Shattered Justice (45 page)

Dan took it from his hand and fastened it around Jayce’s
neck. He stepped back, his hand on Jayce’s shoulder. “There. Back where it belongs.”

Jayce gripped Dan’s wrist for a moment. “Thanks, Dan.”

“Okeydokey, then. Somebody here ready to check out?”

Dan turned to the nurse, holding his hand out for the paperwork she was carrying. “Absolutely.”

The paperwork done, they settled in to wait for the nurse with the wheelchair.

“Oh, by the way. There are a couple of visitors waiting back at the house for you.”

Jayce looked at him. “Visitors.”

Dan knew his grin was wicked. “Your Auntie Kyla and Auntie Annie are there. They’ve been getting your room all fixed up for you.”

“My room?” Jayce frowned. “My room is fixed up.”

“Oh, no. It hasn’t had the true Justice treatment yet. But now that you’re going to be a bona fide member of the family …”

Jayce groaned, leaning back against his pillows. “What’d they do?”

“Let’s see, a plaque with your name and its meaning—”

“Which,” Shelby joined in, “is actually pretty cool. Did you know your name means ‘a healing’?”

Jayce sat up. “Really?”

“Neat, huh?” Shelby took Dan’s hand. “Perfect name for someone who was instrumental in helping this guy to heal.” Tears sparkling in her eyes. “Kinda makes it seem like God knew we’d all be together.”

“Guess He knows what he’s doing.”

“I’m thinkin’ that’s a no-brainer.”

“Ah ha!” Dan glanced from Jayce to Shelby. “Sarcasm. I recognize it because Aaron was fluent in it.”

“Yeah,” Jayce said, pulling a face at him, “but I’m a
master
.”

“Oh, joy.” Dan stood as the nurse came in with a wheelchair. He helped Jayce out of bed and into the chair. “Just keep
in mind, dear boy, that my momma named me well.”

“Yeah,” Jayce snorted as the nurse put the foot rests down for him, “Justice Justice.” He rolled his eyes at Shelby. “There’s a name that just trips off the tongue.”

“That’s
Daddy
Justice to you, kid. And don’t you forget it.”

The nurse stood and surveyed them. “Sure is nice to see a family that has fun together.”

Dan’s heart swelled. A family. That’s what they were. That’s what God had given him. And though he’d never stop missing Sarah and the children, he was ready to move forward. To discover what life—and God—held in store.

And there was no one he’d rather discover that with than the two beside him. He took Shelby’s hand, then touched Jayce’s shoulder and said the words he’d been waiting for days to say. “You ready to go home, son?”

Jayce looked up at Dan. “Absolutely … Dad.”

With Shelby at his side, they took the first steps into the future. A future Dan knew would hold blessings and trials. Peace and conflict. Love and learning.

He could hardly wait.

Dear Friends,

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like suffering. Yes, I understand intellectually that it’s a part of life and that being a Christian doesn’t give us a get-out-of-suffering-free card. Christ promised us a fellowship in not only His salvation and eternity, but in His suffering as well. But I still don’t like it.

Too often when suffering hits, I fall into the trap that captures many of us. I find myself slipping into confusion (“Why is this happening?”), fatigue (“I can’t take anything else. I really can’t.”), and even anger (“Come
on!
Enough is enough!). And more and more, it seems serious trials come one on top of another. In fact, as I write this, we’ve been dealing with health crises for both friends and family, with friends dying unexpectedly and far too young, and with numerous other stresses and strains. It’s just too much.

So here I sit, my head heavy from lost sleep, my chest aching from pressing anxiety, wondering what on earth I can possibly tell you about facing such times with courage and faith …

And then I remember. The answers don’t come from me. They come from God. From His Word. His promises. From His call for each of us to be honest about what we’re experiencing in life, to be transparent with God and with each other.

So are you struggling? Don’t try to hide it. Are you suffering? Share your pain with those who are steeped in God’s wisdom and will. Let fellowship with other believers draw you to a place of peace, no matter what the circumstances, until you can at long last say with the suffering Christ, “Even so, not my will, but Thine.”

I’m not there yet. Not quite. But I’m comforted by the knowledge that the Lord traveled this treacherous path; that He felt the rocks pressing into His sore, tired feet; that He fell to His knees before His Father, pleading for help …

And that prayer was answered. Gloriously, eternally answered.

No matter what we face, no matter how deep the suffering: God is in control. He is with us, He sees all we face, and He will not let us go. Not now. Not ever.

So lift your voices with me and praise the name of the One who sustains us, who lifts us from the dirt, and who will grant us His strength and endurance at just the right time.

