Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
I finally fully process that she’s here. Home.
“Mira, sweetheart,” I rasp. “Is that you?”
Her eyes fill with tears.
“Yes, Jordan,” she says in a gentle voice. “I’m back.”
Jason blinks a few times before his eyes finally focus on her.
“Baby I thought you were gone forever,” he says hoarsely. “Damnit, are my eyes deceiving me?”
Mira begins to cry then, heaving hoarse sobs. She puts her head in my lap and her shoulders shudder as small gasps erupt from her mouth.
“I’m sorry,” she manages through broken cries. “I thought I told you that everything was okay in Kentucky. I had to go for a bit, but I’m back now. I had no idea you’d be like this.”
My hand raises to tremblingly stroke her curls.
“Sweetheart,” I rasp. “We’re fine. We will be fine now that you’re back. Where have you been?”
She cries harder.
“Didn’t you get my texts? I said I was visiting relatives in Kentucky and I’d be back soon. What happened to you guys?”
I vaguely remember something about the texts, but to be honest, I shut them out after realizing that Mira was gone.
“It’s okay,” I growl, my voice hoarse and raspy from being silent too long. “We did get the texts, but we weren’t sure you were really going to come back.”
To my surprise, Jason and I begin crying then too. Tears stream from our eyes as we sit on the couch, with the curvy girl still sobbing in my lap. She lets out a long shaky breath and speaks through her tears.
“I’m so sorry. I was wrong for leaving, but I thought it was the only way to save your livelihoods. I thought I was the reason that everything was falling apart, and the reason why your church has been going downhill. I know now that I should have talked to you first because we’re married, and you both deserved that at the very least. I know that it’s a lot to ask, but can you ever forgive me? I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” she sobs.
My heart breaks as we look at the suffering girl.
“Mira,” Jason starts. “Our life in the church is important to us, of course. We founded our own church because of the depths of our beliefs, but we also committed ourselves to you. You are just as important to us. And just because our congregation has dwindled doesn’t mean we don’t feel fulfilled. Even if we only reach one person, that’s enough. The Word of God is worth it.”
“We’re married,” I continue. “If you felt unhappy in our marriage, you should have come to us instead of running away. We want you to feel totally comfortable and able to come to use with whatever problems you have. Why would you run off to Kentucky like that?”
She’s still crying, and she starts to nod.
“I know. I just got so confused and couldn’t think straight. I thought that I was a mistake for you two, and that you guys were too nice to get rid of me, so I wanted to do it my own way. I did go to Kentucky originally with the thought that I’d never come back,” she admits. “But then talking to my Aunt Angie made me realize that it’s okay. My real life is here, with you, and we should work through the things that ail us.”
I pull her close.
“Nothing ails us, Mira. Now that you’re back, the world is going to be fine. We can re-build the church because God has given us that strength, even if we have to start from scratch again. It’s not a problem.”
Jason joins in.
“Sweetheart, promise that you’ll never leave us again okay? Things like jobs and careers are important, yes, but they aren’t the be all end all, and they never have been for Jordan and me. You are our sun, moon and stars. You are the reason why we live, and your disappearance created a black hole in our lives that made us want to die.”
Suddenly, Mira begins crying again.
“Please forgive me,” she says. “I love you so much, and this has all been a huge mess.”
I pull her close, pressing a kiss to those sweet lips. Jason joins us on her other side, pressing a kiss to one soft, small hand.
“We love you too,” I say. “Always and forever.”
Suddenly, Mira lifts her head, and her eyes are shining with wonder and grace.
“Jason, Jordan,” she begins in a soft, trembling voice. “I almost forgot to tell you guys. God has been truly giving of his love.” There’s a smile starting on her face, and I adore seeing the sparkle in her eye.
“What is it sweetheart?” my friend growls. “Tell us. Have you seen God’s way?”
She nods.
“I have, and it’s good news. He is truly glorious in his grace. I’m, well …” The curvy girl trails off, but her eyes go downward to her tummy. She places a hand there, kind of caressing the round mound and my heart jolts to a stop. I look at Mira’s warm brown eyes, and then over at my buddy, who looks utterly shocked. The two of us stare at one another, before realization hits us both at the same time.