Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope

by Debra Ullrick

  “No, not at all. I was checking under the hood of The Black Beast.” At the hike of Olivia’s eyebrows, Camara said, “The Black Beast was my bog truck.”

  “Oh.” She nodded.

  “Someone had messed with the NOS, and I didn’t know it. So, when Erik fired up my bogger, everything blew. I don’t remember much about it, only that I woke up in the hospital with a huge headache and some pretty painful burns and nasty cuts on my arms. It could have been worse. A piece of metal could have gone through my skull, and I would have been a goner. But God didn’t let that happen. Hey, speaking of God… Would y’all like to go to church with us tomorrow?”

  “We’d love to,” Audra piped in before Olivia could respond.

  Olivia nearly twisted her neck off and almost sent the food flying onto the ground again when she spun and glared at her friend. “Uh, I have other plans.”

  Audra didn’t miss a beat. “What other plans?”

  Pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes, Olivia made sure she sent a silent message to her friend to knock it off.

  Audra just smiled and said, “Whatever they are, you can change them.” She turned toward Camara. “Just name the time and place and we’ll be there.”

  What was up with Audra? She had never done that to Olivia before. She always respected her wish to not attend church. How could she do that to her knowing she never wanted to step foot inside any church again? Just wait until she got her hands on her. Olivia’s insides boiled over. Tomorrow ought to be a real hoot. Not!

  ♥♥♥♥

  “What’s the difference between the freestyle and timed event?” Olivia asked. Never taking her eyes off of Erik, she bit into her chili-cheese covered corn dog and waited for his answer.

  Erik set his chili-cheese hot dog down and finished chewing. Drink in hand, he took a long pull before answering her. “The timed-event is what you just watched. We race down thunder alley into the arena, make a hook, which is a quick U-turn, and then race back to jump over a ramp. The best time, which averages about seventeen seconds, usually wins. Freestyle is a judged event. Whatever you can do in two minutes to get the fans excited gets you more points.”

  “What gets them exited?” Audra asked before Olivia had a chance.

  “Cyclones, leaping over huge things in a row like semi-trailers, mobile homes, and delivery trucks. Like the way I have it set up here.” He pointed toward the arena, and Olivia’s gaze followed. “You can’t really tell from here, but I have things butted together. One of the obstacles has a single car, then two stacked cars right next to it, then a delivery truck, and then a semi-trailer.”

  The whites of Olivia’s eyes showed. She couldn’t imagine leaping over something that big.

  “The record for the longest jump is 202 feet over a 747 airplane. The crowd goes wild when you clear stuff like that, or you walk your truck. I hate to say it, but your ego really gets stroked when the fans are on their feet, rooting for ya. In fact, there’s even a saying amongst us monster truck drivers that our egos are as big as our trucks. But not mine.” He chuckled. His eyes rolled, his mouth quirked, and he shook his head.

  They all laughed with him.

  “Is there anything else you can do to get a higher score?” Olivia leaned forward, waiting for his answer.

  “Well, ya wanna avoid wrecks if ya can. A good save is great for points. And the more air you get, the higher the score.”

  “More air?” Olivia cocked her head sideways. “You also mentioned walking your truck. What’s that?”

  “More air is the higher your truck leaps in the air, the better. Walking your truck is when it’s vertical on two wheels only.” Erik crunched his trash together. “Pogoing gets the crowd going too.”

  “Pogoing?” Olivia wanted to know what that meant too.

  “Yeah, it’s like popping a wheelie and landing on your tailgate. Well,” Erik stood. “As much as I hate to cut this short, I’d better get or I’ll miss my turn.”

  “Wouldn’t want that,” Olivia said, hoping her nerves could stand watching his turn. Especially after all that talk about walking his truck, pogoing it, and leaping in the air.

  Minutes later, Olivia and Audra were seated in the stands. The voice over the loudspeaker announcing that Erik was up next made the hair on Olivia’s arms rise.

  “Get ready to hear some horsepower folks.” The announcer’s voice blasted around them. “Here comes Erik Cole barreling down thunder alley.”

