Jodie's Song, page 5
By deliberate design, she kept her tone light and easy, especially at the end, but humor covered a multitude of truths that resided in her soul—truths Jodie couldn’t confront while in the company of this remarkable man.
Needing to ram her point home, for herself as well as Kevin, she formed a conclusion to her statement. “I enjoy the companionship I’ve found since moving back to Angel Falls. Now I realize I need more than just me and my television set.”
“Friendships are great. So is companionship, but don’t close off your mind to the possibilities that come your way, OK? God’s speaking to you even in circumstances you find to be chaotic. Look beyond what you think you know, and what you think you need. You just might discover that despite all the outward chaos of your life and all the shifting sands you’ve talked about, that you’re being given the opportunity to find an even deeper happiness.”
Slow and steady, Kevin slid his thumb against the back of her hand. A betraying layer of gooseflesh skimmed against her arms, vivid testimony to her pleasure, and his effect on her searching spirit.
He tilted his head, intensity morphing into friendly care when he concluded. “Evidently we’re meant to travel this shaky road together and support each other through whatever comes next. Whatever the reason our lives came together, I don’t even truly care—I’m just glad it happened.”
7
A few days later, Kevin knelt before a freshly placed wooden plank that now framed in the front flower beds of the community center at Heart’s Haven. Jodie’s show had just concluded. He leaned back on his heels and adjusted the volume on the nearby portable radio. He kept the unit handy now, especially during the cool, dew-kissed mornings when he worked the soil and her program aired. At present, a set of music played, headed by a sassy tune from Beckah Shae. While Beckah sang of putting on love glasses and living the full and glorious life, Kevin relived his dinner conversation with Jodie.
Friendship. Companionship.
Why was it that her analysis of what she wanted most in life acted upon his psyche like a blast of icy air?
The short answer was simple. He wanted more than that, and she didn’t. That realization didn’t please him, but it didn’t deter him either. In a half hour or so, she would be next to him; he couldn’t wait until she arrived.
Reaching into a nearby thermal cooler, Kevin’s fingertips bumped past a selection of fresh fruit until he latched on to a water bottle. Twisting the cap, he drained a cold, quenching swallow. At that point, his cell phone came to life with a vibration that alerted him to an incoming text. Following a startled jump, he slid the phone free from the front pocket of his jeans and polished off a bit more water. The message was from Jodie.
So sry. Can’t make it today. Dad taken to ER by ambulance an hour ago. Lost his footing on the porch step. Tumbled. Scratches n bruises. Nothing broken—docs r monitoring his heart n a nasty bump on his head. He went into AFib. Prayers, please. TTYSoon. J.
AFib. Atrial fibrillation. Kevin was familiar with the term because of Andy’s recent health episodes. Her father’s heart had launched into an irregular and dangerous pattern that would require medication and observation until stabilized. Add to that the complication of a frail body battered by a fall and Kevin’s concern mounted.
During the concluding hour of her show, Jodie had given no indication of trouble. She had masked and banked what must be a solid wall of fiery terror. He breathed deep and sharp, still staring at the view screen of his phone. He marveled anew at the way God caused their paths to intersect.
He took that blessing to heart and surveyed the grounds. Everything, for now, was under control and more than on schedule. Toward that end, Jodie’s help had been instrumental. Lifting to his feet, Kevin turned toward the entrance of the community center. Inside were the business offices for Heart’s Haven. He took the stairs at a smooth, fast clip, making his way to Andy’s office, where he knew he’d find his aunt and uncle.
“Andy…Viv?” He strode into the main office, Andy’s unquestioned domain, and found his uncle resting his head in both hands, oblivious to Kevin’s arrival.
“Can you…can you please keep the dark ones away from me for now? Just for a little while longer?” There followed a pause wherein Andy seemed to listen. “I know you always fight the good fight. I’m just askin’ for a bit of time—enough to get a few more things straight and right.” Andy kept his tone low, and he seemed to snicker. “I know, I know. That’s what we all say as we sense our own mortality, right? Well, not me. Me? I love the idea of coming home for good and for all, but—”
Kevin couldn’t listen any longer. The conversation felt way too private, and way to ominous. “Hey…Uncle Andy?”
