Chapter Thirty Two

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After Henry picked up Lauren and Justin at the gallery, they went home to the farm. The first thing Henry did was call Jeremy.

“Hi Jeremy, how are you doing, Son?”

“It’s been such a roller coaster of emotions today for all of us. Between Camilla meeting her mom, only to see her die, then learning that you were in an accident and had died sent us into such a tailspin of sorrow. And then to see you alive outside the café… it was like seeing a ghost. We wondered if we were dreaming and had just woken up.”

“Yeah, it’s been quite a day and it still isn’t over with surprises. I have some unbelievably great news for Camilla. Is she there?”

“She went to bed about half an hour ago. She was so emotionally drained that she fell fast asleep… what is the news, Dad? Can I pass it on to her?”

“Yes, perhaps it’s best to let her sleep… Well, you’re not going to believe this, Jeremy— I hardly do myself— but… in the same miraculous way that I came back to life, so too did Jenny. She’s alive, Jeremy! Camilla’s mother unbelievably came back to life—”

“What? How can that be? What is going on, Dad?”

“I don’t know, Son. Father Engelmann had supposedly died, as well, earlier today at the care home. An ambulance was coming to the care home to pick up his body and he wasn’t there. Apparently he came back to life before the attendants came, caught a taxi and went straight to the hospital to see if Jenny was alive. He said the entire medical staff at the hospital was there to see Jenny and the miracle that had happened.”

“It’s all just unbelievable,” said Jeremy in a state of awe.

“I went up to see Jenny as soon as Father phoned to tell me she was miraculously cured. Although frail, she looked beautiful and completely healed. It’s incredible that all three of us had supposedly died and then came back! I may phone Father later this evening to find out more details. I think he knows more of what happened than both Jenny and me.”

There was a long silence on the phone. Neither man could speak any more. Something had happened that was unexplainable and no words could describe their awe and wonderment.

Finally, Jeremy spoke. “I better wake Camilla and you can tell her all this… this will just skyrocket her emotions…”

“When I left Jenny at the hospital earlier she was exhausted from all the visitors and medical examinations and questions. I think it’s best for Camilla to go over in the morning. Perhaps let her sleep and tell her when she awakes. If she wants, she can call me. I may go to bed early as I’m starting to feel the excitement of day catch up with me as well.

“What a day, Son! What a day…”

Lauren made dinner but Henry couldn’t eat. He and the children talked about the day briefly and then Henry excused himself and carried his tea to the sun room. He wished it was a bit later and the kids had gone up to their rooms. He wanted to be alone and savour the time he had spent with Jenny. Their meeting was so filled with love. In a way it seemed as if they were continuing their relationship of their youth. As if they had parted for just the weekend and were back together again.

It’s all so unexplainable and yet so wonderful…

Henry thought about all the flowers Jenny’s former husband had sent to her. What is going on there, he wondered? After reading the diary yesterday, it seemed like they had a distant relationship. Yet, such a show of flowers seemed to convey a different message. He took a sip of tea and closed his eyes.

How does Jenny feel about James…?

Such a thought would normally cause concern for Henry, but fatigue was settling in and in less than a minute he fell asleep.

Henry began to dream the dream he had earlier after Jenny died. There, before him, was the love of his life, lying asleep on a bed of daisies in a vast meadow of wildflowers. He was running towards her to kiss her and bring her back and live happily after ever, but a figure in a black cloak rushed towards him. He braced himself ready to be gripped by the faceless, hooded entity.

But the dream had changed.

The figure ran past him, laughing with glee. He was heading for Jenny and when he was almost there, his hood fell down. He turned back towards Henry. It was James, smiling; victory written all over his face.

Lauren nudged her father and he opened his eyes looking disorientated.

“Are you okay, Dad? You were yelling so loud I heard you over the TV.”

“Oh my gosh, Lauren, I’m sorry. I was having a dream… it’s been quite the day.”

Lauren gazed at her father and said, “We’re going to bed, Dad. I love you. Are you sure everything’s all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine, honey. What time is it?”

“It’s just past ten. Justin went to bed an hour ago. He came to say good night but didn’t want to wake you. He sure was tired. He was so worried about you…”

“I’m sure glad everything turned out the way it did. It was quite a day,” Henry repeated. “I’ll be going to bed right away soon. Good-night and thanks for making dinner.”

