Wind on the Sand (The Winds of God) Page 16

  "I'm sure he feels the same about you." She rose. "I can't wait to get to know you." Janice reached for Lauren's hand and held it. "You're a delightful young woman, but I know we've all been through a lot so I'm going to let you relax out here. If you need anything, let me know."

  Chris helped Jack get on his clothes and climb into a wheelchair before Mr. Kent arrived. Jack was insistent on leaving, and he didn't want Mr. Kent to see how weak he was until they were at the airport and it was too late to come back.

  He was breathing hard. "All right Chris, give me a minute."

  "Your face is turning white, and you're breaking out in a sweat. Well, actually your face is black and blue and yellow and red. Are you sure you can handle a plane trip?"

  "Yes." Jack answered emphatically.

  "Why are you in such a hurry to get home? If you've seen one hospital, you've seen them all."

  "You saw that picture. If you had someone like that waiting at home for you, would you stay away?"

  "Why did you leave in the first place?"

  "That was different. She wasn't ready. She is now. I can't miss my chance."

  "If she really loves you, she's not going to change her mind before you get back." Chris pushed the wheelchair over to the elevator.

  "I'm aware of that, Chris. I want to hear her say it. I want to tell my wife I love her. I want to pop the question. Besides, I've got a few things to explain."

  "More than a few." The elevator opened and Chris rolled them inside.

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "She might want to know where you've been for the last three days, but you can't talk about it so you better be ready to explain your reluctance."

  "Chris, let it go."

  "Sure, bro. But you know women. They like a lot of details."

  When the elevator opened, Mr. Kent stood waiting for them. He gazed at the wheelchair with suspicion. "Are you sure you're ready for a plane ride, Mr. Wheeler?"

  "Absolutely. It's hospital policy to ride to the door. Is the car ready?"

  "It's waiting at the curb."

  Chris gave Jack's shoulder a squeeze and pulled him up by his good arm. Jack straightened to his full height and strode to the door. He put on a very good act, as far he was concerned, but his brother would know what it took for him to stand up at all. He helped Jack into the back seat of the car, and Mr. Kent climbed into the front.

  Jack did his best not to pant, but his face was sickly and pale. Mr. Kent turned around to speak, and Jack bent over to check his shoes, effectively hiding his face.

  "Now, Mr. Wheeler, I've got two seats in first-class, non-stop to Houston. Sign this." He held it out to Jack who handed it to Chris. "It just says you agree to testify at your convenience after you've convalesced for a reasonable period of time."

  Chris finished reading the document and nodded. Jack took the pen and signed, returning the paper to Mr. Kent. "There is a wheelchair in the trunk of the car, and I've arranged for one to meet you in Houston. Will there be anything else?"

  "Thank you, Mr. Kent. You've been a great help. I doubt I would be leaving the country if it wasn't for you."

  "That is correct, Mr. Wheeler. But you are a persuasive young man. May you have a pleasant journey."

  The car pulled up to the door of the airport, and Chris hopped out to remove the wheelchair. He gently pulled Jack out of the car and set him in the chair before retrieving their bags. He gave the bags to a porter and waved a cheery goodbye to Mr. Kent. They were on their way.

  The next hour was extremely taxing on Jack. He was given every consideration, but his weakened condition made it impossible for him to exert too much effort. Once they were on the plane, Chris leaned over and whispered in his ear. "I really thought you were going to pass out when you climbed those stairs. How did you do it?"

  "I was praying...actually I was begging God. And it helps to have a focus. I found that out from practice."

  "What did you focus on in the jungle?"

  Jack stared out the window. "My feet."

  The plane took off, and Jack dozed. According to the hospital, he was still dehydrated, had dropped about ten pounds in two days, and had multiple internal injuries, aside from the broken arm. Extended rest was the best cure.

  He woke up about thirty minutes before they would land. "Chris."

  "What is it, bro?"

  "Water."

  Jack drank most of it before stopping to breathe. "Thanks, Chris."

  "No problem."

  "No, I mean it. Thanks for coming."

  "I was happy to come. I'd be happy to listen."

  "It's not…I tried to kill someone."

  "Did you…kill him?"

  "No, but only because someone else beat me to it."

  "Then what?" Chris watched his eyes. "They were trying to kill you. They nearly did. When was it supposed to be all right for you to defend yourself?"

