A Miracle in Far Haven
Unable to believe the news, Tess
clung to her cell phone long after Father Mark hung up. He’d offered the
church’s basement for her fundraiser. When she pointed out she wasn’t a member
of St. Mark’s, he said the community helps each other.
Quickly, she lettered a sign to add
to the “closed indefinitely” notice on the front door, instructing those who
came for the fundraiser where to go. With Eric’s help, they brought up the food
from the basement. He insisted on carrying the stock pots of chili and told her
to bring the muffins. Before she could head downstairs again, a knock on the back
door stopped her.
Gabe.
After Dean Rider’s announcement
about Gabe saving Miss Nickleson’s life, she’d wondered what he’d been doing
since he left Far Haven on his Harley to see the world. She’d envied his
freedom back then, while knowing she couldn’t live like he wanted her to.
Regrets that she hadn’t left with
him? Some, though she’d never admit it.
“Did you want something?” she
asked.
“Stopped by to see if you need any
help?”
“No, that’s okay, We can—”
“Man, am I glad to see you.” Eric
panted as came up out of the basement. “I need help. There’s one more pot in
the refrigerator.”
“Good.” Gabe’s grin caught her
unawares. Despite the fact that they were twenty-five years older, that so much
had happened to them during that time, his infectious smile still made her
heart flutter.
While he and Eric trooped
downstairs, she started loading up a rolling cart with the food to take to the
church.
“Good God, woman. What are you
doing?” Gabe stopped her from lifting a stock pot. “Leave that for us.”
“Yeah, Ma. Leave the heavy lifting
for us guys.”
“Smart aleck.” Tess ruffled Eric’s
hair.
“Now what?” Gabe asked.
“Now, we load my van.”
Once the food was loaded in her
truck, the cart as well, Eric looked from Tess to Gabe. “See you guys at St.
Mark’s.” Then, he took off on his bike, pedaling like crazy.
“He could’ve ridden with us,” Gabe
said as he slid into the passenger seat. He looked behind him. “Oh.”
Tess chuckled. “Yeah. No seat.”
At the church, where Eric waited,
they again loaded the cart. She thanked the church’s congregation for
installing an elevator.
When they returned to the van for
the next trip, a truck from the local grocery store pulled up.
“You Tess Visser?” the driver said.
“Where do you want this?” He pointed to crates of produce.
“This is a mistake. I didn’t
order—”
“No mistake. Sign here.” He handed
her a clipboard.
Meanwhile, Gabe talked to another
man who wheeled the crates inside.
“My invoice?” She wasn’t sure how
she could pay for the much needed produce.
“No invoice.”
As soon as that truck left, another
truck from the largest mega-store in the area with more food. Again, no
mistake. No invoice, either.
“I can’t believe this,” she said to
Gabe downstairs. “We have fruit, vegetable, drinks, desserts.”
“Word gets around. What can I do to
help now?” While she protested, he looked around. “Give me an apron.”
“Ma, do you need me? I got
something I have to do.” Not waiting for an answer, her son took off.
“Now you really need me.” Gabe
grinned.
Overwhelmed by the donations of
food, Tess could only hand him an apron and tell him how to clean vegetables. While
pots of chili heated on the stove, they worked together in companionable
silence in the enclosed church kitchen with its metal tambour shutter covering
the serving window.
“Are you really a doctor?” she
asked.
“I am, indeed, but I still know my
way around a kitchen. By the way, they caught the vandals. A couple of kids who
live at the homeless shelter.”
“What?” She stopped chopping
veggies. “The fundraiser was for them. And all the families at the shelter. Why
would they destroy all the good work people had done for them?”
“Deputy Dawson got them to admit
they were mad at their parents for losing their jobs and then their homes.
Anger and resentment had festered until they exploded and took it out on the
café. They’ll be doing a lot of community service, including helping serve the
dinner.”
As they worked side-by-side, she
learned where he had been since they parted all those years ago. At first, he’d
been reluctant to talk about his life until she shared hers. Whether it was the
intimacy of the warm kitchen or his nonjudgmental manner, she told him about life
with her former husband, her joy when Eric was born, her grief when Ken died,
and her anger at him for his foolish disregard for them.
“He didn’t give you the stability
you wanted.” Gabe’s voice was neutral, no hint of smugness. Without asking, he began
washing fruit.
