"How do you feel, Son?" August asked as he bent over the boy.
"Daddy," Gerald said, forgetting himself. "You came back. I thought maybe you didn"t like me anymore."
"That could never happen, Gerald," August replied. "I was very far away in a hospital, much like this one."
"A hospital?" Gerald questioned. "What"s a hospital?"
"Oh, Gerry," Beth said as she sat down beside him. "A hospital is a place for sick people to get well. You"ve been very sick, but G.o.d has made you well."
"I had nice dreams," Gerald said, surprising them both. "I dreamed about lots of pretty flowers and a big river. Bigger than the one Phillip fell into."
Beth glanced in amazement at August and then back to her son"s shining face. "I"ll bet it was wonderful," she replied. "I"m so glad you"re feeling better," she added, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Me, too. I"m hungry, Mommy. Can I have some breakfast?" Gerald asked.
August laughed loudly. "Spoken like a true boy."
"Always hungry," Beth admitted. "We"ll see if we can"t manage to find something for you to fill that empty tummy of yours."
"I"ll go right now and speak with the doctor," August said. But before August had made it to the door, Dr. Matthews entered the room and stared in shocked surprise at the sight of Gerald sitting up in bed.
"What"s going on?" the doctor asked as he crossed the room.
"I told you G.o.d would make him well," August said with a hearty slap on the doctor"s back.
"It"s impossible," the doctor whispered in amazement. "That child should be dead by now." His words were spoken so softly that only August could hear them.
"Well, he isn"t. In fact, he"s very much alive and very hungry," August informed the man. Gerald agreed with an enthusiastic nod of his head.
"I simply don"t believe it," Dr. Matthews said, walking over to Gerald"s bed.
"Many people never do," Beth said firmly, refusing to take her eyes from her son"s face. "And because of that, they never know the fullness of G.o.d"s powerful love."
The doctor shook his head as he examined Gerald. He took a thermometer from his medical bag and put it into Gerald"s mouth. While he waited for the results, the doctor felt for a pulse. His eyes registered surprise when he found a strong, steady beat.
Taking the thermometer from Gerald"s mouth, Dr. Matthews again shook his head. "It"s normal, and his pulse is strong and steady," he said, looking to Beth and August as if for an explanation.
"G.o.d has worked a miracle, Doctor," Beth said as she tousled Gerald"s hair. "He has given me back my son."
The doctor nodded. "I suppose you"re right." He had Gerald bend his head back and forth and from side to side. When he was satisfied that no symptom of the meningitis remained, he declared the boy could eat some breakfast.
Beth and August joined Dr. Matthews at the door of Gerald"s room. "I"ll need to run some more tests, but I must say, I am completely amazed," the doctor said humbly. "I have never seen G.o.d work a miracle such as this in the life of anyone, let alone one of my patients. Makes me feel rather useless."
"We want to thank you for all you did to help Gerald," Beth said as she extended her hand. "We know you did what you could, and we don"t believe it useless for one moment. You simply operated under human limitations. We took it beyond that and expected divine results." Beth"s words were gentle and supportive.
August nodded as his arm encircled Beth"s waist. "If we could do everything ourselves, there"d be no need for G.o.d. Since we can"t, we must turn to Him on a daily basis and pray for guidance, strength, and direction. I hope you feel inspired by this miracle."
"I certainly feel a wonderment about it," the doctor admitted. "It"s like nothing I"ve ever seen, and it certainly bears consideration. Now, if you"ll excuse me, I"ll send a nurse in with a breakfast tray."
Beth smiled. "I know that"ll make Gerry a very happy boy." The doctor nodded and turned down the hall, a baffled look covering his face.
"I guess that"ll teach him to question a woman of faith," August said with a laugh as they turned back to Gerry.
"Where"s my brother?" the boy asked eagerly. He was already trying out the bounce in the hospital mattress.
"He"s back at the roadhouse with Mrs. Miller," Beth explained. "This hospital is in Fairbanks."
