Aging with Gracie (11 page)

“Is there something I can help you with?” Grace posed a different question.

“I just had a few things to do around here.” The woman’s answer was evasive, and it put Grace on edge even more than she’d been.

“There certainly is a lot to do to keep this place going,” Grace acknowledged. “It seems like the work is never done.”

“You have no idea,” Agatha North smirked. “You come up here and expect to have things fall in your lap. You waltz around this place like you were some kind of princess expecting everyone to do your bidding. Just like that carpenter fellow who was just in here.”

Grace moved a step toward her office, but the woman followed her every movement.

“You have no idea what it takes to run a place like this. People like you make me sick.”

“That’s enough, Ms. North,” Grace warned her as she reached for her phone.

“You haven’t even...”

“Ms. North,” Grace interrupted, not letting the woman finish whatever wickedness she was about to speak. “I have a great deal of respect for the challenges nurses face. I also know that my decision to fire Mr. Watson did not set well with you.”

The other woman gave her an evil look, but Grace continued.

“Unfortunately, though, I feel that the quality of your work here seems to indicate that you aren’t happy with your present situation any more than I am happy with your contribution to this facility.”

“Happy?” the woman’s voice began to rise in volume. “What’s there to be happy about in a place like this? I spend all day taking care of old people. How much worse could it get?”

The woman’s attitude and the anger she seemed to harbor was a concern, but Grace was not dissuaded.

“You know, when I found out that I had to come here, I felt the same way,” Grace told her. “I knew nothing about old people, and I certainly didn’t want to work with them. But you know what? I had no idea how wonderful serving these people could be. God has placed a great task upon us, and we have to do our best in taking care of the residents here. After all, we will be old someday, too.”

“How dare you speak of God to me!” the woman shrieked. “I heard part of what that stupid minister said tonight, and I could barely tolerate it. I don’t even believe in God.”

“That is a very sad view to have Ms. North, because the God I serve is a powerful and loving God,” Grace knew the woman was beyond hearing any discussion of spirituality, but she couldn’t just stand by while Agatha North defamed God.

“You know what?” Agatha North looked as if a light bulb had come on in her mind. “It sounds like you are discriminating against me based on religion. I could drag you into court for that,” the woman warned.

“I don’t think so, Ms. North,” Grace told her. “The new contract you signed when The Woodhouse Corporation purchased the property specifically states that our company is a faith-based organization. We have always put Christ at the center of our business, and we will continue to do so. Furthermore, your religion or lack thereof has nothing to do with my reasons for terminating you.”

“You’re firing me?” the woman screamed.

“As I was saying,” Grace continued. “I am terminating your employment with Mansfield Park because you have been doing a sorry job.” The nurse attempted to interrupt again, but Grace raised a hand to silence her. “Not only have you endangered the health of our residents, but your insubordinate attitude and your blatant disregard for the words of a very dedicated minister are completely unacceptable. Now, you may take five minutes to retrieve your personal belongings from the nursing office, and then I will require you to leave the premises.”

The woman stomped away to collect her purse, and a few moments later, she exited the building with a slam that shook the glass in the front door. At the sound, Jack walked out of the common room.

“How long have you been there?” Grace asked with a sigh.

“Long enough,” he answered.

“I thought about calling you,” Grace admitted with a shiver. “I was started to get a little scared. That woman is definitely unstable.”

“I would certainly agree with that assessment.” Jack raised his hand to her upper arm to rub away the chill.

“I don’t like that part of the job, but I couldn’t keep her on any longer,” Grace told him, the mixed emotions evident in her worried green eyes. “She was unsafe, Jack. I couldn’t continue to expose everyone to her wrath. There’s no telling what harm she’s capable of inflicting.”

“Hey, Sugar, you don’t have to justify any of this to me.” He pulled her against his chest for a hug and looked down into her eyes. “I’m proud of you, Gracie. It’s really not about
you
anymore, is it?”

