Read Online Miracle Woman by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online Page A

anything like this happening.
    Alice ran in. ‘Granny’s on the phone, Mom,’ she said.
    Mike cast her a knowing look, warning her not to say too much to her mother who could spread news quicker than anyone.
    â€˜Hi, Martha love, how you doing?’
    â€˜Fine, Mom, fine,’ she lied.
    â€˜Did you see today’s paper yet?’
    She was tempted to play dumb and ask which one but could hear the concern in her mother’s voice.
    â€˜I saw it, Mom, I saw it already.’
    â€˜How did that journalist woman ever find out those things? That’s what I’d like to know.’
    Martha let out a deep breath.
    â€˜She came here to the house, Mom.’
    â€˜What! You let her into your home!’
    â€˜I know, but I didn’t realize what she was writing, honest I didn’t.’
    â€˜You didn’t think to ask?’
    â€˜No, I didn’t.’
    There was silence at the other end, which was a pretty rare occurrence when her mother was on the telephone line.
    â€˜Anyways, I’m right proud of you, darling,’ admitted her mother a few moments later. ‘Ever since you were a little girl you always wanted to help people. Your daddy and I were sure you’d end up a nun or a nurse.’
    Despite herself Martha laughed.
    â€˜Maybe you always had the healing power and we didn’t notice,’ pondered her mother. ‘Sure, do you remember the time poor Brian got his hand caught in the door of your daddy’s car? He set up such a ruckus with the pain and you were the only one could get him to quiet down and he let you hold his poor hand under the cold water and you kept on rubbing his arm and wrist until the pain went away. He had the worst bruising I ever saw, his fingers nearly turned black, but funnily enough, he hardly complained of the pain at all afterwards.’
    â€˜Mom,’ said Martha, genuinely surprised that her mother could remember such a childhood event.
    â€˜I do remember, Martha,’ declared her mother, as if reading her mind.
    â€˜Listen, Bee wants to say a word for a minute.’
    Beatrice Patterson was her mother’s best friend and confidante, the two of them having become close companions on moving into the Belmont Retirement Home. Somehow or other Bee had almost managed to replace Joe Kelly in her mother’s eyes. Two elderly women, enjoying the years they now shared together.
    â€˜Hello, Martha,’ she now interrupted in her distinctive husky voice. ‘Frances is all of a fluster here, but I’m just wishing you all the best and I’m so glad that the Lord has blessed you with this gift, for in this cruel world there is much good work to be done.’
    â€˜Thank you, Bee.’
    Martha appreciated the other woman’s sincerity and she found that talking to her mother’s best friend had released something within her. Martha realized that being scared was plain stupid for in reality she had been granted a blessing, the gift of healing people, and she must learn to overcome her reluctance and embarrassment and
use
this gift.
    â€˜You OK, Martha?’ Her mother came back on the line.
    â€˜I’m fine, Mom, just fine.’
    â€˜Don’t you mind what those papers say, honey, or journalists write about you! Martha, do what you have to do helping people. Just you remember that if you hadn’t been there the other day that poor Lucas woman would likely have buried her son, and nothing is worse than the loss of a child – nothing!’
    â€˜I know, I realize that.’
    â€˜Good!’
    Frances Kelly rang off, and no sooner had Martha put down the phone than her sister-in-law and her brother came on the line. Jack was calm and nonplussed by what he’d read, but Annie was in a right state.
    â€˜Martha, I can’t believe it! They are actually saying that you are able to work miracles. God Almighty, it’s so crazy! Jack’s baby sister – I can’t believe it.