THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 – Richard spent a wonderful week with his family in Vermont—hiking, swimming, eating ice cream, and relaxing. Janet could never remember being hugged the way Richard took her in his arms at the airport and held her for so long. She didn't know whether it was the absence or his New York trip, but something made Richard even more interested and seemingly in love with her than he had been for the past several wonderful months. She could not explain it, but her whole being returned his joy, measure for measure; and their love grew broader and deeper.
On the next Monday afternoon Bob Grissom called his office, and Richard returned the call from the porch of his parents-in-law's home. Bob said that Network would agree to their proposal if they could begin training the editorial panel immediately so that there would be no delay, because their first broadcast date was already fixed.
Richard agreed, said a prayer of thanks, and then called Tom Morgan at the foundation, so that he and Dr. Morris could pull the members of their team together. Tom was overjoyed, and again they prayed for God's blessings.
Finally Richard called Tom Spence, whose courage had begun this particular journey and thanked him for his strength, including his time in the hospital. Tom reminded Richard of the source of all their strength, and the two of them also prayed.
Their family week in Vermont went well, and Tommy ended it for them on a pleasant note when they saw him and Caroline Batten kissing goodbye behind the tool shed on the morning of their departure.
After their return, Amy, Susan, and Bobbie began six weeks of birthing classes, one night each week. Janet told Richard after the third session that, based on Susan's remarks, birthing class might be the best form of teenage abstinence training ever devised!
The Hawkinses moved in down the street, and Susan found herself spending more time with Eric, who also became a regular at Morningside youth group. Carrie Wagner, right out of college, joined the youth ministry team to work with the junior high students, and Tommy fell in love with her on the first Sunday. Despite her focus with the younger teens, she quickly became close friends with Amy, Susan, and Bobbie, and even attended their final two birthing classes with them.
The school year started again, and all the families with children on Devon Drive shifted back into the familiar routine. Despite her condition, which was now very apparent, Amy was allowed to stay with her class for her senior year. She talked with the Tomlinsons about once every week, giving them progress reports on the baby. They told her that the nursery in their home was nearing completion.
Kristen was still searching for God, attending Morningside Church twice in that month and joining Anne at the businesswomen's breakfast one morning. She also visited Peter Dowling in San Francisco for a long weekend, staying with him and trying to determine whether she should make the commitment to move there.
It was now the Thursday before the first national broadcast of “911 Live,” and Janet and the crew at the station were in full preparation for the event, which had become a legitimate news feature, because of the new technology and the local involvement.
With only a few bumps along the way, the integration and training of members for the editorial panel went smoothly, and Bob Grissom reported to Richard early in the week that they were actually enjoying their relationship with the members from the Foundation for the Family. But he quickly added that the real test of what they were doing would come on Friday night, when they went live.
“Richard, I don't know how much longer I can take the uncertainty and the not knowing,” Bruce McKinney said, sitting with David in Richard's office that Thursday, his head in his hands. “They won't tell us exactly what they're going to prosecute us on, and the investors’ attorneys won't talk to us either, waiting to see whether insurance will cover their claims. We're just stuck, tortured in limbo, not knowing what to do or when the real resolution will even begin.”
“I know, I know,” Richard agreed. “It seems like at least half of the punishment is the waiting. Court says we should hear something from the federal attorneys next week, now that the summer is over.”
David Smith, who was working two jobs as a waiter and a cab driver to help feed his family, said, “I hope so. The waiting is killing us.”
Richard looked from David, who at least was working, to Bruce, who was letting Diane work while he stayed home in the afternoons with their children—and who looked terrible. Bruce said, “Anything but this waiting—even hell might be better, huh Richard?”
Richard knew that Bruce was taunting him for his faith. Bruce had met with the Cokers when they visited in late August, but he let it be known that he wanted no part of hearing about God. Diane was much more receptive. On two occasions, including the Sunday with the Cokers, she attended Morningside Church with her children.
In response to Bruce, Richard smiled and looked right at him, “No, Bruce, I don't think so. