Above the Fear
Page 15
She felt overwhelmed and sat down beside him, reached over and put her arms around him. When he just sat there, unmoving but with a smile on his lips, she leaned closer and kissed his cheek. “We’ll take good care of both of them, Matt. We’ll take care of you, too, if you need us to.”
John looked at her. At first he couldn’t believe what she was saying but quickly realized he wasn’t the least bit surprised. She meant every word. She would love and care for two children she’d never met – because she loved their father – and she would willingly take care of an old man she’d only just seen for the first time in her life – because he was the children’s grandfather. No. Perhaps that wasn’t true. She would love and take care of them all because that’s who she was. It’s how God made her.
He smiled at her, love shining in his eyes. What had he ever done to deserve someone like her? The answer was simple. He’d done nothing - the very same thing he’d done to deserve the love of God. Absolutely nothing.
∞ EPILOG ∞
“He’s got two kids, he’s flat broke with no place to live and you’ve known him for less than six months. Now you’re marrying him.” Sharris stood in her sister’s room, watching her as she put on the new white dress she’d just bought. “Taryn, please don’t do this. It isn’t too late to call it all off.”
Marna was brushing Taryn’s hair and finally swept it up and clasped it with pins. “You don’t change the direction of your heart,” she said to Sharris, just before turning again to Taryn. “Do you like your hair like this, or do you want to leave it down?”
“I like it. I think John will, too.”
“He’ll like it, no matter how you wear it.” Marna kissed her sister’s cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“It’s because I’m so happy.”
Sharris muttered, “I hope you stay that way.”
“Can’t you say something nice to her?” Marna asked. “This is her wedding day. Stop trying to spoil it for her.”
“I’ll meet you at the church,” Sharris said then and left the room.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Marna said, smiling. “If the truth were known, she’s probably jealous.”
“No way she could be jealous of me.”
“I’ve seen the way she’s watched you and John and those precious children for the last couple months. She can’t help but notice that you belong together, and she’ll never admit she wants to belong to someone, too.”
“She said she never plans to get married.”
Marna laughed. “She just hasn’t found the right man yet. She’ll change her mind.”
“I love Ricky and Evie, Marna.” A sparkle filled Taryn’s eyes. “Ricky is the exact replica of his father and so mature for only eight years old, and he adores Evie. Isn’t she the sweetest, most precious little child you’ve ever seen?”
“I would take either one of them in a heartbeat. I’m looking forward to them staying with me while you and John are on your honeymoon.”
Taryn thought of the generous wedding gift her sister and Devon had given them, a trip to anywhere they wanted to go. Neither of them wanted to visit anyplace exotic. All they wanted was to be together, so they chose Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the lovely tourist attraction that was only a two hour drive away.
“Josie was disappointed that she had to work and couldn’t do it,” she finally said, her mind returning to present. “Not to mention Suzi. You’d think she was Evie’s mother, the way she coddles her.”
“Evie adores her.”
Sharris appeared in the doorway again. “Even though I’m not happy about this, I do wish you all the best. And….I have something for you.” She held out a key. “I paid the deposit and first month’s rent on that apartment you and John liked so much. It’s all ready for you to move into when you get back.”
Taryn’s heart felt as if it would burst. Walking over to her sister, she gave her a big hug. “Thank you, Sharris.”
Sharris didn’t say anything else, but simply walked away.
“It’s going to be hard for you and John,” Marna said softly.
“We’ll be okay. He’s working again, and before long, he’ll be ministering, and I have my job. I’m blessed that the kids can stay with me and I don’t have to worry about paying a babysitter.”
“Will you be able to concentrate, with Evie being so little?”
Taryn laughed. “I’ve already been doing it quite a bit, you know. I’m not worried about it, or about anything else. I lived in fear for the last three years, ever since the explosion that took our parents and left you suffering. It’s a painful thing to do and I refuse to give into it again. God has blessed me with a man that I love with all my heart and two wonderful and beautiful children. I’m so happy, Marna.”
“Have you heard from Matt lately?”
