Read Online October Joy (Moments In Paradise 1) by Melanie Wilber - Free Book Online Page A

found out he was at the hospital.  One of Hunter’s friends had been hurt too and was in surgery right now.  “I’m going to come and bring Tabby.  Is that okay?”
    “Yes.  I was about to call you back.  I was just talking to Sierra, and she’s asking for Tabby.”
    “Okay, we’ll be there.”
    “Thanks, Grace.  I hate this stuff.”
    She did too, and Tabby informed her of something that made it worse.
    “Sierra’s mom died last year.  I’m not sure I can do this.”
    “How did she die?”
    “She had cancer.”
    Grace wasn’t sure she could do this either, but sitting here and knowing James and Sierra were hurting wouldn’t be any better.  “Daddy prayed for us, Tabby.  We’ll go on that, okay?”
    “Okay,” Tabby said.
    Hunter had been taken to a hospital in San Jose, so it was a thirty minute drive.  When they arrived, they met James on the third floor.  Grace knew he was there for the family right now, and her role would come into play sometime later this evening, but Tabby jumped right in, going to Sierra who was also seventeen, and Grace could see her being just what the distraught girl needed.
    James introduced her to Hunter’s dad.  “This is Grace Morgan,” he said.  “Pastor Morgan’s daughter.”
    She expressed her sympathy but knew there wasn’t much she could say.  When her mom died, she wanted everyone to go away and leave her alone.  She couldn’t imagine losing two of her family members so close together.
    About twenty minutes later the doctor came out to tell the other family their son was in recovery and was going to be okay.  The two families were close, and Grace learned from James that Hunter and his friend had been next-door neighbors since they were six.  Grace hated tragedy.  She hated being here, but if her dad asked her to do something, she would do it.
    Tabby left with Hunter’s sister when Mr. Smith wanted to go home.  She planned to spend the night at Sierra’s house.  Grace didn’t think she could do something like that, but Tabby was just that way.  She would do anything for anyone, especially someone who was going through the deep pain she had once experienced.
    Once they were gone, Grace asked James what he was going to do.  He didn’t know, and she asked him if he wanted to come to the house for the rest of the evening rather than going home and being alone.  He agreed and thanked her.  He thanked her for coming too, and she spoke honestly.
    “My dad wanted me to.  He didn’t want you going through this by yourself.”
    She decided to tell him she knew about his brother, and he didn’t seem surprised or bothered by it.  “What was his name?” she asked.
    “Tommy,” he replied.
    “I’m sorry you lost him.”
    “This hits too close to home,” he admitted.
    “I can imagine.”
    “Do you know about Sierra’s mom?”
    “Yes, but I didn’t until tonight.”
    James had been the youth pastor at the church for three years now, but Grace didn’t work specifically in the youth department, so she didn’t see him that often.  James was hardworking and dedicated to the kids.  He was single, and when he’d first come to the church, her dad had done some hinting to both of them they were the same age and maybe they should go out, but Grace had been too busy for a relationship, and James hadn’t seemed interested, so nothing had happened.
    On the drive, she thought about it more than she had before.  She wondered if she would be open to that changing, and she didn’t know, but she wasn’t anticipating James having any interest at this point.  Once they were in the house, she led him to the kitchen and offered him something to drink.
    “Got any Jack Daniel’s?” he said, giving her a crooked smile.
    “Sorry, fresh out,” she said.  “How about a root beer?”
    “Yeah, okay.  Better give me two.”
     
    ***
     
    “I wonder who that is?” Tommy said.
    Annika shrugged.  “I have no idea.  You don’t know him