Chapter Ten

Camilla, so touched by the reunion, let out a burst of pent up tears she could no longer hold back, breaking the spellbinding rapture they were in.

Henry smiled as he gazed into his beloved’s blue sparkling eyes, still full of life even at the doorstep of death.

Jenny’s face relaxed and all tension left her body as the presence of her first love swept through her.

As they gazed at each other, they were so moved, that the world around them vanished like a mist. Slowly, her lips parted and she smiled, sending Henry into ecstasy. Instantly, he recognized the smile that he so dearly loved and had burned indelibly into his mind’s eye over thirty years ago.

With the soft voice of an angel, barely audible, Jenny whispered, “Oh, Henry, after all these years, you kept your promise and came back to me. I always knew you would…”

Her voice trailed off; she had expended all of her energy to utter those words. Slowly she raised her right hand and brought it to her chest just below her neck. Her fingers moved with great effort, as they made their way into the opening of her gown. A silver chain caught the light in the room and reflected back to Henry. The chain slipped through Jenny’s frail, feeble fingers until she caught the dancing angel in her hand.

“I’ve worn it ever since the day I received it,” she murmured so softly, Henry had to lip read most of the words.

“I am wearing the one I received from you too,” Henry whispered back to her. The angel almost flew into his hand as he reached inside his shirt. He dangled it in front of Jenny and then brought it close to the one she was holding just inches away. Jenny released hers and also held Henry’s by the end of the chain. They were identical twins, an incredible miracle that only a deep love could bring. The angels twisted and glowed and sparkled as they intertwined and kissed.

Camilla once more let out another burst of emotion.

Nurse Johnson shuffled from one foot to the other entrapped in the rapture of it all.

“Oh, Jenny, I love you so. I love you so very much.” Henry whispered through tears.

“I love you, too.” Jenny could only form the words with her lips.

Henry ached to hold her. He wished he could kiss her and instantly it came true.

Jenny was harbouring the same desire, revealed as she softly spoke, again. “I prayed to my guardian angel over and over again, that you would come to me and give me a kiss before I died.”

Instinctively, without hesitation, he bent down, closed his eyes, his lips searching for hers, anticipating the fulfilling expression of their love that was held in abeyance for years and years. What both of them wished and prayed for over and over was about to be fulfilled. Henry felt Jenny’s warm breath as she slightly parted her lips. Lovingly, he responded and ever so tenderly, gently, softly, their lips touched, sending them both into a world of utter ecstasy. It was like the kiss they had on the day Jenny told Henry she was leaving for Ottawa— the world stood still and the devastation of their impending separation momentarily vanished. The kiss was all they could remember and hold on to, to relive over and over in their minds and hearts.

But this kiss was now transcending that moment.

The blissful moment of touch they were lost in now held the dreams and hopes of two people separated in time, but desiring to be reunited, again. It was a kiss that was not forgotten, only suppressed in the recesses of their hearts. It was a touch that carried a love that could never be extinguished. A kiss relived over and over again only as a fantasy, as a dream, but now…finally…as a reality.

“See there now, the good Lord put healing power into that kiss,” murmured Matti.

All those present were witnessing a rare and wonderful moment between two people deeply in love. It was hard to believe that Henry and Jenny hadn’t seen each other for over thirty years. They had desired this moment so deeply, it was as if the separation of the past was crammed into but a moment of time, and their love a continuation of just yesterday; fresh as a drop of dew caressing the petal of a rose. They no longer saw Jenny as ill or about to die or Henry as an older man. The externals vanished before their eyes and what emerged was a vision of what life is all about; the essence of happiness, joy, beauty and all that is good in God’s kingdom comes from love.

We are made out of love and for love… it is all about love.

After what seemed like an eternity, Henry withdrew his lips from Jenny’s and began to straighten up. Jenny was still clutching her pewter guardian angel as she gazed at Henry.

“It was always my deepest prayer to see you and my daughter…” Then turning to the angel in her hand she whispered, “Oh, thank you, thank you for granting me my wish, my heart’s desire. Perhaps I will see Camilla from a window in heaven”

“Oh, Jenny, your other wish has been granted too! Camilla is here as well.”

Jenny tried to raise her head, but was unable to do so. Camilla quickly slid from Matilda’s embrace and came to her mother’s side next to Henry. Tears of joy flowed from their eyes as they gazed at one another. They were speechless, lost in time.

Chloe took a Kleenex and reached forward to dry Jenny’s tears and then her own.

Jenny stared at her daughter and then at Henry, still finding it hard to believe that her prayers had been answered. The knuckles of her hand clutching her angel turned white as a candle.

“Oh, Camilla, I knew my guardian angel would bring you to me too. You are such a lovely lady…”

Fresh tears flowed once again as she gazed at her two loves before her. In that moment, Jenny was living what most people are only allowed to live in a whole lifetime. In spite of her grave illness, a joy, peace, and happiness spread through her. Jenny’s eyes glowed and shone like a mirror.

Both Henry and Camilla saw the growing sadness of their faces reflected in Jenny’s eyes. An awareness of what was about to come grew within them. An awareness that someone they so dearly loved was going away.

Henry could feel an unseen force pulling at his beloved. He had felt it before and then miraculously it left to fulfill Jenny’s wishes… only to return with greater strength.

Camilla sensed it, too. She began to pray and plead with God. “Please, please, leave her here a little while longer.”

