Under a Summer Sky (11 page)

T
he receptionist ushered Asa and Maddie into the doctor’s office. “Dr. Raines will be right in,” she said. Asa nodded and walked over to the window. The office had a commanding view of Boston Harbor, and he murmured wryly, “I guess oncology is the right business to be in.” He turned to Maddie, who was already sitting across from the desk with her hands folded. She mustered a smile in response, and Asa studied her. “Bracing yourself?”

She shook her head.

Asa looked around the room. It was not like most doctors’ offices, which were usually paneled with dark, somber wood and decorated with important-looking degrees. In fact, Dr. Raines’s office was painted a soothing tan, and the back wall was covered with strikingly beautiful photographs of snowy mountains, crashing surf, and rustic townscapes.

“I don’t remember his office being so bright,” Asa observed.

“I think it was raining that day . . . or maybe it was just cloudy. . . .” Maddie said, trying to remember. “Or maybe it was just our world that seemed dark.”

“Maybe,” Asa agreed. He stood in front of one of the photographs. “These little towns must be out west somewhere,” he mused thoughtfully. “That’s something I always wanted to do— travel out west to see the Grand Canyon . . . the Redwoods . . . El Capitan. I guess that’ll never—”

Just then, the door opened, and the tall, young doctor came in and immediately walked over to shake Asa’s hand. “Good to see you again, Mr. Coleman.”

Asa shook his hand, looking puzzled. “Good to see you too, Dr. Raines. It’s funny, but I don’t remember you being quite so tall . . . or so young.”

Dr. Raines laughed. “I’m not surprised. You had a lot on your mind that day.” He turned to Maddie and shook her hand too. “How are you, Mrs. Coleman?”

“I’m fine,” she said with a polite smile.

“I was just admiring your photographs,” Asa said, motioning to the walls.

“Thanks,” the young doctor said with a smile. “Photography is an old hobby of mine.”

“You took them?” Asa asked in surprise.

The doctor nodded. “When I was in college, I wanted to be a photographic journalist—travel the world and document everything I saw. It seemed so . . . romantic. But my parents—you know . . .” He grinned. “They wanted to make sure I was going to be able to support myself, and since I was interested in science too, they pressed hard for medical school.” He sighed. “In the end, it worked out. Now I can afford to travel, and I still get to photograph everything I see.”

“Where’d you grow up?”

“Under the wide, blue skies of Montana.”

Asa nodded. “I always wanted to travel out west,” he said wistfully.

“Well, it’s never too late,” the young doctor said, opening the file on his desk. “In fact, you’re going to have time to travel the whole world if you want to.” He looked up and smiled. “Mr. Coleman, your response to the treatment has been remarkable . . . even textbook noteworthy. In fact, your case will be included in all of our future published reports. It’s not unusual, with this particular type of laser radiation, to have significant shrinkage, but in your case, after only six weeks, the tumor you had is undetectable.”

Tears filled Maddie’s eyes as Asa squeezed her hand. His hand felt warm and strong—so different from the last time they’d sat in this office.

“Now, of course, you’ll need to follow up so we can make sure there’s no recurrence.” He looked at the calendar on his desk. “The first time I’d like to see you is in four weeks—so around the beginning of September. After that, every six weeks for a year or so.”

Asa’s eyes glistened as he shook his head in disbelief. When he finally spoke, his voice was choked with emotion. “I can’t thank you enough, Dr. Raines,” he said, standing to shake his hand.

The doctor stood too. “In my experience, it’s the patients who have a strong faith—who believe in some kind of higher power—that have the most profound results. And from the moment I met you, I had a feeling you would have a positive outcome.”

Asa smiled at Maddie. “Maddie’s the one with the strong faith,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I think she has a direct line to heaven.”

The doctor put his hand on Asa’s shoulder. “Well, she’s a keeper . . . and so are you.”

The doctor reached out to shake Maddie’s hand, but Maddie bypassed his outstretched hand and hugged him instead. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome,” he said softly.

Asa held the door for Maddie, and as she stepped out into the late-day August sunshine, she felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders: Asa was going to live . . . their lives would be normal again . . . they would grow old together. Her heart sang with joy.

“I think we should celebrate,” Asa said, putting his arm jauntily over her shoulder.

“What about Harper?”

“She’ll be fine, but if you’re really worried, call Micah.”

“He’s not home. He’s out on the Cape, helping Noah.”

Asa frowned. “How about Bella?”

“Okay,” Maddie said with a nod, reaching for her phone.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting at a table near a window at the Union Oyster House, sipping cocktails and perusing the menu when their cell phone rang. Maddie looked at the screen. “It’s Bella,” she said, flipping it open.

