Nila's Hope (28 page)

He stiffened.

Fear surged through her.

But with one gentle finger he lifted her face to his and just before their lips joined, he murmured, “I love you, too. So much.”

She pressed her lips and body to his, eagerly welcoming the currents that sparked between them. She never wanted to let go.

Will pulled back first. His voice sounded ragged. “Is the fire pit ready?”

Nila released a long, unsteady breath. “Yes. Dave and Parker took care of it earlier.” She stepped back a few inches.

His eyes deepened to midnight blue. With his index finger he tenderly traced the outline of her lips. “Do you still want to do this?”

She lifted her chin, and her mouth moved against his finger. “I do.”

 

****

 

Flames danced in shades of red, orange, and blue and created a festive glow in the dark, frozen garden.

As Will handed the letters one at a time to Nila, she fed page after page into the fire.

Every tear-stained letter, every disclosure of abuse and neglect, was released to the flames with a blessing. “I forgive you.”

Will felt tears cool on his cheeks as he stood in the trampled snow beside the fire pit. Awe filled him as he watched Nila.

Each time she accepted another sheaf from him, her face gained more radiance.

And not just from the fire. He knew without a doubt that, like Moses before the burning bush, he stood on holy ground. He handed over the final letter, the one to her birth mother.

Nila accepted it with a quavering smile. Tears ran down her face. “This is it,” she said. “Almost done.” She stepped closer to the fire and offered the letter to its flames.

When she turned around, he opened his arms wide, and she rushed into his embrace. “I'm so proud of you,” he whispered into her hair.

They remained side by side, arms around each other's waists, in the darkening yard until the flames reduced to embers.

Only then did Will realize how cold he was.

Nila shivered against him and leaned closer. “It is finished,” she said into the holy silence. She looked up at him, and her eyes shone. “I'm free. I feel it. I really am free, at last.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Thank you, Jesus.”

Will began to sing, soft and low. “Amazing grace…”

Nila's voice joined his. “How sweet the sound…”

The door to the house opened, and the bundled-up Harris family poured out and joined them. “That saved a wretch like me…”

Will lifted his face toward the clouds as he held out his hand to Garrett.

It sounded as though heaven's choir accompanied their song as they joined hands around the fading fire.

The final notes seemed to hang in the frozen air
.

Gracie's eyes were round as she squeezed Nila's hand. “I heard angels. Did you?”

 

 

 

 

32

 

From a deep slumber, Nila heard Garrett's little-boy voice. “Gracie, get away from that door. Don't you dare wake her. I'll tell!”

Gracie's voice came through with a petulant note. “But it's time for her surprise.”

Nila opened her eyes and checked the clock. Ten o'clock. She smiled. She'd slept without dreams, without terrors. For the first time in as long as she could remember. “Thank you, Jesus.” She rolled over and sat up with care. Her arm hardly hurt at all, and the slash on her ribs didn't pull quite as much. Her smile grew. She got up and opened her door.

Garrett and Gracie were gone.

A little twinge of disappointment hit. She sighed and headed for the shower. A short time later, dressed in black leggings under a red tunic sweater, she opened the door to the kitchen.

Lydia, Lily and the kids were playing a game of Snakes and Ladders. They all looked up as she crossed to the coffeepot.

“There you are,” Gracie said. “I thought you'd
never
wake up.”

Nila poured her coffee, turned, and leaned against the counter. Puzzlement puckered her brow. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes! Today's your…”

Lily cut her off. “It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Gracie?” She gave her daughter a warning look.

Gracie deflated. “Um, yes. It's a good day.” She perked up again. “And we're celebrating at…”

“Gracie!”

Her little head lowered, and her lower lip stuck out. “Sorry, Mommy.”

As he slid his game marker up a ladder, Garrett muttered, “I told you she couldn't keep a secret.”

Lydia patted his arm. “She's just excited, honey.” She tilted her head and looked at Nila. “How do you feel this morning?”

