A Special Kind Of Family

The empathy in Vanessa’s concerned blue eyes almost unnerved him. His arms ached to hold her, and he suspected that, were they alone, nothing would keep him from putting his arms around her. But he couldn’t do that, not here in the presence of the girls.

And not without having at least some idea of how Vanessa really felt about him—and how she’d respond!

He blinked hard to clear his vision and, hopefully, to clear his mind. Her head tilted in that questioning way he’d begun to recognize.

“Headache, Rob?”

He grinned slightly. What would she say or do if I were to admit it was my heart, rather than my head, giving me difficulties?

EILEEN BERGER

has been writing for many years, mostly children’s stories and poetry when her daughter and two sons were small, before having hundreds of other manuscripts published. She had been happy growing up on a farm, then living for a time in two major American cities, but feels blessed to continue living in the same north-central Pennsylvania town, Hughesville, where she and her husband, Bob, raised their now-grown children.

She is active in writing circles as speaker, teacher, board member, panelist, conference director and contest coordinator, but is especially grateful for the West Branch Christian Writers, the wonderful critique/support group without which she says she might never have gotten even the first of her six novels published.

A Special Kind of Family

Eileen Berger

There is a time for everything, and a season

for every activity under heaven…a time to heal…

—Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 3

To—

Vicki, Jim and Bill,

Our children who, while growing up,

never seemed to notice that a typewriter on the

dining-room table was not a usual part of their

friends’ decor. You have given your father and me

much joy and reasons for thankfulness.

We dearly love you.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

Although it wasn’t quite dark yet, streetlights were already glimmering by the time Vanessa McHenry drove into town. Because she had worked late, there had been only a few minutes to visit at the hospital with her cousin, Keith, his wife, and their new baby; Gram wouldn’t be able to leave to see her newborn great-granddaughter until Vanessa came to relieve her.

She always enjoyed the small-town ambiance of wide sidewalks overhung by yellow-and red-leafed maples, some branching in an archway above macadamized Main Street. But as she passed the cross-street she abruptly stopped humming along with her car radio; the red Sylvan Falls Volunteer Fire Company ambulance looked frighteningly out of place in front of Gram’s big, white, early-Victorian house.

She parked hastily, and was just getting out of her car when AnnaMae came running down the porch steps. “Oh, Vanessa! Gram fell—they think her hip’s broken!”

Oh, no—not Gram! “What happened?” She, too, was running now, horrified at this happening to the woman they all loved.

“She was up on a chair, reaching for a dish on the top shelf of one of the kitchen cabinets.” AnnaMae’s hand slid into Vanessa’s as they hurried up the steps. “I called 911, like she told me to.”

“That’s good—just what I’d have done had I been here.” Gram’s girls, as she usually thought of them, needed a lot of building up.

“We tried to get hold of you at your office and at your apartment—Gram wanted you to come right away, and to bring stuff so you could stay overnight with us—or at least till we find out how bad she is.”

They were inside, through the hallway, and Rob Corland looked up from where he and another man knelt beside Gram on the kitchen’s off-white linoleum. “We’re almost sure the hip’s fractured, Van.”

Her brief smile as she dropped to her knees beside him was meant to convey gratitude for his help and for the information, but she turned away quickly, leaning over her grandmother. “Are you having an awful lot of pain?”

“Not too bad—when I don’t move.” She appeared fairly calm, but there were fine vertical lines between her salt-and-pepper brows and at the outer corners of her eyes.

Rob gave the older woman’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll be as gentle as possible, Gram, but we must get you onto this firm stretcher and to the emergency room. Maybe X rays will show you’re just bruised.”

It wasn’t strange that he’d call her Gram; many people who weren’t related did so. Looking around, Vanessa saw the worry on the faces of the five girls who were hovering as near as possible. Getting to her feet, she drew them away so the men could do whatever was necessary.

Jana Jenson, the wide-eyed seventeen-year-old, blurted, “I said I’d get that dish for her, but…”

Gram’s firm voice interjected with, “There’s no way I’d let you—any of you—climb up on a chair in your condition!”

