Chapter Sixty

Hi Jen, hi James. This is a pleasant surprise!”

“We were just on our way home and decided to drop this off for Chloe.”

“Oh my gosh, what did you buy her now?”

“It’s a dollhouse. James is good at putting things together so he said he’d set it up for Chloe.”

“Is Auntie Jen here, Mommy?” Chloe called out as she came out of her bedroom.

Jenny ducked behind a door. “I’m over here, Chloe.”

Chloe ran out into the living room, “Where’s Auntie Jen, Mommy?”

“I’m over here, Chloe!”

And as Chloe crept up to the door, Jen snuck out and ran into the kitchen.

“There she is, it’s Auntie Jen!” she shrieked and she ran after her.

Jen ran through the kitchen and back around to the living room. When Chloe ran in, Jen was on her knees with open arms and Chloe ran right into them for a big hug.

“Oh Chloe, I love you so much!”

She laid Chloe on the floor and tickled the little girl until she was laughing hysterically.

“Jenny, I don’t know who the bigger kid is,” James said.

“Look what Uncle James has for you, Chloe.” Turning to James she added, “Maybe set it down here, James.”

“Look Chloe, look at the picture on the box. It’s a dollhouse!”

“Open it!” the little girl demanded, nearly dancing with glee.

James knelt down and began opening the box.

“Hurry up, Uncle James.”

“I’m going as fast as I can, Chloe.”

James began tearing at the box more aggressively until the flaps were open. He reached in and brought out a folded cardboard dollhouse, along with several packages containing parts and instructions.

“Well, Chloe, you help Uncle James put the dollhouse together while your mommy and I visit. Okay?”

“Here, Uncle James!” Chloe said, handing him one of the packages.

“Thanks, Chloe.” James took the package and set it down and began opening up the dollhouse and looking at the instructions at the same time.

“Can I get you a drink, Jenny?” Tammy asked as she made her way into the kitchen.

“A glass of orange juice if you have it?”

“I do. How about you, James?”

“Not now, I’ll spill it all over for sure.”

Tammy handed Jenny her drink and noticed the huge diamond ring she was wearing. “Oh my, Jenny, is that an engagement ring?!”

“Yes,” Jenny smiled, tilting her hand in the light until the diamond flared, “James proposed to me last Saturday when we went out for dinner.”

“Why didn’t you tell me!? My gosh, look at the size of that rock! It’s three times the size of the one Robbie gave me.”

“Oh, Tammy, an engagement ring is an engagement ring— it’s the love behind it that’s important.”

Jenny herself wondered why she hadn’t phoned Tammy like Tammy had when Robbie had proposed to her two weeks ago. Tammy had almost flown through the phone in excitement. The sparkle of the huge diamond had made Jenny happy when she first put it on and yet the initial happiness seemed to have faded. She shook her head. Why was she thinking this way?

“Do you mean, you haven’t told Tammy our news that we’re getting married next May?”

Jenny was momentarily embarrassed. “I was waiting until we saw her in person to break the news—and now you’ve spoiled my surprise.”

“Well, congratulations!” Tammy gushed. “I’m so happy for you, Jen! For you both, I mean.” Tammy set down her drink and rushed over to give Jenny a hug.

“Maybe I should convince Robbie we should delay our wedding at Christmas to the spring as well and we can have a double wedding! Wouldn’t that be something!?”

“Yes, that would sure be different.”

“I don’t think Robbie would hear of it, though—he called last night and you’ll never guess what he’s done. He joined some athlete’s group for Jesus.”

“He what?” asked James, looking back at the two girls sitting on the couch.

“He’s turned his life over to Jesus, and he was so excited about it. He said it all started when we began going to church together. It made him think about family and when he saw some of the guys he plays with get down on their knees and pray before and after a game he got interested.”

“That’s wonderful, Tammy.”

“Sounds to me like he’s losing it, if you ask me.”

“Oh, James, it’s great that he’s turning his life over to God. Maybe you could take a lesson from him.”

