Love's Return: A Christian Romance (Protected By Love Book 1) Read online

  Chapter 5-Jessica

  BOOKSHELVES FILLED WITH VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS of the Bible sat behind him. Among them were other books by various authors such as C.S. Lewis. It was easy to tell he was a bookworm at heart.

  “Pastor Randy?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I attempted to capture his attention that was buried in a book.

  “Yes?” he said, taking off his glasses. “Oh, you must be Jessica!” He marked his place in his book with a bookmark and stood up, extending a hand over his desk. “From the magazine, right?”

  “Yep.” We shook hands.

  “Good.” He came around the desk and over to me. “Come, I’ll take you to Kelly. She’s helping the band set up in the sanctuary.”

  We continued down the hallway, and I couldn’t help but notice the condition of the walls as we walked. Through the glints of dim light from the weakened fluorescents, I could see white paint on the cement walls chipping, peeling. It definitely wasn’t like a lot of the churches I had been in previously, but they were making do with what they had.

  “We’re redoing the paint next week,” the pastor said as he pointed out the wall.

  “That’s good,” I said, smiling as I continued with him.

  As we reached the end of the hall, he pushed open a grungy green door with graffiti spray-painted on top of band stickers covering almost the entirety of the metal surface.

  Beyond the door lay the sanctuary. Wide open space and the smell of its old venue as a concert hall hung in the air. The floors were stained and worn with age. Where I suspected mosh pits used to be was now filled with rows of metal chairs for the congregation to sit on, and at the front, a stage. The stage’s frame was metal, covered in spray paint, similar in style and color as on the door. Stage lights filled rows of metal bars sitting above the stage. For a moment, I imagined the old venue in full-swing, a rock band up front, the floor covered with people. And now the space was going to be used to glorify God, a beautiful transition. It reminded me a lot of the transition that goes on in the heart of a person who leaves the life of sin behind when they make a commitment to God. I need to remember this for the article, I thought as a smile came to my face and warmth to my heart as we walked.

  People on stage were setting up instruments. As we came closer, I noticed they were all mostly young, except for whom I presumed to be the pastor’s wife. She was working with one of the guitarists, helping to set up his amplifier. A guy in the back was setting up drums behind them, and then a young girl, maybe eighteen, was taking a sip from a water bottle near a microphone on a stand.

  Filled with an overwhelming sense of joy, I knew this was it, exactly the kind of story our readers would love. These people were giving God’s people a place to worship in, a place to listen to His Word.

  We continued our way up on stage.

  “This is Jessica from Faith Builders,” Pastor Randy introduced me, and we all exchanged hellos and handshakes.

  “I’m Kelly, Randy’s wife,” the gal who I had figured was his wife said as we shook hands. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. We’ve been subscribed to Faith Builders since the magazine’s launch. Did Micah tell you we were some of his first readers?”

  Smiling, I nodded as I recalled Micah explaining how precious Randy and Kelly were to him. He knew them from his church in the Spokane Valley before they left and started Lifeway.

  “Shall we get started with some questions?” I asked as I pulled out my notepad and pen, not wasting any time before church started, which wasn’t far from now.

  Chapter 6-Jessica

  THE CONGREGATION OF LIFEWAY BEGAN to show up thirty minutes later at 6:40 p.m., twenty minutes before church would start. Keeping to myself against the wall to observe, I sat in a chair and watched as people poured in through the little doorway leading into the sanctuary. Seeing people from all walks of life reminded me of my time back in Albany and the little church my parents and I belonged to down on Asher Street. The beginnings of that church were small too. People like my father, Alan McColler, and his old-time friend, Mr. Andrews, helped pay for our little church to get a real building of its own, which now resides just outside town on a hillside. The memories I have of growing up in that church were a treasure in the depths of my soul.

