Sherrie hung her head. She didn’t want Fiona to see the tears.

  Fiona pulled her closer. “Desperate for solutions. Any solution that will bring you closer to getting pregnant. Meanwhile, you get further away from your beloved husband. The pain inside your heart is so great. Who can bear it?”

  A sob escaped Sherrie’s throat. She tried to pull away, but Fiona held on tight.

  Tears ran hot down her face. “Three ... three long years. We ... we ... have tried ...”

  Nodding, Fiona completed her sentence. “I figured as much. Edmund and me. We tried for nine years. Been prayed over countless times for my endometriosis. Even tried my crazy Uncle Harry’s Bahamian roots recipes. I had multiple tumors. One as big as grapefruit at one point. God healed me of all of them. Shrank one overnight. It was a miracle.”

  Fiona drew back and looked at Sherrie. “When I talk about modern-day miracles, I know firsthand. I believe in God. Do you believe in Him?”

  Sherrie nodded.

  Fiona went on. “Yet, God chose not to bless us through pregnancy. He chose to bless us through adoption. The name Ian means ‘gift from God’ in Gaelic. He is our gift. I pray God sends you the restoration you need so you can know His will instead of the heavy grief you feel now.”

  Sherrie swallowed and found her voice. “Thank you, Fiona.”

  “My pleasure.” She leaned into Sherrie, pulled her into a gentle embrace and prayed. “Lord God, this is the sister I never had, Lord. Restore what the locusts of grief and fear have ripped from her soul, Father God. For her mourning, give her overwhelming, never-ending oil of joy. Please be with her until we meet again.”

  Happy tears wet Sherrie’s face when she stood back from Fiona. “Thank you, sister.”

  Fiona grinned. “He loves you. My church has an adoption support group. I don’t know where you worship but ...”

  “I’d love to come.” Sherrie beamed. This was an answer to an unspoken prayer.

  Sherrie and Drake helped them finish packing the rest of their beach gear. After final hugs and the exchanging of contact information, the Lewis family drove away. Their new friends were leaving, but they would not be far away.

  Thank you, Lord.

  Drake draped his arm around her as they walked back to their beach house. “Wow. What happened here today was a God thing. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, I know.” She pulled his arms around her tighter. “You want to know something else? I’ve been putting God into a tiny box. He’s planned a good future for me, for us. Not an evil one. I believe God will restore what my pursuit of pregnancy has stolen from me, from us.”

  Drake kissed her lips. “This is the old Sherrie. Fierce woman of God.”

  “That little baby. It all started with him.”

  He chuckled. She liked the sound of it. “Yes. That was a special baby. Holding him that first time ... it changed me, Sher. Being a father would be awesome, not awful. I think I could do it.”

  “Me too, Drake Patterson. Me too.”

  He Watches Over Me

  by: Vanessa Miller

  The Atlantis resort in the Bahamas was a sight to behold. There was something spectacular to do everywhere Renee Marshal turned. From the eleven pools, water slides, river rides, movie theaters and on and on it went. The place was decadent... definitely for the two percenters. A lowly assistant like her could never afford such a vacation. She could hardly believe that they were staying in the Royal Tower, the absolute best part of the resort because the rooms were fabulous and the tower was centrally located around all of the resort attractions.

  She was in the Bahamas, on Paradise Island, over seven hundred miles away from Marlin Strange. The man who had broken her heart and tried to destroy her life by stalking her once she’d had enough of his abuse.

  “A couple of us are going to the beach. Do you want to hang out with us?” Dawn asked.

  “Sounds good. Let me change into my bathing suit and get the novel I brought to read.” Renee changed into her swimsuit and then grabbed her beach bag. She put her novel, a towel, small bottle of lotion and a sun visor in it. Then she rummaged through her purse for a few other items to put in her beach bag.

