“What is that?” Kristen asked out loud, but the doorman could not hear her.
“Ms. Holloway, is it all right if the Merediths come up?”
Richard moved off Kristen and sat with his head in his hands, shaking. “Yes, Kristen. Please tell him it's OK.”
“Who are they?”
“Friends of mine,” he said in a barely audible whisper, as the reality of what had just happened and what had almost happened started to sink into Richard's heart and into his mind.
“Friends of yours? You invited friends of yours to come with you tonight?”
“No. I didn't. But thank God, and I mean that more than you'll ever know, they're here. Please tell him to let them in.”
Obviously angry, Kristen got up and walked over to the intercom. “It's all right, Bart. Send them up,” she said.
Richard stood up, feeling weak, drained. He tried to look at Kristen, but then diverted his eyes. He took out his handkerchief and wiped her lipstick and make-up from his face. Feeling like a fool, he stuffed it back in his pocket.
Kristen retreated to her bedroom, and the doorbell rang. Richard walked over and opened it. Bob and Anne were standing outside, Bibles in hand. Before they could say anything, Richard stepped out and hugged Anne, his eyes closed, tears forming. Then he hugged Bob. He felt so weak that he was afraid he might fall. They sensed his frailty and helped him walk back into Kristen's apartment, closing the door behind them.
Bob more or less deposited Richard in the large chair by the coffee table, and Richard sat shaking his head, his heart pounding, tears rolling down his cheeks, unable to say anything yet, except “Thank you,” which he whispered to his friends several times.
The bedroom door opened and Kristen came out, her make-up fresh. She stood at the entrance to the living room, expecting Richard to introduce them.
“Hi, Kristen. I'm Bob Meredith. This is my wife, Anne. We've heard a lot about you and seen you, I think, at church. We heard that you're interested in learning more about God, so we thought we'd come see if we could help.”
“Yes, well, I'm glad to meet you. But I think there was a misunderstanding tonight. I guess I'm interested in learning more about God, someday, but I never meant tonight. Somehow the message got mixed up. Would you like some wine?”
“I'm sorry if we came at the wrong time. Richard, are you OK?” Bob asked, as Richard wiped his eyes.
“Yes, I'm fine,” Richard said, starting to regain his strength and looking up at them. “And, believe me, you came at exactly the right time.” He managed a smile. “Kristen, I don't know what was going on, but we almost made a big mistake.”
Kristen shrugged her shoulders and looked uninterested. There was a long silence while everyone thought about what Richard had said. Then Anne smiled and turned to Kristen. “Do you have any tea? Or a soft drink?”
“Sure,” Kristen said, “I'll put some water on.” And she walked into the kitchen, followed by Anne.
“Bob, you can't imagine how happy I am to see you both,” Richard smiled again. “I was within a few minutes of doing something I would have regretted for longer than I care to think about. What a fool I've been tonight. I can't imagine what happened to me.”
“Richard, what happened to you is that you came here. The result was pretty predictable after that. None of us can withstand Satan on our own—try to do it yourself, and you'll fail every time. This Book tells us to flee, which wasn't exactly your move tonight,” he smiled. “And if you can't flee, then pray for God's help, because the forces of darkness are too much for us humans. We need God's help, or we'll fail.”
“That's crystal clear now, Bob. But sixty minutes ago I thought I was in complete control, able to do anything on my own, a real soldier for God. And look how close I came to being finished!”
“You're right. How long have you been a believer now? A little over three months? And from what I've seen and heard you have been a soldier for God. You've changed and already affected others. You're a husband, a father, and a business leader. Don't you think Satan would love to bring you down? To dishonor you, and therefore God, whom you profess, in your own eyes and in the eyes of your family and friends? You're a perfect target. You've felt God enough to be effective, but you haven't learned enough to know when you're getting outside His protection. It can happen because you stop reading the Word, or forget to pray; or maybe pride makes you forget the true source of your strength—anyway, once you move outside His will, anything can happen. The wisest Christian knows when to turn tail and to run as fast as he can from temptation, because he can't beat it on his own.”
“I may be a slow learner, but tonight I got the message, believe me! Bob, when you came, I actually think I felt the presence of evil spirits. Is that possible, or am I crazy?”
“It's probable. Maybe we should get the ladies back in here and pray.”
While Richard and Bob were talking, Anne was speaking with Kristen in the kitchen, as she ran water in the teapot. “Please don't be upset, either with Richard or with us. We've known about your relationship since right after Richard surrendered his life to Christ. Our intent is not to judge either of you, but to help both of you.”
Kristen frowned but said nothing.
“It's a long story, but before I met Bob, or knew the Lord, I had an affair with a married man. At first I didn't know he was married, but even after I found out, I let him talk me into continuing for over a month before I broke it off. Three months later he left his wife and child for another, even younger woman, and I've lived with my part in that tragedy for many years. So I know some of what you're feeling, in every sense.
“And I have one simple message for you, Kristen,” Anne smiled. “God loves you more than any man can or ever will. First find a relationship with Him, and then the right man to be your husband will probably come along, if it's His will. But whatever else happens on earth, you'll know the greatest love in the universe.”
