Joel walked over to his daughter and wrapped his arms around her. When they parted his eyes were aglow with tears of love. “You are the most generous child that I have. We will start that foundation for missionaries while you are alive and you and John will be the first partakers.”
Elaine’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at John. She nodded agreement. “Okay, Daddy. John and I will do missionary work together again, I promise you. But there’s one last thing.”
Joel sat down fearing that his heart would give out if his child revealed anymore bad news. “What is it?”
“I can’t check myself into the hospital until I know that Natua will be provided for.”
John put a hand on Elaine’s shoulder. “I think it’s best if we get you to a doctor right away.”
“I understand that John, but I can’t abandon Natua.” She turned to her father imploring him to help her. “I will go to the hospital and do whatever you ask, if you can help me to convince Dee Dee to go to Uganda and adopt Natua.”
Chapter 9
Elaine’s request was something Joel didn’t know if he’d be able to pull off. He knew his children, and although he loved each of them, he wasn’t blinded by their faults. Where Elaine was sometimes too generous, Dee Dee was selfish. When she was a child, Joel had indulged Dee Dee’s behavior. His wife had warned him that he would come to regret letting that girl have her way so much. He just hoped that today wouldn’t be the day.
As his children and their spouses sat around the dinner table eating the apple pie Mary made for them, chatting amongst themselves, Joel took charge. He stood up. His children quieted down and turned in his direction. They had expectant looks on their faces as if they knew something was coming, and had been on pins and needles waiting for it. “I was going to wait until tomorrow after breakfast to discuss the changes to my will; but something has come up and Elaine and I will be leaving the Bahamas first thing in the morning. So, I figured now is as good a time as any.
“I instructed my lawyer to change my will so that ninety percent of my money would go to charity.”
Dropping her fork, Dee Dee declared, “You must be joking.”
“No honey, I’m not.” Joel looked around the room with pride filled eyes. “You all have done so much for yourselves that you hardly need my money to survive. The ten percent that will be split amongst everyone will be more than enough.”
Tanya quickly interjected, “Isaiah and I don’t make that much money. For God’s sakes, he’s just a lowly assistant pastor. He doesn’t make movies like Dee Dee, run with a football like Shawn or run a city like Eric.”
Isaiah covered Tanya’s hand with his as he said, “Dad, don’t worry about it. We’re okay with whatever you decide to do with your money.”
Tanya snatched her hand away from Isaiah and snarled, “Speak for yourself. I’m not okay with this at all. Your father should be thinking about his family rather than some charity cases.”
“Oh shut up, Tanya. This is none of your business anyway,” Dee Dee said.
In a huff, Tanya stood up and slammed her chair against the table. “It is just as much my business as any of yours.” Anger and resentment poured out of her as she said, “If you all are going to sit here and pretend that you’re okay with this,” she pointed an accusatory finger in Joel’s direction, “and that this man doesn’t need a mental competency hearing… I’m not going to be a part of this.”
While out sightseeing, Linda had purchased some vodka and hid it by mixing it with her orange juice in the morning and her iced tea in the afternoon, so she was feeling no pain at the moment. She looked at Tanya and laughed.
“Folding her arms across her chest, Tanya said, “I don’t see what’s so funny.”
“And I don’t see why you’re so upset,” Linda said as she pointed at Shawn. “You’re sleeping with Shawn, so why don’t you just ask him for some money?”
Pulling his wife to her feet, Eric said, “Let’s go. I knew that wasn’t just iced tea that you were sipping on all day long.”
Snatching away from her husband, Linda said, “I’m not drunk. I saw Shawn sneaking into Tanya’s bedroom when Isaiah was at the beach with the kids.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Isaiah asked as the entire room erupted.
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying, Isaiah. I’m sorry, but my wife is sick.”
“Ask him!” Linda shouted as she pointed at Shawn. “He’ll tell you it’s true.”
Shawn sat silently with his head lowered.
“I knew she was no good. How could you sleep with two brothers?” Dee Dee asked.
“Hush up, Dee Dee. This isn’t our business.” Drake tried to stop his wife.
“What’s wrong, Drake? Did she sleep with you, too? Oh, never mind. I forgot, you’re too good and godly to do something like that, right?” Dee Dee sneered at him.