"That"s far, far away from home," Gerald said, amusing both August and Beth. "How did I get here?"
"We took the airplane," Beth answered. "The soldiers helped us get here. Do you remember anything at all?"
"Nope," Gerald replied. "I just remember sleeping and sleeping. I"m glad you came back, August. You aren"t going to leave again, are you?"
"No," August said, rea.s.suring the child. "I don"t plan on being far from you ever again."
"Good," Gerald said with a grin. "It made my mommy sad when you went away."
"Gerald!" Beth said with a finger to her lips. "You mustn"t tell August about all that."
"Of course he must," August said with a grin to match Gerald"s. He lowered his head to Gerald"s and added, "I want to know everything that happened while I was away."
Beth shook her head at the grinning faces. "It isn"t the past that matters," she chided with a smile. "It"s the future that counts, and I intend that we should have a glorious one."
"I agree," August said, holding his hand out to Beth. "You can tell me all about it later," he added with a wink to Gerald.
"You are quite impossible, Mr. Eriksson," Beth said in mock exasperation.
"Not at all, Mrs. Hogan," August said as he lifted Beth"s hand to his lips. "Just determined."
The touch of his lips on Beth"s hand caused her to tremble. She could feel her pulse race and her breathing quicken. For the first time, nothing stood between her and August.
As if reading her thoughts, August smiled. He could feel her quiver at his touch. His eyes met hers, and in their reflection he saw all of his long-held dreams coming true.
"When"s the food going to get here?" Gerald interrupted. "I want to eat, and then I want to go home."
August and Beth laughed and pulled Gerald into their arms. "I think that sounds wonderful," Beth agreed.
Chapter 15.
Several bowls later, Gerald gobbled down oatmeal with raisins while Bethany told him about his days spent in the hospital. Meanwhile, August made arrangements for their trip home. He felt a lightheartedness he"d never known.
"Julie?" August spoke into the receiver of the phone. "It"s August."
"August, how"s the little boy?" Julie questioned through a static-filled line.
"He"s fine. We got our miracle, Julie. Gerald rallied in a remarkable way," August replied.
"Praise G.o.d," Julie replied. "I knew He"d hear our prayers. How is Beth?"
"She"s exhausted, but otherwise great. You would like her, Jewels. She has a strong faith just like you. She never doubted that G.o.d could make a difference," August said with pride.
"She sounds like the perfect woman for you," Julie remarked. The static played havoc with the line. "I"m sorry about the connection. I don"t know if it has anything to do with it or not, but we"re in the middle of a fierce storm. High winds and snow. You know the type."
"I do indeed. The temperatures dropped considerably here, but good weather is holding, which is another blessing. They"re still trying to finish up the highway. I think they"ll be done within a matter of a week or so," August replied.
"Will you be coming home after that?" Julie asked hopefully.
"I"d just begun thinking about that," August answered. "I want to come back, at least to get my things. I miss my dogs, and I want to teach the boys how to drive a sled."
"We"ll look forward to seeing you," Julie said enthusiastically. "Sam has missed you a great deal," she added.
August thought of how much Sam would have enjoyed working on the highway. "I"ve missed him, too. Tell him h.e.l.lo and that I"ll see you both soon. I"ll talk to you again before I actually come back. Thanks again, Jewels."
"I"m glad we could be a part of your miracle," Julie replied. "It was good to hear your voice. Please take care of yourself."
"I will. I love you, Sis."
"I love you, too. Good-bye." Julie"s voice was barely audible through the static.
After another quick call to Ralph Greening, August was free to return to Beth and Gerald.
"It"s all set," August said as he entered the room. "As soon as the doctor gives his approval, we"ll be on the first transport plane for Northway."
Gerald had finished his breakfast and waited eagerly for his mother"s permission to get out of bed.
"Dr. Matthews said we could leave as soon as he has one of the other doctors take a look at Gerald," Beth said with a smile.