  "I was glad they were dead. I hated them...still do. I'm no different from anyone else."

  Chris sighed. "Hatred is normal, considering what you've been through. Forgiveness will take time." He thought about his answer. "But what makes you different from them is that you know you're wrong and you care. God can work with that." He leaned toward Jack. "I can't say I'd be any different. If I could have gotten my hands on them, I would have killed them myself. I even imagined it. Am I a monster? No, I'm a human being that's thankful for God's grace. Which I don't deserve I might add."

  "I guess this has hurt a lot of people," said Jack finally.

  "Yes, and if you go shutting yourself away, you'll deny everyone the healing we all need."

  When Lauren woke the next morning, she knew she couldn't sit at the house another day. She'd go stir-crazy. She got up and got completely ready to leave. If Jack didn't want her at the hospital, she could always fly home. But that wasn't what she wanted.

  She slid down the stairs as silently as she could and ran out to the back garden. She knew the gazebo was where she wanted to have her morning time with the Lord. She hadn't been there long when she was startled by her name.

  "Lauren."

  She looked up and saw a slightly younger version of Jack. It must be Chris. That meant Jack was back.

  She rose with a smile of excited welcome on her face.

  "Chris?" Lauren called tentatively.

  "It's wonderful to meet you. Jack can't wait to see you."

  Lauren searched his face for the truth, but when he dropped his eyes, she knew he wasn't quite telling her all of it. "May I come to the hospital?"

  "Of course. Jack's talked of nothing else. I just came to get him some clothes. The doctor is already checking him out. Why don't you come with me into the house?"

  They went into the house, and Chris went to find Jack's clothes while Lauren ate some breakfast. She was waiting at the door for him when he came down the stairs.

  "Could you wait another minute, Lauren? I want to grab a bite to eat. Hospital food's not that great."

  Janice and Vince came to stand with her.

  "Aren't you going?" Lauren asked.

  Janice answered. "We're going to wait. Too many people in a hospital room is tiring. We'll go up and see him later this afternoon."

  "You're the one he wants to see anyway," said Vince with a smile.

  Jack looked uncomfortably at the door to his hospital room. "Could you pull the curtain in case someone comes through? I'm not too graceful getting out of the bed."

  The doctor flicked his head at the nurse who walked over and pulled the curtain across the end of the bed, effectively hiding the door from the occupants of the room.

  Lauren walked down the hall then looked hopefully at the door one last time before pushing it open. Her entire future was in that room, and it had recently taken a beating. She gathered her courage and entered the room.

  She heard the doctor. "Mr. Wheeler, if the arm was set improperly, after this much elapsed time, I'll have to re-break it."

  "Whatever."

&n
bsp; That thought was distasteful. The nurse pushed Jack's wheelchair around the curtain. He looked back at the doctor. "Just get it over with."

  When he turned, his eyes widened. "Lauren!"

  Lauren began to back out of the room. "I can see you're busy. I'll come another time."

  "Lauren, wait."

  The door closed behind her, and Lauren started down the hall. She bumped into Chris.

  "Lauren?"

  But she didn't slow.

  Chris hurried into Jack's room.

  The doctor looked perplexed. "Who was that?"

  "My wife," Jack answered without thinking. "I mean...almost."

  "What happened?" Chris asked.

  The doctor and nurse stepped out into the hall.

  "She took one look at me and bolted."

  "You are a scary sight."

  "She saw her parents die." Jack explained. "Go after her?"

  "She's too beautiful for me to sweet-talk. It makes me uncomfortable."

  "Are you making passes at my wife?" Jack threw a pretend punch.

  "If you can't get her to look at you, how do you expect to marry her?"

  "Just go find her."

  Chris shrugged his shoulders. "She's your wife."

  "Yeah."

  Lauren drove back to the Wheeler estate with her mind in a whirl. She had seen the look on Jack's face. He didn't want her to see him that way, and she had embarrassed him. If she couldn't see him, how could she tell him none of that mattered?

  She ran quickly through the house, hoping not to meet anyone before she could get to the gazebo in the backyard. The Wheeler garden was almost as peaceful as the beach, and she needed some seclusion to think things through. It was hot this time of year, so maybe no one would come out to find her.

  She reached up and pulled the chain on the white wicker ceiling fan. She sank back on the thick cushions and looked around at the garden. Everything was in bloom, and the magnificent blossoms were bright and cheerful. Oh Lord, this is so beautiful! Why can't my life be like that? I don't even know why we're struggling against each other! What is he afraid of? What am I afraid of?