“Hi, Bella,” she said. “What’s up?” As she listened, a smile spread across her face. “Oh, that’s wonderful,” she said, laughing. “Thank you so much for letting us know.” She paused. “Yup, we’ll be home in a couple of hours.”

Maddie closed her phone and beamed. “Two of the eggs hatched!”

“Great,” Asa said, laughing. “I can’t wait to be followed around by fuzzy little goslings.”

M
icah and E stood on either side of Noah, holding up the new granite countertop while Noah spread silicone along the plywood base; then he quickly squeezed a bead of caulk around the rim of the new sink, and they gently set the heavy granite down and slid it into place.

“When is Laney due home?” Micah asked.

Noah frowned and gave the granite a gentle nudge to center it better around the sink. “I think she’ll be home on the twelfth. She didn’t want to have to freeze the peaches because she worried it would make the cobbler watery, so she planned on getting back as close to the sixteenth as possible while still allowing enough time to get everything done. And she wanted to be home for Asher’s birthday, which is the thirteenth.”

“We shouldn’t have asked her to make the cobbler,” Micah said regretfully.

“If you hadn’t asked her to make the cobbler, she wouldn’t have gone to Georgia.”

“Well, it’s too much. It’s bad enough that we’re having the wedding here. She must be absolutely frazzled.”

“She’s okay,” Noah assured him.

E looked up and caught his uncle’s eye, and Micah nodded in understanding. Everyone in the family knew that Noah—ever the optimist—was notoriously bad at gauging his wife’s stress level. “I still think we should make it up to her somehow. Any idea what she might like?”

Noah surveyed the counter and took a sip of his beer. “You really don’t have to do anything,” he said. “She’s getting a new kitchen.”

“I know, but that’s from you—because she’s put up with you all these years,” he added with a grin. “We should do something too.”

“Well, we were just talking about how nice it would be to get away . . . and since E and Gabe are heading back to school soon, maybe you guys could stay with the boys for a weekend.”

“Where are you thinking of going?”

“We talked about Nantucket, but she thinks it’s too expensive.”

Micah nodded. “Well, how about if we give her a gift card for the Century House
and
stay with the boys.”

“She’d love that,” E said, before his dad could answer.

“She would,” Noah agreed, “but don’t you think the Century House is a little extravagant?”

Micah took a sip of his beer. “Nope, Laney’s worth it. She’s always been there for me, and this is long overdue.”

Noah shrugged and turned his attention back to the countertop. “When are they coming with the tent and the dance floor?”

“Probably the same day Laney gets home.”

“Perfect,” Noah said with a chuckle. “She’ll come home to the usual—blessed pandemonium.”

“Well, at least the kitchen’ll be done,” Micah said.

“Maybe,” Noah said with a smile. “E, can you hand me that cloth?”

“Where did you learn how to do all this anyway?” Micah asked.

“We ministers have all kinds of hidden talents,” he said with a grin. “Actually, I learned a lot when I helped Dad update their kitchen.”

“When did you order the cabinets and countertops?”

“Oh, back when Laney started talking about getting a new oven—that was the easy part. Convincing her to go to Georgia was the hard part.”

Micah looked around. “She’s going to be so surprised.”

Noah nodded. “I tried to get an idea of what color scheme she liked when we were picking out the oven, and she seemed to be drawn to the darker colors.”

“Well, it’s gorgeous. She’s going to love it.”

“I wanted to refinish the floor too, but we have to be off of it for three days afterward, so I don’t think we’ll be able to fit that in.”

Micah took a sip of his beer. “Maybe you can do it right before you go away. And we’ll have the boys come stay with us in New Hampshire.”

Noah looked skeptical. “That would involve bringing the dogs too . . . and trying to work around Ben and Seth’s cross-country schedule. It’s a nice thought, but nothing is ever that simple around here.”

Micah laughed. “Well, I guess you’ll just have to camp out in the yard one weekend.”

“Dad,” E interrupted, looking at the clock. “Do you need me anymore?”

“Why? Where are you headed?”

“Out.”

Noah raised his eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.

“I need to go running, shower, and then Chloe and I are going to a movie.”

Micah looked up. “That reminds me—I’m supposed to find out if Chloe’s coming to the wedding.”

“She is,” E said with a smile. “Thanks for inviting her.”

“Good! Beryl and I are looking forward to meeting her. We’ve heard so many good things . . . especially her poetry reciting skills.”

E laughed. “Yup, she definitely impressed Grandpa.”

“And he’s not easily impressed,” Micah noted.

Noah eyed his oldest son. “Well, just because your mother’s not home, doesn’t mean you can stay out all night.”

Micah eyed his brother. “You’re kidding, right? He’s a twenty-one-year-old college senior, and he still has a curfew?”

