Page 20 of Still Afraid

How did one bring up a rescue like yesterday’s? “I was actually on the search and rescue team that found you yesterday morning.”

CJ’s eyes widened. “Oh cool. Thank you so much. Is it true a chair pinned me to the tree?”

“It is. I’ve never seen something like that before in my life.”

“I bet. What kind of chair was it?”

“A white folding chair. You know, the kind with the plastic seat and backrest.”

CJ and his wife nodded.

“It was actually from a wedding venue a few miles away.” Josh ignored the sinking feeling that accompanied that fact—his and Chloe’s wedding … with no venue. What would they do?

“Oh, man. Tell me more.”

Josh carefully gave the man details, but CJ and his wife seemed eager to hear it all. He ended up saying way more than he intended. Then it was Josh’s turn to ask about the man’s injuries.

CJ had had a bit of internal bleeding and a concussion. Surgery had been required to stop the bleeding in his abdomen, but the chair must have been tight enough against his side to keep him from bleeding out internally.

It truly was a miracle.

With a few carefully placed phrases, they discovered a common love for Jesus and were able to openly praise the Lord for His grace in saving CJ’s life. Josh even prayed for them before he was called away to see another patient.

He then inquired about little Eva. She’d been brought to this hospital, but after her leg was set and the subsequent period of observation, she was discharged and doing well.

The second half of the shift was covered by another doctor. When Josh left the hospital, he met Chloe and Poirot at the repair shop to get her driver’s side window replaced. As they drove to his house, he gave her the update about CJ.

“It’s absolutely amazing that he’s alive,” Chloe said as she got out of Josh’s RAV4.

After grabbing sandwiches, they sat on the back deck to eat.

They needed to talk about the wedding, though he was terrified to bring it up. He didn’t want to think about the fact that all their plans had been foiled by the tornado.

“What are we going to do about the wedding?”

He didn’t have to bring it up. “Are you reading my thoughts?”

“If only.”

“Are you sure you’d want to be able to do that?”

She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. “You know, I’m not sure.”

They both laughed.

He held his sandwich just shy of his mouth. “I don’t know what to do. We contacted so many places and none of them had openings for all of June two months ago. Why would they now, only two weeks before a set date?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to delay it. People already have hotel reservations, plane tickets, and time off of work.”

“I have no interest in moving the date either. But we might have to venture out of the church arena.” He grimaced, knowing her opinion of not having a church wedding. As it was, the chapel in the mountains had been pushing it.

Chloe’s shoulders sagged. “I know. But I don’t know where. Every popular venue is going to be booked.”

The solution seemed obvious enough to him, but he wanted her to come up with it on her own. Maybe she needed a hint. “Outside might be nice.”

“What if it rains?”

“I bet we can still find a tent for rent. And if not, I doubt the horses will mind if they have a front row seat.”