  She grabbed her mints and a bottle of water. As she was pulling the water out of her purse, Renee caught sight of the pepper spray she bought to protect herself from Marlin. She grabbed hold of it, getting ready to put it in her beach bag. But then she decided that she wasn’t going to let thoughts of that stalker ruin her trip. She put the pepper spray on the night stand next to her bed, then grabbed her bag and left the room. She was amongst friends and co-workers. Actually Jay Morris was her boss. They were in the Bahamas on a business trip along with several others from the office. But Jay was also a friend because she attended youth camp and church with him as a teenager.

  Down at the pool, Renee tried to concentrate on her book, but Jay was distracting her. She’d never imagined that he would look so good in swim trunks but his biceps, triceps and washboard abs were doing a number on her. She had been celibate every since leaving Marlin and Renee intended to stay that way until some man put a ring on her finger and waited for her to walk down the aisle and say ‘I do’.” This was the commitment she made to God a long time ago, and this time she was sticking to it.

  “Come on in.” Jay splash water on her. “Put that book down and have some fun.”

  She didn’t want to be anywhere near Jay. So she pointed at Dean, Jay’s business partner. He was stretched out on a lounge chair reading documents instead of frolicking in the pool. “He’s reading too.”

  “Yeah, but Dean has always been a fun snatcher. You don’t want to end up like him.” Jay got out of the pool and sauntered toward her.

  Water dripped off of his body like he was making it rain. Renee was praying for a drought. She jumped off of the lounge, threw her book in her beach bag and said, “I’ve got to go back to my room.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Jay asked, as he watched her rush past him.

  “I’ll be back.” She had to get away from Jay. As far as Renee was concerned if she liked Jay, there had to be something wrong with him. So, she was going to stay as far away from him as possible. She had escaped a monster, and now she needed to get away from Jay.

  Jay grabbed a towel and dried himself off. He then followed after Renee. When he caught up with her, he gently swung her around to face him. “Did I do something to upset you?”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s not about you. It’s just... I just need to get away.”

  Smiling that gorgeous smile of his, Jay said, “We already did that.” He did a sweeping motion with his hands, indicating the sand, the ocean and all the beauty before their eyes.

  “What I’m trying to say is, I want to explore the island.”

  “Okay, then I’ll go with you.”

  “No,” she practically shouted in his face.

  “I can’t let you go off on your own, Renee. Your father would never forgive me if you turned up missing. We are not in North Carolina. You don’t know this place like the back of your hand, so I think it’s best if we travel together.”

  She wanted to argue but deep down she knew he was right. It would be foolish to go off exploring alone. “Okay she agreed, but put some clothes on.” She pointed at his nakedness as if it offended her.

  Laughing Jay said, “I doubt if the Bahamian women would want to hurt their eyes with such a punishing view of me. I’ll get changed and meet you in the lobby.”

  As Jay rushed passed her, Renee couldn’t help but sneak another glance. She couldn’t think of a single woman who wouldn’t consider the athletically built, Jay Morris something lovely to behold indeed. She fanned herself as she channeled her step-mother. “I need to get my mind on Jesus.”

  When they met back up in the lobby, Renee was wearing a sundress and Jay had on a pair of tan shorts with a polo shirt. He grabbed her hand and said, “Come on, I know just the place.”

