Come Before Winter – Chapter Two – A Cup of Comfort
December 2nd, 2021
2 Timothy 4:21, “Do your utmost to come before winter.”
CHAPTER TWO – A CUP OF COMFORT
It had been the last gasp of Spring, just before the hot, angry heat of summer would come blasting through the window, when the door jangled above the noise of the patrons. From her side of the counter, Mercy peered around the espresso machine, and a grin spread across her face immediately.
‘Hey! Patsy!’ she hollered exuberantly. It wasn’t often she got a visit from anyone she knew, let alone, Patsy, who had now become a dear friend. Maybe her only friend, the rueful thought scuttled through her mind, like an unwanted bug, and then was gone, or perhaps hid. Patsy waggled her fingers in a small wave, joining the line of customers, slowly making way toward Mercy one cup of coffee at a time.
Mercy loved her job. She had just achieved her one-year anniversary being a part of the team at Once Upon a Cup. She had been celebrated with a dollar raise and a promotion to Shift Manager and found herself feeling very fulfilled most days. It helped with the disappointment she’d faced at graduation the previous year when she realized there was no possible way she would be able to take even classes at the community college, let alone attend college due to her lack of means and resources. She’d hired on parttime at Once Upon a Cup when she’d been alerted that she would be homeless upon her eighteenth birthday, and as everything else crashed around her the year before, she at least had her job to fall into. She had lucked out, as some say, and found a room at a hostel nearby, and even though it had been incredibly hard to accept the loan from the Mason’s while she got on her feet, she was so grateful they had offered. She’d long since paid back the loan, but there were some things in life one could never fully repay. Their friendship was one of those lifetime investments.
‘What are you doing here?!’ Mercy exclaimed when Patsy finally made it to her. She reached over the counter to return the generous hug. ‘Mmmm, you smell like home,’ Mercy grinned. You could smell the Mason’s house clear across town; Patsy always had something brewing. ‘If I had known you were coming, and alone, LOL, I would have taken my lunch with you! Let me take your order and I’ll see if I can have a short break.’ Patsy always had a gaggle of children with her no matter where she went, so her coming alone and being granted wasted time standing in a long line for a cup of coffee was a big deal. ‘Is everything okay?’
Patsy nodded quickly. ‘Yes, dear, everything is fine. I have something that came for you, and plus, I was just missing my girl. The children are with Michael this afternoon, building birdhouses or something that includes wood and saws, a hammer, nails, and likely a smashed finger. Hopefully, not a missing fingertip though,’ she sighed, and the two giggled. Mercy’s heart swelled being called someone’s girl; she’d never had that before. Well, not since her grampa called her his girl years upon years ago.
‘I’ll take an iced coffee, lovely. And you know how I like it.’ Patsy opened her wallet to pay, and Mercy waved away her money. ‘You know your money isn’t green enough to be good here!’ she grinned. ‘I got this. Least I can do.’ How wonderful it was to be able to treat a good friend, she was reminded of her gratitude for her stature in life right now.
About fifteen minutes later, when the crowd lulled, Mercy’s boss tossed her head toward Mercy, indicating it was a good time for a short break. Tugging at her apron strings, she pulled off her apron and folded it gently into her cubby before joining Patsy at a nearby hightop. This time they hugged each other closely before huddling over an envelope that lay next to Patsy’s empty cup. ‘What’s this?’ Mercy asked with interest.
But before she could answer, they were interrupted by a passing customer who quickly turned while recognizing Patsy. After exchanging pleasantries and discussing upcoming summer plans, the lady shifted to Mercy and then back to Patsy, ‘Goodness! Is this your oldest? I didn’t think you had a daughter this old, but my, she looks just like you, Patsy! She is darling and petite just like you!’ A warm glow, beginning at Mercy’s hair follicles and transcending throughout her limbs, seeped through her, causing tears to well in her eyes. How incredible to resemble someone as beautiful and kind as Patsy Mason; what an honor, she mused to herself, doubting this lady had any idea how powerful and sweet her words had just been.
‘She might as well be my daughter,’ Patsy affirmed with a gentle smile. ‘Meet Mercy. She was one of our fosters, but since has been adopted into our family as one of our own. What an amazing compliment to be compared to her. It would be a privilege to be her mom. I guess I kind of already am.’ Mercy shyly waved good-bye to the lady as she moved toward the counter to order, but she would store up the conversation and treasure it always.
‘Well, that was fun!’ Patsy proclaimed. ‘I’m sorry! That took part of your break, dear, even though it was so meaningful, wouldn’t you say?’ Mercy felt the sting of tears again, and embarrassed, brushed them away as she emphatically nodded her agreement. Her eyes traveled toward the envelope and back to Patsy again, a huge question mark floating invisibly between them.
‘Oh yes, why I came! I got side-tracked, dear. I wanted to bring this to you. I think…’ Her voice trailed away for just a moment, and then boldly, she looked deep into the girl’s eyes. ‘I think it’s from your father, lovely.’
Psalm 68:5-6a, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoner with singing.”
To Be Continued…
