As Long As You Both Shall Live: A Christian Contemporary Romance with Suspense (Dangerous Series Book 2)

by Linda K. Rodante

  Sharee smiled. What had Miss Eleanor said before John came home? “I feel God is prompting me to pray for you and John. You need to be praying too, Sharee. Make sure you pray.” And she had.

  Thank you, Lord, that I have such a warrior on my side. Eighty-five years old and still waging war with the enemy of our souls!

  “Actually,” Pastor Alan put in, “I don’t think I could have kept her at home much longer. She would have taken a motorcycle if she had to—to come see for herself that you were okay. Or caught a ride with Bruce.”

  “And she would have loved it,” Bruce put in. “I need someone with me once in a while who still has some fight in them.”

  “I’m sure I would have enjoyed it,” Miss Eleanor said. “Now, Sharee, tell me what the doctors say about your injuries.”

  Sharee explained the doctor’s prognosis, skirting around their questions about the accident.

  Bruce rolled closer. She glanced toward him, noting the Nike t-shirt he wore. His muscled chest and arms were noticeable under it. She recalled how his smile had reappeared right after the Christmas program four months ago—and almost two years to the date of the accident.

  Now, his blue eyes twinkled at her. “How about you and I going for a walk?”

  “Are you up to that?” Her mom asked in alarm.

  “Doctor’s orders, Marilyn.” Brian put a hand on his wife’s arm.

  Bruce nodded. “The walking will help. We won’t go far.”

  “I’d love to.” She glanced around the room. “I do have visitors, however…”

  “You go,” Miss Eleanor said. “I just wanted to make sure Pastor Alan was giving me the truth about you.”

  The Pastor grinned, as did Bruce and Sharee. They knew from long standing the teasing that went on between the pastor and his oldest parishioner.

  Bruce put out his hand. “Get your IV pole, then. Let’s take a spin.” And to the others, “We’ll be back soon.”

  Sharee tugged the pole over next to her. “Okay, sergeant, let’s go.”

  He laughed and rolled forward. Sharee heard Pastor Alan asking about her father’s work as they left and smiled. Friends, family, God. How blessed could one person be?

  As they headed down the hall, Bruce said, “If you feel like you need to sit down or that your back is going out, let me know. We won’t go far. Is this your first walk since the accident?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me again what the doctor said.”

  “I have a herniated disc in the lower part of my back. I’m supposed to rest it and give it time to heal. But I need to walk, too. It’ll take time, but it should be all right.” She felt guilty as she said it, thinking about him.

  “You need to do everything they say. Resting, walking a little, icing your back. Later heat. All that will help. Don’t do any bending. Stay out of cars for awhile.”

  “You’re the expert.”

  “No expert, but I have done lots of research. I would give anything to get out of this chair, but then, I’m also willing to do whatever God wants. It took a while to get to that point, though.”

  “I don’t wonder.” Her hands tightened on the IV pole, and she swallowed the sudden, surprising tears that sprang to her eyes. Bruce had gone through so much.

  “You okay?” he asked, as they reached the elevators and turned to head back.

  “Yes.”

  The elevator doors opened, and John swung forward on his crutches. “Where are you going with my girl?”

  Bruce grinned. “Well, slipping down the elevator just got foiled. Guess I’ll have to think of something later.”

  “Yeah. We’ll talk about that.”

  Bruce’s grin held. “Actually, she’s doing well. Looking good, too.”

  “You noticed.”

  “Couldn’t help it.”

  “Okay, guys, quit,” Sharee interrupted. “I look like a train wreck.”

  John put a small bag into her hand. “You look wonderful.”

  She peered inside. “Peppermints?” She bit her lip, holding back the amusement. She had plenty of the soft candies now.

  “I thought I’d get them before you asked.”

  “Thank you.”

  His look became serious, and he motioned down the hall to the waiting room. “Let’s go find some privacy. I’m glad you’re here, Bruce. I’d like you to hear this.” He glanced at Sharee. “Can you make it down the hall a little farther?

