Sarah's Prayer: A Sunset Single (Sunset Series 1.1) (12 page)

Michael looked at her in awe.
"Uh, sure. Just hold the front of the ankle with one hand and put your other hand on the top backside and I'll pull."

Sarah knelt down and did just as Michael said without hesitation or reservation.

Michael was the one to hesitate slightly, being amazed at how Sarah responded so easily and gracefully. He lifted his leg out of the prosthesis.

Sarah's eyes followed his leg, completely unaffected at the sight of his amputation.

Michael stood up on one foot and retrieved his crutches from behind the chair. "I have to use crutches when my leg gets too sore, when I take a shower or change clothes."

"The hospice social worker in me has already scanned your house for fall risks, and that was the last time I was here. I know about that, Michael. This isn't my first rodeo."

"Not with patients, but you haven't thought about what it would be like to live with one of them."

"If you're trying to scare me away, it isn't working." She gave him a playful smile. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Not that I would ever want to." He put his arms around her and surprised her with a kiss.

Regaining her composure, Sarah responded, "Not that I would ever want to either."

Michael smiled and started toward the living area using his crutches. Sarah followed. She had to admit to herself that it was different watching Michael walk like that. It bothered her only in that she hurt for him, not for herself. They sat down on the sofa.

"Thank you for making me feel like a whole man again, Sarah.
I haven't really felt that way in a long time. I want you to know that I will do anything I can to make you feel better about what happened Sunday night and help you through what Brian has done to you. I don't want you to be embarrassed about how I saw you in those pictures any more than you want me to be embarrassed about my leg."

"I think I'm getting past the embarrassment and shock, especially when I saw the Bible reading for today. It's from Daniel twelve about Michael the archangel protecting God's people. I realized that God sent me two guardian angels in my life, Gabe, and now you. I couldn't turn away from you after realizing that."

"Two archangels between you and Brian. How could you be harmed? ... I like that. I'm an archangel here to protect you."

Sarah held Michael's hand and stared at it. She still had several feelings and questions swirling around inside her. "I'm curious about something Michael, and I believe that you only saw the first few pictures... I guess this is my insecurity coming out, but
… what did you think about when you saw them? How did you feel?"

Michael thought for a minute. He'd been married before and knew when a woman asked a "no-win" question. However a man answered, he lost. This sounded just like one of those. As he did out on patrols in the Army, he stepped cautiously. "I'm not sure what you mean, Sarah. I was in shock that someone would dare do something like that to you. I was angry at Brian for violating your privacy like that."

Sarah smiled at his answer, but it wasn't what she needed. "Thanks, but... after that... how did you feel... about me? Did it bother you that you saw me that way? ... I guess what I'm asking, Michael, is, am I any less beautiful to you now?"

Michael knew he was walking in a mine field with neither a map nor a detector. This was new territory and it terrified him. "Sarah, you were and still are the most beautiful woman in the world to me. What I accidentally saw of you in those pictures I will not see again unless and until God puts us together as a married couple. Let's just say we both have a preview of what life will be like for us if that happens, but I got a much, much prettier preview."

Sarah looked in his eyes and put her hand on the side of his face "You are just so darn cute." She kissed him sweetly and for a long time.

Michael knew from her reaction he just walked through that minefield unscathed.

Chapter 15

With her personal barrier removed, she felt free to talk to Michael about how to proceed with what he called "the Brian problem." They agreed to meet at the Diner over lunch on Wednesday to discuss the plan.

"Michael, I have to tell you, it terrifies me to think about a bunch of people pawing over my computer looking at those pictures even if they are investigating a crime. Probably more than what Brian did to me."

"I understand, Sarah, but there won't be a lot of people looking at everything. Only one female investigator will look at your laptop and pick out a couple of pictures of you, fully clothed and identifiable, to use as evidence. You will know which ones they are."

"So, no one should see as much as you saw?" Sarah actually smiled when she said it.

Michael smiled back, only turning a light shade of pink.
"Right."

"I guess that helps some. Who else is going to be involved in this? I mean, who handles cases like this?"

"Well, it all happened in the state, so it's Waller County, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Bexar County since Brian lives in San Antonio."

"I thought the DPS only did the state trooper thing and pulled people over for speeding."

"No, you'd be surprised what all they do. The Computer Information Technology and Electronic Crime Unit, or CITEC, handles network intrusions and identity theft."

"Wow. A lot of people involved."

"This is a serious crime. Brian could go away for a long time."

That caused Sarah to shudder. She certainly resented Brian for a number of things and felt hurt for what he did to her, but did she want to see him go to prison? Her deep compassion extended even to Brian.

"Sarah, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I never thought about this sending Brian to prison, that's all."

"He deserves any and all consequences for what he did to you. Fortunately, he didn't try to steal your bank account information or he could have wiped out your savings."

"I don't have much there, Michael. Brian and his family are loaded."

"So, he thinks he can get by with stuff like this?"

