No blood there. She had not cut herself.
After we finished our science assignment, separately, Eden shut her book and laid it on the floor beside the bed. I did the same shortly after.
“Want to watch a movie?” she asked.
“Sure. Which one?”
“How about Cinderella?”
Typical of Eden. I’d watched the animated version with her numerous times. But after the dark subject matter we’d discussed tonight, I didn’t mind entering into fairy-tale land at all. Besides, Disney movies never get old, no matter what age you are.
Eden hopped off the bed, grabbed the DVD off the bookshelf, and slid the video into the player.
I fell asleep with pleasant images in my mind of Prince Charming riding to Eden’s rescue on a white horse. Just before I drifted off I heard Mike whisper in my ear, “Eden will be safe now.”
I reached out, wanting to touch him in some way in thankfulness.
Instead, I felt him squeeze my forearm.
I awoke to the sound of doors slamming, footsteps running up the stairs, and Eden’s parents calling out her name. I opened my eyes and saw Bob and Kathy in the doorway. They looked disheveled, and their eyes were red.
When her dad turned on the light, Eden sat up in bed. “Dad. Mom.
You look horrible.”
“Eden, honey.” Her father wrapped his arm around her. “There’s been an . . . incident.” His voice shook.
Eden blinked. “What?”
“The police just called,” her mother said, stroking Eden’s hair. “Uncle Jeff’s been arrested and is being held without bail. The authorities found some questionable material on his computer.”
“Like what?” Eden asked.
Neither of her parents responded.
The color drained from Eden’s face.
I could certainly guess what they had found. I guessed that Eden had a clue too.
Pastor Bob kissed Eden on the forehead. “I need to go to the police station. Your mother’s going to Grandma’s house to stay with her until I can get there to comfort her once she tells her the news.”
“Will you girls be all right here alone for a while?” Kathy asked.
Eden clasped her arms around her knees. “We’ll be fine.”
Her mom looked my way. “I called your mother and asked if you could stay here with Eden until we get back. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” Truth to tell, I couldn’t wait to hear what happened to stupid Jeff.
Her parents left the room. Her mother closed the door behind her, leaving the light on.
I thought about the prayer I’d prayed just a few hours ago. What had I said to God? If I recalled correctly, I’d asked Him to take Jeff out of Eden’s life. Had God done what I asked Him to? Had my prayer caused somebody to go to jail?
At least he couldn’t hurt Eden from jail. I hoped he stayed there for a long time.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many other times God had answered my prayers in ways I didn’t know.
Eden and I lay awake talking till morning. By dawn we were so tired we decided to stay home from school.
As we sat in her kitchen eating bowls of cereal, Eden squirmed in her chair. “Is it bad that I’m happy Uncle Jeff’s in the slammer?”
“Personally, I think God answered my prayer for your protection. It just happened faster than I thought it would.”
“You think God put Jeff in jail to keep me safe?”
“I know He did.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“My guardian angel told me.” There. I’d said it out loud to someone.
Eden dropped her spoon, and it clanged against her cereal bowl. “You mean you heard a voice in your head?”
“No. I’ve actually seen him.”
Eden’s mouth dropped open. “For real?” Then her expression turned to a look of curiosity. “What does he look like?”
I put down my spoon and pushed my cereal bowl away. “Most of the time, he looks like a normal teenage guy. At least that’s how he appears to me. He’s got blond hair, tanned skin, and he wears jeans and sneakers.”
“Is he hot?” Eden giggled.
“No!” I threw my napkin at her. “Well, actually, he’s not bad. But he’s my guardian angel. He’s not really a guy.”
Eden sighed. “If vampires are hot I can just imagine what angels must look like.” We both laughed. I loved seeing her relaxed expression. “I guess you liked my dad’s angel notes.”
Of course, they had helped tremendously in starting this new journey of seeing angels. “Yeah. Thanks for lending them to me.”
“So, what’s his name?”
“Mike.”
“Like Michael the archangel?”
“No. Just Mike. He’s not an archangel.”
“And he . . . talks to you?”
“Yeah. And he’s really funny too.”
“Like how?”
“He jokes around with me. And he has creative ways of getting me out of precarious situations.”
“Do tell.”
“Remember my date with Andy that I told you about?”
“Of course. Who could forget a groping guy being interrupted by a snarling wolf?”
“Well, that wolf was Mike. He protects me in other ways too.”
“So he protects you from danger? Like stopping cars from running over you?”
“Well, no, but he could.”
“Do you think I have a guardian angel too?”
“I know you do.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw him last night.”
Eden leaned in, her eyes wide. “You did?”
“After I prayed for you, he showed himself to me. He’s a big, burly guy.
Very intimidating. But he has gentle eyes and a kind smile.”
“He must have hated seeing me hurt myself all those times. I guess if he’s been my guardian angel, he’s seen everything that has happened to me.”
“Your angel wants you to be delivered from all the things you’ve suffered.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Wow. My dad’s been a pastor for as long as I can remember, but this is the first time I’ve really felt God’s love for me. I mean, if He assigned a big, burly angel to guard me He must really care about me.”