  “Of course.”

  They moved into an empty waiting room and sat down. John’s gaze settled on Sharee, and he frowned.

  “What?” she asked.

  “When I went home, my neighbor George came over. He’s the person who kept Cooper while I was in Indonesia. I’ve always called him George, but I know his real name is Mohammed. He’s a Muslim from Indonesia. We talked about Indonesia a lot before I left. He came over today to let me know that some of his friends were upset that I went to Indonesia to share the Gospel. They told him he should not be keeping my dog. In fact, they suggested he poison him.”

  “Poison Cooper?” Sharee asked. “But why?”

  “I think the idea is that anything…or anyone…that I care about is fair game if I’m trying to share the Gospel with other Muslims.”

  “You’re thinking they could be responsible for the accidents?” Bruce questioned.

  “It’s a good possibility.” His eyes went to Sharee. She saw the contemplation in his eyes.

  “What are you going to do?” Bruce asked.

  Silence filled the room. After a minute, John cleared his throat. “I’ve been thinking about it.” The two men exchanged looks.

  “Wait a minute.” Sharee put a hand on John’s arm. “You better not be thinking…” She sat up straighter in the chair, ignoring the pain that inched up her back. “If you’re thinking of breaking our engagement because you think I’ll be safer that way then just forget it.”

  Bruce glanced at Sharee’s hand before shooting a look at John. “An engagement?”

  “There isn’t an engagement.”

  Bruce ricocheted a look back and forth between them.

  “There is,” Sharee said, “but there isn’t.”

  “O…kay.”

  John made a noise of dismissal. “Sharee, either way, this still makes sense. You're a target because of me. Why else would anyone try to hurt both of us?"

  “The answer is no. Don’t even go there.”

  His jaw tightened. “It doesn’t make any difference. You turned me down anyway.”

  “I did not. I said—”

  “You said you needed more time.”

  “Well, I’ve had time.”

  John paused. Silence settled. “And?”

  Bruce cleared his throat, but they ignored him.

  “And,” Sharee slipped her hand into his. “I love you. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  “You will?” His gaze held hers.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re positive?”

  “Yes.”

  “Definite?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sure?”

  “John, yes. I love you.”

  His eyes closed, his hand tightening around hers, but he growled deep in his throat. “I can’t believe you put me through this.”

  “What?”

  “A week of torture.”

  “But I…” She bit her lip. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. ”

  “Uh, guys,” Bruce’s voice interrupted. “If you let me out, I’ll take off here.”

  John’s fingers traced a line up her arm, but he glanced at Bruce. “We need to talk.” He turned back to Sharee. “I love you, too.” Her lips parted, and his gaze dropped; but he didn’t move.

  “Kiss me.” Sharee mouthed.

  He hesitated, his look lingering on her mouth. Finally his eyes rose to focus on hers. “Later.” He mouthed back.

  “Later?”

  He grinned, and she slugged his arm; but the warmth in his eyes sent a wave of longing through her.<
br />
  John pulled her close and turned to Bruce. “Sorry about the sidetracking.”

  “Sidetracking?” Sharee let her voice jump.

  John winked at her and tightened his arm. “We need to figure out who’s doing this.”

  Sharee let out a frustrated breath. This was not how she’d planned to tell him. Another thought crossed her mind. “I wonder if it has to do with the phone calls I keep getting.”

  “What calls?” Both men asked at once.

  “Someone calls and never says anything. I’ve called the number back, but no one answered. I even tried doing a reverse white pages on it, but they didn’t have it. It’s probably one of those untraceable phones you buy at the discount stores.”

  John tilted his head at her. “How long has this been going on?”

  “Almost since you left.”

  “Since I left? You’ve been getting calls for over a month?” His voice roughened. “Did you tell anyone else or call the police?”

  “No, I…I was waiting for you to get home.” She stopped.