“And why don’t the two of you just admit that you don’t like each other and stop the charade,” Linda said as she glared at Dee Dee.
Isaiah was staring at his brother, waiting on a response. When none came, he shouted, “Say something, Shawn.”
Joel raised his hands. “Okay, I need everyone to calm down and sit back down. We have more to discuss.”
But no one was listening. Dee Dee was shouting at Linda, Linda was shouting at Tanya and Isaiah was trying to talk to his wife. Finally Elaine stood up and yelled at the top of her lungs, “I have cancer!”
Chapter 10
The room became deathly silent as everyone stared at Elaine.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that, but you all were getting too riled up and I need help right now.”
“How can you have cancer? You’re only twenty-four,” Dee Dee asked. But this time her voice wasn’t accusatory… it was sad and frightened.
Elaine hunched her shoulders. “I wish I knew.”
Isaiah walked around the table and put his arms around his sister. “This is not a death sentence for you. We are going to pray and believe that God will allow you to be healed.”
“Thanks Isaiah, I want that very much.”
“Can everyone please sit back down, so I can finish this?” Joel asked.
For the moment, the group forgot about Linda’s accusations against Shawn and Tanya and Dee Dee and Drake and sat back down to hear everything Joel and Elaine had to say.
“The floor is yours,” Eric told his father.
Joel nodded and then began again. “While I had contemplated giving ninety percent of my money to charity, my conversation with Elaine changed my mind.”
“Thank God for that,” Dee Dee said.
“Elaine has such a giving heart that I truly believe God is going to bless her and see her through this dark time in her life.” His eyes scanned the table, looking at each of his children through eyes of love. “But I want to give all of you the opportunity to understand that simple Bible verse that says, It is more blessed to give than to receive. So I’m going to allow each of you to start a foundation and give the money away yourself.” He said this as if he were passing along wonderful news and that any minute his children were going to be jumping for joy.
They looked at each other as if searching for the punch line and then Shawn asked, “So we still don’t get to have any of the money for ourselves?”
“You’ll each get about ten million from my estate when I’m dead and gone, but I want you to work on your foundations now. It would do my heart good to see my children blessing others.
“Elaine has already designated that a foundation be set up in her honor for missionaries. So what do you say, can you all do this for your old man?”
Isaiah and Shawn nodded their acceptance. They would do what their father wanted.
Eric was silent.
Dee Dee rolled her eyes and then pouted. “I’m telling you right now, I’m not doing this at all, if I can’t at least keep the interest that money will earn while I’m trying to figure out which charity to give
it to.” She said give as if it was a dirty word.
“That sounds fair to me, especially since I need to ask you and Drake for another favor,” Joel said as he silently prayed for patience with his oldest daughter.
Sneering, Dee Dee said, “You strip us of our birthright, and I’m now supposed to do you a favor on top of it. Give me a break.”
“Don’t talk to your father like that,” Drake whispered to his wife.
Dee Dee then turned her scorn on her husband. “Don’t you say another word to me. It’s clear that I didn’t even need you this weekend.” She turned back to Joel and said, “Just so you know, Daddy, as soon as I get back home, I am divorcing Drake.”
Drake clasped his hands together and leaned back in his seat. His lips were tight as if he were trying to stop certain words from escaping his mouth.
Linda nudged Eric and said, “I told you.”
“Shut up Linda; just go get yourself another drink,” Dee Dee said.
Lord, how much prayer will be enough, Joel silently asked as he looked upon his daughter with pity in his eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that, Dee Dee. I hope you’ll change your mind, especially since your sister needs you right now.”
Only the memory of Elaine’s illness stopped Dee Dee from blurting out something else she wouldn’t be able to take back. “Just because I’m upset with you, doesn’t mean I won’t help my sister… I will help Elaine in whatever way she needs.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Elaine began. “As you know, I have been taking care of a little girl named Natua. But I don’t know how long my recovery process will be, so I need you to go to Uganda and get her.”
“Okay, that’s not a problem. Where do I take her once I bring her to the United States?”
“You’ll need to adopt her… and I want you to keep her.”
