Jayden let out a huge sigh of relief.
“I told them I’ll bring you in. Grab whatever you need and we’ll go now.”
“Can I come too?” Angie asked quietly.
“It’s a school night, Angela.” Mr. Morgan’s voice grew firmer.
“How could I go to school?”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. You can come.” Mr. Morgan stepped towards Mrs. Morgan and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. “I’ll call you, Beth.”
“I’ll be praying for you all.” Mrs. Morgan looked into her husband’s eyes before turning her attention to Jayden. She reached out and squeezed his arm. “And I’ll be praying for your mom, Jayden.”
“Thank you.” It was all Jayden could manage.
The drive into town was made in silence. Jayden was lost in his thoughts, almost unaware it had begun raining until Mr. Morgan hit a puddle and a huge splash of water landed on his window. He blinked and straightened in his seat beside Mr. Morgan.
“Are you okay, son?” Mr. Morgan glanced at him quickly.
Jayden drew a slow breath. “I think so. I knew something would have to happen eventually. Mom was going from bad to worse, but she just couldn’t see it.”
“One thing I’ve learned, son, is that you have no control over what others do with their lives. Everyone makes their decisions, good or bad, and they have to face the consequences. Sometimes people have to hit the bottom before they’re prepared to really look at themselves. And even then, only some are prepared to make changes, most don’t. You can’t force anyone to do something they don’t want to do. God doesn’t even do that.”
“So what’s the purpose of praying for them, then?”
“Our prayers are never in vain, son. As long as we keep praying, God will keep knocking. It’s up to them if they answer the door or not.”
The Hunters Hollow Police Station was on the main road going through town, not far from the church Jayden had visited on his own last Christmas Eve, his first night in Hunters Hollow. How long ago that seemed now.
Jayden had passed the station many times on his bicycle, but had never been inside. It was only small, and as he and Angie followed Mr. Morgan inside, he got the impression that Buck’s murder was the biggest thing that had happened here in some time. The four plastic seats in the waiting area were empty, understandable, given it was close to midnight. The only poster pinned to the notice board, other than the several ‘Missing Persons’ ones, had Mom’s photo on it.
A bell, with instructions to ring it should the desk be unmanned, sat on the front counter. Mr. Morgan rang it. The tingling sound echoed down the hallway, from where the sound of shoes squelching on the tiled floor reached Jayden’s ears. The owner of those shoes, a short, round officer Jayden hadn’t seen before, appeared round the corner and punched numbers into a keypad to open the door to the front counter area.
“Ah, Mr. Morgan. And I assume this is Jayden.” The officer's gaze flashed to Jayden for a moment as he settled in behind the counter.
“Yes, Officer. This is Jayden, and my daughter, Angela.”
“Thanks for coming in. Ms Middleton is still being interviewed, so you’ll need to wait out here, I’m afraid. There’s a vending machine in the corner if you need anything to eat or drink, or I can get you some water. I don’t know how long she’ll be.”
“I’d like to get her a lawyer, Officer.”
“We’re only talking with her at this stage, Mr. Morgan.” The officer took off his glasses and gave Mr. Morgan a look that suggested he wasn’t pleased with the suggestion.
“Yes, but for her own benefit, I think she needs one now.” Mr. Morgan leaned on the counter and lowered his voice. “Especially if you’re looking at murder.”
The officer sighed. “She hasn’t asked for one.”
“That’s because she probably can’t afford one. I’ll make some calls—I’ll cover the cost.”
Jayden’s eyes widened. Mr. Morgan would do that for Mom?
“All right then, if you need to. We’ll stop questioning until morning, but we’ll hold her overnight.”
“Can we see her?”
“Follow me.”
Jayden’s heart pounded as he stood and followed the officer and Mr. Morgan through the door, down the hallway, and into an interview room.
