Chapter 27
“Susan! Come back here!”
Susan limped along as fast as she could, not stopping for a second, even as sheresponded to her father. “You’re on your own, Da! I’m not having any part of it!”
“Susan...”
No more. She could take no more of it—the deception, the running, the despair. There was only one thing she must do now, and once she did, the next step would surely present itself.
She was out of sight—and sound—of her father now. Walking alone through the altered landscape. Dawn was breaking, revealing nothing but devastation and dereliction everywhere she looked.
She stopped, sinking to her knees as she allowed the sobs that’d been burning in her throat to break free.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “You know everything I’ve done, God. All the lying and the cheating. All the schemes and wickedness I’ve spent most of my life doing. I’m sorry—for all of it.”
A surge of emotion drew a loud sob from her.
“I need You, God. I know I don’t deserve it, but I need Your mercy, God. I need it more than anything. Opal?—”
Her face crumpled and another sob broke loose.
“Opal said that You’ll forgive anyone—no matter what they’ve done. I believe it, God. I still don’t understand why You would, but I believe that You do. Please... Forgive me. Cleanse me, like Opal said You could... I’m so sorry, Lord. I’m so sorry.”
She dissolved into weeping that flowed from her very core. A sensation she’d never known washed over her. A kind of peace, despite her circumstances. And a measure of joy, despite her sorrow.
He’d done it—He’d saved her. There was no doubt in her mind or heart.
He’d answered her prayer. She was clean. New. Forgiven.
“Thank you, God... Thank you...”
She bent low to the ground, resting her forehead on it until a jolt of pain made her sit back up. Her forehead throbbed with hot agony. Gingerly, she touched it with her fingertips and immediately retracted them. It was swollen, and felt badly bruised.
Even so, she lingered on the ground, kneeling there praising and thanking God for granting her such a miracle—such mercy.
“What now, Lord? What should I do now?”
She stood up slowly, losing her balance a little due to the injuries she’d sustained in her foot and leg.
The hotel. Everyone was assembling at the hotel—the doctor, and everyone who’d been injured. Ifor, too, with his father. She ought to go there. Even if Ifor wouldn’t listen to her apology, she had to at least try to offer it.
“Please, help me, Lord.”
The remainder of her walk to the hotel was filled with memories of Ifor and Opal. It was still unfathomable to think that the kind old lady was gone. Though, now, she had the assurance—and joy—of knowing that she would one day see her again.
She reached town, and cast her gaze about. It was terrible. So many buildings that she’d come to know and love, lying in heaps.
She hurried in the direction of the hotel. Reaching the doorway, she paused. Was Ifor inside? What would he do when he saw her?
Please, let me speak to him—apologize to him.
She pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, entirely unprepared for the scene that met her eyes. Person after person lay all across the place, their heads propped on pillows, and a blanket covering each of them. She shuddered upon noticing how many were covered completely. She knew what that meant.
Carefully, she walked along the clear path in between all the makeshift beds. Soon, she spotted the doctor. He glanced up at her, frowned, then resumed his observations of the patient he was next to.
Susan allowed her gaze to roam the room. She saw people she recognized, and people she didn’t.
Just as she spotted Ifor, the doctor approached her.
“That’s a nasty wound you’ve got on your head. Let me take a quick look at that for you...”
Susan winced as he lightly pressed the area around the part that was swollen.
“What was it thathit you?”
She froze. Something within her nudged her to—for once—tell the truth.
She exhaled shakily. “A man. He...bashed his forehead into mine.”
The doctor stilled. “On purpose?”
Susan nodded, tears springing to her eyes.
The doctor frowned. “I’m very sorry, miss.”
She nodded her thanks to him.
“Well, it’s as nasty as it looks, but it’s not infected, which is what Ifeared it might be.”
“That’s good.” She’d been wondering about that herself due to how painful it was.
“The man who did this, do?—”
“Well, I was actually hoping to talk with the sheriff about that, doctor.”
“Ah. That’s good. Yes,I think that would be wise. He’s right over there.” He pointed behind her,patted her on the arm, then left.
She turned. There he was—the sheriff.
She drew a deep breath, then started toward him.