August looked at her with appreciation. Now that his own bitterness toward G.o.d and Gerald"s serious illness no longer filled his mind, August was beginning to recognize the perfection of the woman before him. She was everything he"d ever needed or wanted.
"Did you hear what I said?" Beth questioned.
"Huh? No, sorry. What did you say?" August asked as he crossed the room.
Beth laughed. "It wasn"t important. I have you and Gerald, and soon we"ll go home to Phillip. That"s what matters."
Dr. Matthews came into the room unannounced just then. With him was an elderly man Beth didn"t recognize.
"This is Dr. Barnes," Gerald"s doctor announced. "I"ve asked him to evaluate our patient and give his opinion."
"How nice to meet you, Dr. Barnes," Beth said as she extended her hand. "So you"ve come to see our miracle boy."
"Yes, Mrs. Hogan," the man said, shaking her hand. "I must say, I was quite enthralled by the boy"s recovery. I understand your son was only two days on the experimental medicine from the States."
"Yes, that"s true," Beth said and added, "but I don"t believe that"s what cured him. After all, you folks had given him up for dead."
Dr. Barnes picked up Gerald"s chart and studied it for a moment. Gerald finally broke the silence. "Are they going to let me go home, Momma?"
"I think so, Gerry, but you must be quiet and let the doctors do their job," Beth replied, giving her son a hug.
Dr. Barnes continued his examination of Gerald and finally turned back to Beth with a smile. "I see no reason to keep this child here any longer. Your son is completely healed to the best of my knowledge."
"Thank you," Beth replied. She threw a knowing smile at August, who had held back in silence while the men examined Gerald.
August stepped forward and put an arm around Beth. "How soon can we leave?" he asked.
"As soon as you"re ready," Dr. Barnes replied. "I release the boy as of now."
Gerry let out an excited scream at the verdict, and August and Beth thanked the doctors once more for their help as the medical men turned to leave.
When the doctors had left, August turned to Beth. "Ready to go home, Mrs. Hogan?"
"Definitely," she replied, taking his offered hand.
August and Beth hugged Gerald close. August silently thanked G.o.d for the loving family He"d provided.
"You know," August began, "I think we should have a word of prayer and thank G.o.d for all He"s done for us. Then I think we should get out of this hospital and head home to Phillip and Mrs. Miller."
"I agree," Beth said, lifting her eyes to August. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her days loving this man and her children.
"Father, we come to You with thankful hearts," August began. "We praise You for the healing of Gerald"s body and for the mercies You showed me in bringing me back to the truth."
Beth listened intently as August prayed, agreeing with his words and enjoying the blessings of G.o.d"s love. Silently, she added her own requests.
I love him, Lord, she prayed. I love him so very much, and if it is Your will, I pray You"ll see us married quickly so that we can be a whole and complete family.
August ended his prayer and Gerald joined in with a hearty "Amen." Beth lifted her face to reveal tears that she"d not realized she had cried.
"Why are you crying, Mommy?" Gerald asked with a worried look on his face. "Is something wrong?"
August turned, seeing the tears for the first time. "I think your mommy is happy, Gerald. Sometimes folks have a hard time expressing the wonder of how happy they are."
Beth dabbed her eyes with the corner of a handkerchief August offered her. "I am happy, Gerry. I"m so very glad that G.o.d has made you well and that He brought August back to us."
She turned to August, feeling confident for the first time that she could speak what was on her heart. "Please don"t leave us again. We need you. I need you."
Beth"s blue eyes pierced deep into August"s heart. Years later he would remember the moment as one of the most precious in his life. She was so needy, yet so strong. Somehow, the two qualities balanced perfectly, creating one incredible woman.
"And I need you," August whispered, his dark eyes shining with love. "I"ll always need you."
Gerald refused to be left out of the conversation. He was bored with the adult seriousness. "Can we go home?" he asked, breaking the spell of the moment. "I want to play in my tree house."