A Fine Mess (23 page)

Chapter 12

Ian hung the telephone up in a daze. Though it had taken her five days, Maddie had just called to say she’d prayed about it, and discussed it with Paul, and they were prepared to do the prayer and fasting for at least two weeks.

He collapsed on one of the stools at the kitchen bar and buried his face in his hands.

What if this was just a stupid idea that was going to kill Maddie quicker? Why hadn’t he kept his mouth shut?

He jerked the phone back up and dialed Max’s cell phone number with fingers that shook.

“Max? This is Ian McCann. Do you have time to talk to me for awhile?” he asked without preamble.

“Sure.
On the phone?”

“No. I need to see you.
If you aren’t busy.”

“I’m still at the church. Come on over.”

“
Thanks,
Max!” He jumped off the stool and almost ran to the back door before remembering that Annie was in the other room reading her Bible. “Annie, I’m going out for awhile,” he called. Then not waiting for a response, slammed out of the house.

All the way to the church he prayed over and over that Maddie not have to pay for his stupidity. What made him think he had any sort of solution to any problem of that magnitude, he’d never know. Maybe Max could go talk to them and explain that.

But Max wasn’t having any part of that.

“Why did you think it was a good idea last week, and now you don’t?

“Because now she might get hurt doing something I suggested, and I can’t live with that thought.”

“Maybe God wanted you to tell her that, Ian. Maybe that’s why the verse jumped out at you like it did.
Maybe
that’s why you started searching the internet for answers.”

“And maybe it wasn’t.”

“That’s a possibility. But what if it
is
what He
wanted,
and we tell her she shouldn’t do it?”

“I don’t know!” He looked at Max in desperation. “Do you believe that God heals people?”

“I know His word says that He’s the Lord who heals us. I know that Jesus and His disciples prayed for people and they were healed. And I know that Jesus said we’d do the things He did, and greater things, after He went back to be with God.”

“Have you ever prayed for someone and had them get healed?”

“No. I wish I could say yes, but I haven’t,” Max sighed, shaking his head.

“Have you ever known anyone that God healed?”

“No. But I’ve heard about people who say He did.
A lot of people.”

“So you think it’s a possibility?”

“God’s word says that all things are possible to him who believes. Do you believe He can do it, Ian?”

“I want to. You have no idea how bad I want to.”

“Then pray. Fast and pray with Paul and Maddie and see what happens. The worst that can happen is that you’ll all have spent a lot of time with God. Even if He chooses to not heal her, you’ll all have benefited from that.”

“But what if it makes her die sooner than she would have?”

“Ian, I’ve talked to her. She would rather not have to leave this earth right now, but if she does, she’s ready. I’m sure she knows that this could hasten things along. That’s probably why it took her so long to make the decision.

“But know this. It is her decision. It won’t be your fault. Anymore than her wasting away was the doctor’s fault who talked her into doing the chemo. That was her decision, too. Options can only be presented to someone. Not forced on them. What they
choose
to do is entirely up to them.”

“I’m scared, Max.”

“I know. What can I do to help you?”

“You can help me get saved.”

“What?”

“I need to be saved. Maddie thinks that God hears Christian’s more than He does people who aren’t Christian’s, and I want Him to hear every prayer I pray for her.”

“Ian, you can’t get saved for someone else. You have to get saved for yourself. Because you believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins. That He rose from the dead and sits in heaven with His Father now.”

“I do.
Mostly.
I’ve been thinking I should do this for awhile anyway.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Okay then. All you have to do is tell Jesus that you believe everything I just told you, ask Him to forgive your sins and to be your Savior.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

“It sounds too easy.”

“Did you think God would make it tougher?”

“Yeah.
If I did what Jesus did, I think I’d want more from someone than that.

“Then I’m glad you’re not God!” Max said with a laugh.

“So, how do I start? Do I have to get on my knees first?”

“Do you want to?”

“Not really.”

“Then don’t. You don’t even have to close your eyes if you don’t want to.”

“I think I want to.” The moment he closed his eyes it felt like his mind went blank. “What do I say again?”

Max had to lead him, step by step, because Ian couldn’t seem to remember any of it. He’d never been so scared in his life.

“That’s it,” Max said when he finished the last part.

