The current carried her forward, but before she could pass through the gates, a figure materialized to bar her entrance.
“Elizabeth,” it said, and at once she remembered who she was and how she had come here.
I died—the acknowledgment flooded her awareness, but it did not make her sad. Her body now formed around her, but it felt clunky and foreign.
“I am Peter,” the man said as his body also materialized before her—a dimpled chin, wavy blond hair, and long limbs. The perfect likeness of someone she knew very well. Theo.
“You look exactly like my husband, but how?”
“I made myself familiar to give you comfort, for we have much to discuss.”
“Am I in Heaven?” she asked, already sure of the answer.
“Yes. Do you remember how you died?”
Elizabeth thought back to her last moments on Earth. A cry escaped before she could choke it back. “Please tell me, Peter—is my baby okay?”
“Yes, she is. Your sacrifice saved her.”
Her? I had a girl? Tears of joy sprang to her eyes. As magnificent as her new home had proven, she also couldn’t bear the thought of never knowing her daughter, of leaving her baby without a mother, leaving her husband without a partner.
Peter placed a hand on her shoulder, and although she couldn’t feel it, the gesture still brought comfort. He waited until her racing thoughts slowed, waited for her to work her situation out, and continue their conversation.
“So is this it? Do I cross through those gates, and never see my family again?” She raised both arms to motion toward the gates—so tall they appeared to carry on forever into the sky.
“Your life is over, yes, but this is not the end of your journey. You are not ready for Heaven, Elizabeth.”
Fear took hold as she murmured, “Are you sending me to that other place?”
Peter chortled. “No, no, not at all. But, you see, you aren’t yet ready to cross through those gates and become a Pearl. Your heart is still tied to the world. To live here, your heart must be free and ready for paradise.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
“You’ve proven your capacity for great love by sacrificing yourself in order to save your daughter. You also miss her and need her in the same way she will need your protection as she goes through life. While I cannot undo what has already been done, I can send you back to Earth. You will be transformed into a special kind of angel, a protector.”
“You’re making me a guardian angel?”
“Yes, so you can watch over your daughter and know your sacrifice was not in vain, so you will complete your unfinished business, and so that you will be ready. Come with me. I will make everything clear.”
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Afterword
Why do we read, write, learn, live? For me, the answers are all one and the same. I write in order to explore deeper questions, in order to think and get others to think, in order to stretch the bounds of my imagination, in order to grow.
Life is a journey and it’s one that each of us can only take for ourselves. Sure, others can travel alongside us, but no one can step into your shoes and do it for you. And an important part of life to me and to many others is spirituality, finding how we relate to the larger world, and figuring out why we’re even here to begin with.
This brief afterword isn’t about my personal beliefs, but it is about some dangerous assumptions people have made about me and other authors who choose to address moral and spiritual issues.
It is so, so important to address these beliefs outside of a traditional Christian Fiction model. For me, spirituality doesn’t happen within the confines of a church, a temple, or mosque. It doesn’t follow a specific course of rules and regulations, and faith is something we must exercise in all aspects of our lives, not just when dogma dictates or when it’s convenient, or expected, or safe.
Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes it’s ugly. But every new situation is a chance to grow in your faith and to grow in all the great things that make you you, and tie you both to God and to your fellow man/woman.
I believe in kindness despite any differences in beliefs, and I believe in sharing goodness with all people, not just those who believe the exact same things I do. I like to think, I like to be challenged, I like to grow in self-awareness and in my personal spirituality. That’s why I write about the things I do. Heck, that’s why I write. It’s that constant, hungry pursuit of a higher wisdom, of becoming better than I am, of doing good.
I’m not a fan of preaching to choirs, nor preaching really, because I believe spirituality is deeply personal. I write for myself and for my daughter, for anyone who is interested in reading enjoyable stories that raise some important questions but ultimately allow you to answer those questions for yourself.
I want ALL people to be able to read and connect with my books (if they choose to) and to be able to contemplate the spiritual and moral issues raised–not just Jews, not just Muslims, not just Christians.
Just people.
And that’s why I’m not a Christian Fiction author, though I choose to explore spirituality as a prominent theme in my writing and often write about Christian characters. If you’d like to further explore these themes with me, I urge you to check out my Diving for Pearls series and to keep an eye out for more First Street Church Romances.
Diving for Pearls started as a thought exercise following my near-death experience in birthing my daughter, but it quickly became a love letter to my little one, and evolved even further to encompass my answers to all of life’s most difficult questions.
What is the meaning of life?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Is Heaven real? What is it like? What about Hell?
Are angels among us?
