The Grotto

By John Baudhuin

The Grotto is the story of a curmudgeon who faces deep spiritual challenges related to his wife's terminal illness. In his desperation, he decides to build her a grotto composed of native stone from the town of her birth. In the 1500 mile journey to get this stone, he learns  many things about himself and about his wife of some forty years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Baudhuin
• Release date: May 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386592976

Book preview

The Grotto

John Baudhuin

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Introduction and dedication:

This story is dedicated ultimately to all who seek to understand the nature of suffering and the many ways in which joy and peace can emerge from a time of great trial.

This novella and the characters described in it are entirely fictional.

Table of Contents

Title Page

As they were leading him away, they seized upon a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus.  Luke 23:26

The Grotto

1. Diagnosis: A Finality

2. Acceptance

3. She Falls

4. Mother

5. Simon takes up the burden

6. Ronnie Helps

7. Another fall

8. She speaks to the women

9. She falls a third time

10. She is stripped of everything

11. She is stretched

12. Her last

13. Taken down from the pain

14. Laid to rest

15. Epilogue: Resurrection

About the Publisher

As they were leading him away, they seized upon a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and made him shoulder the cross and carry it behind Jesus.  Luke 23:26

The Grotto

John Baudhuin

1. Diagnosis: A Finality

Hurry up, for God’s sake, Simon barked as he plopped himself in the

driver’s seat of their ancient blue Honda Accord. He stared aimlessly around the vehicle and noted to himself that the headliner was getting loose; he grumbled aloud over how much they would charge him for getting it fixed.

I’m almost there, said Gert, his wife, as she stood in the garage, fumbling through her valise-sized purse. Gotta have my insurance card, ya know.

He rolled his eyes and clutched the steering wheel as if he were trying to break it. Simon Carrigan was almost sixty years old but was sure he COULD break the wheel if he wanted to.

After what seemed another ridiculous delay, he stuck his head out the window and barked again: You writin’ a book?

Gertrude Carrigan, his wife of over thirty-five years, merely shrugged. She finally sat boldly in the passenger side of the vehicle, purse sitting primly on her lap. She was wearing one of her favorite tops, a Walmart special with birds embroidered on both sides of the front. Her reddish hair was a bit disorganized for her, but she was ready. First chapter’s done, she remarked cheerfully.

Chapter of what? he gruffed as he backed the car out of the garage and down their long gravel driveway to the road.

My book, she said with a cryptic smile. You know, the one I’ve been working on.

Simon rolled his eyes again as he pulled onto the street. They lived in one of the acreage type homes common to north Palm Beach County, simple ranch homes of modest designed placed on one-acre lots to give the feeling of room and luxury. Some of the homes WERE luxurious, but most, like that of Simon and Gertrude Carrigan, were simple but sturdy structures with nice lawns, more than a few palm trees, and here and there, fenced in areas for dogs and even the occasional horse. They had purchased the home decades ago and survived all the changes and upgrades to Palm Beach County without a hitch. Over the years, Simon had planted a few citrus trees and had made a little garden area in the far corner.

So, Gert said, I have a real good feeling about this. I’ve been feeling just great, you know, so I’m sure it’s going to be good news this time. She laughed. And you know, it’s not ALL bad. I finally lost some weight....

Simon simply nodded, concealing any worry he might have had. Today marked almost a full year from the first tests, surgery, treatment, and now, a period in which it seemed that almost nothing had happened. The former Gertrude Gantz, stared straight ahead, fumbling nervously with her purse again.

Oh, goodness, she said suddenly. I knew I forgot something. My phone. Darn! I always bring my phone.

Yah, Gert, Simon said, I don’t even know why I got you the stupid thing. You never have it when you need it. I brought mine, so we should be O.K.

Right. Sorry, she added. But I was expecting to hear from Angelina, you know, from-

That CHURCH, Simon growled. Without another word he suddenly spun the car around in a perfect circle, spraying gravel as he went. He drove back up the driveway, opening the double door to the garage as he went. There, he said, I’ll just wait. Without saying a word, Gert jumped out of the car and went inside to retrieve her phone.

They drove to the doctor’s office in silence. This was the fifth-or was it the sixth?- visit to the specialist. All the tests were in. Simon and Gert had never discussed her condition even once, going all the way back to her first symptoms and first visits many months ago. He’d always thought she was just a complainer, looking for attention, and avoiding life. He knew she wanted to slow down at work, but they needed the income her job as a station clerk at the hospital provided, And even more importantly, she had better insurance than he could get at the local hardware store, where he had been assistant manager for many years.

As they reached the medical office building, her phone rang. True to form, it was Angelina. Just a minute, Gert said. She held her hand over the phone and told Simon that he could go in to the clinic and sign in for her. Growling some more, he jumped out of the car and slammed the door as he strode brusquely up to the door of the medical building, shaking his frustrated head in disbelief at how pokey his wife could be.

The doctor invited Simon to come in for the consultation as usual. Simon had always refused, grumbling that you can’t understand all that medical double-talk anyways. They’re always covering their butts, you know, trying not to get sued. No, I’ll just let Gert explain, he would say, dodging the obvious truth that doctors scared him.

Dr. Ben Steinbaum had been practicing in the area for many years and was the go-to man when there was big trouble. Any number of hopeless cases owed their lives to this man. He was not about to be put off once more by this curmudgeon. Please, Mr. Carrigan, he said gently as they both sat in the crowded waiting room. It’s important that you hear this, too. Simon grumbled and fussed a bit more, finally launching his overweight, five foot eight frame out of the chair. Gert was already standing. Simon motioned to the doctor as he said to his wife: Well, let’s do this., Gert. That guy don’t have all day, you know.

Gertrude proceeded meekly to the doctor’s office. Once all were inside, he uncharacteristically moved a chair out in front of his desk, directly facing this husband and wife. He leaned forward as he pretended to shuffle some papers that Gert instantly recognized as lab reports and specialist’s summaries.

Look, the doctor said, trying hard to look at them directly. We’ve got, well, we have some real challenges here. Hope, you know, well, there’s always hope, you know-

Of course there is , Doctor, Gert interrupted. Now go on, and don’t you worry about it. I’m sure you have other things to do today.

Simon stared out the window, lost in a view of palm trees and a couple of tiny birds darting among the palm fronds. Then he felt a gentle touch from his wife. Simon, she said, please listen. I’m sure we’re going to have some good news.

Actually, the doctor continued, it’s what I was afraid of. I would never want to blame anyone, of course, but I wish you had come in sooner.

So what is it then? Simon suddenly barked. Stop all this beating around the bush, will you. What the hell is it? Is she going to die? Embarrassed by this sudden outburst, Simon turned away. He had never been the emotional type, and now was certainly not a good time to start.

Gert pretended to fix her hair and check her makeup in the tiny compact she always carried in her purse. She caught