Summer Storms (Seasons of Faith Book 1) Page 25

  She opened the door wider allowing him to step inside. He took a seat on the sofa sinking into the deep cushions. She curled up in a chair across from him and rested her cheek on her palm. Jeffrey looked at her and felt his disconnected spirit rejoin his body.

  “Wally and I were out, hitting a few clubs. I went to see Michelle.” His thoughts jumped around, trying to find the right words. He paused and looked at his hands, gripped together in his lap. “I wanted to apologize to her, to tell her I was a jerk, but she didn’t even care. I think she was afraid of me. I’m not a bad person, I just…” He raised his clenched hands to his head.

  “So how did you end up here?” Lizzie asked.

  “I don’t know.” He looked up at her. “I left Wally and started walking, next thing I knew I was in your front yard.”

  She leaned forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You aren’t a bad person. You’re kind and generous. I don’t know what happened between you and Michelle, but if she can’t see what a wonderful man you are then it’s her loss.”

  Jeffrey’s skin tingled where her fingers brushed his neck. He looked into her eyes and saw the same tender expression Camylle had often given him. He swallowed and spoke, considering each word. “You remember when you told me I was still grieving for Camylle?” Lizzie nodded. “I think I might be ready to listen.”

  She released his shoulders and stood up. Jeffrey watched her move into the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee?” she asked.

  Before he could answer, she had filled the pot with water and scooped grounds into the basket. As the coffee pot gurgled, she busied herself with pulling cups from the cupboard.

  “That isn’t necessary,” he said, confused by her reaction. He’d expected her to jump at the chance to give him the God speech but she seemed flustered.

  “It’s not a problem. It’ll only take a couple of minutes.” She turned and pulled milk from the refrigerator.

  He looked around the room, wishing he hadn’t come. He wondered what Wally would do when he realized Jeffrey was gone. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and sent his friend a text message. When he looked up Lizzie was returning with a tray containing the coffee cups, a bowl of sugar, and a carton of milk.

  “Thanks.” He took a cup and inhaled the earthy aroma.

  She settled on the couch next to him, tucking her legs underneath her. “Where would you like me to start?”

  Jeffrey, lifting the cup to his lips, stopped in mid-air, taken by surprised. “I, I don’t know,” he stammered. “Isn’t there some kind of formula speech you’re supposed to give me?”

  Lizzie laughed. “I wish it were that easy.” She set her cup on the table. “Truth is, I’ve never walked anyone through this before. The church I went to before my parents died had a program called FAITH, an acronym. F is for forgiveness, everyone has sinned and needs God’s forgiveness.”

  She reached for the Bible on the coffee table and opened it. He watched her expertly flip through the pages. “In Romans three verse twenty-three it says ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ Does that make sense?”

  He thought a moment and nodded. “I guess it’s comforting in a way, but if we all fall short then what hope is there?”

  “The hope comes through Jesus.” Lizzie flipped the pages again. “In Ephesians chapter one verse seven it says ‘In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.’ This refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.”

  “So you really believe Jesus was the son of God?”

  She looked at him earnestly. “I do, that is the basis of my faith.”

  “So if he died for us then why isn’t everyone forgiven?”

  She flipped back in the Bible. “That brings us to the A, available. Forgiveness is available to all. I’m sure you know John three, sixteen, it’s on signs at every sporting event. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’”

  Jeffrey was amazed at her recitation.

  Lizzie looked at the words before her, running her fingers along the line before looking back at him. “Here it is, Matthew chapter seven verse twenty-one, ‘Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven.’ There are a lot of people who claim to believe in God, but they do not follow his will. They think if they simply live a good life they will get into heaven, but that isn’t the case.”

  “But how do you know the will of God?” Jeffrey felt overwhelmed as if she were speaking to him a foreign language.

  “Well, I’ll admit that’s something I have struggled with tremendously, but I have come to believe that if I study the Bible, the word of God given to guide us, then I will grow in knowledge and understanding. What I have come to understand is that part of God’s will for his children is to spread his word so others can come to know him.” She paused and met his eyes. “So people like you can find salvation.”

  “I’m afraid to ask what the I stands for.” Jeffrey tried to laugh, but felt a weight on his chest.

  “As I was saying, many believe if they live a good life that will get them into heaven.”Sh flipped back to a chapter she’d been holding with her thumb. “I stands for impossible, as in it’s impossible to earn your way into heaven. Here in Ephesians chapter two verses eight and nine it says, ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.’ That means no number of good deeds can buy your way into heaven, only faith in Jesus Christ can.”

  “So I just have to say I believe in Jesus and I’m in?” He couldn’t believe it was that easy. What had he worried about all these years?

  “Not exactly. T is for turn; you have to turn away from sin and self. Luke chapter thirteen verse three says ‘I tell you no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’ Jesus was saying this to those who had taken to following him, believing he was the Son of God. He was telling them that even though they believed in him, if they did not repent of their sins they still would not enter heaven.”

