The Heavenly Fugitive (36 page)

“And then a very wonderful thing happened. Jesus said, ‘Who touched me?’ And the woman came trembling and fell down before him. And there before all those people, she cried out, with tears of joy, I imagine, how by just touching His garment, she had been healed.”

Rosa felt tears beginning to form in her eyes. She bowed her head, for she could not face anyone’s gaze.

“And Jesus said, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.’ ” Phil’s voice seemed very close, and as he continued to speak of Jesus, Rosa knew that
God was in this place. She felt a presence she had never felt in all of her life, and she simply sat there, her heart crying out. Finally she heard Phil say, “Jesus is standing beside some of you right now. He wants you to reach out and touch His garment, not His literal garment, of course, but you need to reach out just as that poor, sick woman reached out as best she knew how. Jesus responded to her and He’ll respond to you. I want you to reach out with your heart and simply tell Jesus that you are a sinner. I want you to ask Him to cleanse your heart the way He cleansed the body of this woman. I promise you He will do it. That’s why He came to this earth. That’s why He died on the cross. That’s why He’s here tonight—and that’s why you’re here tonight. Will you touch Jesus right now as I pray?”

Rosa was now sobbing uncontrollably. She knew that something outside herself was surrounding her, holding her, and she wept so hard her shoulders shook.

Suddenly she felt a stir and then an arm fell across her shoulders. She looked up and saw Phil through the tears, and his face was filled with compassion. “Tonight is for you, Rosa. Reach out and touch Jesus. It’s so easy. He longs to cleanse you and make you His daughter.”

And so Rosa bowed her head, and Phil prayed, and she prayed.

And as she prayed, she felt something deep inside that had not been there before. A peace came, and she looked up to Phil and whispered brokenly, “Phil, what is it? What is it inside me that’s so different?”

“It’s the presence of Jesus Christ, Rosa. You’ve given yourself to Him, and now you’re a child of the King!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“I’ve Always Wanted the Wrong Things”

Jamie had turned from the camera he had been cleaning, surprised at Rosa’s entrance. Ever since the shooting she had been mostly keeping to herself, but for the past few days he had noticed that a change had come over her. Now as he took in her expression and saw her dark eyes glowing, he felt a gush of relief.

“Hi, sis,” he said. “What’s up?”

Rosa reached out and ruffled Jamie’s hair, a fondness for him coming out as it had not done for some time. “I’m just feeling so wonderfully good, Jamie, and I want everybody else to feel the same way.”

“Well, that’s good news. I was getting real worried about you, sis.”

“I know you were, and you
should
have been worried—I was in terrible shape.”

“Do you still have bad dreams about the shooting?”

“No, they’re all gone.” She smiled then and hugged herself. “I have much better dreams now.”

“Well, I’m glad. It was the roughest time any of us ever went through.”

“Something good did come out of it, Jamie, and that’s what I want to tell you about.” Rosa sat down in the chair across from Jamie’s desk and paused for a moment. She had put this off for several days and now was apprehensive, but
she knew she could not contain what had happened to her. This was her first attempt at trying to explain it.

“I have to tell you something, Jamie,” she began carefully. “After I was shot, my whole life seemed to be going from bad to worse. Even before I got hurt, I was unhappy—for such a long time—and I didn’t know what the problem was. I had everything money could buy, but I was still restless and dissatisfied.”

Jamie listened as Rosa spoke and could not imagine what secret she had come to reveal. Obviously she was tense, and as she paused, he said, “Look, sis, just tell me what it is. No matter what, I can handle it.”

“You can, can’t you?” Rosa flashed a smile and took a deep breath. “Well, I’ve become a Christian.”

“A Christian? But you’ve always been a Christian.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“But you were baptized when you were a baby just like me, and you go to Mass now almost every Sunday.”

“That’s right, Jamie, I’ve done all those things, but I’ve just found out that that’s not enough. I’ve always been afraid of those people who talked about Jesus as if He were real to them. It always made me nervous, and I thought they were putting me on and making it up. But they’re not, Jamie.” As Rosa ran a hand over her glossy black hair, Jamie saw a beauty in her that could not stem from her features or her hair. Jamie was looking into her eyes, and it was like peering into windows where something warm and beautiful was happening on the other side. He could see that her spirit was entirely different, and he listened intently without interrupting as she related how she had cried out to God in the church where Phil had spoken.

