Through All Eternity

Through All Eternity

Judy Bagshaw

Works Books by Judy Bagshaw

A Work of Art

At Long Last, Love

Big Fat Lies

Lady Blue

Love by the Pound

Kiss Me, Nate!

On Foot on a Banana Peel

Opposite Attraction

Second Chances: Jack & Gillian

Teacher’s Pet

Through All Eternity

....and more. See judybagshaw.com for other works.

Through All Eternity

Copyright © 2010 by Judy Bagshaw

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Cover Design © 2017 by Skyla Dawn Cameron

Second Edition July 2017

Previously Published 2010 by Mundania Press

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author or her representative.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

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Dedication

To Mom, Dad, and Pete, my beloved family.

 I could not do this without you.

Acknowledgements

Thank you Heather for the evening of conversation and speculation all those many years ago, as we sat at dusk on the deck at the cottage. From the seeds planted during that chat grew this story.

And thank you also to Skyla for believing that I could indeed write a story like this, and pushing (nagging...lol) me to get it done.

Prologue

It was the dream again. She was in a forest glade. The breeze was warm and the air scented with the perfume of the flowers that grew in riotous abandon around a small stone cottage. She could hear a dog’s bark in the distance, and when she moved her eyes toward the sound she could make out the silhouette of a man standing by a stream, a fishing rod in his hand.

She was conscious of her inability to move or speak, and she struggled against the feeling, but to no avail. She wanted to call out, to ask what this place was. She watched the man lazily casting his line into the water. He was somehow familiar—an echo of her past just sitting beyond the edge of her comprehension. The air around him grew hazy and began to ripple. Her mind cried no, even as she could not voice her protest. She could feel a pull in her abdomen and the scene before her began to recede. She tried to fight as darkness folded around her.

***

Karen awoke with a gasp and sat upright in her bed. Her head was throbbing and she was astonished to find that she had broken into a sweat. The remnants of her dream lingered like wisps of smoke from a snuffed out candle—and then they were gone.

She lay back down and sighed, pulling the comforter up to her chin. Just a dream.

Chapter One

Mother’s at it again. Grace Posner inserted coins into the beverage machine and addressed the two women sitting in the waiting room behind her. Taking the cup of black coffee up to her lips, she blew and took a sip and grimaced.

God, this coffee tastes like shit! She paced to the other side of the waiting room and peered at the abstract print on the wall. She’s rambling on about that goddamn Bobby. Get this. Today he took her for a drive in the country to see some property.

Don’t be profane, Grace, Bethany, the middle Posner sister said, It’s not seemly.

Oh, get off your goddamn high horse Beth, Grace shot back. I’m sick of your holier than thou goddamn attitude.

Would you both just shut up, Charlotte said, glaring at the two older sisters. Who is this Bobby guy she keeps talking about anyway? Has anyone figured that out? And where’s Dad, by the way?

Where do you think? Grace took out her cigarette case then, realizing where she was, fired it back into her bag. He’s at home pottering around in his goddamn garden.

I went to pick him up, Bethany said, giving her older sibling a disapproving and ignored look. He said he wasn’t feeling up to a visit today. I’m worried about him.

Not well, my ass, Grace said. She began pacing the length of the hospital waiting room, her natural energies needing release. He’s just being his usual obtuse self. He doesn’t want to acknowledge that there’s anything wrong in his placid little life. As usual, he thinks if he ignores it, it will all go away.

God, you are such a bitch, Grace, Charlotte said.

Charlotte! Bethany bristled with her indignation.

Oh, bite me, Beth. Charlotte watched as her sister bolted up from the couch and strode down the hall to their mother’s room. She folded her long slender legs underneath her and began using an emery board on her nails. Sure, Dad is not the most involved person on the planet, but he is in his seventies, after all. He’s allowed to not feel up to dealing with this shit today.

He never wants to deal with it, Grace said, stopping a moment to glare down at Charlotte. He’s a weak, ineffectual man. God! What Mother ever… She stopped, a thoughtful expression on her face. She turned and looked at her sister. You don’t suppose this Bobby guy is—was—a lover or something?

