10
Hayley’s heart hurt for Kameron. She kept her phone close in case he needed her. He’d spent the night at the Heart Hospital with Pastor Gregg. That morning Kam told her he only knew what day it was because of her. He’s in my life now.
A carload of senior women full of holiday shopping spirit barreled through the door. She had a store to run and customers to greet. God had watched out for her and Kameron yesterday by the scant number of people who’d entered Auntie’s Antiquities.
“Welcome, ladies. The coffee’s hot, so please help yourselves. Today’s fudge is almond, and I have a variety of samplers from this week. The old bank safe is full of candy made right here in our own little town of Edgewood.” She met each of their gazes with a smile. “Let me know if you have any questions.”
Her phone chimed “Joy to the World,” which was Kam’s ringtone. She connected but didn’t answer.
“The doctors kicked me out, so I’m here at the house.” He sounded tired. “They’re keeping Gregg sedated through the day. You busy?”
“They have your number?” Just in case…
“Yeah. The elders are making sure there’s always someone there.”
“To pray. That’s good.” Lord, draw Kameron to pray also. “Come on over and spend time with me until your relatives fly in.”
“I’ll try. Thanks for suggesting Blythe to deal with the dogs and handle the phone calls.”
She pictured him gnawing on his knuckle. One of these days, she’d spring for a phone that showed the caller’s face. “What’s the latest on Pastor Gregg?”
“Doctors are still deciding if and when surgery is necessary. They agree it would have been much worse if you hadn’t found him in time.”
“I was where God wanted me to be.” She checked on her customers. They gabbed and touched and chattered as they wandered, nowhere near the fudge or coffee yet.
Hayley stepped into the hall. “Kam, every spare minute I have, you’re in my prayers. I wish you weren’t going through this. It was awful to watch Mom deal with cancer, but we made plans and talked and grew close. I hope this will deepen your relationship with Pastor.”
“It’s just so sudden. Unexpected. What lousy timing. Christmas.” He blew a sigh. “Sorry. Were you done talking about your mom?”
“You’re sweet. It’s OK. I’m trying to empathize with you. Things will be better once Pastor Gregg’s sister gets here. I think I need to go.”
Crossing to assist one of the women, Hayley pictured her mother’s last moments. Toward the end she’d opened her eyes, but hadn’t seemed to see Hayley. Someday, Hayley would take the opportunity to tell Kameron she believed Mom had seen the face of Jesus. All the lines had cleared in her face. Her eyes shined with an unforgettable glow. There were no words for the peace and love that had transformed on Mom’s face.
“Do you have another old-time Santa figure?” The attractive customer held up a figurine. “My mother has one like it, but I’d like to add to her collection.”
“Let me show you my Victorian grouping.”
Hayley attended to customers while Kameron called, texted, or stopped in throughout the day. She prayed the constant contact soothed him as much as it helped her. Late in the afternoon, she selected Kam’s number. “Hi. Are you about ready to leave for the airport?”
“Yes, and thanks. I almost forgot.”
“What are you doing?”
“I finally crashed for twenty minutes. Then I made up the spare room and laid out a blanket and pillow so I can bunk on the couch.”
“Did you tell me their last name?”
“Who? Oh. I think so. Wormwinkle. John won’t be with Mom and Samantha. The church ladies have already brought food, so eating tonight won’t be a problem.” His words faded away.
The emotion in his voice was a side of Kam she hadn’t seen. Illness, his family coming, the church’s expression of love. He had a lot to deal with.
“Are you taking them directly to the hospital or stopping here first?”
“Here. Can you come over? I could use your moral support before we leave for the hospital.”
“I’d be honored, Kam. I’ll be there as soon as I close up.”
“Blythe’s been gone about an hour. The dogs know when it’s time to eat. Would you mind feeding them and let them out back?”
“I can do that. Bye for now, I have a customer.”
She kept busy the next hour, and then took time to pour out her heart to the Lord. “I’m wrapping things up here at the shop, Lord. I don’t need to tell You that. Please bring Kameron and his family back safely. He’s preoccupied and probably not in top form to be driving. Show me how to reach him, what to say later. Above all, Kam needs You, Lord.”
Kameron didn’t say much as Teresa pointed out landmarks and filled in Samantha regarding life in Lincoln. His mind circled around and always landed back on Gregg. He’d tried so hard to reach Kam, and asked him to stay longer, until the holiday. Just when he was ready to spend more time in Edgewood for Christmas, the man went and had a heart attack.
He figured they’d have all the time in the world to walk the trail with the dogs. Hayley would be involved in their outings. He’d ask her to join them for Christmas dinner. He’d told Gregg, “Lincoln’s not that far. I’ll be back.”
