Page 101 of Still Afraid
Chloe told Gabe about the call from Lydia yesterday afternoon. “I wish I had pressed her about his injuries. Maybe we could have figured out the connection to the break-ins before—”
“Don’t. It won’t help anything to consider the what-ifs. What happened happened. You’re both still alive—that’s what matters most.”
She looked at the handcuffs that secured Aaron to the hospital bed. “What’s going to happen with him? Is he headed to prison?”
“When he’s better enough, he’ll have to go to his arraignment, but Buck and the DA already came by this morning. If Aaron is willing to testify against Richard Montego, the DA is willing to reduce his charges and recommend rehab and community service.”
A weight lifted from her heart. “Oh, I hope that works out. I wish he had come to me.” Last night Josh had told her about finding the drugs.
“Again with the what-ifs. He made a choice … a string of bad ones. He has to face the consequences.”
“I know.” She strolled over beside Aaron’s bed. She hated that it had come to this. But Gabe was right. She couldn’t live in what-if land. They needed to move forward and pray Aaron would let them help.
He turned his head, and his eyes flitted open. “Chloe?”
“Hey, you. How ya feeling?”
He shrugged. “You? It’s not everyday someone survives three tornadoes in the span of a week and a half.”
“True story. I’m sore. Some nasty bruises on my legs that make me glad my honeymoon is not on a beach.”
“I’m sorry.”
She gripped his arm. “I know. I’ve already forgiven you.”
Gabe scooted a chair over for her. “I’m going to step out for a moment. I’ll be right outside.”
She took a seat. Despite wanting a few minutes alone with Aaron, she wasn’t sure where to start or even what to say. She loved her brother, but as much as her heart hurt for him, he’d hurt her too. Telling him she forgave him wasn’t a lie, though healing was going to take time.
All of this could have been avoided. Yet they were here now.
“Chloe?”
She met his gaze.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said about Jesus’ forgiveness.”
She sat up a little more. Lord, bring him to repentance.
“I know I have to face the consequences for my actions. Press all the charges, please. I deserve what I get. The DA wants to let me off if I sell out Richard, but that doesn’t seem fair.”
Lord, I need the words. Guide what I say now. “It’s an amazing opportunity to experience mercy. Kind of like the mercy God extends to you. The biggest difference is the courts are putting expectations on you to receive that mercy. God’s grace is free.”
“He really doesn’t expect anything from me if I accept Christ’s payment for my screw-ups? Seems to me like there are lots of expectations spelled out in the Bible. Don’t do this, don’t do that.”
“Those things don’t earn you salvation—they are the fruit of God changing your heart. The mercy the DA is offering is contingent on your testimony, but God’s salvation doesn’t require anything from you other than acceptance. Sure, you shouldn’t go on sinning. But when you truly understand what our sin put Christ through, you don’t want to sin anymore.”
“I don’t think I can do it, though. I can’t stop screwing up. It’s not that I want to, I just do.”
“That’s the thing, you can’t do it on your own. He changes your heart. And it doesn’t mean you won’t still sin, but it means Christ already paid for it. Repent—turn around and live for Him. That’s an outpouring of love because of what He’s done for you already.”
“Surely, I’m too far gone.”
“No, you aren’t. Remember Paul from the Bible?” Mom had read Scripture to them faithfully growing up, and always talked about the change God made in the apostle Paul’s life.
Aaron nodded.
“He literally put people to death who were claiming Christ. If he wasn’t too far gone, neither are you. And God didn’t just bring Paul to repentance. He changed his life so radically that Paul went on to take Christ’s name to the Gentiles.”
