If you search for good, you will find favor, but if you search for evil, it will find you. —Proverbs 11:27
“If Penny thinks she has been wronged, she’ll go to any extremes to get even. Any extremes.” A shudder went through her. “Be careful, my dear. Please be careful.”
She was afraid, but God was with her.
PROLOGUE He was about to meet the daughter he’d never known existed. He sat alone on a park bench, watching the spring sunshine filter through veils of Spanish moss and trying to make sense of the changes that had turned his life upside down. Across the park, a father pushed his child on the rustic swing set. The little girl—four or five, maybe—laughed, her light voice floating toward him on the sultry air. “Higher, Daddy. Higher.” A cold hand seemed to squeeze his heart. What did he know about being a father? His own father certainly hadn’t set much of an example. In fact, if his father were alive today, he’d be quick to point out that this was just another opportunity for him to fail someone. He couldn’t fail this child. She didn’t deserve that after all she’d been through. But he was probably the last person in the world who should be trusted with the responsibility for her. He glanced at his watch. They’d come soon, and his life would change irrevocably. But it already had, hadn’t it? It had started to change months ago. He just hadn’t recognized it at the time.
Magnolia College 10-year reunion had brought many back to campus to find old friends, to laugh, to share... What they didn't plan to find was the body of a former classmate...
Jennifer Pappas had come but she had been hesitant when she thought of all the questions she would be receiving... She had a secret that there was no way, and certainly, no place to share...with...anybody...
Actually she'd been back living with her father for about a month and he had been very supportive, but even he suggested that she share what had happened with a few of her close friends... But would they remain a friend if she did? And while she was pondering how to deal with this event, she turned around and there was...Mason Grant. Her heart stopped for just a moment upon seeing him. She remembered how she had once felt about him... Was that love just hidden? And now?
But she immediately saw, though his eyes shined on seeing her, that he had changed. There were shadows on those eyes. From pain? Or Worry? She had heard that he was now head of his father's company, but would that bring about such a change? He admitted he'd not been in church lately, that the stores kept him so busy that he didn't have time for much more. She automatically want to reach out to the child he seemed to be at that moment... And without thought, she asked "Too busy for your faith? For your friends?" But Mason was startled with her questions. He didn't feel differently, and yet... He could not continue and walked away...
Months had gone by and the same small group of friends began to meet occasionally. It was only when one of them commented that they had found another of their classmates, with a child, who looked just like a friend who had disappeared--Josie! And within a short time period, a discovery of a body was found when a new construction project began on campus...
The body was Josie, who had disappeared soon after graduation...The shock spread through the campus and town quickly... And Mason pulled back into that...one...and...only...night... He'd never again heard from her or even seen her. Now he knew why!
And he was now being asked to pay a large sum to buy a daughter who he had never known existed...
She couldn’t sit here, letting herself get more frightened by the moment. She had to move. She switched on the tiny microphone Nikki Rivers had taped to her skin under her shirt, and then adjusted the earpiece. It crackled to life instantly. “Miss Pappas? What’s happening?” Rivers’s voice spoke in her ear, so close it was as if she sat behind her. Just speak naturally, they’d told her. The microphone will pick it up. “I’m fine.” She thought of Mason. He’d be in the truck with the detectives, listening to her voice. She didn’t want to sound like a wimp in front of him. “I’m parked in the lot. There’s no sign of anyone else here.” “She may be waiting for you somewhere along the trail,” Rivers pointed out. “Just remember not to say anything once you’re out of the car until you meet her. You don’t want to tip her off that you’re wired.” “I know.” They didn’t have to remind her to be careful where Penny was concerned. She wasn’t likely to forget. “I’m getting out now.” She grasped the handle of the case that lay next to her on the passenger seat, a shiver going down her spine. Money—a lot of money. Probably more than she’d ever seen in cash before. The police had suggested loading the case with cut paper, but Mason had gone ballistic at that. What if something went wrong and Penny opened the case before the police reached them? Penny might take it out on Jennifer. He’d insisted that she carry the real thing, and he’d provided the money. She hated the idea of being responsible for that much cash, but his attitude had warmed her. She slammed the car door, shutting off the comforting glow of the dome light, and switched on the heavy flashlight she carried. Not even Penny could expect her to wander down that trail through the woods without a light. Breathing another prayer, she started down the winding path. The parking lot disappeared from view almost immediately when the path curved, seeming to close her in with the dense growth of pine and live oaks. She was afraid, but God was with her. If only she could speak, could be connected to those waiting a mile away in the police van, even if just by voice, it would not be as frightening. But she couldn’t. She had to play her part if this were to have any chance of success. It would be worth any amount of fear if the police caught Penny and resolved this once and for all. Then they could all stop living in the shadow of suspicion. The flashlight beam caught a pair of eyes, glowing red in the reflected light, and her heart thumped in her chest. A possum turned, waddling slowly out of sight, and she could breathe again. Did the silent listeners detect her fear? She hoped not. If they did—well, they could hardly blame her. She’d been to the nature preserve several times during the day, but alone, at night—that was a different story. She