Now those times with Gregg were on hold.
Thank God, Gregg still lived. People died in the stories he wove, but Kameron hadn’t faced death personally.
Hayley had lost her mom. Had the incident with Gregg brought back sad memories?
“Kameron, we’ve been talking about Gregg, and I haven’t asked what you’re working on, what’s new with you?” Teresa’s use of his name yanked him out of his brood.
“What? Same old. Same old. Writing.”
“Sorry to say, you’ve been isolated way too long thinking about yourself and those books you weave.” She patted his shoulder. “Has anything exciting happened while you stayed in Edgewood?”
He slowed for town.
“This tiny place looks like a storybook town.” Samantha unlatched her seatbelt and leaned against Teresa’s seat. “Population 549, I’ll have to take a picture of that sign and send it to my BFFs.”
“It’s a small town filled with nice people. Gregg claims the congregation is good-sized due to a couple developments.” Kameron pulled on to the drive. “Teresa, what happens to the church if Gregg isn’t well enough to lead?”
“I’m guessing the elders have already met and found someone to conduct services, maybe the same one who filled in while Gregg was on vacation. Didn’t the two of you discuss anything besides his dogs and your books?”
Nope. I was never interested enough to ask what went on in his life. I didn’t want to feel worse over the sinner I am. “I don’t know how to do any of this.”
He hit the steering wheel, charged around back to get their bags, and barged into the house.
“You’re making an awful lot of noise.” Hayley’s greeting halted his temper tantrum.
Temper. Brought on by guilt for his negligence. He stared at her where she stood with a spoon in one hand and potholder in the other. Without a word, he dropped the bags and reopened the door.
Once Teresa and Samantha entered, he opened his mouth to make introductions.
Samantha nodded, but interrupted. “Sam Wormwinkle. I’ve heard jokes about our last name all my life. You can chuckle if you want. This is my mom, but Kameron’s mother first.”
Hayley didn’t crack a smile over the last name. Life had been awful enough for Kameron. Thank goodness, he didn’t have such a name attached to him. If Teresa had the name when she adopted Kam, he would’ve run away.
Teresa held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Hayley. It’s a comfort to know Kameron has a good friend for such a time of trouble.”
Conversation around the table remained on the trivial. Teresa kept carrying on about how touched she was by Hayley’s thoughtfulness in putting together the surprise meal.
Kameron pushed back from the table, having eaten but not registered any taste.
“Samantha, how about you clear the table.” Teresa put her hand on his arm. “Kameron, if you haven’t already, would you please get Gregg a Bible, maybe from his bedside table?”
Air exploded from his throat in stuttered gusts. How lost could a grown man be? He was a useless wimp. Hadn’t thought of anything like that. He needed direction.
OK, God. I’ve reached the end here. I’m selfish and spoiled. Never had anyone to think of or care for except my measly self. If You’re there, I need You. Pastor Gregg needs You.
Hayley was immediately drawn to Teresa, a gentle woman with white hair, but a surprisingly smooth face. “I’m sorry to meet under these circumstances.”
“It’s such a pleasure to get to know you, Hayley. What a blessing Kameron has someone so close to spend time with.”
“If Pastor can have fudge, please find out so you can take him some. While you’re here, bring Samantha, and come on over for fudge and coffee on the house. Check out Auntie’s Antiquities.”
“That sounds good. I see Kameron found a Bible for Gregg.” Teresa slipped on her coat. “How did you come up with a name like Auntie’s Antiquities?”
“Oh, the name was one of the things we had to think about the most. While Mom and I collected fun stuff we made jokes about where those delightful old things came from. At estate sales, for instance, was it grandparents who first owned the items? A rich uncle? One time while an auctioneer was rattling away, we heard a family member say the woman who’d passed inherited from an aunt.”
“Everyone has heard of dreaming of an inheritance from a long, lost relative.”
“Right. Another person said she wished she had an aunt to pass on such splendid antiquities as surrounded us that day. Mom and I looked at each other and knew we had the name.”
“I love how God works things out like that, in the mind of more than one person. Thank you for giving up your evening. Since you and Kameron seem close, and if you don’t have anything better to do, I’d like you to join us to look through old photo albums. Sam wants to know all about my family, not that there’s much, and Gregg has things that I don’t.”
Hayley buried a twinge of discomfort over glimpsing into the private life of her pastor. But Kam was part of the history. She glanced at him, and then crossed to his side where he stood waiting at the door, a well-worn thick Bible in His hand. The lost look he wore wrenched her heart.