Forever Blessed (Women of Prayer) (21 page)

Merry continued. “I put the book on the table. If you are praying for a loved one’s salvation, write down their name in the book. If a loved one has accepted Christ since our last meeting, write down the praise report. We like to keep good records of the important stuff. Don’t forget. Everyone ready to pray?”

Watching the actions of everyone around her for her cue, Laney followed suit and got down on her knees. Ella, she noticed, remained in her chair.

Laney prayed for her children. She prayed for her mother. She prayed for Austin and Sheila who were still on their honeymoon. She prayed for the ladies now living in other shelters due to the fire. She prayed for everyone but the one person who she knew wasn’t saved. Paul. Finally, she rose from her knees and made her way to the book sitting on the table. Should she write his name in there? Did she care?

She picked up the pen and held it between her fingers, rolling it as she pondered. I suppose, God wants him saved. It can’t hurt. Maybe, just maybe, he’d leave me alone if he found God. She wrote his name next to the others. That was when she noticed her own name written in a spot a few lines above his. Someone had been praying for her? Somehow the information alarmed her and comforted her all at the same time. She was alarmed because someone like Paul definitely needed saving. But did she? And it comforted her because it meant someone cared enough to think of her.

She returned to her chair and dropped to her knees, closed her eyes and sought the attention of God, who apparently loved everyone, no matter what they have done. “God, I don’t know how to pray for Paul and I don’t know if I want to pray for Paul, but I ask that you save him. I know you love him like you love me. I don’t understand that, but I have found I don’t understand much about you. So, I am going to do what I feel I should do. Help him God. Help him to know you love him and died for him. In your precious name. Amen.”

Laney sat back up in her chair. Her prayers had been short. Apparently she was the only one with short prayers as everyone else continued to pray. Somehow feeling comforted and not wanting to leave, she quietly made herself another cup of tea. She had nothing to compare it to but her own situation. The feeling in this room gave her the same feeling of peace that had come over her when she accepted Christ. Life would be good if she could stay here and never leave.

Some of the women prayed a little crazy, but she was getting used to it. Church service pretty much sounded the same. Some women were loud and some moved around. Some even talked kind of crazy, but she knew their hearts were in the right place. The safety one felt in this place made praying easy and comfortable. One lady started crying and told everyone about her daughter who found Jesus this past week. Laney’s heart began to do somersaults. She didn’t know the lady but she was happy for her anyway. How could a person be in that room and not feel joy?

At the end of prayer group, she and Melanie were taking Ella to lunch. The older woman babysat and spent more time with her kids than she herself did at times. Now that she had things under control financially, she felt she could splurge and properly thank the woman who filled such a hole in her life.

After Merry ended the prayer group, Laney headed for the nursery to pick up Melanie, then returned to the library and waited for Ella to dress for the cold weather. February had to be the coldest month of all in Wisconsin. If the weatherman predicted the weather correctly, five degrees was the high. A big bowl of soup would help warm her insides.

She started her van from inside the church. Thank heaven for remote starters. At least they would have a warm van to take them to lunch.

They spent the lunch hour at a little café downtown and ate their fill of homemade chicken noodle soup and club sandwiches. Ella’s choice. After lunch they made their way home. As Laney pulled into the driveway, she heard Ella gasp. The front picture window was broken. Shattered glass lay everywhere. Laney called the police.

Vandals. Probably kids skipping school and getting their kicks from breaking windows. Laney called for help then escorted Ella into her own small house next door to Ella’s.

The police found the rock with the note. Fearful that the elderly woman would have a heart attack, they first showed it to the young woman that was with her. The officer spoke directly to Laney, who had answered the door when he knocked. “Do you have any idea of anyone who might want to harm Ms. McCarthy?”

“No, of course not. Why should I?”

He doubted it was anything more than a kid playing a terrible prank, but just in case he had to ask. “Because we found this note, tied to the rock that busted her front window. If it was deliberate, she might be in danger.”

He opened the note with his gloved hands. “Old people who harbor criminals pay dearly. Watch out. You’re next.”

Laney took a step backwards and bumped into the wall. Could all this be about her? The fire? Now this? Would Paul do such a thing? Would he hurt other people just to get back at her? She ran her hands through her hair. Oh God. No, he wouldn’t. He only cares about hurting me, not innocent people he doesn’t know. It couldn’t be him. “I’m sorry officer, but I can’t think of anyone. I am not sure Ella is up to answering any questions today. Can I tell her about the note and get back to you? We wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”

“I’m going to need to speak with her, but it can wait until later after she is calmed down. Can you give me a call tomorrow morning?”

“Sure, we’ll call you then. Thank you for being understanding.”

Laney closed the door and returned to the kitchen and to Ella who was nursing her hurt with a cup of chamomile tea. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I just feel so violated. I’ve always felt so safe in my own home. Now, I feel as if an intruder has inserted himself into my private space. I feel cold and empty. I need to pray over my house.” She started to rise. “What did the officer have to say?”

“We can pray over the house later. Why don’t you rest for a while? You can lie down in my bed.” She tried to ignore the question about the officer.

“Well, I am a little weary. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course not. You need to take it easy. I’ll make the kids be quiet when they get home from school so you can rest. Then you can eat some supper with us. By that time, things should be pretty much cleaned up. A guy from church has a window business. Mark called to tell me he’d be over within the hour. Your place should be as good as new when you wake up.”