“At first, yes. Later . . .” She
wobbled her hand. “Looks like I chose the wrong guy.”
“No. I had to grow up, as you put
it when we parted.”
Like trying to get her son to
divulge his “secrets” Tess eventually got Gabe to talk about his stint in the
Marines, tours in Afghanistan, being a medic, eventually becoming a doctor—just
like his father wanted.
“Your dad has never forgiven me for
throwing you over,” she said.
“He thought you would cure my wildness.” That grin again, gray
eyes twinkling.
“He told me I made a big mistake
rejecting you. Then he never talked about you in front of me.” She’d wondered
about that as she learned more about Gabe. “I’m surprised he didn’t brag about
you becoming a doctor.”
“He was angry at me for not coming straight
home and joining his practice.” He cleared his throat. “What’s next?”
“Hang on. Why didn’t you?”
“He didn’t understand my need to be
independent. You know how it is to work with your parent.”
She did, indeed. From a young age,
she’d worked in the family restaurant. Responsibility without authority grated
on her until her dad retired.
As they talked, she became aware of
noise in the outer room. At first, she thought people were setting up tables
and chairs. When it sounded like more people, her curiosity got the best of
her.
“What is going on out there?” She
wiped her hands on her apron.
“Wait a sec.” Gabe lifted the
tambour shutter.
Tess gasped.
She ran out of the kitchen. She
couldn’t believe what she saw.
“Isn’t this great?” Eric waved at
stacks of gifts under a decorated tree. He named several stores. “They donated
toys to replace the trashed ones. And clothes for kids and grownups.”
The decorations made the basement
festive. The owners and staff from the other two restaurants had brought
serving stations. The managers told Tess she was in charge. They were ready to
help.
Word of mouth, the local newspaper,
flyers posted everywhere advertised the free holiday meal plus a visit from
Santa himself.
“H-How . . .” She stepped back into
Gabe.
He held her elbows and drew her
closer. “The community thought so much of your idea everybody pitched in.”
“Thanks to you, big guy.” Alex
O’Hara, who’d taken over her dad’s investigation agency, punched him in the
arm.
Tess turned to face him. “You
organized this?”
While heat crept up Gabe’s neck,
Alex said, “He is a great arm-twister. You shoulda seen him earlier. Who could
say no?”
Father Mark came up. “We have
hungry diners lining up outside. Let’s get this show on the road.”
With help from the other
restaurants plus Tess’s crew, the food was set up and the lines began. Though
happy that her dad’s fundraiser was helping so many, Tess was overwhelmed by
everything Gabe and the others had done. She had to get away before she broke
down in tears. She raced to find the restroom. Gabe followed her.
“Are you okay?” He stopped her
outside the ladies.
That concern pushed her over the
edge. Tears streamed down her cheeks. When a sob shook her, he pulled her into
his arms. No words. He just held her as she soaked the front of his shirt.
Finally, she got herself under control.
“I don’t know what to say, Gabe.
You’ve done so much. You aren’t the man I thought you would be.”
“A wastrel?” His mouth curved into
a wry grin. “Good-for-nothing? Ne’er do well?”
“I never called you those names.”
“No. Others did. And they were
right, especially my dad.”
“Not now. You are a good man,
Gabriel Summer. An angel in disguise.” She stroked his cheek.
“I wouldn’t go that far. I did what
anyone would do, what others have done for a member of the community. A
community I’m proud to be a member of.”
“You mean you’re staying?” she
asked.
“Yep. I’m staying.”
“There you guys are.” Eric dashed up
to them. “Hurry up. Santa’s coming.”
When they walked back into the
dining room, Santa was “Ho-ho-ho-ing” and kids were cheering.
Smiling broadly, Eric hooked his
arms into Gabe’s and Tess’s. “This is what a Christmas miracle looks like.”
~ End ~
I hope you enjoyed “A Miracle in Far Haven.” Come back
tomorrow for R.E. Mullins’ story "All Holidays Matter."
Far Haven, Michigan is the location for Diane
Burton's Alex O'Hara mystery series. Like the
characters in her story, Diane and her husband live in West Michigan. They have
two children and five grandchildren who all live nearby. For more info and excerpts from her books,
visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com
