Page 36 of Wrecked By You

His question took me off guard. “Yes. Don’t you? You just asked me if I was going to church.”

He was quiet for a minute. “I do with the children. I do at my parents’ house over meals. The truth is, I guess I haven’t really felt like praying in the past couple of years. Honestly, I haven’t known if God was there or not.”

I was sympathetic, but I said, “That’s funny. I guess even through everything I’ve been through in the last couple of years, God has been the only person I could really talk to. I haven’t had anyone else.”

He was quiet for a couple of minutes, and then he said, “Dang, Isla. You haven’t been back in my life very long, and I am already inspired by your goodness.”

His compliment surprised me, and I didn’t know what to say.

“Are you there?”

“I’m here. I just never looked at myself as inspiring. I just need God; that’s all I know.”

“When you put it like that, it sounds so simple.”

“Itissimple.”

He was quiet again, and then he said, “We could say a prayer now together. Because I’m worried about you, and I guess God is who we need to talk to.”

I smiled. “Why don’t you go ahead and say it.”

I listened to this man pray for me, for my safety, for the safety of my home and that I could keep doing well at work. He prayed for his children, his parents, and his family. Then he prayed for my mother and my father, which tripped me up. He ended the prayer, and then he said, “Are you there?”

My heart was racing. “Yes,” I managed to say, though I was choking on the word.

“What’s wrong?”

Tears streamed down my face. “Well, you just inspired me, Damon Armstrong.”

He let out a soft sigh. “How is that?”

“Because in all the years I’ve been praying, it never occurred to me to pray for my mom and dad. But I guess the scriptures do say love your enemies, pray for those that hate you, do good to those that curse you.” I hiccupped out a sob.

“Are you okay?”

I sniffed. “I can’t wait for you to get back tomorrow.”

“You took the words out of my mouth. Now, tell me something good. Because we have a long night ahead of us.”

I wiped the tears from my face. “I don’t know. I can’t stay on the phone all night. I need some sleep.”

He sighed. “Then I guess we’ll just have to count on God to protect you.”

I smiled. “I guess we will.” But I knew that nothing could protect my heart.

Eighteen

Damon

The next day, I barely heard any of the words in our meetings. At lunchtime, the main event was over, so I shook some hands and then took off. It was a four-hour drive back to Refuge Falls. When I got there about five in the afternoon, I went right to the station and to Isla.

I found her, Mrs. Friendly, and Fred in the dispatch room. When she saw me, she smiled. But I was in it for more than a smile.

She stood up. “Hey.”

I wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly, not caring that anyone else was there.

Fred let out a low sigh. “Young love.”