THE TRUE LOVE SERIES BOX SET: A Christian Romance

by Duncan, Juliette

  She leaned back and crossed her arms. “I'm so glad, despite our rocky start, that our time together has helped.” She raised her brows, a playful grin growing on her face before she readopted her professional manner. “When you first came into my office, I sensed you were full of self-doubt and were suffering from a poor self-image. I think you really believed you’d failed as a husband and as a father. But God doesn’t condemn you.” Her voice softened, and her gaze settled on his. “Your worth as a man isn’t in how good, or even in how bad, you consider yourself to be as a husband or father. Your worth is found in Christ, and in Him alone.”

  “Amen for that!” Ben’s voice was lighter, as was his heart as he recalled Pastor Petersen’s words; ‘There’s no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.’

  Stephanie smiled broadly. “You seem so much more hopeful and positive, Ben. I really do wish you all the best. We’ve had some journey, haven’t we? I have to say you tested me at the beginning, but I’ve learned a lot too, so thank you, Mr. Williams.”

  He stood and shook her hand. “Thank you too, Ms. Trejo.” Ben’s grin grew wide as the realization he’d finally reached the end of his formal sessions sank in. “I guess we can stop this formal stuff now and just be friends. We might be seeing more of each other from now on, anyway.”

  “Really? Are you and Tess formally dating?”

  His grin expanded into a sheepish smile. “Not yet, but I’m hoping she’ll agree when I see her this afternoon. We’ve spent this whole past week and a bit talking, and I think she might finally be ready to become more than just friends.”

  “I hope so. You two will make a great couple.”

  “And of course, you had no little hand in it yourself?”

  She let out a small laugh and slapped him playfully on the back as she peered along the empty corridor. “Let’s keep that a secret, shall we?”

  He lifted his index finger to his lips. “My lips are sealed.”

  “Thank you. See you soon.”

  Ben stopped by Hungry Jack's to pick up burgers, fries, and sundaes for Jayden and his friends who’d come over again after school. He was waiting in the drive-thru for the order to be brought out when his phone rang. Jayden’s friend, Neil, was on the other end, sounding hysterical. “Mr. Williams, something's wrong with Jayden.”

  “What do you mean, ‘something's wrong’?” Ben’s heart raced. What could possibly have happened?

  “I don't know. We were playing a game, and he just collapsed.”

  “What were you playing?” Ben put the phone on hands-free and pulled out of the drive-thru line and turned back out onto the road. Burgers were the last thing on his mind now. Jayden had been perfectly fine this morning.

  Neil hadn't answered his last question.

  “Neil, what were you playing?”

  “We were just daring each other.” Neil’s voice had quieted.

  Ben yanked the volume control up. “To do what?”

  “We found some old pills and were trying to see who could take the most.”

  “You what?”

  “I think he took too many.”

  “Okay, listen to me. Don't leave him. I'm almost home. I’ll call the ambulance.”

  Ben hung up and dialled the emergency number, sending up a quick prayer as he waited. “God, I trust You, but please don't let my son die.”

  Chapter 20

  As Ben turned into the street, the ambulance was already parked in his driveway. Across the street, a neighbour he hardly knew had stopped clearing the storm debris from her front yard and stood on the footpath watching the scene.

  “What’s happened? I hope everything’s all right,” the woman called out as Ben jumped out of his car.

  “My son had an accident,” he answered hastily, not wanting to engage in conversation.

  “Oh my! I hope he’s not too bad.”

  “I hope so too.” He gave her a dismissive nod and dashed to the porch steps where Neil and his seventeen-year-old brother, Owen, were being questioned by a woman paramedic holding a clipboard.

  “Do you know what kind of drug he took?” the paramedic asked.

  Neil shook his head. He was rocking back and forth and sweat ran down his forehead.

  “It was Serepax and something else,” Owen said evenly, his eyes wide, staring at nothing.

  “So he was taking two different kinds? Where did he get them from?”

