~Chapter 12~ A Reminder Amist The Storm

  When was the last time you went for a walk down your street? I ask this because there is nothing like a walk in the freezing cold to get you to see what you're missing. Then after you ears freeze you run in the house to the warm, antique fireplace, satisfied that you've had your adventure for a while, at least until Spring. 

   This was how I felt, walking down our road: Wisdom Rd. I was wearing my favorite pine green beanie, but my ears were still cold. We hadn't been walking all that long. My gloves matched my hat, and my scarf was unlike any other, flamboyant, colorful, and plush. 

   About 500 yards down the road lived our neighbors, the Towaga's. As we passed the their cabin-like house, Mrs. Towaga burst through her small maple brown door and invited us inside for some leftover Christmas pie. Before I could reply, our three youngsters ran through the door at full speed, Thank the Lord Kenna's feeling better, I praised God. It was then I could smell the cookies in the oven.

   "What kind of cookies are you making?" I asked.

   "Snickerdoodles," she replied, "Our son and his family are coming for a late Christmas party."

   "Oh, how nice. I hope were not intruding." said Heidi.

   "Oh! Not at all!" I followed her to the kitchen where everyone else was chatting with Mr. Towaga. It took a few followed sentences to realize they were discussing the weather.

   Juliano spoke. "So, Mr. Towaga-"

   "Please, call me Bill."

   "Ok, Bill. Do you think the weather will permit our walk?"

   "Where you all walkin' to?"

   "Um-"

   "Birch Trail." I interrupted. 

   "Ah!" I assumed by his expression that he enjoyed that trail, since he was the trail officer. "There was a watch for snow, but I don't think that will be a problem." We chatted and nibbled on our pie. When Millie Towaga said she had leftovers, I supposed she had half-a-pie or maybe even a whole one, but I couldn't imagine she had three pies left. The Chocolate was a popular pick in the children's minds, and Chester's. The pumpkin was mine and Juliano's pick, while Heidi had a piece of peach pie. We finished our pie and bid the Towaga's a good evening with their son's family. Then we were off to walk another 200 yards to Birch Trail.

   The trees were white from the trunk to the tips of the branches, with some evidence that the deer have been in this area. The trail lay twisted and curvy from Wisdom Road to Drusle Street. Drusle Street was a lone little street on the outskirts of Shamokin. With Wisdom Street being two miles from Shamokin that was how far the trail was from Road to Street. In a small drizzle of snow we walked a mile in the wood and decided that it was time to travel back. At the 3/4-mile mark exhausted, half-asleep Kenna, from gazing at the sky and branches from her daddy's arms, spotted a particular branch that had ice hanging from it in an odd way. I looked up and saw what she was so excited about. The limbs and branches were arranged in a way that made them look like the Cross. Amidst this arrangement of the Cross, the ice gathered to make a figure hanging from the center.

   "Wow," was all I could say. This was one of those reminders from Mother Nature telling us that God sent His own son to die in our place. We deserved to die, but He took our accusations, punishments, and death sentences. Every time I see something like this my heart thanks the Lord and my thanks roll down my cheek. I wondered why we didn't notice it until now. We wouldn't have seen this on the way here, I realized. I wiped my tears before anyone noticed, and went to Kenna. It was quiet in the white woods, though the oversized flakes of snow seem to the silence echo. I broke the silence.

   "You have a good eye, Kenna."

   "Thanks." It started snowing harder and by the time we reached the opening to the trail it was a small snowstorm. We were practically running the distance back to the Inn. Blindly running down the road in the general direction. Tiny ice droplets stung our faces, and the snow clung to our eyelashes. I could see some length ahead of me, but as we got closer to warmth, the storm progressed stronger and more threatening. By the time I could see the light-post we had a full fledged blizzard. Kenna was tucked safely as can be in her father's embrace, Sebastian was pulled along by Heidi and I could see a huddled bundle in Chester's arms, so I assumed my brother had his son. We finally pushed ourselves up the steps to the veranda and opened the door with surprising easiness. With some effort Juliano finally shut the door, leaving the snow, wind and ice outside. I turned to count heads. Hazel ran upstairs to get more blankets, as Heidi instructed her. Guen was helping the little ones out of their white sprinkled coats. I checked and checked again. I looked at Chester. His eyes were mixed with surprise and alarm. We left Jack Matthew in the snow, the wind, and ice.

~Chapter 11~ To Understand Takes Heart

   I was flabbergasted. I've never heard such words in my entire life. Granted, I have heard words like "I don't believe in any god," or even, "I have never heard of God," but I have never with my own ears comprehended these words. I suddenly understood the dream I had had a few weeks ago. I understood every word the angel was saying. I sighed. I guess I understood his reasons, his mother dying in the very building that he sat crying in. What a way to end the season. Poor Kenna had tears in her eyes when she saw her brother and cousins playing without her. I felt so bad for her. Seeing her propped on the couch reminded me of my days as an almost-invalid. Luckily for me, those lasted only a short time, (though each day felt like an eternity). I couldn't bend my leg much for weeks. But I healed, I thought. And so will Kenna. 