“He does. A lot.”
Eden patted my hand across the table. “Thanks, Liv.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank God.”
Eden looked heavenward and said, “Thank You, Lord.”
We grabbed our cereal bowls and placed them in the dishwasher.
After taking showers and getting dressed, I called my mom and asked her to come pick me up.
“I heard you skipped school today,” she said.
“Yeah, I thought it best to stay with Eden.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. “Well, I can understand.”
I was relieved my mom wasn’t angry at me.
“See you when you get here.”
I hung up the phone.
Eden and I sat at her kitchen table, waiting for my mom to arrive.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Liv.”
I gave her another hug, then walked to Mom’s car, which was waiting in the driveway.
When I got home I went straight to my room so I could work on the assignments I knew were due the next day after checking my teacher’s website to find out what I’d missed and what the homework assignments were for the day. As I was finishing a math assignment my cell phone rang. It was Eden.
“Liv?” Eden’s voice sounded more euphoric than ever.
“Yeah?”
“I just saw him.”
“Who?”
“My guardian angel.”
“Really?”
“He was really tall, like you said. And hairy, like a bear. But he looked like the nicest guy in the world. His eyes were so gentle in contrast to his intimidating appearance. And trus
t me, our angels care for us, more than I ever imagined.”
I let out a sigh. Eden had confirmed exactly what I saw. I wasn’t crazy after all! “Where did you see him?”
“I was outside, taking out the trash. When I saw him standing by the bushes beside the garage, I screamed. He smiled at me through his thick black beard. I gave him an awkward wave, then ran back inside.”
“Next time you see him, talk to him.”
“Do you think I’ll see him again?”
“I’m sure of it.”
“What should I say?”
“Whatever you want. You could start by asking what his name is.”
“I can do that!”
“And Eden?”
“Yeah?”
“Before you go to sleep tonight, be sure to thank God for letting you see your angel.”
“I will definitely do that.”
“I have to go. Math homework.”
“Say no more. I hear you.” We both laughed as we hung up.
Boy, it was nice not being the only one who saw angels.
Thank You, God, for letting Eden see her angel. She needs to know she is protected. And thank You for the relief I heard in Eden’s voice. Now I have a friend who can learn to do spiritual battle as I am learning. I just may need her—and that burly angel of hers—to assist Mike and me sometime.
“You will.”
I shuddered at those words from God.
Chapter 14
IFORGOT TO TURN off my cell phone at volleyball practice. Coach shot me a dirty look as I jogged over to my backpack to turn it off.
Caller ID showed it was Eden. I panicked for a second. She knew better than to call me in the middle of practice. Then I remembered God was in control.
Let her be OK, God.
I missed two perfect passes and failed to set the ball for the hitters. My fingers felt like Jell-O.
Of course, Vicki pounced on me. “Get your stuff together, Liv.”
“Vicki, step in for Olivia,” Coach shouted.
She smirked as she walked to my position.
I seethed as I took my place on the bench. I took the opportunity to grab my phone and run to the bathroom. Once out of sight I read a text from Eden.
Call me ASAP! Greg and Toby have been in a car accident. Meet me at Lord’s Memorial hospital as soon as you can.
I stared at the lockers, wondering if the guys were dead or alive.
I dialed my mom’s cell phone immediately. “Mom, come get me. I have to get to the hospital. Greg Monahan has been in a car accident.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Mom and I rode in silence on the way home after practice. As soon as I was home I burst into the kitchen to find my dad.
“I need to borrow the car, Dad. Do you mind? I want to go right away.”
“Sure.” Dad walked over and gave me a bear hug.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I grabbed the keys from the peg by the back door.
Mom merely stood beside him and watched me leave, yet said, “Call us as soon as you know anything.”
Mom wasn’t always quite as nurturing as Dad. But I knew she cared. I knew she prayed for me. Mike told me so. For that I was thankful.
Since she did not make the effort, I decided I would. I gave her a hug before I stormed to the garage and jumped in the car, jamming the keys into the ignition. I could still see the shocked look on her face in my mind’s eye as I drove to the hospital.
I tried not to drive too far over the speed limit, even though my hands were trembling and I was feeling lightheaded. I wondered what I’d find when I got to the hospital. Would Greg even be alive?
I’d only met his friend Toby once at school, then saw him the night of the concert. He didn’t hang out with us much. But I’d heard from Christina that he was as bad as Greg when it came to driving really fast. Whenever they hung out together, they were even worse.
Arriving at the hospital, I grabbed a pack of tissues from the glove compartment and ran across the parking lot.
I waited impatiently for the doors of the ER to open automatically. People in green scrubs rushed up and down the hallway. I went to the check-in counter. The nurse behind the window handed a file on a clipboard to a doctor, who grabbed it and then disappeared out a small door.
I braced my hands on the edge of the counter. “I’m a friend of Greg Monahan. Is he OK?”
The nurse turned to me. “I’m sorry. You’ll have to wait until the family arrives.”
The last thing I wanted to do was wait. But seeing no choice, I said, “Thanks,” then headed into the large, empty waiting room. Where was Eden?
