by Nancy Moser
The door to the cell opened. Officer Kendell came in. “Jered. You have a visitor.”
He sat up in his bunk. “Who?”
“Merry. Merry Cavanaugh.”
He jumped up. Merry, the only person to ever believe in his music.
The door was unlocked, and Ken led Jered to a lunchroom. “You'll have to meet here. We're letting Jinko and his lawyer use the office.”
Jered didn't care where he met Merry.
She stood when he came in. “Jered.” She took a step toward him, then hesitated, looking to Ken. “Can I hug him?”
“Sure.” Ken pulled out a chair and started to sit.
“Ken, I'd like to talk to Jered alone.”
He stood. “He's under arrest, Merry.”
She extended her hands to take in the room. “No exits, no windows. If he promises not to hold me prisoner with a coffee mug, can you trust us?”
He pushed the chair back. “I'll be right outside the door.”
“Thank you.” She looked at Jered and smiled a sad smile. “Now, how about that hug?”
Jered didn't want to let her go. He couldn't remember the last human contact he'd had and didn't realize he missed it—needed it— until he experienced it now.
She pulled away. “Let's sit.”
They sat catty-corner to each other. She patted a hand on the table. It was an awkward moment. “So,” Merry said.
“You don't have to say any more.”
She nodded. “You going to be okay?”
It was his turn to nod. “Actually, I think yeah. Yes. I'll be okay.”
She cocked her head. “Now this is a Jered I didn't expect to find.”
“You expected a weak loser kid?”
“No, no, of course not. But I thought you'd be upset, scared, or else sullen and defensive. Not…”
He didn't help her define it, hoping she could pinpoint the change in him. If Merry saw it, maybe it was real. “Not…?”
She studied him a moment. “I see a sureness in you I've never seen before. A serenity.”
He smiled. Serenity. He liked that word. A lot.
She looked at him a moment longer, her eyes searching his. Then she laughed. “You found Jesus, didn't you?”
Jered put a hand to his chest, bowled over. “You can see that?”
“So it's true?”
He nodded. She was out of her seat in seconds, giving him another hug. “I'm so happy for you, Jered!” She sat back down, pulling her chair close. “When? How?”
He wished he could pinpoint an exact moment, but it was a series of moments. “It's been building a long time. A cook at Palamba's told me stuff, then Annie talked about the forgiveness part, then my lawyer…even Jinko helped a bit.”
“Annie?”
“While we were holding her hostage.”
Merry sat back.
“How is she doing?” he asked.
“Holding on. But her condition is critical.”
He thought of something else. “Is the little girl okay?”
“Avis with Sim right now. We're all pitching in. She's fine.”
Sim. A name from another lifetime. “Sim lives here?”
Merry brought him up to date on Sim, Claire, Harold, and even on Moog and Darryl. It felt wonderful to talk about old times. Better times? He wasn't sure about that, for they had been pretty messed up. Messed up enough to run away from them. From those times to this one…
They shared a quiet moment. “You haven't asked about your dad.”
Jered picked at a piece of dried food on the table. “No need.”
“Don't say that. Of course there's a need. You need him now and he needs—”
“He needs a son who isn't a disgrace, who won't mess up his dreams.”
She leaned over the table. “Jered, he's been worried about you. Searching for you.”
Jered snickered. “Now he's found me.” He thought of their brief meeting the day before. “I've already seen him.”
“You have?”
“Sure. We had a nice reunion where he expressed his deep love and approval by saying, ‘What have you done, Jered? What have you done?’“He swiped one palm over the other. “That pretty much says it all.”
Merry ran a hand over her forehead. “He's waiting outside. He wants to see you.”
Jered shoved his chair back and stood. “I don't want to see him.”
She took hold of his hand, trying to pull him back. “Do it for him.”
Jered looked down at her. His laugh was bitter. “Why should I?”
She withdrew her hand, looking at the floor. Then she looked up. “Because Jesus would want you to.”
He found his head shaking no. “That wasn't part of the deal.”
Her left eyebrow rose. “So it's okay for Jesus to forgive you but not okay for you to forgive your dad?”
He crossed his arms, not wanting to hear.
Merry stood and touched his shoulder. “Talk to him, Jered. Jesus loves you just as you are. Do the same for your dad.”
He found he couldn't agree out loud, but he did find the strength to nod.
Bailey had never been more nervous. It was ridiculous. He was the father. He was the authority figure. He was the one in control. His son was weak, the one who messed up. A loser.
But he's your son.
Merry led him toward a back room. She paused outside the door and whispered in his ear, “Behave yourself, Bailey. Love him, don't condemn him.”
He opened the door. Jered was sitting at a lunch table. Though Bailey had seen him the day before, he hadn't had time to fully take in his son's physical changes. His hair was shorter, and his clothes seemed less baggy than the style he'd worn when he lived at home. Positive changes, both of them.
But were meeting in a police station. He's under arrest.
So much for positive changes.
Bailey heard the door shut behind him. With little imagination it sounded like the ominous click of a jail cell. He took a few steps toward the table. Jered did not run into his arms. He didn't even stand. In fact, his eyes were decidedly hard. Bailey found support by grabbing the back of a chair. “Hi, Jered.”
