On Every Side Part 26

"Thank you, Your Honor." He slipped his hands in his pock-ets and made his way closer to the judge. "Several years ago when I first became a lawyer, I had one thing in mind." He stopped and locked eyes with Judge Webster. "Find the wrongs and right them."

Jordan exhaled heavily. "For years I thought those wrongs centered around Christianity around the people who insisted on being public about their religious beliefs." An image came to mind of Mr. Campbell, the high school teacher Jordan had gotten fired for praying with a student. He cringed inwardly. Lord, if only there was some way to make it up to him...

And suddenly Jordan knew that there was.

"I thought those things, but that was before I filed suit against the city of Bethany" He turned and faced the curious eyes of the spectators and the concern on the reporters' faces. "I've found out a lot since I started this case." A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I found a friend I thought was lost forever..." He let his gaze linger on Faith for an instant before looking around once more. "I found a sister who thought I was dead... and I found the heart's cry of my mother, who I buried in Bethany when I was just a boy. But most of all I found this."

Jordan faced the judge and took another step closer. Let him hear me, Lord... let all of them hear me..." Most of all I found out that putting walls around myself, or walls around Jesus Christ isn't righting a wrong."

A wave of whispers washed over the courtroom, and from the corner of his eye, Jordan saw several townspeople break into grins and grab hold of the hands of someone next to them. There was no turning back now "Order!" Judge Webster was furious. "There will be no talking, no-" he waved his hands in the air- "no outbursts like that, or I'll have everyone thrown out."

Quiet fell over the crowd, and Jordan waited until he had the judge's full attention before resuming. "I could tell you that I con-cede here this morning. That Mr. Nunn's speech about govern-ment of the people, by the people, for the people was right on, or that Faith Evans made a valid legal argument by requesting that her right to access and view her property not be denied." He c.o.c.ked his head and paced a few steps toward the spectators. "I could tell you the HOUR organization has no nght removing a landmark from a city where five thousand people want it to remain." He stopped and gazed past the people to Joshua, sitting serenely at the defense table not ten feet away "But I don't want to concede."

The courtroom seemed to hold its collective breath, waiting for Jordan's next word the way a retriever waits for a tennis ball. He smiled at them, praying they could see the difference in him. "Instead, I want to add my voice to those who have already spo-ken today by saying this-" he spun slowly around and stared at Judge Webster- "please, Your Honor, put a ihree-foot-high wrought iron rail fence around the base of the Jesus statue, but don't wall it in. I have no right, and neither do you nor anyone else, to censor a park statue because it depicts a religious figure."

Jordan folded his arms and looked down for a moment, over-come with emotion. When he felt strong again he looked up and continued. "My days of attacking the very beliefs this country was founded on are over, Your Honor."

Judge Webster's face was chalky white, and an air of stunned amazement hung in the courtroom. Nearly a minute pa.s.sed before the judge spoke. "Am I to understand that you are revoking your earlier request, counselor? That you no longer want this... this Jesus statue surrounded by walls?" His voice was qui-eter than at any time since earlier that fall when the proceedings first began.

Jordan felt a twinge of pity for the judge. It wasn't his fault G.o.d had opened Jordan's eyes, and now he had little choice but to rule in favor of the people-a ruling he was clearly against. Help him see the truth, too, G.o.d. Tes, Your Honor. I'm revoking my earlier request."

For a moment, Judge Webster did nothing but stare at Jordan. Then he rolled his eyes, looking like a man disappointed in a favorite son's bad decision. "Very well. I will take the infor-mation shared with the court this day and make my decision. Court is adjourned for fifteen minutes." He rapped his gavel once and then quickly left the room.

Jordan saw the reporters pressing in toward the front of the courtroom, each of them desperate for an interview with him. He looked to the spot where Faith had been sitting, but she was gone. He moved back to the plaintiff's table, sat down, and rested on his forearms. There was a tap on his shoulder and Jordan braced himself. After today, the public sector would never again view him the same way.