had been here once at night. Not on the forest trail, but at the picnic grove on the far side of the parking lot, overlooking the small lake. Early May, their senior year. It had been the last Campus Christian Fellowship event of the semester, and the final time for their little group of seniors to be together. She seemed to see the laughing faces reflected in the glow of the campfire. Kate, with her beautiful voice, had led the singing, moving easily from one favorite gospel song to another. Jennifer’s heart seemed to clench. They’d been so young then, so untried by life. Ten years made a huge difference. After college one had to sink or swim out in the big wide world. They’d been on the cusp of that, teetering between eagerness to get on with their lives and fear at leaving the familiar cocoon of college behind them. Maybe it wasn’t so accurate to say they’d been untried by life, though. Certainly Josie had been. She must have known by then that she was pregnant. What had she been thinking? Had she been afraid? Longing to tell someone her secret? Mason had come before the evening was over, surprising all of them. He hadn’t been around much that semester after his father died. Too busy trying to manage the family business and complete his coursework so that he could graduate with his class. But he’d come that night—arriving late and leaving early, as she recalled. She had no trouble remembering how the firelight had flickered on the strong planes of his face, cast shadows around his eyes. They’d been happy to see him, with everyone in a mood to reminisce, but he’d been quiet and withdrawn. Because Josie was there? She tried to look at that evening through the lens of what she knew now. Had he and Josie spoken? Impossible to remember that, even if she’d noticed at the time. And whether they did or didn’t, it wouldn’t prove anything. Only the cold science of DNA testing would reveal the truth about the identity of Alexis’s father. She did remember one thing, though, the image as clear in her mind as if it had happened yesterday. She’d seen Mason walking toward his car and, on impulse, she’d run after him. “You’re not going already?” She’d caught up with him at the edge of the parking lot. “We haven’t even made the smores yet.” His eyebrows had lifted. “Tempting me with chocolate, Jennifer? I’m sorry, but I have to get going.” “I’m sorry, too. For everything.” She had reached out, touching the sleeve of his shirt lightly, longing to say something that would chase that somber look from his eyes. “What do you mean?” He looked startled, but then his eyes narrowed. “Why, about your father. What else? I haven’t had a chance to talk to you alone since it happened.” “That.” He shrugged. “Thanks. I’m doing okay. I just have a lot on my plate with running the stores and looking after my mother.” “I wish there was something I—we—could do. All your friends are concerned about you,” she added quickly. He’d given her a look she’d found impossible to interpret. Had he wanted to speak then? If so, he’d changed his mind. He’d shaken his head, a lock of blond hair tumbling onto his forehead. “Sweet Jennifer. You always want to fix everything for your friends.” His face seemed to tighten. “Some things can’t be fixed.” He’d turned and walked toward his car, and in a moment he’d pulled out of the lot and basically out of her life for ten years. Until the reunion had brought them all back together again, for good or ill. A splash somewhere off to her right jerked her attention back to the present, her pulse quickening. A splash meant she’d already reached the lagoon. She shivered. Alligators. Water snakes. She’d seen both from a safe distance when she’d wandered along the trail during the day. She had no wish to encounter them at night. Alone. Penny would almost be preferable. She swung the light around, catching a glimpse of water through the thick growth of trees. She was almost at the end of the trail. Where was Penny? Was this all her idea of a sick joke? Another sound, louder now, as a branch snapped and something rustled in the undergrowth. She froze, gasping, her heart pounding so loudly she could hear it. Rivers’s voice sounded instantly in her ear. “What is it? Is something wrong? Do you see her? If you do, say something.” Jennifer’s nails bit into her palms. If she spoke to them and Penny lurked in the bushes, she’d know it was a trap. “Penny?” she called out, her voice wavering a little. “Penny, is that you? Come out where I can see you.” Surely that sounded natural enough, and at least it alerted the police. And Mason, waiting with them. Another sound in the bushes. Fear clutched her throat. “Penny?” She tried to ignore the chatter in her ear and focus on the sound. “Where are—” A dark shape hurtled out of the bushes toward her. She stumbled back a step, letting out a cry, losing the torch as she hit the ground. In the instant Mason heard Jennifer’s cry, the breath went out of him. Someone shoved him out of the way as police erupted out of the tech van. He stumbled, then jumped out after them. Jennifer was in trouble. He had to get to her. “Wait here.” Paterson flung the order over his shoulder as he and Rivers jumped into a waiting car. Ignoring him, Mason yanked the back door open and fell inside as the cop accelerated. “What—” “Never mind,” Rivers said. “Just get there.”
~~~~
Alexis was a child waiting for somebody to trust... To know that she would be safe... To know that she would be loved... She hesitated when she met her father... But she seemed to naturally lean on Jennifer, a woman who openly showed her love and concern for her... And, with that trio coming together, Mason found his love expanding toward Alexis in a way he'd never known he could love... Soon she, too, felt his new, powerful love and came willingly into his arms for his protection. But the one who sought to sell her didn't want to deal with Mason. She demanded that Jennifer be involved whenever a meet was scheduled. She had already turned and attacked Jennifer once. Would she be willing to again be the intercessory?
But this time, the police would also be involved. Still, when Mason heard Jennifer scream, he had to go, leaving the car and running... For Love had captured the three of those lonely people into a unit that had God's Blessings! I urge you to read this book...
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