Miracle Woman by Marita Conlon-Mckenna Read Free Book Online Page A

vehemently shook her head. ‘Never. This is too good a piece of work!’
    Martha agreed.
    â€˜It’ll hang on the wall.’
    Martha smiled to herself. All Evie’s favourite samplers and precious pieces that she collected ended up on the display wall, there to be admired and commented on and even copied, but most certainly not for sale.
    â€˜So I’ve told you my news, now what about yours?’
    Martha laughed. Evie and herself had known each other ever since kindergarten, two little Catholic convent girls who had grown up only two streets from each other and had been close friends all their lives. College and marriage had separated them for a while but Mike’s move to work in software development and information systems at CPI in Cambridge had found them back living only five miles from each other and ready to pick up their friendship again.
    â€˜Mike’s fine, the kids are fine and Alice is sure glad to have Becky back in class with her again this year.’
    Evie laughed. ‘Did we ever think that we’d end up old married ladies with kids going to the same school?’
    â€˜Never!’
    â€˜Anyways, Mar, what’s going on with you? What’s this I hear about you being a healer and saving some kid’s life?’
    â€˜I helped Timmy Lucas, that’s all. And it’s so kind of weird because one or two people have come up to me and asked me to lay my hands on their kids, as if I could do something to heal them.’
    She could feel Evie’s hazel eyes watching her, reading her as she’d always been able to.
    â€˜And can you?’
    â€˜Can I?’
    â€˜Yeah, can you heal them?’
    â€˜I don’t know, Evie, honest to God I just don’t know. I definitely felt something that day when I touched Timmy. It was like an energy or strength going through me. I don’t know where it came from. I only know that I really wanted to try and help him, to stop his pain and suffering, I just wanted it to end.’
    â€˜And what did you do?’
    â€˜I didn’t think, I just touched him, that’s all! I put my hands on him and maybe prayed a bit.’
    Evie sighed.
    â€˜You were always a great one for the prayer and believing in things.’
    â€˜So were you.’
    â€˜Yeah, but the nuns loved you better!’
    â€˜Ah, shut up, Evie!’
    â€˜I was too ordinary, they thought you were a far better prospect for joining the order.’
    â€˜Go away out of that!’
    â€˜It’s the truth, Martha, you were far more spiritual than the rest of us. Still are.’
    Martha laughed, thinking of herself in a nun’s habit and Mike and the kids’ reaction.
    The other woman patted her arm. ‘Go on, and what about the others?’ she asked.
    â€˜I just put my hands on them too.’
    â€˜Did you feel anything?’
    Martha considered.
    â€˜I wasn’t sure but I got that same feeling as I did the time before. Not as strong, but well, something. I don’t know if the children sensed it too.’
    Evie was engrossed in what she was telling her, excited almost.
    â€˜And what happened to those kids?’
    â€˜I don’t know! Honest I don’t. One had asthma, real bad. I told his mom she should bring him to the paediatrician. One had warts, you know the icky kind kids get all over their fingers, can’t get rid of them so his mother says.’
    â€˜And you touched
him
?’
    â€˜What was I supposed to do – refuse to touch him or hold his hand like the other kids do?’
    â€˜And anyone else?’
    â€˜A girl with tonsil problems – and you know Jeanie Sheldon, she works up at that beauty parlour? She made me put my hand on her throat as she wants to give up smoking.’
    â€˜Whew!’ Evie exhaled. ‘That is a lot.’
    â€˜How do you think I feel, Evie? How the hell do you think I feel?’
    â€˜Obviously they must think that you’re some kind of