James grunted under his breath and then asked Chloe to hold something for him. Jenny watched him working with the little girl and it made her heart happy. Perhaps there was hope for this business-minded man of hers.

“So, tell me more, Tammy? What happened next?”

“Well, he said he attended one of the Campus Crusade meetings two nights ago, gave his life to Christ and now he’s a born again Christian.”

“A what?” James blurted, startling Chloe.

“He’s become a born again Christian. You know, he’s made a personal commitment to Jesus and received His Holy Spirit.”

Once again James stopped what he was doing and turned to Tammy. “What the hell is a Holy Spirit?”

“Watch your language in front of Chloe,” Jenny mouthed to him.

He frowned at her and waved a hand dismissively, wanting to hear Tammy’s explanation.

“Well, James, the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Holy Trinity and—”

“Forget it, Tammy, you’ve lost me…hand me that, Chloe.”

Tammy turned back to Jenny. “He sounded so different when he called. He apologized over and over for the way he treated me and for his lack of support, and he begged me to forgive him.” Tammy’s eyes began to tear up.

Jenny reached over and took her dear friend’s hand. “Oh, Tammy, that’s so wonderful.”

“He said he doesn’t want to wait until Christmas to get married. He wants to come home at Thanksgiving and get married then and take me back with him. He said that he’s neglected his responsibility for too long and that it’s unfair that I should be raising Chloe alone.”

Tammy began to cry.

“Why is mommy crying?” Chloe wanted to know.

Jenny got up and knelt down in front of the little girl. “Because she’s so happy that she has you and daddy.” Jenny sorted through all the plastic bags. “Boy, Uncle James is doing such a good job! It’s almost done and then we can set up all the furniture in the different rooms.”

Jenny tore the top off one of the clear plastic bags and poured the contents on the rug. “Here, let’s put this chair in the living room. Now, where should we put this bed?”

“In the bedroom.”

“That’s right Chloe! Where is the bedroom, here?”

“No, silly! That’s the bathroom. There’s the bedroom,” she said, pointing her finger.

“Well, you know better than me. Okay, you and Uncle James put the rest of the furniture in the rooms.”

Jenny returned to the couch. “So what did you decide Tammy? Are you going to be married at Thanksgiving?”

“No, I’m halfway through my last year of nursing. And it’s just too complicated to move now. It took me over an hour to convince him to wait until Christmas. I’ll be finished then and there will be more time to move and everything.”

“It looks like your wish on the shooting star has come completely true, Tammy. You and Robbie are getting married!”

“See? I told you to make a wish too.” Tammy looked pointedly at James and then back at Jenny as she recalled the wish Jenny held in her heart.

“Well, Chloe, time for bed! You’ll have the whole day tomorrow to play with the dollhouse.”

“No, mommy, please let me stay up a little longer, please.”

“Well, we should be going, Tammy, it’s a long drive home and then James has to drive all the way to his place.”

“It was so nice of you both to drop by! And thank you, James, for setting that up.”

“You’re welcome, Tammy. Do you want me to carry it into Chloe’s room?”

“That’s okay, Chloe will probably want to play with it out here tomorrow. How are classes coming along?”

“Actually, I dropped out. Dad isn’t doing too well and I know most, if not all, the stuff they’re teaching already.”

“But you were so close to getting your degree!”

“A degree doesn’t mean much in our business, it’s just something to hang on the wall and collect dust.”

“Maybe for you, but I can’t wait to get mine. Have you started your practicum yet, Jenny?”

Jenny nodded. “Yes, two weeks ago we were assigned our high school. I just love working in the library. The students can be a challenge at times, though.”

James grunted again. “The boys all want to take her out. Probably half of the male staff does too.”

“James, that’s ridiculous.”

But it wasn’t ridiculous; James’ perception was dead on. Jenny had to be very firm with the students and graciously decline all the approaches made by several of the teachers, even though her large diamond engagement ring flashed very visibly.

“Come and give Auntie Jen and Uncle James a big hug and kiss.”

