Journey 0f Grace (Journey 0f Love Book 1) Read online

  “Hey, Dad. Mark wanted to know if you still wanted that old fixer-upper Chevelle his neighbor is selling. I guess he found someone else if you don’t take it.”

  He nodded. “Tell him I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

  Our dad continued over to the window in the living room and pulled back the curtain, stealing a glance outside.

  Bethany and I looked at each other. She mouthed to me without saying aloud, “James won’t show.”

  My dad looked more disappointed than he did angry as he continued looking out the window. My mother soon came into the room and over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Ed. Come, let’s enjoy both our girls and our grandchildren who are here.”

  He sighed and let the curtain fall back to its place. “It’s that heathen, Feather, he’s with. I swear, that woman is the devil incarnate.” Feather was the nickname my dad had given to James’s new girlfriend, Heather. An atheist and hater of God, Heather had made quite the impression, from what my mother had told me over the phone last year. She had come over for dinner with the whole family. During her visit, she thought it’d be a good idea to explain to our dad why God doesn’t exist and how drug use is not wrong. Not a good idea with Dad. I believe the part that hurt my father the most was the fact that his son could be with someone like her. James had just started seminary a few short months before meeting Heather. Then one early morning at a coffee shop downtown, he’d had his first cup of Heather and never looked back. He dropped out of seminary shortly after meeting her, then moved to the city to live with her. It all happened within the span of a couple of months. Now, a year later, he’s heavily into drugs and still keeping his distance from our family.

  “Let’s go bless the food and eat. I think we’re all done waiting.” My mom grabbed hold of my dad’s arm and led him away from the window.

  Chapter 4

  I ATE MORE THAT NIGHT than I had in a long time. My mother had a way with food in the kitchen—it was her gift from God. Bethany inherited that part of her while I believe the only thing I got from her was the inability to lose weight and keep it off. After helping with dishes and visiting with my family a little longer, I retired to the guest house for some much-needed rest. I wasn’t exactly tired, but I was mentally depleted. I was used to an empty apartment and very little conversation during the day. Quite different from the Anderson family getting together.

  I took off my rings as I sat on the edge of the bed in the guest house and placed them on the night stand. Then I grabbed my bottle of sweet pea lotion. Moistening my hands as I surveyed the room, I was overwhelmed with love and comfort. The walls were still the same dark olive-green color they were when I was a kid. I could still remember the feeling of having friends over for sleepovers in this very same room.

  Knock, knock.

  My heart jumped at the sound of a knock on the guest door. Standing up from the bed, I stole a peek out the curtains.

  It was Jenny, an old friend from high school.

  Smiling, I waved at her and hurried over to go answer it.

  “I was just thinking about the sleepovers we had out here in the guest house as kids. You remember?” I spoke as I hugged her, then pulled back, getting a better look at her.

  “Yes, I do!” She saw my face and said, “Are you okay?”

  Her words were soft, gentle, as if she spoke too loudly, it could break me. My joy fell away as I could see her looking at me, seeing my eye.

  “I’m going to be fine. What’s up?”

  “I stopped by to give your mom a basket of fruit from this week’s plentiful bounty, and your mom told me you were here. She said to come tomorrow, but I just had to see you.”

  Sighing, I nodded and smiled politely.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Holding onto the side of the door, I shrugged as I leaned my head against the edge of the door and tears welled in my eyes. “Honestly? Everything.” My lips tightened as the tears broke free and ran down my cheeks. My heart was breaking all over again. “I just feel stupid for ever being with him, Jenny. Look at me!”

  “Oh, honey.” She stepped through the doorway and her hands brushed the sides of my arms as she tried to comfort me. “You’re not stupid, dear. You have a wonderful and beautiful heart. Listen, Grace. You were my friend who went to church all the time growing up and really helped in nudging me toward Christ. You were there for me. I want to be here for you now. I’m aware that what you’ve been through is incredibly difficult, and it’s probably going to feel a little weird for a while until you get on your feet, but it’s going to be okay. Give it time, and most of all, give it to God.”

