Page 78 of Hidden Chance

Robby pressed a hand to his chest. He might not be ready to react like Peter, but he could understand a little of that freedom. He couldn’t remember feeling so light.

“His ways are higher than mine,” Peter continued, “I see you, God. I understand. Thank you.” His mouth kept moving in prayer, but he didn’t make another sound. Just stood with his arms in the air and his eyes closed.

“Uh…” Robby beckoned Hannah closer.

“I told you, he’s okay.”

“No, it’s not that,” he said softly. “It’s about what I said about myself before. About believing. Does that mean I’m a Christian now?”

She beamed. He’d never seen her look so happy.

“The Bible says if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, then yes. You are.”

“I do. I believe it.”

She hugged him tightly, and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his face against her head. Was life ever supposed to feel this good? He continued to hold her until his lips moved to her hair and he wanted to lift her face to his. This wasn’t the time.

He pulled back, holding her away from him, not yet willing to let go, and said, “That’s what Peter meant. Herealized it before I fully did. That God brought him here for me.”

“Yeah.”

He could see she wanted to draw closer again, but she cleared her throat and moved to the couch. Robby joined her but left some space between them.

“I’ve found it so hard to open my heart to God,” he said. “But He found the one way to get in there. I still feel bad that He took Peter from his wife.”

“Don’t be. God is big enough to look after all the moving parts. And it wasn’t just for you.” She nodded toward Peter. “It’s whatheneeded too.”

“Why?”

“You saw how much it hurt him to be here, even though God asked him to come. He’s probably been so focused on her, he hasn’t been able to get his head above water. That’s what this did.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Yeah. God’s crazy sometimes. Or at least that’s how it looks to us.”

“I guess. But I will say, I like being on this side of crazy a lot better than the alternative.”

“Welcome to the family.”

Chapter 19

Hannah smiledat Robby when Peter snorted in his sleep. He had eventually sat on the floor against the couch without saying a word to anyone but with a relaxed smile on his face. He’d leaned his head back and almost immediately fallen asleep.

“That’s probably the best sleep he’ll have in a long time, despite the kink his neck will have,” Hannah said.

“Do you think God will heal Jemi?”

“I don’t know. But I think this is the first time Peter has felt any kind of relief from the worry of it. He’s finally given himself fully to God’s plan. Whatever that is. It doesn’t mean he won’t grieve if he loses her, but he’ll be okay.”

“You know, when he first arrived looking like the shell of a man, I thought there was no way I’d entrust my life into his hands. But I can see it now, what you saw in him. What you already knew was in him. It’s like he’s transformed into a different person since he walked in.”

Peter snorted again.

“You sure about that?” she joked.

“Maybe after he’s had a good sleep.”

“Does that mean you’ll work with him?”

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