Charlotte jerked her head up and gave a bleat of laughter. A lover? Mom? Come on Grace.

No, no—think about it. Grace commenced her pacing. She’s on pretty heavy drugs with the bone cancer and all that. Perhaps they’re making her mind slip and she’s reliving some past love affair with this Bobby guy. It makes perfect sense.

For someone else’s mother maybe, Charlotte said. But our mother was not exactly the warmest of women.  I mean, she and Dad must have done the deed at least three times because here we are, but I sure can’t see her wanting sex so badly that she took a lover. She gave a mock shudder and grimaced. Just the thought of Mom bumping uglies with anyone gives me the creeps.

Why must you both be so vulgar? Bethany’s strident voice made both women jump.

Jeez, Beth. Don’t sneak up on people like that, Charlotte said. It’s creepy.

Bethany sat primly on the couch and shot a disapproving look at her youngest sister.

I was not sneaking, she said in clipped tones. And I don’t appreciate how you both seem to take delight in trying to shock me. I shall have to pray extra hard for both your souls, for I fear you’re hell-bound. She reached into her pocketbook and took out a handkerchief with which she dabbed at tearless eyes.

Charlotte rolled her eyes at Grace, and Grace lifted one eyebrow in response.

So, how was mother just now, Grace asked, eager to get off the subject of her soul’s eternal damnation.                                                                 

Bethany refolded her hankie and placed it carefully back into her pocketbook.

She seemed to be sleeping, she said primly. And she had the most beatific smile on her face. She looked so peaceful and happy.

You’d look happy too, Charlotte said, if you were floating around on her painkillers. She snorted in amusement at her own wit and resumed her attention to her fingernails, ignoring Bethany’s angry glare.

So, how are Frank and the kids? Grace asked. She drained the last of the coffee from her cup and headed to the machine for a refill.

Bethany smiled and she sat up straighter. Frank is at the church today, she said, straightening the folds of her polyester skirt. He’s studying for his lay ministry. I’m so proud of him, I could burst. He’s talking about perhaps quitting the accounting firm and entering the seminary in the fall. Imagine. I could be a minister’s wife.

Be still my heart, Charlotte said under her breath. Grace frowned disapproval and Charlotte clamped her mouth shut.

Frank Jr. just got his college applications out, and Rachel Ann will start teaching Sunday school next fall.

Frankie’s finishing high school already? Grace shook her head and perched on the edge of the couch beside Bethany. Where does the time go?

I know, Bethany said, warming to her favorite subject. It seems only yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital, and here he is a young man. She started to sniffle and reached for her handkerchief again.

Oh brother, Charlotte said, and this time Bethany didn’t ignore her.

And how is Michelle? Bethany said, her words tinged with anger.

Spots of crimson appeared on Charlotte’s cheeks and she dropped her feet to the floor. She began gathering her things together, jamming a book, her nail polish and a water bottle into her oversized satchel.

You know, Beth, she said, standing abruptly. For a bible-thumping Christer, you can be a real bitch sometimes. I’m going home. Call me if anything happens with Mom.

Grace watched Charlotte’s retreating form and then turned to Bethany.

That was really uncalled for, you know.

Bethany straightened her already straightened skirt and brushed imaginary fluff off her sweater.

I’m sorry but she goaded me. She knows how precious my family is to me, and yet she insists on being disrespectful and mean-spirited.

She’s just being Charlotte, Beth, Grace said. But for you to throw Michelle in her face like that. You know how sensitive she is about the whole subject.

Bethany pursed her lips and pulled her sweater tightly across her ample chest, crossing her arms. Charlotte thinks that just because she has a handicapped child and my two are healthy and smart, she can say any thought that passes through her head. Well, she can’t. I refuse to allow her to ridicule and demean me.

Grace looked at her sister and shook her head. It was the same old arguments. She sighed and stood, planting her hands on her hips.

