The Light In The Darkness Series ~ Book 2
A Tale Of Choice
Alexa Stewart
Bryne Press
© 2012 by Alexa Stewart. All rights reserved.
First Edition
Bryne Press functions only as book publisher. As such, the ultimate design, content, editorial accuracy, and views expressed or implied in this work are those of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.
This publication is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.
Scripture references marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
ISBN 13: 978-1-4675-3468-0
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2012944589
Dedicated to those who love our Savior and strive to do GOoD
in this world serving GOD.
Contents
Childless
The Gift
Mombasa
Making A Friend
Winds Of Ruin
Lost
The Bush
Finding A Way
The Farm
Going North
The Railway
Not Alone
Enguli Compound
Path Of Choice
Rescued
Found
Going Home
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Other Books
Childless
FALL WAS COMING to an end in the Pacific Northwest. Flickering leaves of color quickly disappeared from the surrounding deciduous trees. The early morning sun rose into the frosty sky revealing a scene of dusted silver. Bright sun rays filtered through the icy windows of the Mica Peak Real Estate office, creating a warm glow over the desks and room. In that warm oasis sat a lovely, elegant woman in pain and sorrow, her head held in her hands. Shelly Ferguson was grieving the loss of a child that was not her own.
How do you survive the loss of a child? How? Tears slid down her cheeks and onto the wooden surface of the desk. In heartache she wondered, How do you get over losing a child that you have born in pain, stayed up countless nights to comfort and watch grow into a wonderful little boy? I can’t see how it’s possible, I just can’t. Where are you in all of this, Lord? she questioned as she sat, trying to come to terms with the answers.
Her best friend, Ann, had just lost her three-year-old son, Matthew, in a horrible, senseless accident. Sean, Ann’s ex-husband had taken the boy from his daycare center in a desperate attempt to force his will on others and possess the boy. In fleeing from the police he had wrapped his BMW around a utility pole and was killed. That day a very selfish man left this Earth never finding God. A few days later, a wonderful little boy followed… right into the arms of his Heavenly Father.
Matthew had been such a vibrant and loving child, she remembered the boy she had known all of his life. She had been there at his birth. She had been there through his mother’s divorce. She had been there while Ann raised two young children alone, on a meager income. She had been there.
Shelly raised her head and wiped the tears from her eyes, looking at the clock on the office wall. She realized Ann would be walking through the office door any minute. Don’t let her see that you’re upset, she thought as she wiped her tear stained face again and tried to hide her grief.
Her thoughts turned to the familiar emptiness of her own barrenness. How incomplete she felt without children of her own. How that void had been filled with her love of Matthew. Now he was gone.
Why didn’t God answer our prayers and save Matthew? she wondered. Doesn’t He care? What has Ann done to deserve this? she asked in pain. She didn’t understand any of it and the tears flowed again. The lack of answers made her feel separated from God somehow and that made it harder for her to help Ann.
I would die, just die if I was finally blessed with a child of my own, only to lose it before I left this Earth in death, she thought in misery.
Get a grip Shell! You’ll be over this long before Ann will ever be. You need to be strong for her. She needs you… now more than ever. Don’t let her see you crying!
Taking a firm grip on her emotions, she quickly got up and went to the restroom to freshen up. Splashing fresh, cold water on her face helped her resolve to hide her feelings. She took out her makeup bag, applied fresh face power to hide the tear stains, a new application of red lipstick to brighten her lips, and blush to put some color back onto her ashen face. Refreshed and resolved she returned to her desk looking for something to do… anything to keep herself busy and pre-occupied.
* * * *