“Is that a compliment, Jack Ellis?” She gave his arm a gentle pinch.

“Call it what you like, Princess,” he linked her fingers with his. “I think you’ve started to understand that there’s a higher calling here.”

“You’re right, Jack,” she agreed. “God’s will becomes even clearer with every passing day.”

She leaned into the strength of his arms and laid her head against his shoulder. She’d never really been comforted like this, and she was amazed how such a simple act of kindness could calm the emotions tugging at her heart.

“
He
has a way of making each of us face reality, doesn’t He?” Jack chuckled, and Grace felt the echo of his laugh against her cheek. “Just when I think I know what He wants from me, I feel convicted about something else.”

“I think it’s called spiritual growth.”

“You don’t
mean
it,” Jack threw out one of his frequent quips.

“Jack,” she began to scold him, but when she looked up, she found his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

He placed a quick kiss on her forehead.

“Well
, I,
for one, am certainly glad that God put you in my path, Gracie Woodhouse,” He grabbed her hand and gently tugged her toward the exit. He wanted to make sure Nurse North had driven off the premises before he locked the door. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had such an enjoyable work experience.”

“Work experience?” She gave him a playful pout. “You think I’m a work experience?”

“Like I said, it’s all about growth.” Jack smiled. “Give it time, Princess, and I think we’ll find more in this little place than either of us could have ever imagined.”

“You just might be right, Jack Ellis,” Grace grabbed her jacket off the coat rack and followed him outside.

“Me? Right?” Jack feigned disbelief. “You don’t mean it, Gracie Woodhouse.”

“Jack...”

But she didn’t have a chance to continue. He had already tucked her into her car and slammed the door closed. He gave her a wave and headed toward his truck.

“Dear Lord,” Gracie whispered in the quietness. “Tonight was a hard one. You know that more than me. But here’s the thing, God. I’m just going to keep trusting you. Like Jack said, you’ve got a very special plan for me, even for Jack and me, and I’ve just got to follow your lead. Thank you for helping me, Lord. Thank you for guiding me through the most difficult...and the most amazing...time of my life. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you
. Amen.”

Chapter Five

Love and “Freindship”

(Austen spelling)

The following Saturday morning, Grace grabbed Mr. Knightley’s leash and headed out for a walk. English Bulldogs were sometimes high-maintenance, but her little fellow was worth the work. Every time she looked at his short, stubby legs and pouty little underbite, her heart melted.

As if he knew she was thinking about him, Mr. Knightley flashed freshly-brushed teeth. Grace leaned down, gave his huge head a gentle rub, and clipped the leash onto his collar.

She stood up, pulled her hair into a loose ponytail, and tugged on a lightweight pink fleece jacket, all the while trying to keep Mr. Knightley from taking a nosedive off the porch. With autumn, cooler weather had arrived, and the brisk morning air and the anticipation of a walk had the little fellow almost frantic with excitement. It was quite the opposite image of the pouty pooch Grace normally had to coax off his doggy bed with a treat.

It must be this place
, Grace thought.

She breathed in the fresh mountain air and closed her eyes, letting the tranquility of the setting rain down upon her. Because of Mr. Knightley, she had decided to continue on at White Mountains instead of moving to a suite at Mansfield Manor. The inquisitive dog was a sweetheart, but he had a tendency to cause havoc at the residence. Grace figured that the canes and walkers simply offered too much of a temptation to the curious dog, and neither she nor the residents needed any more broken bones.

Grace was so absorbed in the colors of the fall foliage that she barely noticed Jack making his way up the sidewalk to the house. She cocked her head and tried to rein in Mr. Knightley. He’d already seen Jack, and if previous encounters were anything to bank on, the dog was expecting a treat.

“What are you doing here?” she asked with a questioning smile.

“Rescuing you,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“And what makes you think I need rescuing?” Grace propped her free hand on her hip and arched her dark brows.