  The people coming in were a mixture of both young and old. Anybody who did happen to catch a look in my direction flashed polite smiles, and a few even made their way over to me for a full-on hug. The congregation brought with it an atmosphere of warmth and love. I counted sixty-three people in all who showed up. The church was small but growing more with every service, according to Randy and Kelly.

  After the first song, Pastor Randy got up on the stage and welcomed everybody to the house of the Lord. He then said, “It’s a blessing to be able to serve you all. It’s been a long journey to make it this far, but I believe God has even bigger plans for us. If He doesn’t … that’s okay too. We will accept whatever the Lord’s will is for our church.”

  The way he smiled and carried himself up on stage was a lot like my father. Those types of people seemed to be a part of a different world. They appeared to be unaffected in their souls by all the heartache and pain in the world we live in. A world where peace runs through the core of existence and only goodness and joy exist. I envied those kinds of people for their ability to hold so much joy within them. I, too, hoped that one day, I’d experience that kind of joy.

  The band started up again and the congregation stood as they sang praises to the Lord.

  Slipping out the back, I went to find the children’s ministry. Kelly had briefly mentioned that they were running low on volunteers, but they made it work with what they had. I made my way down the same hallway from earlier and located the door leading into the kids’ hall. Opening the large metal door, I immediately heard the sound of babies crying and children playing. Stopping in the first doorway, I stole a glance in and saw a woman telling a Bible story about Jonah to a half-dozen kids around the age of three, if I had to guess. Continuing further, I found a room with a bunch of slightly older kids, most likely ages eight through fourteen. Kelly was in there among them, and another woman too.

  Kelly noticed me and came over to the doorway.

  Rubbing her forehead, she held a stressed expression on her face. “I’m just not sure what to do with all of these kids. We barely have the room.”

  One of the girls peeled away from the other kids and came crying over to Kelly. Scooping the child up into her arms, Kelly’s stress took a sideline as a smile crossed her face.

  “What are you doing, Miss Grace? Don’t you want to learn how Jonah got swallowed by the big fish?”

  Laying her head against Kelly’s shoulder, Grace’s upset state began to wane. “I want you to come and sit by me.”

  Turning to me, Kelly softly said, “Grace’s brother was in the hospital all night with a stomach virus so she’s overwhelmed and tired.”

  “Poor girl. I’ll let you get back at it.”

  “Okay.” She smiled at me.

  I left, heading to the sanctuary.

  Chapter 7-Jessica

  KNOWING I STILL HAD TO write the article before the evening was over, I ducked out of the service a few minutes early to head home and get a jumpstart on writing. As I walked down the sidewalk just outside the church, I pulled out my cellphone. I wanted to see if Kirk had messaged me or tried to call.

  Nothing.

  Disappointed but not surprised, I let out a sigh as I let go of the sliver of hope I had been holding onto for most of my day. Slipping my phone back into my purse, I crossed under a street lamp.

  Whistle.

  Turning to see where the sound was coming from, I could see a shifting shadow in an alley. My gut told me to hurry down the sidewalk, and I picked up my pace.

  “Hey,” a distant man’s voice said behind me.

  My heartrate skyrocketed as I glanced back to see a well-dressed man, wearing a black mask, appear from the shadows. I quickened my steps even mor
e, and then I heard him begin to run.

  Letting out a scream as I hurried the last few feet to my car, I hoped to spook him. Pulling my keys out of my purse, I glanced back only a second to see that he was almost to me. Hands trembling, I got the key into the door and opened it, but it was too late.

  He grabbed me by the hair and pulled me away from my car, up onto the sidewalk, and slammed me against a brick wall. My keys dropped, landing on the cement. Pushing me up against the wall violently, his face was completely hidden beneath the dark fabric, and he came close to me, close enough that I felt his breath on my cheek. My heartbeat pounded against my ribs as he tilted his head.

  “You don’t seem to have appreciated my gift.”

  My mind flashed to last week and the unexpected flowers on my doorstep when I arrived home from work.

  “What do you want? My purse? Take it!” I shoved my purse into his chest, kicked him, and turned to try to escape.

