“Dad had a heart attack.”
Mac Lugot tightened his grip on the receiver, straining to hear his brother’s words. His voice shook with emotion, making it difficult to understand.
“You should come. The doctors – They don’t know if he’s going to make it.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.” Mac stared at the photo of his wife, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He hung up the phone and leaned forward in his plush leather chair, immediately bowing his head in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, please be with my dad right now. I want Your will, Lord, but please give me time to discuss salvation with him if You’re going to take him. Let him make it until we get there. Be with Cassie. Prepare her heart for what we have to do. Help me to remain calm and strong for her. Amen.
Mac stood, throwing a financial report he had been reviewing into his briefcase. He loosened his tie and pressed the speed-dial button on his phone that would connect him to another senior partner in the accounting firm.
Cassandra Rose Lugot stood at the stove when she heard the door. She glanced at the clock, noticing that her husband had arrived home from work early and went to greet him. It only took one look at Mac’s face to see that something was bothering him.
“Honey, are you all right?” she asked, genuinely concerned for her husband. They were still newlyweds, having just celebrated their first anniversary a few months before.
Mac took her in his arms and gave her a soft kiss before leading her to the sofa in the living room. He took Cassandra’s hands in his and opened his mouth to speak. She searched her husband’s dark eyes for some sign of what could be wrong.
“I got a call from Nic this afternoon,” Mac began slowly.
“Nic? Is he okay?” Cassandra questioned of Mac’s younger brother.
“He’s fine, but my dad…Dad had a heart attack. He’s in the hospital and they’re not sure if he’s going to make it. We need to go right now, Cassie.”
Tears sprang to Cassie’s eyes and she covered her mouth with one hand, shaking her head. “No, no,” she whispered. Since the wedding, she had developed a special relationship with her father-in-law, Damon Lugot.
“We’ve got to try again to lead him to the Lord.” Mac’s voice trembled, and he blinked back tears.
“Oh, honey.” Cassandra wrapped her arms around Mac’s neck, pulling him close.
“I’ve
called the airport. There’s a flight out to
Cassandra nodded against her husband’s chest. “Of course. I’ll go pack for us if you could just turn off the oven and put the chicken back in the freezer.” She stood and climbed the stairs to their bedroom. There was no way of knowing how long they would need to stay, so she packed for several days. As she pulled clothes from the dresser, she said a prayer for the Lugot family - especially for Damon. Before they left for the airport, Cassandra took a moment to call her parents and request that they pray for Damon.
The flight seemed much longer than usual, but Cassandra understood her husband’s need for silence. Damon and Katherine Lugot’s souls had been heavy on their hearts for years and now it seemed Damon might be running out of time. Cassandra knew that Mac was trying to be strong for her, but she could tell that if they began to speak, he just might break down.
When the pilot announced that they would be landing soon, Mac turned to her, his eyes moist. “Pray with me,” he requested.
Cassandra was happy to bow her head in prayer and wait for him to begin. When he didn’t start right away, she looked up at him expectantly. He gave her hand a squeeze before he began to pray that his father would be receptive to what they had to say this time and that they wouldn’t be too late.
Nic greeted them at the airport as soon as the plane landed. He hugged Cassandra warmly before turning to Mac. The brothers embraced for a long time, obviously ignoring the looks that were coming their way from bystanders. The group didn’t say much as they drove to the hospital. Nic said that their father was still weak and that he had not been given the opportunity to witness to him. When they arrived at the hospital, Damon’s condition had not changed.
“You guys go ahead. He’s only allowed a couple of visitors at one time,” Nic offered when they reached his father’s room.
Mac took Cassandra’s hand and led the way into the hospital room where Damon lay. Katherine Lugot was sitting in a chair holding his hand. Cassandra could see that the event had taken its toll on Mrs. Lugot. Her appearance was usually impeccable and flawless, but today was the exception. Katherine didn’t have any makeup on and wore a pair of navy sweatpants with a t-shirt. She hugged them both warmly. Mrs. Lugot had not always liked Cassandra, but they were working on it.
“How is he?” Mac whispered.
