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Fall N Joy

By Joi Copeland

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Prologue
"Miss, do you understand what I'm telling you?" Concerned eyes traveled over Joy Parker's face.
Joy nodded. "Yes." She didn't sound like herself. Although, how could she? How could she ever be the same again?
"Miss, do you have someone who can drive you?"
"Yes, Officer, we'll drive her." Amanda, her roommate and best friend, squeezed Joy's hand then turned to her boyfriend and signed what the officer had said.
"Then follow me, please. I must prepare you though, Miss Parker. Nothing's left." Sadness rang in his voice.
Nothing's left. They're all gone. Gone. Joy forced one foot in front of the other and made her way to Amanda's car. How she ended up in the backseat with her seat belt buckled remained a mystery. Chase sat behind the wheel of the car while Amanda occupied the back with Joy.
"How could this have happened?" Joy whispered. "Why would God allow it?"
Amanda clung to Joy's hand. "I don't know, sweetie." Tears streaked Amanda's face.
The ride to the scene took less time than Joy hoped. Amanda helped her out of the vehicle and kept an arm wrapped around Joy's waist. Blood drained from her face. In the middle of the highway sat what used to be her family's fifteen passenger van, charred and unrecognizable. The stench of burnt metal stung her eyes. Her legs crumpled beneath her.
"No!" she screamed to the sky, tears pouring down her face. "No, God, please, not my family." Sobs wracked her frame.
Chase's strong arms wrapped around her, rocking her back and forth. Amanda knelt in front of her, brushing her hair away from her face. Bile rose in Joy's throat. She forced it back down, willing herself not to be sick in front of so many people. But who would care? Joy's head swam, dizziness taking the place of clarity. She covered her face with her hands. Her tears fell through the slits in her fingers, leaving wet stains on her jeans.
"Miss Parker." An officer knelt close to Amanda. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Joy nodded at him, unable to speak. The lump in her throat refused to move.
"I hate to ask this of you, but I need you to identify the vehicle. Is that your family's van?" The officer's brown eyes searched hers.
Joy nodded again.
He hung his head and clasped his hands in front of him. "When you're ready, I'll need you to come with me."
"Do I have to?" Fear coursed through her. Joy didn't want to have to identify the remains of her family. She couldn't.
Sympathy passed over the officer's face. "No. You don't have to right now. But in a few days, we will need you to identify the bodies, after we can get some DNA. Will you be able to do that?"
Joy dipped her head, tears flowing down her face. "Yes. Thank you."
"Miss Parker, I'm so sorry this happened."
"Thank you, Officer." Amanda extended her hand. Chase kept his arms around Joy and guided her to her feet. "If there's nothing else, can we take her home?"
"Very well. We'll be in touch."
"Thank you, Sir." Amanda and Chase directed Joy back to the vehicle and settled her in.
Joy's stomach churned. Thirteen members of her family, gone. All because of a blown tire from a gas truck. Why didn't God protect them from being hit? Why did He allow such a devastating thing to happen? Joy squeezed her eyes shut. No, it wasn't God's fault. It was hers. She encouraged them to come to Maine to visit her. If she hadn't asked her parents to make the trip up to see her, they'd all still be alive.
Joy hugged her knees to her chest and leaned into Amanda's embrace. "We'll get you home and into bed, okay?"
Sniffing, Joy nodded. "Sounds good. Maybe I will wake up and this will all be a nightmare."
Amanda's silence hung in the back seat. Of course it wasn't a nightmare. It was a living nightmare, one Joy would have to deal with day after day. And she had no one to turn to. No parents or siblings. She had her friends, but they all had their own lives. Tamsen and Ryder were enjoying their first year of marriage together. Soon enough, Chase and Amanda would be engaged. Snowe and Tanner's ever increasing family began to take over the Shamrock Inn. Though no one asked Joy to move out, she knew she'd have to look for her own place soon enough. She'd never move back to Connecticut again. Not where the memories of her family had the potential of haunting her.
Chase pulled the car up to the Inn. Amanda guided Joy into the living room. "I'll make you some tea."