  He grabbed my arm and squeezed as he pulled me back to the wall. He shook his head and looked down and let out a manic laugh. Pulling out a knife, he pushed my head and body against the wall with one arm as he brought the knife up to my face and pointed it at my left eye.

  I began to cry, my entire body trembling as I lifted prayers as fast and strong as I could.

  “Hey!” A man’s voice came from down the sidewalk near the church. Turning my head, my heart gushed with flowing relief as I saw that the church service had ended and one of the men from church was in a full-on sprint toward us.

  Spooked, my attacker released me and ran. Collapsing on the sidewalk, I trembled as tears couldn’t stop flowing from my eyes.

  “Call 9–1–1,” a man said back at the crowd as he stopped at me. Touching my shoulder, he bent down a knee. “You okay, Miss?”

  Looking up at the gentleman, I said, “Yeah.”

  He jumped up and hurried around the corner in pursuit of my attacker.

  Chapter 8-Jessica

  I DIDN’T WANT TO GO home, so Kelly gave me a ride over to my friend Isabella’s house while the pastor drove my car, following behind us. I was too shaken up to go home. If he was the one who sent the flowers, then he knew where I lived. Either way, I didn’t desire to be alone.

  “I called Micah, and he said to go ahead and take a couple of days off,” Kelly said as we drove toward Isabella’s house.

  “Thank you, I sure appreciate that,” I said, glancing over at her.

  Kelly parked out front of Isabella’s in the driveway, then she leaned over and gave me a long, heartfelt hug.

  As we released from our embrace, she wiped her eyes and said, “Jessica?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Things can seem really scary at times, and it’s hard to see where God is in the midst of it all, but He is always near.” Her words were pure truth, laced with a heavy heart as if we had been friends for decades.

  Frowning slightly as I felt the impact of her words cascade over me, I nodded. “Thank you.”

  “David spent a long time running from Saul, a man who was trying to kill him. I’m not saying you’re King David or you should try to be as brave as him, but you can take comfort in the Psalms and read over them. Let your soul resonate with David’s outpouring of spirit. We all share a common thread in our life, at one time or another, and that’s the fact we all struggle with.” She paused and I didn’t say anything. I felt in a daze, still partially in shock about all that had happened. Kelly crinkled her nose as she looked to her steering wheel and shook her head. “I don’t mean to be preachy. I’m just trying to help.”

  Kelly was an amazing woman, probably one of the most amazing I had met. In my research before going to the interview and through talking with Micah, I found that she had given her life up as a career woman to help support her husband Randy when he felt called to start Lifeway Church. It astonished me that she had that much faith it’d all work out. I was guilty of not trusting enough in God in times of trouble. Looking at Kelly through my tear-soaked eyes, I said, “You’re one of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met.”

  “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true. You barely know me.”

  “Scripture says you’ll know them by their fruit, and Kelly, you’ve got quite a bit of fruit on the tree that I have seen tonight.”

  We both smiled at each other.

  “Thanks,” Kelly said, blushing slightly in the low light of the front seat of her car.

  Wanting to give her something for all she had given me, I said, “It’s evident you worry about how well the kids are being taken care of during the service with your limited volunteers, but I saw the way you look at them, the way they look at you. You’re doing God’s work marvelously, and I just want you to know that. You truly are the hands and feet of Christ.”

  “Aw, thank you. It means the world to me to hear it.” She motioned for another hug as I saw her eyes gloss with tears.

  As we released from our embrace, she let out a sigh and nodded as she looked at me. “Sometimes, we can’t understand what God is doing behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, most of the time, we can’t comprehend it. In the middle of stress and uncertainty, it is hard to remember that. For me, it’s with wondering how we are going to get enough volunteers. I couldn’t imagine how you are feeling with your present trial. I’m not sure how God will work all of this out for you, Jessica, but I do know that He will.”