He turned around, expecting to find a microphone in his face. Instead he saw Faith, eyes glowing with more feeling than Jordan had ever seen before. Unconcerned about the cameras aimed on him, despite the fact that the entire country would know his feelings by tomorrow, he stood and came to her. A railing separated them, but he drew her close anyway, hugging her, certain that somehow-despite the camera flashes lighting up the room- everything was going to work out.

He pulled back and saw there were tears in her eyes.

"That was perfect."

He lifted his eyebrows. "It wasn't planned." He squeezed her hands, still mindful of the crowd closing in, watching them. "I told G.o.d I'd let Him do the talking."

A reporter wedged herself between them and stared at Jordan. "Mr. Riley did someone pay you to revoke your earlier request?"

"No, of course not, I-"

"Mr. Riley-" Another reporter, this one with a microphone half the size of his face, angled in closer and took Jordan by the sleeve. "Now that you've become religious, are you resigning from the HOUR organization?"

"I didn't become religious. I've always known G.o.d... I just got sidetracked for a few years because of personal-"

"Mr. Riley, what is your relationship with Faith Evans?"

"Did you change your mind about the statue because of your feelings for her?"

"Mr. Riley, tell us why you no longer think human rights are important?"

The questions came at him like bullets from a semiautomatic. Faith cast him a quick look of sympathy and allowed herself to be squeezed back by the media. Her eyes told him they'd talk later. As she moved to the back of the courtroom, a vision filled the screen in Jordan's mind. Faith and him and Rosa Lee in a church full of people. And something else. His mother smiling down at him from heaven, giving him the biggest thumbs-up he'd ever seen.

His heart grew warm with compa.s.sion for the throng around him. After all, he'd been just like them a week ago. He turned his attention to the reporters. "Rights are very important to me, but I understand now that I've been attacking human rights, not defending them. People have a right to freely express their reli-gious views whether in this court or..."

Jordan continued to answer questions, and the fifteen min-utes pa.s.sed quickly. Judge Webster needed only one rap of his gavel to bring the courtroom to order. Reporters hurried back to their spots and a hush gave way to utter silence. The judge looked about, and there was humility in his eyes. "This court is now in session." He glanced at the piece of paper in his hand. "I have reached a decision in the case of the HOUR organization versus the people of Bethany, Pennsylvania."

Jordan clenched his jaw and prayed.

A heavy sigh drifted from the judge's mouth. "Honestly, I had my mind made up about this case long ago. From a personal standpoint, I agreed fully with Mr. Riley's earlier argument." He cast a discouraged glance at Jordan. "But this is not a case I can decide based on my personal viewpoint. Instead I must-according to the law-make my decision based on all possible evidence and points of view." His eyes shifted to the spectators. "As Mr. Nunn reminded us, this is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And I believe in this case the people have spoken."

He tapped his finger on the paper and looked from Joshua Nunn to Jordan and back again. "For that reason, I hereby rule that a three-foot high, wrought-iron railing shall be erected around the Jesus statue in Jericho Park, along with a plaque declaring it to be private property."

Jordan wanted to raise his fist in the air, jump on the table, and shout to all the courtroom about G.o.d's faithfulness. Instead, he glanced up toward the window, at the blue sky beyond, more grateful than words could express. How awful it would have been if...

Jordan banished the thought. Things had worked out, just as the Lord had promised.

A wave of excited whispers rose through the courtroom, but the judge said nothing. He glanced at Jordan, but refused to make eye contact, allowing his eyes to settle on Joshua instead. "If there are no further questions-" he waited for a moment- "this court is adjourned."

Judge Webster left in less time than it took Jordan to stand and start loading his briefcase. The moment the judge was gone, a cheer rose up across the courtroom, the kind usually reserved for game-winning touchdowns or buzzer-beating three-pointers. The cheers filled Jordan's senses, and he had the distinct impression that the applause of heaven itself was mingled in the sound. He looked behind him and saw that Faith was gone, but that was okay. She and Heidi had agreed to meet right after the hearing since Heidi had stayed home with the baby.

"Jordan..."

He turned and saw Joshua Nunn. He reached out his hand, aware that the reporters were closing in again. "h.e.l.lo, Mr. Nunn. Great job."

