Sugar and Spice, page 16
“I’m all right, Mama.” She smiled and pressed her mother’s hand. The next moment she swayed. Jimmy caught her before she hit the floor.
Mr. Willow took his daughter from Jimmy’s arms. “I’ll take her upstairs. Apparently she should have stayed in bed today.”
“But should we call the doctor?” Jimmy glanced frantically from Cici to her father.
Mrs. Willow placed her hand on his arm. “She’ll be fine, son. She just overdid it. Go home and get some rest. I promise we’ll take good care of her. See, she’s coming around already.”
Sure enough, Cici’s eyes had opened. “I’m sorry, Jimmy. We’ll talk tomorrow. I promise.”
“It’s all right, sweetheart.” He glanced at her father, took a deep breath, and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m sure. I just need to rest.”
Jimmy headed home, disappointment in missing their talk all mixed up with concern for her health and joy in her changed demeanor today. She’d seemed humble, with a seriousness in her smile that hadn’t been there before.
When Jimmy arrived at home, he said a quick hello to Danni and Blake and went upstairs to change. They probably needed volunteers at the dock, so he’d decided on the way home to see what he could do to help. He came back down and leaned against the parlor door. “I’m heading down to the dock to see if I can help for a few hours.”
“Wait a minute, Jimmy. I’ll go with you.” Blake set his coffee cup down and gave Danni a hug. “Just give me a minute to change.”
When they got to the docks, it was almost a repeat of the day before. Except that now everyone who was being pulled out of the water was dead.
Cobb stood next to a body, his hand over his face. It had to be Sutton for Cobb to be grieving so.
Jimmy hurried over to Cobb and squeezed his shoulder.
Cobb stared at Sutton’s body. “They found him in one of the hallways. It looked like he died from a blow to the head.”
“I’m sorry, Cobb. At least it was sudden. He didn’t suffer.” And he was sorry. Sorry for Cobb’s grief.
❧
Jimmy sat once more in Blake and Danni’s parlor. The senior Nelsons and Pops were there, and the Kramers had also joined them. It was good to have family at a time like this. They’d all been worried about what Sutton might do.
“So now the blighter’s gone. He won’t be bringin’ grief to this family.” Pops voiced what they were all secretly feeling.
“But Pops”—Danni wiped her eyes—“Sutton wasn’t a Christian.”
“Now how would you be knowing that, lass?” Pops turned a stern eye on her. “Were you a wee fly on the wall before he went to his watery grave? Maybe he had a chance to call on the Lord and ask forgiveness.”
Danni’s tear-filled eyes lit with a gleam of hope. “Do you think so, Pops?”
“Now, now, I know you’re worrying in that tender heart of yours. But you just have to leave the man in God’s hands.” Pops reached over and patted her shoulder.
“Mr. O’Shannon is absolutely right, Danielle.” Mrs. Kramer, who had taken Danni under her wing eight years ago, smiled at her now. “God’s business is God’s business. Our business is with the living. And there will be plenty of those who need our help, especially now.”
Danni nodded. “You’re right, I know that.”
Once more a pang of remorse shot through Jimmy. God, forgive me. I’m not sorry that Sutton is dead. He can’t hurt Danni now. Or anyone else. Change my heart, Lord.
Mr. Nelson turned to Jimmy. “How are your little friends in the tenements, my boy?”
Jimmy’s heart lurched. He had been so focused on the disaster and Cici that he hadn’t seen the children in a couple of days, except to send them away from the docks after the Eastland went down. He’d waved them away several times during the day and early evening. “They were pretty shook up yesterday. I intended to check on them all today to find out how they were handling things. Then when I saw Sutton, I forgot.” He shook his head.
“Well, that’s understandable. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”
“Thank you, sir. I won’t. I guess now that everyone is here, it would be a good time for me to tell you my plans.” He glanced around.
Mrs. Kramer sat on a dainty chair with her husband standing behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. Mrs. Nelson, seated next to her husband, sent Jimmy an encouraging smile. Pops leaned forward. Blake and Danni waited, their eyes expectant.
“I’m definitely entering seminary next month. Pastor Paul and Rev. Willow have both agreed to sponsor me, and they feel sure I’ll be allowed to minister in a layperson’s position at the chapel Paul is leaving. I’ll have to work part-time at the docks because I’ll only be receiving a small stipend, but I’m sure I can earn enough to support us.”
“You know very well you can count on us for help, Jimmy.” Danni’s eyes held concern, but she’d finally accepted his choice.
“I know, sis, but I believe if I do my best and trust in the Lord, He’ll take care of me. His Word promises that.” He smiled. “I know you have big faith. Can’t you trust Him with me, too?”
She brushed tears away and hugged him. “Okay, little brother. I guess I can stop trying to be your mother now.” She sniffled. “But I’ll still cook for you until you get married.”
Jimmy grinned and stood. “That’s a relief. I thought I might be overdoing the independence thing. And now, I hate to leave good company, but my fiancée is waiting.”
❧
Pain and dread hit Cici’s heart as Jimmy walked into the parlor. If only he still loved her after she told him everything. She managed a smile. “Jimmy, would you mind helping me out to the porch swing? I’ve been inside too long, and I need fresh air.”
“I’d be happy to.” He helped her to stand on one foot, and she managed to walk and hop out to the porch. The rain had stopped, but the air was still damp, so Cici drew her shawl around her shoulders.
How she wished she could snuggle close to Jimmy and feel his arms around her. But that wouldn’t be fair. He had a right to know first. He had a right to choose whether to love her or not.
All right. Help me, Father, please. I know You have forgiven me. Please let Jimmy forgive me, too.
“Cici”—he brushed his hand across her cheek—“don’t be afraid to tell me. Whatever it is, it won’t change the way I feel for you.”
