The Easter Miracle, Pt. 2

 

Elizabeth knew that Carolyn was feeling impatient, but she wanted to wait until the baby was settled at home before making her "appearance." Ruth had taught her how to look ahead, so she knew she had a little time to work with. She was touched that Carolyn and Willie had named their daughter for her. They called her Libby because Jamie was unable to say Elizabeth. He would say, "Libbybeff".

Spring had arrived, but there was little evidence of it. The ground was still hard and cold; no shoots had attempted to push out of the soil. As Carolyn and Willie's anniversary approached again, Elizabeth noticed that WIllie was becoming increasingly weaker and more tired.

"I think it's time," Ruth said. "Everything is ready. Our plan is in place. You are ready."

Elizabeth came to visit Carolyn in a dream so lucid, Carolyn could remember every detail. "You will have to go to Barnabas and Julia and have them help you," Elizabeth explained. "You and Willie must get to the staircase through time. They will help you find it. Once you begin to go up the staircase, I can help you get to your destination."

"Where are we going?" Carolyn asked. "Why do we need to go up a staircase?"

"Because the only hope for Willie is at Angeline Caron Hospital in Brazil years from now, in 1998. He must go there and see a doctor who is using a treatment that is not accepted here or in most places of the world. But it will work for Willie. Willie will not be able to wait for a donor heart, and I already know that Dr. Shumway's cyclosporin drug will not keep him from rejecting a transplanted heart."

"But a staircase?"

"You have to transcend time, Carolyn--almost 20 years. This procedure is not being done in this time. You must ask Barnabas and Julia to help you with the staircase, Carolyn."

"I'll do it, Mother."

But when she talked of her dream to Barnabas and Julia, they feigned ignorance. "There is no staircase," Barnabas lied.

Julia tried to reassure Carolyn. "It was a dream, Carolyn, and very understandable under the circumstances. Of course you are very worried about Willie--we all are."

"But it seemed so real to me," Carolyn protested. "It was like Mother was right there beside me, telling me about someone named Dr. Shumway and a drug called cylclosporin. What is cyclosporin anyway, and how would I know about it?"

"I'm sure it's come up in conversations with Willie's cardiologist or his associates," Julia explained reasonably. "Don't you remember? Cyclosporin is the name of the medication given to help suppress a transplant patient's immune system so that it doesn't reject the new heart."

Carolyn looked doubtful. She just wasn't sure. "But Dr. Battista? Who is he? And some hospital in Brazil...?"

"What's the MATTER with them?" Elizabeth asked in exasperation. "Why are they lying?" Moving swiftly, her mother showed Elizabeth the events of long ago 1971. "I never knew that!" Elizabeth was shocked. No wonder Quentin had gone off for so many years! She was furious that such terrible things had happened to her family, and she'd been totally unaware. No, kept in the dark.

"Elizabeth, wait," Ruth called, but it was too late. Elizabeth moved to confront Julia and Barnabas. She meant to say, "Just what did you think you were doing, keeping secrets from the whole family?" She realized in consternation that she had no voice. She was also effectively startled by the reactions of Barnabas, Julia, and Carolyn.

They could see her! Barnabas had jumped to his feet, and Julia's hand flew to her mouth in that characteristic way of hers whenever she was frightened or surprised. "Mother!" Carolyn cried out joyfully. But the joy rapidly changed as Elizabeth found herself fading away. "Mama, don't go!"

"Elizabeth, you're not ready for that yet," Ruth explained. "We haven't practiced it enough."

"Well, I HAVE to talk to them!" Elizabeth insisted.

"I think they know that."

Julia and Barnabas were discussing it already. "Perhaps we could try a seance," Julia said. Barnabas was reluctant but agreeable. "We could have Quentin help us. I don't think Willie should be involved."

"You see?" Ruth said reassuringly. "You'll be able to talk to them."

"I've never done that."

"You don't have to practice. You'll see--it just happens."

So it was Elizabeth found herself explaining what needed to be done, using Carolyn as her voice. It felt the most comfortable to her, and she was comforted by her daughter's closeness. It was almost like being alive again. She decided not to bring up what happened in 1971. It wasn't important anymore. What was important was that Willie get up the staircase, where she would guide them on their way to Brazil.
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On Good Friday, Carolyn drove to the Shaws' home and dropped Jamie and Libby off with Sebastian and Maggie and their two children. The story was that she and Willie were going away on an extended vacation. Maggie didn't ask any questions; she only hugged Carolyn close. As he leaned to kiss Carolyn goodbye on the cheek, Sebastian spoke quietly into her ear. "Trust, Carolyn. Everything will be all right. You're doing the right thing." Startled, Carolyn pulled back and looked at Sebastian in consternation. He winked at her, and she left feeling both confused and relieved.