Ella grasped Laney’s hand. “Thank you Laney. Thank you for being here. Even though this is a horrible thing, I am comforted knowing you are here with me.” She drank the rest of her tea and turned toward Laney’s room and shut the door behind her.

Laney thought back to the scribbled note the officer had shown her. There was something vaguely familiar about the words of the note. Paul had told her again and again if she ever tried to go against him she would pay dearly. Could it be? Could he be the one doing all the damage? She couldn’t shake the feeling that Paul was the one behind all this. The thing that bothered her the most was that he had not yet contacted her directly. That was something the old Paul would do. If this was the new and improved Paul, she had no idea what he might be capable of.

             
             
Chapter Twenty-Seven

Austin and Sheila pulled up in front of the burnt structure that used to be the shelter. Sheila felt the threat of tears and took hold of Austin’s hand for support.

He gave her hand a quick, supportive squeeze. “It’s going to be okay. The workers are going to clear the area beginning tomorrow and we can start working with the builder on the plans. Everything is going to work out. I promise.” He lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed her gloved hand. “Now, should we head over to Laney’s and get all the latest? I’m sure she wants to see you. While you visit I am going to go over and register the boys for school. Might as well get that done too.”

Sheila waved goodbye to Austin as Laney opened the door. The two friends hugged. “I’ve missed you. Did you have fun?” Laney closed the door, blocking the biting wind from taking over her home.

“I could have stayed there forever. It is so easy to forget about your problems when you are in paradise. Wishful thinking.” She shrugged her coat off and hung it on the hook by the door then slipped her wet boots off. “It’s so cold here. I want my sunshine and ocean back.” She cuddled into the couch and pulled an afghan over her. “How do we do this every year?”

“I’m not sure but we survive. Someday, I’d love to take the kids on a vacation where there’s lots of beach and sunshine. For now, there’s reality. My boss told me to expect to work some longer hours here starting next week. Tax season is here. So, I can dream about the ocean and warm weather while I crunch numbers.”

“Did you really have to bring up reality? I was quite happy living in my very recent past.” She readjusted the afghan to cover her cold toes. “Did I tell you we rented a house near here? We weren’t sure what we were going to do. Austin already has accepted an offer on his house in Illinois and with the shelter in ruins, well, we thought we’d better just rent something for now and figure it all out later. It’s just a couple of blocks from here. That way we can be close to the building site.”

“I’m glad you’re not moving to Illinois. I wouldn’t know what to do without you. Besides, it’s too far away and too close to Paul.” Laney sat down on the other end of the couch. “Speaking of Paul, do you think he could be the one behind the fire?” Laney told her about Ella’s window and the message on the rock. “Ella called the police station the next morning and told them she had no idea what the note was referring to.  She doesn’t even know any criminals. But, what if he is talking about me?”

“Laney, the police are investigating. Even if it was Paul, it’s not your fault. You have never been nor will you ever be responsible for him. He’s a grown man. Now, if there’s a reason you think he could have done this, then we need to tell the police so they can check him out. If he is doing this, then he has definitely found you and is sending a very clear message.”

“I’m not sure. There are little things. Like the words in the note and the other night I got the creepiest feeling someone was watching me. It was when we were walking home from your wedding. I turned around but it was so dark, I couldn’t see a thing. I figured it must have been my over-imaginative frame of mind.” She made her way to the kitchen. “I don’t know. There’s just something about all this that is bugging me. Do you want some tea? Sorry I didn’t offer right away.”

“Yeah, I thought you’d never ask. Speaking of tea, I am thinking about opening a teashop. It would be a great way to teach some of the ladies about business and working. What do you think? Besides, it would give me a great excuse to search for teacups. I lost all mine in the fire. I loved my collection of teacups.”

“That’s a great idea. When did you two find all the time to rent a house and plan a business? You were supposed to be on your honeymoon.”

“Apparently Austin loves to scuba dive. So, he took a couple of afternoons to go out by himself while I lounged by the ocean. We have been alone for so long, we both needed some time alone to process. Did us good.”

“That makes sense. I love having my own space. Of course, I long for a real relationship someday. I don’t know if that is in the plan for me or not, but it would be nice to have someone who actually loves me like Christ loves the church. That really hit me hard at your wedding. I didn’t know the Bible said that.”

“Pretty cool, huh? God really does have everything worked out. Unfortunately, most of the time we just don’t get it. If we did things his way, everything would work out perfectly. Most of the time we have to do things our way. We really mess up our lives.”

“Austin’s so great, Laney. I am so happy. I’m sorry if that makes you sad.” She looked at Laney, trying to read her expression.

“I am happy for you Sheila, I truly am. And you must have noticed my attitude at your wedding. I’m so sorry. I truly was happy for you, I still am. I just found myself wondering, what was so wrong with me? Why couldn’t Paul love me? I tried to be everything he wanted me to be. I exercised and stayed in shape. I cooked and cleaned and made sure everything was just as he liked it to be. I don’t know what went wrong.” She poured the hot water. “I’m thinking I must be flawed. Something I can’t see or recognize.”

“Laney, that’s not true. Yes, we all have our flaws; I’m not saying you’re perfect. But our flaws are part of who we are. When we find the man we are supposed to spend the rest of our lives with, he should love us and support us in spite of our problems. If we expect perfection from anyone, we’ll be let down. No one is perfect. The only person who was perfect lived a couple thousand years ago and he wisely did not take a wife.”