"I don't know if that's
it, or if he's just messed up... Anyway, what do we do next?"

"Well, you will get a number of calls and visits from investigators. When they have everything they need, the DA call for a meeting to assess where we are so you can have some peace knowing how this will proceed."

Sarah said a quick silent prayer and took a deep breath. "Okay, let's do this."

True to Michael's word, over the next week Sarah received a number of calls and a few visits at the office from investigators from the various law enforcement agencies and departments involved in the case. Sarah kept a meticulous log of every visitor, question and answer. Not only was it the social worker in her, but her nervousness and insecurity required it.

"No, I didn't know my computer had a program instructing it to take pictures without my knowledge."

"No, I didn't commonly put a lens cover on my camera because it's built into the monitor and doesn't have one."

"Yes, I know Brian Travers. We had a relationship at one time. That ended over eight years ago."

"Yes, I accepted emails from him and opened more than one picture from him."

"No, I did not know one or more pictures contained hidden viruses, they were hidden. Sorry, that was inappropriate. I'm tired."

"Yes... had I known the pictures were being taken I would have done anything I could to stop it earlier, but I didn't know."

The questions were draining Sarah's strength and patience. She just wanted this to be over when it seemed it had only begun. She spent some time with her ultimate source of strength.

Father, I thank you for bringing me Michael to brighten my life so much. He is a rock and a shield to me in this difficult time. He is my angel and protector, my love. I never knew what love could be like until I met him. You truly do answer me when I call on you. For that I give you thanks.

You know my needs and you know how tired and weak I feel with all that is going on with the Brian thing. Give me the strength to face whatever happens. Give Michael and Jen the patience and wisdom to be my support. Let the investigators be your instruments of justice. I even ask that you work in Brian's life to bring about your will for him whatever it may be.

I know you go before me answering my need even before I ask. Give me a supernatural sense of your presence in resolving this problem. I trust you an
d love you.

On Friday morning, Michael called with what
would hopefully be good news. "
Good morning, beautiful. We're making progress on the case.
"

"Really?
What's happening?"

"
Well, the Waller County DA and DPS investigator want to meet next week here. They don't do that unless there's something really important to discuss. They usually need to explain the details of their investigation so you can make a decision as to how you want to proceed.
"

"How I want to proceed? What does that mean?"

"
I don't really know. We won't know 'til we get there.
"

"Oh, wow... Do you know when?"

"
Not yet. They're trying to coordinate schedules and wanted to know what works for you.
"

"Any time except Thursday morning.
We have a big meeting then that I really don't want to miss. Jen and Jake are getting engaged. Isn't that exciting?"

"
Yeah. You can't miss that. I'll coordinate something and get back with you.
"

After Sarah got off the phone she sat in her car in a fog. Was this really going to proceed? What was going to happen? There were too many questions left even after all the questions they asked. This was too much, but she had prayed for something to happen and it did. She quickly made a call of her own.

"Jen, this is Sarah."

"
Hey, Sarah... are you alright?
"

"Oh, yeah.
Michael just called. The DA and investigator want to meet with me next week here in Sunset to discuss the case. He says this usually means something big. I told him we can't meet on Thursday. Do you think you can go with me?"

"
I'll move heaven, earth and the babysitter's schedule to do it, sweetie. You just let me know.
"

"Oh, thank you Jen. I need you if at all possible. I don't know what to expect."

"
Whatever happens, God's watching out for you.
"

"I know. Thank you, Jen."

Sarah drove on to her next appointment with confidence and trepidation.

From the time Michael called back letting her know the appointment time until they walked into the office at the Waller County Courthouse, Sarah's life was a blur. All of her usual activities seemed to be on autopilot.

Michael didn't press her on how she acted. Neither did Jen or her colleagues. They understood that this meeting held a lot of significance for her.

The only poignant moments for Sarah between Friday afternoon and Tuesday morning at ten were the times she spent in prayer and worship. Her continuous prayer kept her strong.

Father, give me the strength and power from your Holy Spirit to face whatever happens in the meeting. Please give them the compassion to deal with this kindly and softly since I don't know how I will react. Don't let me fall apart in front of these people. I want to represent you as a strong witness, not a timid and cowardly believer.

I thank you for all you have done for me to guide me and protect me from harm. You have shown me in so many ways how your supernatural power is at work in my life. You sent your angel Gabriel before me to protect me from Brian. Then you sent your angel Michael to protect me from him again. Help me to see that your protection still goes before me in this problem. Thank you, Father.
I love you now more than ever.

Tuesday morning was bright and beautiful in Sunset, Texas. Sarah felt unusually good about the meeting. She knew her Heavenly Father would provide for her needs. Michael picked her up at her apartment. Jen waited at the courthouse steps to walk in with them.

"Thank you guys for being with me for this. I don't think I could face this alone. I've prayed for strength, but I know God sent you two to help me through this."

Michael put his arm around her. "Sarah, you're going to be fine. There's nothing that's going to happen here that you have to worry about, okay?"