Julia and Barnabas had, with Quentin's help, located the old, original staircase. Desmond had not been successful in his attempt to destroy it after all. They only had to wait for Carolyn and Willie.
Willie knew the story of the staircase, so the pallor of his face could partially be explained by his intimidation of it. However, as they began to climb, Willie very quickly became exhausted. He paused more and more frequently, and his breathing grew louder and more labored. Looking up, they could see the air shimmering. There seemed to be a faint outline of someone standing at the top of the stairs.

"Can we give you a hand, old man?" Quentin asked.

Willie could only nod. Barnabas and Quentin supported Willie between them, and they continued up the stairs with Julia and Carolyn close behind.

"Good, hurry, no one is around!" It was Elizabeth's voice, but it seemed to come from within. It was a thought that appeared in everyone's minds. They all crossed into the west wing corridor. It was very quiet and very dark.

"The back way," Quentin said to Barnabas, who merely nodded. It would've been so easy for either man to lift Willie and carry him like a baby. He seemed to be totally weightless. Neither one wanted to embarrass Willie, so they continued to half carry him between them.

Waiting outside in the driveway was a sleek looking large passenger van. "How convenient," said Quentin. "Thank you, Cousin Elizabeth." He had a quick image of her smiling face. The doors were all unlocked, and there were keys in the ignition. In appearance, this was totally unlike any vehicle they had ever seen. The front of the vehicle was not flat; it was snub- nosed, like a racing car. The interior, however, was spacious and comfortable. Carolyn and Barnabas helped Willie climb into the rear bench. Quentin and Julia exchanged looks.

"You drive," Julia decided.

They got in. Everyone buckled up, and Quentin turned the keys in the ignition. The engine turned over at once but two giant straps started forward from the ceiling. Julia shrieked as the straps moved inexorably toward her and Quentin, pinning them across their shoulders.

"For cryin out loud, ya mean in twenty years people are gonna need some car to buckle them up?" Willie said contemptously, still breathing rathing raggedly. Quentin roared with laughter, but Julia was mortified. Barnabas clasped her on the shoulder with sympathy. He remembered culture shock.

"Maybe you better check out the lights and stuff before we go," Willie cautioned.

"Well, let's go down the road a little and do that," Quentin said. "I'd hate to hear myself out here and come out to see who was messing with the family car."

Willie laughed appreciatively. Quentin backed down the drive, turned off on the road and drove toward Eagle Hill. "This is soooo smooth," Quentin said. He wiggled the wheel back and forth, throwing everyone from side to side.

"Quentin, what do you think you're doing?" Barnabas asked irritably.

"I'm sorry," Quentin said, pulling off the road. "Let's see here." He located the headlights, the brights, the left and right blinkers, and the windshield wipers. "Okay, now where's the radio knob?" No knob. Must be a button. Quentin quickly discovered that in order to turn the radio on, he had to push a button. To move around the dial, he had to push either the right or left arrows, for volume, either + or -. "Far out!" he commented.

"Quentin, stop playing and get on the road," Elizabeth said sharply. She was worried about Willie's pasty pallor.

"Yes, ma'am!" Quentin said, sitting up straight. He pulled back onto the road.

Julia looked at him curiously. "Who are you talking to?" she asked. Looking in the rear view mirror, Quentin saw that the others also looked puzzled.

"Guess I'm just hearing things," Quentin mumbled, embarrassed.

"Hey, are you sure you should be drivin this thing?" Willie asked.

"It's all right, darling," Elizabeth said soothingly to her daughter. "I just don't know how to speak to all of you at once for long periods of time."

"It's Mother," Carolyn said, relieved. "She's with us."

Quentin sighed in relief. "Where to?"

"Bangor. To the airport."

Along the way, Quentin played with the radio stations, looking for something to listen to. He found something called Lite Rock. "And here is Celine Dion singing the Academy award winning love theme from this year's best picture, 'Titanic'," announced the deejay, and the haunting strains of foreign sounding instruments--like tin whistles-- filled the van.

"Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you,
That is how I know you go on.
Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on.
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on.
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on..."

Listening to the words, Carolyn felt her eyes fill with tears. She realized this song was about dealing with loss--wasn't it from a movie about the Titanic? She put her head on Willie's shoulder. She really couldn't listen anymore. "Quentin, please find something else," she asked, her voice breaking. Willie kissed her hair.

Quentin quickly began playing with the button again. "Well, that's one ship I'm glad I missed," he said to cover his discomfort. Only Julia and Barnabas realized he was serious.

"Quentin, STOP, we want to listen to this!" Elizabeth commanded, very loudly. Quentin winced and jerked his hand off the radio button as if he'd been burned.