  “That seems a bit harsh. I’ve always heard God is love and yet he condemns anyone who does wrong?” Jeffrey felt the old anger flare in his gut and shifted uneasily.

  Lizzie sighed. “That argument is so over used. Your parents love you, but didn’t they punish you when you disobeyed them as a child? It’s not any different with God. If he didn’t love us, he wouldn’t care how we lived our lives.”

  He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and nodded. “Go on.”

  “Only a couple more verses. This one is the crux of the matter, Romans chapter ten verses nine and ten. ‘That is you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.’ You must accept, believe, confess, and turn from your old ways. In return Jesus made us a promise.” Lizzie’s face glowed as she flipped the pages and Jeffrey couldn’t stop the anticipation building within him. He leaned forward waiting for her next words.

  “This next verse was something Jesus told his disciples on the eve of his death, knowing what was awaiting him he spoke with them calmly and filled with love, providing them with comfort even though they had no idea what would happen in the next hours. H is for heaven. In John chapter fourteen verse three, Jesus said, ‘And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ Jesus was telling them that even though he was going away from them, that he would be back, that he longed for them to be with him always. Those words apply to us today just the same, thousands of years later.” She spoke rapidly, her eyes sparkling.

  Jeffrey noticed a slight flush to her cheeks. Seeing her like this reminded him of the heated debates with Camylle
about this same subject. She had nearly convinced him to believe, but then she had received the diagnosis. He dropped his gaze to the floor and a feeling of guilt washed over him. He pushed himself off the couch and moved across the room to the far wall. He stood there, back to Lizzie trying to gain control of his emotions.

  “Are you okay?” Lizzie asked with concern.

  “Camylle told me all these things, but I didn’t believe. It seems wrong that I could believe now.”He turned to Lizzie with tears in his eyes. “How is it that can I believe you when I couldn’t believe her?”

  She closed the Bible and returned it to the coffee table. She unfolded her legs and stood, but didn’t move toward him. She gazed at him with a depth of understanding that made him feel she saw right into his soul.

  “You may not have been ready then, but you allowed her to plant seeds in your heart. Ian and I have had the opportunity to water those seeds and now they are able to blossom into faith. It doesn’t mean you believe me more than Camylle, it just means your heart is now ready.”

  She reached a hand out to him. He studied her face searching for answers to questions he didn’t yet know. He stepped toward her and took her hand.

  “What do I have to do?” he whispered. Lizzie smiled and knelt, pulling him down with her.

  “All you have to do is say a prayer. Do you want to do that?” She waited as Jeffrey considered this. He lifted his head, looked into her eyes, and nodded.

  “Then repeat after me. Dear Lord, I come before you admitting I am a sinner, that I am lost without you. I thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins and for raising him from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today and show me how to live my life in accordance with your will. Amen.”

  Jeffrey repeated the words in a ragged voice. He felt Lizzie’s hand rest on his back. When they finished the prayer, he fell onto his face sobbing. He let all the pain, all the anger, all the bitterness of the past four years flow out of him. Lizzie sat by his side stroking his head. As his cries subsided, he lifted his head and turned to her.

  “I’m sorry, I had no idea how freeing that would be.” He sank back on his heels and gave her a crooked smile. “So what now?”

  “I think you should call Ian.” She stood and grabbed the cordless phone.

  “Right now?” He glanced at his watch. “It’s three in the morning.”

  “I don’t think he’ll mind when you tell him what just happened.” Lizzie’s smile was like a beam of sunlight pouring through an open window.

  Jeffrey took the phone and dialed.

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me the inspiration for this story. There were many times when I sat down to write with no idea what to say yet hours later I would find pages had been poured out. Thanks to my wonderful parents, Mike and Alta, who have supported me and cheered me on. A very special thank you to my writing partner, DiVoran. Without your encouragement and editing this novel would have never become a reality. Thanks to my friend Chris who provided me with guidance when I needed more insight into the world of law enforcement. I hope that I can call on you more in my upcoming novels. Thanks to Sharon for being willing to read my early draft and give me your honest opinion. Finally, thanks to my dear friend, Mike Thomas, for your support and technical assistance, for letting me vent, and for being willing to go out in a summer storm to get the cover shot I wanted. I can’t wait to see what the next project I send you on turns out to be.

  The sermons of Pastor Donovan are courtesy of Pastor Jeremy Gates, Westside Baptist church in Titusville, FL. For more information on Westside visit their website, www.wbc-titusville.com.

  If you would like to learn more about my books please become a fan of my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRebekahLyn, follow me on Twitter @RebekahLyn1, or visit my website, RebekahLynBooks.com. If you love food and would like to find some of the recipes from my books check out my blog at, http://www.rebekahlynskitchen.wordpress.com.

  Keep reading for a sample of book two in the Seasons of Faith Series, Winter’s End.