  “Sharee—”

  “When was the last one?” Bruce edged forward in his wheelchair.

  “Today.”

  “Today?” John’s startled response caused her to lean back. “When?”

  “An hour or so ago.”

  “They called here?”

  “They called my cell phone. They might not know I’m in the hospital.”

  “If this is the same person who ran you over, they do.”

  “Maybe it’s not.”

  “Then we have two problems or is that too much coincidence?”

  “I’m with you on that,” Bruce said. “But your guess about your neighbor doesn’t make sense to me. Let me explain why.”

  A noise from the doorway caused all their heads to swing around. Sharee’s father stood there. The easy smile was absent. He stepped forward into the room.

  “Does someone want to tell me what’s going on here?”

  No one moved or spoke. He walked over to where they sat and put a protective hand on Sharee’s shoulder. His gaze moved to John, and his look hardened.

  “It’s obvious from your actions and words that Sharee’s safety concerns you. I think it’s about time you told me what’s going on.”

  John took a deep breath. “You’re right. Please sit down. I meant to tell you yesterday. Would you like Mrs. Jones here?”

  “She’s looking for Sharee, as I was. Your Pastor went with her. We were all worried when these two didn’t come back.” He gave Bruce a hard stare before his eyes settled on John. “I’ll wait to see what you have to say before we ask Marilyn to join us.”

  John described his accident, added what they had omitted about Sharee’s, explained George’s warning and then the phone calls. When he finished, silence settled over the room. A line between her Dad’s brows appeared as John finished his explanation.

  “And you say the police don’t believe you about these accidents? What about this new information?”

  John shrugged. “They don’t have it yet. The officer yesterday acted like he thought Sharee and I were trying to pull something. And now, well, I don’t believe for one minute, as much as George says he’s my friend, that he would be willing to share his information with the police. That’s a whole different matter.”

  Brian put a hand on Sharee’s knee as she shifted within John’s arm. “You okay, honey?”

  John’s brow creased. “You’re hurting again, aren’t you? When are you due for your next meds?”

  “I’m fine,” Sharee cleared her brow, ignoring the ache in her back and the one that had started again in her head. “I want to hear what Bruce has to say about John’s neighbor?”

  Bruce’s gaze went to John. “Someone was waiting for both of you to get home in the evening. John, you just returned from overseas. Either they were watching for you or knew your itinerary. And they must know something of Sharee’s routine, have watched her come and go.”

  John’s arm tightened once more around Sharee. “I don’t like the idea of that.”

  “Neither do I.” Her father’s sentiments followed close on John’s.

  Bruce rested his hands in his lap. “Let’s backtrack some on your neighbor. Tell me more about him.”

  “He’s been at the apartments since I moved here. Two and a half years ago. He works at the electric company. I believe we’re friends. In fact, he said as much today. He made sure I understood that he did not agree with his friends. We have talked about our different beliefs, and I am hoping God opens his eyes one day.” John gave a wry smile.

  “And he told you what his friends said about you?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, why would he tell you what the others said if he was guilty?”

  “If I’m scared off doing mission work in Indonesia then perhaps it accomplishes what it’s supposed to.”

  Bruce’s head went down for a second. “Here’s the part that doesn’t make sense. The M.O. If these accidents consisted of car bombs or pipe bombs or something like that—well, that’s more the style we’d expect. But car accidents? So poorly done, at that. It just doesn’t fit.”

  John nodded, but went straight for what was on his mind. “The phone calls worry me.”

  “What we need to know is if they’re related to the accidents. Your neighbor George would know your itinerary and could have revealed it—intentionally or not—to one of his friends, but why would they call Sharee? Just to harass her?”

  “It’s been done.”

  “What do you two have in common besides each other?” Brian asked.

  “The church, the people there. Our work is separate.”

  Her father’s brow furrowed. “The church? Is that likely? How many people are we talking?”

  “We have about three hundred, including the youth and younger children.”