   New Years Eve was only a week away, and the Rodrigues' didn't have plans for the occasion. So I asked Mr. and Mrs. Rodrigues if they would like to spend some more time here in the Avé Maria B&B. I thought it would cheer their daughter up a little. They readily agreed and now I was on the floor with a plethora of cook books and magazines laid before me, each page turned to the desserts or cookies section. I had bookmarks disguised as pieces of paper tucked between the pages of each of the possibilities that I would send home with my sisters. Kenna, propped on my favorite armchair, looked over and eyed me curiously.

   "What are you doing?" she asked, grazing over each book laid open. I saw her eyes widen at every recipe, until her eyes were the size of, well, the size of your eyes when their as wide you can get them. I didn't think they could get any bigger. But they did. I picked up the page she was staring at. 'Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies' it read.

   "How 'bout these for a 'Please get well soon' treat?" I asked.

   "Will you make them?" she squealed.

  "Absolutely! There are some upsides to being the only girl and having a sprained ankle on the holidays," I smiled. She smiled back, "Besides, I haven't baked on such a long time."

   "I thought you baked those?" She pointed to the kitchen where the last of the holiday cookies were laid out.

   "That was for Christmas, so that doesn't count. And I didn't bake the cookies, Hazel did." Just then Guen walks in. I told her about staying for a few more days.

   "Oh! Wonderful!" She exclaims. She spots the recipe magazine in my hand and asks about them.

   "I was just about to start making them," I said, standing up. My knees were complaining, forcing me to slow my movements. I made a mental note not to sit cross-legged for so long ever again. Though I was in good shape, my joints gave me trouble sometimes, thanks to having juvenile arthritis as a child. I made my way to the kitchen with Kenna's arm around my waist, to keep herself up while walking with me, Guen close behind. I set Kenna on a stool by the island and set to work getting a bowl out onto the island. Destiny, and Heidi come out of hiding in the den to watch. I supposed the men were out on the veranda  discussing whatever they can when we women are not around. I turned my gaze at the floor where Jack Matthew, Sebastian, Xavier, and Jack Michael were playing our old game of Risk. I ask Guen to get the first ingredients out while I get the aprons. We hardly ever needed them, when your making cookies for the whole family with your two aunts, I figured Kenna would enjoy them. I give her Hazel's and Guen, Shiloh's. I found that ironic, because Shiloh and Guen were the best of friends growing up, and still are. We followed the recipe like good little girls and end up with a deliciously good looking batter. So good that when Savannah walked in she couldn't resist sticking her finger in the bowl despite our complaints. I sighed, and Kenna made a face at her mother's cousin. I gave her a warning look which she interpreted as 'Nice girls make nice faces, otherwise they get in trouble.'

   "Mmm! That's good!" Savannah's comment won Kenna's smile. While the first batch of those Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies were in the oven, we started another mix of sugar cookies. I chose these because I love using the cookie press and so did Kenna. We chose a variety of shapes of wreaths, stars, and Christmas trees. I took the chocolate cookies out and gave Kenna and Guen each one.

   "Careful, they're hot." They devoured them so fast that I was afraid they would burn their tongues. Fortunately they knew not to do that again. In the next few hours the chocolate and sugar cookies finished baking, the sugar ones got decorated, and set out on pretty plates, and passed among the party. I sent some home with my twin sisters, and mom and dad, and said 'Good-bye' to them and the boys, including Tim.

  That night Heidi, Juliano, Kenna and Chester were sitting in the living room when I came in with the boys. I had to call them in from playing outside. These boys would stay outside until dawn if we let them. We snacked on cookies, and hot chocolate while talking about the old days. Some of the memories brought tears of laughter and made cheeks blush. When we sobered and the moment was gone, we listened to a story from Jack Matthew. A story of a family moment about when and why his parents decided to go to the movies. It was a treat for doing well in school, cleaning his room and being an all around good boy. I was in tears for some of it, but tried not to show it. Then he finished by asking no one in particular, why did his mom and dad have to die? I tried to keep the sob from my voice when replying,

   "Because He thought it better now then later." He had a puzzled expression and I guess Chester thought it best to tell him about his mother now. And he did, "Your mom was sick Jack. Her illness was going to be painful and their was nothing the doctors could do. But when she-" He couldn't bring himself to say it. "She was in no pain at all."

   "God is merciful," I said. "Your father might've been heart broken to see you mother pass away in pain. The car accident was a blessing in disguise." Understanding dawned slowly. As slowly as the dawn itself, but he did understand.

   "I guess so. Maybe there is a God, but I don't like him." I sighed. Well, I thought to myself, at least he doesn't deny Him anymore. An idea popped in my head.

   "Who want's to take a walk tomorrow?"