  Her words poured into my heart and soul, soothing part of the ache I had been carrying for five long years with Harvey. I knew Jenny was right, and I knew with God, I’d be able to not only move on but be healed from the inside out.

  “Thank you.” Stepping closer to her, I wrapped my arms around her and let the tears flow freely. I knew right then that I was stepping off the path of pain and starting on the road to healing and peace in my soul.

  Chapter 5

  THE NEXT MORNING, I TOOK advantage of the slightly warmer temperature and went for a walk along the shore of Diamond Lake. With my cup of coffee and only the sounds of nature to fill my ears, I traversed the shoreline along the northern side of the lake. As I walked, I listened to the birds and other creatures stirring in the woods nearby. Praying, I thanked God for creation. I peered across the glass-like surface of the lake and took in the beauty of the scenery before my eyes. The sun just coming up over the treetops to the east reminded me of the new beginning and chapter in my life.

  Coming around a corner, I maneuvered over a downed log and came to a property I didn’t recall seeing from my childhood. There was a dock and then a house up in the overgrowth. It looked abandoned, partially burned and in need of repair. An old rowboat caught my eye as it lay flipped upside down and lying in the grass. Something inside of me wanted to look in the windows of the house, to investigate. For the first time in my life, I trespassed, and only because of a feeling that drew me for no particular reason other than the mystery of it. Cutting through the overgrowth, I kept looking up toward the house, my curiosity growing the closer I came. The house was a soft baby blue color, but much of the paint had been charred, the remainder chipping. Large bay windows were still whole and beautiful in the front of the house. As I came closer, I noticed a portion of the room caved in, a tree lying across it.

  Making it up a set of stairs to the deck of the house, I glanced back and down toward the lake, debating for a moment whether I should keep going. I turned around and gazed inside through the sliding glass doors. Layers of dust and soot covered the floor, countertops, and furniture. I wanted to see more. Grabbing for the door handle, I was pleasantly surprised to find it unlocked. Peering over my shoulder once more, I entered the house.

  Walking through the living room area, I found burned picture frames and in them, destroyed memories. All were too charred to see any faces. I kept looking. Something beneath the burned couch caught a glint of light and pulled my attention. Carefully, I pulled the object out. A bunch of ash came tumbling out also, sending a plume of soot into the air. It was a metal pot. As the ashes settled, I saw the corner of a picture sticking out from the soot. Bending at the knees, I picked up the photograph and blew it off. I looked at the faces. A man, woman, and three kids were standing in front of the house. There was a car in the background, an older one—looked to be from the fifties. I tried to imagine for a moment who they were, what their life was like in the house. I wondered if they had passed away in the fire.

  “What are you doing in here?” A man’s voice startled me.

  Shock waves rippled through me as I jumped and whipped around. Standing in the open sliding glass doorway was a man wearing faded blue jeans and a dark brown leather jacket. He was about six feet in height, with brown hair.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I was just walking on the beach and saw this house . . .”

/>   “Yeah? Do you have a habit of walking into random houses that don’t belong to you?” He walked up to me angrily. Seeing the picture I held, he snatched the picture out of my hand.

  “Not at all. Honestly, I was just curious. I’m sorry. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m not sure what I was thinking. I’m sorry.” He ignored my comment as he couldn’t stop staring at the photograph. Awkwardness filled the air as the silence grew longer. I started for the sliding glass door, hoping he’d not call the cops. About to leave, I turned to him. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  “Wait, don’t go.” His tone was worlds softer, his gaze still locked on the picture. Peering at his hands, I saw him smooth two of his fingers over the photograph.

  “Was this your parents’ house or something?”

  Raising his eyes, he lifted his eyebrows. “Not quite, but something like that. I have sifted through this soot and debris a thousand times and never found a single clear photograph. They’re all burned. You walk right in here and bam! You find one right away.”