"...and this wasn't the song played at their wedding, but it's always been, like, their song," a young voice was explaining. "They're leaving tonight so they won't be around on their actual wedding anniversary."

"Second honeymoon?"

"Yeah, man, they're flying down to Sao Paolo for a week. Then they're meeting an old friend of theirs and staying with him another week or so."

"All right, Jim," the deejay replied. "Any words for your parents tonight with this dedication?"

"Well, basically, me and my sisters just want to tell them how much we love them. We think they're great--they've always been there for us, no matter what was going on with them. They've had some real ups and downs. We just want them to know how much we appreciate them."

"Hear that, Mom and Dad?" the deejay asked. "Sounds like you did a great job raising Jim, Libby, and Emily. Have a great flight and happy anniversary next week." The strong sound of bass and drums filled the van.

"Nice anniversay song," Willie groaned. "What kinda music is this anyway?" The beat was beginning to change, and Carolyn heard the strains of something familiar. A piano began playing. She felt herself jump and felt Willie start as well. They looked at each other as Frankie Vallee began singing "Oh What A Night."

Carolyn started laughing. "Well, whaddaya know? What have they done to our song, Ma?" Willie joked. "What a lame song to fall in love to! Y'know what it's really about?"
"So what? Hey, maybe that's a dedication to you two," Quentin said. "Next week is your anniversary, isn't it?" He saw Elizabeth smile at him again and wink.

Shocked, Carolyn and Willie looked at each other again. "Maybe it's a sign," Carolyn said softly.

"Well, if it don't work, I guess this is some history we'll be changing," Willie answered. He laughed nervously.

"Who's Emily?" Quentin asked mischievously.

Willie laughed nervously again. "Well, that's what I mean, ya know? If this thing don't work, maybe there won't be no Emily."

"Willie, don't even joke about that!" Carolyn cried.

Quentin took the exit off the highway for the airport. He parked the van. Everyone got out and looked around for the bus stop. A limousine pulled up. The dark window rolled down and the driver leaned out. "Loomis party?" he asked.

No one said anything; everyone was surprised and suspicious. "Yes, this is the Loomis party," Barnabas said cautiously. "We weren't expecting anyone to meet us here."

"Sir, I'm paid to escort you to Runway 9, where you'll be taking a private flight to the Sao Jose dos Pinhais airport in Parona, Brazil. You'll be met there as well, and driven to the Hospital Angeline Carone."

This was a welcome surprise! Everyone climbed into the back of the limousine. It was a short drive by limo to the waiting plane. Quentin whistled. He'd recognized the plane.

"Sssh," whispered Elizabeth. "He wouldn't want Carolyn to know yet. It's a surprise."

The inside of the plane was like a house. Barnabas wandered around, amazed. None of the group had ever seen anything as luxurious as this, but he was especially impressed. The plane was getting ready to take off, and everyone had to sit down in wide recliner type loungers, strapping themselves in. The plane began to roll forward, gradually picking up speed. A roaring sound filled the cabin and the passengers felt themselves being pushed back into their seats. This was nothing at all like a car. Barnabas' eyes were huge, and his face was very pale. Julia squeezed his hand comfortingly, and Barnabas shut his eyes.

"Barnabas, as many times as you've flown, don't tell me you're getting airsick?" Quentin teased. Willie guffawed, and Barnabas' eyes snapped open. He was pale as Swiss cheese but still managed to glare sternly at Quentin.

"Are you all right, Barnabas?" Carolyn asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yes, Carolyn, please don't worry," Barnabas said reassuringly. He gave another severe look at Quentin, who arched his brows playfully and gave a little shrug. When Carolyn looked away, Julia retaliated by elbowing Quentin in the ribs.

"Now, now, kids," Willie said, laughing.

Carolyn looked back at them, curiously, but had learned long ago there was no point in asking questions.

It was a long flight. Willie and Carolyn stretched out together on one of the beds and fell asleep. Barnabas paced nervously, unable to relax. Quentin tried approaching him several times but Barnabas made it plain he didn't want to talk. "You'd better just leave him alone," Julia cautioned. The landing was even more stressful than takeoff was because the plane bumped and hopped up and down several times before coming to a halt.

Medical attendants waited outside. One held a wheelchair by its handles. There was a distinguished looking older man standing with them as well, very handsomely dressed. The flight of stairs was moved into place, and Carolyn and Willie exited the plane first, followed by Quentin and then Julia and Barnabas.

Barnabas pulled Julia's arm, drawing his breath in sharply. They both looked at the gentleman standing there and froze. The man moved forward to greet Carolyn. He looked familiar to her, with his chiseled good looks. He appeared to be in his fifties; although his hair was snowy white, he was still ruggedly handsome and strong. "Mrs. Loomis," he said, taking her hand.

