Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (28 page)

“So Declan told us about what happened with Jaylynn.” Lexi says as I help her pick up the youth room. Most of the teens have cleared out already. I pick up empty cups as Lexi moves furniture back to where it was.

“It is just normal high school drama.” I say.

“Not here. We don’t put up with that.” She stops what she is doing to look at me. “Jaylynn has already caused enough drama for Declan, you let me know if anything else happens and I will deal with it okay?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Okay?” I say in a quiet question. “Why does she do that to Declan?”

“Well you know about Liam, right?” I nod. “I think she wants to be close to Declan because Liam was, but she took his rejection personal. Jaylynn needs to turn to God not Declan.” Lexi pauses to look at the guys who are carrying folding chairs back down the stairs. “Just don’t judge Declan by what Jaylnn says alright?”

Chapter 26

~Declan~

M
iley is still giggling about the game when I pull into her driveway. It feels good to see her laugh. “So, you gonna to come with me again?” I put on my sweetest smile.

“Yeah, I had a blast.” Her smile beams. “Abby and Shay are hilarious. I got Abby’s number we are going to hang out sometime.”

“Great.” I say with a smile, “you need some friends.” I take in a breath realize how that came out.

She doesn’t get all teary eyed like I expect her to; instead she smiles sweetly as she places her hand on my knee and says. “I have you.” Her voice is soft and delicate.

“I mean girlfriends.” I laugh.

“I know.” She says quietly as she looks out the window. Her blond ponytail swings slightly. She reaches for the door handle before stopping and turning back towards me. “Thank you.” Her voice is almost a whisper as she looks down at the floor, her h
and still on the door handle. “For tonight...I haven’t had many nights where I’m not pressured to have sex or drink. It was nice having fun without all that garbage.” She slowly blinks as she looks back up at me again.

“That was the whole point of tonight.” I say as I stare into her round eyes. I lean a little closer to her.

“It’s good to know there is more to life.” Her soft voice makes my heart pound as I close the distance between us and press my lips against hers. I have wanted to do this ever since we broke up. At first I think she is going to kiss me, but then she presses her hands against my chest and pushes away her head shakes as she puts her hand over her mouth. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. Not this again.

“I’m sorry. I can’t.” she whispers.

“What’s wrong?” my heart is now in my throat. I don’t want her to cry.

“You deserve so much better than me, you’re are a great guy and I’m…”

“Who I want to be with!” I cut her off before she can tear herself down again. My voice is louder than I usually use. “Why should I be punished for being a great guy?” I shrug. She just blinks her big hazel eye at me. “I just don’t understand.” I bite the inside of my cheek willing myself not to cry in front of her again. I look at her house. It’s late and no lights are on. She is alone again.

“You can do so much better.” Her voice comes out scratchy and she talks so light I can barely hear her. “I am just going to break your
heart again.” I look up and open my mouth to say something, but she is already out of the truck running towards the front door. I fight the urge to run after her, but I know it will only make it worse.

When I walk into my house my mom is sitting on the couch folding laundry I flop down in the brown recliner and Isaac is on the floor playing video games.

“You alright?”
My mom asks as she folds a fluffy white towel.

“I don’t get it, Mom.” I shake my head. “I know that God told me she was the one, but anytime I even start to get close to her she pulls away.”

Mom pulls a pair of Isaac’s shorts silver active shorts out which I think were mine at one time. “Declan, aren’t you closer than you were when God told you? I mean you hadn’t even spoken to her when he told you, right?”

I stare ahead at the video
game Isaac is playing and nod my head. The soldiers in his game are in some kind of jungle. I watch as he whacks green weeds down to make a path. “Besides you are still in high school. You have plenty of time. Let God work on her.” she sighs. I look back at her. She tilts her head. “You know it is His timing and not ours anyway, right? You know He is working she has been to church.”

Isaac starts bouncing then he growls before the television announces ‘game over.’ “Stupid!” he shouts before cursing.

“Isaac!” my mom chastens.

“Mom.” He whines and stomps.

“Go to your room. Now.” She says and points down the hall. “I will deal with you in a minute.” He grumbles as he trudges down the hall. “Don’t make me get your Father!” she threatens. He suddenly becomes quiet at least until he is out of mom’s earshot I am sure. His bedroom door shuts a little louder than it probably should. Mom turns back to me when she is satisfied he obeyed.

“Why did God tell me when she isn’t even saved yet?”
I rest my elbows on my knees and my forehead in my hands.

“You know how many people have to wait years before God tells them who they are to marry? Be patient, keep praying. God knows what he is doing. Let him do
his work and mold her so she’ll be the perfect wife for you someday.”

“I am trying, Mom.” I lean back and run my hand over my face. There is a loud bang that comes from Isaac’s room. Mom’s eyes widen and she sits up a little straighter.

“I’m sorry, D. I have to go beat your brother now.” She grits her teeth as she stands. “God does have his hand in this. She fits so well with our family; it’s like she is already one of us. Just be content to be her friend right now.” Another bang comes from Isaac’s room. “Isaac Luke!” she says in her stern voice. “We’ll continue this talk later alright?” she says to me with a small smile before storming to Isaac’s room. He is in for it now.