  Winter’s End

  Seasons on Faith Book 2

  CHAPTER ONE

  Bodies jostled and bumped to the music of Tangled Web all around Amanda, making her cringe with disgust. Pulling her arms in closer to her body, she pushed her way to the back of the crowded club. The sound of the band dimmed slightly as she entered the restroom. She moved toward the sink, her feet sticking to the dark concrete floor. In the mirror, she examined her porcelain skin and frowned at the smudged mascara around her eyes. She pulled a tissue from her purse and blotted her face, disgusted that she was perspiring. Amanda Barnes didn’t perspire.

  The door opened and three women came tripping into the restroom, laughing raucously.

  As she disappeared into a stall, a woman wearing a tiny mini skirt exclaimed, “This band is amazing!”

  “I know, hurry up. I don’t want to miss their next song.” A tall woman in skinny jeans that accentuated her long legs peered over Amanda’s head into the mirror and pulled her hair into a messy ponytail. The third woman, in a low cut sweater that barely contained her ample bosoms, chugged the remainder of her beer and dropped the plastic cup on the floor.

  “The drummer is hot,” gushed the mini skirted woman as she emerged from the stall and washed her hands.

  “He is way out of your league, Alex,” retorted the tall woman.

  “And you think you’re more his type?” Alex sneered. “I doubt he likes Amazon women.”

  “I don’t know, a lot of guys like the long legs.” The tall woman gave a sly smile as she pointedly glanced at the petite girl.

  “Come on, you two, they are starting again.”

  The women filed out of the restroom, leaving Amanda alone once again. She sighed and took a last look in the mirror before returning to the boisterous crowd. Dancing near the stage, she found her coworkers, Tiffani, an anorexic looking blonde with bony shoulders peeking out of her cap sleeved t-shirt, and Wendy, whose thick brown hair whipped around her long face as she banged her head in time with the music.

  “I can’t believe I let you guys talk me into this,” Amanda shouted over the music.

  “Oh come on, this is Michelle’s big break, and they really are great,” Wendy replied. “Besides, she comes to all of our events. Least we can do is show her some support.”

  Amanda shrugged. “I’m going home. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

  “Don’t go.” Tiffani grabbed for Amanda’s arm. “We’re going for drinks when the band finishes.”

  “No, I’m not in the mood.” Amanda removed Tiffani’s hand and stepped back.

  “You want us to walk you to your car?” Wendy asked.

  Amanda shook her head, knowing Wendy was afraid of even the thought of a dark parking garage. Turning on her heel, she threaded her way to the door. A blast of cold air hit her face as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. Shrugging on her short pea coat, she fastened the four buttons and flipped up the collar against the brisk wind.

  “Oh you have to be kidding me,” she mumbled. “I must’ve left my keys at the office.”

  Amanda turned right up Orange Avenue, her strides long and hurried as she made her way back to the block of towering office buildings. In five minutes, she stood before a wall of glass windows and doors, fumbling through her purse for her ID card. She swiped the card, the lock disengaging immediately.

  She crossed the empty lobby, her high heels echoing on the marble floor. When she reached the bank of elevators, one stood open as if expecting her. In less than a minute, she exited onto the sixth floor, lit only by a few emergency lights. Not bothering to search for a light switch, she weaved through a maze of cubicles until she reached her desk.

  “Thank heavens,” Amanda whispered at the sight of her keys lying next to the computer.

  She looped a finger through the keychain, then froze at the sound of a loud thud down the hall. Peering around the e
dge of her cubicle, she saw a shadow moving across the hallway toward another row of cubicles. When she heard the squeak of a wheel, she relaxed her tensed muscles, laughing at herself for being afraid of the janitor. Leaving her desk, she walked back toward the elevator. Just before pressing the elevator button, she decided to stop in the restroom. It was a thirty-minute drive to her apartment in Altamonte Springs and suddenly her bladder felt fuller than a ten-year-old’s water balloon.

  Motion-activated lights flicked on when she entered. Tottering past the sinks, barely able to walk without crossing her legs now, she entered the first stall only to find there was no toilet paper. Every ounce of her being was crying out for relief as she turned to the next stall.

  The bathroom door opened and a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans, and sneakers barreled toward her.

  Amanda stepped aside seconds before the man reached her, causing him to crash into the closed stall door. Unfazed, the man grabbed her arm as she tried to run past him. He twisted her arm above her head and pinned her body against the wall. Without thinking, Amanda swung her free arm, fingers clawing at air, trying to scratch his face.

  She connected, leaving three long gashes down his right cheek. He roared with anger and slapped her, making her ears ring. She pushed with a strength she didn’t know she had and the man temporarily lost his balance.

  Amanda wrenched her arm free and made for the door. She was almost to the door when she felt her hair being pulled, her head arching backward. An arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, then with one hand, he slammed her face against the counter. There was a loud crack and Amanda felt her nose break. Blood flowed down her face, into her mouth.

  While she was still stunned, the man used one of his feet to sweep her legs out from under her and she fell to the floor. He crouched over her and she felt him clawing at the buttons of her jacket as she struggled to orient herself. With a fierce yank, he ripped the jacket open, buttons flying across the small room. She looked in his eyes and saw craven lust. She tried to scream, but he pulled a rag from his pocket and shoved it into her mouth as soon as she opened it.