Grandma Patty kept on the porch
for her.
her tone even, but she was fuming.
"We have to go."
subdued. "He's still grieving, but
he'll soften one day. He'll... "
bleached stone Clarissa had picked
up in the driveway. She scooped up
her child and ran to her car.
week's chores in one day. And she
had agreed to bake cookies for
Sunday's Valentine potluck at
church. She sighed. Didn't anyone
care that she was still grieving?
Jane was a long way from thinking
hearts and flowers. "Ard," Clarissa
might say of the state of her mom-
my's heart, if the child could make
such a connection.
paper, scissors and crayons, her
tongue caught between her lips in
concentration. Occasionally she
would glance at her mother. Then
she would bend close over the table,
as though she knew a secret.
and she was overwhelmed with
fierce love.
streets that hinted faintly of
spring. Clarissa wore her new
red dress with tiny white hearts
and pearl buttons. The narrow
red ribbon Jane had tied around
her baby-fine hair was long gone
Cinderella blanket. It was the big
pasty valentine she had worked
so hard on the day before. A cloud
had hovered over Jane's head all
weekend, even though friends at
church had been kind and attentive.
Even though the sermon's topic of
God's great love had been inspiring.
But at the glow in Clarissa's eyes
she felt some of the gloom lifting.
"Let's get into our play clothes
first, sweetie. Then you can give
me your valentine. Okay? I have
something special for you too!"
ing to unfasten the buttons on her
dress. "See Gromma Pat?" the little
girl said. "Want to go, Mommy!"
her small fingers. "Please... "
sion.
heart with a stick figure inside.
The figure had a round head with
no hair except for... except for a tuft
of hair standing straight up! A shock
of electricity raced through Jane.
It was for Grandpa. Clarissa had
made a valentine for the grandfather
who refused to let her in his house,
let alone his heart. Time after time
he had rejected her; yet her love
would not let go.
She knocked on Kevin's parents'
entine gripped in both hands, tender
anticipation on her face. He better
not hurt her,
the old man himself opened the door.
pants and tennis shoes. A pair of
spectacles and a newspaper dangled
from one hand. Unruly gray hairs
spiked up from a pale scalp, and his
rheumy eyes registered confusion.
arms across her chest and planted
her feet firmly in the doorway.
"My daughter made this for you,
Mr. Carlson. She wanted to give
it to you in person, and you..."
She stopped before saying he
had better take it with at least a
modicum of common courtesy.
sided heart with his image crayoned
inside. He closed his eyes, opened
them again and gazed into Clarissa's
upturned face. His chin trembled
slightly, but no sound came.
the silence as Grandma Patty
appeared. "How nice. We were
just about to have coffee."
man who studied the valentine
through eyes now glittery with tears.
Together they went inside.
ment from her home in Rockford, Illinois.
Her appointment before retirement
was as Editor�in�Chief and National
Literary Secretary.