  Unsure what to respond with, I said, “Sorry.”

  “No, no. Don’t be sorry, please.” He walked over to me, sliding the photo into a pocket of his leather jacket. He shrugged, smiling as he said, “I thought you were another homeless person squatting when I saw that someone had entered the house again, but you weren’t. You ended up being a godsend. Please, let me buy you dinner to make up for my rudeness and to thank you for finding the photo. It’s the least I can do.”

  “Wait. Let me get this straight. I trespass, you yell at me, and now you want to take me out to dinner? That’s kind of strange. Actually, it’s really strange. And no, I don’t want to go to dinner with you.” Turning around, I left out the sliding glass door and quickly headed down the steps. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin, awkward that he’d even ask me out like he did.

  “Wait, don’t leave. I don’t even know your name.” His voice sounded behind me as he followed me outside.

  At the bottom of the steps, I turned around to face him.

  “Look, I’m sure you’re a great guy and all, but I recently got out of a bad marriage. I’m really not looking to date.”

  His gaze turned to my bruised eye and his tone softened. “Oh . . . I’m sorry. God can heal your heart, and He will if you ask Him to do it.”

  His words were sweet and filled with truth. “Thanks. Again, I’m sorry I can’t do dinner.”

  He frowned slightly but nodded. “I understand. But can I at least have your name?”

  “Grace.”

  “Grace.” He broke into a grin. “Of course your name is Grace.” He chuckled lightly to himself. “I’m Owen, Owen McBride. It was nice to meet you, Grace.”

  He stuck out a hand.

  Reluctantly, I shook his hand, but a smile spread across my face. I couldn’t help it. “Nice to meet you, Owen.”

  Turning around, I headed back up the shore and scolded myself for smiling like a lunatic after declaring myself unavailable. As I was about to turn onto my parent’s property, I decided to keep going further in case he was following me. I didn’t want to risk his figuring out where I lived and bugging me more. The guy was a bit off, and I worried he was crazy since that was the only type of guy I seemed to attract.

  Arriving at the driveway of my parent’s house, I saw James’s car parked there. A moment later, I heard a crash come from inside the house.

  Chapter 6

  SWEEPING UP THE GLASS VASE that James had inadvertently knocked over in his yelling match with our dad, I was filled with an uncomfortable sensation throughout my entire being. The two of them had moved from the kitchen to the living room. It was escalating with each word that came from James’s lips. He knew just how to trigger Dad and drilled into him like it was some sort of game to him. It was easy to tell he was high. It always was. The irrational behavior, the lack of empathy, and the extremely self-centered thinking. It was nothing like the James I knew growing up and the one who had enrolled in seminary back in the day.

  “Don’t you get it, Dad?” James said. “The only reason Grace was with that guy was because of the lousy relationship she had with YOU. You were a bad father.”

  I’d never seen my father speechless. His angered and brooding appearance shattered at my brother’s words. His whole appearance softened, and for a moment, I thought he was going to cry. Then he turned and went down the hallway to his bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind him. James laughed and moseyed over to me in the kitchen as I dumped the dustpan of broken glass into the garbage can.

  “That got him to shut up.” James laughed as he grabbed a few grapes from the bowl on the counter.

  “You didn’t have to be mean,” I retorted.

  “The guy is a jerk and wasn’t around hardly at all growing up, Grace. You know that as much as I do. He even got rid of your piano!”

  James might’ve gone off the deep end lately, but he still knew me. He knew how much the piano meant to me. I used to play it for hours on Saturday mornings. It was our go-to item in our house growing up, and it drove our parents insane. James would dance around the living room in his pajamas, twirling Bethany in circles as they pranced. I set the dustpan down and crossed my arms. “Can I ask you something serious?”

  “Go for it.”

  “Why’d you do it? Change your whole life?”

  He laughed, grabbing for more fruit from the counter. I placed a hand on his to stop him, looking him in the eyes as I did. “I’m serious, James. Why’d you do it?”

