The Earth Is Full (Child of Deliverance Series Book 1)

by B. D. Riehl

  Lydia shared the story from that afternoon, at least part of it. She omitted her attempt to break things off with Ethan and his angry response. Her older sister drove her crazy with her bossy ways, but she also knew she would listen to her, unlike her parents.

  “Char, I don’t smoke.”

  Charlotte just looked at her.

  “I don’t! I was just holding it.” She realized that she couldn’t tell Charlotte the whole story, just in case she ruined things for Zanna, but she was desperate for someone to think she was innocent if only a little bit. “Why does everyone assume the worst of me?”

  Charlotte considered her. Lydia wore tight Lucky jeans with sparkling rhinestones on the rear pockets. Her large white sweater shifted to one side, revealing her shoulder and the strap of her bra. The older woman reached out to tug on the sweater. “Nice shirt, Sweetie. Where’s the rest of it?”

  Lydia sighed. She had heard Charlotte say that exact thing many times. Now wasn’t the time; didn’t she see that? She said as much and felt her sister’s fingers grip her chin. She raised watery eyes and shook her head when Charlotte said, “Dee Dee, if you want people to believe you, want them to treat you better, maybe you should take yourself more seriously. Quit putting such a cheap price on yourself.”

  “You don’t understand. Your times were different. This is just the style now. That’s all. Everyone knows it and no one assumes I’m for sale.”

  “Look at the reality around you and not just at your take on things. You seem to forget I’m only thirteen years older. I understand what it’s like to have everyone around you dress a certain way; that doesn’t mean you have no choice but to join in. Your clothes don’t define you, but the way you present yourself tells a lot about how you perceive yourself and the world. And while I’m on a roll: What are you doing hanging around a guy like Ethan, anyway? He doesn’t treat you the way you should be treated. He’s slime. And that goes for Zanna too. It’s weird that you’re closer to your boss than to girls your own age.”

  Lydia opened her mouth to protest when there was a knock at the door.

  “That’ll be Mom.” Charlotte ruffled her sister’s perfectly poofed hair. “It will all work out, Sis. Just seek the Lord. He will never steer you wrong.”

  Lydia rolled her eyes. Her sister believed in a God that was in control of everything. If He truly was in control, why did such bad things happen? Her father and brother-in-law had shared enough stories from work for her to know there were some seriously messed up people in the world.

  As for Ethan…Lydia didn’t have many friends. It didn’t matter what the truth was; the girls in her school wanted to believe something they’d perceived long ago—the boys too. It was why Ethan had sought her out in the first place.

  Zanna was her only true friend, and her logic made such terrible sense most of the time. Memories of the many times Michelle had reached out to Lydia came to her mind. She quickly dismissed the thought.

  She stared into her mug of hot chocolate and listened to the muffled conversation between her mom and sister. She cocked her head to the side at the excited tone of her mother’s voice. What was she so keyed up about?

  Chapter Five

  “Thailand?” Ethan asked in surprise. “Isn’t that a little dramatic?”

  Lydia sat with Ethan and a few other guys from school at Chick-fil-A the next afternoon. School had let out early for teacher conferences and the group had gone to the nearest restaurant for lunch.

  That morning when she arrived on campus, Ethan had stood near the front door with a latte from her favorite coffee shop. He wore a wounded look and whispered how sorry he was. She didn’t want to cause a scene and felt so raw from the night before, she accepted the coffee silently and followed him into the building. When he asked if she would join him and his friends for lunch, she obliged. Lydia agreed with Ethan that the trip to Thailand was quite theatrical. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the events of the previous night…

  When Lydia’s mother had come into the kitchen, she explained that she had spoken with Pastor Mike, then gone home to see Lydia’s father. They both agreed that a mission trip was just what the women needed.

