Misconceptions Page 23

  His cell phone rang. A call this late? I hope Travis isn’t in trouble. “This is Houston,” he responded with a low voice.

  “It’s Joe. Where are you?”

  “I’m still with Dad. Everything okay?”

  “Yes and no. We’re at Castalgia’s, or what used to be Castalgia’s. It’s burning to the ground.”

  “What?” His voice rose, so he turned away from the bed.

  “It’s a long story. You’ll be interested in what we found.”

  “What do you mean? You didn’t break in there, did you?” His voice grew louder.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Okay, now you have my curiosity up. What did you find?”

  “I’ll show you when we get there.”

  “Joe?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Be careful.” He ended the call. The past twenty-four hours had proven to him that an entire life could change in a second.

  “He depends on you. You know that, don’t you?” His father’s voice was so soft, Houston almost thought he’d imagined it.

  “Hey, Dad. How are you feeling?”

  Dad shifted slightly in the bed. “I’ve been better. How’s Joe doing?”

  “Things are all coming to a head. He and Dominique are on their way here with something important.”

  A shaky hand touched Houston’s. “Good. That’ll give us a few minutes to talk.”

  Why was it so difficult to listen to him? True to his word, Dad hadn’t had a drink in years. Said he was sorry so many times. Hadn’t he paid enough penance?

  Pain filled his eyes. “I’m sorry, Houston. When you were growing up, I was a lousy father. My drinking destroyed everything I loved. It killed your mother and any relationship you and I had. Your mother forgave me. I can’t expect you to do the same, but I do want you to know not a day goes by that I don’t regret my drinking.”

  Houston grabbed his dad’s hand. Images of his father standing in the line of fire remained fresh in his mind. The chains of unforgiveness dropped away. “I forgive you, Dad.” Four little words. That’s all it took for years of anger and resentment to dissolve.

  His father swiped at the tears coursing down his cheeks. “Praise God. I can’t tell you how much your forgiveness means to me. I have prayed for this moment for years. The Lord is so good.”

  First thing he mentions is God’s goodness. For the first time, Houston felt free to speak with his dad about his faith. Since the day his father had come banging through the front door, Bible in hand, spouting that he’d been saved, Houston had resented his dad’s newfound faith more than the drinking. At least drunken behavior was something familiar. But he hadn’t slipped back into his old habits like Houston expected. “How did you get saved?”

  His father reached a shaky hand for the cup of ice on the tray next to his bed. He spooned a few ice chips into his mouth, then was quiet for a moment. “You know those three crosses up on Mountview Hill? One day when Mike and I drove by them, he asked me point blank if I knew where I was going to spend eternity. I told him I didn’t think anyone could know. Mike told me I was wrong. He said we all choose our cross.”

  Houston shifted in the chair. “What did he mean by that?”

  “He said it’s from the Bible. You ever hear the account of the two thieves next to Jesus? The thief on the right chose to believe, and Jesus told him he would be with Him that day in paradise. The thief on the left didn’t believe and is spending eternity without the Lord.”

  “Just a choice? That seems too simple.”

  Dad nodded. “It is that simple. We all choose our cross. I choose to believe in Jesus’s perfect sacrifice. I still make mistakes, but I’m so thankful I finally understood the truth.”

  How could he have missed it? Houston’s heart quickened. Years of struggle melted away. He was through running. It was time to ask the Lord for forgiveness “You know, if anyone would have told me I’d be discussing spiritual things with my father, I would have told them they were crazy.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m still confused about some things and have a lot of questions.”

  “Ask me anything you’d like.”

  “If you’re right about what is God doing with the pregnancy rates, why would He allow only Christians conceive? I’ve seen nothing but destruction come from this. What could be His reason?”

  “Would it help to know I’m as mystified as you? Maybe it’s judgment for our attitude towards taking a pre-born life. Maybe it’s so we’ll value life. Or maybe he’s building a generation of people to do His will.” He coughed. “No matter His reason, we can trust Him. He sees the whole picture and orchestrates it all for the good of His kingdom. We may not understand it, but he promises that all things work to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.”

  Houston stared out the window. Red lights from an incoming ambulance flashed in the night. “I’ve struggled for months trying to make sense of the crazy things that have been happening.”

  “I noticed the problem four years ago when I was in the nursing home recovering from my stroke. Two nurses’ aides came in my room. While they were working on me, one mentioned she was pregnant. When the other one asked what she was going to do, she said get rid of it.” He snapped his fingers. “Just like that. No regret, no remorse. The baby was an inconvenience to her.

  “She explained that she thought a baby would make her boyfriend commit to the relationship. When that didn’t pan out, the baby had to go.” He tugged at the oxygen tubes protruding from his nostrils. “It broke my heart. Several months later the news started reporting that pregnancies were down. But I noticed a lot of pregnant women at church. I started praying—and reading my Bible.

  “I’ve spent a lot of time reading Scriptures. What stands out to me is the fact that God’s ways are not our ways. He knows the value of life. He’s the author of life.” He wiped away a stray tear. “I’m worried about this generation. God doesn’t make mistakes. What does the future hold for these children—this generation the Lord is bringing forth?”

