Hello and Good-bye

Jon spoke up, "This is my friend and roommate from Los Angeles, Ben Hernandez.  Several people around Ben welcomed him with a handshake. Jon formally introduced Ben to Stevie, Shawna, and Collin. Then Stevie pulled Ben close to the sofa. "Ben, I would like you to meet a dear friend of ours, Wes Bellardi." She smiled. "You two have more in common than you might think."

"Hey, man," Ben said, sticking out his hand, seemingly unfazed by Wes's appearance. As the two young men talked, Jon pulled Stevie aside. "When would you like to leave?" "I hate to leave Wes, but I know we need to get on the road. So let's start saying our good-byes and moving toward the door."

Jon took both her hands in his. Their eyes met and held. For a moment they were alone in the room. "Steve, I've been waiting to say these three words for a very long time." Then he pulled her closer and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Let's go home."

 

 

 

Dating Again

Stevie rose just as Jon appeared, making his way through the crowd with Shawna and Collin hanging adoringly on each arm. Stevie welcomed him with an embrace and a kiss on the cheek. "You finally made it," she said, unable to conceal her joy. "How was your flight?"

"Bumpy," Jon replied. "But at least it's over." Stevie suddenly realized they were the center of attention. It was up to her to handle the introductions. "Everybody, this is Jon Van Horne, Shawna and Collin's father. He just arrived from L.A. to drive the truck down for us. We decided that the best thing for our family at this time is to be together in L.A., where Jon works as a school counselor." Stevie's mouth curled into an impish grin. "And for those who are too nice to ask, Jon and I are ... dating again."

Spontaneous applause erupted. Jon and Stevie blushed.

Heartfelt Good-bye

Wes turned toward Stevie and smiled. "My favorite person," he said. "Even if you are a hard taskmaster. I guess you'll be leaving for Los Angeles today," Wes said, the smile fading from his eyes. "I'll miss you."

Stevie swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'll miss you too." As she gazed at her young protege, she recalled the long hours they had spent together in the hospital as Wes fought through his pain to question her about faith and forgiveness. Once again she had to fight tears as she remembered his sweet, simple prayer of repentance and commitment to God.

"I have a present for you," Wes said. "A present for me? How thoughtful." Stevie opened the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper. On it was scrawled a simple poem, one that expressed gratitude and appreciation—and hope.

"Thank you, Wes," she whispered, the tears she had been fighting finally spilling over onto her cheeks. "I couldn't have wished for a nicer gift." "You’re my favorite writer in the whole world," Stevie said, brushing the wetness from her face.

 

The Real Facts

Finally Stevie found the person to whom she did not want to say good-bye. Wes Bellardi was sitting on the leather sofa in the family room, still appearing thin and fragile, but growing stronger every day. He was sufficiently healed from his life-saving abdominal surgery but burns had left him badly scarred. He wore a soft knit cap over his skull where as yet little hair had grown back. But thankfully he still tested negative for HIV.

As soon as he had been well enough to talk, he had told Stevie the details of that Halloween night. His original plan was to escape from the boat before the explosion and swim to shore. Unfortunately, he drank too much vodka and lost his balance on the slippery boat deck just after lighting the fuse. Wes had planned to disappear for a while, hiding out as long as he could in the gay community at Berkeley, allowing his father to believe he was dead. Stevie—and Senator Bellardi—had been extremely relieved to know that Wes had not intentionally tried to kill himself.

Justice, Mercy, and Humility

The governor-elect had telephoned Stevie four times in the last six weeks trying to convince her to accept a staff position. She felt flattered and appreciated, but each time she politely declined. "Thank you, sir. As I've said before, it would be an honor to serve with you, but God is leading us in another direction right now. I believe North California is an ideal environment for Christian families. But not everyone can move here. And not everyone should move here. Believers in New York City Chicago, Los Angeles, and other places around the country must live out the values of justice, mercy, and humility wherever they are, even if it is a more hostile environment. As much as we love North California, I think the Jon, myself and the kids are needed in L.A."