Chase followed his girlfriend into the kitchen, leaving Joy alone with her thoughts. She sank onto the couch and tucked her feet under her. This summer was supposed to be wonderful. Her family should’ve been occupying the rooms at the Shamrock Inn. Excitement had kept her awake most nights, her mind whirling with all she wanted to show her siblings and parents. Leo would have loved to see the whales when they went whale watching. And Feri would’ve loved the lighthouses.
Joy closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the couch, tears spilling down her face. None of that would happen. She'd lost every single family member she'd ever known. No grandparents to speak of. Aunts and uncles lived too far away, and they'd never kept in touch with each other. Now she'd have to search for their numbers and inform them of the horrible news. Her family had died.
"Sweetie, Amanda just told me what happened." Tamsen's voice was filled with sadness. "I'm so sorry." She sat next to her friend, engulfing her in a hug.
Joy tried to choke back a sob, but it burst forth like lava from a volcano. Her body shook. If only a hug could make the pain and sadness go away, turn back the clock and stop her family from getting into their van. If only she'd gone home as her mom had asked. Then none of this would've happened.
"I can't believe they're gone. Every single one of them." Joy leaned back, wiping away her tears.
"I'm in shock." Tamsen shook her head. "What are you going to do?"
Joy shrugged. "I need time to process. The policeman said I'd need to identify their remains after DNA testing." Her stomach knotted. "How in the world am I supposed to do that?"
Tamsen squeezed Joy's hand. "I'll go with you. Dad will, too. We loved your family."
Joy inhaled a shaky breath. "Thanks. I need support, that's for sure." She stood on shaky legs. "Please tell Amanda thank you for the tea, but I think I need to go lie down. I'll talk with you guys later."
Tamsen nodded. "Try to get some rest. I know it'll be hard. We're praying for you."
"Thanks." Joy forced her legs up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom. There, she collapsed on the bed, allowing the sorrow to overtake her. Tears stained her pillowcase. She curled up in a ball and hoped sleep would come.

 
Chapter One
Three months later
"Pop, I'll be home later today, and then I'll take you to see Mom." Spencer Fall squeezed his father's shoulder, saw his father's nod, and turned away. "Love you, Pop."
The television remained on mute as Spencer made his way to the front door of the four-bedroom home he'd shared with his dad since the day they admitted his mom into an Alzheimer's care facility. Only six months ago. How can six months seem so long? He'd been running the furniture shop, living with his father, and taking him to see his mother. He didn't know how long he could continue the crazy schedule. He barely had time to breathe. Since his dad needed to see his wife on a daily basis, Spencer's time grew limited to do the things he needed to do.
Spencer pulled open the front door, tossed on his sunglasses, and made his way down the steps to his truck. He bit back a sigh and climbed into the cab. He missed his mom. Naomi Fall excelled above and beyond most women. She'd built the business with his father, Finnley. They'd worked side by side until he came along, and even then, they'd take him to the workshop to complete orders they'd handmake. Naomi and Finn taught Spencer the meaning of hard work, love for wood-carving, and how to have a good, God-centered marriage. Spencer shook his head and pulled his truck away from the curb.
His mother no longer graced their home. Everyday, she'd sit in the same chair, a different expression on her face than the day before. Sometimes, it was one of acknowledgment; other times, confusion. And then, outright annoyance. They had some good laughs at times. One day, when Spencer took his pop to see his mom, she recognized them immediately and even kissed his father hello. Spencer captured that sweet kiss on his cell phone and showed his mother. She smacked his dad's arm. "Who are you kissin'?"
Finn chuckled and wrapped his arm around her. "That's you, darlin'."
Red tinted her cheeks, and she giggled. "Oh. Well, that's okay, then."
Spencer had laughed, but a part of his heart squeezed. He missed the woman his mom used to be.
His father required more attention than Spencer had time to give. His stomach clenched. What kind of son thought that way? He ought to be able to care for him and run the wood shop. There just weren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needed to be done.
Spencer ran his hand through his semi-wet hair. "God, what do I do?"