“Oh sweet Lord,” chimed in Matti, “You be forsaking me… no! I don’t believe this…do Your healing, sweet Jesus…”

“Oh Auntie, please don’t leave…” Chloe murmured. “I won’t be able to bear it.”

Jenny looked up towards Henry and then to her daughter, with wistful eyes yet filled with such fervent love that an inner luminosity shone through her pale face like the top of a burning candle. An aura of light enveloped her that drew both Henry and Camilla towards her. They leaned closer, their yearning trying to hold her, their tears spilling over onto her gown.

A radiant smile crossed Jenny’s face. She wanted to speak, but no sound came from her lips. They did form a word that Henry was able to make out.

“Quickly…” It was a word so dear to his heart, one that he dreamed of and had so much special meaning for him.

“Hold my hand,” he finished for her. He squeezed her hand which he was holding, trying desperately to keep her even though he could feel her slipping away.

“Oh, Jenny, please don’t go, don’t leave me, again. Oh, God, please leave her, heal her. Father Engelmann, help me, speak to God, please.”

Jenny closed her eyes and she let out a long slow sigh. Her chest fell and didn’t rise, again.

Jenny was gone.

Henry’s heart almost stopped as he looked down upon his dear sweet Jenny. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and eyes, hoping his spirit would go with hers.

“Oh, Lord, not now,” he pleaded, again. “Please, Jesus, please bring her back, please. Please. After all these years, not this, please. Oh how can You allow this?” He even dared to ask…

“Have You no heart?”

Matti cried deep within her spirit. Oh Lord, I jus’ don’t believe You be forsaking me.

Chloe stepped aside as Nurse Johnson bent over and felt Jenny’s wrist. Then she raised her hand to Jenny’s neck and touched her artery… then shook her head, confirming what they already knew.

Camilla, overwrought by learning of her new relationship with her father-in-law, her husband, and now the untimely death of her birth mother, burst into tears, “Oh, Mom, how could you leave me… and Henry, how can you be my real father?”

Henry was so absorbed in Jenny’s passing that he failed to hear his daughter-in-law’s words. Matti suddenly realized Camilla’s dilemma and went over to comfort her and explain…

Camilla tore away from Matti’s hold and fled the room.

“That poor girl thinks Henry be her father which makes her husband her half brother.” Matti turned to Chloe, “I best be going to help that child. She be one confused young lady.”

As Matti made her way out of the room she hollered back, “You all don’t worry none over Jen. She be coming back… I jus’ knows it!”

Nurse Johnson shook her head and made her way over to Henry who was lost in a daze of despair. She softly whispered to Chloe, “Perhaps say your goodbye and then we best leave him.”

Nurse Johnson touched Henry’s shoulder, patted it and left the room.

Chloe, overcome with sorrow, bent down and buried her face in Jenny’s side and wept.

Henry was unaware of Chloe’s moaning. At that moment, all he felt was complete loss and utter despair, even more so than when Jenny departed for Ottawa all those years ago. Henry shut out all heaven and earth. Nothing had meaning anymore.

Chloe raised herself up and thrust her arms around Jenny. “Oh, Auntie, I will miss you so much. You were always a mother to me…Oh, Auntie, I love you…what will we do without you?”

Chloe straightened up, took one last look through tear filled eyes and left the room.

Henry squeezed his eyes, trying to expel the tears so he could see his Jenny more clearly, hoping against all hope that she would open her eyes once more. But her long lovely lashes remained still; she was gone, gone into eternity like a passing summer breeze, now free, while he remained imprisoned in his anguish.

Gradually Henry became aware of a growing stillness. Normally, there would be the sound of monitors, but since Jenny didn’t want any kind of life support machines, the only sound he was aware of was that of his breathing. The adrenalin that had supported him time and again that day was gone, leaving him totally deflated. Complete exhaustion swept throughout his body, he needed to rest. He hung down his head and then fatigue slowly made its way upon his arm and hand which was still holding onto Jenny’s hand. He didn’t want to let go of her and had no stamina or energy to stay alert.

Self-anger grew within him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. At least six months ago he felt the urge to visit Marjorie while she was in the Santa Maria Home. Imagine, for six months they could have visited and shared their lives together, getting caught up, giving each other joy and pleasure, filling the void, the emptiness in each of their lives. How foolish he was to have neglected such a once-in-a-lifetime, golden opportunity. His second chance at love had come down to just these few minutes, just a few words, holding each other’s hand and only one kiss, a final kiss.

“Oh, Henry, why did you leave it to the last minute? You’re always putting things off and now you’re getting what you deserve.” That had always been his downfall, losing precious time that could have been so rewarding and enriching. “I could have lived two lifetimes in all the time I wasted deciding what to do.” He screamed at himself.

Total weariness was at the doorstep; his eyes closed and he began to slowly drift off. He relived kissing Jenny, savouring her lips as he would for the rest of his days. Getting up and kissing her again would no longer be the same and besides he wanted to remember and feel it over and over again as he did just minutes ago when she was alive. At least death waited until they kissed. He could be thankful for that. Yes, their guardian angels watched over them, fulfilled their wishes, their hearts’ desire. And just as Jenny clutched her pewter guardian angel before she died, Henry reached up with his free hand and searched for his. It was still hanging outside of his shirt ready to fly to his dear sweet Jenny, his dear sweet Jenny, his…dear…sweet, sweet…Jenny…