  Renee went off with Jay, and she had a very nice time. That is, until Jay tried to kiss her. That was when she made it clear that she was not interested in getting involved with him or anyone else for that matter.

  ~~~

  Jay had better things to do than chase a woman who didn’t want to be caught. He had never been spoken to the way Renee had spoken to him. Most of the women he dated enjoyed being around him. But then again, he wasn’t dating Renee and obviously never would. He simply needed to get those silly high school dreams out of his head. He was a grown man now, and if some troubled woman wanted nothing to do with him, well then, he was going to take the hint and move on.

  They were having dinner beneath the stars at the Ocean Club. One of the most premier dining spots on Paradise Island. Jay dressed in a Dolce & Gabbana white linen blazer and a pair of black slacks. It was stylish without being too formal. The room was elegantly decorated with a romantic candle-lit fountain pool. However, Jay was all business as he shook hands and networked.

  Then Renee walked into the room and knocked him off his game with that curves for days dress she was wearing. Looked like something the Duchess of Cambridge would wear to one of those fancy balls she attends with Prince William. Jay silently fumed as the men in the room fell over themselves as they rushed to get an audience with her. He doubted he’d be able to watch Renee prance around the room all night, so he clasped his hands, getting everyone’s attention. “I’m sure you all have better things to do than hang around here all night. So, let’s take our seats and order dinner.”

  Several members of their group shot questioning glances his way. One actually accused him of being the fun police, but he didn’t care. Jay didn’t owe any of them an explanation. As far as he was concerned they could just sit down, shut up, eat and leave him alone. He was the leader of this bunch so he couldn’t just go to the back of the room and ignore everyone, but that’s what he wanted to do.

  “Hey buddy, you want to tone it down. I’m getting questions about your mood,” Dean told him as they sat down together at one of the round tables next to the candle-lit fountain pool.

  “What about my mood? Who said something about my mood?” Jay asked as if he was ready and willing to fire the culprit.

  Dean leaned closer and whispered, “If you want her so bad, why don’t you just tell her to come to your room tonight?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jay had never discussed his love life with Dean and he wasn’t about to start tonight. Especially since the love going on between him and Renee was completely one sided.

  Dean looked over his shoulder and then turned back to Jay. “All I’m saying is, somebody else will make a move if you don’t. So stop acting like a choir boy and get at her.”

  Jay turned to his business partner and blurted out, “She’s not interested in me, okay? So just leave it alone.” He closed his eyes trying to block out the pain those words caused him. Why had God allowed him to spend so many years dreaming about a woman who was off limits? And why had he been fool enough to convince her to take this trip?

  Jay escaped the group and walked down to the beach. He needed time to himself to think and to pray. He walked past a church, noticed that they were having a revival this weekend. But he had no desire to go to something like that tonight.

  Further down the beach, he picked up some rocks and threw them in the ocean. He then lifted his head heavenward, praying for an answer. Since he was a child his mother had taught him to trust in God. She’d run through the house shouting praises to a God that Jay couldn’t see or touch. He hadn’t understood her back then. But every time something good happened for their family... his dad got a promotion, Jay made the basketball team, they moved into a bigger house... his mother would tell him, ‘I prayed for that. Now I need to go thank and praise the Lord for bringing it to pass’. So right now, Jay was praying for the Lord to do something for him. He’d received success and made tons of money. But Jay was still waiting on ‘the one’. “Can you please make it plain to me, Lord? Can you help me find the woman I will spend the rest of my life with?”

  The waters of the ocean shimmered and became this beautiful sight as colors blended and stretched out as if a path to someplace was being set before his eyes. Jay was compelled to walk the beach, following the brilliant color. “Where you lead, I will follow,” he said out loud hoping that God was listening.

  ~~~

  Grabbing her novel out of the bag, she stretched out on the balcony and picked up reading where she left off. It would be an interesting diversion. Something to take her mind off of the friendship she had ruined. She read for about an hour and then her lids began to droop. The book was good but she’d had an eventful day and it was time to shut it down. Walking back into her room, she turned off the lights, got in bed and then pulled the covers up as she drifted off to sleep.

  She had just started dreaming about Jay when a voice penetrated her dreams and caused a chill to run up her spine as she felt the covers being pulled off as someone got in bed with her. Renee racked her brain, trying to figure out how someone could have come into her room. She’d not only locked her door, she’d latched it as well. But then she remembered that she’d been on the balcony reading her book and had not locked that door when she’d come back into her room.

  “I’ve come for what you owe me.”

  Her eyes widened. Had Marlin bonded out of jail and followed her to the Bahamas. But he didn’t sound like Marlin. The man in her bed sounded like... she screamed as she hit the switch to turn the light on and then she jumped out of the bed.

