Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope

by Debra Ullrick

  “Oh Mommy,” she wailed. “Where are you, Mommy. I need you.”

  “I’m right here, darling.” Her mother’s caressing voice floated around her. Olivia’s eyes snapped open. Blackness surrounded her. Wildly, her gaze darted about, searching for her mother. “I can’t see you, Mommy.” She sobbed.

  “I’m right behind you, sweetheart.”

  Olivia spun around.

  Her eyes flew open.

  Aunt Hattie’s contorted face dangled mere inches from hers. Then as quick as a heartbeat, it vanished, leaving behind her sinister laughter swirling in the hollow background, mocking her, and tormenting her until Olivia felt she would go mad at any moment. She yanked air into her starving lungs. Slamming her hands over her ears, she screamed, “Leave me alone!”

  The laughter stopped.

  The bodies vanished.

  Her aunt disappeared.

  Her mother’s voice ceased.

  Olivia was alone.

  She lowered herself onto the dank ground and wept. But no one heard her. No one cared.

  “We’re here.” At the sound of Erik’s voice, her thoughts were mercifully yanked from that dark abyss of the past and forced back into the present. The soft amber light of the parking lot did little to banish the darkness shrouding her soul. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. Her rapid heartbeat slammed against her ribs. Could Erik hear it? She hoped not. She sat up straight and willed herself to be calm. Years of practice helped her to immediately mask her emotions.

  Olivia gazed out the window. She had no recollection of when they had parked. She only knew… Olivia swallowed back the tears constricting her throat as her gaze took in the runways stretched before her.

  “I…,” Panic seized her. She shook her head. “I can’t go in there.” Tears filled her voice. Her shoulders slumped and started shaking along with the rest of her body. So much for masking her emotions.

  Quick as a flash, Erik unfastened both of their seatbelts. Olivia felt herself being pulled to his side of the pickup. His strong arms wrapped around her. Not able to contain her tears, the floodgates opened. Olivia sobbed into Erik’s shirt. His hands rubbed her back. She allowed him to hold her. No, she needed him to hold her. Without the security of his arms, she might never make it out of the pit of black indelible memories and pain.

  As the tears of her vile past continued to flow, Olivia was overwhelmed with gratitude that Erik didn’t seek an explanation from her. That he respected her privacy. She loved that about him.

  If only she could stay in the comfort of his arms forever. But she knew she had to face the demons of her past. At least she didn’t feel like she’d have to do it alone anymore. She had a friend—Erik. She drew back, pulled the hanky Mimi had made for her, and wiped her eyes and nose.

  Erik said nothing as he searched her face. Olivia longed for him to pull her into his arms again and kiss away her pain. Oh, my. Lands o’ Goshen! What am I thinking? Olivia spun her face toward the passenger window. What on earth had come over her? Erik was her boss, and she was thinking about him kissing away her pain? Chalking it up to the insanity of the moment, she was so thankful that Erik couldn’t read her mind. He’d be shocked. She knew she was.

  Several moments later, reluctantly, Olivia scooted over, reached for the door handle, and froze. The private plane taking off in the distance glued her hand to the handle. Why didn’t she let Audra rent a car when she’d offered? Then she wouldn’t have to deal with going inside the airport. But, no-o. Olivia insisted she’d be fine. Well, she wasn’t. And now she could kick herself. Even Erik couldn’t give her the courage she needed to step inside that place. And she definitely wasn’t asking God for any either.

  ♥♥♥♥

  Erik didn’t know what to do. Should he ask her what had made her cry and why she seemed so reluctant to go inside, much less to get out of the pickup? Lord, show me what to do here.

  A moment passed. Then as if the Holy Spirit Himself were talking through him, Erik said, “It’s okay, Olivia. I’m here for you. I won’t leave you. Whatever it is you’re afraid of. Whatever has you so upset, I’m here to help you. God’s here to help you too.”

  “God!” she bit out, whirling on him.

  The venomous way she said ‘God’ stunned him so jarringly that he had to force himself not to stare.