Another wave of arriving guests separated Stevie from her host, permitting her to migrate through the living room toward the family room. She exchanged holiday greetings and received best wishes and farewells from several former coworkers. Stevie smiled, content in her family’s decision.

Politics with Compassion

"How are the preparations coming along for the new administration?" Stevie asked the governor-elect. "Very well, thank you. Robert is working extremely hard to get us ready for the inauguration—too hard, in fact. He'll probably miss Christmas." Stevie nodded. That sounded like Robert.

"So I suppose your team is already busy working on legislation." "Yes. But thanks to you, we're now much more sensitive to the people for whom the laws are written. We'll strive for morality and justice in North California without forgetting to be compassionate and merciful. I will be forever grateful that you helped me see that important balance."

 

Winner by Recount

Hello, Stevie." Senator Bellardi's smile was warm and genuine. “I'm so glad you decided to come by on your way out of town." Collin appeared at his mother's side, looked up at the senator and spoke with bold, boyish innocence. "Are you the governor now?" "Just barely, but I don't start until January," the senator replied still smiling. "A slim majority of the people in this state have asked me to serve, so I will serve."

Indeed, after the senator's surprising and emotional statement on the eve of the election, the vote was much closer than originally projected. The people of North California were horrified that Wes had resorted to terrorism in an attempt to get his father's attention. Furthermore, the senator tearfully apologized to his son and for him in front of a national television audience.

 

Saying Good-bye

Looking as elegant and refined as ever, Patricia Bellardi answered at the door. "Stevie, we've been expecting you," she beamed. "And the children are with you. How wonderful. Please come in and have some treats."

Stevie was relieved to find Mrs. Bellardi lucid and conversational. There were other days, she had heard, that the senator's wife wandered through the house not knowing who she was or where she was. Advancing Alzheimer's played its cruel tricks on the lovely lady every day. Stevie sympathized with her family.

Stevie saw Robert and greeted him with a pleasant smile and a businesslike handshake. "I'm just on my way out," he explained, slipping into his coat. "I have a ton of work to do. But I had to stay long enough to see you one more time and ... to say good-bye."

"I'm glad you did. I was hoping you'd be here. I didn't want you to leave Redding without knowing how much I appreciate and ... care for you." He smiled warmly. "I admire you, Stevie, for your strong convictions and the courage to live them out, even when the heat is on. All the best to you and the family," he said, reaching for the door. Then, with a cheery "Merry Christmas and good-bye," he was gone. "Good-bye," she said softly, but the door was already closed. She turned back to the party.

 

We Can Still Be Friends

 

"There are millions of people in this country who don't believe everything the Bible says, including me," Terilyn stated. "I know, but I still want to be your friend. If I write to you, will you write back?" Terilyn seemed surprised. "You really want to write to me?" "Sure. I like to keep in touch with my friends."

"Are you going to preach at me in your letters?" Terilyn asked with half a smile. Shawna laughed. "No. All I'm going to do is be your friend." After a tentative good-bye hug, Terilyn turned and jogged toward her apartment. Shawna said another prayer for her friend as she watched her go.

Different Worlds

 

"Hi." Terilyn said tentatively. "We're moving today," Shawna said.  “Back to L.A?" "Right.” “Terilynn, why wouldn't you return my calls or answer your door when I came over? And you won't even look at me at school." Terilyn shook her head. "What's the use? You ran out on me at the party and embarrassed me in front of everyone there. You don't come to the leadership meetings anymore. We live in two different worlds." "Yeah, I guess we do.”

Shawna continued, “I've changed my mind about a lot of things since the party. But I still want to talk to you." "Why?" "Because you're my friend, Terilyn. I don't agree with you about a lot of things, but I still care about you."

"That's an intolerant statement, Shawna. You should know that by now." Shawna smiled. She was not intimidated by Terilyn's subtle accusation. "Like I explained in one of my letters, I've renewed my commitment to Christ since we last talked. I've chosen to live my life by the principles in God's Word. The Bible doesn't tell us to be tolerant; it tells us to be loving. Part of loving others is warning them about things that God says are wrong."

