by Arlene James
“You don’t have to worry about him anymore,” Asher promised Jessa, jerking an elbow at Wayne. “I know the judge in this case well, and there won’t be any more bail. His Honor takes a dim view of attempted kidnapping. It’ll be a long time before Harman has another chance of any kind to get at either of you. Hopefully, by that time, he’ll have learned his lesson. If not…” He glanced at Garrett. “I think you’ll be safe.”
Suddenly, Hunter tore away from Jessa and ran to Garrett, nearly knocking him over with the force of his embrace. Garrett patted his back and ruffled his hair, but still Hunter held on. Jessa knew just how he felt. In some ways, it was like waking from a confusing dream to a clear and certain reality, where all doubts had vanished. She wanted to hold on to that reality and never let it go, but she hung back, allowing Hunter his moment with Garrett. Asher squeezed her hand and left them there, making his way toward the house. A minute or two later, the last police car pulled away, and just the three of them remained.
Garrett turned toward the house, the boy still plastered to his side. They walked to Jessa, who fell in next to them, one hand going to the back of her son’s head.
“Thank you,” she said in a wobbly voice, trying to smile.
Garrett nodded and walked on. “I’m just glad we were in time.”
They reached the shadows of the porch, and there, Garrett paused.
“You two go on in. I think I’ll stay here for a little while.” Turning, he sat on the edge of the porch, his feet on the steps, and sighed.
“What will you do?” Jessa asked, more in control of herself now. She slid an arm around Hunter’s shoulders, assuring herself once more of his safety.
“Pray,” Garrett answered succinctly, dropping his head into his hands.
Jessa looked down at Hunter and read the same concern in his face that she was feeling. “In that case,” she said, walking back to Garrett, “we’ll stay.”
She sat down on his right. Hunter went around and sat down on Garrett’s left. They each lifted a hand to his back. Suddenly, Garrett made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a sob. Jessa’s heart melted.
“Oh, my darling,” she crooned, laying her cheek against his shoulder, her eyes leaking tears. “I’m sorry. I was wrong to be angry with you.”
“No,” he choked out. “You were right. I should’ve told you before you agreed to share the Monroe place with me.”
“Then I wouldn’t have,” she admitted. “And it’s not the Monroe place anymore. It’s Willow Tree Place. It’s our place.”
Garrett patted the hand that she’d placed upon his shoulder, then sucked in a deep breath and lifted his head, rubbing his hands over his face. “I thought I’d be in the back of that squad car now.”
“Thank God that didn’t happen!” she told him.
He nodded and said, “It still could, you know. I’m on parole and—”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Jessa interrupted, “together. And meanwhile, we’ll pray.”
Garrett chuckled and laid his head against hers, whispering, “I love you, you know.” He turned to squeeze Hunter. “And you.”
Hunter reached up to hook an arm around Garrett’s neck.
“I love you, too,” Jessa said, calmly and clearly. “We both do.”
Garrett laughed, sort of, and declared, “Thank God!” He bowed his head then and began to pray. “Father God, we thank You. We’re safe and together, and You’ve shown us that’s all that truly matters. Thank You for letting us get to Hunter in time. Thank You for Asher and his efforts. For Billy, who’s kept things going, and Willow Tree Place and Mags and the other misses…”
He went on enumerating their blessings until Hunter piped up with, “And wedding cake.”
They all laughed then, joy settling in to cover the fear of what might have happened and what still could. Jessa placed it silently in God’s hands and vowed simply to feel, allowing herself to be swept along on a tide of love so fierce that it blotted out all fear.
Eventually, they rose to rejoin the party, arriving just in time for Jessa to catch the bridal bouquet that she herself had made. When Garrett slipped his hands around her waist to pull her against him, knowing smiles traveled around the room. Jessa added her own to them then shared it with Magnolia, who nodded in silent approval.
Whatever future God deemed appropriate and best for Garrett Willows, he would live it far from alone.