Joshua smiled, and Jordan had the strange feeling he'd spo-ken to the man before. Something about his eyes. Then it hit him. Shining from the older man's eyes was the same peace and warmth and certainty he saw in Faith's, the same he'd seen in his mother's eyes back when he was a boy Wasn't there something about that in the Bible? The eyes being the window to the soul? Jordan wasn't sure, but he knew one thing. He had a friend in Joshua Nunn.

One that he felt sure had been praying for him.

"Faith tells me you've had an interesting week."

Jordan nodded. "Yes, sir." He dropped his gaze for a moment and then found Joshua's eyes once more. "I'm sorry about all this. I was wrong. There's no other way to say it."

Joshua put his hand on Jordan's shoulder and grinned. "I didn't come over here for an apology, Jordan. I have something to ask you. Now let's get out of here before the press eats you alive..."

Thirty.

The warm smell of fresh roasted turkey filled the Benson home, and Joshua Nunn could hardly wait for the meal. In the days since the hearing, he and Jordan had talked at length, and finally Jordan had promised an answer by Thanksgiving Day "It's a lot to think about," Jordan had said the night before. "I'll give you my answer tomorrow Over dinner."

Now, as the others bustled about the kitchen and Joshua and Helen watched the final minutes of a football game, he smiled to himself. The idea that Jordan would tell him over dinner was a good sign. Especially given the group of people gathered there. Heidi and her husband and baby daughter, Jordan and Faith. Even Rosa Lee had been able to come for the day. They were a tight group with everything in common and every rea-son to celebrate, even if Jordan had been fired the day of the hearing. Jordan hadn't gone into details, but apparently his con-versation with the partners at HOUR had not been a pleasant one. He'd planned to quit anyway, and Joshua had a hunch G.o.d had better plans for the young attorney than any of them could imagine.

Faith's news had been better. The media groundswell of inter-est surrounding her had continued to be positive-even after Jordan's statements in court and the photographs of their hug had made the front page of every newspaper for a couple hun-dred miles. As a result, WKZN made an executive decision to hire her back on a part-time, feature basis. She'd work out of the same Philadelphia studio as before, but her feature pieces would run nationally. It was a dream position that paid twice as much as her previous job and allowed her more time off.

In addition, the previous station manager, d.i.c.k Baker, had been relocated to an affiliate in Los Angeles.

Joshua smiled. It was just one miracle after another.

He remembered again the dream he'd had in his office back before Jordan had filed suit, back when he couldn't imagine lasting another day without Bob Moses' help. You're so faithful, G.o.d. And he realized the Lord hadn't merely brought down the walls in Jericho Park, He'd torn the walls down from their hearts as well. All of them. His and Faith's, and especially Jordan's. He saw again the portraits he'd seen in his dream. One of himself, and one of a handsome, angry young man. Joshua chuckled softly G.o.d had done everything he'd promised.

And now that Jordan was smiling more, his picture was going to look absolutely fantastic on the office wall.

Faith set the mashed potatoes on the table and caught Heidi's eye. "I think we're ready"

From across the kitchen, Jordan smiled first at Faith, then at Heidi. He had Rosa Lee by the hand and he bent down and whispered something to the child before the two of them took their places on either side of Faith. Rosa's entire face was lit up, a grin spreading from ear to ear as she took Faith's hand.

Thank You, G.o.d. I've never been so happy in all my life. Daddy, if only you could see me now...

Over the past two days, she and Jordan had spent hours together, much of it with Rosa. There was no denying the feelings she and Jordan had for each other, and though she wasn't exactly sure of Jordan's intentions, she could see how completely he'd fallen for the little girl as well.

"Okay everyone, time to eat." Heidi's voice rang across the room, and in the den Joshua turned off the television. The group gathered around the table and held hands. Heidi smiled at her brother. "Jordan, would you say the blessing for us?"

Faith squeezed Jordan's hand as a hundred memories danced across her heart. Memories of Jordan and Heidi and her as kids, believing that somehow they'd be together forever. And now, against all the odds, on a day devoted to giving G.o.d thanks, here they were.

Jordan returned the squeeze and bowed his head. "Lord, we come to You this day with full hearts, hearts of grat.i.tude for all You've done." He paused and Faith knew he was struggling to find his voice. "Thank You for the people we love, for bringing us back together. And thank You for this food. Help us to stay close to You now and always, in Jesus' name, amen."