Compassion and Grace

Stevie checked the clock. It was exactly 12:15 p.m. "Senator, the press conference," she said, puzzled. "I ... postponed it," he said. Stevie suddenly felt like an intruder. She moved to step past the senator and leave Wes' hospital room. "Wait, Stevie," Bellardi said, grasping her arm gently. "Please stay."

Robert stood twenty feet down the hall. Stevie wondered how long it had been since he had slept. She wondered why all she could think of was the warmth and strength she had felt when Jon held her hands and prayed for her.

"I've been thinking about what you said this morning," Bellardi said, bringing her back to the present. "I'd like to speak with you again, if you have a few minutes." "Yes, sir, of course." The senator nodded. "But first, if you don't mind, I'd like to spend a little time ..." His voice cracked and tears formed at the corners of his eyes. "I'd like to spend a little time with my son."

Stevie quickly backed out of the room, pulling the door closed. As she did so, she could hear Senator Daniel Bellardi sobbing. She walked down the hall, past Robert, to look for a quiet place. She had a phone call to make.

 

A Treasure to Be Guarded

Despite Wes's grave condition and the dismal prospects for his future, Stevie was filled with awe at the sanctity and significance of this one human life.

In a soft whisper, she told Wes everything that had happened to him in the last twelve frantic hours, events he would not remember. She would tell about something, then wait, as if giving Wes time to process the words and to respond. She knew he could not hear her, but the approach seemed more like a conversation to Stevie.

The wall clock swept slowly past noon. Stevie tried not to think about what was happening in the lobby. She talked to Wes about Ernie, the angel God sent to the lake just at the right moment. She told him about the journey his email letter had taken, from her computer to Robert to the senator. She warned him that life with his father might not be any easier than before. Then she assured him that God loved him and that his life, as long as it lasted and as difficult as it might be, was a treasure to be guarded.

Asked for Forgiveness

Jon was still in love with Stevie—maybe more now than he had ever been. Because now he saw things so much more clearly. It was not Dougie's death that had driven them apart; it was their lack of understanding of their differences. God had meant those differences to complement each other, but they had allowed them to divide and destroy. Their discussion earlier that morning about justice and mercy and love had solidified that understanding in Jon's mind.

Stevie, he thought silently, I understand now. I really do. You only wanted to do what was right for our children. You wanted to protect them by teaching them about justice. And you wanted me to help you. Together we could have done that. But I let you down. You wanted me to take a firmer stand, especially with Dougie, but I was so caught up in being his "buddy" that I failed him as a father. That's what made you so vulnerable to getting involved in Senator Bellardi's campaign. I know I've asked for your forgiveness and you've given it, but... can we ever find our way back together? Is it too late for us to be a family again?

He switched gears then, turning his words back to prayers for Stevie, rather than thoughts toward her. But even as he prayed, he anxiously kept his ears tuned for the ring that would signal her call.

 

After the Talk

 

Sitting behind the wheel, Stevie sensed clouds of discouragement rolling over her. Did he hear anything I said? Did he care at all, or is he hopelessly blind and calloused to mercy and compassion? Did I just waste another fifteen minutes of my life after having thrown six months into the garbage?

Driving out to the road, she criticized herself for being too direct in her approach, calcifying the senator's resolve to ignore his son. Then she criticized herself for not being direct enough. By the time she reached the end of the driveway, Stevie had pulled herself back to center. I went to the man, and I said what I should have said, she assured herself. I'm not responsible for how he responds. Having dealt with the discouragement, she was now filled with a profound sadness for Senator Bellardi. She drove past Ernie with a benign wave and turned the Cherokee toward the hospital.

A Second Chance

Stevie bit her lip, wishing she did not have to say the next words. But it was right to say them, so she pressed on. "I also discovered only hours ago that I almost did the same thing to my fourteen-year-old daughter, Shawna. Right here in North California, in the name of the dream you and I share for this state, I've been neglecting her. I've been so busy trying to do what's right that I forgot to spend time showing her that I love her." Stevie held her breath to control a swell of emotion.