Vanessa forced herself to refrain from mentioning the folding step stool she’d bought last year, or that Jana, though about six months pregnant, probably wouldn’t have fallen. “I’ll follow the ambulance to the hospital….”

“Oh, no, dear.” Gram wasn’t missing a thing. “You’re needed here.”

She sucked in her breath and nodded slowly, knowing that, according to the rules, some responsible adult must, indeed, be present in a supervisory capacity. All six of them followed the men out onto the large porch, down the steps and to the curb, where they watched Gram being lifted into the ambulance.

Rob turned. “I’ve been praying for her ever since we got the call, Van, and will keep on doing that—for all of you.” His dark-brown eyes were warm with sincerity and concern as they looked down into hers. “I’ll call if I learn anything, but I won’t be able to stay at the hospital very long.”

“Thanks, Rob. I do appreciate you and Pete coming right away, and taking such good care of her,” she replied, including the younger man in her smile. Rob’s authority and calm manner had helped her as much as it did Gram and the others. She added with a twinge of nostalgia, “I remember, when we were dating, your taking all those EMT classes so you could volunteer while not working at the funeral home.”

He was inside the vehicle, making adjustments, busy with things she couldn’t even guess at. He grinned at Gram, although he seemed to be obliquely responding to Vanessa’s words, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t get to sit here beside you and hold your hand as we go for a ride.”

Vanessa couldn’t make out Gram’s reply, but it didn’t sound upset. Moisture came into her eyes as he pulled the rear doors closed and the ambulance started to move. She looked around at the girls with her, seeing tears running down their cheeks as they continued calling goodbyes.

She cleared her throat, not wanting them to suspect she was every bit as concerned as they. “I suppose you’ve eaten, but I haven’t. Let’s go see what’s in the freezer. Gram usually has ice cream, so perhaps we can make sundaes.”

“Or milkshakes,” Kate Frye countered.

“That sounds good, too.” Vanessa was fairly sure the girl was simply trying for some feeling of normalcy. “And there’s probably popcorn, at least Gram used to always keep it on hand.”

They trooped up the steps, through the huge front doorway with its imposing fan-shaped glass at the top and a tall panel at each side, and entered the large hallway leading to the kitchen at the far left corner of the house.

Vanessa already knew the girls, for she’d been involved ever since Gram first spoke of opening her home to young women unable or unwilling to keep their babies, yet not choosing to abort them.

Keith’s wife, Andi, and her father had provided the grant money, but Vanessa did most of the leg-work necessary to bring it into being—and she was still amazed that her brilliant lawyer-mother, who usually seemed so cool and uncaring, had volunteered to handle all legal matters!

Kate had been the first to move in, recommended by the pastor of a church in a nearby city. Almost twenty, she was the oldest; the next, a year younger, was AnnaMae, whose parents wanted nothing more to do with her because of her “grievous sin.” Ricki, also 19, had been told she had to leave home if she didn’t agree to an abortion. Vanessa felt especially bad for Jana and Barbara, both 17 and still in high school.

As they took care of getting the food, Vanessa called Andi’s room in the obstetrics department. “I’m relieved you’re still at the hospital, Keith,” she began as her favorite cousin picked up the phone. “I’m at Gram’s. She fell in the kitchen, and we think her hip’s broken.”

“I’ll be right there!”

She recognized the apprehension in his voice, and shook her head, although he couldn’t see that, of course. “I have to stay with the girls, but the ambulance is on its way there, to the Emergency Room.”

“Who’s on this evening?”

“Rob Corland’s in charge. He handled things really well, I think. And Gram didn’t appear worried once she knew I’d stay overnight.”

“I’m sorry that’s necessary, Van.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

There was a slow exhalation before his next words. “I’ll go down to the ER right away, and stay with her through X rays and whatever they have to do.”

“Keith? You’ll let us know as soon as you find out anything?”

