The dealer looked at Davis incredulously.
"You're serious," he said in disbelief.
"Come on, man. You owe me bigtime, and I'm sitting on a gold mine over there!"
"Yeah, but five grand for that thing?"
"Come on, man. How many millions in business have I sent your way over the years and you can't do me this one little favor?"
"I don't know."
Davis frowned.
"Dude, you owe me huge. Time to pay up."
The dealer leaned back in his chair and thought about this for a bit. Finally he sighed.
"Alright, I'll do it, but after this we're even now, got it?"
"Deal!" said Davis.
"Alright. Mrs. Barton, if you would, please," said the dealer, motioning to a chair in front of his desk.
Jenna sat down anxiously, not entirely certain what to make of the whole situation.
"Okay, here's the deal. We're gonna get you a rapid title. It's a regular title that can be generated by the Secretary of State in a few minutes. Since you're apparently in transition between locations and not a resident of this state, we'll get you a provisional ownership permit, which means that, once you get a permanent address, just file an adjustment with the state and they'll transition the title to your new address. Or, you can choose to register and retitle it through your new home state. Either is permissible. As far as money for this transaction, Davis has already covered that. All I need is for you to sign here, here, here, here and here, initial here, and sign here, and I can get you the keys to your new car."
"What about insurance?"
"Well, thanks to our wonderful governor and the new bill they passed a few months ago, whenever you buy a car in our state you automatically get thirty days of provisional full coverage insurance as part of your purchase price, which should be enough to get you to your destination at which point you can get your own."
"Oh, well, then we're covered," said Jenna in surprise.
"You are. Now please, sign these papers and I can get you your keys."
Jenna quietly complied, signing all the necessary papers and then handing them back to the dealer. He disappeared into the back for a few moments, and then returned with a freshly printed clean title, and everything else she needed for the car. The problem was, up to this point she hadn't seen her new car. She'd so far done everything sight unseen. Even so she trusted that whatever God gave her would be good enough.
"Just so you know, I don't have your keys with me at this moment because I'm having one of the guys pull the car around for you. So your keys will be waiting for you out front along with your new car," said the dealer.
"So where's it at?" asked Jenna.
Davis pointed out the front window, and said, "It's right there."
Jenna looked, but didn't see anything. However, not more than a moment later, a completely immaculate, deep burgundy red Buick Regal pulled into view. Jenna's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"That's your new car, ma'am. I even took the liberty of bringing all your stuff with me, so we can pack it in your trunk and get you on your way," he said.
"Wow," was all the words Jenna could muster.
The other men laughed.
"That was worth selling that engine to me, wasn't it?" said Davis.
Jenna nodded.
"Uh-huh."
She then went outside and began inspecting the car as the dealer put her paperwork in the glove box and Davis put her belongings in the trunk. She and her children then got into the car and drove away, still stunned that God had given them such an incredibly nice upgrade from their old wreck of a car. As Jenna pulled away from the dealership she felt as though she still couldn't quite get her mind around the fact that she'd just been given a nearly brand new car for free. So no matter how much she tried, it still didn't feel like it was hers. In fact, it felt like she was driving someone else's baby.
She soon pulled into a local gas station and up to the pump. But as she filled up her tank she faced a new problem. Being in Iowa City she was at a crossroads. If she continued down Interstate 80 she'd be able to enter Michigan from the south. But if she went north along 380 to Cedar Rapids, she could enter the Upper Peninsula directly. She mulled this over and over in her mind, but couldn't determine which way God was sending her.
"Lord, which way do you want us to go? I don't know which way to turn," she prayed.
Just then the wind picked up and a piece of paper came sailing in out of nowhere and adhered itself to her windshield. She walked over and, pealing it off the windshield, studied it with interest. It was a travel flier for the little town of Newberry, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. An eyebrow went up slightly.
"Is this where you want us to go, Lord?" she asked.
Just then another breeze snatched it from her fingers and slapped it on the windshield again in the same place it'd landed before. Jenna blinked slightly.
"Message received," she replied.
She then took the flier off the windshield again, tucked it into her purse, paid for her gas and then climbed into the car. Once inside she pulled out the little flier and studied it. On the back she found a small map that showed where to find the little city, and even how to get there from at least four different directions. So, having her marching orders, she slipped onto the highway and soon continued on her way. They then drove for another few hours before stopping for the night in Cedar Rapids. The next day they made good time, turning north through Dubuque, and then Madison, Wisconsin, and finally up into Appleton where they stayed for the night. But now they had another issue. The money they'd been given in Grand Island had nearly run out.
The last two days of hotel stays and meals had done the most damage to it. At this point there was only enough to top off their tank one last time, after which they would be broke again. Thankfully though they weren't that far from their final destination. So Jenna set out towards Michigan. They continued north through Green Bay and out onto route 41 on which they stayed for several hours until they reached Menominee, Michigan where they changed to route 35 and followed it through Escanaba, Gladstone, and then through the Shingleton state forest to Manistique. They even stopped several times along the way to enjoy the forest, which provided a very fun and exciting distraction for the children. Living in Las Angeles they'd never had the opportunity to be so close to nature, and yet here they were, deep in the thick of it, and enjoying every minute of it.
They even got to see some Elk along the way which was a special treat for Brad. Even Jenna was enjoying it, despite her city upbringing. It was as though, through this journey, and their time in God's creation, He was slowly and gently deprogramming her of the life she'd come from and preparing her for what was ahead. Eventually though, the trip they'd started on all those days before finally came to an end as the city of Newberry began to come into view. First a road sign, and then a placard, and then finally the outskirts of the quiet little town deep in the heart of Northern Michigan. But as she and her children were looking on in wonder at the world around her, a still small voice tugged at her heart.
"Look to your left," it said.
Jenna quietly obeyed, and as she did, she was surprised to see an old bed and breakfast just up ahead alongside the highway. But what was most interesting was, right next to it, standing at the end of the main driveway, was a sweet old lady who seemed to be beckoning for her to pull over. So Jenna did, although she wasn't sure what for. Upon pulling into the driveway she lowered her window and was greeted by the bright, shining, beaming face of Margaret, the owner of the Shepherd's Bed and Breakfast.
"Are you Jenna Barton?" she asked.
Jenna did a shocked double take.
"I am. How'd you know?"
"God told me. He said you were coming. He sent you here for a new beginning and a new life, departing all the things of your old life and the things that once encumbered you in the place you once called home," she said kindly.
J
enna wasn't sure why, but at that moment all the anxiety, all the fear, all the pressure, and all the weight that'd been on her shoulders for the past two years just melted away bringing on a fountain of tears. But not tears of sadness, rather tears of joy.
"Mama, why are you crying?" asked Brad.
"Because I'm happy," bawled Jenna.
Margaret turned her eyes to heaven, and said, "Praise you, Lord, for this wonderful sister, and praise you, God, for bringing her safely to us by Your divine will." She then turned her eyes back to Jenna, and said, "Come inside, dear. We have much to talk about and much to prepare you for, as God has chosen you for something great, and He has chosen me as the means by which to bring you to that destiny."
"Amen," replied Jenna with a smile.
And with that she pulled her car into the parking lot. Upon getting out she took a deep, long breath of fresh air, and soaked in the lovely fragrance of nature all around her, and for the first time in her entire life she truly felt free of her past, and all of the tears it'd brought to her. What lay ahead now were good days of living and serving the Lord in her new home in a sleepy little town in Northern Michigan.
The End
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