It helped that Moscow had squeezed the truth out of Bednov’s accomplice and tax-evading partner, Gregori Khetrov, still sitting in Lubyanka.
Hopefully, Bednov was in custody by now. Julia had been right about Roman’s life being in danger. She even knew the name of the gulag where he’d been taken—a private gulag near the Yakutia border they’d tracked down through Genye’s ex-military connections.
Sarai had never been so thankful for her brother’s Special Forces background. He flew into town and mustered forces like General Schwarzkopf. Even got his old friend, army pilot Mae Lund, to do some clandestine flying.
Thankfully, Roman’s boss had been willing to break a few rules if it meant restoring glory to his department.
Roman still might do time, but hopefully it would be behind a desk. Safely behind a desk.
“ETA, twenty minutes,” Yanna said. Sarai stared out the windows. Snow crusted the edges of the helicopter pad. Beyond that, old AN-2s and military vehicles rimmed the tarmac. The base, just inside Yakutia, was run by one of Genye’s friends.
Obviously, she had a lot to learn about Anya and Genye.
In fact, they’d opened the clinic without her, and Anya had found two more cases of radiation poisoning—cases she’d sent on to Moscow for advanced care.
And, with the patients they had in-house, Genye started a Bible study.
Sarai’s throat felt raw and thick. She’d been holding on so tightly, she hadn’t seen God raising up her replacements.
She stuck her hands in the pockets of her parka, then took them out and clasped them in front.
Paced.
Breathed.
Wiped tears.
Stared out the window.
C’mon!
She sighed heavily as Anya came up to stand beside her. “He’ll be okay, you know.”
Yeah. Maybe physically, but she’d seen the look on Roman’s face when she said she hated him, and well, he might walk right past her with a cold nod.
She deserved that. Because, frankly, that’s what she’d done to him all those years ago.
I was shattered when you left.
Now she knew how that felt.
I’m sorry, Roman. So, so sorry.
Her eyes burned and she fought the tears. She didn’t want to be crying when she saw him. Or at least, not right away.
She heard the hum of the chopper the same time as Anya. Anya beelined to the door. Sarai followed and they stood out on the tarmac, hands in their jackets as the wind tangled their hair and the roar of the engine buzzed their ears.
She saw Roman sitting in the back next to an elderly man. The chopper landed, and David climbed out first, helping the man out. Roman followed.
Sarai braced herself. Roman had his head down, his hair blowing in the stiff wind. He hunched over until he was clear of the whirring blades. She stayed still, watching.
Then, he looked up.
She wasn’t prepared. Not for the bruises, the opened stitches over his eye, or the blood across his nose. Nor for the look in his eyes.
Longing. Sorrow.
Love.
“Sarai,” he said, and his voice sounded wrecked.
She launched herself toward him, wrapped her arms around his neck, holding tight. She felt his arms embrace her, but she didn’t let go, just buried her face in his neck and sobbed. “Roman, I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. Not at all. I love you. I love you so much that all I do is hurt when you’re not with me. I don’t care that you’re a cop. Just please, please forgive me. Please—”
“Sarai.”
He pulled her arms from around his neck and her heart stopped cold. Her mouth felt tinny as dread pooled in the back. She let go and slid down to the ground, unable to look at him.
He couldn’t forgive her.
She didn’t blame him.
“Sarai.” He tucked his hand under her chin. She refused to look at him.
So, he bent down, looking at her sideways. His eyes glistened. With tears? “I love you, too.”
Her mouth opened. Nothing came. She just stared at him. Watched his beautiful smile, saw the truth in his incredible eyes.
“I love you, Sar. I always have. All I wanted was to be enough for you and for you to trust me—the real me. The guy who sometimes gets in trouble.” His smile dimmed. “I’m sorry I failed you.”
What? “Roman, you didn’t fail me. You saved me from who knows what? And as for being enough…don’t you know that you overwhelm me? You take my breath away every second I’m with you. That’s why I ran. Because I couldn’t control you and my love for you scared me.” She swallowed, seeing suddenly the truth. “But I can’t live in fear anymore. I trust God enough to let you be who He wants you to be. Who He wants us to be. I’m sick of trying to keep you—and me—out of trouble. I give up.” She smiled and touched his face. “I just want to be with you.”
She saw when her words settled into his heart. He smiled, and it was the most delicious smile she’d ever seen. One that had her stomach curling with delight. He cupped his hands around her face. “Be with me? Does that mean you trust me?” He raised one eyebrow.
She felt a blush heat her face. Swallowed. “Yeah. I trust you, Roman.”
He kissed her. Sweetly. Gently. She felt him tremble and knew that there was passion behind his touch. She even saw it in his eyes as he pulled away and touched her forehead to his.
“This won’t be easy,” he said softly. “But I think we can trust God to work it out, right?”
She nodded, feeling her throat thicken, and looked down. And saw him standing in the snow in his…bare feet?
“Roman, get inside, right now!”
He grinned, tucked his arm around her and pulled her tight against him. “Anything you say, Doc.”
They walked inside, where Vicktor and Genye were briefing Malenkov. Sarai sat Roman in a chair, opened his jacket. She tried not to wince, but he was covered in bruises. Foot-shaped bruises.
