In this installment: Rachael and Jenny reconcile - Melissa gets a surprise at church - Melissa and Jenny at the cemetery

Rachael nodded after Karen finished her mini-lecture about the incident between her and Jenny. Though the adult wondered if her words made any sense or had any effect at all on such a young child, she had to at least make some attempt to mend the minor rift between the two children. After talking to the red-headed girl, Karen concluded that there was no intended maliciousness in the comments that Rachael made to Jenny; it was just the way Rachael viewed the events and that made Karen glum for a moment. She wondered who came up with the notion that childhood was carefree.

“Jenny,” Rachael said as she slowly made her way to the corner where both of her friends were sitting.

“Yes,” Jenny murmured as she lifted her face from Christine’s shoulder. Her eyes were still red and puffy, but void of tears.

“I’m real sorry that I made you cried,” Rachael said tenderly. “And I do hope your daddy gets better and goes home to play with you.”

“You do?” A small shimmer of light could be seen in Jenny’s eyes.

Rachael shook her head and whispered the word “yes” silently.

“You’re welcome,” Jenny said, not knowing what words she was suppose to use when accepting an apology. She stood up and wrapped her arms around Rachael’s waist and received a hug in return. Christine, feeling a bit left out, decided to join in and all the girls hugged one another.

“Come on girls, it’s time for you Sunday lesson,” Karen said, satisfied that the problem, though it seemed beyond her capabilities, was resolved.

A few yards away, Melissa had just settled in the pew after the congregation finished singing their third and final hymn. She looked around for the first time at the deep red walls that her husband helped paint to get ready for this day. She could almost hear Chase say, “the thing I like most about this church is those finely painted walls.” Melissa gave a content smile but suddenly felt her husband’s absence a little harder than she thought she would. She retrieved a Kleenex from her purse and dabbed her eye to catch the tear before it fell. J.D. grabbed her hand and patted it to provide so measure of comfort as Don walked to the podium.

“Truly marvelous singing,” Don said as he addressed his congregation. “Who would have thought that the old organ could sound so grand and that Ms. Round could play so well? But, above all, the voices sounded beautiful and as we grow as a church and start our own little choir, I think I’ll be knocking on most of your doors. This is our first service in our new church building, but one of the men who helped in the preparations is not able to be4 with us because he was hurt in the line of duty. It is during these times we wonder how such an evil could befall a loving husband and father, a faithful servant of the law, and a friend of the church. We may look up to Heaven and ask ‘why do bad things happen to good people?’ As such is the topic of my sermon this week. Please open up to the book of Matthew.”

Don gave his sermon effortlessly, being both eloquent and intellectual. He did not talk about fire and brimstone, but of God’s love and His plan for each of His children. Melissa found herself lost in the words that were spoken and was certain that the message was purposely designed for her ears above all others as the sermon spoke truth to her heart. For a moment the world fell away in her mind, including Don, and all that filled that void were the words. A strange peace came over her as she took a deep breath, and in her heart of hearts she knew things would turn out just fine as long as she kept her faith in God.

Don concluded his sermon. “Now Melissa, if you would please join me,” Don said and the surprised woman found herself stepping on the dais with the pastor. “Knowing that these are trying times for you, we, as a church family, prepared a little surprise.” Don nodded towards the back and one of the new members of the church, whom Melissa had not been formally introduced to, wheeled a cart down the center aisle. “Knowing that food shopping and cooking are not a high priority right now and also knowing that you need some home cooked meals every now and then, several members of our church family prepared some covered dishes, that you only need to heat up during the week, and also two weeks of groceries. Now mind you, I shopped for the groceries myself and you may find some beef jerky and cans of Chef Boyardee, which are a staple of my diet.”

The last comment received some chuckles from the congregation. Being all choked up on the inside, Melissa managed some words of thanks. The children were led back into the main chapel area as Melissa thanked all the well wishers who stopped to talk to her as they made their way out. Pastor Tidmore felt please to have effected a few lives in some small way.

“Mommy, mommy,” Jenny said as she ran into the waiting arms of her mother. “Where’d all this food stuff come from?”

“It was a surprise from all our friends from church,” Melissa answered.

“Did they give us candy too?” Jenny asked wide eyed as she was lifted up and peered over the top of four paper bags.

“I don’t know,” Melissa said doubtfully, “but we’ll find out when we get home.” Melissa smiled at her daughter and for a moment they rubbed noses.

