In Defense of Love (Carmen Sisters Book 2)

by Pat Simmons

  A few people applauded, but most remained quiet with curiosity, seemingly uncertain as to how they should respond. It wasn’t shameful for a man or a woman to remarry quickly after the death of a spouse. Garrett assisted his wife up the stairs and gathered his son in his arms. He stepped away from the microphone so that she could speak.

  “Praise the Lord, saints.” Her hat and clothes commanded attention. She was stunning in white.

  “Praise the Lord,” many people answered back.

  “My name is Sharmaine Nash, and I am the miracle God restored—”

  Like the snap of a finger, the rejoicing was combustible. The sounds of cheers, speaking in other tongues, and hand-clapping were almost deafening. Many stood to their feet; some of them even danced. Others wiped tears from their eyes.

  “The trial wasn’t my husband’s alone but also my family’s and mine,” Shari went on. “God called us to put our faith on the line, believing the words He had spoken to my husband before we were married. You see, if we don’t pay attention when God speaks to us, our faith will fail us. In the Bible, the Lord told Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, yet God told him to offer his son of the promise, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Abraham’s faith is evident in Genesis twenty-two, verse five, when he tells the two young men who accompanied him and Isaac to the mountain that both he and Isaac would return after worshipping God on the mountain.”

  She paused. “My dear husband was put in a situation like Abraham’s. Garrett loved me unconditionally, beyond comprehension, and God knew it. And God wanted to show my husband the benefits of sacrifice, just as He showed Abraham.”

  When Garrison started to fuss because he wanted his mother, Garrett walked closer to Shari but kept holding his son so that she could finish. “Go on, babe,” he whispered. It was important that they both give this testimony.

  “I was told that the doctors pronounced me dead at twelve minutes past noon. I was told that our families prayed until God visited them. I was told that while my poor husband was mourning my death, our families entered the room rejoicing, worshipping, and praising God. They were essentially celebrating my life as if they were attending my home-going service.

  “Not even an hour had passed when I stirred, according to my family. You see, in whatever place Jesus had me, I heard the voice of God saying, Trust Me, Shari. Trust Me. I sat up, not knowing that I had died. Looking around my hospital room, I didn’t know why my husband was crying, while others were praising God. When I saw my son, I rejoiced with them.”

  Garrett lifted one hand in the air in praise, then stepped to the microphone to conclude their testimony. “When the nurses came to investigate the commotion, they were frightened. The doctor had already pronounced my wife officially dead—no heartbeat, pulse, or brain waves. She had expired. But when they saw her alive and holding the baby, they said that we were making so much noise, we woke the dead.” He grunted. “Nothing wakes the dead but the power of Jesus. God didn’t allow me to see my wife pass away, but I was privileged to see her come to life again.”

  Shouts of “Amen” popped up throughout the sanctuary.

  To conclude their testimony, Shari and Garrett sang the BeBe & CeCe Winans rendition of “Midnight Hour.”

  The entire congregation was standing by the conclusion of the song. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. When the service was over, the number of people who wanted to shake their hands and offer them hugs was overwhelming.

  Since that fateful day, Garrett had become clingy, always keeping his wife and son close. He realized that in a blink of an eye, his life could change forever, but he had also learned that God was faithful to turn things around.

  Chapter 41

  One year later

  What do you mean, my sister’s pregnant? Have you lost your mind? How could you let that happen?” Brecee was in a stare-down with Garrett.

  Did his sister-in-law really expect him to answer her final question? Shari’s second pregnancy had happened against his better judgment, but with a wife as fine as his, how was he supposed to resist her charm?

  Secretly, Shari’s news had scared him, too. There were too many what-ifs. As far as Garrett was concerned, after that close call with losing Shari, their family was complete with one son. He didn’t need any more princes or any princesses.

  Not only had Garrett babied his wife since her miraculous restoration, but so had everyone else in the family, especially Dr. Sabrece Carmen.

  To nobody’s business, Garrett had been beyond careful in protecting her and loving her gently, but God had ordained their marriage, so they had to trust Him. But, in the back of his mind, he remembered what Dr. Johnson had said once the Lord had brought Shari back from the dead: “In my profession, these things do happen from time to time—although rare, and it’s a phenomenon. Mrs. Nash was lucky.”

  “No, my wife and our family were blessed by the Lord, whether you can admit it or not.” Garrett hadn’t been able to abide her belittling the God he served. He had set her straight right away.

  Still, Dr. Johnson had seemed unfazed. “I see. Well, based on this condition, I would recommend a tubal ligation. She definitely shouldn’t attempt to have any more children.”

  “That’s something I might agree with,” Garrett had said.

