CHAPTER Twenty-one:

   “You have to eat something,” Riley said, pushing a sandwich into Lauren’s hand. 

   “I’m not hungry.” She tried to give it back, but Riley wouldn’t take it.

   “Hungry or not, eat it. You haven’t eaten anything since we arrived here.”

   “Fine.” Lauren’s brows lowered, but she took a bite. It tasted like sawdust.

   They had been in the hospital for two days, and she’d been praying for a miracle. Riley hadn’t made any snarky comments about it. She was scared too.

   Amanda had stopped in and brought everyone a fresh change of clothes, and sandwiches. Then she was off again, with the promise that everyone in town was praying.

   A lunch tray clanged as a nurse pushed it past the waiting room. Lauren jumped up. Every noise set her on edge, thinking it was someone bringing her bad news.

   She began to pace the room as she forced down the rest of the sandwich. Riley’s phone beeped, and she looked down at it.

   “It’s Grant again. What should I say?”

   Lauren didn’t know. He was just as sick with worry as they were, but there were no updates. The doctor had told them to prepare for the worse. The treatments weren’t helping, and Willow was getting weaker.

   “Well, well, well. I don’t know what to say.” The familiar sound of the doctor’s voice came down the hall. He was heading towards them, from Willow’s room, Charlotte at his side.

   Riley stood up from her chair.

   “What’s going on?” Lauren asked.

   “She’s awake.” Charlotte beamed. A red glow was on her pale cheeks.

   “This is what we were hoping for.” The doctor looked down at his chart and scratched his head. “Her temperature is back to normal. Her heart rate is fine. Oxygen level too. I’ve never seen such an abrupt and sudden change.”

   Lauren hugged Riley, and Charlotte – more hesitantly, then ran past them all to Willow’s room. The door couldn’t open fast enough for her.

   Sure enough, Willow was sitting propped up with pillows on the bed. She still looked tired, but there was a definite change. A sparkle in her eyes.

   “Willow!” Lauren slid to a stop beside her and enveloped her in a hug. “You scared me half to death.”

   The little girl said nothing. Lauren let go. 

   “How do you feel?” 

   Unexpectedly, Willow began to cry.

   “What’s wrong?” Lauren’s forehead furrowed in worry. She fussed with the blankets. “Does your head hurt? Should I get the doctor?”

   Willow shook her head.

   “Don’t cry,” Lauren’s voice grew softer. “What it is?”

   Big blue eyes looked up. “I’m trouble. You want me to go away.”

   She had heard everything.

   “Oh, sweetie.” Lauren took her hand.

   “You don’t like me?”

   “No, no. Don’t ever think that. You’re my sister.”

   Willow was calming down, starting to look pacified. “Why’d you said it?”

   Lauren searched for words that could explain. “Sometimes, when people are very angry, they say things they don’t mean.” She looked down at their hands. “I’m so sorry.”

   “It’s okay.” 

   The door clicked open, and Riley walked in. She tucked her hair behind her ears and fidgeted with her hands.

   “Hey, kiddo.” She came and sat on the other side of the bed.

   Willow smiled at her.

   “Are you feeling a bit better?” Riley asked.

   Willow nodded. The quiet beep of the machine still cast a sombre mood over them all, but there was hope. 

   “I never stopped praying for you,” Lauren said.

   “She did not,” Riley said. “Seems like someone was listening too.”

   Willow said she wanted to rest, so they helped her lay back down, and left the room. Riley was quiet as they walked back to the waiting room, where Charlotte was talking to the doctor.

   “I just don’t understand.” Riley shook her head. “She shouldn’t be recovering so fast – don’t get me wrong, I’m glad. It just doesn’t make sense.”

   Lauren raised her eyebrows. “Makes perfect sense to me.”

   “Hmmm.” She went into the waiting room and picked up her purse. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to head home now. Lots to do, and lots to think about.”

   She smiled at Lauren, but she looked distracted.

   “Thank you for everything,” Lauren said. “We owe you a lot.” 

   They said goodbye, and Lauren watched her leave. She hoped that Riley would find some answers, some comfort in all that had happened.

 

ef

 

   Willow continued to improve, but the doctor came back with more bad news. A bill, for seven thousand dollars.

   Lauren couldn’t pay it. She wanted to, but she knew that it would take a lot more than seven thousand dollars from her.

   Willow was well, and that was all that mattered. Whatever awaited her in Silver-Bell Creek would have to be.

   “I’ll pull together my savings,” Charlotte said, running her fingers through her chestnut waves. “I had plans, but they’ll just have to be on hold.” She looked dejected.

   “No, no.” The doctor smiled at them. “I don’t think you understand.”

   “I understand completely,” Charlotte snapped, her patience wearing thin.

   “It’s been paid.” The doctor’s dark eyes sparkled. “You can go home. Keep an eye on Willow, give her the medications we send with you. She’ll be tired, naturally, be sure she gets some rest.”

   Lauren barely heard the instructions. It’s been paid? Her eyebrows raised incredulously. She looked over at her mother, looking for an explanation, but Charlotte looked just as shocked.

