AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can neither confirm nor deny those accusations,” Jake said with a wink.
Laughter filled the living room and we moved into the Bible study. It was obvious that Jake was fully integrated into our small group, whether I liked it or not. In some ways, I felt like the outsider. The dynamic of the group had shifted seamlessly in six months to make room for Jake and his joking personality. I wouldn’t have even noticed the change, if I hadn’t been experiencing it all at once.
I was glad that Jake had found a godly community to be a part of. I didn’t have to know him well to know that he needed it. Everyone did.
There was a selfish part of me that wished it hadn’t beenmycommunity he joined. This would be a lot easier if my small group had remained exactly the same in the last six months.
I had always assumed that nothing ever changed in Minden.
It often felt like nothing ever changed in my life.
But now, face-to-face with the cumulative changes of six months all at once, I had to admit that everything was changing all the time. I tried not to think about what I’d missed. Christmas. Easter. Krystal and Bryce reuniting after fifteen years.
That one was probably the worst. I’d always thought they needed to end up together. I just never could figure out how it would happen. I’d been ticked to find out I missed Krystal coming home for two months and falling in love with Minden and Bryce all over again.
She was out east filming for another Faithmark movie, but we’d already planned a girls’ night for when she was back in town. We had to re-establish our friendship–again–since I didn’t remember.
The only thing that never changed was God.
And for the two weeks since I had woken up, I had been clinging to that thought. I just hoped it was enough to get me through.
Before long, we were wrapping up the study and going over prayer requests.
“Monica, do you mind if we pray over you?” Mandy’s sweet question caught me off-guard and my eyes widened. I didn’t like to be in the spotlight, even in a group of people I loved.
“Umm, that’s not necessary,” I objected.
But the group was already pulling a chair from the kitchen table into the middle of the living room. “Come on, Monica. You’re the first one to lay a hand on someone’s shoulder and pray for them. Let us do the same for you.”
I agreed and felt the tears in my eyes before the prayers even started. What a gift to have these people in my life. Whether God granted me my memories back or not, I was beyond blessed to be alive, to be in this community, and to have a Savior who heard my prayers.
In turn, each member of the group prayed for me.
I tensed slightly when I heard Jake’s low baritone and felt his hand tighten slightly on my shoulder.
“Lord, it’s hard to add to what everyone else has said tonight. We trust you. We trust your plans for our lives. We know that You are the healer and that You can bring Monica’s memory back in an instant. Selfishly, I want her to remember the friendship we’ve developed. Most of all, we’re so grateful for her life. Help her continue to recover. Restore her mind fully, in Your time. Whether that is in this very instant or in a year. Or, perhaps, not until she reaches heaven… Preferably right now,” he added, and I could hear the smile in his voice and the quiet laughter of the group around us.
His hand was warm and heavy on my shoulder, and I could hardly focus on anything beyond the contact there. Why did it feel so… intense?
Mandy closed the prayer, and I swiped at my nose with the tissues someone had placed in my hand during the prayer circle.
“Thank you all so much. I’m going to be okay, really.”
Surrounded by the prayers and the people I loved, I almost believed it.
I hugged Mandy and a few others who waited as the group started to disband.
“Well, we better head home and get Adelaide to bed,” said Garrett. “Take care of yourself, Monica.”
I was talking to Carla, making tentative plans for a trip to her parents’ place on Racoon Lake for a beach day. Carla’s phone beeped and she checked it. “Ack, I gotta run. Early day tomorrow!”
She was out the door in a rush, talking the whole time about her plans for the day.
I looked around and realized that Carla and I had been the last ones there. Now it was just me and Jake, who was rearranging the furniture now that the large circle was unnecessary.
“I better get out of your hair.” I grabbed my purse and fumbled for my keys. As my fingers found the bottom of my purse, I stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Jake must have seen something on my face.