Kristen finally spoke. “OK. Thanks, Anne. As you can imagine, I'm a little mixed up right now and don't know how to handle your being here. I didn't really mean for anything to happen tonight with Richard, but I did ask him to come here, and I…I…just don't know what to do. I'm embarrassed. I'm hurt…There's a man in California I've been seeing. Maybe he's the one. I just don't know…”
“You've had enough for one night, dear,” Anne smiled, as the water began to boil, “but please remember what I said about God's love. Find Him first, which we'll be glad to help you do, if you want our help, and the rest should come along, in His time.”
Anne and Kristen rejoined the men, and Bob told them that they needed to pray together. Somewhat self-consciously, Kristen joined them on her knees in the living room, and Bob began by thanking God for His mercy and His presence in their lives that night. Anne thanked Him and asked for His angels’ protection for Richard and Kristen. Nepravel and the other two demons had been circling around them all this time. They were screaming insults and snapping their sharp teeth at the Merediths, angry over their intrusion. At Anne's mention of angels, the demons looked at each other and decided to leave. Instantly Kristen felt the first positive moment of healing in her relationship with Richard, as they continued to pray together.
Richard prayed a long prayer of thanks for their protection that night and for God answering his prayers, even though he had violated God's will. He fervently asked for forgiveness and for guidance in the future for him and for Kristen. And finally he prayed for Janet and his family, that he would again be the husband and father they needed.
Hearing Richard pray to God for her and for his family added to the healing process that had just begun inside Kristen. She understood for the first time the depth of his love for his wife, and she recognized as well his genuine concern for her. When Richard finished, Kristen found the strength to pray out loud for the first time since she was a little girl, asking God for His forgiveness and for His help in fighting temptation in the future. She felt awkward at first, but so
on her heart was pouring out her grief, as she went on to ask for God's guidance in her life. The other three souls kneeling there with her shared the sincerity of her pain. As she finished unburdening her soul, her voice cracked, and tears flowed down her cheeks.
Bob closed their prayers, and they stood up. Anne hugged Kristen. Then they went into the kitchen and fixed four new cups of tea. The four of them talked together for almost an hour, mostly about what had just happened, but sometimes simply talking about whatever came up, from their new mission church to the first inklings of a pennant race that year.
Finally Richard announced that he was very tired after fighting two battles in one day and that they should call it a night.
“Kristen, I'm so glad I'm leaving with the Merediths.” He smiled, his hand holding hers, “We dodged a bullet, tonight, barely. But we dodged it, only by the grace of God. As I hope you know, I wish you the best and can't wait to see you in church. But let's don't ever get together like this again! Like I said that day when we broke up, God has better plans for both of us. Let's see what those are. But they don't include us being together. It's that simple. I really love Janet, and I want to be with her. And I thank God again that nothing more happened tonight.”
Kristen tried her best to smile back. “OK, Richard. I promise. No more invitations. And I do want to know more about God.”
Anne said, “Call me, please, Kristen. I would love to have lunch with you and tell you about what God has done for us. And there's a businesswomen's breakfast group at our church which meets every week; I think you'll really like them.”
“Thank you, Anne. And thank you, too, Bob. You're an unusual pair of party crashers!”
As the three of them exited the elevator into the garage at Kristen's apartment, Richard said, “I can't thank you enough for coming. What led you to drive over here?”
Bob answered, “You should thank Anne. When we arrived home and heard your two messages, I didn't think that much about them, but Anne wouldn't let go. She called your home and Kristen's, and only heard answering machines. She told me you shouldn't be left by yourself and that even if she had to come here on her own, she was going to check on you. So of course I had to drive her!”
“I just felt that something wasn't right. Richard, don't ever put yourself in a position like that again. I know men, and I know how God made you, though I've never known why. That's one of the first things I'm going to ask Him when I get to heaven!”
Richard smiled and hugged her again. “Well, I'm sure glad that God made you! What a day! Thank you and God bless you.”
“One last piece of advice,” Anne offered.
“You can give me all the advice you want,” Richard said.
“Go be with your wife.”
As he drove home, Richard thought about all that had happened from the time he had caught his plane that morning. He prayed aloud in the car, asking for God's forgiveness, protection, and blessing on him and on his family.
The house was dark when he arrived home, and empty. He turned on the lights and made a phone call. Then he went up to the attic and got out his suitcase and his suitbag. Thirty minutes later he made another call.
“Janet? Hi. I know it's a little late, but I've got some news.”
“Hi. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yes. Everything is just fine. Just fine. But I'm coming up there tomorrow morning. There's an early flight with connections; it'll get me there at 12:30. Can you meet the plane?”
“Are you sure you're all right? Are you staying for the whole week?”
Smiling, thinking about Janet and his children, he assured her, “Yes, I'm fine. Everything is fine, thank God. And, yes, I'm coming for the whole week. I can't wait to hold you.”
Nepravel didn't want to attend their meeting that night, but he knew that absence was grounds for immediate and permanent banishment to hell. Not that it made much difference; he imagined he was headed there, anyway.
