Audrey stopped speaking. Dorothy and Maisy held her hands, and they shared their sorrow for one last time.
The grandchildren, all sitting or lying on the grass were totally enraptured by Audrey’s reflection of Peggy’s life, of their life. They wiped their faces that were smeared with their tears. They cried for their grandmothers and for their aunts that obviously loved their Peggy so immeasurably. It was the greatest and the most painful love story they had ever heard. The pain in Audrey’s voice, as she told the story, did not escape the boys as they too succumb to the tragedy and sniffed unashamedly.
Dorothy swallowed her heart trapped in her throat and wiped her tears. “We are meant to rejoice for Peggy, but God does not mind that we show our aching hearts that long for our friend.”
The Weeping Willow tree swung sweetly in the breeze, shading the down turned brows of those sheltered under her. The children sat in silence. They reflected on all that was told and how it was possible to love someone so much and be loved so much in return and then have it ripped from the soul; and yet they still found love in the hearts of others but mostly in Jesus.
Brevyn, who seemed more emotionally affected than the others, was the first of the children to speak. “Why do you think God took Harvey like that?”
Dorothy pulled her grandson onto her lap and comforted him, stroking his face with soothing affection. “My darling child, we will never know these answers. We know that God always knows best, that God needed Harvey in Heaven probably to serve in God’s Army. Never worry about why God does something. God is all powerful, He created us, and if He needs us then, He has the right to take us. The only time we will ever know the answers to these questions is when we are in Heaven one day. So why worry about it here on earth.”
Audrey ruffled Brevyn’s hair and squeezed Dorothy’s hand. “Okay let’s get back to the house before they send out a search party for us.”
Gradually everyone stood up and stretched out their bodies. Brea pulled Audrey into a complete emotional embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around Audrey. She sobbed for a few minutes and then drew back and wiped her face again. “Thank you, Aunty Audrey.”
“Whatever for my dear?”
“For telling me the story, it was so beautiful.” Brea had to fight the urge to start crying again, “How lucky you are, to have been such great friends your whole life.”
“Thank you, my child, but we have not just been lucky; we have been so incredibly blessed.”
Maisy looked up at the Weeping Willow tree; its leaves tickled the branches as it swayed gently, almost protectively above them.
The three ladies, dressed in black with their silver hair shining in the sun and their sad eyes hidden behind their sunglasses, linked their arms and started the walk back along the pathway toward the exit of the park.
The children walked slowly and almost silently behind them.
The Weeping Willow tree gave a final swish of wind onto Audrey, Dorothy, and Maisy’s backs. They stopped; each lady shivered and turned around to look at the tree. They looked at each other, smiled, shook their heads and continued on their way.
Harvey and Peggy followed closely behind their beloved families. Not with China-blue eyes and not with chocolate colored hair but in spirit.
*The End*
“2 Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5: 2 – 5