Throw Away Hearts

"I found another one, Uncle Don."

The sweet, lilting tones of the little girl floated across the short distance to the park bench where Susan was seated. She glanced over to see the curly-haired little blond lift her cupped hands toward the dark-haired man bending over her.

"What is it, Jenna?" Uncle Don asked.

"It's a Throw Away Heart, silly!" Jenna smiled.

Susan blinked. What an apt phrase, she thought. That's how my heart's felt since Tom left. Like I wasn't important enough and he threw me away.

Even though it had been over a year, Tom's final words still stung. "You're too wrapped up in your job, Susan. You use all your love and compassion on those snot-nosed kids and have none left for me. No man wants a woman who cares more for someone else's kids than she does for him!"

At that moment little Jenna's Uncle Don glanced over and caught her eye. A smile twinkled in the depths of his over little Jenna's find. He looked back to his niece and whispered something. Jenna looked over at Susan, then skipped over with a "look-what-I-found" grin. It brought an answering smile to Susan's lips.

"Wanna see, Miss?" Jenna bubbled over with joy.

"Sure, sweetie. What did you find?" Susan bent forward in her seat to peer into Jenna's hands even as Uncle Don approached.

"A Throw Away Heart. It was thrown away because somebody didn't care anymore."

Susan blinked back tears as she looked at what Jenna considered a treasure. A red and gold glass heart lay in her lovingly cupped hands. It was very dirty and slightly chipped. Susan could see why someone had tossed it.

"I see. And what are you going to do with it?" Susan asked.

"I'll clean it up and give it to one of the 'splant kids."

"Uh, 'splant kids?'" Susan glanced at a grinning Uncle Don.

"Kids where my uncle works. They need lots'a love to help them get better so I put a bunch of my love into the hearts I find and give it to them so they'll have some extra when they need it."

Susan still didn't know what a 'splant kid' was, but she felt her own heart melting and warming from little Jenna's enthusiasm.

"Looks like it's going to take some work to fix this one." Susan smiled softly.

"That's okay. Uncle Don will help. It's what he does 'cause he's a card plumber special-at-it."

Susan threw Uncle Don a look of pure confusion and found laughing blue eyes watching her. "She means 'cardiopulmonary specialist'." he explained.

"Right." Jenna nodded. "For kids. He fixes broken hearts, sometimes gives them a new one." Susan suddenly understood what a 'splant kid' was and smiled even as Jenna finished proudly. "He's really good at it, too."

"I'll bet he is." Susan felt a joyous laugh building.

"Yep. He said you looked like your heart was bruised and needed some help. It is better now, Miss?" Jenna was innocently eager.

At the embarrassment turning "Uncle Don's" ears red, Susan's laughter broke free. "Yes, Miss Jenna, it is. Your Uncle is an amazing 'card plumber special-at-it!' By the way, my name is Susan."

"Don, and my lovely niece Jenna." Don looked relieved and, to Susan's delight, interested.

"Y'know, Jenna, there's only one way to be sure my heart is permanently fixed. It's to let me buy you an ice cream Sundae." Susan's smile included Don.

"Can we, Uncle Don? Please?" Jenna fairly bounced with eagerness.

"Sure, kiddo. You know how I feel about kind hearted women." He extended a helping hand to Susan, smiling warmly. As they headed for the ice cream shop, Susan was glad there were people who saw Throw Away Hearts as treasures.