Read Online It Only Takes a Moment by Mary Jane Clark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Jane Clark
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at all.
Her husband was taking a nap after working the ten-to-six shift, grabbing a few hours’ sleep before it was time for her to leave for work at the bakery and he would take over on the home front. Rhonda knew he was relieved when it was time for her to go. She had the feeling sometimes that her husband couldn’t stand to be around her. But they had made a promise to stick together, and Dave was the type of person who kept his promises even when he didn’t want to.
So, while she was at work, it would be just Dave and her precious girl together, for most of the day. Now she was glad Dave worked the overnight shift, because that meant he was available for Janie, to watch over and protect her. She was worried though, because Dave could be so intolerant. He could have such a temper. That wasn’t good for a young child. A child needed patience and understanding and gentleness, and Rhonda had those things in abundance. She also had so much love to give. There would be enough love for both Dave and Janie. Dave didn’t have to be jealous or think she would forget about him. She could never forget about Dave. They had been through too much together.
Rhonda walked on bare feet into the kitchen and pulled a box of cereal from the cabinet on top of the refrigerator. She shook Cheerios into two plastic bowls and then poured milk on top. She put the bowls and two spoons on a tray and carried breakfast down the hallway. She wanted to make sure Janie had something to eat before she herself left for work.
The bakery had not yet opened for the day, but the baker had already been in for several hours. Rhonda came in through the rear door, inhaling the aroma of freshly baked bread, crumb cake, and Danish.
She put away her purse, went into the tiny lavatory at the back of the kitchen, and changed into her white uniform. While she was washing her hands, Rhonda looked into the mirror over the sink and realized she was smiling.
She was happy. For the first time in years, she was actually happy. Having Janie had done that for her. Yet, at the same time, Rhonda felt sorry for Eliza Blake. She was undoubtedly devastated, just as Rhonda had been when she’d lost her little girl. She also knew all too well that Eliza would never recover completely, never feel the same again. But, if Eliza were lucky enough to have another child someday, that would help her go on with her life. That’s what was allowing Rhonda to go on with hers.
Eliza was young enough to have more children. That wasn’t possible for Rhonda. It wasn’t fair, but that’s the way it was. Janie was the gift that evened things out.
Rhonda came out of the lavatory and went over to the shelf that was stacked with flattened cardboard containers. She took one, expertly folded it into a box, and lined it with tissue paper. Rhonda went from tray to tray, filling the box with cookies. Sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal-and-raisin cookies, and English toffee cookies—and pieces of the baker’s signature marzipan. Then she took a second box and filled it with lemon squares and brownies, swaddling each in plastic wrap so they wouldn’t bump into one another. Finally, she took both boxes and packed them in a shipping carton.
She stood for a while, thinking about what she wanted to write. A gift card wouldn’t be big enough. She ripped a sheet from the pad of bakery order forms and wrote on the back.
Dear Eliza,
I’m sorry you are going through such a hard time right now. Having lost a daughter myself, I know what it’s like. My heart goes out to you.
These treats are not as sweet as Janie, but I hope they fortify you in the difficult days you are facing.
You’re probably wondering, as I did when my little girl was lost to me, why this has happened. God works in mysterious ways. It will take time to be able to see why Janie was taken from you, or maybe you’ll never be able to understand. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to go through unbearable pain
Her husband was taking a nap after working the ten-to-six shift, grabbing a few hours’ sleep before it was time for her to leave for work at the bakery and he would take over on the home front. Rhonda knew he was relieved when it was time for her to go. She had the feeling sometimes that her husband couldn’t stand to be around her. But they had made a promise to stick together, and Dave was the type of person who kept his promises even when he didn’t want to.
So, while she was at work, it would be just Dave and her precious girl together, for most of the day. Now she was glad Dave worked the overnight shift, because that meant he was available for Janie, to watch over and protect her. She was worried though, because Dave could be so intolerant. He could have such a temper. That wasn’t good for a young child. A child needed patience and understanding and gentleness, and Rhonda had those things in abundance. She also had so much love to give. There would be enough love for both Dave and Janie. Dave didn’t have to be jealous or think she would forget about him. She could never forget about Dave. They had been through too much together.
Rhonda walked on bare feet into the kitchen and pulled a box of cereal from the cabinet on top of the refrigerator. She shook Cheerios into two plastic bowls and then poured milk on top. She put the bowls and two spoons on a tray and carried breakfast down the hallway. She wanted to make sure Janie had something to eat before she herself left for work.
The bakery had not yet opened for the day, but the baker had already been in for several hours. Rhonda came in through the rear door, inhaling the aroma of freshly baked bread, crumb cake, and Danish.
She put away her purse, went into the tiny lavatory at the back of the kitchen, and changed into her white uniform. While she was washing her hands, Rhonda looked into the mirror over the sink and realized she was smiling.
She was happy. For the first time in years, she was actually happy. Having Janie had done that for her. Yet, at the same time, Rhonda felt sorry for Eliza Blake. She was undoubtedly devastated, just as Rhonda had been when she’d lost her little girl. She also knew all too well that Eliza would never recover completely, never feel the same again. But, if Eliza were lucky enough to have another child someday, that would help her go on with her life. That’s what was allowing Rhonda to go on with hers.
Eliza was young enough to have more children. That wasn’t possible for Rhonda. It wasn’t fair, but that’s the way it was. Janie was the gift that evened things out.
Rhonda came out of the lavatory and went over to the shelf that was stacked with flattened cardboard containers. She took one, expertly folded it into a box, and lined it with tissue paper. Rhonda went from tray to tray, filling the box with cookies. Sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal-and-raisin cookies, and English toffee cookies—and pieces of the baker’s signature marzipan. Then she took a second box and filled it with lemon squares and brownies, swaddling each in plastic wrap so they wouldn’t bump into one another. Finally, she took both boxes and packed them in a shipping carton.
She stood for a while, thinking about what she wanted to write. A gift card wouldn’t be big enough. She ripped a sheet from the pad of bakery order forms and wrote on the back.
Dear Eliza,
I’m sorry you are going through such a hard time right now. Having lost a daughter myself, I know what it’s like. My heart goes out to you.
These treats are not as sweet as Janie, but I hope they fortify you in the difficult days you are facing.
You’re probably wondering, as I did when my little girl was lost to me, why this has happened. God works in mysterious ways. It will take time to be able to see why Janie was taken from you, or maybe you’ll never be able to understand. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to go through unbearable pain
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