“Of course.”

The girls had waited for Vanessa to finish the call and join them. AnnaMae stopped Jana as she picked up her spoon to begin her vanilla ice cream island in its sea of chocolate syrup. “Shouldn’t we pray for Gram before we eat?”

There were nods and the sound of shuffling feet beneath the table as she added, “And remember, Gram says we’ve got to believe that God can heal, and that He wants us to keep praying, to keep talking to Him about everything.”

She turned toward Vanessa. “How about you praying out loud?”

Vanessa did precious little praying anymore—although she’d been desperately doing some within these past minutes. She figured she probably had little right to ask for anything, anyway, as her prayers had often been prompted by situations she might have avoided. “Why don’t you, AnnaMae, since it’s your idea?”

AnnaMae’s long, dark-brown hair slid forward over her shoulders as she bent her head. “Dear God, please take care of Gram. She’s such a good person and we love her a lot. I guess we should have tried harder to keep her from getting up on that chair, but she didn’t want any of us to get hurt.”

Vanessa heard what sounded like a choked sob on her right, and reached to squeeze Barb’s hand as AnnaMae continued, “We’d sure like You to make her hip not broken, God, but if it is, help it to not hurt too bad, and help it get fixed and heal real fast. Amen.” She did not look around, but picked up her spoon and moved it about in her dish before raising ice cream to her lips.

That was a prayer Vanessa could relate to, short and saying exactly what it was meant to.

She should have phoned Dad before eating, and Uncle Isaac, and Aunt Phyllis, so she finished quickly and made those calls. She found that Dad was away, not expected back until tomorrow, but Mother would try to contact him tonight. Uncle Isaac said he’d leave for the hospital immediately, and her aunt, already at the hospital as second shift nursing supervisor, would go check on Gram. In addition, Aunt Phyl would come to Gram’s the next morning, when Vanessa would need to leave for work.

Vanessa understood the girls’ wanting to stay up until they learned how Gram was making out, so she agreed. They watched two half-hour TV comedies before receiving Keith’s call.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long, but her hip is broken, as we thought. She’s in Room 417, and has had pain medication. Her heart, blood pressure and everything else are good, thank God, and Dr. Rosemont, the orthopedic surgeon, hopes to operate in a day or two.”

“I hope he can!” Vanessa passed on this information to the anxious girls, then asked if he’d be staying much longer.

“No, Gram’s getting drowsy, probably from the medicine, but I’ll stop again in the morning on my way to work, after I check in with Andi and our adorable little Katherine.”

She could almost hear the smile in his voice. This was the way it was supposed to be when you loved someone, wasn’t it? “Sleep well, Keith. And kiss your daughter for me when you see her.”

“Sure will, Van. With pleasure!”

Vanessa rolled over to push in the alarm button ten minutes before it was set to ring, and was ready for the day by the time Jana and Barb got downstairs, dressed for school. They’d said the night before that all they wanted for breakfast was fruit, hot chocolate and cornflakes, so she had that waiting for them on the kitchen table.

The other three were at the table by the time Aunt Phyllis Bastian arrived. “I stopped to see Mom and talked with one of her nurses just before I left this morning. She had a fairly good night, considering everything.”

That didn’t satisfy Jana. “Does she still hurt so awful much?”

“Quite a bit, I’m afraid.” Her smile was somewhat rueful. “But she made me promise before I left that I’d tell everyone she’s doing just fine!”

Barb’s hazel eyes were round with worry. “You mean—she’s not?”

“She’s doing well for someone her age.” Phyl’s arm slid around the girl’s shoulders. “And you know Gram, she’s convinced everything will work out okay.”

Barb looked even more upset. “She is going to be all right, isn’t she?”

“Sure, she is.” Vanessa picked up her small purse and keys. “I must get to work. How about my dropping you and Jana off at school on my way?”

They grabbed their books and ran out ahead of her, as she’d hoped they would, and she was in her office within a few minutes of dropping them at school. Time flew with in-house matters to be taken care of immediately, then fax, e-mail, and phone messages to be answered.

