Anchored (21 page)

“What’s with her anyway? One minute she wants my help and then she dusts me off like a speck of unwanted debris.” David’s eyes dropped to Bruno and his lips lifted slightly. Bruno’s deep dreamy eyes stared back at him—waiting.

He rubbed his hands over the sleek black shoulders and Bruno eyes closed in pleasure.

Mia was too complicated. What made him want more than friendship with her? His mouth clenched, at the thought of her suicide attempt. His hand went to his heart and he closed his eyes.

~~~

Mia told Robert everything that had happened in the last few days. He was amazed at how calm she seemed. “You’re handling this well, I’m proud of you.”

“Can I ask you to do something for me?” Her eyes beseeched him and his heart melted. Margaret would rejoice if she could see Mia now.

Clearing his throat, Robert smiled. “You know I’ll do whatever I can to help. Ask away.”

“I want you to go and see Dad. He needs a friend, someone who knows everything that’s happened—yet still loves him.”

He could feel her eyes pounding into him waiting for an answer. His jaw tightened.

“Uncle Robert, I’ve forgiven him, but I’m not the right person to talk to him about the Lord.”

Robert sucked in a deep breath. Did she know what she was asking? How could he do this when all he wanted to do was punch the guy out? No, he wouldn’t do it.

Mia tilted her head and continued. “He understands about God loving him. I think he even believes this is possible. Somehow he’s got it into his head that he can’t be forgiven by God because he needs to be punished.”

“He’s not wrong there!” Robert sneered.

 “I know what he did was wrong,” Mia said, ignoring his comment. “But I don’t want him to die not accepting God’s grace! I prayed about this last night and really feel you could reach him.” Pausing, Mia closed her eyes. Robert watched as her eyes fluttered open and held his. “Will you at least think about it?” Mia questioned.

Watching her eyes swim with tears, he looked down. Shrugging his shoulders, he nodded.

“Don’t just think about it, pray about it!” she challenged.

Robert was amazed she was saying this to him. It was usually the other way around and he felt reprimanded.

“I want you to read Romans 12:19. Can you do that for me?” Mia’s eyes blinked several times and Robert noticed her flushed cheeks.

“Okay. Can we change the subject now?”

Robert drove Mia home and walked her to the door. He could hear Bruno barking and smiled.

“Do you want to come in for coffee before you go?” Mia asked.

“No thanks, honey, I’ll get going. Can you let me know if there’s any more news about the incident with your car?”

“Of course. I love you. Thanks for dropping me home.”

“Goodnight, love.” Turning, Robert started down the path, only to stop as Mia called out to him.

“Don’t forget to read that scripture. Goodnight.”

He jerked his head around and watched her go inside. Stomping to his car he got in and drove home with her words playing on his mind.

Lord, I want to obey you in all things, you know that. I can’t see how you would ask this of me. He hurt her. I don’t hate him, and I’m sure I’ve forgiven him—but to ask this of me. No way! It’s too much.

Once inside his house he sat and stared into space. Usually he longed to spend time in the scriptures and was open to whatever the Holy Spirit showed him, but something told him he wasn’t ready to read the verse Mia had given him.

Don’t be an idiot Robert, just read the verse! For goodness sake, God won’t ask anything of you that you can’t handle.

His large hands tenderly held the tattered Bible and he closed his eyes.
Lord, I’m willing; let me hear your voice.

Opening his eyes he read, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Robert rested his head in his hands. What Jonathan had done was wrong and he hated him for it, but it was the Lord’s to avenge. Jonathan was hungry and thirsty. He was lost. Did God want him to feed Jonathan? What would it mean if Jonathan accepted Christ as his savior?

The truth suddenly hit Robert and he felt dismayed as he recognized his sin. He didn’t want Jonathan to be saved. He wanted him to be punished eternally for what he’d done to Mia.

Lord, forgive me. You want none to perish; yet I have harbored hate in my heart for this man. I am no better than he is.

Sobbing, Robert allowed the Lord to gently lead him to a place of obedience and finally he spoke the words that would free him.
I will feed him, Lord; I will give him food that will show him the way. Help me please, because it’s not going to be easy.

Chapter 3
0

Judy kept her eye on the door—waiting. She saw Mia come out of the preschool center and say goodbye to some children. If things went the way she planned Mia would walk to her car, read the letter, and drive home.

Judy smiled as she imagined Mia’s reaction to the cut out words. She wanted to hurt Mia. If it weren’t for her she’d be with Jonathan by now. 

She watched as Mia reached her car. She saw her standing by the driver’s door looking at the envelope on the windscreen. Narrowing her eyes, Judy held her breath. She saw Mia look around and she ducked down in the car when Mia’s gaze swept in her direction. Judy inched up carefully and watched as Mia got in the car, leaving the envelope on the windscreen.

Judy gritted her teeth. She was meant to read the letter! Why was she sitting there just looking at it? It was like she was waiting for something. What was she doing?

Judy’s breath hissed as she noticed Mia on a mobile phone. Time to go.

As she pulled her car away from the curb, she saw the police car coming in the opposite direction. Driving slowly so as to not draw attention, Judy cursed.

