The Shadows Trilogy Box Set: A Christian Romance

by Juliette Duncan

  “Okay then. This might be interesting, I guess.” He crossed his arms and looked at her with a glint in his eye. It was good to see the old Daniel coming back. “Do you really believe in them?”

  “Yes I do. There’s a lot to take in, Daniel. But it’s also really simple. The gospel in a nutshell is that God created man without sin, but Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, stuffed it up by listening to the snake, who was really the devil in disguise. They disobeyed God, and as a result, all of mankind was tarnished with sin and condemned to death, both physically and spiritually.

  “But it hurt God so much that his perfect creation was now imperfect, he made a way for mankind to come back to him. And that was to have his perfect Son, Jesus, come to earth as a human, to live a perfect life, and then to become the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind by dying on the cross. Jesus, who was without sin, chose to take on the sin of the world, my sin, your sin, so that we could be sinless again in God’s eyes. Now, when God looks at me, or anyone else who believes in him, he doesn’t see our sin. He sees a new creation, pure and clean because of Jesus.

  “Oh, and he rose again. He came back from being dead. That proved He was God, and that He just wasn’t any old person. Jesus coming back from death shows us that we don’t have to worry about dying physically, because Jesus conquered it for us. If we believe in him, we have everlasting life. With God.” Lizzy stopped and looked at Daniel. “So, what do you think? Did I do alright?”

  Daniel reached out his hand and squeezed Lizzy’s, an encouraging grin lighting up his face.

  “You did good, Liz. But I’m going to have think about it some more. It kind of makes sense, but it’s a lot to believe in. Especially when you can’t see God or Jesus.”

  “Yes, I know. That’s where faith comes in, but there’s a lot of information you can read that proves Jesus was actually a real person. A lot of people have tried to prove he didn’t exist, only to go on not only to believe in him, but to become Christians. And like I said before, it’s not just head knowledge. I know deep down in my spirit, or my heart, or whatever you want to call it, that it’s true, and that Jesus lives in me. It’s just so real. It’s hard to explain, but I know. I might not be able to touch Him, but He’s with me all the time. Anyway, maybe that’s enough for today?”

  “I think so. I’m feeling a bit tired. But maybe we can read some more tomorrow?”

  Lizzy smiled and squeezed his hand. This was way more than she’d ever hoped for, and her heart overflowed with expectation.

  “That would be great, Daniel.”

  That night at dinner, Lizzy shared with Nessa and Riley about how Daniel seemed to be softening towards God. Even as she spoke, she had to pinch herself to make sure it was real.

  “It’s only a start, but it’s amazing how open he’s become. I can hardly believe it.”

  “That’s wonderful news, Liz. We’re so happy for you.” Nessa said as she gave Lizzy’s hand a squeeze.

  “Thank you. I know that even if he does give his heart to the Lord, which I’m really hoping and praying he will, it’s still not going to be easy for him, but at least he’ll have God in his life and that will make a huge difference.”

  “Yes, it will. He’ll still have a long road ahead of him, but I’m sure once he decides, God will give him the strength he needs.”

  There was still no guarantee that Daniel would give his heart to the Lord, Lizzy knew that, but there was hope, and she clung onto that with both hands.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lizzy continued to read the Bible to Daniel every day, and every day Daniel had questions for her. She discovered he actually continued reading for himself after she left at night, and often he’d bombard her with questions as soon as she walked in. His hunger to understand was insatiable.

  After days of this, the time had come to ask Daniel if he was ready to do something with all this knowledge. Was he ready to accept Jesus for himself? She’d prayed about it the night before, and was confident it was the right time.

  Nessa dropped her off at the entrance to the hospital, and she made her way to Daniel’s ward. As she turned the corner, her heart fell. A policeman stood at the end of Daniel’s bed. She knew it had to happen, but she’d almost forgotten about it.

  Lizzy paused, hesitant to interrupt, and turned when a nurse called out to her.