  Her words brought me a measure of comfort in the midst of hopelessness that seemed to be clouding my thoughts and heart.

  Chapter 9-Jessica

  ISABELLA LISTENED AS I TOLD her what had happened, and I also explained how I believe it was the same guy who had left flowers on my doorstep the previous week. By the end, she was as freaked out as I was by it all.

  “This guy is so creepy …” She flashed a look of disgust as she dropped two lumps of sugar into her tea and stirred as it sat on a coaster atop the coffee table.

  “I know …” My eyes drifted away from her and rested on a picture of Isabella and her little brother on the wall. Seeing it made me miss my family. “I miss my family, my dad, and how having him around made me feel safe.”

  She rested her hand on mine, leaning toward me. “You’ve worked hard and have come too far to give it up. You love it here.”

  “I know.” Clasping my hands together in my lap, I thought of the stalker. “Honestly, tonight and the flowers are not even the first time.”

  “What?” My friend’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

  “I think this guy has been stalking me for a while. I got a letter about six months ago with a poem. I thought it was cute and from the single guy living in my apartment complex, but I ruled him out when I saw him in the parking lot with a girl getting out of his car.”

  She shuddered. “So creepy.” Shuddering as if a chill ran the length of her spine, Isabella continued. “Do you know who this stalker guy is? Like, did you recognize him tonight?”

  “I couldn’t recognize him. He had a mask on.”

  “What about your old job with the newspaper? Didn’t you have a creep guy there who was into you?”

  “Yeah, one guy, but I don’t think it was him. He was in the military for like six years.”

  Isabella shuddered and stood up. “It could be!” She sighed, touching her forehead. “I wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of thing at all. I bet my dad would kill someone trying to stalk me.”

  As she left the living room and entered the kitchen, I glanced back at the photograph. I thought of my father. I hadn’t revealed even a hint about a stalker. I didn’t want to worry him and I knew this would. It’d take him away from his work. Things were becoming more serious after today, though, and I wasn’t sure if I could keep this big of a secret from him. Telling him would be uncomfortable, but as my father, he should be made aware of the situation.

  “My dad would flip if he knew,” I said as she re-entered the room and sat down on the couch beside me. “When I was a kid in high school, he hired this bodyguard.�
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  Raising an eyebrow, Isabella said, “Was he hot?”

  I laughed. “Of course, but it wasn’t good.”

  “How come?” she asked, crossing a leg and leaning toward me.

  “Well, I thought he was into me and …” My words trailed off.

  She raised her eyebrows. “And … ?”

  “I figured out the hard way that he wasn’t. I had this whole big thing built up in my mind that when I turned eighteen, we’d be together. After I was of age, I tried to kiss him and he rejected me and re-assigned. It was mortifying, to say the least.”

  Shaking her head and laughing, she brought her cup of tea up to her lips and took a drink. Setting it back down, she said, “Sorry. I bet that was rough.”

  “It was, and I refused my father when he tried to get another bodyguard for me. I told him it was overkill and that just because he has money doesn’t mean he has to blow it on some beef stick walking around with me everywhere I go.”

  “You think he’d hire one for you after all of this?”

  “I’ll refuse it if he tries.” The words came out of my mouth, but I didn’t believe them. Not after what happened tonight, and only a few feet from a church. I couldn’t stomach the idea of that stalker being that close to me ever again.

  “You don’t look like you believe yourself,” Isabella said.

  Looking over at her, my eyes welled with tears as my independence from my parents felt weakened, crumbling quickly. “I don’t.”

  Chapter 10-Jessica

  THAT NIGHT, I SLEPT IN Isabella’s over-sized California King bed. I felt comfort in the fact that I wasn’t sleeping alone. The wind outside that night continued to gust every so often. Each time a gust would come, it’d send a branch colliding with the glass, scraping it. I’d jump. Thankfully, Isabella was a hard sleeper. For hours, I lay in the dark, under the comforter, alternating crying and praying.