The Charm Bracelet(67)

Lauren leaned into her grandmother. Even though Lolly’s body was fragile, Lauren could feel her strength. “It does, Grandma. The relationship you and Grampa had is my role model. I want that.”

“And you will,” Lolly said. “So will Arden. I think she may have already found it, in fact.”

“I do, too,” Lauren agreed. “And I will find love. I know I will, especially having two strong women role models like you and Mom. What I’ve learned is that the best way to find love is to have your own inner light shine through first.”

“So true,” Lolly said. “The world is a mirror. You attract what you reflect.”

Lauren stopped and pulled her grandmother closer. “I’ve learned that sometimes family can also be a great love in a person’s life, especially when she needs a guiding light to help her find her way in the world.”

“I love you, my dear,” Lolly said.

“Me too, Grandma,” Lauren said, before shouting, “Look!”

In the distance, a shooting star flew across the horizon.

“A guiding light, indeed,” Lolly said.





Thirty-eight




“Did you see the shooting star?” Lauren asked excitedly when Arden and Jake returned.

“It was beautiful,” Arden agreed, taking a seat next to her daughter, Jake plopping next to Arden.

“Symbolic,” Lolly added.

“I think that might be all we see tonight, though,” Arden said. “It’s getting late.”

“Hold on to your horses,” Lolly said, grabbing Lauren’s phone and tapping it to check the time. “It’s only twelve-thirty. And we’ve got each other for company and lots of coffee to stay warm.”

Arden laughed. “Is that your special coffee, Mom? I know your secret ingredient. We won’t care what time it is after we drink it.”

“In that case, I’ll take a cup!” Jake said, his deep voice rippling with laughter.

“Attaboy,” Lolly said, handing him the thermos.

Lauren shivered, and Lolly pulled a blanket over the group’s laps, and the four sat in silence, the muffled waves singing to them.

I can feel the whole world out there waiting for me to change it, even though I can’t see it right now, Lauren thought, staring out over the dark lake. Love makes it possible to believe you can change the world.

“Did you just see that?” Arden asked, turning her head left, then right.

In the distance, a curtain of glowing light began to dance in the sky, as if a lava lamp had been poured onto the horizon.

“You’re right, Mom,” Arden said, her voice rising in excitement. “It’s happening!”

The glow slowly got bigger, richer, brighter, until all the heavens were filled with ghostly, colorful lights. Purples, pinks, greens radiated from every corner of the sky, alive, dancing, unveiling their mystery for all the world to see.

Lauren grabbed her phone and began to take pictures with her camera, oohing and aahing like it was the Fourth of July.

Lolly secretly turned her head to watch the reactions of her family. The lights played off their faces, whirled in their eyes, twinkled off Arden’s glasses, wonder etched on their faces like it was Christmas morning.

The amazing beauty of life and family, Lolly thought, smiling, if only we take the time to see it and cherish it.

Arden caught her mother looking at her, and she grabbed Lolly’s hand and squeezed it before following her gaze back out to the lights.

“Native Americans believed that the lights were the spirits of their people,” Lolly said softly. “I believe that. Right now, we can clearly see all of our family who came before us and shared the same earth, water, light, and air.”

Lolly stopped, the lights dancing off her face.

Lake Michigan reflected the Northern Lights, too, the waters dancing in delight. In the distance, the Manitou Islands seemed alive in the glow, and Arden’s heart overflowed thinking of the story her mother had shared earlier in the week.

Arden squeezed her mother’s hand again, and Lolly’s bracelet jangled as her daughter cradled her hand.

“These lights are like my charms,” Lolly said. “They remind us of our past and how blessed we are by the precious moments in our lives.”

How long will all of this last? Arden thought, looking at her mom and then again at the lights.

And, then, as quickly as it had started, the sky grew dim and the show was over.

“Is that what love feels like?” Lauren asked, her eyes still wide with wonder.

“If you’re lucky,” Arden and Jake said in unison.

“And we are,” Lolly said, as the four gathered their stuff and headed home.





part ten




The Mustard Seed Charm

To a Life Filled with Faith





Thirty-nine




Lauren jumped awake, her mind whirling like the Northern Lights, unable to sleep.

I feel as if my life is at a crossroads. I feel like all of our lives are at a crossroads, ran through her mind.

It was still dark, and she leaned over to read the alarm clock by her bed.

5:47.

She laid back down and shut her eyes, but her mind would not cooperate. She was still energized by what she had seen and experienced just a few hours earlier.