  Anger coursed across her beautiful face, marring it with hatred. “Where was God when my parents’ plane went down in the Atlantic Ocean? Where was God when my grandma died a few days later? Where was God when Hammond’s plane crashed? Where was God when I was left alone to live with an aunt from Hades who sold my parents’ home and left me homeless and penniless? Where was God when she gave away all of my parents’ things? Don’t talk to me about God, Erik!” She yanked on the handle, shoved the door open, and fled toward the airport’s entrance.

  Erik sat there, staring after her as she disappeared inside. Even if he tried, he doubted he could get his body to move to go after her. He was stunned by what he’d just heard. Stunned that every time she mentioned God, it was laced with venom. He drew in a long breath and slowly let it out. No wonder Olivia always seemed so sad. Losing her parents, her grandmother, her fiancé, her home and her belongings? That would force even the strongest of men to their knees. If her words were any indication, he doubted Olivia bent her knees. Instead she had turned away from the only One Who could truly help her—Father God.

  Compassion seized his soul. “That poor woman, Lord.” He removed the moisture from the corner of his eyes. “Jesus, have mercy on her. Heal her everywhere she hurts. May she come to know You as her comforter, her provider, her savior, and her Lord. Let Your tender mercies flood her life as You surround her with Your love.” Erik sighed heavily. Right then and there, he made a pact with himself that if it took him the rest of his life, he would show Olivia God’s love. Not with words, but with actions. And he’d start right now.

  ♥♥♥♥

  “Oh, Audra.” Olivia hugged her best friend. “It was awful.”

  “What’s wrong?” Audra stepped back and slipped her carry-on bag onto her shoulder. She put her arm around Olivia’s shoulder and started walking toward the baggage claim.

  Olivia looked at Audra, fighting back the tears. “I’ve ruined everything. Erik will probably never talk to me again. Especially after the things I said to him. I finally found the job of my dreams and now I’ll have to look for another one.”

  “No, Olivia.”

  Olivia swung her head toward the sound of Erik’s voice. When he had walked alongside her, she didn’t know. But what she did know was her cheeks were now flaming with humiliation. “I…I’m…” Olivia stuttered.

  “You don’t have to say anything. And you don’t have to look for another job. I want you to stay. You’re the best airbrush painter around. I don’t want to lose you, Olivia. Or your friendship.” Seriousness flowed through his eyes, flooding her with relief. “Besides, real friends are there for each other in good times and in bad.”

  “Amen, brother. Amen.”

  Olivia and Erik both yanked their gazes toward Audra.

  Audra stepped forward. “Erik. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She threw her arms around him, hugging him. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

  Olivia watched the exchange until her gaze snagged on a familiar form walking down the concourse amongst several people. Her heart hauled into overdrive. “Hammond!” Olivia squealed. Leaving her friends behind, she took off running toward the place where she’d spotted Hammond.

  When Hammond first disappeared, these types of incidences happened to her often, but this one was different. She didn’t just think it was him. She knew it was him. Olivia rounded the corner, furiously scanning the area, looking for the jacket she’d given him for Christmas the year before. There was no mistaking that jacket. Olivia designed a collage of the things he loved to do and paid a lady to embroider the sketch she’d made onto the back of the coat. Hammond had been wearing it the day he disappe
ared.

  “Olivia. What’re you doing?” Audra asked between gulps of air as she stood alongside her.

  Erik joined them.

  Olivia stood on her tiptoes, perusing the crowd. “I saw Hammond.”

  “Hammond? Oh Livvy. You know he’s dead.” Audra laced her arm through Olivia’s elbow and glanced at Erik.

  “He’s alive, Audie. I saw him.” She didn’t miss the exchange between Erik and Audra. They must think she’d lost of all of her brain cells, but she hadn’t. She’d seen Hammond. How he knew where she was, and why he ran from her just now, she didn’t know. But what she did know was that she was definitely going to find out.

  After she had dragged them through every terminal looking for that illusive jacket—the one she never spotted again, they headed back to her cottage. Once there, Olivia turned the key in the lock and reached around the door and flipped the light on. She moved out of the way to let Audra pass.

  “Oh, my goodness!” Audra glanced back at her and then back into the house before stepping inside. “This is amazing.”

  “Isn’t it though? I’m so blessed,” Olivia stated although her mind wasn’t really on the present.

