She smiled and led the way. “I find this to be a rather nice spot.”
The place she chose was under the trees. There was a gathering of cushioned metal chairs and a small table. It seemed quite restful, but Roman didn’t believe he could rest. Not given the way he’d just made a fool of himself.
“I’m sorry I got a little carried away. There’s something about you, that ... well, never mind. I’m sorry that I didn’t even stop to ask you how your grandfather was doing. You must think me terribly rude.”
“Not at all. He’s not doing well. His heart is failing. The doctor had once believed he might live until the end of the summer but now says it will be perhaps a couple of weeks at most. Apparently, it can come in one big attack or his heart will simply cease to function.” She held up her hand to his surprise. “You don’t need to tell me you’re sorry. I know that a great many people will be happy when he breathes his last. I don’t even know him well enough to truly understand what I feel about the situation. I am praying that he will make his peace with God. I know Reverend Knickerbacker has visited him twice, although I have no idea what they have discussed.”
“The reverend is a good man. He cares deeply about people, and I doubt your grandfather has had cause to alienate him.”
“If he has, the reverend is good at hiding his feelings. Still, I’d feel better if I knew my grandfather understood the simplicity of salvation in Christ. I suppose I won’t rest until I share that with him myself. Then I’ll know for sure he’s heard the good news. I know it would please my father and mother to know I’d done such a thing.”
“You must miss them.” Roman wasn’t sure what else he might say. He glanced at Judith’s profile and found himself once again lost for the moment. He was completely smitten. It was as if he were a schoolboy. He silently chided himself to remember he was nearly forty years old.
“They were good people. You would have liked them, especially my mother. She was the one who taught me about the importance of giving and helping those less fortunate, although my father felt the same way. I’ve managed to make it a focal duty. I plan to be a part of charity work for the rest of my life.”
“As do I.”
She turned to him. “Mary said you were in the war when your father died.”
“Yes. I immediately enlisted as a doctor with the Union Army.”
“I’m sure it must have been terrible for you, especially being separated from your family.”
“It was harder than anything I’d ever been up against.”
Judith surprised him by touching his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ve always associated it all with that man.” He glanced back at the house. “I’ve kept a lot of hate inside, and until now, I wasn’t sure I could ever let it go.”
“What’s changed?”
He looked back at her. “You came into my life, for one thing. I wasn’t expecting anything good from James Ashton.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry if that was rather forward. My mother has been a big influence on me. She is faithful to pray and encourage me. She’s been after me to forgive, always pressed me saying that hating James Ashton wasn’t going to change the past, but that it could certainly alter the future. She was right.”
His expression turned serious. “I’ve been so angry and frustrated by the past that I’m miserable in the present. I could never see that a decent future was even possible. Now I do. I don’t know how easy it will be to forgive your grandfather, but I intend to do just that.”
Judith offered an encouraging smile. “I know it will benefit you greatly. After all, how can you be friends with the granddaughter of the man you hate?”
Or get her to fallin love with you.The thought made Roman smile. He shrugged. “Exactly.”
“Sometimes we just need proper motivation,” Judith said. “Whether it’s needing to right wrongs, to help those in desperate need, or to forgive. We need to remember that the love and grace of God has blessed us, and we need to extend that to others.”
In that moment, Roman had what he could only describe asa vision of the future. He could see himself and Judith sitting just like this, years down the road, talking about something else that was important to them. They would make this spot a special place. Their place.
After Roman left for home, Judith didn’t have words for her feelings. Roman Turner had taken her by surprise with his appearance and honest explanation of his emotions, but she was very glad it had happened. For reasons beyond her understanding, she knew that something life-changing had just taken place in her grandfather’s garden.
She made her way upstairs to see how her grandfather was doing. It was nearly six, and soon dinner would be served. Perhaps she should ask for her tray to be brought to his room so that they could share the time together.
Knocking at his door, Judith waited until Winchell appeared. “Good evening. Is he awake?”
“Yes, miss. He told me you were welcome to see him if you came.”
“How is he feeling?”
“The rest seemed to help a great deal. He’s sitting up, and I believe he’ll be able to eat a little dinner.”
She nodded and made her way inside. The older man was propped up in the bed with his newspaper.
“Good evening, sir,” she said, sweeping into the room as if they were meeting in the office rather than his sickroom.
