Jeremy's True Love Part Four
"No! Dr. Wright! No!" Candy cried crumpling to the floor.
Jeremy was almost blind from the tears in his eyes, but he managed to reach down and help Candy get up from the floor.
Candy clung to her husband burying her face in his chest as she squalled her heart out.
Jonah had lost consciousness from the high fever on the way to the clinic. He was unaware of the doctor's frightening words and his parents' heartbroken reactions.
When the Bolts were able to calm themselves a bit, Jeremy said, "What about that high fever? Jonah's unconscious."
"I'm going to start wiping him down with cold cloths. As serious as the fever is, he needs the oxygen the most right now." Dr. Wright said.
"Doctor, when Jonah woke up crying, he said his heart hurt. Then you said the Scarlet Fever appears to have affected his heart." Candy told her.
"Yes, Scarlet Fever can sometimes cause damage to the heart particularly in children. It affects the valves in the heart. Jonah's pain may be an indication that he is developing Pneumonia. That can be a side effect of Scarlet Fever." Dr. Wright said.
"Oh, no! With scarlet fever, heart damage, and pneumonia, no wonder you think he might not live." Candy replied.
"How long do you think our boy has, Dr. Wright?" Jeremy asked.
"I'm sorry to say only a few days, Jeremy." Dr. Wright answered sadly.
"Days…." Candy echoed the word. "Jeremy…."
"Sweetheart." Jeremy put his arm around her and kissed her hair.
"Doctor, we will go anywhere and do anything that can be done to save Jonah. Please say that there is something we can do." Jeremy implored her.
"I'm sorry, Jeremy. There's no treatment available." Dr. Wright placed her hand on his arm.
"I understand. Thank you. Candy, do you mind if I go to the church for a little while?" He looked at her.
"That's fine, Jeremy." Candy knew that he needed some time to deal with the heartache of losing their child.
Jeremy kissed her cheek and glanced at Jonah before leaving the clinic.
Once outside, Jeremy sprinted to the church. His emotions were churning.
Inside the church, he walked to the organ and sat down on the bench. When he picked up the hymnal, it fell open on Amazing Grace. Jeremy hit the notes of the tune one key at a time with his index finger.
"Where is that Grace now? Where are You, God?" Jeremy wondered.
Jeremy got up from the bench and walked to the altar. Looking up at the ceiling, he shouted "I asked You a question! Where are You?"
Jeremy looked around the church. He looked at the altar. Looking up at the ceiling, he screamed, "I QUIT! Find someone else to torment! I have had enough!"
The church door opened. A man stepped inside saying, "Pastor, May I talk to you, please?" His clothes were worn out. There was a red hunting cap on his head.
"I'm sorry, I'm not the Pastor anymore. I just quit. Reverend Adams will be here in the morning. He will be glad to talk to you. Excuse me, I have to go. My son is dying." Jeremy told the stranger. "If you need some food and a place to sleep, I'll take you to Lottie's."
"No, Jonah is not dying." The man smiled. Thank you for offering to take me to Lottie's but I have food and lodging."
"Wait a minute…..! How do you know his name? I didn't tell you." Jeremy suddenly wished he had his gun.
"Don't worry, Jeremy. You don't need your gun." The stranger said.
"Who are you? What do you want? Are you part of the Holiday family?" Jeremy demanded. "How do you know my name?"
"I'm not part of the Holiday family. I want to help you. The reason I know your name is because I am your Guardian Angel."
Jeremy roared with laughter. "Well, Mr. Guardian Angel, you're not doing too well at your job."
Jeremy's tone turned solemn. "My four year old son only has days to live."
"Maybe you didn't hear me a minute ago, Jeremy. Jonah is not dying." The man replied.
"How could you know that? What's your name, Mr. Guardian Angel?" asked Jeremy.
"I know because God told me and my name is Wilbur." replied Wilbur.
"God told you." Jeremy smirked. "Why would the doctor say Jonah is dying if it's not true?"
"God changes things, Jeremy. And yes, God told me so I could tell you."
"Okay…..What can I do for you, Wilbur?" Jeremy looked skeptical.
"Let's sit down." Wilbur walked to the front pew and sat down. Jeremy sat down next to him.