“Hi.”
Well then. Now what?
Suddenly, what Bailey should say battled with what came out of his mouth. He should have said: It's good to see you.
“Not the most auspicious way to return home, now is it?”
Jereds face did not change. “Things happen. Choices are made.”
That's a very grown-up attitudey Jered. Although I hate the choice you made, I'm glad you re owning up to it.
“I can't believe you let yourself get involved with a criminal.”
Jered shrugged. “He didn't seem so bad to begin with.”
I know how easy it is to get caught up in things. I've made a few mistakes myself. I'm just glad you re back.
“I saw that Willy Bradford is representing you. From what I've heard, he's a mediocre lawyer at best. I know a lawyer in Kansas City who—”
“Willy's fine, Dad. It's taken care of. I've confessed to everything.”
That's the way to go, son. Whenever you make mistakes, stand up tall, tell the truth, and take your licks like a man.
“I wish you wouldn't have done that. Now the whole world will know.”
Jered's face sagged, and his lower jaw started to quiver. Suddenly, he pushed back from the table and went to the counter, leaning forward against it, showing Bailey his back.
Bailey watched as his son took a few breaths in and out. Finally, he turned around, his face in control—and older somehow. Or at least more mature. A certainty was there that hadn't been previously. “I messed up, Dad. And I'm sorry. No one forced me to do anything. What I did affected a lot of people.” He looked down. “I just hope— I pray—that Annie comes through this okay. She's a neat, neat lady who taught me a lot. She's had a big effect on my life.”
She is a nice lady. And I hope she's okay, too.
“She taught you
a lot? When was this?”
“While we were holding them hostage.”
Baileys laughter drowned out all the should-have-saids. “In a couple days, she had a big effect on your life? What about me? Some thanks I get for raising you and dealing with you year after year.”
Jered's eyes blinked as if Bailey had thrown something too close. “Dealing with me, Dad?”
Bailey wagged a finger at him. “Don't argue semantics with me. You know what I mean. You were not an easy teenager to have around.”
“And you were not an easy father.”
“I did my best.”
“So did I.”
“No, you didn't. You ran away. You didn't stick around and…and…”
“Fight?”
Bailey threw his hands in the air and began to pace. “Sometimes you drive me absolutely crazy. Sometimes I'm sorry—”
“I'm sorry too, Dad.” The softness of Jered's voice made Bailey stop all movement and words. He was mesmerized by the intensity in his son's eyes. It wasn't a frantic intensity but a calm one. As if he knew the secret to making everything all right.
“What's gotten into you, boy?”
Jered gave a little laugh. “You'd never believe it if I told you.”
“Give it a shot.”
Jered looked to the ceiling as he took in his breath. “I've found Jesus, Dad.”
Oh, please…
“And you know what? I'm finding that God's the only Father I need right now.”
“That's incredibly rude.”
Jered shrugged. “I can't please you. I know it. So I'm going to stop trying.” His chin was strong. “Jesus loves me. Just as I am.”
This is ridiculous. “I must say, you've set a new world record. You hear about inmates finding religion while they're in jail, but you've managed to do it in just a few hours. Maybe they'll give you a medal.”
Jered's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Bailey feared his son would hit him. Instead, Jered calmly walked past him toward the door.
“Where are you going? We're not done here.”
Jered didn't respond but opened the door leading to the hall. Ken was outside. “I'm through in here.”
The look Ken gave Bailey before he led Jered away made Baileys skin crawl with humiliation. How dare his son treat him that way? He ran to the doorway. “That's so like you, Jered. Running away again!”
Jered and Ken disappeared around a corner, leaving Bailey alone.
Merry had waited around for Bailey to have his talk with Jered and had heard his gracious last words to his son. She'd had it with him. Was it impossible for Bailey to talk with Jered without blowing up or being hurtful?
He stormed out of the police station, muttering under his breath. She rushed after him. He got in his car, but she stopped the swing of his door with a hand. On impulse she grabbed his car keys.
“Hey! What did you do that for?”
She had no idea. “Just hold on a minute, Bailey. Just—”
“Leave me alone, Merry. I've had enough for today.”
She palmed the keys and crossed her arms. “You are the most selfish, narrow-minded—”
Suddenly he slumped over the wheel. His chest heaved.
Was he crying? Was he feeling remorse?
Pray.
For Bailey? That's the last thing she felt like doing. He was the most infuria—
The thought widened. Get everyone to pray.
And then she knew.
She plied his hand off the wheel and pulled.
“What are you doing?”
She found unusual strength, forcing him to exit the car. “Come with me, Bailey. Come on. Out.”
“Where are we going?”
She pushed him toward her van. “I hate to keep kidnapping you, but it's for your own good. For everyone's good.”
She unlocked the passenger side and waited until he got in, then got in herself.
“I'm not going to another prayer meeting,” he said.
Wanna bet?
Merry held the door of the library while the regulars exited. She locked the door after them.
“You can't close the library in the middle of the day, Merry,” Ivan said. “People will complain.”