"Dougie's gone, but thank God I have a second chance with Shawna. You have a second chance too, sir. Wes has his own set of problems, but at least he's alive. He needs a father who will love him, forgive him, and encourage him to do what's right with the rest of his life. And I think North California needs that kind of governor."

A Lost Son

Stevie talked to Daniel Bellardi about her admiration for Wes and his writing talent and related her shock at the contents of his email revealing his identity as AntiCrist. She expressed her disbelief upon hearing the senator's decision to sweep the affair under the rug. She shared fresh insights about justice, mercy, and humility, confessing her own shortsightedness to fight for the right thing while overlooking the importance of love and mercy for people in the wrong. Bellardi listened impassively, occasionally glancing at his watch.

"Senator, about two and a half years ago I lost a son. He would be about Wes's age now if he had survived. Your son reminds me of Dougie in so many ways. I'm sure that's why I enjoyed being involved with him. But Dougie had a dark side too. He got in with the wrong crowd at school. He started experimenting with drugs and, unfortunately, my husband and I didn't see the warning signs. By the time we found out, it was too late. He died of a drug overdose. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I could turn back the clock to help him and love him through those dark days."

Keep Our Dream Alive

Stevie breathed a prayer and began. "Senator Bellardi, I moved my children from Los Angeles to Redding six months ago because I believed in your vision for North California. I volunteered to assist in your campaign and accepted every opportunity to serve for the same reason. It has been an honor and a privilege for me to play a small role in the propagation of your dreams and goals for my family and the people of this state. Your vision has become my vision.”

Stevie continued, “But I've come to realize that we've left something very important undone. And I greatly fear that all the good we've done is about to be nullified by the vital good we haven't done. Our dream for North California is on the precipice of becoming a nightmare. If you allow the dream to die, my dream and the dreams of hundreds of thousands of North Californians also die."

A Greater Good

Stevie was not exactly sure what she would say to the senator. She had been alone for two hours after Jon left, but she had not used that time to frame a speech. Instead, she puttered around the apartment asking God to give her the right attitude. She felt very confident, as if Jon's prayers had enveloped her with peace.

She harbored no anger toward the man she was about to confront, nor did she fear his response. Instead, Stevie saw herself as the bearer of great good. Daniel Bellardi was not a villain; he was a good man who would hear her out. What he did with the gift she presented to him was his business. She was doing the right thing, and she would do so with all the love and humility God would provide.

 

Powered by Prayer

Stevie stood and began to pace, instantly anxious at the prospect of confronting the senator. "I already said my piece to Robert. I thought I was done." Jon said, "I'm not saying you have to do this. It's up to you." Stevie responded, "That's just the point. I know you're right. I'm the one who received Wes' email. I'm the one who should talk to his father."

"One more thing," Jon continued. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to pray for you right now. And I'll keep praying until you call me at the motel and tell me how it went." Stevie smiled and nodded, then reached out to join her hands with his. As they stood together in the middle of the living room, Jon prayed the most beautiful, courage-building prayer Stevie had ever heard. Even after he had finished praying and gone back to the motel to gather his things, the warmth of his hands and his words still lingered.

Truth in Love and Humility

Jon said, "Stevie, there's still time for you to convince Senator Bellardi—or at least try to convince him—to come clean and not cover up the fact that his son is AntiCrist." "And you think I'm the one to do the convincing," she responded. Jon nodded. "The senator knows you and trusts you. You're in the inner circle of his campaign."

"He doesn't really know me, Jon. I'm just another gear in the machine." "But he must realize by now that you're an important part of his son's life. I think he'll listen to you." "Maybe," she said. "But what am I supposed to say to make sure he follows through? 'Tell the world about Wes or I'll spill the whole story'—would that work?"

Jon verbalized what they both knew. "You can't make him do anything, Stevie. And blackmailing him won't change his heart. But the truth spoken respectfully, lovingly, and humbly just might."