A Family For Jana. Eileen Berger

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      She finally stated, with a deliberately obvious yawn, that she was very tired—but did have to struggle to keep from dropping off before he did!

      It was almost too dark to see the multicolored flowers of bulbs and trees and golden forsythia as Jana drove home through the late April evening. She of course recognized the cars parked by the curb in front of Gram’s house, so she knew AnnaMae and Kate had come to pick up their children.

      Barb had offered to cover for Jana in giving childcare this afternoon, and it seemed almost incomprehensible that, at first, the two of them had not got along well. They were as close as sisters now, probably closer than many siblings—but then they’d been two lonely, scared, pregnant sixteen-year-olds whom Gram had taken into her home, along with the three slightly older girls in the same situation, Kate, AnnaMae and Ricki.

      Barb came onto the veranda as Jana started up the walk to Gram’s huge old Victorian house. “How’s our little sweetheart?”

      “Although he continues to cough and wheeze some, he seems good, and everyone thinks he’s okay. If he gets through tonight without an attack, perhaps he’ll come home tomorrow.” She climbed the front steps. “What about things here?”

      “Mary has a runny nose, but seems to feel all right. I don’t think she’s coming down with a cold. And the other kids are fine.”

      Jana nodded toward the cars out front. “I see AnnaMae and Kate have come for their little ones.”

      “And Ricki was covering this evening, so they’ll all soon be gone.”

      They entered the large front hall and were greeted by the three children. Jana laid her purse on the floor as she got down on her knees to hug them. “I missed you guys,” she said, kissing each of them.

      Their mothers came from the kitchen to get the latest update on Michael before leaving for the night—and suddenly it seemed very quiet with just the three adults. Gram looked around. “It’s almost lonely with no children in the house.”

      Barb nodded. “It seems eons ago when it was just you, Gram and us five teens.”

      “And much longer when I was living alone here.” She sighed. “Thank goodness I didn’t fully realize what I was missing.”

      Jana remembered how frightened she’d been before coming here as one of the five pregnant teens Gram had taken under her wing. At that time, it had been considered a safe haven where they could stay until their babies were born—after which each infant would go to adoptive parents.

      But she didn’t want to think about that now. “To hear your family, especially your granddaughter, Andi, tell it, you kept just as busy then!”

      “I enjoyed everything I was doing, but not nearly as much as having you and the other girls and the little ones around.”

      Jana had no doubt that was true, and her arm slid around the older woman’s trim waist. “I got to thinking last night that what we call you is also your title, your profession. You are Gram to half the people in Sylvan Falls—but especially to us!”

      “What a sweet thing to say. I don’t deserve it, but I’ll treasure it anyway.” She beamed at Jana, smiled at Barb and headed for the kitchen. “Come get a piece of apple pie, then you get to bed, Jana. I’m sure you need your rest!”

      “Sounds like two wonderful ideas.” She followed Gram and Barb and thoroughly enjoyed the dessert. Getting up from the table a little later, Jana remembered to tell them, “I’m setting my alarm for the last possible moment—so don’t think I’ve overslept.”

      But her final thoughts before falling asleep were about Dr. Ray Hawkins bringing the plants to the hospital for her son, and of his being so kind, so nice as they ate together.

      Having planned to be in the classroom earlier than usual, Ray considered not answering the phone as he was leaving his office. But he did, and the message was important; however, he still begrudged the time.

      All the students were seated before he arrived, but he had no difficulty spotting Jana, halfway back in the middle row. Laying down his books, he asked, even while walking around the front table, “I trust your son is better this morning, Ms. Jenson?”

      She looked startled, and he wondered if that was because, although always willing to answer anything or talk about science, he almost always stuck to lesson material. He hoped she’d recognized this as something of a public apology on his part when she answered, “Yes, thank you. Michael’s improved so much that we hope he’ll be discharged today.”

      “Good!” Ray commented, then proceeded to begin the day’s lesson.

      After the class was over, Todd and Linda walked out with Jana again. Ray couldn’t control the spontaneous smile that came to his face as she passed his table—and was inordinately pleased that her responding one seemed genuine. But even with that beautiful smile of hers, I’m afraid she won’t forget yesterday. It’s not appropriate for me to ask her to have lunch with me—especially in front of her friends. Anyway, I shouldn’t even consider becoming friends with a young woman who’s the mother of a small child!

      Is there a husband somewhere? Has she ever had one? I know that’s not supposed to matter anymore, but it does to me. And I don’t know a thing about small children and shouldn’t even be thinking of that child—or his mother. Which, as the day went on, he found to be a difficult resolution to keep.

      “Are you staying for the meeting today, Jana?” Todd asked, walking over to Richards Hall with her.

      “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

      “It’s not much more than an hour from now.”

      “I know. Somehow Michael’s illness seems to have driven away other thoughts—not that God isn’t even more important, but….”

      “I wasn’t being judgmental. It’s just that I was hoping you’d be there today.”

      “Especially today?”

      “Well, yes.” His grin was a bit lopsided. “I’m the one leading devotions.”

      She laid a hand on his arm. “In that case, I’ll surely come. This will be my first time to hear you do that.”

      “I’ve never volunteered before and I’ll admit to being sort of scared—at least nervous.”

      “I would be, too, yet we both know there’s no one there to critique you. Everyone’s encouraging—supportive.”

      “You haven’t volunteered, either.”

      “And I probably won’t. Public speaking doesn’t seem to be one of my gifts.”

      “I felt that way, too, then got to thinking I shouldn’t just keep receiving. It was time for giving, too.”

      “Then it’s right for you,” she agreed. “But thus far I haven’t been convinced of that for me.”

      She thought for a moment that he was about to argue, but they were nearing her classroom, so she gave him a smile and went inside. I know he has other friends there, but it must СКАЧАТЬ