Drew had his arm around his son and, looking over his shoulder, he mouthed, “Thank you.”
Within a few minutes Sarah came racing over to the apartment. “Dad sent me over,” she announced breathlessly. “What’s going on with him and Mark?”
The kid was no dummy. Right away she’d sensed something wasn’t right. “Did Mark do something bad?”
“What makes you ask that?” I asked, hedging the question.
“Because,” she said, as if I should already know, “Dad took Mark into his bedroom. He only does that when we’ve done wrong and for serious talks. It usually means we’re going to be grounded. When Dad takes us into the bedroom, it’s important.”
“If you must know…”
“I do,” she said eagerly.
“Then I can tell you that your brother did the right thing.”
“He did?” Her eyes went wide as if that was hard to believe.
I hid a smile. “Mark has been going through a lot at school lately.”
Sarah frowned as if reviewing the last several weeks. “He’s been a jerk for a long time.”
“Mark’s going to be better now.” I wasn’t sure how Drew would handle the bullying situation, but I had complete trust that he would take care of it.
Sarah sighed as though gifted with great wisdom. “I kind of figured something was up with him. Mark’s been too quiet. You know what they say about kids who are too quiet, don’t you?” She didn’t wait for me to answer. “They’re up to no good.” She narrowed her eyes as if to gauge how much information she could get out of me. “Are you going to tell me what’s up?”
“Nope.”
She grumbled under her breath. “That’s what I thought you’d say.”
—
Sunday morning, Drew met with the elders before the church service. Mark went into the meeting with him. I can only imagine how difficult it was for the young teenager to stand before the church elders and confess what he’d done.
Although I wasn’t privy to what was said, Drew came out of the meeting smiling. From the way his gaze flew to mine, I knew that all was well. As the organ music started to play, Mark slid into the church pew and sat next to me. Sarah was on one side and Mark on the other.
My heart was bursting. As Drew stepped up to the pulpit, his eyes zeroed in on the three of us, his gaze warm and full of love. I’d never known love like this. I resisted the urge to plant my hand over my heart so I could hold on to this indescribable feeling.
The sermon was one of Drew’s best. He spoke on redemption and what it meant. I felt as though I’d been redeemed. The woman who’d stepped out from behind those prison walls and the one I was now were two completely different people. And to think it had all started right here in this church a little over a year ago now.
When the final hymn was sung and the congregation emptied the pews, Alex Turnbull, the head elder, wove his way in my direction. I remained in my seat and waited for him.
“If you have a few minutes I’d like to talk to you.”
“Of course,” I said.
I sent Sarah and Mark to the house with instructions to get the table set and ready for the afternoon meal.
Alex waited until the children had left. He sat next to me, looking down at his hands as if going over in his mind what he wanted to say. “Shay, I owe you an apology. I misjudged you from the beginning.”
This was a surprise, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I have no excuses or justifications I can offer. I was wrong. That said, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“Alex, of course. I understand. We have all fallen short. Isn’t that what Scripture says?”
Alex grinned. “That being the case, there are a lot of short people in this world and right now I feel like a very small person.”
I smiled back. “I think you’re being much too hard on yourself.”
“I am undeserving of your generosity of spirit, Shay,” Alex continued.
I patted his hand. “We’re square, Alex.”
Another one of the elders approached us and I knew Alex had further obligations. We hugged before he left.
As I started to exit the pew, I saw that Linda Kincaid stood off to one side, waiting for me.
“How’s Lloyd recuperating?” I asked, happy to see her. Her willingness to put me up until I found an apartment spoke volumes. Her faith and trust in me would not easily be forgotten.
“He’s taking advantage of me, but it’s okay because I don’t mind spoiling him.” The smile drained from her face as she grew serious. “I heard,” she continued, lowering her voice to a near whisper, “that you won’t be moving after all. I have to say, I’m a little disappointed. I was looking forward to having you as a houseguest.”
It probably wasn’t proper to burst out laughing inside church, but I couldn’t help myself. “If I were you, I’d call it a lucky escape.”
Linda laughed, too, but once again the humor left her and she grew serious. “After Katie died, I worried about Drew and what would become of him and the children. I prayed God would send him a special woman, one who would bring joy back into his life and who would love his and Katie’s children. I’ll admit, you weren’t exactly what I had in mind.”
I laughed again. “I don’t think I was who Drew was expecting, either.”
“I don’t think I agree with that. You were just the right woman for him and for those children. You’ve opened my eyes and many others’, too. Drew is a smart man. He loves you, and for what it’s worth, so do I.”
To me that was solid gold. I impulsively hugged Linda and thanked her. “You’re going to make me cry,” I whispered.
“Hey, hey, what’s going on here?” Drew asked, joining us.
“It’s a lovefest,” Linda answered, sharing a smile with me.
Drew put his arm around my shoulders and brought me close to his side. “You ready to head over to the house?” he asked.
“You’re finished?”
“I am. Seems you’re going to need someone to help you unpack and get situated again.”
From the happy look he’d sent me after the meeting with the elders, I hoped that was the case. Linda confirmed it.
As we walked toward the house, I questioned Drew. “Is Mark okay?” It couldn’t have been easy for him to stand before the church council and confess what he’d done.
“He did great. I’m proud of him. He told them what you’d done and how awful he felt about letting you take the blame. I haven’t quite figured out what to do about the bullying. I’m going to make an appointment with the school counselor as soon as it can be arranged.”
“This harassment of my son is going to stop and it’s going to stop now.”
Drew’s arm was around me as we walked toward the house where the children waited. “Thank you for what you did for Mark,” he whispered.
I pressed my head against his shoulder, savoring his appreciation, loving him.
“Thank you for loving me and my children,” he whispered, and kissed the top of my head. “This is only the beginning of our journey together, Shay. I can’t wait to see where God will lead us next.”
I mulled over his words as a sense of deep joy filled me. I reflected back on my time at Hope Center when Lilly had asked me what my dreams were and, at that point, I couldn’t think of a single one. Little did I understand at the time what was in store for me. While participating in the program at Hope Center I’d learned to dream again. Now, I realized, my reality had far and away exceeded my expectations. Lilly once told me that any dream would do. As I looked around me, I had more than a handful of dreams, and every one of them seemed to be coming true.
To our son-in-law Greg Banks
For his inner strength, integrity, and honor
You bless our family
BALLANTINE BOOKS BY DEBBIE MACOMBER
Any Dream Will Do
If Not for You
A Girl’s
Guide to Moving On
Last One Home
ROSE HARBOR INN
Sweet Tomorrows
Silver Linings
Love Letters
Rose Harbor in Bloom
The Inn at Rose Harbor
BLOSSOM STREET
Blossom Street Brides
Starting Now
CHRISTMAS NOVELS
Dashing Through the Snow
Mr. Miracle
Starry Night
Angels at the Table
For a complete list of books by Debbie Macomber, visit her website at debbiemacomber.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEBBIE MACOMBER, the author of If Not for You, Sweet Tomorrows, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Last One Home, Silver Linings, Love Letters, Mr. Miracle, Blossom Street Brides, and Rose Harbor in Bloom, is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Twelve of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove books. She has more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.
debbiemacomber.com
Facebook.com/​debbiemacomberworld
Twitter: @debbiemacomber
Instagram: @debbiemacomber
Pinterest.com/​macomberbooks
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