Epilogue
The first Monday of June dawned bright and hot. As Garrett led Jessa up the steps of Chatam House by the hand, she fanned herself with the other, but then she laughed, and gratitude swamped him once more. Asher and Magnolia went ahead. Asher opened the door and held it, smiling as they passed through.
Everyone had gathered in the front parlor, including a sizable portion of the Chatam family, Chandler and Bethany, of course, and nearly all of Hub’s family, excepting only Bayard and the so-called “Dallas contingent.” Even the Latimer twins were present, having stayed on after their mother had left rather than return at the end of the month for Odelia’s wedding. The staff hovered on the periphery of the room, including Carol, who held fast to Hunter’s small hand. He shook free of her as Garrett and Jessa came through the door, and Garrett flashed him an encouraging smile, his heart swelling at this show of support.
“Well?” Ellie asked, coming forward to welcome her husband with a kiss.
“It isn’t over,” Magnolia announced, “but it’s good.”
Relieved sighs went around the room. Asher explained that not only would Garrett’s parole not be violated, the district attorney had agreed to support a motion of pardon on Garrett’s behalf, owing to the circumstances of his original guilty plea and his obvious heroics in rescuing Hunter and Jessa from her abusive ex. Garrett could still barely believe it. Odelia squealed and leapt up to totter forward and hug him, silver doves swinging from her earlobes. She’d decked herself in every known peace symbol from praying hands to love beads and wrapped her snowy head in a tie-dye scarf that matched her skirt, which she wore with a bright yellow blouse. Kent hauled himself up and waddled in her wake to pound Garrett on the back.
“We have another wedding to plan!” Odelia rhapsodized, clapping her hands.
“Oh, I think we’ll do something very simple,” Jessa said quickly, basically confirming what had become common knowledge.
Garrett squeezed her fingers, adding, “Simple and soon. Maybe a small ceremony right here in the parlor with Pastor Hub presiding.” He looked to Hubner Chatam, who nodded gravely.
“My pleasure.”
Garrett wrapped his arm around Jessa’s shoulders as Ellie smiled up at her husband and said, “I highly recommend a honeymoon in the Hill Country.”
“What a nice wedding gift that would be,” Hypatia suggested coyly.
Garrett didn’t bother attempting to derail that generous Chatam impulse. “I’d like a little vacation in the Texas Hill Country,” he said, looking to Jessa. “Wouldn’t you?”
She nodded. “Billy and Abby can take care of things here for a while.” Olive had quit in confusion and embarrassment when Jessa had explained that she had mistaken Garrett’s actions and intentions.
“I’ll help out, too,” Magnolia volunteered, “so you can truly enjoy your vacation.”
Hunter darted through the room to them, crying, “Oh, boy! Vacation!”
“Not you,” Garrett told him gently, cupping his chin in one hand. “Not this time, buddy.”
“Aw-w-w!” Hunter complained. Everyone laughed, and Garrett hugged him to his side to soften the blow.
“Maybe we can manage a family trip before school starts, though,” he suggested. Hunter brightened only slightly.
Before Hunter could ask why he couldn’t go, Chandler changed t
he subject, saying, “If you light out for Oklahoma, you won’t have to wait.” He and Bethany had eloped to Oklahoma when they’d wed.
“I think we can wait three days,” Garrett said with a chuckle.
“Oh!” Jessa exclaimed, as if an idea had struck her suddenly. “We should’ve gotten our marriage license while we were at the courthouse!”
Garrett glanced quickly at his wristwatch. “It’s not too late.”
Asher produced a set of keys. “Take my car.”
Garrett snatched the keys, laughing. They turned for the door, pausing as Hunter begged, “Can I come?”
Garrett glanced at Jessa, his heart swelling at the adoration in her eyes. Why would God bless him so richly? He thought his chest would explode with emotion. “Sure,” he said to Hunter. “This time.”
