ATOP Chapter Twenty-Nine

Katie stood on her unfinished back porch, facing the sunset behind the dancing, swirling flakes of snow. The sky was all ablaze with golden glory, streaked with deep purples and rich reds. The last few rays of sunlight were just disappearing into navy clouds above as the sun dipped behind the evergreens on the horizon. She sighed happily, completely satisfied with the beauty in the last few minutes of the day.

The door swung softly open and Katie smiled to hear the soft tapping of Mac's crutches on the floor. Limping to her side, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned against him.

“Ach, it’s a bonnie sight,” he murmured, purposely thickening his accent as Katie giggled. “Isn’t it amazing how th’ Lord paints a new masterpiece in th’ heavens every single day? Twice, actually, mornin’ and evening. And every single one completely different and original. He didna have t’ create all this beauty, just for us… but He did it anyway… because He loves us. There’s the proof, right there.”

Slipping a finger under Katie’s chin, he tipped her face up towards his and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “And here’s more proof,” he added, grinning down at her. “He did it th’ same with people too. Each one different and special. So beautiful an’ perfect an’ wonderful ye are, my Lintie… a gift from God to bless me. He must love me an awful lot to give me you,” he laughed softly and kissed her again.

“Then He must love me even more, cuz I got you,” Katie grinned back. “How did your meeting with the pastor go? Did you invite him back here to supper?”

“I begged him to, said he hadn’t lived till he’s eaten your cooking, but he has half a dozen more meetings just tonight. He’s got a lot of people t’meet with, and he wants t’ do it all before the voting, y’know.”

“What all did he say?” Katie shivered in the gathering twilight and pressed closer against Mac’s side.

“You’re cold, we should be talking inside, by the fire,” Mac straightened up, gripping his crutches. “It was just a short meeting. He said he doesn’t know who the Lord will be choosing, but he wants to pray with every man in the congregation in preparation, just in case.”

“It’ll be interesting to see what God does through all of this,” Katie murmured, holding the door open so Mac could limp inside. “Why aren’t you wearing your leg?”

“Now that is a funny thing t’say,” Mac laughed. “What a sentence! Imagine it out of context…”

“You are avoiding my question,” Katie frowned, looking sternly at him. It was enough to stop his laughter right in its tracks. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

“Jus’ a bit sore, is all. Nothing to worry about.”

“Well.” Katie shut the door firmly and moved to take his arm. “I am worrying. You’ve been acting funny about it for days. Is there an open wound?”

Mac grimaced and turned his face away from her.

“Katie… I’m not an invalid. I’m capable of taking care of myself. You shouldn’t have to worry about it.”

“Then you’re missing the point of… of a lot of things. Now, sit.” She had led him into the living room and now she pointed authoritatively at the couch. “Point number one. I’ve been a nurse, I’m trained to take care of people who are hurt. Point number two. I’m your wife and I’m supposed to take care of you, just as you’re supposed to take care of me. In sickness and in health, remember? Point number three. I love you, and I don’t want you to be in pain, so quit being so stubborn and let me help you already.”

She had raised her voice and she stood there glaring up at him, fists clenched at her sides, and she looked so fierce that Mac had to laugh again. But it was apologetic laughter. He sat, obediently.

“You’re right, Katie o’mine. An’ I’ll admit it does hurt something fierce. I just…” the smile disappeared from his eyes and he leaned forward, a distant kind of fear growing deeper in his face. “I dinna want t’be a burden t’ye, Katie. I…” he paused as Katie knelt on the floor beside him, gentle hands untying the knot in his pants just below the stump of his leg. “It’s hard for me… being only… half of what I used t’be…”

“Oh, Mac,” Katie murmured, her voice trembling slightly. “Don’t you ever dare say such a thing. Don’t even think it. You never have, never will be a burden to me. And you’re not half of anything. You’re a whole man, and more so than a lot of men I’ve known. So just you put such foolish ideas out of your head. Anyways, I’m glad to help, and thank goodness… this isn’t a bad wound, it’s an easy fix. And you, Mr. Scott,” she swallowed the threatening tears and faced him with a cheerful smile. “You are getting a new leg. The old one isn’t very good quality and it doesn’t fit well enough, that’s why it opened the wound. Now there’s something to be happy about! When you need a new leg, you can just go out and get one, and that’s something most people in the world can’t do, so there!”

