Courage and Comfort Read Online Free PDF

home. And every few miles Edmund continued
to let his fingers touch the aquamarine that was going to help his sister
reclaim her life and rear her son.

 
    Chapter
Five
     
    Five big cushions were set
out in a rough circle on the floor. AJ and Mavis were each sitting on one, the
baby laid sleeping on another, and AJ gestured for the men to sit on the
remaining two. As soon as they were settled, she lit a large candle in front of
her and passed it to Mavis, who used the flame to light a tiny tea candle she
placed in front of the baby and a slightly larger candle she rested in front of
herself. Mavis passed the large candle to Utah, who lit his candle, and Edmund
did the same before returning the primary candle to AJ.
    Next, AJ took a bowl of
potpourri and herbs, sprinkled them in front of her, and passed the bowl to
Mavis. Once again everyone repeated her actions.
    Finally, she placed a loaf of
home-baked bread and a jug of water in the center of the cushions. “Lay out
your gifts,” she instructed Edmund.
    Edmund and Utah had discussed
how they would do this and decided cupping their hands with the rocks held by
both of them was the safest method. First they each picked up one end of the baby’s
toy, leaned forward together, and placed it in front of the sleeping infant. Then
very carefully, they scooped the pale blue paperweight into their joined hands
and laid it in front of Mavis before taking the green one and doing the same
for AJ. Finally, having considered the previous gifts a kind of practice run
for the important task of getting the giving of the aquamarine correct, they
gathered it in their joined hands and offered it to Mavis, waiting for her to
take it from them and hold it herself.
    Mavis quietly scooped it from
their joined hands and clutched it to her chest, silent tears trickling from
her pale blue eyes as she sobbed brokenly. “Oh John.”
    AJ held her arms above her head
and spoke firmly but gently. “Aquamarines have the power to release anxiety.
They soothe and calm fears and combat depression. The aquamarine is the stone
of courage. It accelerates knowledge and reasoning, not just learning from
others, but also learning of oneself . Mavis, you are
not alone. You have family and friends who will always support you. But more
than that, with this stone is the promise that your John is always with you and
will forever offer you the advice and help you need to rear his son.” AJ
lowered her arms and kept her gaze steady on Mavis.
    Edmund almost held his
breath, wondering how—or even if—she’d respond.
    “Thank you for bringing me
the stone. Knowing John’s spirit is inside it means more to me than I can ever
tell you.” She clutched the stone tighter, hard against her chest. “Having seen
you all demonstrate your love for me like this means a lot to me. With you
three helping me, and with John too, I’ll try, I’ll really try.”
    Mavis’s tears fell faster
now, but Edmund thought she seemed stronger, as if having John with her really
was helping her to find a stable base she could build on.
    At that moment John Jr.
stirred and reached out his hand. With the aimless grip of the very young, he
grabbed hold of the aquamarine ball in his toy and held it.
    “Your son understands. He
will grow up to be a credit to both you and his father,” AJ intoned.
    Edmund looked at Utah and saw
the same drop-jawed gaze he was sure was on his own face. It seemed the baby
knew more about this than he did. Well hell, as long as it aided Mavis, it was
all good as far as he was concerned.
     
    ****
     
    “Let me love you, tonight. I
don’t know how I would have gotten through this time without you beside me to
strengthen and help me,” Edmund said.
    “You’re strong. You would
have managed just fine. But I was pleased to be able to help you. I always plan
to be here to aid and support you. I love you so much,” Utah whispered.
    “I love you too. And I
understand how much God has blessed us by bringing us