Ever Present Danger (41 page)

Montana drew back and cupped his hands around her face. “Do you think she knows you did?”

“I really do.” Ivy’s voice cracked, and she paused to regain her composure, determined to say what was on her heart. “I’ll understand if you’re angry with me. But I want you to remember something, so put on your big boy ears and listen carefully.” Ivy looked into her son’s eyes, which looked so much like Rusty’s she almost smiled. “I would rather you be mad at Mommy for telling the truth than be proud of Mommy for living a lie. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I get it. I think.”

Ivy wet her thumb and wiped the tear streaks off Montana’s cheeks.

“What’s gonna happen to Bill?”

“He’s going to prison for the rest of his life.”

“Grandpa says his mind is sick. That he killed those three guys at your school thing you went to. And that he took you away last night and wouldn’t let you come home.”

“I’ll tell you what—why don’t we not think about all the unhappy things and just enjoy each other as long as we can?”

“Okay, you wanna hear me read?”

“Sure.” Ivy reached over and tousled his hair, thinking there was nothing on earth she would rather do. “So what do you want to read to me?”

“
Green Eggs and Ham
,” they said at the same time.

ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Ivy Griffith pulled her Jeep Liberty into the parking lot of Woodlands Community Church, her mind flashing back to Monday night’s confrontation with Bill. She wondered how he was handling being locked up—and if he even realized how sick he was.

Ivy got out of the car and ambled across the courtyard and through the wrought iron gate to the cemetery. She walked past the guardian angel that marked baby Amy’s grave and stopped in front of the white cross in the back row. She stood for a moment, sobered again by the sight of Lu’s name engraved on the headstone.

“I finally did it, Lu. I asked God to forgive me and told the sheriff the truth. But I guess you already know that.” Just then a slight breeze tickled Ivy’s cheek, and she smiled. “I thought so.”

She sat cross-legged on the ground and brushed her hands across the soft blades of green grass that had shot up through the brown crunch.

“Did I ever thank you for saving my life? God used you so powerfully, and I didn’t even realize how much until I recommitted my life to Him. I’m so grateful to you, especially for being everything to Montana that I couldn’t…” The words seemed caught in her throat, and she paused for a moment and considered what a blessing her son had turned out to be. “He’s doing really
well. You’d be so proud of him. He gave his heart to Jesus, and now we both know we’ll see you again. That’ll make missing you so much easier.

“I never understood what it was you saw in me that made you care so much. You said when you looked at me, you saw light under the door, and that when I figured out what that meant I’d feel you smiling in heaven.”

Ivy leaned back on her hands, her gaze fixed on a gold-rimmed cloud that had hidden the sun. “Well, you must be smiling because I think I get it. You saw the light of Jesus in me, even when I thought I had pushed God out. You knew He was in my heart and would never let go of me—not ever. And that someday I would realize that and let Him love me again.”

Ivy blinked away the tears, then sat in the stillness of the spring afternoon and drank in the magnificence of the San Juan Mountains, mighty and steadfast, like the God who made them. She thought about how dramatically the course of her life had been changed in the past couple days—and tried not to worry about tomorrow morning when she would stand before the judge.

AT ELEVEN O’CLOCK Friday morning, Ivy Griffith stood before Judge Wilbert Stanton, her legs wobbly, her heart doing flip-flops—and the peace of God buffering her from the blow she was about to receive. She answered each question the judge asked her, just as she had practiced with Brett Hewitt, and then pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of Failure to Report a Felony.

Judge Stanton folded his hands and seemed to study her. “Miss Griffith, do you have anything to say before I pronounce sentence?”

“Just that I’m very sorry I didn’t tell the truth about Joe Hadley’s death right after it happened. My silence has caused his parents a great deal of grief, and I’d give anything to go back and do things differently. But I’m ready to accept responsibility and the punishment I deserve.”

“Very well, then. I hereby sentence you to twelve months in the Tanner County Jail, your sentence to commence immediately.”

