The Calling (13 page)

“Daddy, can I talk to Mom?”

“Sure, honey, but she might not remember talking to you.”

“That doesn’t matter. I’ll know that I talked to
her
. I want to hear her voice, dad.”

“Okay, honey. I’ll hold the phone so she can hear. Okay, Catie go ahead.”

“Mom, this is Cate. How are you?”

“Cate?” her mother answered, the voice weak.

“Yes, Mom, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Her dad took the phone back. “See, honey. She’s fine. She’s just really sleepy.”

“Daddy, will you call me when you hear from the lymph nodes and about the treatments?”

“Of course, honey. We told you we would keep you in the loop.”

“Daddy, how are you?”

“I’m fine, Catie.”

“Daddy, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I wish I was there.”

“I know, but you’re where you’re supposed to be. Your mother and I have loved reading your letters. We’ve enjoying learning about everyone and everything. We’ve been glad to hear that you feel you are exactly where God wants you. That’s worth more to us than you know. We are thankful for you, and proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I’ll call you in a few days. Your mother will be able to talk to you then.”

“Okay, I’ll say goodbye for now.”

“Bye, Catie,”

Cate hung up, and realized that several people were outside Matthew’s office. As she walked out, they all inquired about her mother. She was happy to give them the news about the surgery. Everyone rejoiced and encouraged her to keep trusting the Lord.

By the time, she returned to her classroom, school was dismissing, but the children, as well as Matthew, stayed.

“We want to know about your mother,” Matthew said, as spokesperson for the group.

“My mother made it through the surgery fine.”

“Miss Cate, we are so pleased to hear this,” Tomas responded, as representative for the class. All of the children nodded.

“Thank you, children,” Cate said, and she began to hug each one. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodbye, Miss Cate. God bless you. We love you,” said the little voices, as they received their hugs and left the classroom.

“We love you, Miss Cate,” Matthew echoed, as he hugged her. “Cate, I’m glad your mother is doing well.”

“Yeah, I am too. We won’t hear from the lymph nodes for about three days. We won’t know her prognosis until then.”

Matthew continued to hold her, “We’ll keep praying.”

Kim and Miss Janet entered while he was hugging Cate. Kim thought a little levity was in order. “In all the time, I’ve been teaching here, he never hugged me like that. Did he you, Miss Janet?”

“You’re just jealous,” Matthew said.

“Jealous? Not me, I’ve got my own man,” Kim said. “As a matter of fact, I expected him to be here to hug me by now.”

“Well, you young folks make me feel left out,” Miss Janet chimed in.

“Miss Janet, don’t you know you’ll always be my best girl,” Matthew said, as he tried to hug her.

Miss Janet pushed him back, “Enough of this nonsense, Cate, we wanted to tell you how glad we were to hear how well your mother is doing.”

“Thank you. We’ll hear about the lymph nodes in a few days and we’ll know the prognosis.”

David and Sarah walked in as she finished. Sarah ran to Cate and hugged her. David asked about her mom. Once again, Cate explained.

“I’m glad things went well. How’s your dad doing?”

“Dad’s fine. I could hear the relief in his voice.”

“Daddy, can we go home now?”

“What’s your hurry?” Cate asked, as she tickled Sarah.

Sarah tried to get away from the tickling, “I want to go home and play.”

“I guess it’s time for all of us to go home,” Matthew said.

“Cate, I’m sorry for such short notice, but could you possibly stay with Sarah tonight? I received a call about an hour ago requesting that I attend a meeting tonight in Quito. I also have a meeting tomorrow, so I’ll be staying overnight with the Pattersons.”

“Sure, how soon do you need me there?”

“Mrs. Garcia will be there until six, anytime before that will be fine.”

“Yay!” Sarah jumped and clapped her hands. “Cate’s coming to our house.”

“So, you’re taking my girl tonight,” Matthew joked with Sarah.

“She was my girl first,” Sarah replied triumphantly. Everyone laughed.

“I sure was, Baby Girl. I guess she put you in your place, Mr. Matthew.”