Faith slipped her arm around Jordan's waist and hugged him, letting him know that she understood how deep his feelings were. Laughter and conversation broke out as they sat down and loaded their plates. A full thirty minutes pa.s.sed before Jordan stood up and grinned, waiting for the others to notice him.

Faith's heart skipped a beat and she put down her fork. He'd hinted that he had something important to announce at dinner, and with all the whispering he'd been doing with Joshua and Rosa, she had no idea what it might be.

When everyone was quiet, Jordan looked across the table at Joshua. "I won't take too long, but I have a question to answer and a question to ask. I wanted all of you to witness both because, well-" his eyes lit up and he smiled at each of them before continuing- "this is one of those moments you remember forever."

People put down their forks, and across the table Faith could see tears in Heidi's eyes. She could hardly believe that a few months ago Heidi had thought Jordan was dead, and now here they were, celebrating Thanksgiving together.

Jordan set his gaze on Joshua again. 'Joshua has asked me to team up with him at the Religious Freedom Inst.i.tute here in Bethany."

Faith's breath caught in her throat. Why hadn't she realized that was what he and Joshua had been talking about? She waited while Jordan continued.

"After praying and thinking through my options, I'm absolutely sure that I want the job."

Joshua stood and reached his hand across the table to Jordan. Their handshake had the definite air of finalizing the deal. "I never had a single doubt." Joshua dropped Jordan's hand, circled the table and gave him a hearty hug. "Welcome aboard!"

Faith clapped her hands, then joined the men, reaching an arm around each of their necks and kissing Jordan on the cheek. "I didn't know you were thinking about working here!"

He squeezed her, his eyes shining with new life, new hope. "Let's just say I've had a lot on my mind and wanted to wait until-"

"Okay," Heidi interrupted. Faith and the others turned to look at her, and Faith lowered her eyebrows curiously. What was that look on Heidi's face? Like she was keeping a secret that was about to burst to the surface. Heidi raised a single eyebrow at Joshua and then leveled her gaze at her brother. "You said you had a question to answer and a question to ask. You've answered the question about the job. So what's the question you want to ask?"

"Give me a minute." Jordan grinned and motioned for Faith and Joshua to sit down. When they'd slipped back into their seats, he asked Faith and Rosa to turn their chairs out from the table. They did as he asked, and he positioned himself between Faith and Rosa, dropping to one knee.

Tears stung at Faith's eyes and she had to remind herself to breathe. Was this what she thought it was? Was he...could he be...? She blinked and two tears slid down her cheeks as she uttered a sound that was part laugh, part sob. "Jordan?"

He took hold of her fingers in response, then reached out for Rosa's hand with the other. "All my life I've searched for a special kind of love..." His eyes grew watery and they stayed locked on Faith's, as though they were the only two people in the room. "The kind of love I'd known only once in my life, back when I was thirteen and shared a special friendship with a girl named Faith."

Fresh tears filled her eyes. Was this really happening? Was he going to ask her to...?

Jordan swallowed, struggling to keep his emotions at bay "And now that I've found you again, I know that I could never share that kind of love with anyone else. Faith, with all my heart I want to love you and cherish you, laugh with you and grow old with you." He looked at Rosa and nodded. She pulled a velvet box from a pocket in her dress and handed it to Jordan.

Faith watched, eyes wide, mouth open. Rosa had been in on the secret the whole time? Her head was spinning, and she felt as though she were dreaming, but she held her questions at bay. Jordan released the hold he had on her fingers and opened the box. From inside he pulled out a diamond solitaire ring. As the others watched-and Heidi cried softly from the other side of the table-Jordan locked eyes with Faith once more. "So my question is this: Faith Evans Moses, will you marry me?"

Across the table, Joshua's wife, Helen, gasped, and her hands flew to her mouth. Her smile lit up that corner of the room, and Faith knew that her parents' friends were as sure about Jordan as she was. She directed her focus on Jordan. Surely there would have been a hole in her chest if she'd looked down, because her heart was gone, given completely to a man she'd wondered about most of her life. Deep in the core of her being Faith knew that this was the holy plan her father had spoken of for so many years. Finally here in Bethany when it seemed all hope was lost, G.o.d had shown her His most excellent reality for her life.