“He’s very weak. I’m going to step out for awhile,” Katherine said as she turned and kissed her husband’s forehead.
Mac motioned for Cassandra to sit in the chair next to the bed, and he stood beside her. He picked up his father’s hand. “Dad? Can you hear me?” Damon stirred and tried to speak. “Cassie and I are here,” Mac continued.
The older man gave a small smile then closed his eyes again. Cassandra glanced around the hospital room, looking for signs that Damon was comfortable. She couldn’t stop the tears that had been threatening to fall since she had seen Damon lying in the hospital bed.
Mac turned to her and knelt down next to her chair, taking her hands in his. “Remember, God is in control,” he whispered as he reached to wipe away a tear that was streaming down her cheek. “Everything will turn out fine.”
“Cassie…” Damon was awake again. He spoke so softly that she almost missed it. Cassandra wiped at the tears on her face and leaned toward Mr. Lugot so that she could hear him better. “Don’t you cry, girl.”
Cassandra responded with a huge smile. “How are you feeling?”
“As well as can be expected, I guess.” Damon reached for Mac’s hand again. “I love you guys,” he said softly, his own eyes moist.
“We love you, too,” Mac said, glancing helplessly at his wife as his father drifted back to sleep.
“I’m going to go check on your mother. Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes. I just don’t know what to say. How do I bring it up? I don’t want to upset him.” Mac looked to his wife with a pained expression on his face.
Cassandra stood, gazing into her husband’s eyes. She wished she could take the pain away. “Just talk to him, Honey.”
With that, Cassandra put her hand on his shoulder, her sign to him that she wanted to kiss him. He leaned down and Cassandra placed a kiss on his cheek. Cassandra was not short, but her husband towered over her at six feet six inches tall. She turned and left Mac alone with his father.
Nic and Katherine were seated in the waiting area just down the hall from Damon’s room. Cassandra entered and took a seat next to Katherine.
“How are you holding up?” Cassandra asked as she put her arm around the older woman.
“I’m scared,” Katherine said. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose him.”
“I can’t tell you that you’re not going to lose him, but I can tell you that Mac and I have been praying since Nic called us. My parents are praying for him as well.” Cassandra sat quietly for a moment. She was thankful that Mrs. Lugot had not objected to mentioning prayer. “How long have you been here?”
“Since late this morning.”
Cassandra
glanced at the clock. It was almost
“Nic brought me some supper, but I haven’t felt much like eating.”
“Would you like to rest for a bit? Mac’s with him now, and I’m sure he’ll stay with him for a while. Maybe you could lie down for a couple of hours.” Cassandra didn’t get an objection, so she moved from the couch and helped Katherine lie down. She disappeared to request a blanket from the nurse’s station before returning. Mrs. Lugot was already asleep. Cassandra covered her with the blanket and crossed the room to sit with Nic. “Do you need some rest?”
“No. I’m okay for now.” They sat quietly for a moment. “I think Mother is warming up to you.”
“I hope you’re right. Seeing her looking so tired and emotional made me realize that she isn’t as tough as she seems,” Cassandra said, trying to keep the smile from coming to her lips.
“What are you thinking?”
“Honestly?”
Nic nodded in response.
“That she has a heart after all.”
Nic smiled as well. He was well aware of how his mother had treated Cassandra in the past. It wasn’t until the week before Mac and Cassandra married that Damon Lugot had dealt with his wife for her rudeness. Things had changed for the better after that between Katherine and Cassandra. They were both making an effort to improve their relationship.
“I don’t think I’ve done my job, Cass.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve
been right here in
This was the first time Cassandra could remember seeing Nic look sad. He was usually busy making everyone laugh. “Sometimes you don’t have to come right out and witness to someone. Sometimes you have to show them through the way that you live. I don’t know your heart, Nic. You’ve got to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.”
“What if he had died? What if he does die? I can’t imagine how I’ll feel if I haven’t done everything I can to lead him to the Lord.” Nic’s eyes were locked on Cassandra’s and for a moment, she thought that he was going to cry.