Finally she concluded, saying, “It’s been so different ever since that moment. As different as night and day, Jamie. I wake up every day full of joy, and I know Jesus is with me until I go to sleep at night. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like nothing I’ve ever known before. But I know Jesus is real,
and I’m learning how to be obedient to Him. The Bible that Phil gave me so long ago didn’t mean much to me except for his notes, but now as I read it, it’s just like God is speaking out of that book directly to my heart.”

Jamie was transfixed and at the same time troubled. “Does this mean you won’t be going to Mass anymore? That you’re not going to be a Catholic?”

“I’m going to be whatever God tells me to be. If He wants me to stay in the Catholic Church, I’ll do it. If He wants me to leave, I’ll do that.”

“Have you thought about what the folks would say?”

“Sure, I’ve thought about it a lot, but it’s something I have to do.” She rose and stood close to her brother. “You’re still my friend, aren’t you, Jamie, just like always?”

Jamie was not a demonstrative young man, but he suddenly put his arms around Rosa and hugged her tightly. “Sure,” he said huskily. “I can see you’re happy, and that’s all I ever wanted. The folks will just have to understand.”

****

As soon as Rosa walked into the family room, both Tony and Maria knew something was on her mind and gave her their full attention. They had been reading, and now they laid their books down as Rosa announced, “I have to talk to you, Mom and Dad.”

“Why, what is it?” Tony asked. “Something wrong?”

Rosa drew a chair up closer in front of the two and said, “Please, I want you to do me one favor.”

Maria saw the intensity in her daughter and said, “Why, of course. What is it, Rosa?”

“I want you to listen to everything I have to say. It may take a while, and I know you’re going to be shocked by it, but please let me say everything, and then I promise to listen to you as long as you want to talk to me.”

Tony Morino was apprehensive. “What is it? Are you in some kind of trouble, Rosa?”

“Please, Daddy, just promise me you’ll listen.”

Tony glanced at Maria and saw the baffled look in her eyes. “Well, sure, Rosa, go ahead. I’ll keep still.”

Rosa began to speak, talking about her life from way back. She had never completely revealed to her father how unhappy she was, and as well as she could, she kept references to his criminal ties out of it. She spoke of how grateful she was for everything they had done for her, but she also let them know that all the expensive gifts and fancy living had not brought peace to her.

She had to get to the heart of the matter, and as soon as she mentioned Phil Winslow, she saw Tony stiffen. He started to speak, but then blinked his eyes and clamped his lips shut. She could see the resistance in his body, but she went on anyway. She related what had happened to her and how ever since she had cried out to God, a peace had come over her along with a happiness she had never known.

“I know both of you are going to be upset by this. We’ve always been Catholic, but I have to tell you that it was all just something on the outside for me. It didn’t change me. I guess you’ve seen in the last few years with all my craziness—my drinking, smoking, and running with a wild crowd—that God hadn’t done anything in my life. And all that time I was going to confession and Mass, but it didn’t change me. Not in my heart. But ever since I called upon Jesus it’s been so different.”

Maria Morino was transfixed. She could not deny the joy and the reality that seemed to flow out of her daughter.
Why, she’s like a new girl,
she thought.
I’ve never seen her so happy.

Rosa went on. “I’ve told Jamie, and I’ll tell you, I believe God speaks to people. If He tells me to stay in the Catholic Church, then I will. But if He tells me to leave, then I’ll have to obey Him. Now,” she said, “it’s your turn. Please say anything you’d like to. I love you both and always will.”

Tony breathed a sigh of relief. He had been expecting something far worse, although he didn’t know what. Now
he simply stared at Rosa. To him religion had been merely a matter of form, and when she had spoken of how little it had affected her, her words had gone straight to his heart. His reaction was,
It’s never done anything for me either. It hasn’t changed me a bit. My religion has all been on the outside, just like Rosa’s.

Maria stood. Of all the family, she was the most faithful to her church, but as she came toward her daughter and Rosa stood up, she embraced her. “I don’t understand what it is that’s happened to you, but I know it’s good. I can see it, and I’m so glad you’ve found peace with God. Whatever He tells you to do, I want you to obey Him.”

