time. He spent most of the morning worrying to God instead of praying, and feeling helpless for all the wrong reasons.

“Mrs. Greenlowe!” Reese stood in surprise in the yard when that lady walked up and found her working on the flowerbeds on each side of the front door.

“What are you doing weeding in this heat?” Mrs. Greenlowe demanded.

Reese smiled. “I didn’t notice.”

The older woman sniffed, trying not to smile.

“Come in,” Reese invited, stepping toward the door, not willing to hear a negative word from her. To Reese’s surprise, Mrs. Greenlowe willingly followed.