Matthew smiled and everyone laughed again. Matthew moved close to Sarah, made a face, while giving her the ‘evil eye’, “But, I’m going to walk her home. Sarah, you’ll get her later.”

Sarah tried to make the same face, “Okay, Mr. Matthew.”

Matthew did walk Cate home, while David, Sarah, Kim and Miss Janet walked behind. When they arrived David and Sarah said goodbye to Kim and Miss Janet, but Matthew did not get the ‘alone’ time he wanted with Cate. She was anxious to pack for her stay at David’s house. He had to be content with a little small talk, a hug, a quick peck on the cheek, a goodbye plus a hurried, “I love you.”

Cate arrived at David’s home around five. David had already left for Quito, and Mrs. Garcia was giving Sarah her dinner.

“Miss Cate, I kept your dinner warm. It is in the oven.”

“Thanks, that’s very nice of you.”

Even though Mrs. Garcia was about the same age as Cate’s mother, she and Cate had developed a warm relationship. Mrs. Garcia’s smile and sparkling dark eyes evidenced an inner joy. During Cate’s times of taking care of Sarah, they’d had opportunities to sit and talk, and both had grown to appreciate the other as a sister in Christ.

After dinner, Cate and Sarah spent two hours reading and doing homework before Sarah went to bed. After she was in bed, Cate made a cup of tea and relaxed. She liked David’s home; Jenny had done a great job making it nice and homey, and she was sure that David had not changed anything since Jenny’s death.

The living room was simply furnished, nothing fancy, but comfortable and inviting. A tufted, well-stuffed couch, mingled beige, brown and blue in color, accompanied by a matching chair and ottoman occupied the west and south side of the room. At each end of the couch were end tables with matching lamps. On the north side of the room was David’s favorite chair, a blue rocker recliner he’d had ever since Cate had known him. Behind and to the right of David’s chair and against the wall that led to the kitchen were bookshelves, filled with classics, children’s, and favorite books. Along the wall opposite the couch, there was an entertainment center with a television, a VCR/DVD player, a CD player and numerous movies and videos. A number of beautiful plants adorned the room. Jenny had loved plants and had a green thumb; Mrs. Garcia continued to take care of the plants after Jenny’s death.

It was not a large house. Besides, the living room and kitchen, there were three bedrooms, a bathroom and a small room that David used as an office/study. There was a patio and a little garden out back.

It was odd that Cate could feel so at home in a house that Jenny had decorated and shared with David. Strange as it might be, she did feel at home. She was grateful that was true, because David was away often, so she stayed with Sarah.

She thought about Matthew, that he was going to ask her a question after the crisis with her mother passed. That probably meant he was going to propose. Things with her mother seemed to be going well, so she needed to be considering what her answer would be.

She was sure she loved Matthew,
but do I love him enough to marry him?
When she married Justin, had she loved him or did she only think she did? She wondered what about the marriage had been real. She thought he loved her and she loved him.
Was any of it real?
Moreover, she had loved David, but when Justin came along, she thought she didn’t love him anymore. Now, she thought she was sure she loved David-and Matthew.
Maybe I’m crazy, and shouldn’t marry anybody.
She was more confused than ever. Finally, she did what she should have done in the first place-she prayed. “God, help me, please. I believe Matthew is going to ask me to marry him. I don’t want to hurt him and I do want to do your will. Lord, I don’t know right now who I love, or if I know
how
to love. I’ve made such a mess of my life in this department and I want to stop. I want to love the man you want me to, and how you want me to. God, help me please. I don’t know what to do here. I submit to you. I’ll do whatever you want me to.”

Just as she finished praying and was about to finish her tea, she heard Sarah call out. She hurried to check on her and found that she was talking in her sleep. Cate sat on her bed for a few minutes and patted her back as she settled down to a deep, peaceful sleep. She kissed her softly on the forehead, went to the living room, turned out the light and went to bed.

Cate could see ‘her mountains’ in the distance from her bedroom at David’s house too. She always thanked God for these mountains and their special symbolism to her. She repeated the verse again, “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.” She fell asleep looking at the mountains.