Jayden gasped. Mom’s eyes seemed empty; her cheeks were sunken and her skin sallow. What had happened in the few weeks since he’d seen her last? If only he’d made more of an effort to see her, to look after her. But then, he recalled Mr. Morgan’s words: ‘We can’t control what choices people make’. How many times had he pleaded with her to leave Buck? She just wouldn’t listen.
Mom looked up as he took a seat opposite her. She held out her hand, willing him to take it. Her nails, broken and jagged, were a far cry from the highly manicured nails she used to be so proud of. Her eyes pleaded with him. “I didn’t do it, Jay.” She sounded so pitiful. It barely sounded like her.
Jayden held her gaze as a mixture of emotions welled up inside him. He began to seethe. She looked so pathetic. He swallowed hard. He shouldn’t be feeling this way. God would be disappointed. But she’d been so stupid. He pinned her with his eyes. “Why didn’t you leave him, Mom?” He tried hard not to spit the words.
Tears welled in her eyes. “I tried, Jay, but I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
Mom hung her head and sobbed. “The drugs, Jay. I…I can’t do without them.”
Jayden leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “You’re going to have to now.”
She lifted her head. “But I didn’t kill him, Jay. You have to believe me. I didn’t do it.” She broke down in tears and lowered her head onto her arms as she sobbed.
Jayden narrowed his eyes and studied her. “Then tell me what happened.”
The officer stepped forward. “Time’s up, I’m afraid. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”
“We’ll get you a lawyer, Kathryn.” Mr. Morgan said as he stood.
Tears streamed down her face as she reached out for Jayden. “Don’t leave me here, Jay.”
“We have no choice, Mom.” Jayden stood watching as the officer supported her as he led her away. A lump grew in his throat. How would she survive the night in a cold, damp cell?
Chapter 15
Jayden couldn’t get Mom out of his head. How had she fallen so low? He tossed in his bed. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried desperately to clear his mind so he could sleep. But other thoughts bombarded him. What was going to happen now the Morgan’s knew he’d overstayed? How much more time did he have with Angie? And what if Dad decided to come? The sheets grew damp from his sweat. After tossing and turning for more than an hour, Jayden threw the covers off and sat up. He pelted a pillow at the wall and clenched his jaw. If only he could yell.
Tears streamed down his face, his breaths coming hard and fast. Where was God when he needed Him? Jayden sucked in a long breath and let it out slowly. Eventually he calmed. The Bible sitting on the bedside table caught his attention. His shoulders slumped as he glanced heavenward. God, if You’re really on my side, I need to hear from You now. He reached for the Bible and flipped it open to 1 Peter 5:7, one of the verses Angie suggested he memorize. He read the verse aloud: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Yeah, right. Do you really care, God? Jayden re-read the verse and continued on.
As he continued reading, his heart slowly calmed, and assurance that God really did care grew within him. He didn’t need to be anxious because God, the Creator of the universe, was on his side, and somehow it would all work out. Even if his mother was a murderer and he was illegal.
He closed his eyes and prayed. He prayed for himself, for Mom, for Dad and Tessa, for what was going to happen with him being illegal, and with Angie. As he prayed, a strength he couldn’t explain coursed through his body, and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that whatever happened, he’d survive. God was with him.
As the first sign of daylig
ht peeked through the bedroom window, Jayden finally slept.
Bethany Morgan sat at the kitchen table in her bathrobe, cradling a steaming mug of coffee between her hands. She lifted her gaze and looked at her husband. “What’s going to happen, Robert?”
Robert ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “I don’t know, Beth. It seems cut and dried, but you never know. She’s saying she didn’t do it.”
“Do you believe her?” Bethany asked quietly.
Robert drew a slow breath and held her gaze. “Somehow I do. I think she’s telling the truth.”
“Well, hopefully a lawyer will get her off if that’s the case.”
“I have a feeling the Police will find something that proves she didn’t do it.”
Bethany reached out and squeezed Robert’s hand. “I hope you’re right.”
“So do I. For Jayden’s sake.”
“What’s going to happen to him, Robert? Will they send him home?”
Robert nodded. “I’d say so.”