  Now, their houseguest stormed away continuing her tongue-lashing with his wife. Garrett snickered. Shari’s persuasive spirit wouldn’t allow her to back down to Brecee. She might win the argument with her baby sister, but Shari hadn’t won the argument that had ensued when she’d shared the news with him.

  Garrett had lain awake all night after she’d delivered the bombshell. Meanwhile, his sweet little wife had had the nerve to roll over and peacefully fall to sleep. The next morning, he’d picked up where she’d left off. “Baby, do you have any idea how scared I am?”

  “We can’t be fearful and hope to make it to heaven.”

  “I know what it says in Revelation twenty-one, verse eight, but I’m a coward when it comes to my wife. We might not have the same testimony the next time, and that scares me. You’re irreplaceable.”

  The sound of pots banging around drew their attention, and Garrett had hurried to the kitchen. Somehow, his son had managed to pick the baby lock on the cabinet—yet again. Garrett had finally realized that he needed to accept not only the pregnancy but also God’s will—again.

  In the months that followed, as he and Dr. Johnson monitored Shari’s progress, Garrett was perpetually taunted by the devil. He lost track how many times the devil told him that he would lose both his wife and his baby this time. He was agitated and angry unless he watched the glow emanating from Shari. She didn’t seem afraid at all as her delivery date drew near.

  Prayer time was extended as never before in the Nash household. Surprisingly, their toddler son enjoyed praying, even though he was usually asleep in Shari’s lap by the time they said “amen.”

  Three weeks before her due date, Shari’s water broke, and she went into labor. In the delivery room, it was like déjà vu; but this time, there was a prayer cloth in Garrett’s pocket and holy oil dabbed on Shari’s forehead. She required an emergency C-section, by which she delivered another son, whom they named Saul Carmen Nash in honor of her father.

  “Mr. Nash, once again, your wife was lucky,” the doctor told him, to which he gritted his teeth to keep from correcting her choice of words. Luck was not in his vocabulary. “But every pregnancy increases her risk of developing eclampsia again. I need your permission to perform a tubal ligation.”

  Yes, that would make his life simpler, but what would his wife want? She trusted him. God, please help me! Garrett shook his head. Life was a walk of faith. But test after test had yielded victory after victory.

  In her scrubs, the new OB/GYN tapped her shoe impatiently. “Well? I need an answer now, Mr. Nash.”

  After sending up a silent prayer, he answered, “No.”

  She stared blankly at him. “Excuse me? Do you have any idea�
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  “She trusts me to make the right decision, and she trusts God, which means I will trust the Lord. I say no to the procedure.”

  When she turned and walked away, Garrett called after her, “My wife is a criminal attorney, and I’m a Deputy U.S. Marshal. If her ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, or any other body parts are damaged in any way, you won’t practice again.”

  The doctor didn’t flinch as she turned around and left.

  Once Shari was in recovery, Garrett relayed his conversation with her doctor.

  She smiled. “Thank you. We have to trust God no matter what. The first delivery was your trial, but this second pregnancy was my walk by faith. Consider us even.”

  “Even.” Garrett nodded. “I will always defend our love—always.”

  “Amen.”

  Author’s Note

  It was my honor to bring you this story filled with testimonies that actually occurred. As I wrote this novel, I had to bind the devil so that the power of God could be proclaimed to the captives and set them free.

  If your book club or church group would like to know the spiritual backdrop to this story, I am available for speaking engagements and would gladly make arrangements to address your group.

  I hope you will take the time to post a review and spread the word about The Carmen Sisters. Look for book 3, Brecee’s story, in 2016.

  About the Author

  Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels, in hopes of tracking down distant relatives who happen to pick up her books. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven in 1988.

  Pat describes receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. She believes God is the Author who advances the stories she writes.

  Pat has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various positions in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. Currently, she oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions.

  She is the multi-published author of several single titles and eBook novellas, including the #1 Amazon best seller in God’s Word, A Christian Christmas. Her awards include Talk to Me, ranked #14 of Top Books in 2008 that Changed Lives by Black Pearls Magazine. She is a two-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance for Still Guilty (2010) and Crowning Glory (2011). Her best-selling novels include Guilty of Love and the Jamieson Legacy series: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free from Guilt. The Acquittal (2013) kicked off her new Guilty Parties series. Given the success of the Jamieson men stories, Pat is elated to introduce the Carmen women in her latest series, The Carmen Sisters, published by Whitaker House. In Defense of Love follows No Easy Catch in this trilogy.

  In addition to her hobbies of researching her roots and sewing, she has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.

  Pat has converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and a GPS-guided chauffeur. He is also constantly on probation as an administrative assistant. They have a son and a daughter.

  Readers may learn more about Pat and her books by visiting her at

  www.patsimmons.net; connecting with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or LinkedIn; or contacting her at authorpatsimmons@gmail.com or

  P.O. Box 1077, Florissant, MO 63031.