  “In the house,” Owen replied.

  “They were mine,” Ben said as he approached. “I was taking Serepax and Norpramin for anxiety and depression. They were prescribed, but I should have thrown them away.”

  “Is Jayden going to be okay?” Neil asked. His face had turned white.

  Just then, two other paramedics emerged from the house carrying Jayden on a stretcher. A breathing tube was in his mouth and covered his nose. His lips and fingertips were blue and the rest of his skin, pale.

  Ben grabbed hold of his hand. Cold and limp. “Jayden, can you hear me? I'm right here.”

  He didn't respond.

  “His heart beat has slowed considerably,” the woman paramedic said. “He isn't in a coma, just unconscious right now. We need to get him to hospital as quickly as possible to have him treated properly.”

  “What about these two? Do they need to be checked out?” Ben pointed to the two boys still sitting on the step, staring into space.

  “Yes, just in case. They seem okay, but you never know. We’ll take them in the other ambulance. Their parents have been called.”

  The paramedics gently, but quickly, loaded Jayden into the back of the ambulance. Ben climbed in and sat beside him, holding his hand the whole way to the Wesley Hospital. The entire trip, he prayed that the drugs Jayden had taken wouldn’t do any long-term damage to his body. He thought about whom to call and immediately sent a text message to Tessa asking her to pray.

  Once at the hospital, Jayden was wheeled behind large double doors into an operating room. Ben wanted to follow, but he was directed to an almost empty waiting room.

  “I know you're concerned, but there's nothing you can do at the moment, Mr. Williams,” the woman paramedic said. “You'll be able to see him once he's resting in his room. Is there anything I can get you?”

  “No, I'm fine.” But he wasn’t.

  The paramedic brought him some water anyway. “Just in case.” She set the paper cup and some napkins on a table. “Try to relax. Trust me, your son is in capable hands.”

  He forced a smile. Besides the receptionist behind a computer desk, he was the only one in the waiting room. He paced back and forth, watching the clock. After thirty minutes had passed, he sat down and tried praying again.

  His mind wandered to what had happened in his house. Jayden knew better than to go around taking pills that didn't belong to him. He wasn’t too worried about Neil. He and Jayden were the same age and had been best friends since their kindergarten years. He was funny and talkative, and Ben didn't mind them hanging together. It was Owen who concerned him. Four years older than the other two, Owen had dropped out of high school and had already been in trouble with the police for drinking and driving and selling illicit drugs to his former classmates.

  Ben ran his hand through his hair and chastised himself. I should have stopped Jayden from hanging around with him ages ago. Once Jayden recovered, he’d talk to him about it, and he’d also talk to the boys’ parents. Ben’s brows came together. Strange they weren’t here.

  “Ben, is Jayden going to be okay?” Ben looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. Eleanor Scott was hurrying towards him; worry and concern filled her face. Telford and Tessa were close behind. Tessa carried a bunch of blue iris flowers and a Get Well card.

  “We prayed as soon as Tessa told us what happened,” Telford said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Since we didn't hear back, we thought we’d come by to see if we could do anything to help.”

  “Where is he?” Tessa asked, quickly scanning the room.

  “In the
operating room. They said he should pull through, but he was still unconscious when he got here.”

  “He’s a tough kid, I'm sure he'll be just fine,” Telford said.

  “Thanks.” Ben gave Tessa’s dad a weak smile. She and her mother both quizzed him about what had happened. He relayed all he knew. “I should have thrown those pills away.” He let out a self-deprecating sigh and glanced at Tessa. “I wasn't using them anymore.”

  “Don't blame yourself.” She sat down beside him. “No one could have foreseen this happening. Hopefully Jayden will learn a lesson.”

  “I hope so. I won't be letting him hang around Owen anymore, that’s for sure. He's a bad influence.” Ben glanced at the clock on the wall. Nearly two hours had passed since Jayden had been taken behind the large double doors he wasn’t allowed to enter. How much longer could it take? He reached out and took Tessa’s hands without even thinking what she or her parents would think. It was the most natural thing to do. Having her here made the waiting bearable.