  Lydia could not believe that her parents would go this far and had begrudgingly followed her mother home in the Jeep, strategizing and arguing in her mind the whole way. At home, her parents led her to the living room and expressed in no uncertain terms that this trip was happening. They also told her that after she collected her work from her teachers, she would be completing her schoolwork from home until she left on the trip. She was grounded, allowed to work only one day a week. Her agreement to go to lunch with Ethan and his friends was purely a rebellious act of defiance. Her parents could send her to Thailand, but she would not give up her life in the meantime.

  She’d pleaded, argued, and yelled the night before. She’d said she wouldn’t be able to cut back her hours, let alone get work off for two weeks, and they answered that she would have to quit if that was the case.

  “We are going to reevaluate if you’re even allowed around Zanna. You’ve changed since you met her.”

  Lydia disagreed and said she’d changed when they forced her to go to that sham of a Christian school. She’d stomped upstairs to call Charlotte and sobbed on the phone. Of course, her perfect sister thought it was a great idea.

  “Lydia, you have got to see for yourself what the world is really like, what all of this garbage you’re dabbling with actually does to people.”

  By “garbage,” of course, Char meant the things that Zanna had been teaching her about. Why did she think she could win this one? Her entire family was conspiring against her. When she had called Zanna to find a way out of it, she’d been surprised by her boss’s response.

  “Lydia, what a great opportunity! Who cares how you’re getting there or what group you’re with? You can see how the rest of the world lives. And from a work standpoint, I have a supplier from a market in Bangkok. If you make it in that area, I’d love for you to swing by his shop and check out his on-site stuff. You can definitely cut back your hours if I can get you to work a little while you’re there. I could never afford to do this myself; this is great!” She clicked off before Lydia could explain that she would have no control over the course of the trip.

  Lydia didn’t know if they’d be anywhere near Bangkok, let alone if she’d be allowed to track down some little shopkeeper. She had hung up feeling like no one understood her, but with a hint of adventure stirring in her belly. Lydia pulled out her phone and searched “Deliverance–Thailand.” The description of the organization’s work and the trip she would be on was both intimidating and intriguing.

  Dave Brown spoke from across the table, interrupting Lydia’s thoughts. An arrogant basketball player and notorious playboy, he focused on the party aspect of life. “My cousin went to Thailand with friends last summer. His stories are crazy, man!”

  “Well, Dave, I doubt our church group will be partying it up. All I know is that I have three weeks to get my shots and make sure everything is in order.”

  “How is that possible?” Ethan asked. “Don’t you have to raise funds, get passports? You can’t possibly pull together a trip that quickly.”

  She could tell he was very upset that she would be out of his reach for that long. Lydia couldn’t help but be a little relieved; the one highlight to this trip so far. Lydia had asked the same questions last night.

  “Apparently two women from the trip had called our pastor right before my mom went into whine about me. One, the Pastor’s daughter, just found out she’s pregnant and her doctor advised her not to go. The other’s mother was just diagnosed with some serious illness, and she’s bringing her mom home to live with her. The funds have already been raised.” Lydia sighed and rolled her eyes. “As for everything else, my family went on vacation to Puerto Rico last summer, remember? We got passports then.”

  She didn’t mention that one of the ways she tried to get out of the trip was telling he
r parents about her failing grades. Her parents, annoyed but not deterred, had called Mrs. Pruitt and arranged for Lydia to give a presentation of her trip when she returned. That could bring her grades up and she would still have a chance at graduating.

  Now everyone was saying that was another thing “the Lord” had worked out ahead of time. Suddenly her parents were acting as though they were some deeply religious family, like the Pattersons or something. They believed this was a divine trip, planned and executed by God Himself. As for Lydia, she had stopped believing in fairytales years ago.

  Dave snorted. “Wow, Thailand with a church group. What a waste. My cousin said—”

  Ethan shook the ice in his cup and interrupted, “Your cousin is full of crap, dude. What kind of partying did he do, Go Fish with the monks?”

  The guys around the table chuckled.

