Solutions: The Dilemma of Patience by James Gerard (life books to read .TXT) 📕

Michael laughed.  “Frederick isn’t interested in power; he’s just a believer.”

“Try telling my father that.  Anyway, it stands idly by waiting to be manned with an army, but he’s so afraid he can’t even remember having it built.  Anyway, all the buildings are modern.  It draws electricity off the main grid and water from the city’s supply.  It can house a couple of thousand of people or so.  We can move there.  What do you think?”

“Make a move from this complex?”

“Sure.”

“You think no one would take notice of the convoy of trucks it would take to transport everyone?”

“To them, I’m still the evil enforcer they think I am.  No one will dare question me.”

Michael paused and peered over the idyllic setting wondering if it were a good move or not.  To be freed from the sunless confines of the underground shelter would be nice, but at the same time it proved to be an unbreakable fortress hidden away from those that sought their destruction.        

“No,” he sighed, “we just stay here.”

“Eventually this place will be found out.  Especially if I turn up missing.”

“You sure about that?  I mean honestly, look where you are right now.”

A smile finally emerged under the light of the day.  “You got a point.”

“You know Jacqueline?” asked Michael.

“What?”

“On behalf of all your brothers and sisters here I formally invite you to stay with us.”

“And do what?”

“Like all of us, just wait.”

“Wait?”

“Yeah, just wait.  All it takes is a little patience.”

 Michael stood at the doorway staring at Julia as she renewed the loving relationship she had with Valerie.  While cradling her precious friend with all the love possible with one arm, the other propped up a book from which a sweet and melodic tone was heard in the reading of a tale.  He was not only in awe of the tender scene, but was mesmerized by the young woman’s expression; an angel’s face.

With eyes that gleamed in response to the colorful illustrations and a smile that revealed nothing but happy endings regardless of the dangers and traps embedded in the story, Michael was mesmerized by the innocence.  The face was so alit with joy and peace that for the first time he had witnessed a soul that was overflowing with their Lord’s love.  He entertained the thought that it was not Valerie receiving the tender care and affection, but Julia receiving the comfort of their Lord’s love through his precious child Valerie.

He stood there just gazing at a serenity that appeared to have a calming effect on everyone else in the room.  All the screaming and crying of all of Julia’s frightened friends had been replaced with deep and pleasant slumber.  It seemed as if all the nurses and doctors within the sanctuary had temporarily left the other wards to come assemble and witness something extraordinary.  All they could do was to stare in fascination at the love that overflowed onto them.

The drop of the book was the finishing of the tale.  It signaled Michael to stroll over to Julia.  The overall appearance that had seemed calm and relaxed from afar, took on a somber tone as he approached.  Somewhere in Julia’s smiling countenance an aching heart could be detected.  Perhaps, he figured, the healing would begin anew with a confrontation with Jacqueline.  Although Jacqueline had no part in the cold-hearted act of murdering Jennifer, or the attempted murder against her, he was sure that Julia held Jacqueline accountable for both acts of senseless violence.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she whispered as Valerie lay asleep by her side.

“You’re going have to talk with her.”

“It’s funny,” whispered Julia, “for some reason I never noticed the resemblance between Jennifer and Valerie.  Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know.”

“And Jacqueline, with the exception of the hair color she's a resemblance to Jennifer.  Why didn’t I notice that?”

“He’s still working on that,” Michael softly replied.

“Where is she?”

“Well, let’s just say she is now in a remarkable place.”

“You’re not saying what I think you are saying, are you?”

“I am.”

“Are you out of your mind?” asked Julia.  “Her?  Torres’ daughter?  His enforcer?”

“Yes, her Julia.  Just like Valerie there, Jennifer’s half-sister.”

Michael saw the struggle in Julia’s mind as she began to fidget about the bed.  The peaceful serenity was all together broken as if a mighty struggle between heart and mind had turned into a fierce all-out war.  He could only imagine that the battle line had been drawn, that the conflict inside had pitted the heart’s unbreakable love of Jennifer and Valerie against the mind’s insatiable hatred of Jacqueline.  The three were siblings that had been born out of lust and power, yet he wondered if she truly believed that only two had been blessed by the Grace of their Lord God.

