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In the quiet of the night, just the ticking of the clock sounded. That and her heartbeat, thumping inside her.
Then, suddenly,Be still.
She caught her breath, the voice pulsing inside her.
Be still, beloved.
Her hands tremored, and she folded them into fists, pushed against the Bible.
Know that I am God.
She closed her eyes, the presence suddenly thick in the room, running through her, touching every cell.
Yes.
Know.
With God came grace. Mercy. Peace.
Hope.
Yes.
She sank into the sofa, closed her eyes, let the wind howl against the pane. Her heart stopped pounding, her breath calming.
She must have dozed off, because she didn’t hear the door open. Didn’t hear the movement until they were inside the house, whispering loud enough to wake the dead. Or her. But Jenny sat straight up and blinked at the entourage stamping off their feet and shedding their coats in the entryway.
The light flicked on, shone over them, and Jenny gasped. “Iris?”
Iris looked up, her blonde hair back in a headband, bags under her beautiful eyes. “Mom. What are you doing up?”
“What—I…praying. For you.” She rounded the sofa as Iris came into the kitchen.
Jenny pulled her into her arms.
“Oh, go easy there.” Iris drew in a breath, eased away.
“What is it?”
“A couple broken ribs, Mom,” said Ned, who came in and embraced her. “She got hit during a football game.”
Jenny clamped her mouth shut. Be still.Still!
“What happened to you?” Iris said, her eye on the bruise.
“Oh, you know, slipped in the bathroom.” She turned to the blonde coming in behind Iris. “Shae!”
“Hey, Mom,” said Shae, and also hugged her. Aw, Shae.
Jenny kissed her cheek. “I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve been worried about you.”
Ned put his arm around Shae, his own worry in his expression. “I was going to send her home with Hud and Iris, but…” He looked at his fiancée. “I couldn’t let her go quite yet.”
“Who’s Hud?”
A stranger then stepped into the room behind them. He stood taller than her sons, bigger, wore a pair of jeans and a button-down oxford. “Hello, Mrs. Marshall.”
“Mom, this is Hudson Bly. He plays for the Vienna Vikings,” Iris said.
