Free From – Chapter 30 – July 30th

I hope you will join me this month as we JOURNEY each day through our short story. It is about finding FREEDOM in the midst of all the captivating pieces in life that steal our peace which we need FREE FROM!

FREE FROM
July 30, 2021

Isaiah 43:19, ‘”See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”’ (NIV)

Chapter 30

Legend awoke the first morning of the rest of his life to a one-off between the peace he felt in his being and the twittering of morning doves. Annie sat quietly, pensively at the end of his couch bed; he had no idea how long she had been there. She uncurled her legs, disappearing momentarily and returning with a steaming cup of coffee. “Did you sleep alright?” she asked as she held out the mug.
He nodded. He felt sheepish. He was filled with so much glee he could hardly contain himself, but he also knew it was obvious that Christmas mornings always come to an end too fast, and the following day is simply the day after Christmas. But he had this vision of something so broken become whole, something so tarnished turn bright, something so captive find freedom.
He sipped his coffee a bit, working on his effort. Annie had curled in a ball again holding her mug close also. Legend cleared his throat. “I’ve been thinking about it. I’m going to get Breize today; that is, with your blessing. I want to work with her. It is my fault, what happened to her, what happened to us. I want a chance to fix her, to fix all of us. I believe this is what ‘more’ Jesus has for me and for us.”
Annie opened her mouth but closed it quickly, thought for a moment, and nodded. “I’d like that!” she said softly. “I haven’t done well parenting alone, Leg. I doubted whether I could ever be a mother anyway based upon the legacy left to me; then I ended up doing what I already struggled at alone. I’ll welcome the support. I’ll do my part and drive you, how ’bout?”

Some regulations are meant to be bent, the guard said. Legend kept repeating his words as he waited to see Breize before posting her bail. He had prayed all the way on the drive to the jail that he would find favor on their arrival. Time whispered. The loudest sound sometimes is silence. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye but he didn’t turn toward her. He waited, a thousand prayers crossing over his tongue. Then he heard, “Daddy?” and he exhaled.
Legend was already prepared for a million emotions but one he hadn’t expected was relief and delight and joy. Suddenly, Breize was just a child again, breaking him with her look alike eyes matching a summer sky on a clean, clear day right before the storm sailed in, and her hands twisting and clasping tightly in her lap before she breathed a deep sigh. “I thought you’d never come,” she sighed with a grin.
The ‘Come-to-Jesus’ meeting went so smoothly and effortlessly, Legend wondered if maybe he spoke in a foreign language that she didn’t understand. But when he handed her a marker and a blank sheet of paper and asked her to list her goals, as well as list her triggers and what to avoid, she did so impeccably. She hadn’t missed a word. She asked a lot of questions and wasn’t shy with her complaints and her hurts, and they agreed that as a family, they would likely benefit from some family counseling. Eventually, she grew a little rigid and impatient, and finally said, “Dad, can we just go home? I want to see my son.” He nodded and she added, “I, like you, have a lot to make up for. Maybe we can do it together?”
Annie didn’t know what to think when they exited the county jail, arm-in-arm. More confused was she when Breize opened the car door and fell into her mother’s arms, profusely apologizing. “I’m all out, Momma. I promise, I’m done. I won’t do this to you, to Trace, to Blayze or myself again. I’m sorry.” Legend caught the Annie-look, the raised eyebrow and shrug, and this time he just shrugged back. “Let’s go home,” they all said simultaneously.

The reunion was sweet. Blayze and Trace met them in the drive before they even pulled in. Trace shouted, “Mommy! Mommy!” and couldn’t wait to get her door open. A look of confusion tripped across his face for just a brief minute. “How do you know this Papa?” he demanded, not waiting for an answer, maybe as a memory settled in.
Blayze stood on the fringe of the grass lining the drive as if he were taking it all in, deciding whether he wanted to forgive again. It didn’t take long as he said “Hey, Breize…”
She answered, “Yeah?”
And he said simply, “Hey,” flicking a smile her way.
She was like, “You, dog,”
But he grinned and added, “You fell for it.” And gave her a hug and she tousled his hair and kissed his cheek, and Trace went “Ick!”
They all laughed, but suddenly everyone grew silent and turned around where Legend knelt on the lawn. “Annie,” he began, and had to take a long breath, the tears burning his throat like acid. “I know this is quick and confusing, but I feel it so I’m going to follow my heart. Will you, for a second time in this life, make me the happiest and luckiest man alive? Will you marry me?”
It didn’t take long for Annie to respond, “Yes! Yes! I will!” And they all laughed later in hindsight recalling Trace who was the most excited of all and who likely didn’t know at all what he was celebrating. Except the perfect feeling of freedom.

To Be Continued…