The three of them crossed the foyer and went out onto the porch. Asher’s luxury SUV waited on the drive. It seemed to Garrett to be a symbol of the future, not that he cared a fig for luxury autos, but he’d been planning an economy-model life, and God, in His generosity, had provided too many upgrades to catalog.
“Did you ever dream it would come to this?” he asked Jessa.
“No,” she answered, snuggling her head against his shoulder. “God has answered my every prayer with more generosity and abundance than I could even imagine. All I had to do was learn to trust. Him and you.”
“Thank you,” he whispered, bending to nuzzle her temple with his nose.
“Aren’t we getting married?” Hunter asked, tugging impatiently on Garrett’s hand.
Jessa laughed.
“Yes, we are,” Garrett said firmly.
Hunter smiled so widely that the light reflected off his teeth. “Then what are we waiting for?” he demanded, breaking free to run to the vehicle.
“Not a thing,” Garrett said, laughing and urging Jessa forward into the bright future. “Not a blooming thing.”
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
Have you ever been wounded? We’ve all been wounded in some fashion. Usually it’s emotional. Someone hurts our feelings. We may mope awhile, talk it out or even strike back. Eventually, though, we get over it and go on.
Some wounds are so deep and so lasting, however, that they affect our entire lives. We don’t “get over it” so much as learn to go on in a different reality. We come up with all sorts of coping mechanisms: counseling, prayer, self-indulgence.... Only one thing truly brings healing, however.
Have you truly yielded your pain to God? It’s tough to say, even to the One who suffered all pain to pay the sin debt of all people. “If You require this of me, so be it.” Yet, that is the key to the joy that surpasses understanding, and we all have it in our hands. May you need it rarely but use it when you do.
God bless,
Questions for Discussion
The Chatam sisters do not believe in coincidence. Yet, the circumstances in which Jessa and Garrett find themselves seems entirely coincidental, each having arranged to lease the same property at about the same time from different owners. If not coincidence, however, what might it be?
Read Genesis 24. Do you see any similarities in Isaac and Rebekah’s story and Garrett and Jessa’s? If so, who would Magnolia be in Garrett and Jessa’s version?
What reasons can you give for Hunter’s shyness and silence? What other behaviors might he have adopted?
Garrett longed to see a toothy smile on Hunter’s face and finally did so on the last page of the story. Why was that important to Garrett? What sort of emotion does that type of smile signify?
Despite the abuse that he had suffered at his father’s hands, Hunter warmed up to Garrett long before his mother did. Are children more trusting than adults? Is this always a good thing? Why or why not? When is it a good thing?
Garrett’s relationship with Magnolia Chatam was formed during his childhood and years later became the foundation of his chance at a life of freedom and meaning. Can you point to such a relationship in your life?
Garrett put off revealing the worst of his past to Jessa because he sensed that she would reject him because of it. Was this wise? Was it right? Did it become foolish or wrong at some point? Why?
Jessa had her own secrets. She had assumed her mother’s maiden name in an attempt to hide from her abusive ex-husband. Was her secret as “wrong” as Garrett’s? Why or why not?
Magnolia felt great regret and even anger at not being able to rescue Garrett from the situation that sent him to prison. Were her feelings justified? Why or why not?
All the evidence convinced Jessa that her wisest course was to keep away from Garrett. Yet, he seemed a great temptation to her. Was he a temptation? If the impulse to allow herself to trust him was not a temptation, what might it have been? Have you ever felt God urging you to do something against your better judgment?
Despite his violence and lack of trustworthiness, Jessa realized, shortly after arriving at Ellie and Asher’s wedding, that Garrett did love her. What made her conclude that his feelings for her were genuine?
Both Garrett and Jessa had sought safe, “economy-model” lives. In the end, they felt that God had granted them “luxury-model” lives. Why would God do that? Was it a reward for past sufferings? Or was it a product of their ultimate faith in Him? Surrender to His will? Something else?
ISBN: 9781459221161
Copyright © 2012 by Deborah Rather
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