  “Seriously. He has videos on YouTube to prove it. The villages they backpacked through are full of the best stuff. He says he had the most incredible high he’s ever had. Then they went to Pattaya to this place called Walking Street and met some wild girls that were hungry for it, if you know what I mean.” Dave wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as he crammed a waffle fry in his mouth and pulled out his smartphone. With just a few taps, he pulled up the videos.

  Lydia rolled her eyes as the guys, including Ethan, gathered around eagerly. She heard muffled catcalls, masculine chatter, and female purrs from the tiny speaker on Dave’s phone. Her skin crawled at the sounds. Her mother had told her last night that the organization they were going with rescued young girls from prostitution and placed them in safe houses. She had read a few of the rescued girls’ stories online and doubted things were as rosy for them as the site claimed. How could anyone recover from such abuse? She was unsure about what she would see on the other side of the world, and the raucous laughter of these boys grated on her. Lydia fingered her straw distractedly.

  They were seated in the back of the restaurant, but she had a clear shot of the registers in front. Michelle had walked in behind them just thirty minutes before. Now she stood behind a register, a smile on her face. Lydia knew that Michelle was also slated to go on the mission trip.

  She considered the other girl. Did Miss Purity know what she had signed up for? Lydia couldn’t imagine that Michelle had ever had an impure thought, let alone seen anything like what the guys at her table were watching now. What would Thailand do to her?

  Michelle smiled at the customer in front of her. It was an elderly man, his back curved dramatically under his frayed flannel jacket. Lydia watched Michelle walk around the counter and loop her arm through his. They smiled together while she led him to a nearby table. She walked to the front counter and returned with his tray, which held a chicken sandwich and water cup. Michelle filled his water, kissed his cheek, and returned to work.

  Something about the scene tugged at Lydia. Michelle’s simple kindness intrigued her. If she was honest with herself, Michelle intrigued her. Most students at their school were there because their parents forced them to be; the religious studies were just a part of the supreme academic package. A private school was a prestigious plus for a social status. A few students, like Michelle and Luke, were there to expand their biblical education and prepare for Bible College of some sort. Lydia knew that Michelle’s large family didn’t have a lot of money. She had five older siblings that had all attended private school as well; Lydia wondered how they could afford it.

  A loud woot from across the table got her attention.

  “And that, gentlemen, is why they call it the sex capital of the world,” Dave beamed. The guys high-fived each other and made crude comments to Lydia about sneaking them in her suitcase.

  She sat up straighter. “I actually was planning to tour the temples while I’m there. They appeal to me.”

  “Oh, please,” Ethan groaned and ran his hand up her thigh. “Let’s not start chanting and worrying about your karma, okay? Don’t let all this sexiness go to waste.”

  She pulled away from him when he leaned in to kiss her ear and pushed his hand off. How quickly he’d forgotten that if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be in this situation. His smile hardened into stone.

  “Look who’s suddenly chaste? Just remember when you’re on Walking Street: The look suits you.”

  Lydia went cold at the insinuation.

  ***

  Charlotte sat across from her mother and husband and tried to wrap her mind around what they were suggesting. She could hear the baby cooing herself to sleep in the other room for her first nap of the day. The older girls were just outside the kitchen door, coloring with chalk on the patio. Everything about her morning had been normal—until now. Charlotte stared at the cups of coffee before each of them, the steam rising as mysteriously as the proposition her mother had just handed her.

  “How can I possibly go to Thailand in three weeks?” The high, squeaky voice didn’t sound like hers. “What about the kids?”

  “I would love to stay with them while Sam is at work,” her mother spoke up.

  She snorted in derision before she turned to her husband. “But what about when you get home? The girls will eat you alive!”

  “Have some faith in me, would you?”

  Charlotte looked between her mother and husband. When her mom arrived that morning, she’d assumed it was to talk about the trip. She never imagined that they would suggest she go with Lydia.

  “Honey, I think this trip could be exactly what Dee Dee needs. I think it will change her life forever. But if I’m there…I’m afraid I will interfere just because I’m the mom,” Stacey’s voice shook. “I need to stand back and let the Lord work. Let Him fix the mess I’ve made in spoiling her. Please.”