Cassandra tried to think of what Mac would say to that. He was so much better at these types of things. “If you feel like you haven’t been the witness you need to be, now is your chance to do a better job. He’s still alive. This could be your second chance.” She paused for a moment. “Mac has this very same thing on his mind. Maybe together you guys will get through to him.”
Nic nodded and Cassandra decided not to say anything more.
The two sat quietly for some time before Cassandra noticed that Nic was nodding off. She excused herself, saying she was going to check on Mac. She reached the hallway and looked back to see Nic stretch out on the couch and close his eyes.
Cassandra quietly slipped back into Damon’s hospital room to be with her husband. “They’re both asleep,” she whispered.
Mac nodded, his own eyes looking heavy.
“Has he woke up again?”
Mac shook his head. He reached out for her and pulled her into his lap. She leaned back against him and let herself relax.
“And how are you doing? Is there somewhere you can lay down?” he whispered in her ear.
“I’m okay. I want to be here for you.”
Mac tightened his hold on her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
It wasn’t long before Mac recognized the rhythmic breathing of his wife and knew that she had fallen asleep. He didn’t move her, deciding instead to take advantage of the opportunity to hold her as she slept. He kept an eye on his father and the machines that were hooked up to him. Mac was still awake when his mother came in around three in the morning to check on her husband.
“Have you been awake all this time?” she asked softly.
Mac only nodded.
Katherine approached him and looked down at Cassandra sleeping in his arms. “She really is very sweet.”
Mac smiled in agreement. He was glad that his mother and his wife were starting to get along.
“Why don’t you take her to the couch in the waiting room? You should get some sleep too.”
Mac was happy to have his mother relieve him. He awkwardly stood, Cassie in his arms. She groaned and tightened her grip around his neck, but didn’t wake up. Once he saw that she was comfortable on a couch in the waiting room, he found a chair in the corner and tried to get some sleep. It wasn’t easy for such a big man to get comfortable in a small chair, but he was so tired that he managed find a position he thought might work. His wife would scold him for allowing her to take the couch if she woke and found him cramped the chair. He smiled at the thought. He loved to be scolded by Cassandra.
Cassandra woke at six in the morning and looked around, taking a moment to remember where she was. Nic was asleep on the couch across from her, and then she spotted Mac in a chair in the corner. She could see that he was going to wake up terribly sore, but she smiled at the sight of him cramped in the little chair. She stood and crossed the room to kneel in front of him.
“Mac?” she said softly as she shook him. He let out a groan of protest and slowly opened his eyes. “I can’t believe you slept here. Why didn’t you take the couch? You would have been much more comfortable there.”
He just smiled, his eyes still closed.
“Well, I’m awake now so get over there and lay down.”
Mac did as he was told.
Cassandra peeked into Damon’s room to check on him and Katherine before going to Nic’s car to retrieve her Bible. When she returned she took the chair in the waiting room that Mac had abandoned and began to read.
After
years of struggling with doubts of her salvation, Cassandra had accepted Christ
as her Savior a few years ago. She turned in her Bible to John 3:16 and read
her handwritten notes in the margin. No
more doubts. For God so loved Cassandra…
Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus to die on
the cross for my sins. Thank You. Be with Damon today, Lord. Place Your healing hands upon Him. May this situation be used for Your glory.
Cassandra fingered the embossed pages of her Bible. Should she admit her worrisome thoughts? Of course…the Lord knew them already.
I’m afraid. I have a terrible feeling that this is just the beginning…of something worse. Lord, I pray that I’m wrong. Please encourage me in Your Word today.
“What are you reading?” Mac asked after a time.
Cassandra’s head shot up. “You scared me. I didn’t know you were awake.” She closed her Bible and went to the couch where he was laying. Mac scooted back, making room for her to sit down in front of him. “I was just reading in Psalms. There are so many encouraging verses in that book.”
“That’s true. Maybe you’ll be able to use them to encourage Mom and Dad today.” Mac sat up and kissed her cheek. “Have you checked on them?”
“Some time ago. When I checked last, your mother said he hadn’t been awake yet this morning. Nic is with them now.”
“Why don’t we go see if they want us to stay with him while they run home and shower? Then when they get back, we could go,” Mac suggested.
