Read Online October Joy (Moments In Paradise 1) by Melanie Wilber - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Melanie Wilber
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either?”
“He’s fourteen, Annika. How would I know him? I died before he was born.”
“Good point,” she said and laughed. “I always forget you came here when you were twelve. You’ve grown into such a fine young man now.”
“He could be from the youth group,” Tommy said.
“But why would I get invited?”
“Maybe he knew Andrew too, or Tabby.”
Annika supposed that was possible. Tommy was pretty good at sorting out these mysteries. They stood there, watching the boy take in his glorious surroundings. He didn’t faint when he noticed Joshua standing beside him. He looked completely unaware of where he was or who all these people were coming to meet him. Joshua talked to him for a moment, and then he fainted.
“I need to go,” Annika said. “I have to meet Erika at her cottage for dinner. She has some news about Mama and Papa to tell me.”
“Okay, I’ll stay here and try to find out who this boy is.”
“If you figure it out, let me know,” she said, giving Tommy a hug. He had been like a son to her these last five years--like the sons she had left behind.
Going to meet Erika, another person she had grown close to since her Arrival, they shared a good meal together with Joshua, and then Erika shared her news about Mama and Papa. Erika was the little sister Annika had never known on Earth. Joshua had brought her here before she had ever come out of Mama’s womb. Annika had only been two, and she didn’t have any memory of the stillbirth, but Mama had talked of her baby sister often who had gone to be with Jesus.
As soon as Annika had met Erika at her Homecoming, they’d become very close, and Erika had told her from the beginning, ‘You’re going to love it here, and don’t worry, Joshua will take care of your family, just like He’s taken care of mine.’
Chapter Seven
“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked, sitting up in the bed.
Andrew told her the news he had received from home. Her first thought was Andrew would be catching a flight out first thing in the morning and she would never see him again, but she scolded herself for having selfish thoughts at a time like this.
“Are you leaving then?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think so. If I knew the father better, I would, but I don’t. James and Alan can handle it.”
“What about the mother?”
“She died last year. I knew her better because she came to me for spiritual guidance during her last few months, but her husband didn’t want me coming around after the funeral. Unless he asks for me, it’s better that I’m here. Trust me.”
“Was that your daughter?”
“Yes, Gracie. My oldest.”
“Is she married?”
“No, she moved back home after Annika died, and she’s been there ever since.”
“What does she do?”
“Teaches middle school math.”
“And who’s Tabby?”
“Tabitha. My youngest. She’s a senior in high school this year.”
Sarah wasn’t sure what else to say. They had been interrupted at an awkward moment. She never answered his question about enjoying God, and she wondered if he was still thinking about it or if he’d completely forgotten.
“You can go, Andrew,” she said, breaking the silence between them. “I’m all right now. We can talk more tomorrow. I didn’t mean to fall apart on you like that.”
He appeared to seriously consider her words, and she knew she would be all right if he left. She had always been an emotionally stable person. Rapid mood-swings were a new thing for her, but she was on the upswing now, and knowing she would be seeing Andrew tomorrow would keep her there.
“I’m not ready to say good night to you, Sarah,” he said, leaning forward in his chair and reaching for her hand. His touch was gentle and non-threatening. “But being here with you probably isn’t a good idea for much longer. Could we go for a walk? One where you’re properly dressed for one, and
“He’s fourteen, Annika. How would I know him? I died before he was born.”
“Good point,” she said and laughed. “I always forget you came here when you were twelve. You’ve grown into such a fine young man now.”
“He could be from the youth group,” Tommy said.
“But why would I get invited?”
“Maybe he knew Andrew too, or Tabby.”
Annika supposed that was possible. Tommy was pretty good at sorting out these mysteries. They stood there, watching the boy take in his glorious surroundings. He didn’t faint when he noticed Joshua standing beside him. He looked completely unaware of where he was or who all these people were coming to meet him. Joshua talked to him for a moment, and then he fainted.
“I need to go,” Annika said. “I have to meet Erika at her cottage for dinner. She has some news about Mama and Papa to tell me.”
“Okay, I’ll stay here and try to find out who this boy is.”
“If you figure it out, let me know,” she said, giving Tommy a hug. He had been like a son to her these last five years--like the sons she had left behind.
Going to meet Erika, another person she had grown close to since her Arrival, they shared a good meal together with Joshua, and then Erika shared her news about Mama and Papa. Erika was the little sister Annika had never known on Earth. Joshua had brought her here before she had ever come out of Mama’s womb. Annika had only been two, and she didn’t have any memory of the stillbirth, but Mama had talked of her baby sister often who had gone to be with Jesus.
As soon as Annika had met Erika at her Homecoming, they’d become very close, and Erika had told her from the beginning, ‘You’re going to love it here, and don’t worry, Joshua will take care of your family, just like He’s taken care of mine.’
Chapter Seven
“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked, sitting up in the bed.
Andrew told her the news he had received from home. Her first thought was Andrew would be catching a flight out first thing in the morning and she would never see him again, but she scolded herself for having selfish thoughts at a time like this.
“Are you leaving then?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think so. If I knew the father better, I would, but I don’t. James and Alan can handle it.”
“What about the mother?”
“She died last year. I knew her better because she came to me for spiritual guidance during her last few months, but her husband didn’t want me coming around after the funeral. Unless he asks for me, it’s better that I’m here. Trust me.”
“Was that your daughter?”
“Yes, Gracie. My oldest.”
“Is she married?”
“No, she moved back home after Annika died, and she’s been there ever since.”
“What does she do?”
“Teaches middle school math.”
“And who’s Tabby?”
“Tabitha. My youngest. She’s a senior in high school this year.”
Sarah wasn’t sure what else to say. They had been interrupted at an awkward moment. She never answered his question about enjoying God, and she wondered if he was still thinking about it or if he’d completely forgotten.
“You can go, Andrew,” she said, breaking the silence between them. “I’m all right now. We can talk more tomorrow. I didn’t mean to fall apart on you like that.”
He appeared to seriously consider her words, and she knew she would be all right if he left. She had always been an emotionally stable person. Rapid mood-swings were a new thing for her, but she was on the upswing now, and knowing she would be seeing Andrew tomorrow would keep her there.
“I’m not ready to say good night to you, Sarah,” he said, leaning forward in his chair and reaching for her hand. His touch was gentle and non-threatening. “But being here with you probably isn’t a good idea for much longer. Could we go for a walk? One where you’re properly dressed for one, and
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