Chapter 23
Susan stared at the heap of rubble that, until not too long ago, was her house. Her new home, thousands of miles away from her old one. Her fresh start.
“There, now. Maybe we should try to walk into town—find out what’s happening and that.”
She didn’t answer her father. Until Ifor’s face came to her mind again. Maybe he’d be in town. She could see him, make sure he was all right. Opal, too.
How many of the townsfolk who came into the post office each week would never set foot in it again? Was the post office even still standing, or was it a pile of clay and wood, too?
She wiped a rogue tear from her cheek.“I suppose we should.”
As she stood up, a pain shot through her ankle and knee. She must’ve hurt them when the earthquake knocked her off her feet.
“Can you walk?”
“Yes, Da. I’m grand.”
Dazed was what she was. Stunned. Worried. But what use was there in saying that?
“Susan!”
She turned, her knees buckling in relief upon hearing the familiar voice.“Ifor?”
He appeared out of the shadows, his hair and clothes as disheveled as her own. But he was walking. He was well.
He was alive.
“Oh, Susan!”He ran toward her and threw his arms around her, pulling her close to him.
A fresh wave of dizziness washed over her, yet in his arms, all she felt was safe and content.
He moved back, clasping her elbows. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“No, no. I’m grand. And you?”
“I’m fine.”
They embraced again.
As they parted, she noticed sadness in his eyes.
“Ifor... Your father?”
“He’s been injured. Part of the ceiling fell on him. Mr. Larson helped me to move him to the hotel—all the wounded are to be taken there. How’s your father?” He turned and saw him. “Are you all right, Mr. Kelly?”
“Well, as all right as anyone can be after a shock like that!”
Ifor half-smiled, evidently accepting her father’s humor as proof that he was unharmed.
“I just can’t believe it all...” Susan said, grateful that Ifor was holding onto her. She felt woozy if she moved her head too quickly.
“I know, it’s— Oh, Susan! You have been injured!”
She frowned. “What? No, my ankle’s only a wee bit sore. It’s nothing to?—”
“No, your head! You’ve got a dreadful bruise on your forehead—right above this eyebrow.” He pointed.
“Oh...” That hadn’t been the earthquake. That’d been John Murphy. She froze. What had her father done with his body?
“Can you walk to the hotel? Dr. Reed has set up camp there to examine all the injured.”
“I’m grand, honestly. It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing!”
She had to change the subject. “We should maybe call in on Opal first, on our way to the hotel. Bring her with us.”
Ifor’s countenance fell. He looked down at the ground, his brows furrowing. He released a heavy sigh, then looked at her again.“Susan...”
No. Surely not.
“Ifor? Opal’s all right, isn’t she? Have you seen her?”
He shook his head. “She’s gone, Susan.”
Susan blinked rapidly. “No. No, she can’t be.” All the air seemed to squeeze from her lungs. “Did you see her?”
Ifor swallowed. “No. But one of the townsfolk checked all the houses out the way she lives, and...and he said there were no survivors.”
A small measure of hope returned to her. “Well, maybe he just didn’t find her. Maybe she’s already on her way to the hotel, and?—”
Ifor pressed his lips together. “No, Susan. He... He had records with him. He counted all the people who died. She’s really gone.” His voice cracked upon uttering the last word.
“No...” Grief swept over her like a wave, flooding her to her core. “No!” Her head pounded as tears and sobs raced out of her. Ifor slid his arms around her and held her tight. He was sobbing, too.
That made it even more real. But how could it be real? How could Opal be gone when they’d just spent the afternoon with her?
Heaven... She’d been talking about Heaven.She must be there now.
Her stomach lurched.What if it had been her who’d died instead ofOpal?Where would she be?
She knew the answer. Knew it wasn’t the one she wanted it tobe.
“Help! Can someone help? Anyone!”
Ifor turned, looking for the source of the voice. He looked back at Susan, his cheeks damp with tears.
“I must go and see who needs help. But I’ll be back soon to take you to the hotel, all right?”
Susan nodded, tears still streaming down her face.
Ifor hesitated, then planted a tender kiss on her hand. “I’ll be back soon.”
He ran off, glancing back at her a few times.
Opal was dead. Opal, who’d been so full of life and mirth. Who’d told her the truth about life and death. Who’d told her about Jesus.
She needed Him. More than anything or anyone, she needed Him. She knew that now. Knew it without any doubts or fears. Opal said He was willing to forgive anyone. Well, that included Susan Kelly, with all her faults and failings. He was the only one who could forgive all the wicked things she’d done, cleanse all the filth, and fill her with hope for the future—both here, and in Heaven.
“Susan, I tell ya! We’re saved!” Her father paced excitedly near her.
“What do you mean, Da?”
“I mean, look at what just happened! An earthquake! And there’s folks have died in it... Do you know what this means?”
Susan stared at him. How could he look so happy about such a thing?
“Now, no one will ever find out about John Murphy.” He looked as though he’d just won a prize that was beyond his wildest dreams. “They’ll think he just died in the earthquake! We’re saved!”
Horror crept over Susan. “Da! How can you say that? You know what happened. I know what happened.”
“But nobody else has to know.”
Susan shook her head in disbelief. “No, Da. That’s not right.”
“Aw, now, Susan. Would you rather your old man was hanged? And for protecting you, too?”
She exhaled sharply. “Da, you have to tell the truth.”
“Truth! What truth? Sure, whatever I choose to tell people—as far as they know,that is the truth.”
“No, it isn’t! Da?—”
“Now, Susan. Listen—we’ve lost your wee house. AndJohn Murphy’s out of the picture now. What if you and me do what we’d planned, and go and get the money from the safe in thepost office? It’d help us start over—get a new house to live in.”
“What?”
“Come on, now, Susan. You said you’d give us the key. Well, sure, just give it to me, now. It’s the perfect time to do it—everyone’ll be so busy with all the earthquake stuff that they won’t even notice any money going missing. Maybe we could even trya few other places, too.”
“Da, I?—”
“But you agreed, Susan. You said you’d give us the key so we could get the money. Now, come on—you owe me, girl. I killed that man tonight—for you. The least you can do is stick to your word and help me steal that money!”
A sharp exhale of breath nearby startled her. She turned. “Ifor...”
The way he waslooking at her. It was unbearable.
Her heart stumbled over itself.“Ifor, please, I can explain!”
“No need for that,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I’ve heard all I need to hear.”
He turned and hurried away.
“Ifor!” Susan sank to her knees. She’d lost Opal, her father hadn’t learned his lesson, and now Ifor knew who she really was.
How could she ever have thought that God could save someone like her?