Page 40 of Someone Like You
Then he’d walk another few yards and the voice would come again.
My son, pray for your family. Don’t stop. The enemy seeks to kill, steal and destroy. I have come that they might have life and have it to the full. Don’t stop praying.
So back home just after noon when the call came from his oldest daughter, Brooke, John wasn’t surprised. In His time, God always filled in the missing pieces of what was happening. Which was why praying mattered so much.
John took the call and moved to the front room. He sat on the sofa and faced the window. The big oak and blue sky outside eased his anxiety. “Brooke.” He took a slow breath. “How are you?”
“Dad …” She stopped short, and John knew.
As certain as his heartbeat, he was sure this was why he’d been praying. Brooke was crying. “Honey … take your time.” He lifted his eyes to the sky. “I’m here. Whatever it is.”
Her tears took more of her voice. “Peter and I … we need to talk to you and Elaine. To the whole family. Tonight. P-p-please.”
John’s heart sank. “Okay, honey. Absolutely.” Was this about their marriage? They’d had trouble before, but had something worse happened? John had only heard Brooke this upset a handful of times and always the situation had been very serious.
Brooke grabbed a jagged breath. “I’ve asked the others to come. Even Luke and Reagan.” A soft sob sounded through the line. “After dinner. At Ashley and Landon’s house.”
John and Elaine had dinner scheduled with theirneighbors. But they could cancel that. Nothing was more important than this. “We’ll be there.” He paused. “Brooke, is there anything I can do for you between now and then?”
“No.” Her answer was quick. “It’s too late for that.” Her pause felt heavy. “We’ll explain it all tonight.”
The call ended and John found Elaine in their bedroom sorting laundry. She must’ve seen his expression because she dropped the towel she was folding. “John … what is it?”
“I’m not sure.” He came to her and pulled her into his arms. “I told you … how God has had me praying constantly since yesterday.”
“Yes.” She studied his eyes. “Did you hear something?”
“Brooke called.” He told her about the meeting planned for that night.
Elaine nodded. “I’ll let the neighbors know. They have a few other couples coming. They’ll understand.”
This was one more reason John loved Elaine. She would never replace his first wife, Elizabeth, the one he had married as a young man and raised five children with. The one he had lost to cancer when she was far too young.
But Elaine was the one he loved now. She cared for his family as if they’d always been her own, and she understood the importance of being with them on a day like this. He gently kissed her lips. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Her smile melted his heart. “Brooke needs us.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening doing their usual weekend vacuuming and sweeping, cleaning bathrooms. With every passing hour John prayed longer, more intently.
Whatever it is, dear God, please go before us.
Finally it was seven o’clock and the family was all together at Ashley’s house. The adults gathered in the big living room—the one where John and Elizabeth had raised their family before selling the house to Ashley and Landon.
The kids went out back to catch fireflies and fish the stream. Landon made it clear the adults needed time. “Give us an hour.” He smiled from the doorway, his warm voice loud enough to carry across the back porch. “Then we’ll join you!”
Landon returned to the living room and joined Ashley on one sofa next to Brooke and Peter. On the opposite one sat John’s second oldest daughter, Kari, and her husband, Ryan. And next to them was John’s youngest, Luke, and his wife, Reagan. His oldest son, Dayne, was with his family in California this month working on a major feature film.
Whatever the news, Dayne would have to hear it later.
John and Elaine took the pair of rockers situated between the sofas. A hush fell over the room. All eyes were on Brooke and Peter.
Pray, my son. Don’t stop praying.
Yes, Lord.John held his breath for a long moment.Let Your presence be here tonight. Please.
The tearstains on Brooke’s cheeks made it clear that something desperate had happened. But for now her eyes were dry. Peter took hold of her hand, and John felt himself relax, even just a little. They looked too united, too close to be struggling in their marriage. This had to be about something else.
John waited along with the rest of the family.