  Janice came through the garden and waved at Lauren. "Back so soon?"

  "He was busy. They were going to X-ray his arm again."

  "Surely you could have gone with him."

  "I didn't ask. I told him I'd come back later."

  Janice studied Lauren's face. "Were you frightened by what you saw, dear?"

  "I don't know what you mean."

  Jack's mother sat beside her. "Jack. Did it frighten you to see him in that condition?"

  "No, it was a relief to see him sitting up."

  "Then why did you leave?"

  "He didn't want me there. I could see it in his eyes...his reaction when I walked in the door."

  "I think the two of you are at cross-purposes right now. He thinks the sight of someone near death is frightening for you. He was afraid of your response, and I think if he's honest with himself…he's afraid he's not the man he thought he was and afraid you'll think less of him."

  "That's not possible. He's more man than I ever dreamed. I've never known anyone like him. Every thought he's ever had has been for me...what would be best for me. Even when it was hard on him, he thought of me. But I'm not sure that he sees me as a wife."

  "Really, I thought he'd proposed already."

  "We've never discussed it. Why did you think that?"

  "The letter. I heard about it and if that's not a proposal…Let me tell you something that, normally, I wouldn't share about one of my children." She took a deep breath. "When Jack came home for those two days before going on his mission trip, he could talk of nothing but you...like Vince said. What Vince didn't say was that Jack never called you Lauren. He said, my wife this, and my wife that. Jack had already made up his mind. You're the one for him. In his heart, he's already said the vows."

  "I feel the same." A tear slid down Lauren's face. "How do I tell him?"

  Janice took a phone out of the pocket of her skirt. "Try this."

  "Thank you."

  Lauren dialed the hospital. When Jack answered the phone, her stomach fluttered. "Jack."

  "Lauren, why did you leave? I sent Chris after you, but he couldn't find you."

  "We need to talk."

  "I don't like the sound of that."

  "Just listen. I don't care about your broken arm or your beaten face and body. All I care is that you're here and you're safe. If you don't want me to see you like that, we'll talk on the phone. But I long to reach out and know that you're going to be there." Lauren began to cry. "I need to say I love you, Jack, and see your eyes when I say it."

  "Say it again."

  Lauren said it slowly and with distinction. "I…love…you…Jack. I would marry you tomorrow if you would ask me. I don't care about a big wedding or a crowd. You're all I need. I want to belong to you more than anything in this world. I want to hear the words I've dreamed about ever since I met you."

  "Lauren, I love you. Will you be my wife?" He asked in a husky voice.

  "Yes, I guess we have a lot to talk about."

  "I'm listening, but I could listen a lot easier if you were here."

  "Roses are red, violets are blue. I'd rather be there than here without you."

  He laughed. "Then what are you waiting for?"

  "I'll be right there."

  ~The End~

  If you enjoyed Wind on the Sand, I would be honored if you would tell others by writing a review. At Amazon

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  Thank You!

  ~Felicia Mires

  Felicia loves to hear from her readers by email: feliciamires@yahoo.com

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  Look for other titles by Felicia Mires:

  Fantasy: The Lands of Elohan series

  Fairies and Fantasy

  Elves and Dragons

  Once Upon a Fairy Tale

  A Dream Come True

  Adventure: Natasha's spy series

  Diamonds Are For Eden

  The Syrian

  The Blood Plague

  To Save a Jew Pt. 1

  To Save a Jew Pt. 2

  Romance:

  A Garden for Sarah

  Bachelorettes On Parade

  Madeleine and the Mind

  Seven Blind Dates

  Would You, Could You

  Wind series

  Wind on the Sand

  Whirlwind of Betrayal

  Winds of Change

  Era/Historical:

  Gypsy Duke (regency)

  All Things New (WWII)

  About the Author

  Felicia Mires is the author of over twenty Christian novels: historical, fantasy, and contemporary (all with a bit of romance). She loves all things literary, and when not writing, spends time editing for other authors and judging writing contests…so she can read more books. Felicia and her husband Gene reside in Orange, Texas. They have three children, as well as numerous children in the Lord at Life Church, Port Arthur, where they pastor young adults. Felicia is thankful for her family and the gift of writing for the heavenly Father. Relationship is what matters.