A Home for Christmas (Part 3)

(If you’d like to read the rest of this Christmas story, you will find it here)

     Martin had opened up the store and restocked a few shelves and then he turned to Linda, “I think I’ll go check on the kids now,” he said, putting on his heavy coat and thick fur-lined boots.
     “Great,” said Linda as she looked worriedly out the window. It had snowed a few inches yesterday and, while the snow had stopped during the night, it was so cold and windy. She would feel very relieved when Martin had checked to make sure they were okay.
     Martin put Linda’s brown and tan hand-knitted scarf around his neck and put on his gloves and then said “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” and walked out the door.
     Linda sighed as she watched him trudge through the snow up the street. Thankfully, it didn’t sound like the children lived too far away but she really hated that he had to go out in this weather. She hoped the bright winter sun would warm him up as he walked.
     Meanwhile, Martin walked through the snow singing his favorite hymn. “A Mighty Fortress is our God” rang out in the winter sunshine as he walked as quickly as he could through the fresh snow. Soon he was standing before the door of the rundown cabin. He lifted his hand to knock.
     After a moment, Joey opened the door. He looked fearful and Martin realized he didn’t recognize him.
     “Hi, son. I am Mrs. Bell’s husband. You can call me Mr. Martin,” he smiled warmly and reached his hand out to the boy.
     Joey’s face filled with relief. In fact, the relief seemed so great, Martin began to wonder if something else was going on.
     “Is everything okay here? We wanted to make sure you both have what you need.”
     Joey’s shoulders slumped under the heavy load he had been carrying on his young shoulders.
      “Actually, sir, it’s not okay. My sister woke up all hot this morning. First, she’s hot and then she’s cold. I can’t get her to eat or drink anything. I just don’t know what to do,” he wrung his hands in despair and his eyes were filled with fright.
     Martin was wonderfully calm in any situation. He asked if he could check on June and Joey moved aside to let him in.
     He glanced around the cold, drafty cabin as he entered. This was no place for children to be by themselves. He shook his head in frustration at the mother who would leave her children all by themselves in a place like this and without provisions.
     When he saw June lying there, he grew alarmed. He reached his arm out to feel her hot forehead. His expression was sober as he said kindly to Joey, “I wonder if you and your sister might be willing to spend a few days with Mrs. Bell and me? That way we could keep an eye on her and help her feel better.”
     Joey’s heart started beating faster as he considered going to the home of strangers. He was going to say “no, thank you,” but just as he was forming the words, his sister groaned on the sofa. He knew she needed help that he couldn’t give.
     “Okay,” he said softly.
     He quickly gathered a few things and tucked them in an old bag. Martin wrapped the small girl in the warmest blanket he could find and, picking her up gently in his arms, they were soon on their way out the door. Suddenly he stopped and looked at Joey’s feet.
     “Son, do you have some boots?”
     “I don’t,” he said simply.
     “Well, then, we will have to be sure to warm up those feet when we get to my house,” Martin gave him a friendly grin and together they started the walk to town.          

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     Linda heard the bell and looked up from the counter, where she stood going over some accounts. When she saw Martin carrying the little girl, her heart sank. Something was wrong.
     She rushed over to him and he said quietly, “Can you hold her for a moment while I take my boots off? And then we will take her upstairs,” and then turning to Joey, who stood shivering, “why don’t we take our shoes off here at the door and then we will go upstairs and warm up,” he smiled.
     “Martin, we need the doctor.”
     “Yes, I plan to go get him as soon as I get the children settled. I’ll stop at Martha’s on my way to see if she can watch the store for a few hours as we sort things out here.” Martha was a lady who had helped Mr. Lambert out before he sold the store and had continued to help them when they needed it.
     Martin and Linda took the children upstairs and made them comfortable. June was laid gently on the sofa, while Joey was given a comfortable arm chair with a hot water bottle for his feet. Linda went to the spare bedroom and was soon back with an armful of cozy quilts. She tucked two around June and gave another one to Joey.
     Soon Martin was out the door and Linda sank down next to June on the sofa. She laid the girl’s head in her lap and turned to Joey, “when did her fever come on?”
     Joey sighed, “this morning. She seemed fine yesterday,” and then he stopped as he remembered something, “although now that I think about it, she didn’t want any supper.”
     “Hmmm… well, I’d guess she just came down with some type of flu. It’s going around, you know,” noticing the growing fear in Joey’s eyes, she quickly added, “most people recover quite nicely from the flu.”
     “My grandma died from the flu,” the boy said quietly.
     A tear ran down the left side of his face as he finally sat in a safe and warm place with adults to care for him. He had not felt this safe or warm or cared about since his grandma had passed on.
     Linda seemed to sense this and, looking tenderly at the young man, said, “don’t worry, Joey, we will do everything we can to help June. And you.”
     As Linda gently rubbed June’s head, her restlessness decreased and her breathing evened out. Soon she was sleeping peacefully.
     As the three sat there in silence, Linda prayed for the children. She asked the Lord to show Martin and her how to best help them. Love was quickly growing in her heart for these two precious souls.