Before they did as Mac suggested, Cassandra folded the blanket he had been using. Mrs. Lugot’s eyes lit up at the mention of a shower so they didn’t have to try very hard to get her to agree to the arrangement. A few minutes later, Mac and Cassandra were alone with Damon, talking quietly as he slept.
Damon awakened and joined their conversation with much more ease than he had the night before. His voice was stronger and Cassandra thought there was more color in his face as well. She glanced at Mac. The tension in his face relaxed for the first time since he had heard the news about his father. The doctor came in and asked Mac and Cassandra to leave while he examined Mr. Lugot. They waited in the hallway for him to come out and give them a report.
“He’s making progress,” the doctor informed them as he stepped out of Damon’s room. “He’s breathing easier this morning and seems to be gaining some strength. I think this is a very good sign.”
Cassandra said a silent prayer, thanking the Lord for the good news. Mac went on to ask several questions and Cassandra slipped into Damon’s room.
“Sounds like you’re doing better,” she said, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed.
“I’m feeling better, but that doctor insists that I need to stay in here for awhile.”
Cassandra could hear the disgust in his voice and giggled. “I think that the doctor knows best.”
“Well, I can’t stay in here very long. I’ve got a business to run.”
Cassandra decided against telling him that the doctor didn’t want Damon Lugot to go back to work for a very long time, claiming that the stress had contributed to his heart attack. “You don’t need to be thinking about your business. You need to concentrate on recovering.”
“Mac, what’d that doctor say?” Damon asked as soon as his son came through the door.
“Mother is talking to him now. She can give you the details. Cassie and I are going to head to the house to take a shower and get some breakfast. We’ll be back a little later.” Mac went to the bed and leaned down to hug his father. They said good-bye before leaving the hospital.
An hour later, Mac pulled Nic’s car into the driveway of his childhood home.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this mansion,” Cassandra said in awe.
Mac gave
her a small smile. They had visited the mansion a few times before this, but it
was far different than the home they shared together in
Before they even reached the double doors to the large stone building, another man came and took their bags from Mac and led the way inside. “Do you want these in your room, Sir?”
“That will be fine, Elliot. Should we get our own breakfast or does Ann have something ready?” Mac asked politely as they entered the foyer.
“I think she made your favorite when she knew you were on the way. But you can check with her.”
“Thank you, Elliot,” Mac said.
Mac took Cassandra’s hand and led her through the formal dining room and into the kitchen where an older woman stood at the stove. “That you, Mac?” She asked without turning around.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
The woman turned around and blushed when she saw Cassandra. “I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t realize.”
“Ann, remember, this is my wife. She won’t mind if you call me Mac,” he said before going to the old woman and embracing her.
“I just don’t want to sound disrespectful,” she whispered to Mac while they hugged. Mac did not comment, but thought that this proved how little everyone at the mansion knew his bride.
“It’s so nice to see you again, Ann. How are you?” Cassandra asked, extending her hand.
The little old woman shook Cassandra’s hand. She hesitated before she spoke, glancing at Mac. “I’m doing all right. I’ve cooked up some French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon. I’ll bring it out to the dining room.”
“Why not right here?” Cassandra said, motioning to the small kitchen table.
Ann looked at Mac and he nodded. “Okay. Have a seat and I’ll bring it right over.” Mac sat down, but Cassandra followed Ann, obviously determined to help her in some way. Ann looked back and protested. “You just go on and sit down, Mrs. Lugot. I will get it.” Cassandra started to object, but Ann shooed her away.
Cassandra joined Mac at the table and Ann brought the food over. Cassandra seemed to surprise her once again by asking her to join them. Ann declined her offer and disappeared from the room. Mac smiled at his wife, amused by the scene.
“What are you smiling at?”
“You,” he said, shaking his head.
“What?”
“Where do I begin?” He paused until Cassandra gave him a playful punch to the arm. “I think you had her rattled. You asked her how she was, you wanted to eat here, you offered to help, and you asked her to join us.”
“What is wrong with that?”
“Nothing, but I can assure she isn’t used to your kindness.”
