She smiled. “Being a good person doesn’t give me salvation and freedom from the punishment of sin.”
“What’s the punishment for sin?”
“Death and eternal separation from God.”
“You mean hell?” Reid frowned.
“Yes.”
He looked Quinn in the eyes. “If everyone is a sinner, how do they get past the punishment from sin? How does a person get salvation?”
“Through Jesus. John 3:16–17 says, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’”
“How did Jesus save the world?”
“He was the ultimate sacrifice. He died for our sins even though He had not sinned. He conquered death and rose again on the third day.”
Reid was quiet for a long time. She just sat, holding his hand, letting it sink in. “I want this.” He picked up the Bible.
“You can have that one. Or we can get you a new Bible, and you can make your own notes.”
“That’s not what I meant. I meant I want eternal salvation. How do I get it? I heard someone talking to me while I was in the hospital. Telling me it was easy. An angel maybe?”
Quinn’s heart thudded, tears sprang to her eyes, and she covered her mouth.
“What is it?” He turned fully toward her and stopped a tear on its trek down her cheek.
“You heard me?”
“Was it you?”
She nodded. “Some people believe that people can still hear what’s going on around them while they are unconscious like you were. I had to try.”
“I didn’t hear everything, so I’m not sure how it goes.”
“It’s easy. You just have to admit that you’re a sinner and ask for God’s forgiveness, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again on the third day, and confess that Jesus is Lord. Would you like me to lead you in prayer?”
He nodded.
She grabbed his other hand and led him in the sinner’s prayer, then hugged him after saying “Amen.”
“Thank you,” he whispered into her hair.
No. Thank you.
She leaned back. Silence stretched.
Now that this whole ordeal was over, what would happen to them? He’d kissed her, she’d kissed him, they’d held hands, but that was all that had happened. Would they go their separate ways? Would Reid stay? Her stomach clenched at the thought he might move on without them. They hadn’t discussed their relationship, if that’s what she could call it. Maybe, they needed to define what was going on between them before worrying about what happened next.
“Now what?” She finally asked the question she’d been thinking about all evening.
“I’m new to this. You tell me.”
“That’s not what I meant. What about us? Is there an us?”
He grabbed her hand. “I want there to be.” He looked sheepish.
“Me, too.” She tilted his head up with her free hand and leaned in to kiss him.