  The moment she saw Erik’s truck enter the arena as if his backside was on fire, she sat on the edge of the seat. Every muscle in her body tensed.

  When Erik slowed down around a corner, the monster truck body dipped slightly forward. When he accelerated, it tilted backward. Olivia pulled two pieces of gum out of her pocket and chewed rapidly as he headed toward a row of cars. Right before he hit the first one, she heard him let off the accelerator and then hit it again when his front tires leapt in the air. Olivia couldn’t believe how high up he was when he cleared them.

  “Wow! Talk about sick air folks,” the announcer’s excited voice blared through the speakers.

  The crowd leaped to their feet.

  Olivia could feel the energy radiating from them. She scanned the crowd. People waved Mad Masher banners, checkered flags, and homemade signs that read: Go Mad Masher. Erik Cole Rocks!

  After jumping over a mobile home and several ramps, Erik did what he called a cyclone. Like a top spinning in place, around and around the Mad Masher went, kicking up dust. The crowd roared while Olivia held her breath, fearful that he would flip over. Just when she thought it was safe to breathe, he stopped the cyclone and walked the Mad Masher over a storage container that didn’t crush. Seeing the giant truck at a vertical angle, not only sucked out what little breath she had left, but caused her heart to pick up even more momentum.

  Back on four wheels, Erik drove his truck toward the obstacle with the semi-trailer. This time, her heart stopped beating altogether when he hit the first car and the front end shot up in the air. He leapt over the vehicles and the semi-trailer. His front tires hit first and then the back. Immediately he went into another cyclone. Again the crowd rose to their feet, hollering and whistling until Olivia thought her eardrums would burst. Olivia’s heart whirled with him as she watched him go around and around and around. It looked like at any moment his tire might grab and he would flip over.

  Olivia hoped his two minutes were almost up. She didn’t know how much more she could take.

  Then Erik headed toward what looked like a rail car with some smashed cars in front of it. Up and over it he flew.

  “O-oh! Now, that’s some air! The fans are lovin’ it!” The deep voice rattled off something else, but Olivia couldn’t hear him over the roar of the crowd.

  Next Erik leapt over a hill close to where she was sitting. He picked up momentum and soared over a second hill. The Mad Masher went vertical, then the rear frame slammed into the ground, sending big pieces of the fiberglass-body flying before it flipped over and landed on its top. “Erik!” Olivia screamed, jumping up.

  Fear clutched her as she watched three men rush toward him. Seeing his truck laying upside down, Olivia just knew he had to be hurt… or worse…

  Audra put her arm around her shoulder. “He’ll be fine.”

  She wanted to believe her best friend, but her past record with loved ones didn’t leave her with much hope.

  Erik climbed out the window, removed his helmet, and waved to the crowd. Tears of relief poured from her eyes as Erik’s gaze snagged on hers. But his smile did nothing to stop the fear or the pounding of her heart.

  Olivia and Audra made their way to the pits as fast as their legs would carry them. When she saw Erik heading toward her, she suddenly felt shy and embarrassed. What would he think about her crying? Within seconds, his rock-solid arms pulled her to his chest. “Hey, my friend, it’s okay.” He laid his hand on the back of her head and pressed it closer to his chest. “The roll cages are built sturdy enough
to take that kind of abuse. Besides, I’m strapped in there so tight that I don’t even budge. This stuff happens all the time.”

  Those words that were meant to comfort her barreled into her. Great. Someone else Olivia loved lived dangerously. Good thing he called her friend because at the moment he’d said that happens all the time, she decided to never allow herself to give into the love she felt for him. Never.

  ♥♥♥♥

  Sunday morning, Olivia leaned over her bathroom vanity and finished putting her makeup on. She still couldn’t believe she was going to church. And not just with Audra, but with Erik, Chase, and Camara too. There was no way she felt she could back out gracefully.

  “Livvy.” Audra knocked on her bathroom door. “You ready?”

  She should be mad at Audra for agreeing that they would go to church, but she couldn’t. Audra loved her and only wanted what was best for her. The only problem was that God wasn’t what was best for her. That Olivia knew for certain.