  Charlotte agreed and even saw the truth that Lydia would respond better if she went with her instead, but she had her own worries, her own children to care for.

  “I just don’t know if I can leave my babies. I’ve only been gone from them for an hour or two! And what about Joy? I’m still nursing.”

  The three continued to talk and Charlotte felt a familiar stirring in her soul. She knew the Lord was at work, but it felt more like a punishment than a blessing.…

  When Sam had arrived home the night before, Charlotte had talked about her dreams to move, and an argument quickly ensued. He became frustrated, she defensive.

  “Can’t we just look into it?” she had pleaded.

  “Charlotte, we can’t afford to move right now. I know you hate this house—”

  “I don’t hate it,” she interrupted, annoyed and embarrassed when he looked at her knowingly.

  “You hate it. I know you do. I want to buy you a new house, I do. We can’t afford it right now.”

  She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. “Sam, you’re such a dream killer. Can’t we just dream a little without you being so practical?”

  “You’ve got to understand how terrible and worthless it makes me feel,” he spoke in a low tone, frustrated. “I want to put you in a fancy house closer to town. I wish we had never opened that credit card. I wish I made more. I wish the market was better. Wishing isn’t going to get us anywhere right now.”

  Charlotte saw the dejected look in his eyes. She felt ashamed of herself, frustrated with her dissatisfaction. Why did she have to bring it up when she knew how it made him feel? Before she could apologize, Leah called for her to help with her pajamas. Sam went to help and got in a playful wrestling match with all three girls. Charlotte had tried to catch his eyes, but soon Lydia was at the door and Charlotte’s night became consumed with Lydia’s situation.

  “…Why do I feel like a little kid that’s in trouble right now?” Charlotte now asked.

  “Oh, babe…” Sam’s face became pained and her mother stood before he could say more.

  “You guys talk about it, and call me when you’ve decided, okay?” Stacey brushed Charlotte’s hair over her shoulder. “No matter what, for the first time in a long time, I know God is orchestrat
ing all of this. I’m not worried about how the details will work out.”

  Once her mom was gone, Charlotte turned back to her husband. He was so handsome; she swelled with love for him. She couldn’t imagine being away from him for two weeks. Yet, there was a deep yearning in her soul to agree, to explore a foreign country, help the organization, and have an adventure. Her eyes must have whispered her secrets. For Sam stood, grabbed her hands and sat back in his seat, pulling her into his lap.

  “Lottie,” he said, using his pet name for her. “I think this could be great for you. Go. We will be fine. We will miss you like crazy, and the girls will get more sugar than necessary, but it will be worth it.” He leaned his forehead against her cheek.

  She smiled at the image of her husband dishing up neon colored cereal for every meal. His smooth skin against hers was a familiar comfort, and she closed her eyes. They both knew she would agree.

  “What about Joy, though? I want to nurse her until she’s one.”

  “Are you kidding me, Lottie?” he laughed.

  She laughed with him, knowing what he would say next.

  “You have been pumping like no one’s business for the last nine months. It’s like you’re a doomsday gal, preparing for the apocalypse! We have a freezer full, and for worst-case scenarios, Joy gets a little bit of formula. She’s scaled way back since she’s been on solids, anyway, hasn’t she?

  She nodded, “What about while I’m there? I need to keep my supply going.” Even as she asked, she knew she would be able to find a portable device. Her good friend had a pump she used when she went on overnight business trips. Didn’t she say it had batteries for when electricity wasn’t available?

  Charlotte rose thoughtfully and went to the deep freezer they kept in the garage. Sam followed and watched while she shifted through the baskets full of milk storage bags she had been squirreling away. She smiled in self-mockery while she sorted and counted the bags again.

  “Okay, my human calculator,” she said. Sam was incredible with numbers while she could hardly remember her times table. “Fifteen days times what? Three, or should we plan four, bottles a day?”