“That’s it? You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“So I’m saved now?”

“Did you mean what you just said?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re saved, buddy.”

“How come I don’t feel any different?”

“How do you think you should be feeling now?”

“I don’t know. Different”

“There might be fireworks going off in heaven because the angels are rejoicing at your salvation, but I’m afraid that doesn’t always happen down here. You might not
feel
saved,
you just have to know that you
are
. God‘s word is true, and you did what He said you needed to do. Therefore, you are saved.”

“So what do I do now?”

“Well, you’ve been reading your Bible every day. Now you need to start praying every day.
Preferably several times a day.
And you should try to be aware of the things you shouldn’t do. For instance, if you drink or smoke or curse, or have issues with anger, you should ask God to help you stop doing those things. It might take awhile because we don’t change overnight. And we certainly can’t change without God’s help.”

“It all sounds so complicated,” Ian
sighed,
afraid he might fail at this Christian thing.

“It does at first. It might for a long time to come.”

“I’ll probably have a million questions for you.”

“That’s what I’m here for.
Anytime, Ian.”

~~~~

“Where did you take off to so fast?” Annie wanted to know when he got home.

“I went to see Max. It’s snowing,” he said, trying to avoid looking directly at her. “I should probably salt the steps so we don’t slip and break something.”

“It’s snowing?” She had always loved the snow, and this was the first of the season. She rushed to the window and pushed the curtains back. “Oh look! They’re the big flakes!”

“Pretty isn’t it?” he asked, sounding distracted. She turned back to him. He was rummaging in the coat closet for a pair of gloves.

“What did you need to see Max about?”

“Just some things.
I needed some advice. And I needed to get saved,” he mumbled, clutching a pair of gloves to his chest and heading back toward the garage like he was being chased.

“Ian! Ian, wait! What did you just say?” she asked incredulously.

She thought he was going to ignore her but then he stopped, his shoulders sagging, before turning back to face her. Annie didn’t think she’d ever seen a face quite that red before

“I said I needed to get saved,” he repeated, even quieter than before.

“Wow. Ian, I had no idea you were even considering it,” she said quietly. Obviously he wasn’t comfortable with it for the moment, and she didn’t want to make a huge deal out of it.
Even if it
was
.

“Your mom and I talked about it the other day and- Well, it just seemed like a good idea.”

“Then I’m really glad the two of you talked. Do you want some hot cocoa when you come back in? We’ve even got marshmallows.”

“Uh-” He looked like he expected her to say more or start dancing for joy or something. But she didn’t want him to be anymore uncomfortable.
“Yeah.
Sure. It shouldn’t take me long.”

“Then I’ll get it started right now.”

“Annie?”

“What?”

“I really don’t need to salt the steps right now.” He leaned against the counter and sighed. “The reason I made the decision today is because your mom called me.”

He explained why she‘d called. About their discussion on fasting when he’d gone to sit with her, about her deciding to try it, and how he, her father and her mother were going to do the fast for two or three weeks.

“Well, count me in,” she told him. “When do we start?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.
She’s my mom. I’ll do anything to support her.
Whatever it takes if it might save her life.”

~~~~

Nine days into the protein and water fast and Ian found himself craving hot fudge cake and meatloaf. He’d never wanted any food so bad in his life.

By day twelve, he’d added stroganoff, ham and cheese pizza, and some of Annie’s homemade cinnamon rolls to the list.

“This is certainly the strangest Thanksgiving I’ve ever had,” Paul said on the thirteenth day, as they all sat in the McCann dining room eating turkey, turkey, and more turkey.

“Me, too,” Ian agreed, though he had to admit that Annie had done a superb job on the two birds she’d spent the morning baking.

“You know what I’m really missing?” Annie sighed.
“The gravy.
Not that dipping the turkey in the broth isn’t
good,
it’s just not the same. It’s all-drippy.”

“Broth usually is drippy, Sweetheart,” Ian said with a grin, spearing a large bite of breast meat.

“Oh ha-ha.
I know it is. That’s why I miss the gravy.”

“Stop complaining everyone. We’ll be finished with the fast in plenty of time for Christmas dinner,” Maddie reminded them, showing a blatant lack of sympathy.