Slowly his uncle lifted his head, a wan smile quirking his lips. A sense of reluctance radiated from the man, and Kevin instantly regretted intruding. “Ya’ caught me. Conversing with my favorites.”
The angels, just as Kevin suspected. These were the protectors of Andy’s Haven and the older man’s spirit as well if the truth be told. Kevin never mocked or questioned Andy’s communion with heavenly bodies. Some newbies to the complex who didn’t cleave to, or understand, the power of God’s army might write Andy off as eccentric and unbalanced. Not Kevin. Not by a long shot.
That’s why the tone of Andy’s prayerful conversation alarmed him so. It rippled with the onrushing tide water of finality.
Kevin stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I’ve got the flower beds under way along the front of the building, but I just got a message from Jodie. Her dad’s in the hospital, and I think I…I know I should…well, I want to be there for her.”
Andy’s tired though flashing eyes took on an injection of pain. “You’re good stuff, Kevin. Go. Do it. She’s already handling so much.”
The pallor of Andy’s skin, the pronounced lines that creased his features, drew Kevin up short. Was his uncle OK?
“Sometimes,” Andy continued, pushing himself to a stand with slow, labored efforts, “the good and the bad go to war. I’ve sensed it happening all over the grounds of this place. I wish I weren’t so blasted tired all the time. I could put up more of a spirit-fight. I could certainly be doing more.” He heaved a sigh and straightened to his full, indomitable height. “After I rest up a bit, I’ll handle the rest of the plantings out front.”
“No. Really. We’re ahead of schedule for the wedding and the grounds are beautiful. Everything is set. You don’t have to worry about—”
“Did I say I was worried?” His uncle’s voice was rumbling thunder. “No. I said I want to help.”
Kevin didn’t respond to the pointed interruption. Like he and Jodie had discussed days ago, Andy was fighting for his legacy. No way would Kevin stand in the way of that effort. And, as far as the spiritual warfare Andy alluded to, Kevin sensed turmoil as well. But he also recognized the hope that bloomed beyond. After all, the darkness of Good Friday, which wasn’t far away on the calendar, could never hold out against Easter’s rebirth and joy.
So, he smiled at his uncle and rested a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. However, I’m obligated by your beautiful bride to say the following: if you work outside, don’t get overheated, don’t overdo it, and take your time. There’s fruit and water in a cooler right by the landing. I prepped it for me and Jodie. You help yourself, OK?”
Andy gave him a gruff, affectionate shove. The older man failed to stem a grin. “Get outta here, would ya, please?”
“See you in a couple hours.”
****
The weather outside was sticky warm and humid, but inside Falls Memorial Hospital, chills skated up and down the skin of Jodie’s arms, against her legs and spine. Perched stiffly in a chair in the waiting room of the ER, she hugged her arms to her midsection, staring across a small, utilitarian table at the doctor who had just admitted her father.
“Let’s start with the basics.” He shifted, leaning forward against his forearms. “Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat that occurs when one or both of the upper heart chambers beat erratically. This puts them out of sync with the heart’s lower chambers—the ventricles.”
Adorned in scrubs, the kind-eyed, middle-aged man continued their consult by quoting treatment procedures along with recovery plans. Jodie tried desperately to absorb his words, but her head pounded, and dread held her in a grip.
“Ms. Cunningham, let me assure you, he’s stable now, and he’s resting comfortably. I’m taking the precaution of admitting him for overnight observation due to the fact that he hit his head. There’s swelling and bruising, so I want to be sure he gets through the next twenty-four hours without complication. After that, I’m confident he’ll be back to normal.”
“Thank you, doctor. When can I see him?”
“I’ll have the admissions receptionist let you know when he’s settled in his room. Shouldn’t be more than fifteen or twenty minutes.”