He pulled his truck into the spot behind the store, gathered his belongings, and jogged to the back door. A quick glance at his watch revealed twenty minutes before the doors needed to be unlocked and his first customer should arrive.
Spencer glanced around the wood shop. Last night, he'd stayed an hour longer to dust the furniture that decorated the front of his store. Relief swept over him. If he hadn't done that, he'd be late unlocking the doors. And he'd be late for his first appointment of the morning. Flipping through his calendar, he found the woman's name. Angela Graham.
A knock sounded on the glass door. Spencer smacked himself on the forehead. He'd let his thoughts wander, and opening time crept up on him. He pasted on a smile, grabbed the keys from the desk, and zigzagged through the furniture to the door.
"Good morning, Mrs. Graham."
The red-haired woman smiled. "Spencer, how many times have I told you? Angela. No Mrs. please." She squeezed his arms and sauntered past him.
Spencer chuckled. "I always forget, Angela. Sorry about that. How are things at Shamrock Inn this morning?"
A cloud crossed the older woman's face. "Strained, I fear." She sighed and sank onto a couch against the side of the store.
"I hope everything's alright with the family?" Spencer knew some of the story about Angela getting pregnant before her boyfriend shipped off to war. Mr. Graham had died overseas, or so everyone thought. His parents had tricked them both into thinking the other was dead. He'd never come back to Maine. Said he couldn't bear the thought of being in the same area as his love.
"No, everyone is fine in the family." She fiddled with the strap on her purse.
Mr. Graham had changed his name, doing his best to stay away from his parents. Angela raised their son on her own while Mr. Graham got remarried, had a daughter, and then his wife died. As the good Lord would have it, Mr. Graham ended up at Shamrock Inn, reunited with Angela, and met his son and daughter-in-law.
Spencer adored the woman across from him. Whatever happened, she seemed she needed to talk. "What's going on, Angela? Anything I can help you with?"
"I wish. Our sweet employee and dear friend of the family received tragic news a few months ago. Her family lived in Connecticut." Tears pooled in the woman's eyes. "On their way to visit Joy, they were hit by a truck, and their van burst into flames."
Spencer sucked in a breath. "Joy Parker?"
Angela's eyes widened. "You know Joy?"
Spencer leaned back against the chair across from Angela. "Just a little bit. She used to come in here often. We'd chat for a few minutes, she would comment on the pieces in the shop. I wondered why she hasn't been around."
Angela dabbed at the corner of her eyes. "Joy's heartbroken. We just don't know what to do for the poor girl. She wanders around from room to room, no joy in her eyes, which is understandable. But she's sinking, and we don't know how to pull her out."
"You said it's only been a few months. Maybe she needs more time." Spencer scratched his stubbly chin.
"After the funeral, she locked up the house, won't even go through anything. She had eleven brothers and sisters. I just wish I could help her."
Spencer's heart ached. The black haired beauty, standing over five foot eight inches, caught Spencer's attention from the first day she'd entered his shop. He brushed aside the attraction, knowing he didn't have time to pursue a relationship. If only he could help her in some way.
Spencer snapped his fingers. "She isn't working, right?"
"There's nothing really for her to do. We have quite a few employees now, and I just can't ask her to do anything."
Spencer tilted his head. "What if I had a need?"
Hope filled Angela's eyes. "What do you need?"
"I need someone to take care of my dad while I work and to take him to see my mom. We put her into the Alzheimer's care facility. Dad wants to see her every day, but I don't have the time to take him there, care for him, and run the store. She could move into our house since there are plenty of rooms. Do you think she'll be up for that?"
Angela clapped her hands in front of her. "Oh, Spencer, that may be just what she needs. I'll go home right now and talk to her."
Spencer chuckled and held up a hand. "Hold on a second. Let's take a look at the chest you custom ordered for your daughter-in-law."
Angela giggled. "Great idea. That is why I am here, after all."
"Perhaps the Lord had a bigger reason, too. Only time will tell."
Angela linked her arm through Spencer's. Spencer hoped it was a good idea to have someone care for his dad. He hoped Joy would like the idea, and maybe, just maybe, it would ease some of the pain surrounding her broken heart.

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