Willie was moving very slowly, wheezing. Concerned, the man waved the attendant with the wheelchair forward. "I hope your flight was comfortable," the man said, trying to put Willie at ease.

Mother, who is he? Carolyn thought. Why does he look so familiar?

Before Elizabeth could answer, Quentin bounded forward, stuck his hand out and said, "Burke! Good to see you again!" He shook the gentleman's hand heartily, and the man grinned at him.

"Quentin, I didn't know you were aboard," he answered in delight.

Carolyn's hands flew to her face. It all came back to her. "Burke Devlin!" she gasped. "You're alive!"

Willie looked up at him curiously.

"Long story, Carolyn," Burke said. "We have plenty of time to catch up." He looked up at Barnabas and Julia. "Welcome, Mr. Collins, Dr. Hoffman. I didn't realize you were coming, Mr. Collins, or I might have had you arrive on the red eye. I believe this is the first time I'm seeing you in the light of day," he added a little sardonically.

"Well," Barnabas said airily to cover his own shock, "there is a first time for everything, isn't there?" He looked at Julia, who was equally stunned, took her by the elbow and walked down the stairs.

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth thought. "I guess I should have warned you. I wasn't thinking about all the bad feelings between you two."

They all fit quite comfortably into Burke's stretch limousine. Willie, exhausted, closed his eyes. "We'll go directly to the hospital. It won't take long to get there," Burke said. "I have a small villa here. It's close to Hospital Angeline Caron." He offered everyone something to drink. Only Willie declined; he wanted to sleep.

On the drive to the hospital, Burke explained what had happened all those years ago. His plane had actually gone down in a mountainous area near the Amazon called the Guiana Massif; everyone had been killed except for Burke. He remembered very little of his trip down the mountain and into the plains; he vaguely remembered pain and hunger and thirst but, mercifully, those memories had faded away. He stumbled into the clearing of a small farm. There was no transportation, so the family nursed him back to health. The thing was, the blow to his head had caused amnesia. He didn't remember who he was for months. By then, because of total immersion, he'd become quite fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and an Indian patois.

The family knew he needed medical attention, so they used what little money they had to take him to the city to the hospital. It was a long journey. With the help of the doctors, Burke was able to remember who he was. Grateful to the family, he paid them back by sending their children to school. One of them was a doctor now, a cardiologist.

"Is that the doctor who will be seeing Willie?" Carolyn asked curiously.

"Yes, he's brilliant, absolutely brilliant," Burke said proudly. "He is a protege of Dr. Battista, who's perfected the ventricular remodeling technique. He's going to be as famous as Dr. Barnard was, and Dr. Shumway, AND Dr. DeBakey."

"Why did you never return to Collinsport?" Barnabas asked.

Burke looked at him a little bitterly. "What makes you think I haven't?" Then he looked at Quentin, Julia, and Carolyn, looking at him so curiously. Julia knew about the conflict between him and Barnabas, but the other two didn't. "I liked it here. I made this the center of my operations," he explained. "I'm actually doing very well here. I have a cattle ranch and a small limestone mine. My ranch is south of here." He looked at Carolyn directly. "I did make contact. Your mother told me what happened to Vicki--that she'd married someone named Jeff or something." He looked at Barnabas again, with a wry twist of his mouth. "Must've been some shock for you, Mr. Collins."
Barnabas chose not to answer.

"Later, Mrs. Stoddard let me know that Vicki had disappeared, and gave me the details surrounding it." He stopped; the memory obviously was still painful to him. Burke looked at Barnabas again. "So, you see, there was no need to come back." Barnabas nodded, understanding.

"How did you know about us?" Carolyn asked. "How did you know to send the plane for us and to make these arrangements?"

"Your mother told me what was happening," Burke answered as if it was the most natural response in the world. "I wanted to do what I could to help. I have to say, there've been some REALLY strange things going on at Collinwood."

"What an understatement," Quentin laughed.

Julia cleared her throat curiously. "How is it you know Quentin?"

"Oh, he was working on a little investigative project in the early 70s. I happened to be in Washington, D.C. at the same time he was working for the Washington Post. Some minor story, eh, Quentin?"

"Well, some of it is classified," Quentin explained with obvious reluctance. Julia looked at him in surprise.

Burke laughed. "You ARE a family for secrets! It's no big deal anymore. We were looking at business money being laundered in various countries in South America at the time, including Brazil. Think it also had to do with drugs being piped into the country, too?"

"I'd really rather not talk about it. My sources--," Quentin said, obviously uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I keep forgetting. It's more recent for you, isn't it?"

"So you even know when we've come from?" Carolyn asked, curiously.

Burke gave her an enigmatic smile. "Carolyn, I know there are REALLY strange things going on at your house."