Jodie stood in tandem with the physician who extended his hand, concluding, “During the exam and treatment process, I got the impression he’s a tough individual. I wish you and your dad all the best. From this point on, he’ll be monitored by his primary care physician.”
She nodded, bereft and alone once he swept out of the waiting room and disappeared through a set of sliding steel doors that led to the interior of the ER. Jodie trembled. She had alerted Tracee, but they were on their way north with every worldly possession in tow. Jodie would never ask or expect them to change their plans; besides, the situation didn’t warrant a full-scale turnabout. So, she had assured her sister and brother-in-law that the situation was under control and promised continual updates.
Despite their encouragement and love, Jodie had never felt so isolated and scared.
She wandered aimlessly for a few moments, continuing to battle shivers as she prowled the open space of the common area. Meantime, she kept alert for any type of come-forward motion from the admissions clerk.
“Hey.”
Jodie spun when she heard Kevin’s voice from behind. During a moment of stunned suspense she gladly lost herself in the tender openness of his eyes. Tremors branched into a vibration that played against her nerve endings, calling her to him. Overcome, she didn’t give herself a moment to reconsider or hold back. She stepped into arms that opened readily and she sank against his strong, warm chest.
“Kevin.” she whispered his name, holding on tight, breathing deep of earth, wood spice, and the scent that belonged to him alone.
“I cut out of work as soon as I received your text. Are you OK? How’s your dad?”
She couldn’t answer. Her throat grabbed and tears crested her lashes, tracking down overly warm cheeks. He led her to a nearby couch in the waiting room, and for the next few minutes, she rested in the circle of his arms and brought him up to speed.
“All he wanted to do was get the morning paper from the front porch. He lost his footing when he bent, and he toppled over. Thank God the neighbors were out in their yard and saw it happen. They called 9-1-1, then my cell. You should see his cheek. It’s all scratched and black and blue. He hit his head pretty hard, so he’s got a nasty lump and more bruising. His heart is so blocked the doctors are talking about stents. At first when they brought him in it was jumping all over the place. Kevin, I’m so frightened for him.” She dissolved all over again. The release was exhausting, but it became a source of freedom as well. Meanwhile, he held her close, and steady.
“Miss Cunningham?”
Jodie snapped to attention when she heard her name called, all but charging for reception. Kevin followed close behind. “Hi, I’m Jodie Cunningham. My father, Grayson is the patient.”
“He’s been moved to his room, so you can go visit him now. Seventh floor.” She handed Jodie a blue slip of paper with a printed map and the receptionist’s handwritten notation of the suite number.
Jodie couldn’t get to the elevator fast enough. At first when she entered her father’s suite, Kevin hung back in the hallway, allowing for privacy. A few minutes later, Jodie asked him to join them, and introductions were performed, but her dad was groggy. While they chatted, a nurse delivered sedation and an anti-swelling medication. Before long, her father dozed, and the constricting band of pressure that had squeezed her chest over the past several hours began to loosen.
She sat next to the bed, leaning against the guard rail, watching him sleep until Kevin rested a hand against her shoulder. “C’mon. He’s sleeping, and he’s comfortable for now. Why don’t we get something to eat?”
His whispered words brought her around. Jodie stood, unkinking her back with a subtle stretch. “Are you sure you can spare the time?” Kevin’s only answer to that was a long, pointed gaze stamped by a raised brow. Jodie’s lips trembled when she gave him a smile. “OK, OK. Message received. There’s a cafeteria on the ground floor. I really don’t want to leave the hospital yet. In fact, I might just crash here tonight. There’s that two-seat sofa over there where I can curl up. I have my computer and the TV.”
Exiting the hospital suite, Kevin slid an arm around her waist in a gesture of light possession. “You know, I play a mean game of blackjack. Maybe we could buy a deck of cards at the gift shop after we eat. I’m just brave enough to challenge you to a few rounds.”
Friendship and authentic support as opposed to loneliness and artificial comfort. At once, Jodie breathed deep of gratitude. “You’re on.”