  “Mrs O’Connor, you can sit here if you like,” the nurse said as she pointed to some chairs not far from the Nurses’ station. Lizzy smiled and thanked her, and took a seat.

  “How long have they been here?” Lizzy asked as she glanced at Daniel’s room.

  “About ten minutes I think.”

  “They didn’t want to see me?”

  The nurse shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure. I’ll let them know you’re here, just in case.”

  Lizzy sat demurely with her hands in her lap and her ankles crossed while she waited for the nurse to come back, but inside she was a bundle of nerves. Why did this have to happen today of all days? God, what’s going on? Did I get it wrong?

  The nurse reappeared a few moments later and told Lizzy they didn’t need to see her, but they were just leaving, so it was fine for her to go in.

  She passed them in the corridor, a burly older man with short bristly hair who walked with a slight limp, and a thinner younger man with dark hair, cut short. Neither looked terribly friendly.

  Unsure as to how Daniel would have coped with this meeting, Lizzy paused before she entered his room and took a deep breath. Would he be angry, or would he have just accepted it as an inevitable consequence of his poor choices? She was about to find out…

  Daniel sat in bed with his head down and his arms crossed. He looked up briefly as Lizzy entered, but slithered down the bed slightly and lowered his head. Not a good sign.

  “Daniel, it’s okay,” Lizzy said as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Whatever happens, it’s okay. We’ll work through it.” She lifted his chin with her finger and kissed him on the lips. Their eyes connected, but Lizzy’s heart fell. The glint had gone and his eyes were now dull.

  “No Lizzy. It’ll never work.” He sighed dejectedly and shook his head slowly. “You won’t want to be married to me once I’ve been hauled before the court.”

  “Don’t make decisions for me, Daniel. You’re not the only one who’s ever been convicted of driving under the influence, you know. We’ll survive this, but we have to be together on it. I’ll support you, but don’t shut me out, okay?” Her eyes pleaded with him, and she moved closer.

  His shoulders sagged further.

  “Who knows what they’ll give me when they find out about my past. Are you ready for that?” He leaned forward as he spat the question at her.

  Lizzy gulped. She’d forgotten Daniel’s prior conviction and his time in jail. Maybe it wouldn’t come out, given it had happened in Ireland, but it was highly likely it would.

  “We’ll get through it, Daniel. I promise. Whatever they give you, we’ll survive.”

  Silence hung between them, Lizzy’s body rigid as she waited for Daniel’s next move.

  After several tension filled moments, he lifted his eyes.

  “You’re persistent, Lizzy, I’ll give you that.” He paused and pulled himself up. “You know I might get jail time again?”

  Lizzy’s heart fell. No, she didn’t know that. She took a deep breath as she gripped his hand. “I didn’t know that Daniel, but I’ll stand by you, whatever. I promise.”

  “Why would you do that, Lizzy? Your father will completely disown you when he finds out.”

  “Daniel, everyone’s responsible for their own actions and reactions. If Father doesn’t agree with my decisions, that’s his problem, not mine. But I won’t hold it against him. You’re my husband, for better or worse, and I’ll stand by you, even if he disapproves.”

  Daniel’s face softened to a grin and he squeezed her hand.

  “I always knew you had spunk, but now you’re proving it.” He pulled
her close and hugged her gently.

  Lizzy rested her head on his chest as he stroked her hair, and tried to force the thought of jail out of her mind.

  When she sat up, Lizzy asked Daniel when he was due in court.

  “There’s no date yet, but it’ll be soon after I get out of here.”

  Lizzy nodded, and fought against the nausea building in her stomach. If Daniel was sent to jail, she’d most likely be without him when the baby was born…

  “So Lizzy. How does your God fit into all of this?” His arms were crossed as he once again put her on the spot.