  Audra about gave herself whiplash. “Did I just hear you use the word blessed?”

  Olivia shrugged, not really wanting to talk about anything at the moment.

  “Where do you want me to put these?” Erik asked from behind her.

  Olivia turned and faced him. “I’m sorry, Erik. I forgot about Audra’s luggage.” She reached out to take them, but Erik shook his head.

  “I got ‘em.” He pulled away from her reach. “Just lead the way, ma’am.”

  He looked so adorable standing there with a piece of luggage under each arm and one in each hand. Olivia motioned for him to follow her. “This way, sir.”

  “Sir?” he asked, stepping up beside her. “What’s with the sir bit?”

  “Well, you called me ma’am. I just thought I would reciprocate with equal formality.”

  “Ha ha. Very funny.”

  Olivia flipped the light switch on, and they stepped inside the bedroom. The transition from her old life to her new one was like the giant dip on a roller coaster ride, and the whole exciting adventure made her a touch woozy.

  “Oh my goodness!” Audra’s gleeful shout from behind them made Olivia jerk. She bolted past them, nearly knocking them both over as she darted inside the bedroom that was to be hers for the next two weeks. “Oh, Liv. This is gorgeous.” She ran over to the window and knelt one knee on the burgundy sofa. Shoving the pink and forest green throw pillows out of her way, she inched closer, pressing her chest against the back of the couch. She strained her neck from side to side as she peered out of the floor to ceiling picture window. Two smaller versions of the floor to ceiling windows stood cattycorner next to the large one. “I can’t wait to see the view from here in the morning. I bet it’s gorgeous.” She leapt up and ran to the bed. It too was burgundy with pink and green throw pillows.

  For the millionth time, Olivia wondered who designed this house. Each room sported a different style and theme. In this room, the large Victorian-style headboard rounded to a point mere feet away from the ceiling. Surrounding the triangle shape of the headboard were several round glass pictures of women from the Victorian era. The coolest part about this room was the burgundy velvet oval footstool with long fringe at the foot of the bed. Olivia had never seen anything like it before. A wing-backed chair that matched the couch sat at an angle several feet away from the footstool. Yes, Olivia had to admit, she was indeed blessed to be living in such a fine house as this.

  “Well, I’d better go.”

  Olivia spun around. “Oh, Erik. I’m so sorry. It’s just that every time I see this room, I can’t get over the beauty of it.” She tilted her head and looked up at him. “Who decorated this house anyway?”

  “Aunt Adell. She loves doing stuff like this. She did my house too. She’s a pretty remarkable woman. Talented too.”

  “I’ll say.” Audra added.

  “Well, I’d better get.” Erik turned to leave.

  Olivia walked him to the door. He turned to face her. “Erik?”

  “Yeah?”

  She couldn’t look at him, afraid of what she might see in his eyes. “I’m really sorry I broke down like that tonight.”

  Erik stepped closer to her. “Don’t be. That’s what friends are for.” He gave her a hug and stepped out the door.

  The warmth of his hug spread through her, remaining even after he left.

  “Just friends, huh?” Audra’s meaning came through loud and clear.

  Olivia faced her. “Yes. We’re just friends.” They met at the sofa where they both curled one leg under and sat down. “He was just giving me a neighborly hug is all.”

  “Oh yeah? From the look on his face, I’d say that that hug was anything but neighborly.”

  Olivia tilted her head sideways. Her eyes crimped. “What’d’ya mean?” She planted her foot on the couch.

  “Well,” Audra shifted her body more toward Olivia, her eyes bright and shining with joy. “When he had his arms around you, his eyes were closed and his lips were pursed. It looked as if he never wanted to let you go.”

  Shocked and confused, Olivia transferred her focus away from Audra. Maybe her best friend read more into his hug than what was there. Then again, ironic as it sounded, she wouldn’t really mind if Erik thought of her as more than a friend.

  Hammond’s face popped in her mind. “Hammond,” she whispered.

  “Livvy.”

  Olivia slowly turned toward Audra.

  “Did you really see Hammond at the airport?”

  “Yes.” Her head gave a quick pertinacious nod. “Yes, I did.”