I sat in one of the blue upholstered chairs, put my elbows on my knees, and covered my face with my hands.
God, help Greg and Toby to be OK. I’m not sure if they’re Christians or not. Lord, give them the chance to decide. I bet You can work through near-death experiences, comas, visions. Could You do that now?
A flurry of voices shouted out medical orders. I looked up and saw the automatic door open. Eden walked in, her eyes red and swollen. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had to wait till Dad got home so I could use the car.”
I stood and embraced her.
“How are they?” she asked.
“I don’t know. The nurse won’t release any information until the family gets here.”
“Oh gosh. I can’t stand not knowing.”
I wiped tears from my face. “Do you know if Greg’s a Christian?”
“No. At the concert he looked pretty intent when the youth pastor was inviting people to ask God into their hearts. But he never talked about it after. Not to me, anyway.”
Then the thought hit us both at the same time, and we both said, “Christina.”
“Oh, no.” I dialed her number. No answer.
More commotion at the ER entrance caught our attention. Greg’s parents sped past the waiting room toward check-in. I heard his mother wail, “Where’s my son?”
I peeked around the corner and saw a man in a white coat motioning for Greg’s parents to be seated on chairs in the hallway. As he spoke with the Monahans, Greg’s mom cried and blew her nose over and over.
Greg’s dad looked emotionless.
I turned back to where Eden sat in the waiting room. Her lips were moving. I couldn’t hear any words, but I knew the Holy Spirit was giving her words to pray, like He had that night on the football field.
The doctor placed a hand on Mrs. Monahan’s shoulder. Then he disappeared into a room down the hall. I wished I could hear what he said to them.
I felt Eden come up behind me.
Mrs. Monahan spotted us. “Girls!” She elbowed Greg’s dad, motioning in our direction. “Honey, its Greg’s friends from school.”
We rushed to her side. I couldn’t think of a single word to say. Pat answers would sound empty. All I had to offer were my presence and my prayers.
Comfort them, Lord. No matter what the outcome is with Greg.
Mrs. Monahan rocked back and forth, blowing her nose on a well-used tissue. I reached into my purse, pulled out the mini pack of tissues I’d grabbed from the car, and handed it to Mrs. Monahan.
“Thank you, dear.”
A nurse approached us. “You can go in and see your son now.”
The Monahans shot to their feet.
“How is he?” Greg’s dad asked.
“Unresponsive but stable.”
The Monahans followed the nurse, and Eden and I followed them.
We entered a small room with stark white curtains and walls. Greg lay motionless on the bed, his eyes shut. His left cheek was bruised, and a three-inch swab of hair had been ripped from his head on the same side. His lips were swollen and purple. A nurse stood beside the bed, adjusting his IV drip. Bruises covered his hands and arms. Blood seeped through the bandage on his head, where I assumed was a deep gash.
His mother hurried to his bedside, letting out a whimper. His dad removed his baseball cap and stood next to the bed
, his hand on his wife’s shoulder. Eden and I lingered in the doorway.
A doctor brushed past us and approached the Monahans. “I’m Dr. Howard. I’m so sorry you have to see your son this way. He will be admitted. There’s swelling on his brain. If it doesn’t go down within the next seventy-two hours, there won’t be much hope that he’ll recover. If he does, there could be serious long-term damage—we won’t know until he wakes up.”
Mr. Monahan’s shoulders shook, and he hugged his wife.
Dr. Howard gave Greg’s mother a squeeze on her forearm. “Again—I’m so sorry. We’ll do everything we can to keep him comfortable. In the meantime we must monitor him and wait. Come next door with me, and I’ll show you his X-rays.”
When they turned, I asked, “Is it OK if we stay for a minute?”
“Of course,” the doctor responded.
As everyone else exited the room, one of the nurses gave us a warning look. “Keep it short. His family may need some privacy with him when they get back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “Thank you.”
The clamor that had filled the past hour stilled.
I felt like I was in a TV soap opera. All of this seemed surreal.
Eden went to the foot of the bed. I walked up to Greg’s side and touched his hand. “Greg,” I whispered, “If you can hear me, I want to encourage you to choose God. It’s never too late.” I started to cry. But I’d given all my tissues away, so I wiped my nose with the back of my other hand. “Jesus died to forgive you for everything you’ve done wrong. It all died with Him on the cross. Accept His sacrifice. Have faith. Ask Jesus to be Lord of your life.” Eden handed me a tissue she’d found from the box at his bedside.
The words sounded cheesy to me. Greg wasn’t used to hearing all this churchy language. But it was the only way I knew to express it. I prayed Greg would be able to comprehend it—if he could hear me. And I hoped he would make the right choice.
Suddenly a vision flashed into my mind. I saw Greg standing in the corner of the room, watching me talk to him in the bed. As fast as it came, the image faded. Was this a sign from God that Greg was listening?
“He’s still here,” Eden said in a shaky voice.
“You feel it too?”
“Yes.”
I heard wailing outside the room. I peeked out the doorway and saw a nurse escorting a crying couple down the hallway. Another nurse came into the room.
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