“Hey, I don’t make the rules,” Noah said defensively. “I just follow ’em.”

“Don’t worry, Dad,” E interjected. “Chloe and I both have to be at work tomorrow, so I’m sure I’ll be home at a decent time.”

Just then, Gabe came in, drying his hands on a paper towel. “Well, the front is all done—two coats. But I’m not responsible for how much paint Ben and Seth spattered on each other . . . and the hydrangeas.”

“I thought you covered the bushes.”

“I did, but they still managed to get it everywhere.” He looked at E. “Are we running?”

“Yup.”

“Hey, are you guys running Falmouth?” Micah asked.

“We are,” Gabe answered.

Noah eyed his brother. “Poor planning on your part.”

Micah frowned. “When is it?”

“The day after the wedding.”

“It’s late this year. Oh, well, maybe next year.” He looked at Gabe. “Are you still going to be our DJ?” he asked hopefully.

“Yup. In fact, I’d like to go over the music with you sometime.”

“I’m staying over tonight . . . so maybe later?”

“Sounds good.”

The screen door squeaked open, and Ben and Seth tumbled in, covered in red paint, and Noah groaned and shook his head.

“It’s his fault,” Seth said, pushing his brother.

“You started it,” Ben protested, pushing back.

Micah just laughed. “I’m so glad I have a girl.”

“You are
now
,” Noah said. “Wait ’til she’s a teenager.”

“Yeah, Uncle Micah,” Seth added. “You’ll wish you had five boys!”

A
s Noah poured fresh paint into the roller tray, he heard Lucky meowing sadly and went out on the porch to investigate. Lucky was sitting by the screen door, watching the birds. “Sorry, pal, no more roaming . . . or hunting. Even if you could go out, those birds are off-limits.” Lucky looked up at him and cried pitifully. “C’mere,” he said, sitting down on the step. Immediately, he padded over, swishing his tail, and swept back and forth between his legs, making figure eights. As he came through the last time, Noah stopped him and gently cupped his head in his hands to get a better look at the wound where his right eye had been. “Looking good,” he said softly, scratching his ears. Lucky purred loudly, continuing to swish his long tail. Then he padded back to the door. “You don’t know how much I wish I could let you out,” Noah said sadly, “but the doc and Mom said no.”

As he said this, he thought about the conversation he’d had with Laney earlier that morning. She’d chatted endlessly about the wonderful time they were having—especially Asher who loved his new cousins and was especially fond of ten-year-old Laurie, who’d immediately taken him under her wing and was teaching him everything there was to know about farming—from canning peaches to making jam—and Lyle had even let him drive the John Deere up and down the driveway.

“He’s in seventh heaven,” she’d reported happily. “He’s already eaten a whole bushel of peaches. I have a great picture of him eating one with sticky juice running down his chin. His face is lit by the setting sun and it just glows. Wait ’til you see it.”

“It sounds like
you’re
in seventh heaven too,” he’d said. “I think you two would probably stay there forever if you could.”

“Probably,” Laney had said, laughing.

Noah had smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time Laney had sounded so relaxed and happy.

“I’m glad we came.”

“Good,” he’d answered quietly.

“Lyle said my parents are coming down after the wedding.”

“That’s a good idea. They’re coming all the way from Maine. They may as well keep going.”

“How are you guys doing?” she’d asked, changing the subject.

“We’re fine,” he’d said, running his hand over the new countertop. “Same old, same old.”

“Are you getting any projects done?” she asked, and he could hear the worry creeping into her voice.

“We’re working on it,” he’d answered honestly, opening the new cabinet and reaching for a coffee mug.

“How are the boys? Is everyone behaving?”

“Yup,” he’d said, pouring the freshly perked coffee. “No problems.”

“Okay, good. Well, I guess I should go. Laurie’s teaching Ash how to make peach hotcakes.”

“Well, tell him I expect him to make them for us when he gets home.”

“I will,” Laney said, lingering. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

They were both quiet, picturing one another far away.

Finally, Laney had broken the lonely silence. “Okay, well, I’ll call again soon.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Noah had hung the phone up and looked out the window. He’d taken a sip of his coffee and wondered if Laney ever regretted the decisions she’d made. He still remembered how much she’d loved the farm when they first met—and how torn she’d been at the time. In the end, she’d been firm in her decisions—once she’d made them—and, as far as he knew, she’d never looked back.... Or had she?

Just then, the phone started to ring again, and Noah pulled himself up, wondering who was calling so early in the day. It persisted until he finally lifted it off the hook. “Hello?”

He paused. “Yes, this is he.” He slowly shook his head, absorbing the news the caller was sharing. “Yes, of course,” he answered. “I’ll come right away.”