Beyond The Storm Part 19

The Nakamura family followed, Tyler on crutches, Brooke in a wheelchair, Isuzu speaking for them all, rousing the crowd to laughter and tears. After several others, Bob Ray was up next. "This is my square, over here." He took the pointer and drew loose circles around it with the tiny red light. "It's a little messy, but I'm still learning the finer points of needlework."

The laughter flowed in appreciative waves. "Selma here-" grinning, Bob Ray grasped the podium, leaned into the microphone, and nodded at the tiny woman at his side, "-her seam ripper was smokin' sometimes while I practiced, but we finally got my patch right-side up. Anyway, in the rubble I found some clothes I wore to baseball games, back when I was in high school. The thing I remember most about Danny from those days is how he was never afraid to pray in public. And he never swore. And he always praised his team. And . . ." Bob Ray exhaled and blinked, ". . . if the other team did something cool, he'd cheer for them and no one ever thought he was like, a traitor, you know? Danny modeled what it meant to be a man. I learned a lot from watching him over the years, about being a good coach and a good husband and a good man. I hope to one day be all of those things and make him proud up there."

Finally, it was Justin's turn. Slowly, looking up at the video screen as he walked, he made his way to the podium. He braced his palms on each side of the podium, gripping it, head down. Abigail thought for a moment he was praying. Finally, he shook his head, sniffed, and looked out over the crowd.

"Danny would have laughed himself sick, to see me hunched over a sewing machine." Amid hoots and catcalls and laughter, Justin glanced up at the ceiling. "I did it for you, big guy. And I want you to know I ruined a perfectly good shirt in the process . . . this here?" He picked up and pointed with the laser. "It's the shirt I was wearing when I delivered Danny's son right after the tornado, in the middle of a parking lot while being coached by a homeless man and a hairdresser with a flashlight." He waited for the applause to die. "Yes, I have to say that was a moment I'd never antic.i.p.ated enjoying, but it will go down in history as one of my all-time favorite experiences."

He moved the laser's beam. "This is the material we wrapped the baby in that night. And this is a piece of the dog bed, you had to be there, and . . . this is a prayer pocket I made . . ." Justin had to stop and gather his wits for a moment. "Sorry," there was laughter in his sob. "And I put a prayer in there for your son, big guy. And a promise to be there for him. The way you were always there for me."

He glanced at Abigail, and his smile said it all. He was staying.

Tears gathering in her throat, Abigail's heart threatened to pound out of her body as she stood, staring at him and smiling. When the lights came back up, the applause thundered, and Justin stepped into Abigail's outstretched arms.

When the memorial service was finally over, the skies overhead were black and roiling and rumbling with the spirit of another supercell. Rain began to fall in earnest, driving everyone home as soon as humanly possible. No sooner had Abigail and Justin chauffeured their clan to Selma's place in the new truck and the Olds than the newly replaced storm sirens began to wail. Another storm was on the way. What would it bring? Abigail wondered, reacting first with dread. And then fear. And then chagrin, as she parked the Olds and Justin parked his truck in Selma's driveway. If they were all going to live in Rawston without sinking, the way Peter had, they needed to keep their eyes on the Lord in the midst of the storm. No matter how scary. Together, they hustled everyone into Selma's storm shelter, lit the emergency candles, reached for each other's hands and began to pray that their Creator would help them beyond every storm.

Epilogue.

Good morning, Rawston, heart of the American Midwest! We've got 7 a.m. straight up on your Thursday, May 3rd, and you are listening to Mike and Julie on 101.5 K-RAW. Keep it right here for another installation of our special weeklong tribute: Rawston: One Year Later, featuring the guys from Dan the Handyman Lumberyard. Today's special guests are co-owners, Justin Girard and Bob Ray Lathrop. Good morning, guys!"

"Good morning, Mike and Julie."

"Let's start off by having you tell us how your lives have changed since the storm. Bob Ray?"

"This is gonna sound really weird, Mike, but in many respects, they've gotten better. For starters, my man Justin here is going to be getting married next month, to Abigail Durham, from the new Doo Drop In Hair Salon in Old Town."

"Congratulations, Justin!"

