Upon a Midnight Clear & Secrets of the Heart

Callie Randolph scanned the employment ads of theIndianapolis News.Her eyes lit upon a Help Wanted entry:Special child, aged five, needs professional caregiver. Live-in. Good wage. Contact David Hamilton. 812 area code.Southern Indiana, she assumed. "Live-in,"she wanted. But a child? She raised her head from the ad and caught her mother, eyeing her. "You've been quiet since you got home," Grace Randolph said, resting back in the kitchen chair. "Tell me about the funeral." "It was nice, as funerals go. But sad, so close to the holidays." Ethel's death, coming as it did on the footsteps of Christmas, jolted Callie with the memories of a birth six Christmases earlier. Pushing away the invading thoughts, Callie shifted in her chair and focused on her mother. "More people than I would expect at the funeral for someone in her nineties, but I suppose most of the mourners were friends and business acquaintances of Ethel's children. The family has a name in the community." "Ah yes, when we're old, people forget." "No, it's not that they forget. When we'rethatold, many of our own friends and acquaintances have already died. Makes coming to a funeral difficult."Callie hoped to lighten Grace's negative mood. "It'll feel strange not taking care of Ethel. She had the faith of a saint and a smile right to the end. Always had a kind word." She raised her eyes, hoping her mother had heard her last statement. Grace stared across the room as if lost in thought, and Callie's mind drifted to the funeral and the preacher's comforting words."Ethel lived a full and glorious life, loving her Lord and her family."Callie pictured the wrinkled, loving face of her dying patient. Ethel's earthly years had definitely been full and glorious. In contrast, Callie's nearly twenty-six years had been empty and dull. Her dreams had died that horrible March day that she tried to block from her memory. Her life seemed buried in its own tomb of guilt and sorrow. "So, about the funeral--?" Callie slammed the door on her thoughts and focused on her mother. "Tell me about the music? Any hymns?" Grace asked. Callie eyed her, sensing an ulterior motive in her question. "Real nice, Mom. Organ music and hymns." "Which hymns?" Callie pulled her shoulders back, feeling the muscles tightening along the cords of her neck. ""Amazing Grace," 'Softly and Tenderly."" "I can hear you singing that one. So beautiful." Callie fought the desire to bolt from the room. She sensed an argument heading her way. Instead, she aimed her eyes at the newspaper clutched in her hands. Grace leaned on an elbow. "So what will you do now?" "Find a new job, I suppose." She hesitated, wondering what comment she'd receive about her newest resolve. "But I've made a decision." Callie met her mother's eyes. "I'm not going to give elderly care anymore. I'll find something else." "Praise the Lord, you've come to your senses. Callie, you have a nursing degree, but you continue to waste your time with the deathwatch. You need to live and use the talent God gave you." Deep creases furrowed Callie's forehead. "Please don't call it the deathwatch. Caring for older people has been a blessing. And Idouse my talents." She shook her head, amazed at her mother's attitude. "Do you think it's easy to nurse someone who's dying? I use as many skills as I would in a regular hospital." Grace fell back against the chair. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to belittle your work, but it's not a life for a young woman. Look at you. You're beautiful and intelligent, yet you spend your life sitting in silent rooms, listening to old people muttering away about nothing but useless memories. What about a husband...and children? Don't you want a life for yourself?" She flinched at her mother's words. "Please, don't get on that topic, Mom. You know how I feel about that." "I wish I knew when you got theMartin, Gail Gaymer is the author of 'Upon a Midnight Clear & Secrets of the Heart ', published 2006 under ISBN 9780373652693 and ISBN 0373652690.