  Lizzy took a moment to pull her thoughts together. Why had she ever thought it would be easy? But really, if Daniel was going to make a decision to follow Jesus, it would never work if his commitment was shallow and only made to please her. It had to be real. And he had to see that her own faith and belief was real and could survive the toughest of tests. But would she pass this test? Oh God, I pray I do.

  She inhaled deeply, and let out a pained chuckle.

  “It’s like I’m on a quiz show, but the stakes are much higher.” The glint in his eye had returned and her body relaxed.

  “It’s okay Lizzy. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

  She shook her head at his cheek, but the grin on her face broadened.

  “Well, God never promised an easy life with no troubles, even for those who believe in him.” The verse she’d read just a few days before came to mind, and she immediately saw God’s wisdom in drawing her attention to it at that time. “But He gives us the strength and ability to get through them if we let Him, and as a result, we become better people.

  “Giving your heart to Jesus is only the first step. The journey from then on is all about growing more like Him, but we don’t have to do it on our own, because He’s with us all the way. We just have to be open to Him and allow Him to teach us how to live. It’s just like we’re little children learning from our parents. It’s a life long journey, and sometimes the best way we can learn is by going through tough times.

  “So, to answer your question, God will help us through this if we let Him. He’s not going to fix it so that it goes away. He doesn’t do that. But if we let His Spirit into our lives, and accept the outcome without being angry or bitter, He’ll give us His peace and love instead, and will help us handle whatever we have to.”

  “You really believe this, don’t you?” Lizzy looked up into Daniel’s eyes and her heart filled with love for him. God was working in his life, she could feel it.

  “Yes, I do, Daniel. I can’t imagine my life without Him in it. I thank Him every day for saving me and for being with me. I know I let Him down all the time, but He’s always there for me.”

  Daniel remained still and quiet. He was deep in thought, and Lizzy sensed God was touching his heart and reaching out to him.

  “Daniel,” she said a few moments later. “Do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?”

  Lizzy held her breath as Daniel looked deeply into her eyes. Her heart raced. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. What would his answer be?

  His gaze, steadfast and sincere, held her captive. She couldn’t move. Come on Daniel, please answer…

  He took her hand and patted it gently.

  “Yes Lizzy, I do. I want to ask Jesus into my heart.”

  Lizzy didn’t even try to stop the tears trickling down her cheeks. Her heart soared and she hugged him as tightly as she dared.

  She slowly pulled back, and wiped her face. “Okay then, Daniel O’Connor. Today you become a child of God - let’s do this!”

  “What do I have to do?”

  “It’s simple really. You first have to believe, and I think you do?”

  “Yes, thanks to you, I believe.”

  Lizzy’s body tingled. Daniel really believed!

  “Then you have to repent.” She gulped. This was going to be a challenge. “Repentance means that you confess you’re a sinner and that you’re in need of saving. But it has to be genuine. You have to really mean it, and that’s the hardest thing for most people to do, because it makes them face up to their real self.”

  Lizzy’s heart beat rapidly as she waited for Daniel’s response. Would he humble himself and confess his sin before God? Or would this be the stumbling block?

  “Lizzy, I really am sorry for all the wrong I’ve done. For the way I’ve treated you and other people. I can see I’ve got sin in my life, and I need to get rid of it, so yes, I’m ready to confess.”

  The remorse revealed in Daniel’s words was genuine, and Lizzy thanked God with all her heart.

  “Well then, all that’s left is to tell God all of that. And then he’ll do the rest.” She squeezed his hand. “Are you ready?”

  His eyes glistened as he returned Lizzy’s squeeze.

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s pray, then.” Lizzy closed her eyes and began.

  “Dear God, thank you so much for your love for us. And thank you so much for sending Jesus to earth to die for us so that we can be with you. We don’t deserve any of this, but we gratefully accept it. And today, Lord, Daniel wants to accept you as his Lord and Saviour. Please fill him with your love and your peace as he gives his heart to you. Thank you Lord God.”

  “Daniel, just say this prayer after me, okay?”

  Daniel nodded.

