Addy's Redemption: A Novel. Juliana Ormsby

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СКАЧАТЬ man like Lionel has to love suffering. Why was she allowing Lionel to burst this magic rainbow bubble?

      After dinner, the kids played kick ball in the yard while Addy and Greg watched them from her sun porch. Addy noticed that Allison was having a hard time keeping up with her kids so she shouted, “Let Allison have the ball!”

      Greg turned to Addy and said, “Thanks for being so considerate. Allison doesn’t look sick, does she?”

      “Not at all,” Addy quickly remarked but did not want to pry about what was wrong with Greg’s daughter. He in turn offered the information on his own. She has leukemia.”

      “Are there any cures for it?” inquired Addy gently. Greg suddenly looking sad said, “Not yet. There is a lot of research going on, and there are some treatments … but no cure. Allison has been lucky so far. She is in remission,” and looking panicked, he added, “or I would never have left her with you.” For a moment, it seemed Greg felt guilty for not telling Addy about Allison’s condition beforehand.

      Addy tried to change the subject and said with half-hearted optimism, “Maybe by the time she is older, they will have found a cure.”

      For the first time, Greg looked depressed. “As long as she is in remission, she’s OK. I have resigned myself to the fact that I am slowly losing my daughter. That’s why I want to change jobs and move up here permanently. Things always seem so much better by the ocean, and Allison loves Maine.”

      Trying to lighten the mood, Addy became animated. “You are so right. My best memories are of summers by the sea.”

      Greg looked over at Addy as if he was seeing her for the first time. He saw a deeply private sadness in her hazel eyes and wondered what had caused her sorrow. She was, after all, a lovely woman. Addy felt self-conscious as she felt Greg studying her face. She looked away. The questions she burned to ask were about Allison’s mother. Was she dead? Certainly, a perfect man like Greg could not have this much bad luck.

      As if reading her mind, Greg continued, “When my wife found out about Allison’s disease, she just couldn’t deal with it so she moved away. We eventually divorced, and Allison never again saw or spoke to her mother.”

      Addy’s heart was breaking. “Does Allison ask about her mother?”

      “All the time,” Greg added. “I tell her that her mom is working on a secret project and cannot write letters or visit. It’s a dumb lie, but Allison seems to accept it.”

      Addy instantly hated this woman. What kind of mother would abandon her child?

      “Oh Greg,” Addy said sincerely, “I am so sorry.”

      He smiled at her and said, “Well, at least I have my little girl for a few years. That’s a lot more than some people have.”

      He’s an optimist, Addy thought. I had better not be too negative or morose around him. He has enough on his mind. Greg checked his wristwatch and said, “Wow. It’s late. I had better get Allison to bed.”

      Addy was dreading hearing these words. He was going to leave.

      Greg called to Allison, and all the kids came running.

      “Can Allison come over and play with us another day?” implored Mary.

      “Why sure,” said Greg, his beautiful smile brightening his face. “She is lucky to have found some kids to play with. She’s sick of just her old dad.”

      Allison went over to Greg and hugged his legs. “That’s not true, Daddy.”

      What a sweet child; just like her father.

      They said their “good nights” without making any plans. Greg’s optimism was contagious, and Addy knew they would all be together again. The wine had gone to her head, and she fell asleep that night, imagining herself cradled in the safety of Greg’s arms.

      The sun was already bright by eight in the morning. After breakfast, the kids asked excitedly, “What are we going to do today?”

      They had no sooner spoken than a knock came at the door. There was Greg, standing sheepishly, but illuminated like a pure-hearted knight. Addy had been too shy to study him closely, but this morning she could not take her eyes off him. He wore a navy blue T-shirt with a small yachting logo on it, khaki Bermuda shorts and boat shoes with no socks. Such fine legs. Allison was standing next to her dad. Dressed in blue shorts and a red and white striped shirt, she looked rested and happy.

      “You two look like sailors,” Addy laughed.

      “I hope it’s not too early,” Greg said, “but we wanted to invite you to come out on our boat with us today.”

      Addy’s kids, still in their pajamas, looked amazed. A boat! Addy was, of course, afraid of deep water, but at that moment, she didn’t care. The kids ran to their rooms to get dressed. Greg’s beach wagon was waiting out front. All four kids piled into the back seat, leaving Addy to sit next to Greg. She watched how carefully and confidently he drove.

      “The boat is docked at the Webhannet River boatyard.”

      Addy dared not display her ignorance about the geography of Maine, or boating, for that matter. She had never been in a boat. When they arrived at the marina, other boaters waved and shouted at Greg and Allison.

      Greg’s boat was a beauty. It was wooden, about 26 feet long, and the well-waxed mahogany gleamed in the sunlight. Although the boat was an older one, someone had lovingly babied it. There were padded benches along the sides of the top deck, and a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom below.

      “This was my dad’s boat,” Greg said proudly. “I had to eat my words when I told him I would never have a motorized boat. I used to sail, but this boat is better now that Allison and I are co-captains.”

      Greg helped the kids fasten their life jackets. Addy was relieved when he gave her one, too. The sea was calm, the sky blue, the breeze gentle; a dream of a day for boating. Is this what people who believe in God see as proof of his benevolence? Yet why does Allison have to suffer? Why does Greg have to stand by helplessly watching his little girl’s health decline? Addy raged. She looked over at Greg as he handled the boat so firmly and capably, and wanted so much to ask him what his take on God happened to be. She did not.

      Only Greg knew that this boat ride held a surprise for the children … he was heading to Old Orchard Beach, the first and longstanding New England ocean side amusement park. The kids suddenly caught sight of the ferris wheel and looked at Greg with amazement.

      “Are we going THERE?” Jimmy asked.

      Greg replied, “We sure are, buddy. Do you think you’ll like it?”

      Addy panicked. She didn’t have enough money with her to fund a day for her three children at an amusement park.

      She turned to Greg to protest, but he said, “By the way, this day is on me. Allison and I are so happy to have made some new friends in Maine.”

      Why is he so nice? Why is he such an angel? How could he be so benevolent when he was, after all, unlucky?

      Their time at Old Orchard Beach whizzed by in a blissful blur. The seductive smells, sounds, and sights enraptured Addy, as they had done all those years СКАЧАТЬ