Her jaw trembled. “Yes? How is my father?”
“I’ve placed him in his bed. But I’m afraid the news isn’t good. Your father has something wrong with his heart. It’s beating entirely too fast and wearing him out. That’s why he collapsed. His breathing is labored and could stay this way unless we can help calm his heart. He has no strength in his limbs because the pumping of the organ is taking up every ounce of energy in his body.”
She swallowed hard. “Isn’t there anything we can do for him?”
The doctor she’d known for the majority of her life looked down, his head shaking back and forth. “I’m sorry. I’m going to do everything that I can ... but your father ... well ... he could die.”
seven
“Be awake for time is passing
And there’s endless work to do
Thou shalt fail but never falter
Every day begins anew.”
~Earl Douglass
SUNDAY, JUNE9
Everything Joshua planned to say flew out of his mind the moment he spotted Anna on the church steps. Reverend Mills had a hand on her shoulder as tears shimmered in her dark eyes. What happened? Was she all right?
Just the sight of her brought all the old feelings to the surface. Problem was, they weren’t old. The only thing that had saved him from losing his mind over her the last three years was the fact that a good deal of distance separated them.
More than anything, he wanted to rush to her side and comfort her. But that wasn’t his place.
It hadn’t been his place for a long time.
Joshua ducked inside the door, taking the moment to recoverfrom seeing her again. How had he let so much time go by? How had he let her go?
As he found his way to a pew, he overheard the whispers: Peter Lakeman had some sort of a heart problem. And might die.
Joshua winced. Not Anna’s father. She adored him. He was such a gifted and caring man.
Listening in to the conversation behind him, Joshua found out that Mr. Lakeman had collapsed. Anna had gone for the doc, and he had given her the bad news. Her father hadn’t woken fully until Saturday evening and couldn’t move because he was too light-headed and couldn’t catch his breath.
If only he’d gone to see them sooner. What a fool he’d been! He’d put off seeing Anna using the excuse that he needed to spend time with his family. Which wasn’t an excuse, it was the truth. But thetruthwas, he’d been nervous to see her. Afraid of her rejection.
Ridiculous really. The person he wanted to see most was the one who frightened him the most.
Now was he too late? How could he even think about imposing on her when her father was bedridden? In a few days, Joshua would be on a train headed east.
But now that hehadseen her, he couldn’t imagine returning to school without at least apologizing.
His sister Martha, her husband, Alan, and his nephew, Caleb, entered the pew.
Martha scooted in next to Joshua. “I heard about Anna’s father but that is no excuse for the sad look on your face. As soon as the service is over, we’re going to speak with her.”
Joshua squinted at her. Typical older sister. She loved to boss him around.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m tired of waiting for you to do the right thing. No arguing.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but Reverend Mills greeted everyone while his wife played an introduction to a song.
The reverend led them in singing the hymn and Joshua lifted his voice with the congregation.
“Praise Him, praise Him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