  He sighed and leaned his lower back against the counter as he crossed his arms. “Honestly? I’ve always been in control. Never lost my cool at all. I had to. I had no options when we were younger and Dad wasn’t around. I had to step up. Then I met Heather and she showed me that I didn’t have to be in control. It was fun.”

  I shook my head. “You’re not really happy though. We both know that.”

  “I’m plenty happy.”

  “Okay. I’m not arguing about this. I have to go get ready for my interview.”

  As I was leaving out the kitchen door, he said, “Congratulations on the interview.”

  I lifted my hand and waved as I continued outside. I crossed the yard and went out to my guest house. Looking out the window that faced the lake, I reflected on my encounter with Owen earlier that morning. The whole situation could’ve gone so horribly wrong, but it didn’t. I couldn’t help but thank God for that.

  Chapter 7

  ARRIVING TEN MINUTES EARLIER than expected to the interview, I decided to browse for a bit. I brought plenty of my clothing from New Mexico, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t always in the market for a good deal. As I thumbed through the blouses, I mouthed the words to the song that was pouring out of the speakers filling the entire store. The song was Our God is an Awesome God.

  My nerves took a backseat as the Lord ministered to my soul through song. It didn’t take long for relaxation to set into my soul. The atmosphere of the thrift store was perfect, in my mind. It had a pleasant smell, feel, and look to it that made me comfortable and welcomed. Working there would be a blessing every single day.

  My phone suddenly rang in my purse, causing me to jump. I had forgotten to silence it before entering the store. Digging through my purse, I fished it out. It was my sister, Bethany. I hadn’t gotten a chance to tell her about the crazy meeting with Owen yet and I had tried phoning her earlier. Surveying the store, I decided to answer it and tell her quickly.

  After telling her everything, Bethany quieted for a moment. “I can’t believe you didn’t take him up on the offer, Grace.”

  “I still have bruises from Harvey. Not really the right time to start dating.”

  She sighed. “I wouldn’t pass up on a free meal from a cute guy, but whatever. It’s your journey.”

  “Grace?” a woman’s voice came from my left side.

  “I gotta go.” I ended the call and turned around quickly, slipping the phone back into my purse. “Hi.”


  “I’m Melinda, the store manager.”

  We shook hands. “Hi! I was just browsing since I showed up a little early. Some really cute stuff.”

  “You’ll find your paychecks primarily going to clothing if you’re anything like me. With the discount we get, it’s hard not to buy!” We both laughed lightly. Motioning me with a hand, she said, “Come with me and we’ll get started on your interview.”

  “Okay, great!”

  I followed behind her as she walked and talked. “Serenah couldn’t be here this morning and she wanted to apologize. She was looking forward to meeting you.”

  “The owner?”

  “Yes, she’s the owner and also the pastor’s wife. Her husband, Charlie, pastors the Church on the Lake.”

  “That’s neat. I didn’t expect to meet the owner for an interview anyway.” I laughed nervously.

  Stopping, Melinda turned around. “You’ll like her when you finally meet her. She usually sits in on all interviews, but personal matters have kept her away this morning.”

  “I’m sure I’ll love her. She seems like a very nice woman.”

  Entering the manager’s office, Melinda waved to one of the workers out on the floor and then shut the door behind me and motioned me to the seat. I took a seat behind the desk as she looked at me. “What brings you to little ole’ Newport?”

  “My parents live here, and I just got out of a bad marriage so I moved home.”

  “Is there any chance of your going back to your husband? Because we’re looking for someone who can stay here for the long term. Grow with the team.”

  “Not a chance. When I say bad, I mean bad.”

  Smiling, she nodded. “Good. Well, I’m sorry about your marriage but glad that you’re going to be staying here.”

  She continued going through questions, and I did my best to answer each one. At the end of the interview, we stood and headed for the door of the office.

  “Thanks for taking the time to interview me.”