♡♡♡

WE APOLOGIZE THAT NO INFORMATION ON REBEKAH AND RISHONA ADLER CAN BE FOUND STOP NO RECORDS EXIST STOP

Ronnie groaned in frustration, crushing the telegram in his fist. So much for France. And the refugee board in Belgium had cabled back a couple weeks before… absolutely nothing there either. There was only one telegram left to be answered, and that was the one he had sent to Germany. Months had crawled by, and not a word. He was beginning to give up hope. At least in refugee boards. Was there any other way to search? Hire someone professional to help him? That would be outrageously expensive, for sure. But he would do it if he had to.

And in the meantime, time was ticking away. If the girls were alive, were they alright? Or were they cold and hungry?

Rachel still talked about them sometimes… but always in the past tense. She seemed to be sure that they were in heaven, with the rest of her family. When she spoke of them, it was always with a forced tone, as if she was making herself believe it. And she would smile, but she would cry at the same time. It made Ronnie feel so wretchedly worthless… he didn’t know how to help her. He was failing with her, just as he had with the war. Because he had failed as a soldier and as a leader, he firmly believed that… failed a hundred times over. It didn’t matter what people said… trying to make a hero out of him… he scorned their feeble attempts to cover his mistakes. Nothing could take away the fact that because of him… lives had been lost.

He heard Rachel’s steps on the stairs and he hurriedly tossed the crumpled slip of paper into the fireplace. She came into the room talking rapidly, as if she was nervous about something. It took Ronnie a moment to jerk himself from his reverie and focus on what she was saying. She was standing in front of the full-length mirror in the hall and looking at herself critically.

“…suppose it is true,” she said anxiously, her brow furrowed. “I am too skinny… Ronnie…” she appealed to him as he moved to stand beside her. “I try to eat enough, but… I… I do not know what is wrong. All bones and angles, am I? It makes me ugly, I am afraid. I am sorry, I try…” her lips quivered, but she blinked resolutely and held her chin high. It hurt Ronnie's heart, the look in her eyes.

“I’m a fool, Rachel,” he frowned into the mirror. “A dim-witted fool, and I’m the one who should be sorry. Don’t apologize… I… didn’t mean it that way. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and that will never change, no matter what you weigh…” he drew her close to press a kiss on the top of her head. “You worry me sometimes, that’s all. It's not the way you look, I... I just don’t want you to get sick… I want you to know that there is plenty of food here, and you don’t have to worry about trying to save it anymore. We won’t starve. The war is over, and you’re not in Germany anymore. Remember that. And… Rachel?” he pulled away and grinned awkwardly at her.

“What?” she couldn’t help but grin back.

“Do me a favor.”

“If you tell me what it is.”

“Next time I go saying something dumb like ‘you’re too skinny’, just tell me to shut up. Throw something at me, if you have to. Cuz it’s not what I meant and I don’t wanna go risking saying any more stupid things, okay?”

“Stupid,” quoth a small voice from somewhere beneath them and Ronnie turned red. Laughing, Rachel reached down to scoop Benjie up.

“Where did you come from, my little one? Did you get out of bed all by yourself?” Turning to Ronnie, she added in a whisper, grinning wider at his discomfort, “Speaking of not saying certain things, remember small ears hear very well indeed.”

“I got small ears,” Benjie proclaimed loudly, providing further proof or Rachel’s statement. “It's mornin', Daddy! I wan’ waffles ‘n… ‘n sassassassaches…” he wrinkled his nose up in the effort of getting out the difficult word. Again, he attempted it. “Sassassassach…” and looked up at Ronnie in confusion.

“Sausages?” Ronnie laughed and held out his arms to Benjie, who promptly launched himself into them.

“That’s what I said,” Benjie nodded importantly. “Me loves you, Daddy, you love me?”

“Course I love you, li’l buddy,” Ronnie hugged him tight, producing squeals and giggles from the little boy.

“Me loves Mommy too,” Benjie added. “You loves Mommy?”

Ronnie glanced at Rachel over Benjie’s head. She was struggling to hold in laughter, her eyes dancing back at him.

“I love Mommy very much,” Ronnie informed his son, solemnly.

“Then give her kisses!” Benjie squealed in delight.

“This boy,” Ronnie raised his eyebrows. “He doesn’t just hear too much, he talks too much.” And obediently, he bent to kiss Rachel as Benjie, somewhat squashed between them for a second or two, insisted again on waffles and sassassaches.