He and the other two demons had been completely surprised by the Merediths’ arrival at Kristen's apartment. They had orchestrated Richard and Kristen to do exactly what Alhandra had planned, but then those cursed people with their Bibles had shown up!
“You'd better report,” Nepravel said to Zoldar as they flew up to the meeting, trailing black sulfur behind them. “You're at least one of Alhandra's lieutenants.”
“But it's your neighborhood and it was your assignment,” Zoldar countered.
“He gave it to both of us.”
“But you're responsible.”
The two demons fought like that until the meeting started, and when their turn came, Zoldar actually shoved Nepravel forward. Nepravel slowly explained all that they did, exactly according to the plan, and how well it worked, as Lord Alhandra had foreseen, when, totally unexpectedly, the Merediths appeared and ruined everything.
Tymor followed the report, expecting to hear about Richard's fall. He could not believe it when he heard Nepravel's conclusion.
“So I'm supposed to tell Lord Alhandra that you've failed, that his plan did not work?!?” Tymor screamed.
“I…we…his plan did work. Tell him that,” Nepravel was emboldened to say, in what he assumed were his last seconds on earth. “But God must have answered his prayers for protection. I don't know. But how else could the Merediths have been led there?”
Tymor calmed down just a bit, since Nepravel had given him the possibility of an out with Alhandra. But he was still very angry. “I will report your failure to Lord Alhandra. He may have other plans for you. In the meantime, keep working on McKinney, and try not to screw that up!”
Nepravel bowed and moved back in among the others, shoving Zoldar as he did so.
32
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 – Richard spent a wonderful week with his family in Vermont—hiking, swimming, eating ice cream, and relaxing. Janet could never remember being hugged the way Richard took her in his arms at the airport and held her for so long. She didn't know whether it was the absence or his New York trip, but something made Richard even more interested and seemingly in love with her than he had been for the past several wonderful months. She could not explain it, but her whole being returned his joy, measure for measure; and their love grew broader and deeper.
On the next Monday afternoon Bob Grissom called his office, and Richard returned the call from the porch of his parents-in-law's home. Bob said that Network would agree to their proposal if they could begin training the editorial panel immediately so that there would be no delay, because their first broadcast date was already fixed.
Richard agreed, said a prayer of thanks, and then called Tom Morgan at the foundation, so that he and Dr. Morris could pull the members of their team together. Tom was overjoyed, and again they prayed for God's blessings.
Finally Richard called Tom Spence, whose courage had begun this particular journey and thanked him for his strength, including his time in the hospital. Tom reminded Richard of the source of all their strength, and the two of them also prayed.
Their family week in Vermont went well, and Tommy ended it for them on a pleasant note when they saw him and Caroline Batten kissing goodbye behind the tool shed on the morning of their departure.
After their return, Amy, Susan, and Bobbie began six weeks of birthing classes, one night each week. Janet told Richard after the third session that, based on Susan's remarks, birthing class might be the best form of teenage abstinence training ever devised!
The Hawkinses moved in down the street, and Susan found herself spending more time with Eric, who also became a regular at Morningside youth group. Carrie Wagner, right out of college, joined the youth ministry team to work with the junior high students, and Tommy fell in love with her on the first Sunday. Despite her focus with the younger teens, she quickly became close friends with Amy, Susan, and Bobbie, and even attended their final two birthing classes with them.
The school year started again, and all the families with children on Devon Drive shifted back in
to the familiar routine. Despite her condition, which was now very apparent, Amy was allowed to stay with her class for her senior year. She talked with the Tomlinsons about once every week, giving them progress reports on the baby. They told her that the nursery in their home was nearing completion.
Kristen was still searching for God, attending Morningside Church twice in that month and joining Anne at the businesswomen's breakfast one morning. She also visited Peter Dowling in San Francisco for a long weekend, staying with him and trying to determine whether she should make the commitment to move there.
It was now the Thursday before the first national broadcast of “911 Live,” and Janet and the crew at the station were in full preparation for the event, which had become a legitimate news feature, because of the new technology and the local involvement.
With only a few bumps along the way, the integration and training of members for the editorial panel went smoothly, and Bob Grissom reported to Richard early in the week that they were actually enjoying their relationship with the members from the Foundation for the Family. But he quickly added that the real test of what they were doing would come on Friday night, when they went live.
“Richard, I don't know how much longer I can take the uncertainty and the not knowing,” Bruce McKinney said, sitting with David in Richard's office that Thursday, his head in his hands. “They won't tell us exactly what they're going to prosecute us on, and the investors’ attorneys won't talk to us either, waiting to see whether insurance will cover their claims. We're just stuck, tortured in limbo, not knowing what to do or when the real resolution will even begin.”
“I know, I know,” Richard agreed. “It seems like at least half of the punishment is the waiting. Court says we should hear something from the federal attorneys next week, now that the summer is over.”
David Smith, who was working two jobs as a waiter and a cab driver to help feed his family, said, “I hope so. The waiting is killing us.”
On the Edge Page 57