“Oh, Jimmy, I pray that’s true. But I won’t hold you to it. You see, I’ve been living a double life.” She could barely choke out the words. How could she bear to say more?
“In what way, sweetheart?” Why was he so calm? He didn’t even sound surprised.
“You see, a few months ago I met a girl named Gail. She was exciting and full of adventure. I’d never met anyone like her.” She cleared her throat. “I’m not saying she persuaded me. I’ve always had a little bit of a rebellious spirit. Even when I was a little girl, I was naughty.”
“All children are naughty sometimes, Cici.”
“I know that. But as I grew older, I was very restless. I didn’t want to go to church and my friends began to bore me. Even Helen. And we’ve been best friends all our lives.” She lifted her eyes to him. But he only nodded.
“I began spending time with Gail. I met her at Tony’s Place and she introduced me to her friends. One of them was James Sutton.” She gave Jimmy a quick glance. Surprised that his expression hadn’t changed, she cleared her throat. “He seemed very charming. He invited all of us to an evening of dining at the home of one of his wealthy friends. That’s where I was going the night you saw me boarding the boat. I lied when I said I was going to see a friend downriver.” Heat seared her face as she confessed the lie. But still, he didn’t appear shocked at all.
“By then, I was starting to lose some of my awe of my new friends. Most of them drank, and even though I didn’t, it bothered me. That night I stayed over at Gail’s apartment. She was drunk and I could hardly stand it.” She took a deep breath. “After I knew you loved me and I met your family, I began to pull away from them.”
Shame washed over her. “I never should have gotten mixed up with them in the first place. I know that and I’m so terribly sorry. I’ve repented and I know God has forgiven me.”
Jimmy peered into her eyes. “Cici—”
But she stopped him before he could say more. “The night you told me what Sutton had done to you and Danni and so many other children, I decided to face him and convince him to leave you alone. I was so foolish. I thought Gail would be on the boat that night, but it was all a trick to get me on there alone with Sutton. She was one of the children you knew.”
“Gail. . . I had hoped she would have gone on to a better life.” Jimmy sighed. “But she was very close to Sutton. Like so many of the children. He was their only parent figure.”
“A terrible parent figure.”
He spoke gently. “Yes, but to children who had never known parents, he was all they had.”
Was it possible that he didn’t hate her? “Jimmy, I’m so sorry. I love you. That’s all I can say.” She bowed her head and fought against the desire to throw herself into his arms and beg.
The touch of his hand beneath her chin brought a sigh to her lips, and she closed her eyes. He lifted her chin and she opened her eyes and looked into his. She could hardly breathe. Was that love she saw in his eyes?
He rubbed his thumb across her cheeks and wiped away the tears. “Cici, sweetheart? Did you mean it when you said you loved me?” He gazed into her eyes.
“Of course I did. I love you with all my heart.”
“And you want to be my wife, even though you know it will likely be a struggle to do God’s work among the poor?”
“Oh yes, I do want that, Jimmy. More than anything. Ilove you and I’ve come to love those poor people. Especially the children. They have good hearts, Jimmy. And they have the right to better lives. And even if you don’t want me as your wife, I still intend to work among them in any way I can, because God has called me, too.”
Jimmy closed his eyes, and when he opened them they were filled with sheer joy. “My darling Cici, my precious wife to be, with all my heart I want you by my side for the rest of my life.”
“And you forgive me?” Wonder filled her heart.
“Sweetheart, the main thing you were guilty of was selfishness, and most of us have been guilty of that. Yes, you were rebellious and made some very bad choices that could have led to terrible things for you, but God has forgiven you. I hold nothing against you. You are my wonderful love. And in my eyes, you’ve always been wonderful.” He brushed his lips across hers. “So—when will you marry me?”
“What?” She laughed. “You want to set a date now?”
“The sooner the better.” He grinned. “After all, I’ll be moving into Paul’s apartment soon and I’ve never lived alone before.”
“Oh, you.” She giggled. “How about next summer?”
He frowned. “That’s too long. How about Christmas?”
“A Christmas wedding? Really?” Butterflies danced in her stomach. What a wonderful idea.
“Really. What do you think?”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’d love a Christmas wedding. But don’t think you’ll get out of giving me an anniversary gift each year.”
“I promise. So it’s Christmas, then?” His eyes sparkled with excitement.
“All right. We’d better go tell Mama and Papa.”
“Yes, but not just now.”
Once more his lips touched hers. Softly at first. Then his kiss deepened and they held each other as if they’d never let go.
About the Author
FRANCES DEVINE spent most of her childhood, teen, and young adult years in Dallas, Texas, but lived for five years in a little country community called Brushy Creek among the beautiful pine woods of East Texas. There, she wrote her first story at the age of nine. She moved to Southwest Missouri more than twenty years ago and fell in love with the hills, the fall colors, and Silver Dollar City. Frances considers herself blessed to have the opportunity to write for Barbour Publishing. She is the mother of seven adult children and has fourteen wonderful grandchildren. Frances is happy to hear from her fans. E-mail her at fd1440writes@aol.com.
Dedication
With love, to my children and grandchildren. And to my precious great-grands, Lauryn, Braylon, and Christopher. Special thanks to JoAnne Simmons, my editor at Heartsong, who gave me the opportunity to honor the victims of the Eastland disaster while writing a story of love and family. And my heartfelt gratitude to Aaron McCarver who helps me to make my books so much better. To the city of Chicago itself for its history and its people. To my faithful friends who encourage me and pray for me. To my readers who make this possible. Most of all, to my Lord, Jesus Christ, who loves unconditionally and forgives freely.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Frances Devine
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
Frances Devine, Sugar and Spice