Jordan held the ring out, and she lifted her hand, allowing him to slide it on her finger. It glistened, casting a spray of light across the dinner table and causing the others to lean closer, looking over the turkey and stuffing and green bean ca.s.serole to see how it shone and to wait for her answer.

Faith met Jordan's gaze, praying he could see the way she felt for him, the way she'd always felt for him and always would feel. All the days of her life. "Yes, Jordan Riley I will marry you and love you, laugh with you and grow old with you."

There was a chorus of cries and applause as Jordan stood and eased Faith into his arms. He moved his mouth near her ear and whispered, "I love you, Faith."

Her words were equally quiet, equally private. "I love you too. Forever, Jordan."

Rosa stood at their side clapping and smiling and tugging on Jordan's sweater. "Is it time, is it?"

He patted her head and helped Faith back to her chair. The others remained standing, wondering what Jordan was going to do next. Faith still felt as though she were floating, but she sat down and took Rosa's hand as Jordan pulled another velvet box from his back pocket. This time he took a small locket from the box and opened it. Inside were two single pictures, one of Jordan and one of Faith.

Faith hadn't thought she could possibly feel happier until now, but as she watched Rosa's face, she knew she was wrong. Jordan was on his knee again. "Rosa, now that Faith has agreed to marry me, we have a question for you." He winked at Faith, and took her fingers in his. "Faith has been praying for a family for you, honey And now that the two of us will be a family..." Jordan let go of Faith's hand and leaned forward. He put the locket around Rosa's neck, and when it was clasped, he leaned back on his knee again. "We want to ask you to be our little girl."

Rosa squealed and threw herself into Jordan's arms. Faith couldn't hold her tears back any longer. She wept for G.o.d's good-ness, for the amazing way that only He could have worked this miracle between the three of them. Faith wished her mother could have been there to share this moment with them, but it would be fun sharing every detail with her by phone that night. With her arms around Jordan and Rosa, the three of them formed a hug. They stayed that way as her father's partner stood and circled the table, putting himself directly behind them.

"I say we all gather around this family-to-be and ask G.o.d to bless them."

Heidi was crying, using her Thanksgiving napkin to dab at the mascara beneath her eyes. With Charles by her side, the two of them joined Helen and the others in a circle around Faith, Jordan, and Rosa. Before they could pray, Joshua began to sing. It was Faith's favorite hymn, the one the people had sung on the courthouse lawn back when everything about her life, about all their lives, looked like it was falling apart. She could think of no other song that so aptly fit the moment. She choked back her tears and joined in while Jordan did the same.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, oh G.o.d my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee... Thou changest not, Thy compa.s.sions they fail not, as Thou has been Thou forever will be..."

Heidi and Charles and Joshua and Helen added their voices as the song grew "Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithful-ness...morning by morning new mercies I see."

Rosa's eyes lit up and she added her voice as well. "All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness... great is Thy faithfulness... great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

As the song ended, Joshua led them in prayer, and Faith tried to believe it was all true. Jordan had really found her after all these years, he'd really asked her to marry him and asked Rosa to' be their daughter.

It was beyond her comprehension. Lord, Your faithfulness knows no limits. How have You pulled this all together, worked this out?

My daughter, I have always known the plans I had for you... and it is My pleasure to do more than you can ever ask or imagine.

G.o.d's words echoed in Faith's heart, and she allowed herself to be wrapped in them, covered by them, loved by them. She tuned back in to Joshua's prayer and held tight to the people who would soon be her family, the people she loved more than life itself.

"Finally, Father, we thank You because You work all things to the good for those who love You, for those who are called according to Your purpose. And together, as a family united in Your truth, we look forward to the wonder You have in store for us today...and all the days of our lives. In Christ's name we pray..."

With the smell of pumpkin pies baking in the oven and refrains of Joshua's favorite hymn ringing in their hearts, they fin-ished the prayer together with a single word: "Amen!"

Thirty-one.