Kevin gave her a disarming wink while he led the way to the elevator bank. “As for food, a hospital cafeteria won’t have the same ambiance as our last meal together at Viviano’s, but for you I’m willing to bite the bullet.”
Jodie tucked against his side and delivered a coy glance. “Very funny.”
“Seriously, you need to keep your strength up. Let’s get you nourished.”
She stepped into the elevator and craned her neck so she could meet his eyes directly. “I think you’ve already accomplished that task. Thank you for being here. I can’t begin to say how much it means to me.”
The elevator began its descent with just the two of them as passengers. Kevin quirked a fingertip beneath her chin and bent smoothly to claim her lips. A world of soft velvet, of sweetness and tender sensation lifted Jodie straight away from anything and everything but the tender, intimate moment they shared. A flood of light filled every dark, empty spot that had grown unchecked over the last several months.
Renewal, refreshment and joy—the elements of love—poured through her soul. An eloquent reverence was evident in the way his mouth moved slowly in time with hers. The interlude was brief, but infinitely precious.
A bell chime signaled their arrival, and Jodie leaned back from their embrace. “This strikes me as pretty risky,” she whispered, stroking his chin with the back of her fingertips. “We’re both kind of struggling. Maybe it would be smarter to—”
The doors swooshed open into a bustling lobby, and Kevin paused just long enough to meet her gaze straight on. “I don’t think I want, or need, to hear the end of that sentence. Come on. Let’s eat.”
Directional arrows had them tracking left, and soon they were seated at a café-style table eating tuna croissant sandwiches. Jodie ripped open a bag of chips for them to share. Kevin divided the contents of a container of fresh fruit. Only then did hunger set in—with gusto. For a time, they ate in a comfortable silence, watching people drift past, employees walking at a fast clip on an open mezzanine just above.
She knew she should say something about the kiss and his comment, but what? How much could she really say about the way he had entered the stream of her life and her heart? She had clear-cut ideas in mind about what she wanted in her life. Didn’t she? Now her resolutions felt scrambled. What should come next? After all, they both dealt with intense family circumstances as well as personal and professional responsibilities. Romance tempted, but Jodie wondered all over again if the timing wasn’t off.
God, why didn’t I meet him before all the drama and chaos? God, do You think he’d wait for me? Would he be willing to be friends until circumstances even out in my life and I can fully welcome a man like him into my heart?
A tingle swept through her—head to toe—thrilling.
Why do you fear, precious one? It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Now.
The words from the Gospel of Luke were as much a conviction as a source of comfort. She wasn’t trusting, and she knew it. At the same time, her spirit felt bound and unable to soar free.
“Can I admit something to you?” The question crossed her lips before Jodie fully considered what she wanted to say.
Kevin looked into her eyes and nodded.
“Until I came back to Angel Falls, until I moved in to Heart’s Haven, I buried myself away from life, and I used my late night work shift as an excuse for letting myself gradually become a hermit. I shut myself off from the world without even knowing I’d done it. I don’t much like the realization.”
“It sounds to me like you’re being pretty hard on yourself. Don’t be. Your life proves God’s truth that to everything—to every season and emotion—there’s a purpose.” He speared one of his last remaining pineapple chunks. “The exile you’re talking about taught you self-reliance, didn’t it?”
Jodie nodded and sipped from her drink. “Yes, but it also gave me a comfort zone. I’ve been alone, but I’ve also felt sheltered. Protected.” She took a bite of her sandwich.
“Eventually we emerge from whatever shells we build, right? We have to, or we stop growing. In my experience, God doesn’t tend to let that kind of stagnation happen.” Kevin hiked a shoulder and kicked out his legs. “I mean, look at it this way. Maybe the exile you’ve described will help you come to terms with what you really want in your life, and help pave the way to what makes you truly happy.” He leaned forward and finished the last few pieces of his fruit assortment. Jodie watched, happily drawn toward him. “God wastes nothing.”