  “Where are you going? Don’t you believe in paying your debts?”

  “You’re drunk, and I don’t owe you anything.”

  “Either going to get my night with you, or I’m going to get my money back.” He reached up and grabbed her, pulling her back to the bed.

  “Let me go. Leave me alone,” Renee screamed, but it was no use. He wasn’t listening.

  “That dress you wore tonight was beautiful. Did Marlin buy it for you?”

  “You’re a pig.” Wrestling to get away, Renee managed to pull one arm free of his grip. That’s when she remembered the pepper spray she had left on her nightstand. She leaned forward, reaching for it. She almost had it but he pulled her back to him.

  “Pig or not, you’re going to give me what I came here for this time.”

  She scratch him. As he yelped. She broke free and grabbed the pepper spray. When he tried to reach for her this time, Renee sprayed him, and kept on spraying until he held onto his eyes and screamed like he was being bludgeoned to death.

  Her door burst open. Renee swung around preparing to spray the newcomers with pepper spray. Then as Jay rushed in with a hotel clerk right behind him, Renee dropped the spray and rushed into his arms. “I’m so sorry for what I said to you before. Thank you.” She shivered in his arms as she said again, “Thank you so much for being here for me.”

  “Help me Jay, I can’t see.”

  Jay turned toward the man who’d called out to him, “Dean? What on earth are you doing in here?”

  “He’s drunk Jay. He tried to rape me.”

  “Rape?” Dean said the words as if nothing could be further from the truth. “I was simply trying to get what’s owed to me. Her boyfriend sold her to me and I never got the chance to collect until now.”

  Jay looked to Renee. “What is he talking about? Aren’t you a prostitute.”

  “It’s not what you think. I have never sold myself.”

  “Do you want me to call the police ma’am?” the clerk asked.

  Completely mortified by the thought of anyone else finding out what Dean tried to do to her, she turned to Jay. “I don’t want to talk to the police tonight. And if they believe Dean over me I could wind up in prison on foreign soil.” She was becoming hysterical at the thought of anyone believing that she was selling herself.

  Jay handed a few large bills to the clerk and said, “Thanks for your help. I’ll let you know if we need anything else.” As the clerk nodded and left the room, Jay pointed to the door and said, “Get out of here, Dean.”

  “I can’t go anywhere. She pepper sprayed me. I can barely see anything.”

  With a look of disgust on his face, Jay turned away from Dean. “Let’s get your things, Renee. You’re going to stay in my suite tonight.”

  Renee and Jay quickly grabbed her bags and headed out of the room. Once they were in his suite. He helped Renee to a seat on the sofa while he made her a cup of tea. Handing it to her, he said, “Drink this. It should calm your nerves.”

  Tears that hadn’t come during the attack because she had been running on pure adrenaline, were flowing freely now. Jay sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry that happened to you, Renee. Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll get it done.”

  She wanted Dean to pay for what he’d done to her... wanted Marlin to pay too. But that would mean she’d have to let the world know what a fool she had been. She kept trying to hide her secrets away in the corner of her mind, hoping they’d get lost and she’d never have to think about them again, but things kept popping up, causing her to relive the horrors of loving a man who’s motto for life was ‘you play, you pay’. And she had paid dearly.

  “Do you want to talk?”

  She let Jay go as she wiped the tears from her face. “Where do I start?”

  He handed her some tissue. “Wherever you want. I’m here for you. And if all I can do to help is listen, then I’ll do that.”

  “Things would have been so different for me if you had been my boyfriend in high school. Maybe we would have stayed together, huh? And then I never would have took up with Marlin.”

  There were a lot of woulda-shoulda-couldas in this world. Jay leaned his head against the back of the sofa without responding to Renee.

  “You don’t believe me do you?”

  “I don’t want to badger you. Lord knows you’ve been through enough tonight. But I don’t know what believe since you won’t talk to me.”