   “What?” Lauren turned back to the doctor.

   “It’s all been paid.” He repeated the words patiently. “A man came in and paid the sum in full.”
   “Who?”

   He looked down at the bill and hesitated. “Well, he wasn’t keen on giving me his name, but I did manage to weasel it out of him. It says here, Jared Matten.”

   Lauren was confused. She didn’t know anyone with that name. Why would a stranger walk in and pay their bill? Maybe they’d given a fake name... That was just something Grant would do.

   “Jared. Matten?” Charlotte’s voice was high-pitched.

   “It’s written right here if you’d like to see the record.”
   Lauren shook her head. “No, I trust you.” She would rather not have him find that it was all a mistake. “Thank you for your hard work.”

   The doctor nodded, then walked away as his pager beeped.

   Charlotte looked as though she’d seen a ghost. Lauren stared at her.

   “Do you know this Jared?” she asked.

   Charlotte nodded but didn’t offer an explanation.

   Lauren shook her head. Jared Matten? The only Jared she knew was Chuck’s nephew, and it was a laughable idea that he would pay the bill.

   A nurse brought Willow out of her room before they could discuss it. Lauren decided to let it go. There was so much to be grateful for, and this was just another thing to add to the list.

   Grant and Mrs. Stevens joined the trio outside the hospital, for the procession home. Mrs. Stevens drove over their truck, while Grant brought the police car – as a special surprise for Willow. She asked to go in the truck anyway.

   They loaded her in, with the pink foil balloons Grant had brought for her, and the bouquet of carnations from Mrs. Stevens.

   Charlotte asked to drive, and Lauren agreed. There wasn’t much room, so Lauren joined the Stevens instead. It would give Willow some time alone with her mother.

They pulled away from the hospital, and Lauren was elated to finally be going home.

   “Wes is doing great,” Grant said, looking back at her through the rear-view mirror. “I have discovered that dog-sitting might be my calling.” 

   “Already thinking of retiring?” Lauren asked. “Fighting a crime taking a toll on you?”
   “Looking after you is,” he retorted, then his mom smacked him. “I’m only joking!”
   “You don’t think I’ve figured out when you’re joking? We’ve only known each other for twenty-one years.” She chuckled.

   “Wow, you really are getting old.” He whistled. “I thought I saw some grey hairs the other day.”

   His mother gasped and smacked him again. “What kind of man have I raised you to be?”
   “It’s okay Mrs. Stevens,” Lauren thought of the perfect dig back at him. “I’m pretty sure he meant he’s getting grey hairs.”

   “Me?” Grant’s jaw dropped in mock outrage. “Impossible. This is actually a wig. It’s just so realistic you never noticed.” 

   “Ah,” Mrs. Stevens shook her head. “Nice try, but no one would voluntarily pick that mop for a wig.”

   “Hey! You’re supposed to be on my side, mom!”
   Lauren laughed. Her eyes were on the truck in front of them, not wanting to let Willow out of her sight for one moment. 

 

hg

 

   Charlotte walked through the house on tiptoes. Lauren lay on the couch, fast asleep. She snored softly, and her hair was splayed out behind her. 

   Willow was down for a nap, and Charlotte was about ready for one herself. It had been a long few days, and so much had happened she could barely keep up with it all.

Willow was better. Lauren was giving Charlotte a second chance. And the last surprise...

   Well, she hadn’t been quite ready for that one. Charlotte sighed. She knew she’d have to deal with it eventually, but for a while, she wanted to leave it alone. She’d managed to dodge Lauren’s questions at least.

   She went into her parents’ old room and peeked inside. It looked just the same as she’d remembered it, except for a few of Lauren’s things.

   The bed had the same floral coverlet, a homemade quilt, and the white fluffy rug lay next to it. Somehow it had stayed clean.

   Charlotte remembered how she’d used to hide under the blankets whenever there was a thunderstorm. She’d been deathly afraid of them as a child. Her parents had told her it was nothing to be afraid of, but they always let her sleep with them anyway.

   Her face fell as she thought of how much she’d pained them. 

   Lauren was still asleep, so she stepped through the doorway. A picture her parents sat on the dresser, and she picked it up and sat down on the edge of the bed.

   Next, she opened the drawer. Inside there was a little picture of herself. The edges were starting to curl up, and there was a crinkle across one corner. 

   Beneath it was a very familiar item. Charlotte set down the frame she was holding and picked it up. The book was dusty, so she wiped it off.

   Inside the front cover, there were small words written.

   “To Charlotte: from your loving mother. A letter from God to you,” she read the words aloud.

   How long had it been since she’d opened a Bible? Considering that she couldn’t remember the last time, it must have been a long while.

   She flipped through the pages and wished she’d read it more. If she’d taken the counsel it held, she could’ve prevented so much pain. For herself and so many others. 

   The pages turned to first John chapter two. She read the words and let them seep into her soul.

   The darkness had passed, and she was beginning to walk into the light. She was ready to stop running now that she was forgiven.