This is a snippet from my novel Destination.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Seemed like no matter how early or late he went to sleep at night, he would wake up at or right around 5 AM. But just the same with the summer sun seeping through the white pine shutters into the shadows of his magnificent room, he reached over to the nightstand and checked his new pocket watch. Five o’ five. He’d always wanted a pocket watch, even as a kid, but he’d never had one until he got out of prison. He hated the sound of the words “out of prison,” but it was foolish to deny the reality. Besides, it hadn’t all been bad. And he knew shortly upon arriving there he had a debt to pay. Funny thing was he learned he couldn’t pay it. Ever.
He got up and took another shower, so thankful he could in the privacy of this splendid home. He was ready to work, to get his hands dirty, his muscles sore, to sweat. Sweating would be no problem in this eastern Washington desert heat. He put on a pair of his oldest worn jeans and another T-shirt to start with, and he walked out to the kitchen barefoot. He wasn’t sure what to expect from Grams at this early hour, but he suspected she might be up and about, and he was right about that.
“Mornin,’ son. You an early riser?” A hint of humor danced in her voice.
He looked at her expression. “You don’t think this is early, Grams?” He smiled at her.
She took a drink of her Coca Cola. “Ah, I suppose it’s not late,” she conceded. “You know how hot it gets here so early in the mornin’ and all. Truth is I just can’t sleep past four, you know? That Lord is pretty persistent about me tending to my prayer time. He gives me an extra half hour in the wintertime—big of Him, huh?” She laughed.
Thomas smiled at the petite woman, feeling better than he’d felt since . . . maybe since he was a boy comin’ over here to visit all the time.
“Coke?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” A woman after his own heart. “I can get it.”
“No foolin’ you can,” she said matter-of-factly. “Look, Tommy, I’m only goin’ to say this once,” she began with a look that could’ve brought a soldier to attention.
He stopped in his tracks.
“Everything in this kitchen belongs to you and me. You want something to eat—you fix it or look for it or ask where it might be. When we go into town to get groceries or anything else for that matter, I expect you to get what you want as well as what you need, and don’t be askin’ me if it’s alright. I ain’t your momma. Turns out I’m your friend—in fact, I’m more like your sister, you know? In the Lord? So, you and me are goin’ to live here for as long as you want to or as long as you need to, and you’re goin’ to have everything you need to live your life while you’re here. It’s nice havin’ a man in the house again. I raised two sons and had a helluva man—pardon my French, Lord—for a husband. The Lord Jesus has kept me company since, and it’s been good, but I figure He knew when I needed a friend again, and He sent you, Tommy. So, don’t go gettin’ all syrupy about bein’ here and bein’ in my debt—I won’t stand for it.” She actually tapped her cane on the floor to emphasize her point. “Now I know I called you hired help yesterday, and, believe me, I’m goin’ to put you to work. Stupid darn hip goin’ out left me in a fix tryin’ to get some things done, so I’m happy to have your help. But this thing between us is more than just boss and servant—you got that?” and she glared over at him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now I know with your kind of conscience, it ain’t goin’ to be easy at first gettin’ all comfy cozy here right off the bat, but I ain’t kiddin’ ya when I say make yourself at home. This ol’ place has been empty and way too quiet for too long. I expect you to live here, you understand?”
“Alright, Grams,” he said quietly. “I’ll try.”
Grams softened a bit. “Son, I don’t know what all happened to ya over there in Seattle, but it’s over. You better start livin’ your life anew now because, let me tell ya somethin’,” and she paused and took in a breath. “You of all people know that sometimes it just up and goes away. Life is a precious thing, Tommy. We only got so many days. Make the most of ‘em, son, because if ya don’t, your time here has all been wasted. The Lord has somethin’ special for you, Tommy. Mark my words. He does. So you better be settin’ your mind to findin’ out what that somethin’ is or you’ll be miserable for the rest of your days. You hear me?”
“I do.”
“Alright, let’s drink our coke, and then we’ll get started with our work for the day. Sound good to you?”
“Yeah, Grams,” and he managed another smile.
Father, characters, words, stories I love. Thank you is never enough. Please, keep me writing, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 