  “Dear God, I need You to sort me out. I’ve done some bad things in my life, and I’m truly sorry for them all. Not just things I’ve done, but things I’ve thought. I want to turn away from my old life, and instead live for You. Will You come into my life and cleanse me from the inside out? Make me a new person, Jesus. I know I don’t deserve You, but I know You love me just as I am, and for that I’ll be forever grateful. Thank you Lord Jesus. In your precious name, Amen.”

  After Daniel had finished praying this prayer, Lizzy stood and gave him the biggest hug she dared. Tears streamed down both their faces, but Daniel was sobbing. Lizzy held him as God washed him clean from the inside out, just as He had done with her many years before, removing the debris and dirt from all the years he’d lived for himself, and replacing it with His love and forgiveness.

  A nurse came in while Lizzy was holding him, but Lizzy shook her head and the nurse left quietly. When Daniel’s tears finally subsided, he lifted his head and looked into Lizzy’s eyes.

  “Thank you, my sweet girl. Now I know what you’ve known all along. That I’m nothing without God in my life. Thank you for showing me that.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When Lizzy left the hospital early that evening, Daniel had time to revisit the events of the day. He’d never anticipated he’d feel so different inside, but it was like a weight had been lifted from him, and he felt new and refreshed. Lizzy had shown him 2 Corinthians 5 :17 which explained what he was feeling: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”, but it was still a little unreal.

  He opened his Bible and started reading, but unlike before, it now seemed to make so much more sense. Lizzy suggested he keep reading through the book of John, so that’s what he did, and he was blown away by the way Jesus was treated while He was here on earth, and how most people still didn’t believe in Him even though He did all those amazing things right in front of their very eyes.

  It was like Lizzy said, that unless people want to believe, they won’t. Instead, they’ll choose to go their own way and do their own thing, even though the God of all creation stood right there in front of them, offering them a whole new way of living. People’s stubborn hearts held them back from all they could be in God. Which is exactly what he’d been doing all his life. Until now.

  He was still reading when the nurse came to check on him later that evening. Looking up, he smiled at her, and wondered if she’d notice any difference in him. He closed his Bible and placed it on the dresser before holding his arm out.

  “You seem chirpy tonight.” She g
lanced at him as she held his wrist. “Must be almost time you left us, I’d say, from the look of you.”

  It must have been obvious.

  Lizzy shared the good news with Nessa and Riley that night, and like Lizzy, they were ecstatic. They’d seen the hurt and bitterness he’d been carrying for years eating away at him and showing itself in his unpredictable behaviour.

  “We’re just so pleased, Lizzy. It’s wonderful news,” Nessa said, giving her a big hug. “We’ve prayed for him daily, and now, well, this is great! Thank you Jesus!” she said as she lifted her eyes heavenward.

  The mood that night was very upbeat. Lizzy called Sal and told her the good news, but something held her back from calling her parents. Her mother would understand, but she wasn’t sure about her father.

  She found it difficult to sleep, not because she was worried, but because she was overjoyed and her mind was active. It didn’t matter. Instead, she prayed and read, and prayed some more, before she finally succumbed to sleep.

  The nurse was right. When Daniel was visited by the doctor the following morning, he was told he was well enough to go home. The news filled him with relief and concern. Whilst it was great he’d recovered so quickly, it meant leaving the security of the hospital ward, and going back into the real world with all its problems and temptations. But this time he’d have God with him. And he was determined to not let Him down.

  When Lizzy arrived, she found him already dressed and packed. The doctor wanted to see her to go through his follow up care with them both, but then they were free to go. As Nessa had already left, they called a taxi and went home.

  It had been almost ten weeks since they’d been in the apartment together, since that day Lizzy had made that ultimatum with Daniel. She’d never imagined it would end like this, but she couldn’t have been happier. It didn’t matter that they didn’t have a house. This was their home, and as she’d joked with Daniel on their holiday a few months earlier, she’d be happy living with him in a tent.