The judge took off his glasses, the look in his eyes holding her captive. “Miss Griffith, it is highly unusual for a defendant not to accept a lesser plea when the DA’s office has offered probation, a fine, and community service in lieu of incarceration. And even more so since the statute of limitations has run out, and you were advised you couldn’t be prosecuted anyway. I must say I find your desire to pay your debt to society commendable,
albeit uncommon, considering you will have a criminal record from this day forward.

“I truly hope that after you’ve served your sentence, you’ll reenter society with a clean slate and make something of yourself. Any young woman as determined as you are to set things right has enough grit to turn her life around. I hereby order you into the custody of the sheriff. Case adjourned.”

A female jail deputy came over and escorted Ivy out of the courtroom and into a hallway and patted her down.

Just as the deputy took the handcuffs off her belt, Ivy spotted her parents and Montana standing just a few yards away. “Before you cuff me, would it be okay if I said good-bye to my family—or at least my little boy?”

The deputy smiled. “Sure. It’s not the normal procedure, but I’ve done it before. Come on.” The deputy stepped across the hall and opened the door to an empty room. “Wait here.”

Ivy stood with her arms around her mother and held her tightly, not wanting to let go. “I love you, Mom. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for everything you’ve done—and for not making me feel like a failure.”

“Oh, honey,” Carolyn Griffith said, “I’ve never thought that. You just took a wrong turn and lost your way. You’re back on track. And once you get this behind you, life is just going to get better and better.”

“Take good care of Montana…” Ivy’s voice trailed off and her vision went blurry.

Carolyn nodded, then let go of her and stepped back.

Ivy took in a slow, deep breath and let it out.
Lord, give me the right words. This is so hard
.

She sat in a chair and pulled Montana into her lap, determined not to upset him by getting emotional. “Promise me you’ll never ever forget how much I love you.”

“I won’t,” he said. “I’ll already be eight when you get out, right?”

“Well, here’s the deal. Prisoners who do everything they’re supposed to can get two days credit for each day served. That means I could be out twice as fast—in just
six
months.”

“How long is that?”

Ivy took his fingers and counted out each month. “May, June, July, August, September, October. Grandma will show you on the calendar, and you can mark off the days. But you can come visit me every week.” She wet her finger and wiped a smudge off his chin. “Grandma and Grandpa will take good care of you. And if you ask Jesus to help you get through each day, He will. That’s what Mommy’s going to do.”

Montana played with the zipper on his ski jacket. “Grandpa’s taking me to Vacation Bible School. And fishing. He said Brandon knows how to catch trout at this really cool stream he’s taking us to.”

Ivy hugged him tighter, as if that would stop the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. “Grandpa told me how much he’s looking forward to spending time with you. You’re going to have a really fun summer.”

Ivy rested her cheek against her son’s and held him for a few moments, whispering a prayer of protection. She helped him off her lap, and then rose to her feet, her gaze catching her father’s.

Elam Griffith glanced over at Montana. “Would you take Grandma outside and let me have a minute alone with your mom?”

Montana took Carolyn’s hand and walked over to the door, then turned around. “Grandma said I can sleep in your bed while you’re gone, and then I won’t get so lonesome.” Montana stood for a moment, his puppy eyes brimming with tears, then ran back to Ivy and threw his arms around her. “I love you, Mom!”

“I love you, too. So much.”

Ivy felt her throat and chest tighten and held back the tears until Montana left the room with her mother. Then she broke down in her father’s arms.

A minute passed before either of them said anything.

“I’m so sorry, Dad. It seems like all I’ve ever done is shame this family.”

Elam drew back and brushed away the hair that stuck to her wet cheeks. “I’m not ashamed of you, Ivy. I’m proud. This is probably the most courageous thing you’ve ever done, and I know it cost you a lot. Most people would’ve taken the easy way out. But you refused to make excuses for yourself, even though it meant jail time. That tells me a lot about what you’re made of.”

