Dawn's Light

by Terri Blackstock

  He turned the key and the engine roared to life. “Back to work, I guess.”

  “It never ends, does it?”

  “No, it never does.”

  “Have you eaten? My parents got hold of some sirloin steaks. They’re throwing them on the grill as we speak. Want to come?”

  He hesitated. “Sounds tempting.”

  “I’m a good listener too, if you want to unload.”

  He almost said yes. But wallowing in it would do him no good. He should get right back to work. That was the only thing that would get his mind off what he’d lost.

  “Maybe a rain check?”

  “Sure.” She backed away from the car, and he drove away.

  Maybe he would take her up on that someday.

  ONE HUNDRED SIX

  DENI LIFTED HER WHITE SILK SKIRT AND STEPPED CAREFULLY down her front porch steps. Two horse-drawn carriages waited in front of her house — one of polished black for her mother and brothers. The second one was painted white, with gold filigree, and two white stallions pulled it. Men in black tuxedos sat on the front benches, holding the reins.

  Awestruck, she brought her hand to her mouth. “Where did that white one come from?”

  “Your groom built it just for you,” Kay said. “He’s been working on it since you said yes.”

  Deni had known he was working on something secret, but when he put the gazebo together at the lake, she thought that was it. It was crafted just as perfectly, with the same painted gold filigree, and the skillful carvings that spoke of devoted love.

  “You look beautiful, sweetie.” Kay kissed her cheek, then with glossy eyes, pulled her veil down over her face. “It’s a far cry from Vera Wang. But I like it better.”

  Deni whispered a laugh. The designer dress she’d had for her wedding to Craig had come to a bad end, but it was just as well. She wasn’t the same debutante who had needed designer labels. She’d found no shortage of neighbors willing to loan her their wedding dresses. She’d settled on Judith’s simple but elegant silk dress. With a few alterations, it fit her well.

  When she’d been engaged to Craig, Deni had planned a wedding with ten bridesmaids from her sorority, ten groomsmen, a miniature bride and groom, five flower girls, and two ring bearers. But her dreams had changed. Now she had only Chris as her maid of honor, her two brothers, and Mark’s stepdad to stand up with him.

  “You couldn’t look more beautiful,” her mother said. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Don’t make me cry, Mom. I don’t want to ruin my veil. I have to be beautiful when Mark sees me coming down the aisle.”

  It had been an emotional day. She’d gone from overwhelming joy that she would finally be Mark’s wife, to crushing sorrow that her sister wouldn’t be standing beside her. To compensate, they’d put an empty chair inside the gazebo, with the dress Beth would have worn, and a bouquet of burgundy and white roses. She wouldn’t be forgotten as Deni and Mark exchanged vows.

  “Come on, Mom! I wanna see how this thing rides.” Logan had taken the seat next to the driver in the front carriage. Jeff stood on the ground, waiting to help Kay in.

  “Don’t let him drive,” Jeff told the driver. “He’ll run us off into a ditch.”

  “I’d better go.” Kay squeezed her arm.

  Deni watched from the steps as her mother climbed into the carriage. They waved as it pulled them away. Deni stepped across the lawn to her own.

  Her dad stood beside it with tears rimming his eyes. “We can’t go yet. We don’t want anyone to see you until it’s time for you to go down the aisle.” Emotion pulled at his face. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we, sweetheart?”

  “Yeah, from planes falling out of the sky, to this.”

  “You’ve changed.”

  She smiled. “So have you. Remember that day, when that guy stole our bike?”

  “Oh, I remember. You practically called me a coward.”

  “You went from that to fighting criminals. Who would have thought?”

  His amusement faded. “And you went from the prissy girl who stomped around in high heels, to a woman of real substance.”

  “Thank you, Daddy.” Here came the tears. She would look like a scarecrow walking down the aisle. She pressed her mother’s lace handkerchief to her eyes to catch the tears before they fell.

  “Well, it’s time to go.”

  His mouth trembled as he helped her into the carriage. The seat was burgundy velvet, one of her colors in the wedding. The thought of Mark making it with such care banished her tears, and laughter filled her throat. Her father stepped up and sat beside her.

  “Ready, ma’am?” the driver asked.

  “Yes,” she said, “I’m ready.”

  He slapped the reins and the horses began to pull them. They turned off her street and went around the block. As the horses clomped closer to the site of the wedding, Deni’s heart almost burst. Her parents had rented chairs for the occasion, so they wouldn’t have to have lawn chairs.

  There was a red carpet running up the aisle, and the gazebo, where Mark would be waiting, was covered with roses. She saw her mother already seated in the front row, and Mark’s mother across the aisle. From her perch in the carriage, she could see Mark in the gazebo, his stepfather at his side. He looked stunning in his tux and tie, so tall and handsome.

  “Sit back so he can’t see you until it’s time,” her father whispered. “You’re going to blow him away.”

  Her brothers walked the aisle together and lit the candles, then turned and went to their places, one on each side of the gazebo. Chris, her maid of honor, stepped down the aisle then. Her burgundy dress — one she’d bought for one of her sorority dances in college — looked lovely on her small frame. She took her place beside Beth’s empty chair.