Nila's brow smoothed, and her smile returned. “Good. Really good. I don't know when I've slept that well.”

“That's wonderful,” Lydia said. She pushed her chair back. “You kids finish the game while I make Nila some breakfast.” She looked directly at Grace. “Then maybe we'll do something special, right?”

Gracie beamed, and Garrett shrugged.

“Sounds good, Mom,” Lily said. “Come on, kids, let's move this game into the living room so Nila has a place to sit.”

The children obeyed without a word and closed the door behind them.

“You know, I could make my own breakfast,” Nila said. “I'm not an invalid anymore.”

Lydia pulled a frying pan from the stove drawer. “I know that, but I'd like to spoil you while I can. So, what would you like in your omelet?”

A short time later, Nila looked at her empty plate and her eyebrows lifted. “I can't believe I ate so much. That was delicious, Lydia. Thank you.”

Lydia refilled her coffee and sat facing Nila. “I'm glad you enjoyed it. Getting your appetite back is a positive sign.” Lydia fiddled with her placemat.

Nila wondered at the nervous gesture. A slight tension crept into her voice. “Is something wrong?”

Lydia straightened the already straightened mat. “No. I was just thinking.”

“About what?” Nila felt a prickle crawl up the back of her neck.

Her friend's familiar, serene smile chased away the prickle, and she let out a long breath.
Relax
.
Everything is fine.

“You must have been disappointed that you didn't get to see Will's family over the holidays. We all expected that you'd spend Christmas with them.”

“I did, too, but after, you know.”

“Yes, I do. I talked to Melody, and she wondered if you'd feel up to spending some time with them today. They have some gifts for you, and I know you bought gifts for them. We're all invited.”

Warmth suffused her heart and spread to her face. She smiled. “I'd love to see them. Besides, it feels more like Christmas today than it did three days ago.” Nila felt taller somehow. Lighter. And free. Her smile bloomed into a grin. “In fact, it feels like Christmas and my birthday all in one. That forgiveness ceremony freed me. Well, Jesus saved me and gave me freedom, but I didn't know how to live it until now.”

Lydia reached across the table and squeezed Nila's hand. “God is good. That's something to celebrate.” She tilted her head. “How soon would you like to go?”

 

****

 

Will picked up his cellphone. “Hello?”

“Dave here. We're just getting ready to leave. Everything set over there?”

An unexpected attack of nerves hit. Was it? He glanced around. “I think so. I hope so. Yeah.”

“Good. We'll be there in a few minutes.”

 

****

 

Nila found herself ushered into the minivan's front seat beside Parker, while Dave and Lydia climbed into the third row. Lily squeezed in beside Garrett and Gracie's car seat.

Parker started the engine. “Everybody buckled?”

Gracie leaned as far forward as her shoulder straps would allow. “Yes, we are, Daddy. Let's go. I can't wait!”

“Grace, can you count all the houses we go by?” Lily said.

“One, two, three…”

Nila smiled at Lily's attempt to distract her little girl. She began counting along with her. “Seven, eight, nine…”

Their route wasn't the one she'd expected. She recognized the street, and then the house.

Parker pulled into the driveway and stopped.

Nila turned in her seat, puzzlement lowering her eyebrows. “Why are we here?”

“Surprise!” Gracie yelled. “We're at
your
house.”

“But why?” Disappointment flooded her. They knew she couldn't move in yet. They knew how much she'd yearned for this independence. Why would they be so unkind?

“Let's go in,” Lydia said from the rear seat.

Heart heavy, Nila unbuckled and slid out of the van. She stopped. “I didn't bring my purse. My key is in it.”

Lydia patted her back. “Trust us, sweetheart. You'll see.”

Grace ran to the back door with Garrett close behind.

“Be careful, you two,” Parker said, his arms full of Nila's parcels. “That sidewalk might be icy.”