“I don’t have any doubt that God’s forgiven me. And I hope the Hadleys will eventually. I just knew I couldn’t downplay what I did. It was important to tell the whole truth. I spent ten years doing the exact opposite. Never again.”

“Well, if what Brett told us holds true, you’ll be back home and settled before Thanksgiving.” He took his thumbs and wiped the tears off her cheeks. “Maybe the time will go faster than you think.”

There was a knock at the door, and the jail deputy poked her head in the room. “Are you about ready, Miss Griffith?”

“Could we have just a couple more minutes?” Elam said.

The deputy nodded and gently closed the door.

“Whew!” Elam pretended to wipe the sweat off his brow. “I thought I’d blown my big chance.”

“For what?”

“To do something I haven’t done since you were fourteen.” He cleared the chairs from the front of the room, then stepped back, a twinkle in his eye, and took a bow. “May I have this dance, mademoiselle?”

Ivy stood dumbfounded, the corners of her mouth twitching. “This is kind of weird, Dad. Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.” Elam held out his hands, as if to beckon her. “There’s only been one princess in my life. You didn’t think I’d waltz with just anybody, did you?”

Ivy put one hand on his shoulder and the other hand in his, and for a few awkward moments they stood looking at each other.

“Let’s don’t ever lose each other again, Ivy. When you’re in that jail, serving your sentence, don’t ever doubt my love for you—not for a second.”

“Not even when you see me in that awful orange jumpsuit? Or
when everyone in town is talking about me?”

“Especially not then.” Elam’s chin quivered and his eyes glistened. “I love you, sweetheart—just the way you love Montana. And I can honestly say I’ve never been prouder to be your father. Now…would you grant your old dad this one request before that lady deputy comes back in here and ruins everything?”

“She’s going to think we’re nuts.”

“Too bad.” His eyes smiled as he began humming that familiar waltz Ivy remembered from years ago but still didn’t know the name of. “Come on, honey. Hum the tune with me. I know you remember it.”

Ivy listened for a moment and then began to hum along, at first softly and then louder and louder, as she whirled in perfect step with her father. She gave no thought to past or future, but rather entered wholly into the present, experiencing for a second time that week the cleansing, liberating, inexplicable power of grace.

Dear friends,

In today’s culture where moral absolutes are rapidly disintegrating, it isn’t easy for believers to keep both feet planted on a biblical foundation, especially when we’re continually exposed to people and situations in direct conflict with God’s Word. It’s so important that we remain keenly aware of the ever-present danger of compromise, because the enemy of our souls knows only too well where each of us is most vulnerable.

Compromises can start out small and escalate into tragedies with heartbreaking repercussions. At the very least, they weaken our spiritual defenses and our witness. And there seems to be no end to the excuses we invent to justify the unbiblical choices we make:

“So what if I took a few pens and office supplies from work? Everybody does it. They don’t pay us enough anyway.”

“Abstinence isn’t realistic for my generation since we have to wait a lot longer to get married than our parents did.”

“I know soap operas can be raunchy, but I need a harmless escape from my boring life.”

“Looking at pornography isn’t the same as cheating on my wife. I’ve never laid a hand on another woman.”

“So I sold that couple more than they needed. Okay, a lot more. But they can afford it, and I needed the commission to pay bills.”

“I called in sick so I can catch up on things at home. Big deal. I have more sick leave than I’ll ever use, and I needed a mental break.”

Friends, compromises can seem perfectly legitimate to our carnal minds. That’s why it’s so important for believers to “put on the mind of Christ.” Our best defense against compromising is to be grounded in the Word so our conscience stays tender and to be in fellowship with trusted believers who will hold us accountable.

Just as bad company corrupts good character, good company can help to grow it. The time to decide we’re going to stand firm is before we’re faced with moral decisions, not in the heat of the moment. And not in the company of people whose values conflict with ours. Staying faithful to God’s Word doesn’t just happen. It takes forethought and resolve—and ever-present vigilance.