Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (34 page)

Chapter 34

I
jump at the loud smack my dad makes when his hand slaps the kitchen counter. “Miley, I don’t understand what has gotten into you? You are never home anymore and now you get suspended from school. It’s that church isn’t it?” He waves his hands in the air. “Some kind of cult.”

“Dad you just let me explain.” I huff with my arms crossed. “I did nothing wrong, Mr. Turner is being ridiculous.”

“Miley, it is his school. You need to obey the rules whether you agree with them or not. You have only one year left.” He begins to pace. “One year, Miley.” He holds up one finger. “You were a good kid before you got involved with that church.”

“Don’t blame the church.” I shout at him.

“I forbid you to go to that church anymore.”

“But…” I begin to whine before he interrupts me.

“I also don’t think you need to see Declan anymore. You’ve changed since he started coming around.”

“Yes, I have changed!” I scream and wave my hand through the air. “You know what I did before I was with him, before I went to church? I starved myself so I would be skinny, which you knew about because you called me out on it a few times. I was going to parties, getting drunk and having sex with my boyfriend.” He flinches when I say the word sex. “The boyfriend you didn’t like, but you never forbade me to see him. How would you know any of tha
t because you were never around?”  I cross my arms back across my chest.

“Miley, I work so I can give you the best.” He snaps.

“I don’t want things, Dad!” I flip my hand up. “I have enough things! What I need is my dad.”

His eyes narrow. “And what does your Bible say about honoring your parents?”

“You are being unreasonable!” my voice cracks this time when I scream and I run upstairs to my room slamming my door behind me. I make sure it is locked and pull my little red box from its hiding place. I fall onto my knees and cry. “Why is this happening God?  I did what you told me to do.” I grab the cold metal out of the box. There is no way I can’t see Declan or not go to church. I will die.

I hold the sharp cool metal to my arm though I can barely see through my tears. 
“Let it
go.”
I hear a faint whisper. I pause and listen.
“This is not who you are anymore.”
The razor falls from my hand when I loosen my grip. I hear the light ping of it hitting the floor.

“I don’t understand God.” I continue to sob.

“
Trust me.”

“I did, I did what you told me to do and not I am being punished for it.” I cry up at the ceiling.

“I told you to trust me. I didn’t say it would be easy. Isaiah 43:1-5.”

I reach up and grab the Bible Robin gave me
off my nightstand. I hurry to find the scripture.
Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by my name you are mine. When you go through deep waters I will be with you, when you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Chapter 35

“S
o Hudson got homecoming king and Jess won by default because we were both kicked out.” Jaylynn informs me, now sitting at our lunch table along with another new addition, Ethan.  Bree is only a sophomore so she doesn’t eat at the same time as we do.

“How has church been?” I ask even though it hurts.

“Awesome.” Jaylynn gushes. “You started a revival.”

“It wasn’t me it was God.” I reply. I look down at my food and
push it around I have no appetite.

“You will be back soon.” Declan say
s running his hand all over my back.

“I hope so. I miss you and church.” I swallow the lump in my throat. After spending
the last five days crying I’m sure I don’t have any tears left to cry. I look at Garrett to get my mind off the subject. “How are things with you?”

“I told mom and dad.” He says.

“How did they take it?”

He shakes his head. “Not
well, but they are going to let us keep on seeing each other, just not allowed to be alone.”

“So it looks like we will have someone to double date with when you’re ungrounded.” Declan says sliding his arm around me. He pulls me close his lips almost touch my ear. “Can we go outside so we can be alone?” he whispers, sending chills through my body.

I cuddle up next to him on the bench the October chill making me want to get even closer to his warm body. “I hate this is the only place I get to see you.”

His thumb traces circles on my arm his arm around my neck helps keep me warm.  “Remember this is temporary.”

“I am trying to remember that.” I speak softly as Declan rests his cheek on the top of my head.

“Your dad will come around.” He assures me. I look up at him, hating that just these few short minutes is all I have. He smiles down at me just as the bell rings for us to go to our next class. Tears slide down my cheeks. “Mi, don’t cry.” He says softly taking my face in his hands.

I nod. “We’re going to be late for class.” I pull away and wipe the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.
“I can’t get into any more trouble.” I say in a rush before I bolt away from him. Seeing him for a few minutes is even harder than not seeing him at all.

Saturday used to be a day I looked forward to. Who doesn’t enjoy the day off school? Me-when school is the only place I can see Declan. I trudge downstairs as soon as I wake up. My dad has been giving Penelope and I the silent treatment since the day I got in trouble, so I am surprised to hear voices when I reach the bottom of the stairs. I assume maybe it is the television when I round the corner to see what Penelope is watching I freeze. Robin, Randy and Declan are all sitting in my living room talking to my dad and Penelope. Suddenly I am aware of how little I wore to bed last night. My pink pajama shorts are so short they could double as underwear. My bed head is embarrassing enough. Without the added barely there clothing.

“Hey Miley.”
My dad says with a smile like he hasn’t been ignoring me all week. He pats on the arm of the recliner he is in. Calling me over like I am not half naked and my boyfriend and his parents aren’t in the room. I pull on the bottoms of my shorts as I make my way to my dad willing the fabric to stretch a couple of inches.

“I am a little underdressed.” I mumble as I sit on the arm of the chair. I can’t even look at Randy and Robin, but I do catch Declan wide-eye with a smile plastered on his face. I cross my arms and legs like somehow they will hide my exposed skin.
“Well I have some good news for you.” My dad says with a smile. “Robin and Randy invited me to come and check out the church.” I slowly look up at them. They both smile at me like I am completely dressed.