  The violinists ceased playing. All got quiet as the small string quartet marked the hour with the sound of a gong: one . . . two . . . three . . . four.

  “It’s time,” her father said.

  A swarm of butterflies rose up in her chest as her dad got out and came around the carriage. As the guests stood and watched, she got her bouquet, took her father’s hand, and stepped out of the carriage.

  The music began again, the soft violin rendition of “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.” She stepped on the red carpet and took her father’s arm. Her gaze came up, and through her veil, she saw Mark, biting his lip as tears ran down his face at the sight of her.

  She had never felt more beautiful.

  They walked slowly down the aisle, her father and her, and her mind sang along with the old hymn that spoke so eloquently of what Christ had done for her. They reached the gazebo, and the sweet look on Mark’s face almost melted her. Doug lifted Deni’s hand and gave it to Mark. Then Doug turned to the guests to conduct the ceremony.

  He made the crowd laugh as he talked about Deni as a little girl, and his memories of Mark when he was in high school. Deni giggled and leaned into Mark, her heart full of gratitude that God had turned her from the path of emptiness and mediocrity, to pure, unadulterated joy.

  When they’d exchanged rings, Doug pronounced them man and wife and told Mark to kiss his bride. She turned to him. He wore that teasing grin that sent fireworks through her heart.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes,” she said as the crowd waited.

  “Love me?”

  “Bad,” she said.

  Mark lifted the veil, slid his arms around her, and dipped her back. She let out gales of laughter. As her neck arched, he kissed it first, then moved to her lips. She came back up as the crowd erupted in applause.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Green.”

  She raised her bouquet and gave a victory shout. Mark swept her feet off the floor as he lifted her again, presenting his bride to everyone. Then he carried her back down the aisle.

  She put her arms around his neck and kissed that jaw she loved so much. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

  “
Oh, baby, this is just the beginning.”

  THE RECEPTION WAS LOUD AND JOYFUL, AS THE BAND PLAYED AND people in dresses and suits danced in the cool November breeze. They feasted on the wedding cake Amber had made for them. When Deni threw the bouquet, she made sure that Chris would catch it.

  As she congratulated Chris with a hug, George Mason, the paramedic, asked Chris to dance.

  “You sure, George?” she asked with a teasing grin. “I’m next up for a wedding.”

  “You don’t scare me,” he said with a grin as he took her in his arms and danced away.

  When it was time, the crowd parted and Deni and Mark ran through. He helped her back into the carriage, then stepped into it beside her. “Let’s go home, Mrs. Green,” he whispered.

  Home. Her home with Mark would begin in Eloise’s house, across the street from her parents. They’d spent the last month getting it ready. Though they couldn’t afford to buy it yet, Eloise’s son had allowed them to rent it at a price they could afford.

  Twilight fell as the driver pulled them the long way around Oak Hollow, and Deni basked in her husband’s arms and the gentle sound of the horses’ clopping hooves. As they rode in their wedding carriage, an occasional car passed on the street. Lights came on in the open windows. They could hear television chattering in some of them, radios playing, rotary phones ringing. The waning sunlight glistened on the antennas reaching from the rooftops, and shone on the dull paint of reconditioned cars.

  As they reached their street, Deni had the sense that much of the world had gone back to normal.

  But she and her family hadn’t. And neither had Mark.

  He seemed to read her thoughts. “I don’t want to go back to the way I was before.”

  She shook her head. “Neither do I. God got our attention with the Pulses. He had to empty our hands so we could finally reach for him.”

  Mark touched her face and pressed his forehead against hers. “And then he gave us more than we had before.”

  THAT EVENING, WHEN THE RECEPTION WAS OVER AND EVERYTHING had been cleaned up, Kay and Doug snuggled together, feeling the contentment and joy of having a child who had chosen well. Kay closed her eyes and saw a time line, stretching into eternity. Recorded on the line, she saw illnesses and healings, miracles and milestones, lives and deaths. And she saw heaven, stretched out in a long, glorious line, crossing farther into the future than she could see.

  God was the keeper of that time line, the maestro of all that happened within it. The symphony played on — a song of love and hope and promises kept. A song that wouldn’t end before they were all gathered together again.

  As God’s healing presence fell over her like a down blanket, Kay smiled. She could almost hear the music.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  TODAY I RAN ACROSS A VERSE IN ISAIAH 26 THAT JUMPED out at me. It says, “For when the earth experiences your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (v. 9b). As I’ve worked my way through this series, I’ve asked the question over and over: What might God do to get our nation’s attention in order to bring righteousness? Will he use a supernova that knocks out all our technology? Will he use E-bombs, nuclear weapons, terrorist attacks? Or hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, tsunamis, earthquakes? We know that none of this is outside his control or ability, and it’s not outside his sovereignty. He holds the world in his hand and wants what’s best for us. “In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me,” the Lord says in Hosea 5:15.