Lauren bent over and kissed her dad on the cheek. “G’nite, Dad.” Just as she turned to leave, she said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Camilla phoned. I was going to wake you but she said not to and that she would call first thing in the morning.”

“Oh, good. Thanks for telling me. Yes, it’s a little too late to call her back. The morning will be fine. ‘Nite honey.”

Jeremy must have told Camilla the news. Boy, I would have given anything to see the expression on her face. Henry could not believe what occurred that day. Not only the physical healings, but the emotional ones, as well.

To have his dear sweet Jenny back sent such soothing throughout his being and for Camilla to have a new life with her real mother…is all so wonderful. Thank you Jesus, for hearing our prayers and pleas…thank you.

Henry sat in his chair for about another twenty minutes then went to the living room and turned on the record player. He wanted to listen to his two favourite songs. He turned out the lights and returned to the sun room and gazed out into the sky. The stars were out and there, to the east, was their star… his and Jenny’s.

Incredibly, all the prayers he had made to his angel and star had come true. He felt the warmth of the star’s rays. He knew that the angel guarding that star was sending him Jenny’s love. He had felt the same earlier that day when he held Jenny’s hand.

It was unmistakable.

“For you and I have a guardian angel on high with nothing to do but to give to you and to give to me, love forever true…”

True Love had just finished playing on the record player and Love Me Tender had started.

“Thank you,” Henry softly whispered to his dear wife, Julean. “You said you would help me find Jenny, and along with our guardian angels, you did just that.

“I love you, honey…”

Suddenly, a shooting star shot through the heavenly sky and as the star dust settled in his heart, he recalled what else Julian had said… “A man like you should marry again and not be alone.”

His glistening, tear-filled eyes were soothed with wonder and burgeoning hope.

Jenny couldn’t sleep. The light of the moon and stars caught the sparkle of happiness in her eyes as she gazed out of the window, into the heavens above. It had been such a wonderful day, filled with so many surprises. She couldn’t stop thanking God for the miraculous healing in her life. There were so many people suffering and dying all over the world. They all had hopes and dreams of being healed, too. Jenny wondered why she was given this blessing. She had been prepared to die. She had accepted her cross. Her deepest wish and prayer had always been to see Henry and her daughter before she died. She had been granted that wish and more… so much more.

She was so grateful and yet wondered why her?

It was impossible to tell which of the stars was the Star of the East, yet she knew it was there. She could feel Henry’s love so strong and warm and tender. It was like it used to be. She recalled the words she had written in her diary on the day of their anniversary, repeated so often over the years… “Even though we are far apart, you are forever in my heart.” It was also the last sentence in her letter to Henry with the pewter angel inside.

As tears slid down her cheeks, she thought of their anniversary poem and how she had slightly changed the words when she felt that Henry had moved on to another in his life…

The Star of the East we both can see,

Its warm rays so bright no more caressing me,

If another love has come your way,

Please never forget our special day

Perhaps in the future if it’s meant to be

Your love will return and envelop me.

I wish you happiness though from afar

To fill your heart through this, our star.

The moonlight caught a new happiness in Jenny’s blurry eyes as she softly whispered, “Even though we may grow apart, you are forever in my heart.”

“Only now, you have come back and you will always be in my heart.” Jenny wiped a tear sliding down her cheek, its trail glistening in the moonlight.

“Thank you, Julean… Thank you for allowing me to share in your life with Henry. It must have been so difficult for you…”

Jenny felt compelled to add another verse to her poem…

Oh, Star of the East you see all things

Let Julean know on angel’s wings

That her love for Henry is welcome here

So in his heart the two of us are forever near.

Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the sky. It made her think of her friend Tammy who first suggested she make a wish on the star. Her friend had wished that she and Robbie would get married, and it turned out true.

And now Jenny’s did, too! Both of her loves had come back to her, as well!

Stepping out in faith, Jenny made another wish… It was a wish she had always kept buried; a secret ever so deep in her heart.

Just before the blazing light of the star went out, Jenny sent out her fervent wish.

“Oh star of wonder, star so bright, I wish to the angel guiding your light…that Henry and I get married and I bear him a beautiful child…”

And as the glowing light dimmed and faded into the universe, she felt the warmth of the dust settle in her heart. Her sparkling, tear-filled eyes were soothed with wonder and burgeoning hope.