Page 70 of Love Story
“He says he’s a Christian.”
“That’s it.” Wilson’s eyes lit up. “See, not all people who say they’re a Christian actually are.” He grabbed a Bible sitting on the same end table with the coffee. “The Good Book tells us that. Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do what the Lord asks.” He tapped the Bible again. “That’s the truth. Right here, John. It’s all right here.”
If the man was trying to sell him on Christianity, it wasn’t going to work. John took another sip. “Doesn’t seem very Christian for him to send his daughter away.”
“No.” Wilson paused for a moment. “No, it doesn’t.” He took a cookie from the plate and offered one to John.
John took two. Even though he wanted to get on the road, he was hungry. He bit into one and raised his brow. “These are amazing.”
Wilson smiled. “Scarlett can bake. She’s heaven-sent, for sure.” The man finished his cookie and then leveled his gaze at John. “Look, John Baxter. Here’s the way it is.” Wilson sat back in his chair, never breaking eye contact. “This girl you’re going after, the one pregnant with your child... do you love her?”
“Very much.” The conversation was getting interesting. “I’d do anything for her.”
“And right now? You’re going there against her father’s wishes.” Wilson seemed beyond perceptive. “That right?”
“Yes, sir.” John waited.
Wilson took another cookie and ate half of it in a single bite. “Pay attention, son. This is something you’re gonna want to remember.” He paused. “God gave you that young woman. And He’ll see you through together. But it’s gonna be hard. So hard you’re gonna wish you could die some days.” He leaned forward. “I mean it. That’s how it was for me in Nam. Wished I could die.”
John could imagine.
“But the whole time I knew I had the Good Lord on my side. Not just with me.” He gave his chest a few hearty pats. “But right here. Inside me. For believers, God’s Spirit is always there, inside us. Talking to us. Working things out for us.” He squinted. “Know what I mean?”
John had no idea. “Sure. Yes, sir.”
Wilson looked unconvinced. Then, so that John would have no doubt, the man went into a monologue about Jesus being fully God, fully man. How he’d come to earth and lived a sinless life, teaching people how to love and live the way God wanted. Wilson went into great detail about Jesus being betrayed and arrested, beaten and crucified.
“Now hear me.” Wilson leaned forward again. “Jesus did nothing to deserve any of that.” He hesitated, staring deep into John’s eyes. “Know why he did it?”
John had gone to church with the Wesleys when he was younger. He knew about Jesus on the cross. But he had no idea how any of that related to him. “No, sir.”
“Foryou, John Baxter.” Wilson pointed straight at him. “He did it for you. So you could get through times like the one you’re smack in the middle of right now. And so when this wild ride is over, you and that girl of yours can go to heaven.”
John was twenty-four years old. Heaven felt like it was a million years away. Right now he had to find a way to get through the next few days.
But they’d come this far, so John listened. He had no other choice.
After all, Elizabeth was waiting.
22
Cole and Ashley were gripped by the story, that much was clear. John took a breath and looked at them. “I always hoped I might find Wilson Gage someday, tell him how things worked out and thank him for that night.”
“I can’t believe God led you right to his house.” Cole’s notebook looked full, like he’d taken more notes this afternoon than all the other days combined. “So Wilson Gage told you about Jesus. Even though he didn’t know you.” Cole positioned his pen over the paper again. “You can’t stop there, Papa. What happened next?”
“Yes, please, Dad.” Ashley had tears in her eyes. “I never knew any of this. We have time.”
John couldn’t stop the story if he’d wanted to. “I can still see Wilson, sitting across from me, telling me information he thought I wanted to hear.” He shook his head. “I was so stubborn back then.”
He took a drink of water and once more the years melted away.
•••
WILSON KEPT TALKING.
Whatever compelled the man to think the young stranger in his house needed his words of wisdom, John didn’t know. But now that he’d told John about Jesus, he had more to say.
“You think you’ve got trouble now.” Wilson picked up the Bible and stared at it a moment. “This whole life here, it’s just earth, John. Just earth. The great adventure begins the day you take your last breath.” He pointed at John again. “That’s when all the suffering here will make sense.”