She hardly glanced at a clock until Keith called around one-thirty to tell her Gram’s surgery was scheduled for the following morning. Vanessa wanted to let Rob know—actually, she wanted to hear his reassuring voice—but the funeral home’s answering machine gave the very proper message recorded by his partner stating that the service for some man was taking place at two that afternoon. Her call would be returned if she left a name and number.

She did that, then leaned back in her chair and punched in the number for Gram’s room. The connection went through quickly. “Good afternoon, how are you feeling?”

A soft laugh. “Grateful, mostly.”

“Grateful?” That wasn’t the word she’d have used.

“Mm-hmmm. My fall could have happened anytime, you know, but it took place when the girls were right there, and AnnaMae made the calls, and Rob and Pete came right away, and you stayed overnight—why shouldn’t I be grateful?”

Vanessa felt a crooked smile come to her own face. “Why not indeed?” But she wondered how many others would have reacted that way. “I understand that you’re scheduled for hip surgery tomorrow morning.”

“Right. And look, dear, don’t think you must be with me. Your primary responsibility has got to be there in Sylvan Falls.”

She knew Gram wasn’t referring to her job here at the plant. “Things went well last night. I stayed until Aunt Phyl came this morning, and dropped Jana and Barb off at school on my way here. Everyone’s fine.”

“I’ve been wondering about this afternoon, though. Phyl will need to leave no later than two-thirty to get back here for her shift at the hospital.”

Vanessa drew in a deep breath. “I was hoping to get away early, but there’s no way I can leave until at least four-thirty or five.”

“I’m going to call Gin Redding. Perhaps she can cover for us since she lives just across the side yard.”

Us, not you. Dear Gram, worrying about everything at home when she’s got enough problems there. “That would help, of course, but I hate to make you do the phoning.”

“Now you just get back to what you have to do, dear. I’ll call Gin, and if she can’t come over I’ll ask another friend. I’m sure to find someone.”

There was the click of a closed line, and Vanessa sat there for a moment looking at the phone still in her hand. Leaning forward, she replaced it and got to her feet. She made a practice of getting around to each department every day, convinced that being readily accessible avoided the necessity of spending a lot more time troubleshooting.

She was almost disappointed that Rob had not returned her call by the time she left at 5:28. With her mind on getting to Gram’s as soon as possible, and staying there, she’d verified that one of the foremen would receive any after-hours emergency calls. She considered stopping to pick up pizza on the way but had not had time to call ahead; she’d better hurry to relieve Gram’s good-hearted neighbor.

As she parked by the curb and hurried inside, Vanessa was still trying to decide what to have for dinner—and gave a sigh of relief when Gin told her that church members would be sending the evening meal each day until further notice. She knew Gram often did this for others, but had not considered a possible reversal of that kindness.

The doorbell rang, and Ricki hurried to respond. “Hi, Mr. Corland. So you’re the first to bring us a meal!”

“I guess I am.” He chuckled. “Want to take a couple of these?”

Going into the hallway, Vanessa was surprised to see his arms filled with a number of take-out boxes from her favorite steak house. “I hope everyone’s hungry,” he was saying even before she could greet him. “I brought both steak and barbecued chicken from Jerry’s Barbeque.”

Does he remember the two of us going there? It seems so long ago!

Barb and Jana also insisted on carrying containers to the kitchen, so he was empty-handed as she said, “Just set everything on the table till we get organized.”

They exclaimed over the abundance of not only the meat, vegetables and salads, but even cherry and apple pies. Vanessa asked, “Have you eaten, Rob?”

“Well, the church served a luncheon following the interment, and the family asked us to join them….”

“You and Gin will stay and eat with us,” Vanessa stated briskly. “There’s so much food.”

With the girls working together, it was only minutes until the table was set, coffee and hot water ready, the food on serving platters and everyone seated. At first the conversation primarily concerned Gram’s scheduled surgery, and the length of time anticipated for recovery and rehabilitation before she could return home.