Carolyn looked back at Quentin, who smiled slightly and shook his head, no. Carolyn wondered just what her cousin had been up to while he'd been away. "Sometimes you're better off not knowing, dear," Elizabeth whispered. Carolyn sighed and closed her eyes, too. Her mother was absolutely right.

The next thing she knew, they were pulling up to the hospital. Carolyn began to feel frightened for the first time. Everyone spoke a different language here. It wasn't a U.S. hospital. "Trust me, darling, it'll be all right," her mother said to her soothingly. Willie was wheeled to his room.

The doctor came to talk to them. He was an unprepossessing man, slight, dark haired, and bearded, dressed in blue scrubs. He shook hands with everyone and sat down to talk to them. He reviewed the functioning of a normal heart. "Normally, blood flows into the left side of the heart from the lungs, here," he explained, indicating a picture. "This blood is rich with oxygen. Then the heart pumps the blood back out to the rest of the body. However, here is what is happening in the case of Mr. Loomis." He continued with drawings of an enlarged heart. "The heart is a muscle, you see. When it becomes so large, it loses its elasticity and can no longer pump the blood efficiently. Mrs. Loomis, your husband's heart pumps at about 10 per cent of its capactiy."

Carolyn gasped.

"Yes. So you see, the blood then backs up into his heart and lungs. This is called regurgitation, and this is what led to his heart failure. The conventional way to treat this problem is with digitalis to help the heart contract more strongly. Also to give a diuretic to keep the fluids from building up, " the doctor continued. "Sometimes other corrective steps can be taken. For example, had Mr. Loomis experienced an infection in his heart valves, one or both could be replaced. However, this is not the case. And in the case of Mr. Loomis, the last resort is heart transplant. However, the list of people needing hearts remains long, and the list of donors remains short. I believe this procedure will help address the dual problem of shortage of the organ and also rejection of the new organ."

The doctor drew an imaginery line across the lower half of the left ventricle. "What I will do is remove this portion of Mr. Loomis' heart. I will then sew the heart chamber back together."

Julia gasped and jumped up. "That is outrageous!"

The doctor looked at her, surprised. "Dr. Hoffman, I was under the impression belief you were aware of Dr. Battista's procedure. Was I mistaken?"

"Doctor, how can you speak of cutting away a portion of Willie's heart? Our job is to protect as much of the heart muscle as we can! That muscle is not dead!"

The doctor had a weary expression on his face, as if to say, I've been through all this before. "Dr. Hoffman, if we reduce the size of Mr. Loomis' heart, we can increase its efficiency. It is too large to pump well now."

"Are you the only two working on this procedure?" Julia asked.

The doctor looked at her, startled. "For several years, yes. But then we had visitors from the United States, from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. It is my understanding that they continue to test this procedure at the clinics there. It is also my understanding that there are other centers which are beginning to perform this procedure on their sickest patients."

"You mean in the teaching hospitals, where the patients sign release forms authorizing experimental treatment in case there's a need for emergency resuscitation on a heart patient who may die anyway?"

"Doctor, this operation has been successfully performed not only here, but in other places in the world. One thousand people, doctor, and 75% of them showed dramatic gains in the strength of their heart muscle within ten days of the surgery. Most of our patients are older. I believe Mr. Loomis has an even greater chance because he has the advantage of his youth."

"Julia, we did come here with Elizabeth's guidance," Quentin put in. "Maybe we should listen."
"Doctor," Barnabas added placatingly, "I am not sure that I understand all this. Would you mind going over it all again for me?"

"But, of course, Mr. Collins," the doctor said patiently. Again he explained. "You see, if we make the heart smaller, it becomes stronger because it does not need to use as much energy to pump the blood."

Carolyn looked back and forth between the doctor and Julia. It sounded so--so--radical, crazy--and yet,--

"Carolyn, it's your grandmother with you now," Ruth whispered soothingly, "we want to help you. I am here with your mother. She wanted to help you. She knows you love your husband. Please let us help you. Please trust us."

"Please, Carolyn," Elizabeth added. Carolyn could almost feel her mothers arms around her. Tears began to spill from her eyes. She wiped them away and looked at the doctor.
"I trust you," she said in a clear, strong voice. "When can you do this operation?"

"Oh, Carolyn!" Julia groaned, and opened her mouth.

Barnabas put his hands on Julia's shoulders and said softly, "No, Julia, don't. Quentin is right. We must trust this man."

"I will operate tomorrow," the doctor decided.

At about 4 a.m., Carolyn knocked very gently at Barnabas' door. She wasn't worried about disturbing him, and she was right. Barnabas was wide awake. "Would you come with me to the hospital?" she asked.

"Of course I will, Carolyn," Barnabas said.

Willie was not in a deep sleep and woke as soon as they came into the room. "Hey," he said, surprised. He was pleased to see them.