  Houston shook his head, he certainly had no answer. He just knew that if God wanted a group of people to love and serve Him, he wanted to be one of them.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Travis maneuvered Vinnie’s car along the winding country roads. He checked the rearview mirror again. Still no headlights. Cindy let out a cry, followed by a series of short, controlled breaths.

  He placed a hand on her expanded belly. It felt hard and tight. “How far apart are the contractions?”

  She groaned. “I’ve lost … track, but they’re … pretty close.” She continued her patterned breathing. “ I think we … have a little over … an hour. Maybe less … since there’s only … one baby.”

  He looked at the clock on the dashboard. “The highway entrance is about twenty miles away. After that, it’s easy going.”

  “Travis?” Her tone held such a vulnerability it almost crushed him. “I forgive you. For everything. I don’t know how we got … to this place. But I know you’ve done your best to protect your family from a horrible situation. And I know this … I still love you.” She cried out again. “I think we should … take this chance … the Lord is offering us.”

  For the first time in a long time, he felt a small glimmer of hope. Travis squeezed her hand and released it. “I don’t deserve you, Cindy.” I’m overwhelmed! Thank you, Lord. “I don’t know what to say.” He smiled. “Thank you doesn’t seem to quite cover it.”

  She reached for his hand. “Do you realize … how blessed we are?”

  He let out a stilted laugh. “Well, that puts a different spin on it. I’m rushing my wife— who’s in labor—to the hospital in a criminal’s car. For all I know, the police are minutes behind us, waiting to arrest me for his murder.”

  “We’re still blessed. Think about it. The Lord chose to bless us with another child while couples everywhere are trying everything and anything to conceive. He has a plan for us, Tra
vis. I trust Him.”

  He checked the rearview mirror again. Was that a flash of movement behind them? If it was, the car didn’t have its headlights on.

  He squinted and took another look. Surely the police would have their headlights on and lights flashing.

  Had Angelica found them?

  Travis focused on the road. Only ten miles to the highway, where there would be more traffic. He checked his mirrors again.

  The vehicle was gaining on them. A big car, maybe a Crown Victoria. He pressed on the accelerator.

  “Everything okay?” Cindy asked as she shifted in her seat.

  “We’re being followed.” His eyes were trained on the rearview mirror. “Better start praying.” He looked forward in time to take a sharp curve.

  Just on the other side of the bend, his headlights lit up a white cargo van blocking the road in front of them.

  He slammed on the brakes.

  The car’s back end swung wide. It just barely missed a row of pines lining the roadside.

  Travis jerked the wheel the other direction, but it did no good. The car spun out of control.

  Cindy screamed.

  Shattering glass was the last sound he heard.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Houston eyed the two officers standing in front of him through narrowed eyes. Was he dreaming, or had it been their presence that woke him?

  Sunlight peeked into the hospital waiting room from behind the curtain-clad windows. Curled up in a small recliner, Becky didn’t even seem to notice the sliver of brightness that crossed her shoulders. Beyond her, Joe and Dominique sat on a couch, with her head resting on his shoulder.

  Houston rose from the vinyl chair, stretching his sore muscles. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?”

  The way they glanced at each other and the expression on their faces told Houston something was dreadfully wrong. The hairs on the back of Houston’s neck stood up.

  The first officer took his hat off. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Houston, but your brother-in-law Travis and his wife have been involved in an accident.”

  Houston’s stomach clenched as he gently nudged Becky on the shoulder.

  She sat up immediately. Her eyes widened when she noticed the police officers behind him. “What’s wrong?”

  Joe and Dominique stirred.

  The taller officer repeated his words.

  Becky stood beside Houston. “Are they all right?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. They both were killed.”

  Houston’s hands numbed and his ears rang. This can’t be. It was as if he were watching some horrible scene play out in front of him. If only someone would shake him and wake him up.

  Becky fell back into the recliner. “What happened?”

  Joe rose next to Dominique. “There has to be some kind of mistake.” He ran a rand through his hair. “Are you certain?”

  Houston took several deep breaths. “What about the baby? Were they able to save the baby?”

  The two officers looked at each other, then shook their heads. “We weren’t aware there was a baby,” said the shorter officer said. He pulled a cell phone from a plastic evidence bag and handed it to Houston.

  “What’s this?” Houston didn’t recognize the phone.

  “I was first on the scene,” he explained. “Right before he passed, Travis gave this to me. His last words were, Please give this to Houston. I have to tell you, he was driving Vinnie Fernandez’s car. If this phone contains some type of evidence, I have to impound it.”

  “Why was Travis driving Vinnie’s car?”

  The policeman cleared his throat. “There’s one more thing you need to know. Vinnie Fernandez was found dead in the trunk of the car Travis had at the cabin. Right now, Travis is the main suspect.”

  Becky shot out of her seat again. “Travis would never kill anyone!”

