by Teri Barnett
“I’ll be back tonight to check on you,” Cinda called as she left the room.
Abraham and Sarah waited at the doorway and, as the woman left, rushed to Bethany’s side. “He’s a fine-looking boy,” Abraham said proudly. “Looks a bit like me, don’t you think? Except for that head of black hair, that is.”
“Oh, Mama, he’s beautiful. What are we going to call him?”
Bethany caressed Sarah’s cheek with the back of her hand. “What do you think of Ian, in memory of our friend.”
“Ian.” Sarah considered the name. “I like it just fine.” She leaned into the baby’s face. “Hello, Ian. I’m your sister Sarah.”
Bethany smiled, touched by her daughter’s words. But the smile quickly faded. “Oh, Papa.”
Abraham sat down on the bed. “Sarah, it’s time for you to get some rest now. You can visit with your mama and new brother later.”
Sarah made a face and started to argue but Abraham gave her a hard stare. She shrugged her shoulders, kissed everyone, then scurried off to her room.
Returning his attention to Bethany, he took her hand into his. “I’m so sorry, Daughter. But I know you’ll manage just fine the same as before when you lost Joseph.” He shook his head. “I only wish there was something I could do.”
“Your being here with me is a comfort, Papa. Thank you.”
Hearing a soft knock at the front entry, Abraham rose to answer the door. Bethany lay back and fell into an exhausted sleep, nuzzling her new son in the crook of her arm. She stirred when she felt one side of the bed lower, as if someone were sitting next to her. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
“I must be dreaming,” she murmured to the baby. “It looks like your father is here with me.” She closed her eyes again, a single tear running down her cheek. “Sweet Mother, isn’t it enough that you have my husband and my heart? Please don’t torment me so.”
“She’s not, my love.”
Bethany’s eyes flew open. “Connor! B-but, how?”
He reached out and caressed her cheek, then smiled at his son. “May I?” he asked, holding his arms out.
Mutely, Bethany handed the child over. “I saw you die,” she whispered, overcome with tears. “I saw your soul leave your body.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner. You have to believe I wanted to desperately, but there was such pain.” He closed his eyes tightly. “It felt like my gut was being torn open. I couldn’t get out of bed and spent most of my time not even knowing what was going on around me.”
“Oh, Connor,” Bethany whispered, her voice ragged.
“Yesterday was real strange, though. The pain turned into a fog and shrouded my entire being. The next thing I knew, I felt myself lifting off the bed. I saw a bright white light and headed toward it. I thought maybe it was the portal.” Connor smiled warmly at Bethany. “Then I was stopped by a woman. Before I knew what was happening, she escorted me to your door. When she left, I found this sitting on the ground next to me.” Connor held out a basket, offering it to her.
Bethany peered into the basket. Her eyes filled with tears and she smiled at her husband.
It was filled with Paran’s Love.
About the Author
Teri Barnett is a bestselling author, award-winning artist, and commercial interior designer who brings a lifetime of learning and exploration to her writing, workshops, and art. She currently lives in Indianapolis with a bossy black cat who’s earned her own hashtag, #blackcatlou.
When Teri isn’t busy working on her next book, or redesigning the world, you can find her doing the artist thing in her studio, fighting the good fight, or riding through the corn tunnels of Indiana on her motorcycle.
You can visit Teri online at www.teribarnett.com to learn more about her books and subscribe to her newsletter. Follow Teri Barnett on BookBub and Amazon.