“I can see that you’re a little tied up,” J.D. said. “I’ll take this. It’s a good thing nothing is perishable because it’s like an oven outside. I’d say ninety degrees at least.”

“Thank you, J.D.,” Melissa said as she followed him to her car. If she’d have known about the surprise she would’ve brought the SUV, but that’s what surprises are all about, Melissa mused to herself as the back seat of the convertible was completely filled.

“Thank you uncle J.D.,” Jenny said at her mother’s prompting.

“Aren’t I going to get paid?” J.D. teased the child.

“But I don’t got no money, Uncle J.D.,” Jenny said flatly.

“Oh, uncles don’t get paid with money, but with kisses,” J.D. smiled as he waited for his reward.

Jenny leaned towards him as she was still being held by her mother and gave J.D. a kiss on the cheek.

“You paid me too much, here’s your change,” J.D. said and then blew against Jenny’s cheek to her giggling delight.

“We’ll see you later J.D.,” Melissa said as she put the child in the car seat and fastened her securely.

“Bye-bye Uncle J.D.,” the child waved.

“Bye sugar, I’ll see you later,” J.D. said thought the open window as Melissa got into the car from the other side.

Melissa drove for a while with the top down and the music just loud enough to be heard over the passing wind as the car drove through streets that Jenny found vaguely familiar, already having forgot that where the were driving use to be the way to her biological parent’s house. The child didn’t think too long about it as she lifted her head and tried to find some clouds in the high blue sky as the sun beat down on her face. The wind in her face excited her as her hair blew behind her. She wondered briefly if this was what her dad felt when he ran real fast. She hoped so because she enjoyed the feeling.

Melissa was on the road where Chase was shot, she hoped that her child didn’t realize that. She slowed slightly at roughly the place where Chase lay under a man intent on killing him. She shuddered at the thought and drove on.

“Mommy?” Jenny interrupted the somber, bitter mood. “Where are we going?”

Melissa stopped at an intersection, briefly turned and smiled at the child. “Some place special, some place daddy liked to go to when he worked.”

The answer satisfied the child and she didn’t raise any questions when she was driven into a cemetery. Melissa pulled onto a shoulder so other cars could pass, put the top up so the seats didn’t get to hot, and got the child out of the car.

Hand in hand, mother and daughter walked towards a large marble statue of Jesus with one hand stretching out as if he was inviting them to come forward. They stood a few feet before the statue and felt small in its presence, both physically and spiritually.

“Who is that, Mommy?” the child asked as she looked up and smiled.

“That’s Jesus, Honey. The one daddy read to you about,” Melissa explained.

“Why not he on the ‘t’ like this?” The child briefly imitated the two wood carvings she saw when she was at church.

“He wasn’t on the cross for long and he now lives in Heaven with his Father who is God. Daddy liked to think this statue looked after him when he did police things,” Melissa said as she lifted the child.

“Can he hear me if I talk to him like the other Jesuses,” Jenny asked as she was held in her mother’s arms.

“I do believe he can,” Melissa said as the child stared at the statue’s face.

“Jesus,” the child said loudly so her voice could carry to the statue’s ear. “Thank you for helping my daddy breathe without that yucky tube. But if you can, please let my daddy wake up and come home because I really miss him and need him to do daddy things for me. And if you do still need him to sleep for a little longer, please give him good dreams. Thank you for listening. Amen.”

Melissa smiled at the child. “That was a very good prayer. I’m sure Jesus could’ve heard you all the way up in Heaven.”

“I hope he did,” Jenny said as she was placed on the grass.

Melissa turned to the statue and bowed her head. She prayed for her husband to return, for the child beside her, and for the child currently developing within. The sense of peace that found her in the church, found her again. She opened her eyes and inhaled the smell of freshly cut grass and the odor of something that warned her that rain was coming.

A drop fell on Jenny’s hand. She looked at the bead of water for a moment and then looked up. The rain came suddenly and Jenny felt the drops hit her face as she smiled.

“Run, Jenny, Run,” Melissa laughed as she grabbed the child’s hand. The car wasn’t parked too far away and as Melissa put Jenny in her car seat and got in on her side, the rain stopped as quickly as it started.

“You’re wet, Mommy,” Jenny said while giggling.

“So are you, little girl,” Melissa said as she too laughed. “I wonder what that was all about.”

“God told us the rain only lasts for a little while, Mommy,” Jenny said as if it were obvious.

Melissa found the statement profound and thought about it as she lowered the convertible top in hopes that the once again shining sun could dry their drenched clothing.