Chapter 27

T
he church is empty other than a man up front he looks like he is in his thirties and I have no clue what I am doing here. He turns and smiles at me a comforting smile.

“I have been waiting for you, Miley.” His teeth are perfect and a bright white almost not real looking. I look behind me even though he called me by name I wonder if maybe there is another Miley here or something, because I have never met this man before in my life.

“Me?” I point to myself after I confirm we are alone. “You don’t even know me.” I don’t know why, but I am drawn closer to him. I step forward. He seems safe and peaceful. He lets out a small chuckle. Not like he is making fun of me though.

“I knew you
before you were born.” As He speaks my life flashes across my mind.

I don’t know how this
happens but all at once I see my birth this man is standing by the doctor he hasn’t aged at all.

I see myself crying all alone when I am little a day my mom was sick. He is there.

I am a teen cutting my arm and he stands above me his tears fall with the blood from my arm.

I see the night Ethan attacked me he was the one in my beanbag chair, not Declan.

My heart aches and I don’t understand why the tears plummet from my eyes. “Who are you?” I whisper.

He reaches for my hand and I allow him to take it. Feeling a hole in the middle of it causes me to jump a little. I want to pull away but can’t I feel warmth fall over my head the only way to describe it is liquid peace as it flows all the way down to my toes.

He pulls me against him my head rest
s on his chest as I feel an overwhelming peace and love I have felt this before- in Declan’s arms- just not as intense as it is now. I hear my name in every beat of his heart. “I am the only man who ever died for you.” He says. Tears fall even faster when I realize everything Declan has told me is true. He lets me sob for I don’t know how long, but he doesn’t rush me and I am content to stay here forever.

When finally he tells me to wake u
p, I wonder,
am I dreaming
?  “I want to stay with you.” I sniff.

“I am always with you.” He replies. “You saw
that. I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“But, I… I don’t understand.” I shake my head as I look up at his bright eyes. “I don’t deserve it.”

“You didn’t do anything, but it’s what I did for you.” Just then I see a vision of him on the cross beaten and bleeding beyond recognition. A lump slides up my throat as he is taunted. What he had to go through breaks my heart. “I didn’t have to go through that, Miley; I chose to do that for you. Because I love you, because my Father loves you.” I have to look away from his torture. It is too intense. “When I was hanging there I was thinking of you. So you can be with me forever, stop pushing me away. If you draw near to me I will draw near to you.” The last word he says echoes as he disappears. I sob again reaching out for him.

“Don’t leave me, please.” I plead, falling to my knees.

“I didn’t leave.” I hear is voice but I can’t see him. “You will not always be able to see me with your physical eyes, but I am always with you and always will be.”

I jolt awake now in my bed. My heart drums in my chest. I grab my phone from beside my bed and find a Bible app to download. It feels like this is taking forever, but I have to know what just happened. Once it loads I scroll down not sure what I am doing I find something called John and begin to read. A certain line almost pops out of my phone at me.

In Him was life and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness but the darkness did not understand it. That was the true Light which gave light to everyman coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own they did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.

So that is all it takes I just have to believe in His name?

“
Yes.”
I hear him answer my thoughts.

“I believe.” I whisper. “Please forgive me for not believing.”

“
You’re forgiven.”
I hear before falling back into the bed.

I sleep better than I think I ever had and wake up refreshed. The first thing I think about when I wake up is Declan. I have to go tell him.  Then I remember what happened last night.  Was that the final push that sent him away for good? My heart sinks when I think about this. I guess there is only one way to find out.

His truck isn’t here when I pull into the driveway. If I don’t do this I don’t know if I will. I step out of my car. I didn’t bother getting all dolled up just jean shorts and a fitted tee, my hair is up in a messy bun and my I am well
aware of the flop sound my flip-flops make as I make my way through the grass my heart thundering in my chest. The door swings open just as I step on the porch Robin is messing with her keys she looks up at me in surprise and smiles.

“Miley,” she says sweetly. “
Declan’s not here.”

I nod and swallow the lump in my throat. “I see that.” I say pointing to the driveway. “Do you mind if I wait for him?” I look down at her purse and keys in hand. “But if you have to be somewhere I understand.” The light morning breeze blows a few stray hairs into my face.

“I was just going to the store. Not in a big hurry for that.” She laughs. “Food that will be gone as soon as I bring it in the house,” she sighs. “Keeping food in a house with three teenage boys is a challenge.” She stops and tilts her head pointing to the porch swing. “What is going on with you this morning?”

“I got saved.” I whisper. Robin gushes and pulls me into her arms. This time I don’t flinch.

“Miley that is wonderful news.” Robin says as she holds me. I feel like I am in my mother’s arms again. I have been so worried about Penelope taking the place of my mother; it never even occurred to me that Robin would replace her. I can’t hold back the tears when I think about my mom.