Rosa’s eyes swam with tears, and she clutched her mother fiercely. “Thanks, Mom,” she whispered huskily. “Thanks for always being there to support me.”

Tony Morino remained seated, and when Rosa turned to him, waiting for his reply, it was clear he was having a difficult time responding. He looked down at his hands, twisting them and fidgeting in his seat. When he looked up again, he did not say what had first jumped into his mind. He saw the same thing in his daughter his wife saw—a joy and a peace and a contentment that had never been there before. He knew she was different now, and he sat there wondering many things.

“Well, Rosa,” he said quietly, “I guess I’ve got something to tell you, but first I agree with your mother. I don’t know about this thing that’s happened to you, but I can see it’s good. And anything that makes you happy, you know I’m for it, no matter what.”

Rosa ran over and threw her arms around Tony. She sat down in his lap, as she had done ever since she was a little girl. Tony enjoyed the embrace and thought,
I wouldn’t trade this for anything.

When Rosa stood up, Tony said, “I’ve been talking to Doc Clarkson. He sent me to see a specialist.”

“Daddy, what’s wrong?”

“My heart’s not doing too good,” Tony said quietly. “I’ve
known it for a long time. Clarkson’s been getting me to eat right and exercise, and most of all,” he smiled rather grimly, “he said I needed to avoid stress. Well, you know how impossible that is for a man like me doing what I do.”

Rosa stood very still, feeling fearful, for she loved her father. She had known he was not well and that he had never taken care of himself, and now she feared worse news was to come.

Tony said abruptly, “I’m getting out of everything, Rosa. I’m stepping down. From now on I’ll pursue some of my legitimate business interests, but mostly I’m going to stop and take a look at the world.” He got up and walked over to Maria and hugged her. “I’m going to pay attention to this woman here and do all I can,” he said simply, “to help my kids. Maybe,” he went on with a smile, “you can teach me to ride, and maybe Jamie can teach me to take a picture.”

At that moment Rosa Morino felt a wave of pure joy. She threw her arms around him again and then felt her mother hugging her. The three stood there, and finally Rosa said, “Dad, go tell Jamie what you’ve just told me. He needs to hear it.”

****

Amelia had accepted Rosa’s invitation to meet her for lunch, but the food they’d ordered had not been touched. Amelia had sat transfixed as Rosa, with her eyes glowing and words tumbling over her lips, poured out the story of her conversion and how things had changed so drastically in her family. Finally Rosa took a deep breath and gave a half laugh. “Well, that’s what has happened to me, Amelia, and I’m so happy.”

Amelia was touched. She had always liked Rosa, and now she reached over and covered the girl’s hand with her own. “I’m glad for you, Rosa. I can see that there’s something in you that wasn’t there before.”

Rosa smiled, then asked quietly, “Amelia, can I ask you something?”

“Why, of course, what is it?”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about salvation—the new birth, as Phil called it. I didn’t know anything about it. I was lost and on my way to hell, and you never said a word to me. Why is that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“No, not to me.”

Amelia became agitated. She put her fork down and then placed both hands on the table, pressing them hard against the cloth. She did not answer for a moment. Then she looked up and said, “I didn’t tell you about it because I don’t have it.”

“You’re not a Christian?”

“No.”

“But I thought—” Rosa broke off in confusion. “You were raised by missionaries.”

“Being in a Christian home doesn’t make you a Christian—any more than being in a garage makes you an automobile.”

Rosa stared at Amelia. “I don’t understand. How could you live with people like Phil and like your parents must be and not give your heart to Jesus?”

“I don’t know, Rosa.” Amelia sat there, and many things passed through her mind. Memories from her past came floating before her. She remembered when she was just a little girl listening to her uncle Barney preaching—how the words he had spoken about Jesus had broken her heart. She had gone forward and given her heart to Him—or so she thought. But as she grew older, she had resisted God at every turn and decided He wasn’t for her. Maybe her commitment as a child wasn’t real, or maybe she had willingly turned away. She was never sure, but she knew now that her life might have been very different indeed if she had continued to live her life for Him. Now she felt it was too late. She had blown any chance she had of making things right with God.