Chloe ran into Jenny’s waiting arms and squeezed her tight, smothering her in kisses. She gave a quick peck to James.

It was late when James dropped Jenny off at home. Her mom had gone to bed and the house was big and quiet. It seemed empty without her dad and Jenny missed him very much. Often he would still be up when she got home and they would sit and chat. She relished those visits and talks, especially when she was confused about something, like now.

She looked at the huge engagement ring on her finger. The sparkle that had made her so happy the night James had given it to her had long since faded, just like their relationship.

What would her father think of their engagement? He liked James but had strongly encouraged her to go out with other boys. I know Dad was trying to tell me that James might not be the best choice. But there was no one else but him and…Henry.

I so wish Daddy had met Henry in Regina, perhaps things could’ve been different somehow. He only saw Henry through Mom’s eyes and her concerns.

Jenny saw the same concerns about her relationship with James that her father had seen, but over the months and years she had begun to accept them. In part due to her accepting nature and in part because she assumed it was just James’ character, simply part of him and therefore their relationship.

Jenny had learned to live with it.

And, now that she thought about it, James’ traits and idiosyncrasies actually didn’t seem so unsettling anymore; they only spent a few hours a week together anyway. And that’s what was bothering her now. James spent so much time at his father’s business. He kept promising it was only for a little while until he corrected some of the problems his father had overlooked, or until he’d helped with the next merger.

The way things were right now, Jenny felt as though she had to make an appointment to see her fiancé.

Still, she loved the way he’d helped set up the dollhouse for Chloe tonight and the way he’d talked to the little girl. Underneath all that business stuff and all the rest of it, James was a loving man. I just wish I saw it more often.

Shaking her head to rid herself of these thoughts, Jenny decided that she felt lonely because James was so preoccupied with work and that was the only reason her mind still swung back to Henry. Soon, James would have the business in order. And things would be different after they were married, she was sure. They’d have more time together. They’d raise children and go on vacations to exotic places around the world.

Jenny made her way to the kitchen, guided by the luminosity of the clock on the range. The dim light complimented her mood so she didn’t turn on the lights. The radiance of the full moon further added to the light in the kitchen. She went to the patio doors, slid open the door and stepped outside.

It was a beautiful fall night. The air was warm and filled with the scent of the herbs and flowers that were still in bloom. The heavens were adorned with millions of twinkling stars. She looked to the east but her star no longer stood out. It was there, snuggled in amongst the rest of them, but its shimmering rays no longer embraced her like they used to.

She wondered about her first love. Had Henry gone to college and if so, what had he taken? It would be business or art, for sure. But he was so kind and considerate he might have chosen education and taught art like she suggested he might.

What could have possibly happened to that last letter she had sent to him? The one with the pewter angel inside? Surely it couldn’t have just disappeared. But why else wouldn’t he have answered?

Jenny, she said sternly to herself, enough of this foolhardy talk and thinking! You’re just getting yourself upset and living in the past. It’s all just a memory. For God’s sake, it’s James you’re going to marry, not Henry!

But the thoughts would not leave her. She knew he had met someone else, she felt it now all the time and their star told her it was true.

It had all started again that day her mom had woken from that awful nightmare, shouting for someone to stop the wedding. It was so real to her mother, the memory of the fright in her eyes still sent shivers up Jenny’s spine. And later that morning as she wrote in her diary, she’d had the strong premonition that something was happening to Henry. She’d felt a detaching of their love. It was like a receding tide pulling away from the shore of her heart. Each night she prayed for the tide to return, but the dawning of a new morning never brought the waves to the shore.

Jenny gazed into the celestial heavens in search of the star of the east once more, but it was nowhere to be found. She whispered the words anyway, knowing it would be received by their star: “Even though we are far apart, you are forever in my heart.”

And just as Jenny turned to go back into the house, a shooting star blazed brightly across the heavens and Jenny sent out her long-held wish.

She felt its warmth settle in her heart and her sparkling, tear- filled eyes were soothed with wonder…and hope.