17
“My niece Claudette is here. She’d like to see you, if you have a moment,” Mary told Judith.
“What a pleasant surprise,” Judith said, getting up from behind her grandfather’s desk. “Where is she?”
“I put her in the sitting room. Would you prefer I bring her back here?”
Judith considered it. “No. I’ll take her to the garden. It’s such a beautiful day, and in the shade, it’s quite pleasant.”
“I agree. It has turned out to be a perfect Fourth of July.” Mary Deeters headed for the door. “Would you like me to serve refreshments?”
“That would be lovely, and you should join us.”
Mary left to go to the kitchen while Judith made her way to where Claudette waited. “This is a grand surprise. Why don’t we go out to the gardens. The flowers are quite beautiful, and under those wonderful shade trees, you’ll find the temperatures considerably cooler.”
Claudette stood. “That sounds divine. It’s been such a warm summer.”
The two women made their way out to Judith’s favorite place and took seats. Mary appeared just moments later with glasses of lemonade and slices of Mrs. Markle’s famed ginger cake.
“Mary, please sit and join us,” Judith said, scooting over on the settee.
“Oh, do,” Claudette encouraged.
“I wish I could, but you caught me in the middle of something. Perhaps next time.” Mary kissed her niece’s cheek and made a hasty exit.
Claudette sampled her drink. “This is delicious. Lemonade is something I’ve not had in a very long time.”
Judith knew lemons were quite expensive and no doubt not on the list of affordable luxuries for the Turner family.
“Now, what has brought you here today?”
“The day itself,” Claudette replied, then tasted her drink again. She looked so delighted. “We’re having a little picnic this evening at the lake. Everyone goes there to celebrate, so there will be hundreds of people. We’ll have lots of food. Everyone shares what they’ve brought, and there will be fireworks. We thought since you’d not been here before to celebrate the Fourth, you might like to join us.”
“That does sound like a wonderful time, but I really can’t leave my grandfather. He’s taken a turn for the worse, and the doctor feels his death will be very soon.”
“I’m so sorry, Judith. I thought Roman said he had a month or two.”
Judith glanced up toward the house. Winchell had kept her informed regarding her grandfather’s condition. “He’s progressively gotten worse. It seems each time the doctor comes, he declares the time to be shorter and shorter. I don’t think I can leave him.”
“Of course not. We understand. It’s so hard to watch someone die. I remember my father...” She fell silent.
“Do go on. I’d be honored to hear your story.”
Claudette looked up with tears in her eyes. “I’ve said very little about it. Mother was always so devastated and sad that I didn’t want to add to it. And with Roman—well, he blames himself for not being here. I still struggle with Papa’s passing, though.”
“But you suffer in silence because you care so much for others.” Judith smiled. “Let me be your confidant and bear your burden as the Bible encourages us to do.”
“Papa was my entire world. He was the kindest, gentlest man. He was such a good father, and I always knew I was so special to him. He loved Roman, of course, and was so very proud of him. But Papa said I was his precious gift from God—an unexpected gift. I came long after Mama thought she was unable to have more children. Papa was so happy, she told me. He had always wanted a daughter. We were very close, he and I, and when he was ruined financially, I did my best to cheer him, but I was just ten years old.”
“I’m sure in many ways, you were the only one who could offer cheering. You must have given him great consolation.”
“I like to think so, but even I can understand that it wasn’t enough. He felt the fool for having allowed Mr. Ashton to ruin him. He lost his will to live. Mama said he died from a broken heart. Oh, how I wished I could have mended it for him.” Tears slipped down her cheek. “But I wasn’t enough.”
“Oh, darling girl, it’s so much more complicated than that. You mustn’t blame yourself. Men are focused on providing for their families. It’s the way God has made them. They are to protect and provide, and when those things are stripped away from them, they are left feeling helpless and even worthless. You could have done nothing more than love him.”
“I certainly did that. Even as he took to his bed, having completely given up hope, I curled up next to him and read him stories and shared memories. I so hoped they would revive him.”
Judith reached over and took hold of Claudette’s hand. “How you must have suffered his loss. I am so sorry for all that you endured. And then to find your welfare threatened the next year when the Sioux made war.”