~~~

Mia got out of the car when she saw the police arrive.

“Miss. Dawson, thank you for calling us. Please step away from your car.” Detective Alex Redding indicated with his hand that he wanted her to move over by the police car.

Mia watched as two policemen put on gloves. Detective Redding placed the envelope in a plastic bag. Mia turned as she heard another car stop and felt relieved to see David. She hurried towards him.

“Have they read it yet?” 

“No, Detective Redding, that’s the man over there,” Mia pointed. “He took the envelope off the car and put it into a plastic bag.”

Walking over to Mia and David, the Detective reached out his hand and introduced himself to David.

“Are you going to read the letter and tell us what it says?” Mia asked.

“I’m afraid not, Miss. Dawson. We will be taking it back to the police station to be tested for fingerprints and then check the seal to see if it’s been licked. There may be an identifying clue somewhere.”

David frowned. “Can you phone us as soon as you’ve read the letter?”

Detective Redding’s gaze searched David’s face and looked at their linked hands. “We will be in touch as soon as we have anything to tell you. Miss. Dawson, I believe we have your phone details at the station from the last incident with your car tires.”

“Yes.” Mia’s hand gripped David’s tighter. “That was three weeks ago. I thought things had settled back down. Does this mean you will be taking my car again?”

“No. We can get all we need now.”

Mia looked down at the ground then snapped her head up. “Do you think the same person who destroyed my tire put the note on the car?”

Detective Redding shook his head. “I don’t know. Let’s take this one step at a time until we have firm evidence.”

The other policeman indicated he was ready to go. “You can take your car now. Please phone us if you have any further questions or concerns.” 

David and Mia watched them drive away. David pulled her to him. He rested his head on her hair and placed his hand on her back.

Mia felt a chill move down her spine. What was happening? Why was someone targeting her? She moved further into David’s embrace and didn’t want to move from the comfort he offered.

David looked down at her. Reaching out his hand he cupped her face. “I think until this is all sorted out you and Terri should go and stay with Robert. I don’t like the idea that whoever slashed your tire knows where you live, and the letter indicates they also know where you work.”

Mia stepped away from David. “Do you think it’s the same person?” Mia’s eyes widened and fear turned her stomach.

“I don’t know, but we have to assume it might be. Even going to work and following your usual routine could be dangerous. Do you think you could take some time off?”

“I’ve had so much time off in the last six months—and I shouldn’t have to!”

Mia gritted her teeth and her senses came alert. How dare someone try to intimidate her in this way.

“David, what’s that verse about fear in Timothy? I was reading it the other day but I can’t remember how it goes.”  

“Do you mean, ‘
for the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline
?”

