A Capital Offense by Gary Parker

Author:Gary Parker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

16

Keeping their normal schedule, Connie called Daniel and Katie into her room about 9:00 P.M. for their devotional. Daniel, still wearing his baseball practice clothes, rested against the headboard of the bed, a baseball in his left hand, his Bible open on his lap, his feet almost reaching the end. Katie wore her pajamas, a Lion King nightshirt that reached to her calves, and she lay in a fetal position beside Daniel, her big brown eyes open but already dulled by coming sleep. She held a Tabasco Beanie Baby in her arms. Just out of the shower, Connie had wrapped a towel around her wet hair and slipped into a pair of full-length beige cotton pajamas.

Climbing onto the bed, she sat cross-legged beside Katie and asked Daniel to read the passage he had selected. He lay aside the baseball, lifted the Bible, and held it close to his face.

“This is Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6,” he said. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” With a satisfied nod, he closed the Bible and lay back again.

“Daddy liked that one,” Katie said, her eyes barely open. “He read that to us not too long ago.”

“That’s why I read it,” said Daniel. “Because Dad liked it.”

“What does it mean?” asked Katie.

Daniel turned to Connie. “Mom, tell her what it means. I could, but I don’t want to show off.”

Connie smiled at him, then patted Katie on the bottom. “Well, it means that God wants us to depend on him, not think we can figure things out for ourselves. Our understanding can get all mixed up. But God knows what’s happening and will take us the right way if we just follow his spiritual guidelines.”

“So we just trust God and God takes care of us,” said Katie.

“You’re mighty wise for seven years old,” said Connie, stroking her hair. “Mighty wise.”

Several seconds passed. Daniel rubbed his head. “I’m going to let my hair grow out some,” he said to no one in particular. “It’s so short now it itches.”

“I heard Melissa say she liked it short,” chimed Katie. “Better not cut it, or she won’t like you anymore.”

“Who cares what Melissa thinks? I don’t like her!”

“Yes, you do. Her sister told me she saw you kiss her!”

Connie moved to Daniel’s side and listened as her children picked on each other. It sounded comforting for them to go on this way. What amazing resilience children had! Able to take almost any circumstance and survive it.

“Sit up here,” she said to Katie. “Come sit by Mama.”

Katie obeyed, and Connie wrapped her left arm around her and her right arm around Daniel. Katie lay her head on Connie’s shoulder, and all three of them became quiet, the weariness of a busy day settling in. Connie took a deep breath.

“I’m leaving on a short trip tomorrow,” she began.

“Where to?” asked Daniel.

“Can we go?” asked Katie.

“No, I’m going by myself.

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