Page 33 of Still Afraid

She chuckled internally at the phrase he’d clearly picked up from Jesse. “Sure it does. The definition of being brave is doing something when you’re afraid. Doing something in spite of fear.”

“Does that mean you are super brave?”

Ryland’s words hit her square in the chest. Did he see her as a fearful person? “What makes you say that?”

“Well, I know you’re scared of heights and storms, but you and Uncle Josh help find people even if it’s storming, and the mountains have lots of heights. But you do it anyway.”

“You’re right, I do. It’s not easy, but I’m learning to trust God even when I’m afraid, especially when I’m afraid. He’s trustworthy and won’t let go of us.”

“Then I guess I can be brave too.”

“So you admit you’re scared right along with me?”

Ryland nodded. “I guess. But Jesus has our backs.”

“In the good, bad, safe, and scary, He’s right there.” Chloe tapped on Ryland’s chest. He scooted a little closer and rested his head on her shoulder.

Poirot wandered over and lay in front of them. The three of them sat in silence as everyone else chatted. They weren’t completely ignoring the storm that raged overhead, but they all trusted the Lord to be with them no matter what happened. They could lose everything and everyone and still rest in the Lord. He was bigger than the loss of stuff, and even bigger than the grief that follows the loss of a loved one.

But where was Aaron in all of this? Had he completely turned his back on the Lord that he had at least claimed with his words when he was younger? Had Aaron ever truly put his trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection? Chloe prayed that God would do a work in Aaron’s heart and bring him to true repentance.

She went on to pray for Lydia and her family. Were they safe from the storm right now? They didn’t live too far away, but her husband often traveled for work. Was he home with her and their five kids tonight?

Dad was tracking the storm. Surely if a bad part was near Lydia, he would have called her, then encourage them all to pray. Even so, that’s what Chloe did.

Josh slid his empty plate into the stack that had accumulated on the counter at the back of the theater room. The storm was calming down outside, and Josh anticipated Troy would call it safe soon.

Watching Chloe comfort Ryland had warmed Josh’s heart. She was going to make a great mother one day. They’d talked about kids, and while they weren’t necessarily going to try to get pregnant right away after they got married, they also weren’t going to try and prevent it. As it was, he’d be in his sixties before any child of theirs graduated from high school.

Troy said, “The storm is passed. Looks like the whole area is in the clear for the rest of the night.”

A few whoops and hollers sounded around the room. Poirot jumped up from his spot next to Chloe and darted to the door, nearly knocking over Jesse, who had just picked up the stack of dirty plates.

“Whoa, boy.” Josh grabbed his collar. “Need to go potty, huh?”

Poirot barked.

Bonnie came up beside Josh. “I thought he wanted first dibs on the angel food cake I have upstairs.”

Bonnie’s love language was carbs. Josh was no longer as full as he had thought. “Angel food cake? Yum.”

“And strawberries fresh from the garden and homemade whipped cream.”

“And now we’ll all be in the same rush Poirot is.”

Chloe came up beside Josh and gripped his elbow. “Mom, you are too good to us. Even with all the kids here today, you managed to make dinner and dessert?”

Bonnie shrugged.

“How did I miss those natural abilities?”

Bonnie patted Chloe’s arm. “I think it skips a generation. My mom was a terrible cook.”

“I don’t know if I’d say I’m as terrible as Grandma.”

Josh suppressed a chuckle by pressing his lips together.

Bonnie didn’t try to hide her amusement. “No one is that bad.”