As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) (6 page)

"What do you say to your Aunt Bobbie?" Alice asked softly.

"Thank you, Aunt Bobbie," the children chorused in voices equally as soft. Bobbie's eyes filled with tears and she busied herself with her coffee to hide the fact.

The children came forward and stood next to their gifts. Bobbie, so wanting to get off to a good start with these little ones, did not immediately look at them.

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When she did, she found them both grinning at her. Bobbie smiled back with such delight that they both began to talk at once.

Within ten minutes Paige was in her lap and Wesley was sitting with his grandmother. It never once occurred to Bobbie that her family would talk to these children about her. Why, they knew everything!

"What do you look like without your glasses?" Wes wanted to know. Bobbie removed her spectacles and awaited their inspection.

"She looks the same," Paige stated calmly--"real pretty."

Bobbie hugged the little girl to herself and was sur prised a moment later when Alice asked what they wanted for lunch. She couldn't believe how the morning had flown.

When Maryanne and Bobble finally left, Bobbie was buoyant. She couldn't stop talking about her wonderful niece and nephew.

"Oh Mom, I've just had a terrific idea. Do you suppose

Dad would let Paige and Wes go camping with us?" "Oh Bobbie, I don't know."

"Well, I could at least ask. I mean, it's three adults and only two children; we outnumber them and I can tell what good kids they are."

"Oh Bob, I don't know," Maryanne repeated, and her daughter laughed.

"You're such a worrier, Mom. I'm sure Dad will say yes, not to mention Troy. He'll love the idea."

Maryanne didn't look the least bit convinced, but kept silent. This was one she was more than willing to let Jake handle.

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eight

I'I know Alice will say yes if you talk to her, Dad. Tell her they can sleep with me. You know how warm we'll all be."

Jake Bradford regarded his daughter and tried not to laugh. She was 14 all over again as they discussed the camping trip. She had nearly leaped on him and Troy when they came in the front door for supper with her idea of taking Paige and Wesley with them.

Troy and Jake had exchanged a quick look; they had honestly never considered it. They also thought it was a great idea, but they weren't about to let Bobbie know that, at least not yet.

"They're pretty young, Bobbie," Troy said skeptically, his eyes just beginning to sparkle.

"We were younger the first time Dad took us," Bobbie pointed out logically, and for the first time noticed that her family was enjoying this.

"Well, maybe you're right," Bobble went on with a show of disappointment that could have convinced an audience at any theater. "They
are
young and I've heard

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that neither one of you has the least bit of control where Wes and Paige are concerned. So I guess it's for the best." "'What's that supposed to mean?" Troy demanded.

"Only that you take a toy every time you go see them and are spoiling them rotten. And I've heard that Dad can't bring himself to say no, so they get away with everything when they're with him."

Bobbie might have gotten away with her bald-faced lies if she hadn't dropped in a chair just then and begun filing her nails with far more deliberation than necessary. She was a study in concentration until Troy sailed a sofa pillow across the room and hit her in the head. Bobbie whipped it back at lightning speed, catching her brother totally off-guard.

Smiling with satisfaction, Bobbie growled in her gruff-est voice, "Now, do my niece and nephew go with us or do I have to get rough with you?"

"They can come, they can come!" Troy cried in mock terror. "'You still have to ask Alice," Jake reminded Bobbie. "I thought you might ask her. She's always been putty in your hands."

Jake smiled at the description. It was true. He had always been close to his oldest daughter, even though she was painfully shy. She was more open with him than she was with Maryanne or her siblings, and Jake had always nurtured their relationship. The only thing to ever come between them was Jake's decision for Christ. Alice had been very hurt when her father had explained how he had come to see his need for salvation.

"But what have you been up until now, Dad, if you haven't been a Christian?" Alice had asked. "I've been someone who thought I could get to heaven

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if I did my best and watched my step. I was leaving Jesus Christ completely out of the picture."

"So what you're saying is, if a person is good, it still won't be enough?"

"That's right, honey, the Bible says we get to heaven God's way, and that's through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died to take away our sins."

"That's barbaric! I can't believe God would spurn our efforts just because we didn't choose to believe some thing so awful as Christ's death on the cross! I've read the Bible's account of the crucifixion, and, Dad, you can't tell me that God would honor such a horrendous act against His own Son!"

Jake had gone on to explain the best he could but Alice would have none of it. They had parted on good terms, but Jake's heart had been heavy. He found himself wish ing they had attended Pastor Keller's church years before, when Alice had been younger and possibly more recep tive to the gospel.

Today father and daughter were as close as ever, but Jake knew he had to tread lightly when the conversation turned to church attendance and salvation. Alice had made it quite clear that she thought her parents attended a church full of snobs who had the ridiculous notion that they knew the only way to heaven.

And as always, when Jake visited Stuart and Alice, their beliefs and the church they attended weighed on his heart. But he knew he did a good job of hiding this fact, since she and her husband always welcomed him with open arms.

"What brings you out on this cold January night?" Alice asked her father when he had settled himself on the sofa.

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"Your sister. We're going camping this weekend, and Bobbie wants Paige and Wes to go with us." Jake would never have spoken so plainly if the children had been present, but he knew it was at least an hour past their bedtime.

Stuart and Alice looked at each other for a long time. They, like Jake and Troy, had never considered the idea. Suddenly Alice chuckled.

"Leave it to Bobble to come up with something like that."

"She's pretty pleased with herself. She sent me be cause she was sure I could convince you."