Barnabas put his hand on Willie's shoulder and looked into his eyes. He struggled with his feelings. "I know it's not easy for you, dear cousin Barnabas," Elizabeth said softly, "but do try. It'll mean so much to Willie. I will always regret I didn't say anything."

"Willie," Barnabas began hoarsely. "I want to tell you how much I--you helped me a great deal. Much more than you can every know, and you've been such a loyal friend to me. I don't think I ever told you how grateful I am--"

"I know, Barnabas," Willie said, trying to alleviate Barnabas' discomfort.

"No, I need to tell you this, Willie. I know you know. But I never told you--I never told you how much you mean to me. You became more than just my employee a long time ago. You are even more than a friend to me, Willie. You are my family, Willie." Willie's eyes blurred with emotion. He'd known it, of course, but it really did make a difference to actually hear it. Barnabas was unable to go on any further. Embarrassed and flustered, he gripped Willie's shoulder tightly. "I will pray for you, my dear friend. I think I should let you be alone with your wife." He backed out of the room and shut the door softly behind him.

Carolyn and Willie clasped hands. Carolyn sensed his fear; this was a very radical, dramatic step they were taking. "Carolyn, I think we oughta talk about a few things before the surgery," Willie was saying.

"No, Willie, don't say anything. We have to be hopeful."

"'Hope is the thing with feathers--That perches in the soul--And sings the tune without the words--and never stops--at all,'" Willie quoted with a gentle smile.

"What's that? It's so pretty!" Carolyn asked, moved. Her eyes were welling with tears again.

"I guess you didn't know old Willie knew anything about poetry," Willie said, sounding a little pleased with himself.

"Why, no, I didn't," Carolyn said, quite surprised.

"Well, see, sometimes, I liked to read late at night instead of takin walks. I'm not much for novels, you know, but I do like a little poetry."

"Who is it?"

"Emily Dickinson. She sure is easy to read. She says everything in just a few short words, you know?"

"Yes," Carolyn said, and stopped, overcome with emotion. How had she never known this?

"Carolyn, you remember how you wanted to get married at Easter because it was gonna give us a new start? That's what hope is all about. You know it deep down inside. Want to hear another one?" Willie sounded eager, almost childish in his desire to surprise and please Carolyn. She nodded speechlessly.

He thought. "Let's see, umm...'Spring is the period Express from God. Among the other seasons Himself abide, But during March and April None stir abroad Without a cordial interview With God.' Carolyn, this is about you and me. It's spring again, and this is our interview. We're blessed, you know that?" He noticed her tears. "Hey, you're crying!" He sounded alarmed.

"It's all right, Willie. I just feel happy. I know everything is going to be all right now."
Willie moved far over on the bed. "Here, lie down with me."

Carolyn stretched out alongside Willie, and put her head on his shoulder. They waited for the orderlies to come.

After Willie was taken down for surgery, Burke offered to take everyone out to get away from the hospital for a while. The surgery would take hours. Carolyn politely declined, and Julia and Barnabas felt they should keep her company. Quentin, who was nervous and restless as a cat, was only too happy to go off with Burke.

Carolyn was serenely patient; Barnabas paced nervously, and Julia squeezed her hands. "It would seem that WE are the ones who need the reassurance," Julia said with a small smile.

Carolyn smiled. "My mother is in there, too. I know it will be all right."

Elizabeth's first reaction to the operation room was one of revulsion; then she thought, what is so awful about this? She became interested in the goings-on. Ruth was frankly curious. All of this was beyond her understanding. She only knew that it WAS. Elizabeth watched as Willie's heart was stopped; he was placed on a heart-lung machine while the doctor worked on his heart. It was a pain-staking procedure.

"This is absolutely remarkable!" Elizabeth marveled. Willie's heart looked enormous in the doctor's hands. He deftly cut away what seemed to be a very large slice, leaving a portion about the size of the doctor's fist. Now the doctor was closing Willie's heart with sutures. Elizabeth sent frequent messages to Carolyn, whose sense of well being increased with each message.

The doctor spoke in another language to his colleagues, but Elizabeth understood him very well. "Let's see if we can get this one going again." Elizabeth watched and waited during the flurry of activity. She saw the heart turn pink and then dark red. It began beating, strongly. "It's over darling," she thought. "And he's all right."

In the waiting room, Carolyn breathed a sigh of relief. "The surgery is over, and Willie is just fine!" she exclaimed joyfully.

In all, Willie was in the hospital ten days, progressing from cardiac intensive care, to intensive care, to post op, to a normal room. He was miserably uncomfortable and afraid to cough--he felt as if he might crack in two. He didn't complain very much because it felt so good to be alive. Sometimes he thought he could hear Elizabeth speaking to him soothingly, reassuringly before he'd drop off to sleep. When he was able to walk, he didn't really want to stop and sit down to rest--it had been so long.