  In our narcissistic society, we can’t quite grasp why seeking him is good for us. Those who want life to be all about them can’t understand why God wants it to be all about him. The truth is, God knows that when we focus on him as the Lord of our lives — not on some generic “higher power,” and certainly not on ourselves — we will live safer, more peaceful lives. “Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard . . . And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:8, 11).

  We squabble over whether Christ’s name can be proclaimed in public, to the point that the words “Merry Christmas” have become offensive to many. As a society, we’ve tried to erase the memory of our history and the Christian heritage that got us here, as well as the goodness of our God in blessing us so richly. We’ve allowed the singular voices in courthouses to determine how we acknowledge our Lord as a nation.

  So, I ask you. What will God have to do to our country to get our attention? How will he choose to refine us, so that we’ll finally seek him?

  If you’re a Christian, realize the impact that your witness has on those around you. Not only could it save their souls, but it could save our nation. Imagine if every Christian lived a life like Christ. Imagine if we walked in light of the Great Commission. Wouldn’t those unbelievers around us begin to seek him? Wouldn’t they want what we have? Wouldn’t the fire of Christ sweep with its healing power across our world? Wouldn’t it save us from catastrophe?

  No, not every catastrophe is a disciplinary strike from the Lord. That’s not what I’m saying at all. But God is a loving parent, longing to bless us. Imagine if you had a beloved child to whom you’d decided to give everything — a new car, a college education, a starter home, vacations, a trust fund, a gift of $20,000 a year for life, and ultimately everything you own when you pass on. But before you could fulfill your plans, he ran his car into a brick wall. Gambled away every cent he got. Got kicked out of school for cheating. Refused to return your calls. Would you continue blessing him the way you’d planned? While your heart broke, you would alter your plans until he straightened up. Though the blessings were meant to be his, you would be irresponsible to continue lavishing them on him until he turned around. You would devise ways of trying to get your child’s attention, so you could bless him again.

  God is a parent like that. And we are the children, fighting the goodness of a Father who loves us. He wants to bless us, but because of our choices, he sometimes can’t.

  One of the themes in all my books has been that the crisis is sometimes the blessing. If crisis causes us to seek him with all our hearts, or draw even closer than we already are, then it puts us in a position to receive abundant blessings. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

  I pray that this series has made you think, and that it has drawn you closer to Christ, the ultimate blessing the Father has bestowed on us — himself in human flesh, who came to take the punishment for our wrecked lives and our bankrupt, rebellious souls, so that we could walk in blessing again. All we have to do is cry out to him, admitting our guilt, and his grace will do the rest.

  — Terri Blackstock

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  1. Beth is paralyzed with fear after witnessing the murders. Have you ever been that afraid of something? Where would you find comfort in such a situation?

  2. Beth’s erratic personality worries her mother, but Kay can’t seem to find a solution. What would you do if you were in her position? How could you help your child?

  3. Kay thinks Beth may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What do you know about this disorder? Do you know anyone who has experienced PTSD?

  4. Craig’s arrival ruins Mark’s plans to ask Deni to marry him. How does he react? What does he do well or poorly? How do his interactions with Craig evolve during the course of the book?

  5. Do you think it was wise for the Brannings to allow Craig to stay at their house? Should there be a limit to our hospitality? If so, what is it?

  6. Mark’s anger at Beth’s attacker drives him to pursue Clay Tharpe. Is this anger healthy and appropriate? What are the advantages and disadvantages to letting anger
drive our actions?

  7. Discuss the scene in which Kay confronts Clay Tharpe in the jail. What does she do and why does she do it? Can you sympathize with her?

  8. Discuss the hope the Brannings had for Beth’s recovery. Were they right to have such hope? Is it unrealistic to expect a miracle?

  9. The Oak Hollow church shows great support to the Brannings when they hold a prayer service for them and Beth. Would your community do the same for you and your family? What can you do to foster community where you live?

  10. How do you explain Kay’s actions in Beth’s room? Why does she want to throw away Beth’s things? What effect does seeing Beth’s hair have on her, and why?

  11. Consider the play the neighborhood kids produce. What is it about seeing the play that allows Kay to heal and come to terms, at least partially, with the death of her daughter? Why is she able to do this? What other events have helped her get to this point?

  12. Deni eventually chooses Mark instead of Craig, but what does she sacrifice in doing so? Are these sacrifices worth it? What would you sacrifice for love?

  13. Throughout the Restoration Series, the Brannings have tried to adapt to the problems brought on by the Pulses and still maintain their integrity as Christian witnesses. Did they succeed? Do you think you and your family could do the same? What would you do differently?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  THE RESTORATION SERIES HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT series I’ve written, mostly due to the amount of research involved. So many people have helped me with that, and I’ve attempted to acknowledge them in each book. For this book, I want to give special thanks to Bill Buchanan, for his electrical engineering expertise and his patience with me as I asked a million questions about how electricity works. A novelist himself, Bill understood what I was trying to accomplish and helped me think through the technical aspects of my story. Thanks, also, to his wife, Janet, for lending another set of eyes to the manuscript.