The two of you are more alike than you care to admit, she said, garnering an angry glare from Bethany. She didn’t care. Let’s go and check in on Mom. Visiting hours will be over soon.

Chapter Two

Hanna smiled and reached for Bobby’s hand. It felt warm in hers and she stood a moment, her head back, eyes closed, drinking in the heat of the sun.

She felt so alive here. All her aches and pains vanished. Her legs were strong and her back straight. Her hair fell to her shoulders and was golden again as in her almost forgotten youth.

She opened her eyes and smiled at the young handsome man beside her. Bobby—who had come to her as if in a dream and brought her to this wonderful place.

It’s so beautiful here, she said. Please. Show me again.

He grinned at her eagerness. With a tug on her hand, he began to sprint across the meadow toward the trees at its edge. Hanna laughed as she worked to keep up. Her muscles expanded and contracted and she could feel the blood pounding richly through her veins.

They reached the trees and had to slow. The underbrush made walking a challenge, but Hanna enjoyed the restful coolness of the shaded grove after the enervating heat beyond. Not much farther now. The only sound was their labored breathing.

After a few minutes of their march, they broke from the shelter of the trees. Before them a small stone cottage nestled in a clearing. Surrounded by brilliant flowering gardens, the cottage reminded Hanna of a needlepoint picture of an English cottage she’d once rendered.

Come on, Bobby said and they resumed their race toward the house. They paused for a few moments to perch on the little wooden bench that sat in front of the cottage, and drink in the beauty of this sheltered spot.

Is it true? Hanna asked. Can this really be mine?

Yep, Bobby said, giving her hand a squeeze. Just say the word and we can close the deal.

Hanna sighed and leaned back against the cool stones of the house.

Heavenly, she said. The sound of running water drew her back to her feet and she walked around the house in search of the source of the sound. A small stream gurgled its way over stones that glittered in the intense sun.

How wonderful! She ran to the water’s edge and dropped to her knees to dabble her fingers in the cool water. Look how clear and clean it is.

It’s spring-fed, Bobby said, beaming at her pleasure. You can drink right from the stream if you want. You’ll have visits from deer, rabbits, raccoons…all sorts of wildlife.

How perfect, she said. I love animals.

Well then, you’ll love my next surprise, Bobby said, a mysterious twinkle in his eyes.

Hanna stood and clasped her hands together in anticipation.

A surprise? For me? Oh please, what is it?

Bobby chuckled and crooked his finger for her to follow him. They backtracked around to the front of the house. He opened the front door and beckoned for her to follow him inside. She had never been inside before.

Oh my. She breathed deeply upon entering the cool dim interior.

Rich, highly polished hardwood floors gleamed. The walls of the main room were white and covered with glorious tapestries in rich colors. Soft, inviting furnishings stood embracing a stone fireplace that was the focus of this charming room.

In here, Bobby said from the doorway leading to another room. Hanna followed.

It was a kitchen, as quaint and welcoming as the front room. White walls became the backdrop for the Blue Willow crockery that filled the shelves and hung displayed on the walls. The counter gleamed an indigo blue, and Dutch tiles of blue and white dotted the back-splash. The appliances were state of the art and sparkled in their newness.

Bobby crouched beside the stove. Hanna went to him.

They’re too young yet, but when they’re older you’ll be able to choose. He reached down and lifted a tiny, squirming velvety brown puppy for Hanna’s inspection.

How adorable, she said, stroking his head with a finger. The puppy wriggled and squealed his displeasure. His eyes aren’t even open yet.

He’s a chocolate lab, Bobby said, putting the puppy back with his siblings and the mother. She immediately began to bathe the mewling baby. Hanna counted five puppies. I thought that you’d like to have some company when you move here.

Hanna smiled at Bobby. He was so thoughtful.

Thank you. You’re so…

Mom! Mom, it’s Grace and Bethany.

Hanna looked around, confused at the intrusion of the new voice. No one was there. She looked back at Bobby who appeared not to have heard the voice.

You’re so kind to me, and I just…