In the ICU unit at County General Hospital, Ralph Morgan lay
in a coma, the result of an explosion of a mobile home that sat
next to his own mobile home. The trailer that had exploded was
the home of Reba Hobbs, the mother of Julie Benson and Alex
Hobbs, the two young children now in the foster care of Gary
and Vera Canfield.
Outside the room where Ralph Morgan lay, Nurse Cindy Hunt
and fellow nurse Angie McGowan were talking to one another
at the nurses station.
"Does your ex-husband have your son for the weekend?" asked
Angie while she kept her eyes on the monitors of the occupied
patient rooms.
"Oh, yes," Cindy answered as she took notes from a monitor
she was looking at, "though I don't know if they're having much
time together as Frank's had patrol duty this weekend."
"Really?" Angie responded.
"It was his turn to work the weekend shift."
"Oh."
"And speaking of kids, he's been involved somewhat with a
case concerning the two kids of Reva Hobbs. She got arrested
for drunk driving you know. Frank was the one who arrested
her."
"You mean Reva Hobbs the housekeeper?" Angie's eyes lit up
as she turned around to face Cindy.
"That'd be her." Cindy replied.
"Oh, my. So who's looking out for her kids?"
"They're in the foster care of a local family. From what I hear, the
folks who have them are the ones that drive a church bus that takes
them to a church they go to. Newberry Community Church."
After completing her notes, Cindy went to the room where Ralph
Morgan lay to check up on him. Though still in a coma , he was in
stable condition.
Angie McGowan had just thought of something when she heard
Cindy Hunt mention Newberry Community Church. It occured
to her that one of the hospital clergy members was the pastor of
that church. Yes, she remembered now, Hal Shumway.
She remembered him when he was in the ICU the last time
visiting a cardiac arrest patient along with the patient's wife and
daughter.
Angie remembered hearing only pieces of Hal Shumway when
he was consoling his family, and while Clergyman Shumway was
not flowery in his speech as compared to the other clergy, he sure
spoke with compassion. Angie had also noticed that the woman and
her daughter, although shaken by the condition of the heart attack
victim, also seemed reassured of the victim's recovery, because
sure enough, he did survive and recover.
Cindy Hunt returned to the nurses station after checking up on
Ralph Morgan and said to Angie, "Mr. Morgan is stable but still
in a coma."
"At least he's stable," Angie said, "I actually heard that explosion,
too!"
"So did I," Cindy added, "Only thing was, it wasn't his trailer, but
the one next to his that blew up."
"Did they ever find out what caused it?"
"I haven't heard, it's still being investigated. Frank was at the scene
as well." Cindy went back to her seat to continue tending the monitors.
"I hope no one was in the trailer when it happened," Angie went on.
"They didn't find any bodies in it, and it was totally destroyed."
As the services at Newberry Community Church were drawing to a
close, Pastor Hal Shumway gave a closing prayer and dismissed the
service with a 'God bless you' to the congregation.
In the pew where Mac Davenport and Karen Williams sat, Karen
turned to Mac as they both rose up from the pew and asked, "You
really liked my singing, Mac?"
"I sure did, Karen," Mac answered, "it was quite a pleasant surprise."
"Thanks," Karen smiled, "Shall we talk about it over lunch?"
"Most certainly, dear lady." Mac said, mimmicking the manners
of an English gentleman not unlike that of Wilfred Templar; Mac's
fellow greeter.
"Is the Country Skillet okay?" asked Mac.
"That's beautiful." Karen had been thinking of the time that
she and her mother went there with the Canfields the first time
they visited Newberry Community Church.
"Great." Mac then saw Tommy Hunt, son of Newberry Police
Officer Frank Hunt, with the Canfields and decided to talk with
them before leaving.
"Excuse me, Karen," Mac turned to her, "I need to talk to the
Canfields for a minute."
"Okay," she smiled. She knew how close Mac and the Canfields
were.
Mac looked to Tommy Hunt and asked him enthusiastically, "Well,
Tommy, how did you like your visit at our church this morning?"
"It was great, Mr. Davenport," Tommy answered happily. "I like
the Sunday School class. We're building a model of the Tabernacle."
"Outstanding! I'm glad you liked it!"
Tommy went on. "We still have more to do on the model, and I want
to come back and help finish it." Tommy looked down as if unsure.
Mac stooped to Tommy's height and said to him, "Why we would be glad
to have you back, son."
Gary leaned downed and said, "His parents are divorced and he's concerned
he might not be able to come back."
Mac looked up at him and replied, "I see."
Karen looked on Tommy with concern and thought, Aww, bless his heart.
Mac then turned back to Tommy and said with cheerful assurance, "Now
don't you worry about a thing, little guy. We're going to pray for you as well
as your mom and dad."
"Thanks, Mr. Davenport," Tommy replied.
"Mac then put both hands on the boy's shoulders and said to him, "I happen
to know both your mom and dad. I believe that deep down they'd want you
in church." And with that Mac reassured him with a wink then rose back up
and patted the boy on the head.
"We'll pray for you, too, Tommy," Brian added.
"We all will," Dawn put in.
Mac spoke to Tommy one last time with, "As you head out, Jenny's got a
little gift and candy for you."
"Thanks," Tommy smiled and then he acompanied the Canfields out to the
area of the hallway just outside the sanctuary. There at the tract rack, Jenny
Garrett, another greeter of the church's welcome ministry came over to Tommy
and handed him a Bible book marker and two spiritual hard candies; gifts that
were given out to first-time child visitors.
"Thank you for visiting us, Tommy," Jenny smiled at him, "Come back and
see us and God bless you."
"Thanks," Tommy answered while taking the gifts Jenny handed to him. The
Canfields then headed to the coat room to get their coats and left together
with the folks who rode the church bus heading out right behind them.
Mac and Karen headed out of the sanctuary after conversing with Karen's
parents as well as a few other members, holding hands as they headed to
the coat room. When they got there, Mac, ever the gentleman, helped Karen
into her coat, a white faux-rabbit fur jacket which she only wore to church or
special occasions.
Karen turned to Mac as she buttoned her jacket and said, "I felt sorry for
that boy Tommy, the way he looked down at the floor."
"I know," Mac replied, "but I have faith he'll be back."
"You seem really sure he will," Karen said as she slipped on a pair of black
Isotoner stretch leather gloves.
"Karen," Mac said. "I happen to know both his mom and dad."
"Oh."
"Let's talk about it at the Skillet."
"Ready when you are, Mac."
Mac and Karen again both got hold of one another's hand as they headed
out the door and to Mac's 1966 Mustang.
This concludes Chapter 23.