"Please don't quit being a Pastor, Jeremy. You have so much love and compassion for people. The world needs that. Yes, one man can make a difference." Wilbur grinned and pushed his cap back on his head.
"Why are you grinning, Wilbur?" Jeremy frowned.
" I am grinning because you are wondering if I can read your mind." Wilbur said. "The answer is yes. But I never tell anyone except God and you."
"Let me ask you something, Jeremy. Do you truly want to stop being a minister?" Wilbur looked serious.
"No. I was angry and upset because I thought Jonah was dying. I realize that I shouldn't have gotten angry at God and said I quit." replied Jeremy. "Dear God, please forgive me."
"You know certainly that He forgives you and He is happy that you still want to minister to His people." Wilbur told him.
"I'm glad that The Lord forgave me and that He will let me continue being a pastor." Jeremy replied.
"Good. My work here is done. You had better get back to your family."
"Yes, I better do that. My wife will be wondering why I have been gone so long. Good night, Wilbur." Jeremy yawned.
"Good night, Jeremy." Wilbur said.
The window shutters in Jeremy's church office blew open and then slammed shut due to a big wind gust. A Seattle rainstorm was coming.
Jeremy awoke with a start. He had fallen asleep at his desk. Placing his hand on the back of his neck, he began rubbing the crick away. That was some dream I had. Guardian Angel named Wilbur. Jeremy shook his head and winced at the pain in his neck.
Jeremy looked at his pocket watch. It was almost three am. Candy was going to be upset with him.
Jeremy ran to Dr. Wright's Clinic. When he got there, it was dark inside and the door was locked. He knocked on the door.
"Hello, Jeremy. What's wrong?" Dr. Wright said when she came to the door.
"I fell asleep at the church. I've come back to be with Jonah and Candy." He answered.
Dr. Wright looked puzzled. "Jeremy, they aren't here. Why would you think that they would be here?"
"Dr. Wright, Candy and I rushed over here earlier tonight with Jonah. You said he has Scarlett Fever and days to live." Jeremy stated emphatically.
"Jeremy, I assure you that did not happen. They are not here. Candy brought Jonah in for a routine check up yesterday. He was fine. Maybe you have been working too hard. Take a few days off. Good night." Dr. Wright locked the door.
"Good night." Jeremy shook his head. "Did he dream the whole thing about Jonah being deathly sick and about Wilbur?"
Jeremy hurried to his cabin.
He found Candy and Jonah asleep in his and Candy's bed. Jeremy shucked his clothes down to his long johns. He crawled in the bed with his wife and son.
Candy stretched and yawned. "Jeremy, it's so late. You must have fallen asleep at the church."
"Yes, I did. I'm sorry to wake you." He gave her a kiss on her lips.
"That's alright. Good night." She drifted back to sleep.
"Good night." Jeremy whispered as he stroked Jonah's hair.
'Daddy, can I have a drink of water, please?" Jonah whispered.
"Okay, son, I will be right back." Jeremy said as he got up.
Jeremy went into the kitchen. As he was finding a cup and getting the water, he wondered if he had dreamed the whole situation. How could it all be a dream when he distinctly remembered placing Jonah in the tub of icy water, wrapping Jonah in the blanket and running with him to the clinic? He also vividly remembered the look on Candy's face when the doctor said their boy had days to live. Talking to a Guardian Angel had to be a dream, but the rest of it?
Jeremy returned to the bedroom with the cup of water. He sat down on the side of the bed and held the cup while Jonah drank the water.
"Thank you, Daddy. Can I wear your cap?" Jonah yawned.
"I don't have a cap, Jonah." Jeremy answered.
"Yes, you do, Daddy. It's up there." Jonah pointed at the bedpost.
Jeremy had set the cup on the nightstand and laid down next to his son.
He looked up at the bedpost. There was a red hunting cap. Jeremy reached to get it. He held it in both hands.
"How in the world?" Jeremy asked out loud.
Jeremy laid his little boy on his chest. Jeremy put the cap on the child's head.
"I love you, Daddy." Jonah whispered as he fell asleep.
"I love you, Jonah" he replied softly.
As Jeremy drifted off to sleep, he heard the echo of a whisper through the cabin. "God changes things, Jeremy."
The End