Chapter Eighty Seven

Henry and his family stayed an extra day and went to the funeral home to pay James their last respects. It was good for all of them to put a face to James, the man Jenny had been married to.

Camilla stayed an extra week. She supported Jenny through the funeral and spent more time with J.J. and his family as well.

In the days that followed, Jenny helped J.J. settle the estate matters. J.J. and his family moved into the Manor and continued living exactly the way James did when he was on the estate the past two years. J.J. didn’t want to change anything. This was the first time he felt the love of family. He knew exactly what his father had discovered and wouldn’t want it any other way.

Henry and Jenny talked everyday on the phone. They expressed their deep love for one another, but never once talked of marriage. They just took one day at a time.

At the end of January, Jenny decided to return home to Regina. She had established a close relationship with J.J. and Nora and loved to play with Jimmy. She felt so good about how everything turned out. She now fully realized why Jesus had wanted her to come back to James. It was such a beautiful homecoming and healing for the entire family. It only confirmed God’s love for His children and how He always works to turn everything into the good in an imperfect world.

The flight home was smooth and peaceful. She could hardly wait to see Henry. They had been separated for over four months with just those few brief days at Christmas when he and his family surprised her with their visit. That was so wonderful of James to bring the families together like that. She would be forever grateful to Henry, too, for being so understanding and supportive and not once pressuring her into making any kind of choice or decision. She had sensed that he was even prepared to step away if she had decided to go back to James if he were healed.

Oh, it will be so good to see him.

Jenny felt a bit of nervous excitement as the wheels of the plane hit the tarmac and came to an abrupt stop. She could see mounds of snow everywhere; much more than in Ottawa. She wondered how difficult it would be to drive home.

As she entered the terminal, it was easy to see Henry. His face was beaming, as if struck by the sun. Tears came to Jenny’s eyes and quickly blurred her vision as she ran to Henry who was already hurrying to her, as well. Jenny threw her arms around her sweetheart and was immediately swept off her feet as Henry twirled her around and around.

“Oh, Jenny… it’s so good to see you; to hold you…too…” and their lips met and both lifted into a world of ecstasy.

When they pulled up to Jenny’s home, the walkway leading to the front door was neatly shovelled.

Jenny turned to Henry, “Did you do that?”

“Yeah, I came early enough before the plane arrived. You’ll have to get used to our winters… you will get a lot more exercise here than in Ottawa.”

Jenny jumped out of the SUV. She didn’t wait for Henry to open the door.

“Oh, it’s so good to be home!” she exclaimed, as she ran up the winding walk to the front door. She unlocked the door and entered her domain… it was on a much smaller scale than the mansion she just came from, but it was her home.

Jenny walked further into the living room just as Henry was coming in the front door with her luggage. There, on the dining room table, was a crystal vase filled to overflowing with wildflowers. The room glowed with colour and… love.

Jenny went over and took a deep breath, filling her senses with the mixed aroma of the different scents of each flower. It seemed as if she was elevated. She removed the card attached to one of the flowers and read:

My dear, sweet, Jenny, whom I love more than words can possibly say. My heart bursts at your return. I recall each moment of you running through the meadow of wildflowers near the Poustinia. So free, as if lifted by the summer breeze; your hair glistening gold in the bright sun… you’re an angel, Jenny.

Welcome home,

With all my love,

Henry

Jenny felt Henry’s hands gently on either side of her waist. She spun around and gazed into his eyes, “I’m so happy to be home, Henry. I love you so much.”

“I love you more, Jenny.”