  The four adults sat and chatted in low tones about the general events of the day and about their families.

  “Do your parents live nearby?” Eleanor asked.

  “They used to, but both my parents have passed away.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” she said, patting his hand lightly.

  “It’s okay. My dad died quite a while ago. He had a major heart attack. Totally unexpected. And my mum. Well, she had an accident a few years back and died from her injuries.”

  “That’s so sad.”

  He let out a deep sigh. "Yes, but at least I know my mum went to a better place. I’m not so sure about my dad.”

  “It must be hard on Jayden not having any grandparents around.”

  “Yes, he cried for days when my mum died. Besides Kathryn, who isn't involved in his life anymore, I'm basically the only family he has.”

  Tessa gave his hand a squeeze. “And you’re a great dad. Jayden couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

  Just then the doctor came in, followed by a nurse, and they all looked up expectantly. The doctor stood for a moment in silence with his hands in the pockets of his long, white jacket.

  “Anytime a person under the age of eighteen overdoses, we take it very seriously,” he said gravely. “Mr. Williams, is your son unstable? Does he have a history of mental illness, bipolar disorder, or anything of the sort?”

  “No, he's perfectly normal and healthy.”

  “Do you believe his overdose was a suicide attempt?”

  Ben’s head jerked up. Suicide attempt? “Absolutely not. He was playing a stupid game with some friends and things got out of hand. That’s all.”

  “Is Jayden all right?” Tessa asked the doctor.

  “I'm getting there, ma’am,” he replied before turning his attention back to Ben. “We pumped your son’s stomach and gave him some activated charcoal. He’s conscious, but he’s sleeping at the moment. When he wakes, he may still feel sick and weak, but those physical symptoms should be gone within a week.”

  Ben breathed easier at hearing this good news. Tessa took his hand and gave it another squeeze.

  “We considered putting him on psychiatric hold, but as he doesn’t have a history of mental illness and since you don’t consider him suicidal, we’ll only keep him overnight to monitor his stability. We expect to release him tomorrow morning.”

  “Can we see him now?”

  “Yes, but as I said, he’s sleeping, and it’d be best not to wake him.”

  “He's in Room 262,” the nurse added. "I'll take you there.”

  “Thank you,” Ben said, shaking the doctor's hand. Tessa picked up the flowers and card and they all followed the nurse to Jayden's room.

  Chapter 21

  The small hospital room was crammed with a bed, a chair and table, a closet, and several blinking, beeping medical machines. A television sat in the corner. As the doctor had advised, Jayden was asleep. Some of the colour had returned to his skin and his cheeks were flushed. An IV drip, hooked up to his arm, pumped clear liquid into his body. Ben went up to the bed and kissed the top of his head.

  “Let me pray for him,” Telford said. Ben nodded his agreement. The four adults gathered in a semi-circle around the bed and held hands with bowed heads. “Heavenly Father, we thank You for preserving Jayden's life. Heal him physically and heal him spiritually as well. Jayden’s a good child, but his heart is prone to wander. Even though he hasn’t yet believed in You, we know that He’s Yours. Help us as his friends and family to help him through his confusion and pain. However, we can’t save him. Only You can do that, and so we pray that You’ll open his eyes and heart to Your love. Have him to come to You. Draw his heart close to Yours and keep him safe in Your hands. In Your precious Son’s name, Amen.”

  “Amen,” they all repeated.

  “Thank you.” Ben’s eyes blurred with tears. “And thank you all for coming, and for your support.”

  Eleanor hugged him. “It’s the least we could do.”

  He smiled warmly at this woman he was coming to admire greatly. What a fine example of a godly Christian couple she and Telford were. He returned his attention to Jayden and brushed his cheek. What was he thinking, taking those tablets? Ben couldn’t believe his son had been so stupid.