This deeply personal story provides my answers, answers that have given me peace as I face each new obstacle in life, as I watch my baby grow into a young lady, as I continue to strive to live life to its fullest, and just to be—and it does it all through the journey of a mother-turned-guardian angel.
While I plan to write many more stories about my angels, I also have so much more in store for the small but lovable town of Sweet Grove, TX. This colorful cast of unforgettable characters will each have the chance to find pure and lasting love, thanks to their involvement in the small town church.
Well, that’s enough about me and my projects!
How about you? What do you believe, and how do choose to explore it? I hope this story and others like it have brought you a little joy and that it’s made you think, too.
Until next time, let’s all read, write, learn, and live the best we can.
Love,
Melissa S.
Acknowledgments
This is always the hardest part of the entire book—figuring out the thank yous!
First and foremost, I must always thank my wonderful husband, Falcon. He makes everything possible an in every way possible. From being an amazing stay-at-home dad for our little girl to taking care of me, the house, all the pets, and just always knowing how to encourage me to keep going. Also he kind of taught me the meaning of love in the first place, helped me to understand the constant battle of depression, and served as the final proofreader for Love’s Prayer too!
Next up we have my Super Reader team, and especially Heidi, Rosemary, Rhonda, and Jasmine. Their enthusiasm for this story, this series, and my writing on the whole has also encouraged me to take my writing even more seriously and to make sure I get those word counts in each and every day. They are my readers, my friends, my tribe, and I appreciate them more than they may ever know.
My production team must also be thanked—and praised! To my uber talented cover designer, Mallory Rock, to my exceedingly patient and ridiculous smart editor, Stevie Mikayne.
Then there are my autho
r friends like Bella Andre, Barbara Freethy, Bonnie Paulson, K.M. Hodge, Melissa McClone, and so many others, who continue to believe in my work and get excited right along with me.
My family for giving me a spiritual upbringing and teach me about the Bible and about God. Our rabbi, Ariana Gordon, and all the amazing folks at Temple Israel who took us in with open arms.
Lastly, to Ducky, the real-life inspiration for Sunny Sunshine. Ducky was a close friend and beloved pet for eight years before he died unexpectedly right around the time I began writing this book. To help deal with my grief, I wrote some of my favorite memories of him into the story. Yes, the escaped parrot flying around the neighborhood and too afraid to land actually happened! Our neighbors brought seven ladders to help out. Rest assured, you’ll be seeing more of Sunny Sunshine in Iris Smith’s book titled Love’s Resurrection.
And, of course, this is book is also to you—to you for taking a chance on this book and hopefully loving it.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank YOU!
Also by Melissa Storm
The Cupid’s Bow Series
When I Fall in Love
My Heart Belongs Only to You
I’ll Never Stop Loving You
You Make Me Feel So Young
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Tainted Love
I Want to Dance with Somebody
You Belong with Me
She Will Be Loved
Somebody Like You
All I Want for Christmas is You
The First Street Church Romances
Love’s Prayer
Love’s Promise
Love’s Prophet
Love’s Trial
Love’s Treasure
Love’s Testament
Love’s Redemption
Love’s Resurrection
Love’s Revelation
The Book Cellar Mysteries
Walker Texas Wife
Texas & Tiaras
Remember the Stilettos
Ladies, We Have a Problem
The Pearl Makers
Angels in Our Lives
Diving for Pearls
Love Forever, Theo
Shackle My Soul
Angel of Mine
Stand-Alone Novels & Novellas
A Texas Kind of Love
A Cowboy Kind of Love
A Wedding Miracle
Finding Mr. Happily Ever After
A Colorful Life
My Love Will Find You
The Legend of My Love
Splinters of Her Heart
Melissa also writes Children’s Books and Nonfiction as Emlyn Chand. Learn more about those works at www.EmlynChand.com.
About the Author
Melissa Storm is a mother first, and everything else second. She used to write under a pseudonym, but finally had the confidence to come out as herself to the world. Her fiction is highly personal and often based on true stories. Writing is Melissa's way of showing her daughter just how beautiful life can be, when you pay attention to the everyday wonders that surround us.
Melissa loves books so much, she married fellow author Falcon Storm. Between the two of them, there are always plenty of imaginative, awe-inspiring stories to share. Melissa and Falcon also run the business Novel Publicity together, where she works as publisher, marketer, editor, and all-around business mogul. When she's not reading, writing, or child-rearing, Melissa spends time relaxing at home in the company of her three dogs and five parrots. She never misses an episode of The Bachelor or her nightly lavender-infused soak in the tub. Ahh, the simple luxuries that make life worth living.
Melissa loves hearing from readers.
Please feel free to reach out!
@melstormauthor
MeetTheStorms
www.MelStorm.com
[email protected]
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