Bethany winced. “Angie will be devastated.”
Sighing, Robert leaned back in his chair. “I know. But I think it’s time for him to go home to his family.” Robert tapped his fingers on the table. “In fact, I was thinking of calling his dad and having a chat.”
“Oh Robert, that’s a great idea. I can’t imagine how they’re feeling.”
Robert glanced at his watch and straightened. “I’ll call now.”
As Robert picked up the phone, Jessica entered the kitchen. Her eyes were red and swollen.
Bethany reached out and gently pulled Jessica onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Tears welled in Jessica’s eyes. She sucked in a breath as a shudder ran through her body. “Blake called. We’ve broken up, Mom.” She sobbed. “He doesn’t want to be with me anymore.”
Bethany held Jessica tightly and closed her eyes. Both she and Robert had known this day would come, but they hadn’t expected it so soon. How could Blake do this to her now?
Bethany pulled Jessica closer and rocked her like a baby. “You’ll be all right, sweetheart. We’re here for you.” Bethany rested her head on top of Jessica’s and met Robert’s gaze. Two daughters. Two broken hearts.
Jayden woke to a knock on his door. He sat with a start and glanced at the clock. Midday already. How had he slept so long? He wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked around. Why was he here and not in his own bed? Then it all came back. Mom had killed Buck, and he’d confessed to Angie and her parents. He began to hyperventilate, but then controlled himself. It would be okay. Everything would be okay. God was with him. He slipped out of bed and into his jeans before opening the door.
Mr. Morgan stood in the doorway, Angie beside him. The sparkle had returned to her eyes. His heart leaped. Did they have good news?
“Jayden, guess what?” Angie’s voice had a trill to it.
“What?” Jayden’s heart beat faster.
A broad smile grew on her face as she jiggled up and down on the spot. “They’ve let your mother go.”
Jayden’s eyes widened. “Really? How? Why?” His gaze traveled between Angie and her dad.
“She described the man she believed killed him. The police checked her story out, and they’ve let her go.” Angie threw her arms around him.
Mr. Morgan cleared his throat. “Seems Buck told her to get away as quickly as she could, but he stayed, and got himself killed.”
“So who did it?” Jayden drew his eyebrows together.
Mr. Morgan sighed. “One of the drug dealers in town. Did you know your mother was mixed up with the druggies?”
Jayden’s shoulders slumped. “I didn’t know for sure, but I knew something was different.” He looked up. “Where is she now?”
“They’ve taken her to the hospital. They’ll keep her in for a while.”
Jayden nodded slowly. “Can I see her?”
“Best to wait a while, son. She’s not in a good way at the moment.”
Jayden’s mind raced. If Buck was no longer around, and she got off the drugs, she could come and live with him and they could start all over again. Except for one little detail. He would probably get deported any day. Mom could stay—she had a long term visa, thanks to Luke Emerson. But maybe she’ll choose to come home. Jayden’s chest tightened. He didn’t want to leave Angie.
“Come and have something to eat, son. Lunch is almost ready.”
Angie took Jayden’s hand and walked beside him to the kitchen where Mrs. Morgan was slicing bread. He felt dazed. Everything seemed surreal. But his stomach rumbled at the smell of freshly baked bread.
Mrs. Morgan flashed him a warm smile. “Good news about your mother, Jayden.”
He tried to return her smile, but didn’t do a great job of it. “Yes, it is.” He blinked. “It mustn’t have been her I saw outside the shop yesterday.”
Mrs. Morgan stopped slicing and angled her head. “No, it mustn’t have been.”
Jayden took a seat, but immediately stood again. “I need to call Dad and let him know.”
“No need, son. I called him as soon as we found out.” Mr. Morgan took a seat on the opposite side of the table. “So that’s one matter dealt with. Well, almost….” He looked up and met Jayden’s gaze. “There’s a Rehab place run by a Christian organization not far from here. We’re going to suggest your mother goes there when she’s released from the hospital.”
