Page 93 of A Twist of Faith
The words reverberated through her, calling her from some deep place within her soul and reminding her wherehomereally was. She shook off her contemplation, closed her phone and finished the stairs, hope fueling each step. God? Speaking to her? She wasn’t quite sure how it all worked, but she had a three hour drive to figure out how to speak back.
The road constructionduring her drive from Charlottesville left little time for Dee to change clothes at her house before meeting Reese. However, her drive provided lots of thinking time and even a little bit of prayer time. Could road construction be God’s plan too? She cast a doubtful look to Heaven and shrugged. Didn’t Pastor Joe say something about providential appointments, the good, the bad, and the crazy? The thought of His continual presence awakened awe all over again. Wow, each breath proved amazing.
Wisps of snow danced in dusk’s fading light. God brought the snow. She grinned, the child in her heart giggling in complete wonder. She checked Haus’ food. God brought Haus for company. She patted him on the head and he smiled. Was God in everything? How had she not seen it before?
The forest-framed road shadowed the gravel drive from Dee’s house, making it appear later than 5:45. Snow drifted in a thicker pattern, showering a chorus of white against her windshield as she slowed to reach for her phone. She’d be a few minutes late at this rate. Would Reese wait? She sent a quick text.
On my way. 5 min late. B there soon. D
She tossed her phone in her purse and upped her speed. A ribbon of fear knotted in her stomach. What if he left? What if he didn’t forgive her?
Help me, Lord.
The winding road narrowed along with her visual field. She slowed a little more. A white wonderland emerged through the crystalized trees and sparkled against her headlights. She grinned. God washed her sins white as snow?Certainly apropos, Lord.Everything appeared new, not only because of the snow, but because shesawthem with new eyes. Is that what the songwriter of “Amazing Grace” meant? Blindness to God’s work, but then sight to see Him everywhere? In everything?
A movement to her right drew her quick attention. A deer bounded forward, directly in her car’s path. Reflexes kicked in. She swerved to miss the frozen animal and slammed on her brakes, sending the car into a half spin. Loose gravel popped underneath the car, giving poor assistance to slow her slide. The river ledge edged closer. A sudden clunk jolted her to a stop and then the car swayed forward in a strange seesaw movement.
Dee tightened her hands on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. The gentle tilt slowed to a fragile stop. She’d never liked seesaws. Her body quivered as the initial rush of fear subsided. She held her breath and peeled open her eyes. At the scene in the dimming light, her blood ran cold and her pulse took off at a frenzied pace. The front of her car dangled over the edge of the embankment, locked in place by some unknown catch of wood or shrub underneath?
Her headlights shown ahead into blackness, the river somewhere below.
Dee didn’t move. She couldn’t move. Every muscle tightened with the icy sting of terror. Would one movement break her precarious roost and send her plummeting into the river? Like Reese’s wife? Dee’s breath lodged in her dry throat, mind clicking into motion. Okay, if she fell into the river, she needed a way to escape, right? Holding her breath, she slowly slid her hand to the door and pressed the button to roll down the window. She twisted to unhook her seatbelt, but the car shifted underneath her, dropping forward another foot or two.
Dee gripped the steering wheel again and stared ahead into the blackness of the water.Dear Lord, please help me.
A buzz nearby alerted her to a message on her phone. She blinked aware.
Reese.
As if in slow motion, she inched one hand away from her hold on the steering wheel and reached for her purse. Nothing else moved except the inch by inch progression of her fingers toward the passenger seat. Her body tightened like a statue while her hand sifted through the top of her purse finally coming in contact with her phone.
The car shifted on its perch, thrusting another foot closer to the river. She stifled a cry and blinked at the burning of tears. The phone buzzed again in her hand and she jumped. Just as she dialed Reese’s number, something cracked beneath her car. The uncertain grip the vehicle held on the ledge gave way. Dee screamed and braced her hands on the wheel. Tree limbs crashed against the windows and she careened uncontrollably toward the dark river, as she desperately listened for the words:I am with you.
Something was wrong.Dee’s last call ended in silence and now she was late? Reese’s stomach squeezed into a knot. It didn’t add up. First she texted she was running five minutes late, then she called with no answer, and now … a no show?
Emma reached for his glass to give him a refill, but he waved her away.
“If she said she was coming, then she’s coming, Reese.” His little sister shifted a stubborn tilt to her chin.
“I wanna believe that’s true, Sis, but I’m not sure of a whole lot right now.” He reached into his wallet and threw a few bills on the table. “If she shows up, would you tell her to stop by the house?”
Emma touched his arm. “I don’t know what’s happening between the two of you, but I do know she cares about you. It’s as plain as Haus’ grin. You’ve made a difference in her life.”
Reese offered a humorless laugh, but his little sister squeezed his arm tighter.
“I see a lot of people come in and out of this restaurant, Reese. And I have the chance to watch them over time. Dee came into our family as a sad and lonely person, but she’s not the same anymore. She’s found a family. Her brain might not realize it yet, but her heart does. She’s too smart a woman to throw it all away.”
The earnest look on his sister’s face almost made him smile. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but all those fairytales you love don’t happen in real life, little girl. And just because something is the best decision, doesn’t mean a person’s going to choose it.”
His baby sis quirked her brow, smile growing. “Skeptics are nothing more than people who are afraid of big dreams.”
Reese shook his head and stood. “Right.” He patted his sister on the shoulder. “So maybe she’s been delayed by all the traffic we have here in Ransom.”
“I’m sure there’s a good reason. Maybe she’s not used to driving in snow.” She nodded toward the door. “But I’ll give her the messagewhenshe shows—”
”Ifshe shows up.”
“Whenshe shows up, big brother.” She tossed a wink over her shoulder. “I dream big.”
