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
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
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