  “Livvy,” she sing-songed. “Erik’s here to pick us up. C’mon.”

  That was another thing Audra had talked her into. She’d wanted to take her car, but when Erik offered to taxi everyone there, Audra had agreed without consulting Olivia first. She couldn’t believe her friend’s boldness when she asked Erik if he would mind taking them to Tamarack food court to try out that Fried Green Tomato sandwich he’d bragged about the other night when they were all sitting around chatting. And her audacity didn’t stop there. Audra proceeded to ask him if they could do some shopping while there. Olivia had wanted to slide under the table and slink away, but Erik didn’t seem to mind. Actually, now that she thought about it, he seemed rather pleased.

  Because Olivia had heard such fabulous reviews about that place and she couldn’t wait to see it, she didn’t fight the issue. Against her better judgment, of course.

  “Coming.” She quickly rubbed some coral gloss on her lips and pushed away from the sink before opening the door. “I’m ready.”

  “Wow. You look nice. Where’d you get the pretty blue dress?” Audra’s gaze went all the way to the floor. “Oh, and matching shoes too? Wow. Who are we trying to impress?”

  Not taking the bait, Olivia pushed past her and headed down the hallway. “Friday was payday. Erik gave me the day off, so in the morning I drove to Charleston Town Center Mall and picked it up.”

  “You?” Audra dipped her head sideways. “Miss, I-can’t-find-my-way-around-my-own-block-without-getting-lost you?”

  Olivia laughed at the skepticism dancing in Audra’s eyes. “Yes. Me. I used the computer at the shop and printed off a map. You’d really be proud of me. I only got lost twice.”

  “Only twice, huh? That is an improvement.” They laughed and headed toward the door.

  Olivia stuffed her house key, a package of gum, and her coin purse in the hidden pockets of her dress. She grabbed a light blue sweater off the coat rack by the door and stepped outside. The early morning sun hadn’t yet warmed up the outdoors, so Olivia slid her arms into her sweater, relishing its warmth.

  “Morning, Erik.” Olivia reeled in her skyrocketing emotions upon seeing him.

  “Good morning, ladies. Your chariot awaits.” He bowed and made a sweeping motion toward his truck.

  “What a nut,” Audra commented for Olivia’s ears only. “Good morning, kind sir.” Audra imitated a British accent, then curtsied.

  Olivia slanted a sideways glance at her crazy friend and smiled. “Speaking of nuts.”

  “What’s that about nuts?” Erik asked.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.” Audra perkily replied.

  Olivia rolled her eyes and shook her head at Miss Bubbly. “I said my friend is nuts.”

  Erik looked at the two of them and nodded before opening the passenger door for them. Audra stood on her tiptoes and peered inside the backseat. “Where’s Chase and Camara?”

  “They wanted to take their own vehicle.”

  “Oh, well, then I can sit in back. That way it won’t be so crowded up front.” With her back to Erik, Olivia gave Audra the ol’ evil eye.

  Erik didn’t argue, which made Olivia uneasy. For the sake of her heart, she didn’t want to be up front with him or anywhere else with him right now. She already struggled with keeping her wits about her where he was concerned. Well, at least Audra didn’t insist that all three of them sit up front. For that she was truly grateful, because Audra would have made sure Olivia was seated next to Erik. That would have really been awkward and extremely dangerous on Olivia’s heart. She realized that she was staring at him. With a quick yank, she pulled her focus away from his neatly pressed black denim jeans that hugged his muscular legs and light blue polo shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and trim waist. Being attracted to this man or being in love with him was the last thing she needed… or wanted. Ugh. It was so easy to keep telling herself that, and so very hard to remember in his presence.

  While he helped Audra into his truck, Olivia noticed for the first time that he had running boards. Strange. That first time she’d ridden with him, he had hoisted her up into his truck when she could have used the step. That thought was too confusing to dwell on, so she pushed it away.

  She raised her leg to place her foot on the running board when Erik’s voice vibrated behind her, “You know, blue’s my favorite color. You look great.” Between the man’s masculine voice, his anise scented warm breath brushing against her ear, and the emotions they evoked in her, Olivia missed the step. Erik’s hand tightened around her elbow to keep her from falling face forward.

