“Did you guys leave any water in the tub?”
“Nope. Hurricane JJ hit land and flooded the place.”
“I believe it.” His wounds started to hurt after the laugh.
“I’m going to go change. I’ll be right back.”
He heard the bedroom door click. “Mr. Reid.” JJ wandered into the living room.
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Will you read me a bedtime story?” JJ handed him a book.
Emotion clogged Reid’s throat. “I’d love to.”
JJ knelt next to the couch and laid his head on his arms on top of Reid’s legs. He listened as Reid read the story. It was a story about how God had made each person special. Reid closed the book and found Quinn standing at the doorway, watching them.
JJ grabbed the book. “Thank you.” Then, he turned around, leaned against the couch, and started looking at the pictures.
Quinn took Reid’s trash and threw it away. She paused behind the couch, leaning on her crutch. “Can I get you anything? Water? Pain pill?” She stifled a yawn.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” He patted her hand. “You and JJ go to bed.”
She tilted her head. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I’m fine. A little tired but fine.”
“Yell at me if you need anything.” Compassion filled her eyes.
After brushing their teeth, they bid Reid good night and went to bed. Reid lay on the couch and tried to sleep.
He couldn’t. His mind kept going back to the voice and instructions he’d heard while he was semiconscious. He looked over and found Quinn’s Bible still lying on the coffee table. He picked it up and opened it.
****
Throbbing in her leg woke her. She looked at her phone—it was time for another pain pill. She took one and started to roll back over when light from the front room caught her attention. She slipped out of bed and grabbed her crutches.
Reid was sitting on the couch, her worn Bible in his lap. He looked up. “Hey, sleepyhead.”
“It’s 3:00 in the morning. What else would I be doing?” She crutched over to the couch and sat. “What are you doing?”
“Just reading.” He shrugged.
“Find anything interesting?” She wasn’t going to push him to talk. It was his walk. She planted the seed, and God would reap the harvest in His time.
“A lot actually. I found that I’m not too far gone, thanks to you.”
“I was just a catalyst.” She smiled. “Do you have any questions?”
He laughed. “So many.”
“I can try my best to answer them,” she said.
“Why would God want me? I’ve done so much wrong.”
“You’re not the only one. In fact, we are all sinners, separated from God by sin.” She grabbed his hand.
“But you’re a good person.”