Nila hung back as the group neared the door that led to her long-awaited suite. She remembered how excited she'd been when she'd signed the lease. And how devastated she'd felt when she realized Nick had managed to wreck that dream, too. At least until she healed enough to cope with the work of moving in. Her shoulders drooped and she bit her lower lip.

Dave and Lydia loved her. They would never be cruel. Whatever they did, it would originate from love.

She lifted her chin and followed the group down the stairs to her basement apartment.

“Surprise!”

Nila stopped short in the doorway. Her mind went blank. How? Why? She looked from face to smiling face.

Melody, Daniel, Jason, Faith, Jessica, and Tommy all grinned at her.

And Will. Especially Will. His eyes were alight with something that drew her almost against her will. She walked into his open arms and surrendered to his embrace.

Everyone seemed to speak at the same time. Gracie's high-pitched voice rose above the others. “Were you surprised?”

Nila nodded, her face nestled into Will's chest.

She felt a hand on her back. “Are you OK, sweetie?” Melody sounded worried.

Nila turned, certain her face must match her red sweater. She was thankful for Will's arms as they supported her.

“Yes, Gracie, you really surprised me. And I'm fine, Melody. Just confused. And amazed.” She looked around the crowded space. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Her tiny suite was full, not just with people, but with things. Her eyes widened. Her things. And more.

Her treasured mugs lined the counter. Behind them a gleaming mosaic tile backsplash connected the brown counter to the gleaming white cupboards. There was a moveable island with shelves and a granite work surface.

“Oh.” She finally found some words, but they seemed insufficient. “How? Why?” She shook her head to clear it.

Daniel chuckled. “Maybe you should sit.” He pulled out a stool from the other side of the island. “You look a little shell-shocked.”

Nila nodded, eased away from Will's arms, and perched on the new, white stool.

As Melody, Faith, and Lydia sat on the couch, more of the room became visible.

The men leaned against a wall.

Except for Will, who pulled out the other stool and sat beside her.

There was a beautiful afghan draped over the back of the couch. Her little table was set with the dishes she'd bought so long ago on top of a tablecloth she'd never seen. There was a small desk and chair in the corner opposite the couch. And a new flat-screen television hung above the storage cubes. Every place she looked, there was something treasured or new.

Dave came closer and put his hand on her shoulder. “Merry Christmas, my dear. This was Will's plan, and we all pitched in. This is our gift to you. Everything is unpacked and ready for you. The fridge and cupboards are full. You don't have to wait any longer for your independence.”

Tears of gratitude dripped onto her lap, but she was powerless to stop or even wipe them. “Thank you all. I don't know what to say.”

Hayley's words came to her.
Everyone loves you.

She looked around again.

Hayley was right.

She didn't know why, but these wonderful people loved her. She smiled through happy tears. “This is the best gift ever. I love you all.”

“We love you, too,” Melody said. “We hope you'll remember that as you live with these tokens of affection.”

Nila accepted a tissue from Melody, wiped the tears from her face, and sighed.

She was loved, forgiven, and free. What more could she want? Her heart yearned. Just one more thing.

 

****

 

The party was over, and everyone had left.

Only Will and Nila remained.

Melody and Lydia had volunteered to pack the rest of Nila's belongings.

Will had promised to help her settle in. But he wasn't ready to go yet.

Nila still looked dazed, but her tremulous smile reassured him. She wandered the now-quiet space, touching each gift of love.

Faith had admitted to trying out her new knitting skills to create the jewel-toned afghan.

Melody had received a tearful hug when Nila saw the quilt she'd stitched.

Dave and Lydia accepted her embrace in thanks for the desk and chair.

Daniel had looked like a proud father as he showed her all the nooks and crannies in her new island. “Will and I built this together,” he'd said. “I know you'll make good use of it. And if you need some tasters for whatever you whip up…” He'd grinned and given her a gentle squeeze of the shoulders.

Will's heart was full. Everyone had come through and shown their love for Nila. She had to realize how much she meant to them. That part of his plan, at least, had worked.