The doctor, listening to Willie's chest, made the OK sign with his thumb and forefinger. "Sounds strong. Loud," he said jubilantly. "I see a normal life span for this young man. I don't foresee any complications."

Julia listened for herself and had to agree. When the doctor began to discuss follow-up care, Barnabas tapped Julia on the shoulder and indicated he wanted to speak to her in the hall. "Julia, what is Willie's doctor going to think when he sees what's happened?" Barnabas asked worriedly.

Julia shrugged. "The sutures are self-dissolving. Perhaps we can convince Willie and Carolyn to go to another cardiologist. I suppose I can come up with something to make it seem as though he's had a transplant; that would explain the scar on Willie's chest. Cardiac testing isn't as advanced in 1979 as it is now." She thought. "There have been inexplicable miracles in medicine before, Barnabas. I don't think that the doctor will be able to tell what's happened. All he will know is that by physical exam, Willie will have a normal sized heart. He won't the truth without more surgery, and it doesn't seem that Willie will need any."

"And what about the medication?"

"Well, the cardiologist can prescribe whatever he wants, and Willie can just throw away the scrips if he doesn't need them."

"This all seems so complicated!"

"Well, haven't I said that we've lied ourselves out of much worse situations than this? Don't worry, Barnabas. We'll always think of something."

When Willie was ready to be discharged from the hospital, Burke had his limousine pick the family up and take them back to the airport where his jet was waiting to take them back home. Willie's face was full of color, and he was quite unlike the sick man who'd first arrived. He and Carolyn sat with fingers intertwined, taking new delight in each other.

Burke took Carolyn by the hand. "Come back and see me in twenty years," he said, smiling gently. "I'd like to see what you REALLY look like then."

"Thank you for everything," Carolyn said gratefully, throwing her arms around him.
Burke shook Willie's hand heartily. "You'll be back, too," he said.

"Yeah, I didn't get to see much this time around," Willie replied with a warm smile.
"Quentin," Burke said, thumping his old friend on the shoulder. "You'll never grow up." He took Julia's hand briefly and stiffly shook Barnabas' hand.

Once on the plane and seated, Quentin removed a flask from inside his jacket and unscrewed the top. Barnabas eyed it. "Ah, Quentin," he said. "Would you mind--?" Quentin grinned indulgently and handed the flask to his cousin. Julia sighed and rolled her eyes.

This time, Julia dozed and Barnabas slept deeply for most of the flight. Carolyn, Willie, and Quentin were too upbeat and excited to really relax. They talked and laughed through the entire flight. Sometimes they would take a peek at Barnabas, exchange looks, and burst out laughing. At the airport, they looked for the van, but it was nowhere to be found.

"It's not here anymore," Elizabeth said. "It was reported stolen and the police have it."

"I guess the joke's on us," said Quentin. "We better catch a ride back to the airport and either rent a car or get a cab."

"Let's rent a car. I am not feeling up to making small talk with a cab driver," said Barnabas.

"Hey, let's not get the shuttle," Willie said. "Let's walk."

"Willie, don't over do it," Julia cautioned.

"Well, let's just walk over to the next parking lot," Carolyn compromised. "Then we'll catch the shuttle." It was actually a good idea, because Willie was rather tired by the time they came to the next shuttle stop. It felt good, though. He wasn't out of breath, just tired.

There were three young people waiting at the shuttle stand. Willie happened to glance over at them, and then he gawked. He poked Carolyn, who poked Quentin. Soon they were all staring, and trying hard not to be obvious about it. One of the young people had died fushia hair which stuck up in spikes all over her head and an earring through her nose. Her lips and nails were painted black. The young man sitting next to her was dressed in black leather. His ear was pierced with about a dozen small rings. The third young woman was also dressed in black and seemed to have a mouth full of gum. She noticed the Collinses were staring at her and her friends. She looked at them, insulted, and opened her mouth to show them a huge golden stud pierced through her tongue. She waggled it up, down, and around her mouth.

Barnabas was appalled. "My God!" he said, thunderstruck. "Why would someone mutilate herself that way?"

"All young people have to be different," Julia explained. "That's never changed."

The three young people got up, glared resentfully at the Collinses, and sauntered away. The young woman looked back at Barnabas. "Dincha mother ever teach you any manners, mister? Doncha know it's rude to stare? Yo, man, get a life why doncha?"

Carolyn, Willie, and Quentin collapsed against each other, laughing and whooping. "This place is SCARY," Willie laughed, his eyes streaming tears. "I wanna go home, honey!"

"I certainly hope nothing else happens tonight! Really, this time period is just too bizarre!" Barnabas complained.

