Born & Bred Read Online Free PDF

mother and not before she lets Him.”
    “Why doesn’t God just mend her now?”
    “Ah, Danny, you don’t understand. God works in mysterious ways.”
    “Does He not love Ma?”
    “Of course He does. Why would you even think such a thing? He loves us all.”
    “I pray all the time, for Ma to get better, but sometimes I don’t think He is listening.”
    Granny stopped what she was doing and swatted the stray strands that had wisped around her face.
    “God is always listening, Danny, and He is always watching us. That’s why we have to be good all the time. But sometimes,” she paused and waited for his frown to lift, “he lets us try to find our own way back to Him. He wants us to have free will so that we come to Him of our own accord.”
    “But what about Ma? She doesn’t have free will anymore. She isn’t even allowed to leave the hospital anymore.”
    “Ah, Danny, sure you don’t understand yet. When you’re bigger you will but for now you’ll just have to believe me that God knows what is best for all of us, even your mother—God love her.”
    The kettle began to whistle and Granny fussed with the teapot. “Come on now and let’s have some cake.”
    Danny was easily deflected and devoured his cake with enthusiasm. When he had finished his second slice she ushered him off to brush his teeth and say his prayers. “I’ll be up to tuck you in, in a minute.”
    **
    But when she got to his room he was fast asleep. He looked like an angel with his fists rolled up beneath his chin, the little medals the nuns had given him peeping out from between his fingers. She gently stroked his hair and fought to keep her heart from bursting.
    You will look out for him after I am gone? she whispered into the unanswering dark.
    God, who knew what was best for them all, and kept His thoughts to Himself, had given her a great many challenges in life. But He had given her Danny, too, to lighten the burden no matter how dark the days became. He was that small candle that burned when her heart and mind grew dark with sorrow.
    And fear and doubt. She’d had conversations with Davies, the solicitor and long-time friend of her dear, departed, Bart. There was nothing else to be done. She’d have to let Danny’s father back into his life. She could make conditions, but she would have to allow it.
    And you’ll make sure that no harm will ever come to him?
    She didn’t hesitate to make bargains with God, assured as she was in her faith. When she needed something she asked because when He needed her to step in and take care of His little angel, she didn’t hesitate.
    Naturally she had confidence in Him, but sometimes she wondered if He wasn’t distracted by the multitude of conflicting prayers and personal requests. Things were allowed to happen that were obviously going to come to a bad end—like Jeremiah and Jacinta, who should never have been brought together. Her son had a weakness for drink and Jacinta had a feeble mind.
    But they did, and they gave into temptation and had to be married before she began to show. That, Granny decided, was her role in life—to help to iron out the wrinkles in the Great Plan.
    She sat for a while gently stroking Danny’s hair. He had come into the world just after Christmas, a few weeks before he was expected. Jeremiah and Jacinta had been arguing all night. Jacinta had a visit from her sisters. They were on their way home from the dance and brought her fish and chips.
    **
    “We saw Jerry down in the pub.” They masked their delight in sharing bad news with a veneer of seeming concern. Jacinta had married above her station, showing them all up, even if she had hitched herself to Jerry’s falling star. “He spent the whole evening going around flirting with all of the women there.”
    “And him with an expecting wife at home.”
    “Not a shred of shame in him either.”
    “What was he up to?”
    “Maybe we shouldn’t be telling you all of this but it’s better that you know