When they were finished eating, the couple went upstairs to Mac’s old bedroom to shower and get ready to go back to the hospital. Mac was happy to have his wife alone for a while even if it only lasted an hour. He found her irresistible and since they had waited for intimacy until after their marriage, he had not tired of it, nor did he think he ever would.
When they were ready to leave, the car had been brought to the front door and they proceeded to go back to the hospital.
They checked on Damon, but he had fallen back to sleep. Katherine and Nic joined them in the hallway.
“How’d he take the news?” Mac asked, referring to the lengthy hospital stay that lie ahead.
“He asked if he could get someone to stay with him at home. The doctor didn’t rule that out for the future, but not right now. I know he’s worried about the business. He doesn’t trust anyone else,” Katherine explained. She turned toward Cassandra. “Was everything satisfactory for you at the house?”
“Everything was great.” Cassandra answered quickly.
They stood in the hallway talking for awhile before a nurse came out and said that Damon was asking for Mac.
Mac immediately went to his father, worried about why he had singled him out. “The nurse said you wanted to see me,” he said as he came in the door and sat down next to his father’s bed.
“Yes. Have they told you that I’m to stay in here for three or four weeks?”
Mac nodded in response.
“And that even then I shouldn’t go back to work?”
Mac nodded again, wondering where his father was going with these questions.
“I’ll need someone to run the business. Can I count on you?”
Mac didn’t know what to say. He had never shown an interest in his father’s business and wondered why he would request him to take over. His thoughts quickly turned to Cassandra. Would she be willing to stay here for that long? Mac’s right hand went to the back of his neck and then to his temple. It was a familiar gesture to his family and friends. Mac was frustrated.
“Dad, I don’t know what to say. That’s a lot to think about. What makes you think I could do it?”
“You’re an accountant, aren’t you?” Damon questioned. “Mac, that’s pretty much what I do with a few other duties. There’s a lot of public relations involved and I know you won’t have any problem with that.”
“I’d have to talk to Cassie.”
“You could stay with us at the mansion. You could move into the north wing.”
“I’ll have to talk to Cassie,” Mac repeated. “And spend some time in prayer,” he added.
“You and Cassie were praying for me, weren’t you?”
“Of course, Dad.”
“I heard you praying last night. I pretended I was asleep.”
“Why?” Mac was immediately curious.
“I didn’t want to disturb you and it made me feel… calm. Grandma and Grandpa were here praying yesterday before you arrived. It reminded me of when I was younger.”
Mac worked hard not to overreact at the interest his father had taken in prayer, but he knew in his heart that he and Cassandra would be staying for awhile. “Did you go to church with Grandma and Grandpa when you were young?”
“Yeah. I was always so bored. I just quit going. I’ve been thinking about some of the things I used to hear about, with the heart attack and all.”
“What things?” Mac again tried not to get too excited.
“Just things.” The tone in Damon’s voice had changed and Mac could tell that the door was closed. “Let your mom know that they can come back in.”
Mac did as he was told, but he grabbed Cassandra’s arm, holding her back. “We need to talk,” he whispered. She followed him as he led the way to the waiting room and sat down on one of the couches. “Do you want a soda or anything?” he asked, looking at the pop and candy machines against the wall. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.
“No. I want you to tell me why you’re upset.”
Mac grabbed her hands. “I’m not upset, not really. Dad was just talking a little bit about when he used to go to church. He said he’s been thinking about it a lot since the heart attack.”
“That’s wonderful, Honey!” Cassandra said, giving him a hug.
“He asked me to stay and take care of the business,” he blurted out.
“What? For how long?”
“I’m sure it would be for at least a couple months, maybe longer.”
Cassandra’s eyes widened. “And you’re really considering this? What about the firm?”
“I could take a leave of absence,” Mac explained.
“Where would we live?”
“The north wing of the mansion. I don’t think I’ve showed it to you. No one has lived there since Mom and Dad moved in so it has been closed off.”
“Why do I feel like you’ve already made up your mind?” Cassandra asked with annoyance in her voice.
Mac knew she was thinking about giving up her home, their wonderful church family and friends, and the ability to visit her parents virtually anytime she wanted. “Baby, this could be the way for me to finally reach my parents.”