TEN
Callie breathed a sigh of relief when the evening finally came to an end, and she and Seth prepared to leave. Although she liked Laura and Grace, their conversation after Grace’s announcement had centered on the upcoming arrival of Grace’s baby and the things she needed to do to prepare for the big event. Every word they’d spoken had been like a nail driven into her heart, but of course they had no way of knowing that.
Now as they stood at the front door and thanked Laura and Brad for dinner and the wonderful evening, Grace stepped onto the porch with them and touched Callie’s arm. “I understand what you’re going through with your uncle right now, and Alex and I are praying for both of you.”
“Thank you.”
“My father was injured in a drive-by shooting about two years ago. He lived, but he’s confined to a wheelchair. Prayer has become a very important aspect of our everyday life, and I wanted you to know you’re in ours. And on our church’s prayer list, too.”
Callie’s eyebrows arched. “Oh, I didn’t know you attend church.”
Grace laughed. “Yes. Brad and Laura and Seth and his mother go to church with us. We’d love for you to come while you’re in town.”
Callie shook her head. “Thanks for the invitation, but I doubt if I’ll be able to come. I never have attended church much.”
Grace smiled. “If you change your mind, come along. We have a great time there.”
“I will, and thanks again for the wonderful evening.”
Behind her Seth made his parting remarks to his friends while she hurried toward the car. Once inside, she settled back in the seat and pulled the seat belt around her. Within minutes Seth rejoined her and started the car.
As they pulled out into the dark streets that seemed almost empty with the sparse traffic tonight, Seth glanced her way. “I heard Grace invite you to church. Would you like to go with Mom and me in the morning?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll go to the hospital and spend the day there.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, then he exhaled. “Callie, you know my friends aren’t the only ones who are praying for Dan. He’s in my prayers all the time.”
“I know, Seth, but you know I’ve never been on very friendly terms with God.”
“You do believe in Him, don’t you?”
“Of course I believe in Him. I believe He created this beautiful world we live in, but I don’t understand why He lets bad things happen. When I was a child and found out my mother was sick, I prayed that God would save her. Surely a caring God wouldn’t take a father and a mother away from a young girl, but He did. I knew then He didn’t care about me.”
“But you’re wrong, Callie. He did care about you.”
She swiveled in her seat and faced him. “And how did He show that?”
“He gave you Dan to take care of you. An uncaring God would have abandoned you, but God loved you so much He gave you an uncle who loved you more than his own life. I think he proved that when he shoved your head down to keep you from getting shot.”
Callie stared out the windshield and thought about what Seth had said. His words made sense, but she still wasn’t convinced. The memory of the afternoon she’d sat in a doctor’s office two years ago and heard the devastating news that would shatter her life returned. She closed her eyes, but his words still rang in her mind.