Reasoning with her may have led to understanding, but he concluded that the spoken words would fall on deaf ears.  If anyone was to speak to her concerning the battle, the only one whose words would be obeyed not out of reason but out of love, was the Faith of their Lord Jesus.  He stood there silently in prayer, asking for intervention, to show his Grace, and to make his power known by lifting his precious yet weak child from the depths of despair.

Michael saw a look of sheer hatred in Julia as her eye’s shifted attention to the door.  Without looking to see who had been the object of the rage, he knew his prayer had been answered.  At last he turned to look, then smiled at Jacqueline who was quietly standing in the doorway.   A flip of the hand signaled for her to approach, but it appeared that fear had her paralyzed.

He walked over to her with good intentions in his heart, but the closer he came an overpowering thought out-ruled the words that had to be offered.  Instead, Michael stared into her eyes filled with apprehension and whispered, “Don’t be afraid.”

“Please come over with me?” she softly mumbled.

Michael extended an arm and took her by the hand.  As they approached Julia, Valerie still peacefully asleep by her side, calmness overtook both of the women.  Their eyes locked onto one another.  The hateful and fearful gazes were transformed with stares filled with anticipation; their Lord’s tender mercies were at work.

Julia pulled the photograph from a pocket and smiled.  She reached out and handed it to Jacqueline who had inched up to her side at the very sight of the precious little face whose image had faded through the years, yet to her is seemed as if the scars from time’s cruel touch had not marred the image before the eyes.

“Jennifer,” whispered Julia.  “Your sister Jennifer.”

Tears welled up fast and flowed down the cheeks as Jacqueline gazed at the little girl she never knew.  Michael could see, beyond faith, that their Lord had poured his love into their hearts as soon as tears streamed down Julia’s cheeks.

“I’m so sorry,” whispered Jacqueline.

“I clearly remember you now,” whispered Julia.  “Your precious, little face was filled with such excitement the day I saw you in the basement.  You looked at me with that little face and smiled.  That precious, little face that was so disappointed when your father dragged you out of the room.”

“Yeah,” cried Jacqueline, “I remember.”

“You know, I never could understand why someone decided to spare Valerie’s life, but now I know it was our Lord.”

“Yes it was,” whispered Michael.

“Have you had a chance to get to know your sister?”

Michael could see that Jacqueline could only nod her head in response as any words had to have been choked off.  He could see her body trembling with heart-felt pain, yet he knew she was safe in the arms of their Lord Jesus.

“She talked about you.  She wanted to know where you were,” finally made it out from Jacqueline’s lips.”

Julia reached out for Jacqueline’s hand and gripped it tightly.

Michael could see Julia’s internal struggle to utter the words that were drowned by the tears gushing forth.  She kept glancing at Jacqueline’s face as if desperately wanting to speak her thoughts, but it appeared as if Jacqueline too, tears gushing forth, could not stop the crying long enough to listen to the words.

Minutes passed as the sorrow from their hearts was lifted away by the cleansing of the tears.  

Michael could see the torrential release of every negative emotion that had been held in darkness for so many years for both women.

Finally, Julia regained enough composure and proclaimed, “After my memories came back I hated you… so much…I’m sorry to have blamed you.”

“You don’t have to be sorry.  I am...I am not the nicest person you've ever met.”

Michael knew his presence was no longer needed.  The battle that had been waged in earthly minds was over.  As it was from the beginning, the Lord was triumphant with his truth and love and had already prepared the way for his three precious children, two of which He walked hand in hand with down the path prepared.

Text: James Gerard Burch
Images: Right to use purchased from deviantART-Fotolia.com
Editing: James Gerard Burch
Publication Date: 10-02-2015

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Dedicated to those of us who are secure with the faith of Lord God and with the hope that all will reach out for that security.