“That’s it! I can’t operate in fear. Let’s pray.”

~~~

Judy got out of her car and slammed the door. The tiresome girl had called the police!  Come on Judy, it doesn’t matter; they won’t be able to trace you. You know you’ve been careful.

Taking her house key she reached towards the lock, but her fingers fumbled and she dropped the key. Swearing, she reached down to pick it up and noticed the spider’s web.

The beauty of the web stunned her. It was well constructed, organized – the beauty masked the perfect trap.

A fly battled to free itself. Buzzing, spinning, tightening the claws of death around itself. Judy became transfixed as the spider slowly moved towards the fly. It seemed in no hurry, secure in the knowledge that the fly was unable to escape.

Standing with the key in her hand, Judy threw back her head and laughed. “I’m like that spider! She can’t get away from me. I have the web too securely planned. Not long now and the prize will be mine.” 

Chapter 31

The late afternoon sun was throwing shadows around the garden. Jonathan wished Margaret could be here to see it. I must make time to do some weeding or get someone in to do it, he thought.

He sat quietly on the chair and wondered what he should do with his day. Work was quiet and he didn’t really need to put in much of an appearance anymore. His staff ran the place and that worked fine for him. He thought about how he’d started as a mechanic and with Margaret’s encouragement had brought the garage and then gone on to build a prosperous business.

Jonathan thought of his manager and was thankful he had everything under control. Time was weighing heavily on his hands and Jonathan wished he’d spent more time investing in friends. All he’d ever done was live a life of secrets and lies. If people knew what he’d done to his wife and daughter, he’d be locked up.

Would Margaret still have loved him? How could she have stayed with him all that time when he’d continually rejected her sexually?

Tears of despair came to his eyes. He could never make it right. What he’d done was unforgiveable. He could hear Mia’s words; “I forgive you, Dad.” How could she forgive him when he couldn’t forgive himself?

Scratching his head, Jonathan stood up and decided to make himself a drink. Whiskey! That would help him drown these thoughts.

By the drink cabinet was a photo of Margaret and Klara together. Klara had her arm around Margaret as if she were protecting her. Jonathan swore and hurled the frame across the room.

The heavy banging startled him and he stared in the direction of the door. No one ever came to visit him. Could it be Mia again? He hurried to the door and flung it open.

Robert stood on the front step puffing.

Jonathan froze and his shoulders tensed as he prepared for an attack. Robert had always been very protective of Mia.

“Hello, Jonathan, can I come in?” Without saying a word, Jonathan stood aside and indicated for Robert to enter.

“Any chance of a coffee? That is if you have time to share one with me.” 

Robert wanted coffee? What game was he playing? Shrugging, Jonathan turned and walked away.

“Milk and two sugars. Got any biscuits?” Robert called after him and laughed when Jonathan spun around at the request.

“No.” Jonathan went into the kitchen and stopped himself from contemplating reasons for the visit.

As he entered with the coffee, Jonathan saw Robert had made himself comfortable in a lounge chair. He placed the cups on the coffee table and waited to see what Robert would say.

“Thanks.” Picking up the cup Robert took a sip and grinned. “I suppose you want to know why I’m here.”

“Yes.” 

“Truth is—Mia asked me to come.”

Standing to his feet, Jonathan clenched his jaw so hard it hurt. “Well, now that you’ve called in, you can go.” Jonathan’s face heated and he felt shame grip him like a vice.

“Sit down, Jonathan. I didn’t come to see you because Mia asked me to, I came because I wanted to.”

Jonathan glared at Robert, but sat back down.

“You know I love Mia and would do anything for her. But I would not do this for her. I came to see you because I felt the Lord wanted me to.”

“I don’t need your pity. I made my bed and now I intend to lie in it.”

“What you did was wrong and you made lots of mistakes, but God doesn’t give up on us.” 

“You can’t help me. No one can!” Jonathan pointed out dejectedly.

“God can.”

“What if I don’t want him to?”

“What do you mean?” Robert’s shoulders slumped and he sighed.

“I don’t want him to help me. I can’t change what I did. And you only know the half of it. If you knew how I treated your sister, then you wouldn’t be here talking to me. You would want me punished, not saved!”