Chapter Three: A Friend Remembered



As Belinda walked down the hall, toward her office, she was worried, not just for Landon but for herself and for Eric as well. She thought they all had pretty much moved on but now........

Belinda opened the door to her office and walked in. On one side of the office, on the wall was the pictures of the hundreds of children she had treated over the years some of them made it but others did not. Above their pictures on a wooden plaque was the words " Jamie's Legacy.

When she choose Pediatric Leukemia as her specialty it was were she wanted to be, were she thought she could do the most good.Though both Landon And Eric warned her that while she would recieve great satisfaction it also had the most heartbreak.

Belinda sat down at her desk deep in thought as she turned to face the wall. On the wall was a picture of her and Jamie hugging. Looking at the picture Belinda still found it hard to believe that she and Jamie became the best of friends, no she thought she became her best friend.

She closed her eyes and remembered when that picture was taken. It was taken the day when Jamie started her journey toward faith and God.

It was two weeks after Landon and Jamies wedding. Though she had been at the wedding and reception and see saw Landon occasionally she avoided seeing Jamie. She had never known anyone before who was dying and it being Jamie made it seem worse Maybe it was because of the way she treated her over the years and while she had apologized to Landon she had never apologized to Jamie. Maybe she was afraid, she remebered crying when she found out about jamie and when she was giving Landon the pictures from the spring play.

One day she had run into Landon while shopping." Hello Belinda, How is it going"? " Just fine Landon, How are you two holding up " ? " Some days are better then others but shes doing great, in fact next week this saturday were having a picnic at a park you know friends,family." Thats great Landon Im glad you two are happy."

" One thing though Belinda before you go Jamie wanted to ask you if you come to the picnic also." " Why " asked Belinda." She said she wanted to talk to you about something important What is it Jamie would not say." Belinda let out a deep sigh wondering what she shouild do." Okay Landon Ill be there." " Thanks Belinda I thank you and Jamie thanks you."

On saturday Belinda stepped out of her car, it was a beautiful spring day. She walked down the pathway She saw jamie sitting on a blanket by herself underneath a tree, Landon was talking to his mother and father while barbecuing.



As she walked up to her she could see Lamdon looking at her out of the corner of his eye, just by the look on his face she could tell that Jamie still had not told him what it was she wanted to say to Belinda and if the truth be told she was kind of wondering herself.



Jamie smiled at the sight Of Belinda. ": Hello Belinda Im just so happy that you decided to join us " " No problem Jamie " she replied not really looking at her, but at the green bottle of oxygen next to her on a wheeled carrier, she still was not was not ready for this." I like to thank you for coming to the wedding and reception it meant a lot to Landon and me. " You welcome " she replied and then before Jamie could said anything else " I really do have to be going. "

" Please wait I really need to talk to you about something , Walk with me " as she extended her hand upward to Belinda.

" Are you sure your up to this " she asked a concerned look on her face.

" Ill be fine but well take the oxygen with us just in case " as Belinda helped her up.

They were walking on a dirt trail Belinda helped support Jamie as they walked as she pulled the bottle behind them. Jamie was quiet as if she thinking about what she wanted to say.

" Listen Jamie I just wanted to say I was sorry for everything I ever did to you. " Jamie looked at her " its okay Belinda Landon told me about everthing you did for him apologizing to him giving him the pictures from the spring play and being their for him just to talk to. " Im just glad your here, I just wanted to thank you "

" Thank me for what "

" For being such a good friend to Landon , And to me also. Landon needs a good friend now The next few months will be hard on him especially the last month before I.....I.......

Jamie looked away " I need to sit down " a few minutes as they approched a bench the both sat down..

" Are you okay should I get Landon "

" No Ill be fine dont worry. Anyways Belinda Landon will need your help, your strength, your faith to help him through this.

She could fell the tears begin to flow as Jamie said those words to her help, strength,faith those words had never applied to her.

She closed her eyes then opened them looking straight st Jamie " Please Jamie dont ask me too, I can't help Landon I can't even help myself. I just dont have your strength, your faith, your belief in God.

Jamie hugged Belinda " It will be allright your stronger than you think. Would you say a prayer with me ? Belinda nodded yes

" Dear God " " Grant me your strength, your wisdom, your perseverance. Be my guiding light in the difficult times ahead. Let me put my faith and trust in that things will be allright in the end. Show me your blessings in everything today. Make your presence known to me in the small miracles of everyday life and in the goodness of ordinary people

Amen

Since that day she and Jamie became even closer. She had dinner at their house frequently, Went to church with them on sundays. Even met just with Jamie to read and discuss the bible.She also helped both Jamie and Landon when they needed help.During her last month She even moved into their house to help take care of Jamie., and she was at her bedside when Jamie went and even spoke at her memorial service.

Belinda opened her eyes. She had not thought about that day in years. She missed her terribly as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She still had children and their parents who needed her as she stood up from her desk and walked towards the door opening it than turned around pausing to look at the picture of her and Jamie.

" Thank you Jamie, Thanks for everything. I miss you and you will always be my best friend and for giving me the strength and faith to go on " as she stepped quietly out of her office closing the door behind her.



Thanks for all the nice reviews. Please keep the reviews coming. Originally I had planned on this being a romantic story. but also focus on the friendship of Eric ,Belinda and Landon. and Jamies friendship with Eric and Belinda through flashbacks I might focus on the friendship theme and not do the romantic part. The charecter of Amy will still be included in the story but just as a friend It just depends on if and when I write the next few chapters