Alice chuckled again. "Well, this time she's going to be disappointed. Paige has a drippy nose and I think it's too cold for them to go camping."

"Bobbie planned on them sleeping with her."

"We could plan on the next time you go," Stuart interjected. "Maybe it will be warmer."

Stuart Townsend was every inch the bank employee with his dapper suits and neatly trimmed beard and mustache. He never interfered with his wife's raising of the children, so Jake was aware that Stuart's comment about the cold was a very real worry.

"That's probably a good idea. I'm sure Bobbie will feel let down, but like you said, there's always next time." Jake didn't stay much longer, but before leaving, Alice led him into the twins' rooms so he could see them. The light from the lantern didn't disturb them in the least, and as always, Jake's heart swelled with love at the sight of his grandchildren.

Just as Jake expected, his younger daughter and son were disappointed about the twins not going with them. Jake pointed out that it was cold and maybe it would work out for the next time.

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60 Lori Wick

As it was, it rained very hard at the time Jake, Troy, and Bobbie were going to leave for their trip, and it continued to rain all weekend. Maryanne, who had planned to sew all weekend, laid aside her plans and the four of them played games and talked for hours. It was a wonderful homecoming for Bobbie. The only dark spot .on the weekend was how late they all stayed up on Saturday night, causing them to oversleep Sunday morning and miss church. Bobbie had been looking forward to seeing everyone, but consoled herself with the fact that she started her new job the next day.

She took herself to bed when it was still early on Sunday, and with the lantern turned high she lay in bed and wrote in her journal.

January Seven, 1872

It's lovely to be home. The clock did not stand still as I hoped it would, and nearly everything and everyone changed. My parents look older, but they are in some ways ageless. I'm going to contribute to the household whether my parents like it or not. Oh Troy, you're so much fun. And Paige and Wesmthank You, Lord!

Tomorrow is the big day. I'll see Jeff. I hope he likes me. Mr. Taylor too. I've got to get to sleep. Good night, journal, I'll write again in a few days.

Bobbie turned the lantern down then and fell asleep while praying for a calm heart to face her new job in the morning.

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Bobbie wore a green dress for her first day of work. She spent a little extra time on her hair and was pleased with the way it curled softly around her face. Her finger-naris, always long, were clean and well-shaped.

Maryanne had the day off, so Bobbie's send-off breakfast was a morning feast of omelettes stuffed with bacon and cheese, plus fresh muffins with jam, cider, and hot, strong coffee.

Bobbie left the house right after breakfast. Her coat kept her warm as she walked briskly away from home. She felt a little like a child on the first day of school as her lunch tin swung in her hand with every step. The shipping office was a welcome sight and Bobbie walked in the front door with a smile on her face.

May Taylor immediately rose from the desk in the corner and came toward her.

"Hello, Bobbie. It's good to see you." The two women embraced, and when May stepped away, Bobbie saw that there were tears in her eyes. "Don't mind me, honey. It's just that you're an answer to prayer and it's so wonderful to have you here."

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"It's good to be here, Mrs. Taylor." Bobbie didn't say more and May could see she was close to tears herself. The two women had begun to talk about the workings of the office when Bill Taylor came in holding the hand of a young gift.

"Hello, Bobbie." Bill greeted his new employee warmly and shook her hand. They talked about her trip and whether or not she was settled in, and then May pulled the youngster closer to their circle of conversation.

"Bobbie, I'd like you to meet Marcail Donovan. Mar-carl, this is Bobbie Bradford. She's going to be working here at the office for awhile. Marcail's sister Kaitlin is married to our Rigg."

"It's nice to meet you, Marcarl." Bobbie smiled kindly and held out her hand. Marcail must have instantly liked what she saw because she shook Bobbie's hand with enthusiasm.

"My sister's going to have a baby," Marcarl informed Bobbie seriously.

'a'd you'll be Aunt Marcail," Bobbie replied with a smile. ''i think that's wonderful. I have a niece and a nephew and they're so much fun. I know you'll love being an aunt." The little girl beamed at her newfound friend before May claimed Bobbie once again and began showing her the desk where she would do the majority of her work.

The shipping company was located in a spacious building on a corner lot. The office had a sectioned-off corner for a private office for Bill, whose window overlooked the side street. Bobbie's desk, formerly May's, sat in the opposite corner with a complete view of the entire room as well as the large windows that looked out over the loading area and the street.

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May sensed immediately that Bobbie had a complete knowledge of the job. She knew everyone had his own way of doing things and wanted to leave Bobbie to her task as soon as possible. Ten minutes later May left so Marcail would not be late for school, telling Bobbie if she needed anything to knock on Bill's door.

May was not gone ten seconds when a woman came in wanting to send a package to San Francisco. Upon meeting Bobbie, the woman wanted complete details as to the whereabouts of May. Bobbie, with her kind attitude and ready smile, explained to her who she was and why May was not there. At the desk Bobbie recorded all the information for the package before accompanying the woman out to her buggy, where she gave Bobble the large parcel she wanted sent.

The package wasn't so much heavy as it was awkward, and Bobbie walked back inside, peeking over the top of it as she moved. After closing the door she turned without looking and ran into someone whose arms came out and lifted the burden from her. Bobbie's head tipped back to see who was before her. Jeff Taylor stood regarding her with serious, almost hesitant eyes.

Bobbie grinned into those eyes, her own filled with friendship and something that might have been defined as tenderness. She had already given much thought as to how hard this might be for him.

"Hello, Jeff," she said softly. Jeff's relief was so great he sighed audibly.