Why did she always break out in tears around him? She’d probably have to get used to seeing bruises on him. She swallowed hard and began feeling for broken ribs.
Roman closed one eye now and again as she probed. “Who did you bring with you?” she asked. She pulled off his jacket, saw similar bruises on his back. He’d been beaten but good.
“Governor Kazlov.”
Sarai stopped. Looked at Roman. “You’re kidding. I thought he was dead.”
“He nearly was. They were going to execute him.”
“You thought they were going to execute him.” Vicktor sat next to Roman. “You didn’t recognize Artyom, Yanna’s computer tech? He wanted some fieldwork, so we sent him in.” He surveyed Roman’s face. “You’re looking sweet. Please tell me the other guy looks worse.”
Roman grimaced. “There were a lot of them. But I got a few licks in.”
He glanced at Yanna. “Is Artyom okay?”
Yanna smiled. “He called right after you took off. He’s on his way.” She glanced at Kazlov, now using Malenkov’s cell phone. “We didn’t expect the grand prize. Artyom was supposed to find your cell, and we were going to stage a breakout. He called us early this morning, when he heard about the execution orders for Kazlov. We were all counting on your hero tendencies to jump in and try and save Kazlov’s skin. And, if you didn’t, Artyom was going to make sure you did. Good thing you always have to be a hero.”
“I think God is the hero here,” Roman said.
David joined them, crouched beside Sarai and put his arm around her. “Anyone ready to go home?”
Their getaway pilot, Mae Lund, strutted into the building. Although still wearing her flight suit, she held her helmet under her arm. Her red hair had grown since Sarai had seen her last. Normally pinned up, it spilled out of the bun at the base of her neck.
“Mae!” Roman shook his head as if in disbelief as Sarai sprang to her feet and clenched her old friend in a grateful hug.
Mae glanced at Roman. “Are you ready to go home?”
David held out his hand to Roman, helping him up. “I can’t tell you how grateful for what you did for Sarai.”
Sarai thought she saw her brother’s eyes glisten.
“Thanks. It was worth it.” Roman’s gaze met Sarai’s.
Everyone went quiet and Sarai searched Roman’s handsome, bruised face. She was worth it?
Roman had to have seen the question on her face, because he leaned close. “Yeah, Sarai, you’re worth it.” His voice turned rough-edged, full of emotion. “Don’t you know I’d die for you?”
Sarai closed her eyes and pulled him into her arms, not caring that David and Vicktor and even Mae watched them. She laid her head on his chest, hearing his heart beat, so very thankful for his heartbeat, his arms around her solid, and protective. Reaching past her facade to the truth.
She’d been so painfully stubborn that God had to yank her into her darkest fears, and shake her free of her hold on her dreams to get her to realize she did need a hero.
God. Who loved her enough to send his agent Roman Novik into her life to prove that when she surrendered one life…she found another.
Right here, in Roman’s embrace.
“I love you, Roman Novik,” she said softly. “You’re my hero.”
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Sarai believes that she’s been called to be a doctor, and because of that, she sacrificed her relationship with Roman, who she believed didn’t share that goal. What sacrifices have you made for something you’ve felt “called” to do?
Roman is asked to put his career on the line when David Curtiss, his best friend, calls him. Why does he make the decision he does? How do you feel about that decision? What choices have you made that could have compromised or did compromise your future for the sake of friendship?
Roman and Sarai had a summer romance, and while they haven’t seen each other for ten years, they still hold on to that romance. Have you ever had a summer romance and how did it affect your life? How does that affect you today?
Roman and Sarai both notice that the other has changed. Still, the old flame quickly reignites. Why? Why is the timing better or worse now than years earlier, when they were both building their careers?
At the beginning of the book, Sarai is trapped due to world events. How have world events shaped your life?
Roman, after chasing Sarai to dacha, confronts her with a question about trust. What is it? How does Sarai see herself in relationship to her work? How does Sarai show that she does or does not trust God?
Roman’s father died an alcoholic, similar to many Party men after the fall of Communism in Russia. Why do you think he felt so disillusioned?
When Roman breaks into the nuclear plant and then falls through the ice, Sarai makes a decision in order to save his skin. What is it? How does this event confirm in her heart everything she believes about Roman? How does it change her feelings toward him and their future?
Roman struggles with two goals: saving Sarai and arresting Governor Bednov. Why does this struggle lead to his arrest later? Why, when Vicktor shows up at the medical clinic, does Sarai feel deceived by Roman?
How do Roman’s worst fears come true? What regrets does he have? How does he, while sitting in his prison cell, see God at work in his life? How have you hung on in your own dark times in life?
Sarai is able to save Roman, and in a way help Julia Bednov heal. How? What decisions has she made about her life and her relationship with Roman? What has happened to the Savior’s Hands Medical Clinic?
Sarai and Roman both take a look at what it means to give up their lives for Christ. What definitions of life did they have, and how did those change? How did Sarai and Roman both find “life” in the end? What do you think Christ means when He says, “Whoever loses his life for me will find it?”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5765-2
SANDS OF TIME
Copyright © 2006 by Susan M. Warren
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