***
Dee Dee was not prepared for that. She had never wanted children. Her first inclination was to say not just no, but absolutely, not! But as her father continued to explain that her sister refused to get treatment unless she knew that Natua was safe, Dee Dee began thinking about how envogue this all could be. After all, celebrities adopt children from other countries all the time. Look at Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock. Doing something like this could really help her career… maybe even take it to the next level.
She raised a hand, silencing her father as he continued trying to convince her of her duty and obligation to the family. “Okay, I’ll do it. But Natua is going right back to Elaine the moment she is fully recovered.”
Epilogue
The doctors weren’t optimist about Elaine’s chances. After several tests had been completed, it was determined that her cancer was in the final stage. The doctor that Joel hired could only recommend chemotherapy. But even he admitted that it wouldn’t do much good.
John entered Elaine’s hospital room one day carrying a huge book. He set it down in front of her and said, “We’re going to Mexico.”
“What are you talking about, John? I’m in the hospital. I can’t just get up and go to Mexico.”
He pointed at the book. “I’m talking about the Gerson Therapy for healing cancer. I’ve read all about it, Elaine, and I think we need to give it a try.”
Elaine put her hand over John’s. She really loved this man, but would not allow him to sit around waiting for something that wouldn’t happen. “I’m dying John. You need to get on with your life.”
Shaking his head, he told her, “You are my life and I’m not going anywhere.”
She gave a bitter laugh. “I can’t say the same thing. You heard what the doctors have said, John. Why are you still hanging around?”
Ignoring her, he prodded on. “I talked with your dad about this clinic in Mexico. He agrees with me that we should give it a try. Our flight leaves in two days… right after you marry me.”
Elaine closed her eyes. From the day she met John, she’d wanted nothing more than to marry and spend the rest of her life with this man, but her life span was too short. “I can’t marry you, John. I wish things were different.”
“Okay then, if you want things to be different, then come to Mexico with me. Give yourself a chance to live, so that you can marry me.”
Tears ran down her face as Elaine found the courage to hope. She’d almost given up and simply accepted that her life would soon be over. But the love that she saw in John’s eyes gave her the strength to believe again. Maybe God wasn’t done with her yet.
She nodded. “I’ll go with you, my love.”
“And you’ll live and we will marry,” John said as he leaned over and kissed the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with.
The End…
But wait, there’s more!
In the other four books of this five ebook series, you’ll discover what happens to Elaine, and find out if Dee Dee remains heartless or learns to love. Shawn and Tanya’s dirty dealings will be revealed, and Linda and Eric will find their way back to each other. In the midst of it all, the Morrison’s learn the secret of giving. There’s a lot to cover, so I hope you’ll hang in there with me. The next pages give you a brief synopsis of what’s in store for the Morrison family.
Blessed and Highly Favored Titles:
The Blessed One
http://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Highly-Favored-Series-ebook/dp/B004RVNJ6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379279407&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Blessed+One
The Beloved
http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Blessed-Highly-Favored-ebook/dp/B0054LX12Y/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
The Preacher’s Choice
http://www.amazon.com/Preachers-Choice-Blessed-Favored-ebook/dp/B005JUOL7O/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3
Second Chance at Love
http://www.amazon.com/Second-Blessed-Favored-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B005XE81AY/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2
Redemption of the Playboy
http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Playboy-Blessed-Favored-ebook/dp/B006PV2JRK/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
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About the Author
Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.
Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List. Miller’s work has receiving numerous awards, including “Best Christian Fiction Mahogany Award” and the “Red Rose Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction.” Miller graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. She is an ordained minister in her church, explaining, “God has called me to minister to readers and to help them rediscover their place with the Lord.”
Vanessa has recently completed the For Your Love series for Kimani Romance and How Sweet the Sound for Abingdon Press, first book in a historical set in the Gospel era which releases March 2014. Vanessa is currently working on an ebook series of novellas in the Praise Him Anyhow series. She is also working on the My Soul to Keep series for Whitaker House.
Vanessa Miller’s website address is: www.vanessamiller.com But you can also stay in touch with Vanessa by joining her mailing list @ http://vanessamiller.com/events/join-mailing-list/ Vanessa can also be reached at these other sites as well:
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Tears Fall at Night-The Blessed One Box Set (Praise Him Anyhow and Blessed and Highly Favored Series) Page 16