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Forever and ever. Amen.

P.S.—I’d love to have you come visit my website at
www.Karenballbooks.com
.

Annie Justice. Youngest of the Justice clan. Who always saw the world a little bit differently than anyone else. She’s finally come into her own as a nationally renowned stained glass artist and, along with her German shepherd, Kodi, one of the most successful K-9 Search and Rescue teams in the Northwest. But all the acclaim in the world can’t change Annie’s sense that she doesn’t really fit in. That feeling is only reinforced when Jed Curry, slick producer of reality TV shows, wants to feature her on his hit show
Everyday Heroes
because she’s different. And different sells. Maybe so, but Annie has no interest in that sort of fame. Or the man. At least, that’s what she keeps telling herself.

However, everything changes the day Annie and Kodi find themselves in the middle of the Oregon wilderness, struggling against time and the elements to find a lost child. When Annie hears the search is about to be called off, her only ally is Jed. Joined in a race against time—and a battle against the attraction both feel but neither wants—Annie and Jed must find a way to work together and bring the little girl home before it’s too late.

The woman in the mirror was dressed for a wedding.

If anyone had told her a year ago that she’d be standing here, dressed like this, ready to walk down an aisle, flowers in hand—

“You look beautiful.”

Annie turned and smiled as she faced her brother. She was so used to seeing him in his deputy uniform—either that or jeans and a T-shirt—that the sight of him in a tux nearly took her breath away. “So do you.”

Dan arched one brow and came to stand beside her, slipping his arm around her waist. “I, my dear sister, am
not
beautiful. Stunning. Handsome. Drop-dead gorgeous, yes. But beautiful?” He flicked the end of her nose. “I think not.”

An offended rumble drew their attention down, and Annie giggled. “I believe Kodi is still miffed at us.”

Dan shook his head. “I still can’t believe Shelby let you talk her into using your German shepherd for the flower girl.”

Annie knelt beside her dog and adjusted the flowers woven into the shepherd’s collar. “Hey, it wasn’t my idea. It was hers. She knows Kodi is part of the family.” Annie angled a look at her brother as she stood. “Does Shelby know she’s marrying such a hunk?”

His grin was equally playful as he tugged at the front of his tux. “Hey, why do you think she said yes?”

“Well, I thought it had something to do with you wearing a gun …”

“Brat.” He nudged her with a hip and stepped away. “So where’s the other bridesmaid?”

“You mean our beloved Sister-Mommy?” His lips twitched at her nickname for Kyla. “She’s making sure everything is running smoothly, of course. And by the way, she’s not a bridesmaid. She’s the maid of honor.”

“Of course.” He looked out the window at the back yard. “You’ve really done a great job, Annie. It looks great down there.”

She joined her brother at the window and nodded. Rows of chairs had been arranged in two sections beneath a large canopy. A long white runner ran down the middle aisle between the chairs, leading to front. Cascades of fresh flowers adorned the front, providing the perfect backdrop for the coming ceremony.

It was perfect. “Kyla oversaw most of it, of course.”

“All except the flowers.”

Annie squeezed Dan’s waist, then let him go. “All except the flowers. Well, I’d better go down and see how your bride is doing. Kyla would never forgive me if she found out I was up here twiddling the morning away.”

“Go to it, then. Since I’m just the groom, I’ll go hold up a wall someplace.”

She laughed. “See there? You’re getting back into the swing of married life already.”

Annie hurried down the stairs, Kodi at her side, doing her best to avoid anyone as they made their way across the yard to her studio, which had been turned into the bride’s dressing room. Annie had been delighted when Shelby and Dan asked to have their wedding at her home.

“Your garden is just so beautiful,” Shelby said. “I’d love to be surrounded by all those flowers as we’re saying our vows.”

Annie couldn’t argue. Her garden was her pride and joy. Well, one of them. And the flowers had outdone themselves this year—almost as if they knew they were going to be part of something special.

That’s what this wedding was. Special. She could hardly believe it had been just over three years since Dan’s first wife, Sarah, died. Annie hadn’t been sure he would recover from that loss.

She opened the studio door and stepped inside. The sight that met Annie stopped her in her tracks. Shelby, in all her bridal glory, stood in front of a full-length mirror.

She turned to look at Annie as she drew close, and when their eyes met, Annie saw such joy in Shelby’s gaze. “Do I look okay?”

“Okay?” Annie’s laugh was choked with emotion. “You look amazing.” She embraced the woman God had used so wonderfully in Dan’s life and heart. “I’m so happy for you. And for my brother.”