“He calls to talk to Ricky and Evie almost every day. They have no idea how sick he is, but when I talk to him myself, I can hear it in his voice. He really seems to like John. He says they talk for hours, mostly about the Bible. John’s always commenting on how Matt’s able to help him understand some of the scriptures that are confusing to him. I was hoping he’d make it for the wedding, but he isn’t able. He’s a good man, and I thank God daily for giving him the insight to find John and reunite him with his children.”
Marna hugged her, then let go quickly. “Let’s go get you married.”
EXACTLY THREE WEEKS LATER, the news came that Matt had passed away. Taryn and John held the children, and cried with them, as they mourned for the grandfather they had loved so much, who had raised them since Ricky was six and since Evie was born. It turned out to be a bittersweet day. It was the very first time that little Evie, who didn’t talk much yet, called them mommy and daddy.
A week later, they never expected the visit from the stranger that knocked on their door. He was Matt’s lawyer, he told them, and he was there to carry out the old man’s last wishes.
When he left, John and Taryn looked at each other in shock and disbelief. They had no idea Matt was a very wealthy man – and he’d left every cent he had in a trust fund for his only grandchildren. Not only that, he’d left his home and land, valued at over a million dollars, to John. He could live there or he could sell it and buy a place someplace else. He just wanted to be sure Ricky and Evie always had a home.
How much more was God going to bless their marriage? They could hardly wait to find out.
THE END
DID YOU ENJOY THIS STORY?
WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
ON www.amazon.com
so others can read it, too?
THANK YOU and GOD BLESS
Please keep reading for a preview of Inside the Beauty, the third and final book in The Eyes of Love Series, as well as a list of all my inspirational fiction books and the referenced scriptures
for Above the Fear.
……ONE LAST THING……
To assure you’ll know immediately when the last book in this series is available, send an email to carringer@dnet.net and I’ll be sure to let you know.
……COMING SOON…….
To be released in April 2021
The 3rd and final book in The Eyes of Love Series
PREVIEW: Inside the Beauty
Sharris had everything she always wanted. Since she was the last sister left unmarried, she was now the sole owner of the lovely home they’d shared, and she was more successful in her business than ever. She was beautiful and had lots of friends, an active social life and no desire at all to allow anything – especially any man - to mess up her perfect world. God, however, just might have some very different plans for her.
INSPIRATIONAL FICTION BOOKS
BY Joan Fennell Carringer
In the Midst of Tomorrow
Touching a Dream
Shattered Yesterdays
Forbidden
ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN
Angels Beside the Children (Vol. I & II)
THE FOREVER SERIES
Hide Me Forever
Love Me Forever
Keep Me Forever
EYES OF LOVE SERIES
Beneath the Scars
Above the Fear
Inside the Beauty
ANGEL JACK BOOKS
Listed in sequence but can be read in any order.
#1 - Walking with an Angel
#2 - Crossing the Shadows
#3 - It Only Takes One
#4 - Tears of an Angel
#5 - Beyond Chance
#6 - IF ONLY
#7 – The Doorway of Forever
#8 – Always an Angel
#9 - Dusty Clouds
#10 - Between Now and Then
#11 - Angel Baby
INSPIRATIONAL SCI-FICTION
Planet Mystic Series: Stand alone but best when read in order.
#1 -The Mystical Challenge
#2 - The Love Emotion
#3 - Princess on Probation
#4 – Mystic
#5 –The Dream Trip
#6 – Guardian Angel
#7 – The Mystical Secret: Up for Bids!
All books can be previewed at:
www.joanfennellcarringer.com
or
https://amzn.to/3cQlsS0
REFERENCED SCRIPTURES
Above The Fear
Book #2 - THE EYES OF LOVE Series
From The King James Version of The Holy Bible
CHAPTER 2.
God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. – Psalm 46:1
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. – Philippians 4:13
….forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. – Philippians 3:13
CHAPTER 3.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. – Proverbs 27:1
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. – Matthew 6:34
CHAPTER 6.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. – Hebrews 13:2
CHAPTER 8.
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10
CHAPTER 9.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. – II Corinthians 5:8
CHAPTER 11.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. – John 8:32
CHAPTER 13.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
– Philippians 2:12
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing: now it shall spring forth: shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18,19
CHAPTER 15.
This is the day which the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24……..
CHAPTER 22.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: - Acts 10:34
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:12