  Houston took a step toward the officers. “The only thing Travis is guilty of—was guilty of … ” The admission made his stomach churn. “Travis was trying to protect his family. My brother-in-law was no murderer. He—”

  Becky’s sobbing cut short the rest of his words. “Find the baby, Houston. You have to find the baby.” Wiping away the tears, she wrapped her arms around herself. “How are we going to tell the kids? What about Samuel?”

  Dominique put her arms around Becky.

  Houston struggled to shift his mind from the tragedy playing out in his personal life to his calm, logical, police mode. “Let’s see what’s on this phone.”

  He punched the buttons to bring up recent calls. He scrolled through the menu. “The last person to call was Angelica. She was just at the station, claiming to be an FBI agent. My guess is she’s a fraud. Let’s have headquarters run her phone number and see if we can get a location on it. If we’re going to find the baby, we have to move fast.”

  “You can have a few minutes of privacy,” Officer Dannon said. “We’ll be waiting for you in the hall. We’re going to need that phone.” Both officers left the room.

  Houston joined Becky, Dominique, and Joe in a huddled circle. Finally, he broke the silence. “I don’t know how, but somehow the Lord will get us through this.”

  Becky looked up at him through eyes swollen with tears. “The Lord is already helping us. You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you speak those words.” She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “Please be careful. I don’t want you to be her next victim.”

  ***

  Two hours later, Houston stared outside the passenger-side window of an unmarked police car parked outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. He noted all the entrances and exits. We don’t have enough backup here. If something went wrong, Angelica would get away and they might never find the baby.

  Patience … you have to be patient.

  Ten minutes later, two unmarked cars and two black and whites pulled up next to the police cruiser Houston sat in. He got out of the car, secured the police-issued Glock on his belt, and checked the backup weapon in a leg holster on his left calf.

  The officers gathered between the cars. The officer in charge asked, “You sure you’re not too close on this one?”

  Houston stuffed aside his mounting grief and fear. “I’m good. Let’s do it.”

  The four officers pushed through the front doors of the hotel, with Houston the last man in. Eight more closed off the back exit.

  Please let us have the element of surprise.

  The light on the GPS one of the officers clutched in his hand blinked rapidly. Angelica was close by. He turned the unit off and stuffed it in his front pocket.

  Thick carpet ran the length of the long hall, with more than twenty doors dotting the walls. Which one did Angelica hide behind?

  He stepped softly down the hall, keeping close to the wall.

  Muffled voices came from the behind the seventh door on the right. The officer in charge pressed his ear up to the oak door. After a moment he nodded to the rest of the men. This was it. Angelica was behind that door.

  Houston and the others surrounded the door. In one fluent move, the officer in charge twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open. He took several steps in and circled to the right. His team filed in behind him.

  Two large gentlemen stood against the wall behind Angelica, who sat with a smiling, middle-aged couple at a conference table. The woman across from Angelica clutched a tiny baby in her arms.

  Houston charged towards the woman. “That baby needs medical attention.”

  Angelica’s guards stepped in front of him. In tandem, they reached into their jackets.

  “Keep your hands where we can see them,” the officer in charge called out.

  Both men raised their hands.

  Houston stood over the woman clutching the baby to her chest and held his arms out.

  Her glare drifted from Angelica to Houston. “You’ll find our paperwork is in order. You can’t do this.”

  He kept his arms extended. “I don’t care what pape
rwork you have. This transaction is illegal.”

  With trembling hands, she handed the baby to him.

  Houston pushed the blanket away from the newborn’s face. The baby was perfectly formed. A tiny nose and lips, and the same birthmark Cindy had on her left cheek. He sucked in his breath. The baby’s eyes were identical to Travis’s.

  He swallowed the salty taste in his mouth. “I think this little baby wants to go home.” Houston drew the little one to his chest and breathed in her fresh scent.

  ***

  The hospital room in the cardiac care unit was twice as large as the ICU rooms. Samuel held a worn Bible in his hands. “Psalm 46:1. The Lord is a stronghold, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”

  The words soothed Dominique’s aching soul. How did Samuel do it? His faith was rock-solid. He’d just lost a daughter, a son-in-law, and possibly a grandchild. Yet he clung to the Lord. What a privilege to be included in their private family grief.

  Joe draped his arm around her shoulders, and warmth spread up her back and down her arms. She leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek. “Any word from Houston?”

  “Not yet—”

  Houston burst into the room, carrying a tiny bundle in his arms. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet the newest member of our family. She doesn’t have a name yet, but I know she wants to meet everyone.”

  Becky and Joe crowded Houston, anxious to get a look at the precious baby girl. Dominique joined the circle.

  She was tiny, but perfect!

  Houston let them look for a few moments, then approached the bed and lowered the newborn. Samuel peered at the bundle.

  The baby cooed and wriggled in the blanket.

  Dominique sucked in a breath and bit her bottom lip. Travis and Cindy would have fallen in love with this beautiful little baby. But she’d never know her mother’s voice or have the chance for her dad to walk her down the aisle.

  Becky wiped at her tears, and Houston made no effort to stem the flow down his cheeks. Joe stood next to his dad, hand on Samuel’s shoulder.

  Samuel broke the silence. “What a miracle. Life is such a miracle. Every life is a gift from the Lord.”