“Thanks
.” I smile back.

“Declan apologized to me. I know I overreacted, and he is a good kid.” My eyes meet
Declan’s and we smile at each other. I resist the urge to run over and wrap my arms around him while planting a big kiss on his lips. I don’t think the parents would like that very well considering I am half naked. Instead I wrap my arms around my dad’s neck.

“Thank you Dad.” I gush.

“Alright, so we are also having breakfast together. Maybe you should go get dressed?” he says. He doesn’t have to ask me twice I plow up the stairs and pull on jeans and a tee shirt. I slap a little make up on and put my hair back in a low ponytail after brushing it.

“How did you get my dad to agree to this?” I ask pulling his hoodie tighter around me as we walk through the park the leaves are already beautiful oranges, yellows and reds. Even though I normally hate knowing winter is coming I cannot complain about today, being here with Declan.

“It was my mom’s idea.” He smiles as his arm slides around me.  “We’ve been praying all week and we took the chance at showing up this morning and your dad listened. I think it helped my parents came.”

“Yeah.” I lean my head onto his chest. Thinking about how well Penelope and my dad got along with Robin and Randy at breakfast. Declan has his dad’s personality he can make friends with anybody. I felt like I was part of a big family of course when Declan and I do get married we all will be family.

“Thank you for doing this for me.” I gush.

“It wasn’t just for you.” He laughs. “I hated not being able to be around you.” We make it to a bench where he lowers himself down and I go to sit beside him he pulls me onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck. My smile I can’t contain. “How did I get so lucky?”

“Blessed.”
He corrects me before pressing his lips against mine sending little electric circuits through my body. He pulls away too soon, resting his forehead against mine. His hands run up and down my sides. “It was the grace of God. He brought us together.”

Epilogue

   
I
hold my French manicured hand up as it trembles.  I can’t believe I am this nervous about today.  This is the most exciting day of my life. In just few more hours I will be married to the sweetest, funniest, best looking guy in the world, my best friend.

I hear a knock on my bedroom door. “Who is it?” my maid of honor, Abby, calls out as she smiles back at me in her knee length deep pink bridesmaid dress. “
cause if your Declan you can just forget it.”

“It’s not the groom it’s the mother of the groom.” I hear Robin’s voice.

“How do I know it’s not a trick?” Abby says with a smirk.

“Abby Jane!”
Robin teases. Abby chuckles as she opens the door.

“Look at you.” Robin gushes as she comes towards me her arms enclose around my thin frame. “My son is so blessed. We are all blessed to have you in our lives.” I see Robin’s eyes tear up and notice Abby and
Jaylynn quietly slip out.

“Don’t do this now.” I laugh as I fan myself with my hand trying to hold back my tears.

“I love you, I am so happy you are officially part of the family now.”

“I’m not yet.” I smile. “I have about another hour and a half.”

“I know, it is just awesome to see God’s promise to my child come to pass.” She hugs me again and the tears burn in my eyes.

“I love you too. 
I just wish my mom were here.” I say through a shaky voice.

“I know sweetie.” She leans back but keeps her hands on my arms. “Your mom would be so proud of you.” She smiles sweetly at me. I am not
gonna cry I tell myself, I am not gonna cry.

The door slowly opens and Robin whips around quickly. My dad is standing there. She lets out a sigh of relief. “I thought you were Declan, I have Garrett keeping an eye on him, but he has been a little distracted looking for Bree.”

My dad laughs. “We have him surrounded at the moment.” He looks at me and smiles proudly. “Robin, can I have a minute with Miley?”

“Absol
utely,” Robin says as she makes her way out of the room.

“You’re beautiful sweetheart.” My dad smiles softly at me.

“Thanks daddy.” I say barely above a whisper. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out an envelope and a small box.

“I really hated it when she gave this to me because it made everything so final.” He clears his throat as he hands it over. “She made me promise to give this to you today.” His voice cracks and I finally realize who he is talking about, who it is from.

“Is it from mom?” I can’t hold back the shakiness in my voice and my heart is smacking against my chest. As I take the envelope and package from him. There are words on this paper. From my mom, who I haven’t heard from since she died ten years ago.  And now I get to read something new from her like she is here. My hand shakes as I pull them against me.

My dad nods. “She wanted you to read it on your wedding day.” He shrugs I have no clue what it says I never read it.

“Well I was able to fight back the tears with Robin…” my bottom lip quivers. “but this is going to do it for me.”

“I know sweetheart.”He pulls his arms around me and rubs my back. “But this is a way she can be involved with today.  I think that is what she wanted for you.” He kisses my temple careful not to smas
h my curls against my head. “I’ll leave you with the letter.  I love you and you are marrying a good man.”

I smile wide just thinking about him.
“I know.” With that my dad leaves me with my letter. My hands are shaking as I open it. A few tears escape from my eyes and dampen the envelope. I don’t think I can do this I know my mom wanted me to read this and I hate to ignore what she has to say but it is too hard. I need Declan. I pick my phone up off my vanity and send him a text, hoping he doesn’t already have his phone on silent.

Mi- I need you.

D- Calm down baby we only have a few more hours geez.

Mi- I don’t mean sex
perv.

D- I don’t think it is considered perverted if it is towards my wife, huh? (;

Mi- my dad just gave me a letter from my mom!

D-
you ok?

Mi-I can’t open it, not without you.

D- I’ll be up as soon as Garrett goes to check if Bree is here for the hundredth time.

A few minutes later Declan knocked on the door I crack it open not enough for him to see me. “Hey.” He says softly.

I reach my hand around the door I feel his hand squeeze mine. “I love you.” He whispers.