Morning came. She and Sarah awoke, dressed, ate breakfast, said hello to Mrs. Garcia and left for school. Cate deposited Sarah in her classroom and hurried to her classroom to greet her own students. One by one they came, each one greeting her with smiles and hugs. Cate loved each one.

“Miss Cate, me and my family prayed for you and your
madre
,” Stefan said.

“
Muchas gracias
, Stefan.”

“
De nada
, teacher.”

“I prayed too teacher,” Maria said and then, the others.

“I am grateful to you all. How about, we say our morning prayers as we begin? Who would like to pray?”

They all raised their hands to volunteer.

“Juanita, will you lead us in prayer today?”

“
Si
, teacher.” She prayed a beautiful child’s prayer.

One thing Cate particularly liked about mission school was the freedom to talk about Jesus, read the Bible, and pray. It was a delight not only to teach these children the regular kindergarten things, but also about God.

This day was wonderful, and so were the next two. People were nice, concerned and encouraging. Cate was aware of God’s sustaining grace, and she prayed constantly for her parents and about the prospect of marriage to Matthew.

Fourteen

Midday on Friday, Matthew came to her room and told her that her father was on the phone. Leaving her students under Matthew’s supervision, she hurried to the phone.

“Dad,” Cate answered.

“Hi, Catie,”

“What did they find out?”

“There was cancer in one lymph node.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that after your mom has recovered from the surgery, she will need some chemotherapy and radiation.”

“Oh, Daddy.”

“Cate, the doctors believe your mother will be fine. As far as they can tell, they got all of the cancer. According to the CT scans, there isn’t any cancer anywhere else. The chemo and radiation are precautionary.”

“But, Dad, I know it usually makes people really sick.”

“That’s true, but not everyone.” He heard her concern over the phone line, and imagined the anguish on his precious daughter’s face. “We’ll have to pray your mother is one of those.”

“Can I speak to Mom?”

“Sure, here’s Mom.”

“Cate,” her mom said.

“Mom, how are you?”

“I’m fine, honey. I’m ready to go home.”

“Do you have any idea when you might get to go home?”

“Maybe tomorrow,”

“Tomorrow, are you sure that’s not too soon?”

“Well, the doctors don’t think so. Besides, I can do the same things at home that they have me doing here.”

“What do they have you doing?”

“I have to walk at least four times a day. Your father can help me do that.”

“Mom, I’m sure you’re terribly sore.”

“Yes, honey I am, but I’ve got to get up and walk to prevent blood clots or pneumonia.”

“I see. When do you begin chemo?

“In about four weeks,” her mom answered.

“Mom, I love you and I’m praying for you.”

“I love you too Cate.”

“Can I talk to Dad one more time?”

“Sure, honey,”

Her mother handed off the phone.

“Daddy, will you call me in about a week and let me know how Mom is, and again after Mom has her first chemo?”

“Yes, honey, I’ll call you.”

“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”

“I love you too, Catie.”

“Daddy, email me every day or two.”

“I will,” her dad promised.

“Well, I guess we’d better say goodbye now.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

“Goodbye, then,”

“Bye, Catie,” her dad hung up the phone.

When Cate returned to her room, her class had already gone to lunch. She sat down at her desk and said a quick prayer. Afterwards, she made her way to the cafeteria. Matthew and her fellow teachers met her to inquire about her mother. She told them what her parents had said and her colleagues assured her that they would continue to pray for her mother’s recovery.

Though she was trying hard to cover up, Matthew knew that Cate was upset. He finally got her alone long enough to ask. “Cate, I know you’re upset. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, Matthew. I’ll be fine. I just need a little time to adjust. I was hoping that Mom wouldn’t have to have chemo. I am so afraid of what it’ll do to her.”

Matthew took her hand and looked into her eyes, “Cate, I know you have a very special relationship with your parents, and that your mother’s illness has been particularly hard for you to handle. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?”

“I can’t do that. Who’d cover my class?”

“I will.”

“You have responsibilities of your own.”

“And one of those is to take care of my faculty. Please take the rest of the afternoon off.”

Cate hugged him and whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now go home, or for a walk, or do whatever would be most helpful.”