"Thanks! We're thrilled. And, Bob Ray should mention that he and his wife just welcomed a baby daughter into their family, Danielle Louise. And she's a beauty. Looks just like her mama."

"I'd love to show you all pictures of her, but since this is radio . . ."

"Speaking of babies, I hear that immediately after the storm, you delivered a baby, Justin! How is everybody doing today?"

"As well as can be expected. Today, that baby is now walking and talking some. His father, my best friend, Daniel Strohacker, was killed in the storm, and we all still feel his loss. But we know that Danny would be happy to see the way his wife and baby are coping, and how the business at his lumberyard has flourished because of the ma.s.sive rebuilding efforts."

"Bob Ray, is it true that you guys had to move into a group home of sorts?"

"That was a total blessing, Julie. Justin's fiancee's great aunt- Selma Louise Tully-opened her home to a bunch of us right after the storm, and we've all been living together for a year now while we rebuild Justin's house and Abigail's business among other projects."

"You know, Mike and Julie, I think both Bob Ray and I can say that this time together as one big family has been one of the best times in our lives."

"Oh, yeah. Justin's right. We're really going to miss him and Abigail after the wedding. But the rest of us are staying put, for now. We all help each other out, and we're in no hurry at the moment. In fact, my wife and I are in the process of buying Selma's house and annexing off an apartment for her."

"So busy! You've both been instrumental in the rebuilding process here in Rawston. How's that going, Justin?"

"Everybody has been working like maniacs, and the results are impressive. The high school and hospital are bigger and better than ever, and Old Town is beginning to reemerge from the chaos. In fact, everyone is going to take the weekend off and celebrate at the annual Rawston Quilt-o-Rama in two weeks. We've got people coming in from all over to celebrate and to view the 'Rawston Storm Quilt' that the community put together this last year with some of the tattered fabric that was salvaged from the storm."

"Kind of a special symbol of rebuilding, huh, guys?"

"Yeah, bit by bit, we're putting the pieces back together. And it's . . . beautiful."

Discussion Questions.

Abigail Durham seemed to be living the American dream, at the beginning of the book, as a young, successful business owner. How do you see that she needed G.o.d's direction in her life?

Some people would think that a storm would ruin your life forever. What were the positive things that came from the storm?

How did Selma help Abigail deal with the losses that the storm brought?

Quilting is not just Selma's work-it is an activity that helps her make sense of chaos and stay centered on G.o.d's sovereignty. What activity do you use to stay centered?

Abigail is afraid to give her heart to Justin and find hope after the storm. If you knew Abigail, how would you help her learn to trust G.o.d? Have you ever experienced something similar? How did you cope? What did you learn?

Jen Strohacker was widowed at a young age. Why do you think G.o.d would put two people together only to take one away?

Have you lost someone you loved? How did you deal with the loss?

Bob Ray seemed to change overnight. Do you think his changes were permanent? Why? Why not?

Isuzu's family lost their Olympic dream and suffered great loss. How, in the scheme of things, might this have been good for the children? For the parents?

Do you think Dr. Bernard Blumenfeld was a real doctor? A homeless man with a real story? An angel unaware?

What was the ripple effect of Danny Strohacker's death? How do you see that his life might have been used? His death?

Have you ever questioned G.o.d's plan in the midst of a life storm? How have you come through and seen His hand on your life?

Other books in the Quilts of Love Series.

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas.

Raw Edges Jennifer AlLee.

Sandra D. Bricker (November 2012) (September 2013) Path of Freedom.

The Christmas Quilt Jennifer Hudson Taylor Vannetta Chapman (January 2013) (October 2013).

For Love of Eli Aloha Rose Loree Lough Lisa Carter (February 2013) (November 2013).

Threads of Hope Tempest's Course Christa Allan.

Lynette Sowell (March 2013).

(December 2013) A Healing Heart Sc.r.a.ps of Evidence.

Angela Breidenbach Barbara Cameron (April 2013) (January 2014).

A Heartbeat Away A Sky without Stars S. Dionne Moore.

Linda S. Clare (May 2013) (February 2014).

Pattern for Romance Maybelle in St.i.tches.

Carla Olson Gade Joyce Magnin (June 2013).

(March 2014) Pieces of the Heart.

Bonnie S. Calhoun (August 2013).