  Folding her legs Indian style, Audra faced Olivia. “How could it be Hammond? He’s dead. You saw the plane. You’ve seen the police report.”

  “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “All I know is I saw him.”

  “Could it have been Haskell? Maybe he followed me. He’s been asking about you a lot lately.”

  “Nope. There’s no way it was Haskell.” Her head swayed back and forth.

  “How do ya know?”

  “Because.” She folded her legs in a pretzel shape. Picking up a throw pillow, she laid it on her lap and rested her arms on it as she had done so many times before when a talk with Audra was about to take a serious turn. “Remember the jacket I designed for Hammond? The one Mrs. Marvy embroidered for me?”

  Audra nodded.

  “Hammond had it on the day he left. The helicopter pilot that lifted his plane off the side of the mountain said there was no body inside the plane or anywhere near Hammond’s aircraft.”

  “Okay.” Audra tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. “Let’s just say for the sake of saying, that it was Hammond you saw at the airport and that he did make it out of that plane alive. Why would he run from you? And how did he know where you were in the first place?”

  “I don’t know.” Olivia waved her head from side to side. “I don’t know. All I do know is, it was Hammond at the airport.”

  “If it really was him, what are you going to do? Do you still love him?”

  That wasn’t as easy to answer as she had always thought it would be. “That’s the really bizarre part of all this mess. I’m not sure how I feel about him anymore. When we went to dinner tonight—”

  “Wait. We? Who’s we?”

  “Camara, Chase, Erik and me.”

  “Who’s Camara and Chase?”

  “Erik’s sister and brother-in-law.” Olivia knew she might as well answer Audra or she’d never get through her story. Audra loved details. “Anyway, at the restaurant, this redheaded, gorgeous knock out waited on us. Erik never even batted an eyelash her direction. Remember how Hammond used to flirt with every beautiful woman he came in contact with?”

  Audra nodded, having been there for the performance more than once.

  “That used to hurt
me terribly. But,” she sighed. “I was so afraid if I said something that I would lose him.” She looked down at the pillow and ran her fingers over the soft fabric as mega doses of Hammond’s imperfections blazed through her mind. “Really, Audra. I had placed Hammond on such a pedestal. As far as I was concerned he could do no wrong. But the more I think about things, the more I realize that Hammond wasn’t the Prince Charming I made him out to be. To be honest, sometimes he acted more like a toad instead of a prince.”

  Audra’s eyelids bolted open. “Wow. Coming from you, that’s a shocker. You used to think Hammond hung the moon.”

  “I did. But the more I’ve thought about things, the more I realized that while most of the time he was a real sweetheart, there were times when he could be pretty controlling and demanding. Like when I first met him at Blackwater Falls. He wouldn’t take no for an answer and insisted on my having dinner with him even though I made it clear that I already had plans with you.”

  “And yet you loved him.” Audra’s comment was a statement, not a question.

  “I did.” She tossed the pillow aside. “I was in love with his adventurous spirit. I went places and did things I’d never done before. His love for me gave me a reason to go on. So, in my eyes, that made him some kind of hero. Even his controlling ways I treasured to a degree because he took charge of things when I wasn’t able to.” A wistful sigh escaped. “I just wished he loved me enough to not fly that day.”

  “So, now what? What if it is Hammond, and he’s come to take you back?”

  “I don’t know.” Her shoulders hiked, and her head jerked in short choppy movements. “I wish I knew the answer to that question.”

  “Do you still love him?” Audra asked her again.

  Olivia sucked one side of her bottom lip in. She was no closer to answering that question than she was just moments ago. But knowing her friend wouldn’t back off until she did, she turned her face toward the window, contemplating how to answer her friend satisfactorily. Seconds ticked by until finally, she drew in a long breath and plunged forward with the best answer she had right now. “I’m not sure, Audie. Every time I think of what he put poor Haskell and his parents through. What he put me through….” The familiar ache of losing him pressed into her heart. “I still can’t believe he went ahead and flew even after I begged him not to, and even after they warned him repeatedly not to go because of the huge risk involved. But then again,” she sighed heavily. “It’s my fault he did.”