  “He’s looking okay.” Tessa stood behind him, her voice soft and caring.

  He nodded. “Yes, it looks like he’ll pull through, thank the Lord.” He turned and came face to face to her. Their eyes met briefly, and gratitude for her support, and that of her parents, warmed his heart. She shifted back, allowing him space to move.

  “Have you eaten?” Eleanor asked.

  “No. I was getting burgers when I got the call.”

  “Why don’t you and Tessa get something to eat while Telford and I stay here with Jayden? We don't have any place important to go.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out any further.”

  “It’s fine, and you’re not putting us out,” Telford said, glancing at his wife. “I’ll grab another chair.”

  “Let me,” Ben said, already heading out the room. He returned a moment later with another chair which he squeezed into the space at the end of Jayden’s bed.

  “It's been a challenging day for you, Ben. Take your time. We'll call if Jayden wakes up or if there are any changes.” Telford squeezed his shoulder.

  “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

  Ben ruffled Jayden’s hair lightly as he placed another kiss on his cheek. “Get well, son. I love you. I’ll be back soon.”

  * * *

  Tessa suggested they go to one of the restaurants on Park Road, not far from the hospital. Ben agreed, and they drove the short distance in her car. The popular dining street was lined with an array of restaurants, and even though it was a Tuesday night, most were bustling with diners enjoying the balmy late summer evening.

  They chose the French restaurant, Rue de Paris, tucked away behind a small replica of the Eiffel Tower, and sat at a table surrounded by lattice work covered in sweet jasmine and wandering allamanda. Water from a large fountain in the middle of the courtyard trickled down the figurine of a Roman lady holding a basket of fruit. Soft music played in the background.

  “This is lovely, Ben. I haven’t been here for a long time.”

  “Neither have I. I used to come here with Kathryn…”

  Tessa touched his hand lightly. “I’m sorry, you should have said.”

  “No. It’s fine, it really is.” He took her hand and stroked it gently with his thumb. Her pulse quickened. They’d avoided touching since the day at the beach, and now the feel of his warm hand on hers stole her breath away.

  “I’ve really enjoyed these past few weeks, getting to know you and your family. Although I may never fully understand how or why Kathryn decided to leave not only me, but Jayden, I’ve forgiven her, and I’m ready to move on.” His soft eyes gazing into hers melted her heart.

  “Before I met you,
I was depressed about the future, but now I’m full of hope, even with what’s happened today.” He paused and closed his eyes briefly.

  She squeezed his hand. He must be feeling terrible about Jayden.

  He opened his eyes and gave her a smile that grew from the corner of his lips as he threaded his fingers through hers. “Tess, I appreciate your kindness and concern for others. And I admire your devotion and faith in God. It inspires me to be more dedicated to my own faith.” He paused again and held her gaze; his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat when he swallowed. “And these are just a few of the reasons I'm hoping you'll allow me to court you properly.” He put a finger to her lips when she tried to speak. “Let me finish.”

  “I don’t ask this lightly. I don’t want to enter into a relationship without you being clear of my intentions. I wouldn’t consider dating anyone if I couldn’t see myself married to them. I thank God for bringing us together. Take as long as you need to think about it, but when I talked to you at that first puppy training class, I knew then that someone seriously special had just stepped into my life. I was, and still am, mesmerized by your laughter, and your enthusiasm for living.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Had he mentioned marriage, or had she misheard?

  His grip on her hand tightened. “I know it’s asking a lot, not only because I'm a divorcee, but because of Jayden. You’d be taking on a package deal, and I don’t know how you feel about that, especially after today.” He let out a slow breath as he held her gaze.

  Her mother’s words rang in her head: ‘…he’d be hard work...’ She gulped.

  “I don’t want you to rush into making a decision, but know this, Tessa Scott, I’m falling in love with you, and I’m hoping you feel the same about me.” He squeezed her hand gently. “Now you can speak.”