  “Anybody hate the thought of you two marrying?” He tilted his head. “John, do you have an old girlfriend?”

  “No. Everyone in the church would love to see us get married.” He sobered and looked at Sharee. “Sharee had a visitor yesterday. Dean something or other.”

  “What?” Brian straightened. “Dean showed up here?”

  Sharee’s heart dove. She hadn’t wanted to tell him. “Yes.”

  “The man…” Brain stopped. His eyes narrowed.

  John glanced from one to the other. “Sharee, I know you didn’t want to share earlier, but if this is someone—”

  “It’s been over two years. Dean would never—”

  “Over two years, but when he thinks you’re hurt, he comes immediately.” John’s voice sounded rough.

  Sharee stared at him.

  Bruce cleared his throat. “I think John’s right, Sharee. You have to consider everyone.”

  “All right.” She didn’t have the strength to fight them all. The line of pain inside her head had increased.

  Her dad leaned forward. “I have a few friends that owe me favors. If you don’t mind, John, I could probably get a background check run on your neighbor George.”

  John inclined his head. “I have no problem with that. Whatever we can find out will be good.”

  “We’ll see what comes up. I know a few Sheriff’s deputies, too. I’ll talk with them and see if they can give us some advice. They know Sharee. It’s out of their jurisdiction, but they will take it seriously.”

  “That will help.”

  “I have to leave in the morning. I don’t want to, of course, but I have to. Work calls. Marilyn will be here for a day or so longer. I know I can depend on you…” The unexpressed communication was clear.

  Sharee wanted to shake her head but didn’t dare. They were treating her like a china plate that needed wrapping in cotton batting. “Look, I think…” Her voice trailed off as she tried to pull free of John’s arm. The pain in her back arched, and she cut-off the words.

  John stood. “You need to get back.”

  Her father stood, too. “Yes, let’s b
reak this up for a while. I’ll go look for your mother. I’m hoping she hasn’t put the whole hospital on alert.” He smiled, but his eyes stopped on each of them. “We won’t tell Marilyn about this. Yet.”

  “Understood.” John helped Sharee to her feet.

  Brian picked up the bag with the candy John had given her. He glanced inside, his brows lifted, and he looked at Sharee. “Is this yours?”

  “Yes. John brought them.” She took the bag from him, feeling awkward. At home, her dad always kept her supplied with peppermints. Sharee’s hand moved and touched his arm. “I have two protectors.”

  He nodded, but said nothing.

  “Actually three,” Bruce interjected and shifted his hands to roll forward.

  Chapter 5

  Sharee lay flat on her back. The late afternoon sun laid ribbons of yellow across her bed. When they returned to the room earlier, she’d taken the pain medicine and drifted off to sleep.

  John rose from the chair near her. “Your visitors left right after you fell asleep. And Lynn called a few minutes ago, but I told her not to come by today.”

  “You told her not to come by? My best friend?”

  “She reminded me of that, but I thought we could use a few minutes alone. We have some unfinished business.”

  “Unfinished business?”

  He set his crutches aside and pulled a curl next to her cheek. “You don’t remember?” Leaning over, he settled a hand on either side of her head. “You asked for a kiss.”

  A knock sounded on the door.

  John groaned, straightened and turned. The doctor stood just inside the room. “Sorry to interrupt, but I wondered how my patient was today.”

  "Better." Sharee felt a flush rise, but smiled and reached for the button to lift the head of her bed.

  “Good to hear.” The doctor moved to stand next to her bed. “You know you have a slight concussion. Your memory, vision, and coordination all show well. That’s what we wanted. My guess is that your head will be fine in a few days, a week at the most. But since you lost consciousness after the accident, I’d like to monitor you for one more night. The herniated disc will take longer, and you’ll need to limit what you do, especially for awhile. You told the nurse you have pain most of the time, especially moving, and sciatica, which is all normal with this. We can give you an injection for your back that will help. It will relieve the pain and take the swelling down. The injection is not painful, just uncomfortable.”