“They'll live. And if said 'people would be willing to listen, I'll be more than willing to tell them why I closed. The lives of two of our citizens are at stake.”
“I think it's exciting,” Blanche said. She took Ivan's arm to negotiate the front steps. “The Plentiful won't know what hit it. Steadfast won't know what hit it.”
Harold offered his arm to Merry. “This is rather unorthodox.”
“A crisis demands the unorthodox.”
They reached the street, and Merry detoured toward the library's parking lot.
“Hey, Merry.” Ivan pointed across the square. “The Plentiful's this way.”
“Just a minute. I have to make a pickup.” She pointed to her van, to Bailey, sitting in the front seat. He'd refused to get out.
Ivan cocked his head to see against the sun's reflection on the windshield. “What's he doing in there?”
Blanche swatted his arm. “Being as stubborn as you, you old green bean.”
“We're doing this for his son,” Ivan said.
Merry approached the door, and the others followed. “Which is why we're picking him up.”
Bailey's arms were across his chest. His head shook no. He locked the door.
Merry used her key to unlock it and held it up as evidence that he wasn't going to win this battle. “Four against one, Bailey. You might as well come out.”
“Surround him!” Blanche scurried toward the drivers side, taking the stance of a sumo wrestler.
“Stop that,” Ivan said. “You look ridiculous.”
Blanche stood erect. “Then get him out.”
Harold opened Baileys door, and Merry offered her hand. “Come on, Bailey. It will help. You know it will.”
“Prayer didn't help last time. Annie got shot. Jered's in jail.”
“It most certainly did help. They're both alive.”
Bailey took one last look at the people around him. Then he took Merry's hand.
As the group entered the Plentiful Cafe, Bailey wanted to crawl into a hole. Merry was crazy. This just wasn't done.
Dottie looked up from her coffee rounds. “Hey, Donald! We're being invaded.”
Donald peeked through the pass-through. Merry went over to him and quietly discussed something. All talking had stopped.
Donald spoke. “Sure, Merry. For Annie, anything.” He dinged the bell to get everyone's attention. He swept a spatula toward the room. “Listen up, people. Merry here has something she wants to do.”
Merry had the floor. She looked across the room at the nine customers. Not bad for the middle of the afternoon. Bailey recognized no one. “I'm sorry to interrupt your eating, but at this minute, a few of our fellow neighbors are going through a crisis. I know most of you and recognize the rest. I know we can count on you to help.”
“It's Annie, isn't it?” said Ed Burroughs from the hardware store.
Blanche stepped forward. “You bet it's Annie. She's in the hospital fighting for her life.”
“She was shot,” said Oscar from the motel. He pointed at Bailey. “By his son.”
Bailey stepped forward. “Jered did not shoot Annie!”
“The news implied—”
“That's not what I heard.”
Merry spread her hands. “Enough. If the news said that, it was wrong.”
People settled back into their seats. Bailey felt Harold's hand on his shoulder. He tried to unclench his fists.
“Jered is the other Steadfast son who needs our help.”
“But he was one of the bad guys.”
Donald pointed his spatula at them. “The kid ran away. He probably got hooked up with the wrong people. He's still our kid.”
“He's still our kid.” Bailey suddenly felt weak in the knees. How could a short-order cook feel
more compassion for Jered than he did?
Ivan pulled out a chair for him. “Sit, Bailey. You don't look well.”
Merry glanced in his direction but kept going. “We're here because we want to ask all of you to pray for Annie and Jered. Both are fighting for their lives. Pass the word and get your churches to pray, and your families. Friends. Everyone. In fact, I'd like to share a prayer right here where Annie worked. Right now.”
Oscar raised a hand. “You can't pray in here. It's a public place.”
Donald slapped a hand on the counter. “I am so sick of this PC hooey. We can pray wherever we please. And if you don't like it, leave.”
Oscar looked at his coffee cup but didn't move.
“Well, then,” Merry said. “That's the spirit. Now. Let's bow our heads…”
Bailey couldn't believe it as these people prayed for his Jered, with Harold even adding a prayer for Bailey and Cal. They didn't hate him. They weren't condemning him.
Its not about you. Its time to stop hating. Stop condemning.
As the group moved toward the communal “Amen,” Bailey found himself praying along with them. And it felt good. Freeing, even.
Would wonders never cease?
Merry pulled next to Bailey's car in the parking lot of the police station. “Here we are.”
Bailey wanted to say something profound to express all that he was feeling. But there were no words. Except three.
He couldn't look at her. He didn't trust his emotions. But he did manage to say, “Thank you, Merry.”
“You're welcome. You'll see. Prayer changes things. It does. Everything will be all right.”
He felt a surge of real hope. “Annie won't die? Jered will be set free?”
“I don't know.”
“But you said—”
“Everything will be all right. God may not decide to answer our prayers like we want Him to, but He will answer them. The good thing about prayer is knowing we're doing everything we can do. We need to let that give us comfort.”
“But what if—?”
She put her hand on his. “It's His now, Bailey. It was always His, but with our prayers, we're relinquishing our hold on it. We've done what we were supposed to do: ‘Pray without ceasing.’ Try to find peace in that, okay?”