"I'm just curious to see how we get from hippies to--to--whatever they call themselves," Julia said, with an amused smile. Barnabas suddenly smiled too.

Now they were descending the staircase, and Willie fairly raced down the steps. He didn't need any assistance at all. From the staircase, it was a short trip to the Shaws' home.

The doctor had cautioned Willie against lifting anything heavier than 15 pounds for several weeks, but he was able to carry Libby when Maggie placed her in his arms. Sebastian handed a sleepy Jamie over to Carolyn and winked at her again.

"Mommy, daddy, the ether bunny was here," little Jamie said drowsily, only half-awake.

Julia drove them all home, in a sensible box style van. By the time she pulled up to Willie and Carolyn's little house, Quentin was sound asleep with little Jamie leaning against him also softly snoring. Barnabas and Julia helped Willie and Carolyn get the children into the house. Barnabas retrieved their bags and carried them in. Willie was suddenly embarrassed. This role reversal still made him uncomfortable. As if he sensed it, Barnabas said gently, "You really are my family, Willie."

"Thanks for coming, Barnabas. It meant a lot to have you there helpin me," Willie said sincerely. Julia embraced both Willie and Carolyn; Barnabas hugged Carolyn, and then they left. Quentin hadn't moved a muscle. That was all right, Carolyn was sure he'd be around in the next day or two.

Willie and Carolyn put the children to bed. They were both very tired, climbing into bed, holding each other. They talked softly and drowsily. "Hey, I hope we remember to go see that movie. 'Specially since it's best picture. Especially now that it looks like this heart is gonna go on and on." Willie yawned.

"I think I'd like to hear the whole song. It was so pretty and so sad. Do you know any more Emily Dickinson poems?" Carolyn asked.

"Oh, sure, lots," Willie answered. "She wrotes lots of poems about death, though, ya know? Maybe that's why I liked her so much when I was sad."

"Mmm," Carolyn murmurered. "I just thought you might tell me another poem."

"Oh!" Willie was pleased. Elizabeth watched him use the last little bit of energy he had, searching his memory. "I got one," he said finally, with another yawn. "'So much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens.'"
The words penetrated Carolyn's brain and nearly woke her up because they were so unsual, especially for a bedtime poem. "Is that Emily Dickinson again? I don't think I understand it."

"Nah, that one was by a guy named William Carlos Williams. He gave his poems names. He called this one 'The Red Wheelbarrow.' I just thought of it cause it's like what really counts in life is what you don't really see--you know, the everyday stuff like a wheelbarrow on a farm." He closed his eyes, hearing Elizabeth whisper softly, "I'll always love you, Willie. What a wonderful son you are!" as he drifted off to sleep. Carolyn kissed him, very gently.

Just before she fell asleep, she saw her mother approach the bed. She'd been expecting her; she knew she'd see her one more time. "Thank you, Mother, thank you for my life," Carolyn whispered, filled with emotion. Elizabeth sat beside her daughter on the bed, stroking her hair. "Do you have to leave me, Mama? I want you to stay." Carolyn realized she sounded like a little child.

"I'll never really be far away from you, Carolyn," Elizabeth said. "And we'll be together again when it's time. But now it's time for your life to go on. It's spring, Carolyn, time for everything to be born new again. And if you look hard enough, Carolyn, you will see me. I'll always be part of you and a part of the little ones."

Elizabeth waited for Carolyn to drift peacefully off to sleep. She found her mother again. "Be at peace, Elizabeth, darling," said Ruth, smiling. "We can go now."

The sound of the baby crying woke Carolyn in the early hours of the morning. She stumbled sleepily to the Libby's crib. She wanted to make sure Willie slept on, undisturbed. Carrying Libby with her into the living room, she sat down on the sofa and turned on the radio. She put the baby to her breast, absently going over in her mind the miraculous events of the past few weeks.

Elizabeth watched, totally content, surrounded by her mother, father, and beloved family and friends. She felt totally at peace, but wished for one more thing. "Go ahead, Elizabeth, you know how," her mother said.

Carolyn felt a hand caress her cheek. Startled, she realized Libby had reached up with her chubby hand and touched her. "Hey, you're pretty clever," Carolyn said amused. She realized that Libby was looking directly at her. There was something about her eyes--Carolyn gave a little start, feeling herself being drawn into the baby's eyes. They were Mama's eyes, but they were also her daughter's eyes. Carolyn felt her heart swell to near bursting. She felt a surge of feeling coursing through her body that set her tingling. "You know what, Libby," Carolyn said with deep passion, "I really love YOU." She closed her eyes. She saw her Mama's face. She saw another young face with similar features: Libby, with thick dark hair and bright blue eyes.

It was spring. It was time for life to begin again.

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