“Every princess needs rescuing,” he paused, then smiled. “You just seem to need it more than others.”

“How rude!” She pushed at his chest. The action was a big mistake because her palm ended up flat against his firm chest muscles. She clenched her hand before she completely embarrassed herself by going back for seconds.

“Come on, Gracie. Be honest.” He took Mr. Knightley’s leash from her grasp and led him down the steps. “You’re killing yourself at Mansfield.”

“It’s my job.” As she began to argue, she noticed Jack sneaking Mr. Knightley a treat. “Plus, my name is
Grace
, not Gracie,” she pointed out. “And you’re going to make him even fatter than he already is.”

“No, I think you’re much nicer as a Gracie,” he contradicted her. “Plus, I have it from a very reliable source,” he nodded toward the bulldog, “That Knightley, here, has lost almost five pounds since arriving in Manhattan.”

“He has not,” Grace groaned. “I can barely pick him up. He’s seventy pounds if he’s an ounce.”

Jack ignored her. In a smooth move, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward a path Grace had never noticed at the back edge of Mrs. Elderman’s property.

“Are you wearing a good pair of running shoes?”

“Running?” She looked at him in disbelief. “I’ve only been off the Injured Reserve List for a few weeks now, Coach.”

“We’re not going running,” he assured her, “But you’ll need a pair of comfortable shoes. Besides, everyone knows that the best way to bounce back after an ankle sprain is to keep it limber.”

“Oh, I’m limber enough,” she blurted out before she realized how the remark sounded. Sure enough...

“You
are
, are you?” Jack gave her a lecherous grin. “Well, why didn’t you say so sooner?”

“Grow up, Jack Ellis,” she huffed with a red face.

“Gracie Woodhouse, I think we both know that I’m all grown up.”

“Well, I...” Grace was nearing the point of speechlessness.

“Let’s get going,” he finally said, giving her a much-needed reprieve.

“Excuse me,” she finally forced herself to say a couple of minutes, and a lost measure of pride, later. “Jack! Hold on a minute.”

“Yes?”

“Uh, one of my shoestrings has come untied. I tied them before I put them on earlier. Unfortunately, I’m going to need to sit down to retie it. It’s still hard to straighten out my elbow enough to reach it standing up.”

Before she could find a place to sit, Jack knelt in front of her and slapped his knee. With a sigh, she placed her shoe on his knee and prayed that she would keep her balance.

“When will you be able to straighten all the way?”

“The doctor says that I’m almost there,” she told him. “He actually said that I’m a little ahead of schedule. Sometimes it takes people almost a year to recover, and I’ve already managed the other range of motion exercises.”

“Well, that’s no surprise.” He finished one shoe then reached toward the other. He tied a double knot as if she were a kindergartner. “I’ve learned that when you set your mind on something, you somehow find a way to accomplish it.”

“Is that a compliment, Jack Ellis?” Grace blushed.

“It just might be, Gracie Woodhouse.” He stood up and touched her cheek. “Do you need to run in for your sling?”

“No,” she shook her head. “Dr. Adams said that I need to continue using my arm as much as possible.”

“Alright, then. Are we ready?”

“I think so.”

“Good. It’ll take a while to get where we’re going.”

Jack latched the gate, and they followed a meandering path of hard-packed Georgia clay from Mrs. Elderman’s white picket fence toward parts unknown...at least for Grace.

The path was well-worn and littered with crisp brown leaves. Despite the thick covering of leaves on the ground, the trees still boasted an abundant mix of color. Deep red maples and yellowed oaks vied for the attention of the sun. They seemed to know that cold weather was on the way and wanted one last day of basking in the warmth.

Mr. Knightley barely noticed the display. He was more interested in what was buried beneath the leaves that had already fallen than in the beautiful display of color waving in the wind. With his little pug nose breathing a staccato of snorts, he intently scoured through the leaf debris in search of doggie treasure.