  “You okay?”

  “There’s those words again.” She giggled to cover up her embarrassment. “I’m fine.”

  “That’s for sure.”

  She stiffened. What did he mean by that? Whatever it was, she didn’t want to know. After he made sure she was seated and he shut the door, she wondered if she’d heard him correctly. Did he say she sure was fine?

  “So that’s why you bought blue. It’s Erik’s favorite color,” Audra chided from the backseat.

  Olivia swung her body sideways toward Audra. “Be quiet. He might hear you,” she rebuked her in a stage whisper.

  “O-o-o-h-h-h. So, you did buy blue because of him then.”

  “That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She narrowed her eyes. Desperately, she wanted to reach back and slap Audra into next week.

  “Oh, yeah. Since when do you buy blue dresses?” Audra placed her fingertip on her lips. “Uh, try never. Not as long as I’ve known you anyway.”

  Olivia opened her mouth to retaliate, but the driver side door opened, and Erik hopped in.

  “You ready, ladies?” He grabbed his seatbelt, latched it, and then started the truck.

  “We sure are. Aren’t we, Livvy?”

  Again Olivia sent Audra a you’re-cruising-for-a-bruising look. Her best friend winked and smiled at her. Olivia pressed her back against the seat, locked her focus heavenward, and thought, it’s gonna to be a long, long day.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The brick church with the white window shutters and a white cross on top looked isolated amidst a forest of trees. As they headed toward the French doors, a middle-aged couple toting six children behind them greeted them. The closer they got to the building, the more Olivia’s insides trembled. As discreetly as possible, she stuck her hand in her pocket and fiddled with her gum until she popped two little rectangle pieces out. She faked a cough so she could cover her mouth to hide popping the gum inside, then slowly started chewing the breathy peppermint.

  “Nervous are we?”

  She glared at her friend. If Audra kept this up, Olivia was either going to box her ears or send her packing.

  When they stepped inside, an elderly gentleman shook each of their hands, welcoming them. He grabbed Erik and hugged him. “Good ta see ya agin, son.”

  “Good to see you too, Mr. Mortimer. How are you?”

  “I’m a feelin’ right pert today. ‘specially aftur readin’ m
e them thar obituaries in the mornin’ paper and seen my name weren’t in it.” He cackled. “Well, son. Iffen y’all wanna a seat, ya best be for goin’ an a sittin’ down. This place is fillin’ up mighty fast.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Without asking what either one of them thought, Olivia quickly slid into the back pew. She placed her legs off to the side, hoping Erik and Audra would get the hint that she wanted to sit on the outside. That way if it got too uncomfortable, she could make her getaway. Ugh. Just what had she been thinking by coming here, anyway? Must be a case of temporary insanity. There was no other plausible explanation for it.

  Audra quickly stepped past her and went one more seat down, leaving Erik to sit next to her. Olivia dipped her brows and pursed her lips at Audra. That gal was really asking for it. But before she could think of a suitably horrible torture to get even with her friend, music filled the sanctuary. Erik squeezed by and lowered himself beside her. Their row filled up fast.

  Seconds later, Camara, Chase, and Adell arrived, waved, and pointed up front.

  The worship leader asked everyone to stand and worship the Lord. Not caring what anyone thought, Olivia remained seated, arms anchored over her chest. She refused to be a hypocrite. There was no way she was going to worship a God who had abandoned her.

  Several songs later, the worship leader strummed his guitar, his soft voice drifted over the church as he spoke. “Do you feel abandoned by God?”

  Like the hard pew underneath her, Olivia stiffened. Without turning her neck, her eyes darted wildly around the room, wondering who had ratted her out. Audra was the only one who knew exactly how she felt. Somehow Audra must have managed to talk to that man and told him. She wanted to look at Audra to see if she could detect any form of guilt on her face, but she didn’t want anyone to see the shock on hers.

  “Has something tragic caused you to feel like God doesn’t care one iota about you or your life?”