Kate’s grandmother had died the year before, so she asked all kinds of questions about Rob’s work as a mortician. Vanessa tried several times to turn the conversation to something more pleasant, but the girl kept coming back to that subject.

Jana and Barb talked about Sylvan Falls, comparing the school and community here with their own—but said little about families and friends they’d left to come here.

Rob’s pager beeped as they were eating dessert, and Vanessa was sorry to hear him say, “Yes, I’ll be there as quickly as possible.”

Vanessa walked out to the porch with Rob and thanked him again for bringing dinner. “My pleasure, Van.” His hand reached for hers and gave it a firm squeeze. “It’s been a long time since we ate a meal together.”

She nodded—and felt almost bereft when he released her hand.

“I must hurry home and change into something less casual than jeans and sweatshirt. I’m expected to look professional when I go to the hospital for someone. You remember Nate Bowman, don’t you?”

“Of course. He was an especially good friend of Grandad’s, one of his buddies.” Being reminded of her grandfather still gave her that clutching pain in her stomach. Another fireman dead! He was one of those who tried to rescue Grandad, and now he’s gone, too. I hope Gram doesn’t know, for that would make her feel even worse.

The girls were already putting away leftovers and loading the dishwasher when Vanessa walked back into the house after bidding Rob goodnight. In spite of the conversation and activities with the girls, she felt more alone with him gone.

But she wouldn’t dwell on her own feelings; Gram had asked her to check the homework of the younger girls and make sure the older ones studied for their General Equivalency Diploma exams.

None of the three who were old enough to graduate from high school had done so. Ricki would have last June, near the head of her class, had she not run off with her “one true love,” who was in the army and stationed in the Midwest. He had not married her, as he’d said he was going to—and now denied paternity.

Kate dropped out of school after her junior year, going to work at a fast-food place, “…to make money, have a car, and stuff like that.” AnnaMae admitted to having been in a state of rebellion; education was so overwhelmingly important to her parents that no matter what grades she got or what she achieved, nothing was “good enough.” She’d eventually stopped studying or doing assignments and deliberately got poor marks.

Vanessa related especially to that; she had not stopped studying—and even graduated second in her class, but she’d rebelled in other ways. Looking back, she was ashamed of deliberately hanging around people her age and older who were known for drinking, wild driving and other questionable activities, including marijuana use.

It was a phase that had not lasted long, thank goodness; she had not fit in there, but remained on the sidelines, something of a nonjudging bystander, not actively participating in much of what was going on, but being associated with them in people’s minds. But I did get Mother’s attention, and succeeded in upsetting her as much as she upset me….

Gram had stressed how essential it was for the girls to study hard and get their GEDs, so Vanessa struggled to remember algebraic fundamentals forgotten since high school—and began to realize what her grandmother was involved with every day!

While checking homework for the younger two, she reminded them all that Gram’s rules, which they’d agreed to when coming here, were still in effect, including being in bed early on week nights. They hurried into pajamas and came back downstairs in time to watch TV for thirty minutes.

As it turned out, she did permit them some leeway, since they were upset to learn that Gram’s fracture was so severe, and she would be undergoing surgery the next day.

The older three usually had an extra hour before they were required to be in their rooms. She’d expected to go upstairs soon after them, and when the phone rang, she dreaded to pick it up. Hearing Rob’s voice she sank back into the recliner with relief—or something more?

“I hope this isn’t too late to be calling, Van?”

She laughed. “Not too late since it’s you.” But then, realizing how that might sound, she sat up straighter, explaining, “I was afraid it was the hospital—that something might be wrong there. Or perhaps it would be a problem at work.”

“Nope. Just me.” His voice was reassuring. “I wondered if you might have any more news, so I called to check before turning in for the night.”

They spoke of various other things, too, especially Nate Bowman’s wife and two daughters, who were holding up quite well, perhaps partly because he’d been in the nursing home so long before his death.