Jayden sat back down. “I doubt she’d go. She’s not into anything Christian.”
“You might be surprised, son. I don’t see she has many options.”
“You’ve got a point, especially if I’m…” Jayden gulped and lowered his head. He couldn’t say it.
“That’s the next issue, Jayden.” Mrs. Morgan sat beside him and gently touched his wrist. “We wanted to talk to you about that.”
A cold chill flowed down Jayden’s spine.
“We’re not going to tell the authorities, Jayden. Mr. Morgan and I have prayed about it, and we believe you’ll come to the right decision yourself, in your own time.”
Was he hearing right? They weren’t going to tell the Police? He could stay, at least for now? He reached for Angie’s hand under the table and squeezed it. He turned his head and looked into her eyes brimming with tears.
“We don’t condone it, Jayden, but we don’t think it’s our place to force things.” Mr. Morgan looked at him with a serious expression from across the table.
“But shouldn’t you tell them? Won’t you get into trouble if you don’t?”
“That’s our decision, Jayden, not yours. Don’t you worry about that.”
Jayden leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “So what you’re saying is that I can stay, that you won’t tell, and it’s up to me to decide what to do?”
“That’s pretty much it, son. We know how hard it’s going to be for you, but we also believe that God will help you make the right decision at the right time, and that He’ll give you the strength to do it, as long as you’re trusting Him.”
So no, they weren’t really saying he could stay; they were saying he should be the one to make the decision to do the right thing. “I’ll be thrown into prison, though, won’t I?”
Mr. Morgan laughed. “I don’t think so, son. Not if you choose to go home. There may be some penalty, but I don’t think they’ll throw you into jail.”
For a brief moment Jayden’s body relaxed, but then tensed again. If he decided to go home, it would be without Angie.
Chapter 16
Jayden stayed with the Morgan’s for the rest of the week—there was no way he could go back to work. Angie also took time off school, and together they went for rides into the countryside and practiced their music for camp. Jayden cherished every moment he spent with her.
And every meal time the whole family prayed for his mother.
On Friday morning at the breakfast table, Mr. Morgan announced Mom had been cleared for visitors. He arranged to take
the morning off school so he could go with Jayden to see her.
As Mr. Morgan drove to the hospital, Jayden sat quietly looking out the window, nibbling his fingernails. Every now and then, Mr. Morgan stole a glance at him. Jayden knew he should be making conversation, but to be honest, he didn’t feel much like talking. Besides, his mind was a-whirl. What would Mom be like? Would she still look as haggard as she had at the Police Station, or would she be back to normal? What was he going to say to her he hadn’t already said? Had God answered their prayers for her?
Hunters Hollow Hospital was on the edge of town. Jayden had passed it often, but had never taken much notice of it. After they parked and were walking towards the Mental Health Unit, Mr. Morgan placed his hand on Jayden’s shoulder. “Nervous?”
Jayden nodded. From what he’d seen in movies, Mental Hospitals were scary places.
“I can understand that, but don’t be too worried, son. They’re just people.”
Jayden steeled himself as Mr. Morgan held the door open for him. They signed in, walked down a corridor, and found the activities room. Mom was sitting at a table with a group of others playing a game of cards. Jayden gulped. But somehow she didn’t look out of place. Still in her pajamas and with a blanket hanging around her shoulders, she was hunched over the cards in her hands.
She glanced up as they approached, her eyes flickering and then lighting up. “Jay!” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held her hand out to him.
Jayden hesitated. He could still turn around and escape. But how could he do that? He sucked in a breath and stepped closer.
She pulled him to her side, wrapping her arm around his waist. “Everyone, this is my son, Jay.” Her voice was thick and didn’t quite sound like Mom.
Jayden shuddered. I wish she wouldn’t call me Jay.
The others at the table, a man with long gray hair and eyes that darted from side to side; a girl not much older than Angie, but who clutched her cards so tightly they were bending; and another older woman whose face was vacant, all looked up and stared at him before saying hello.
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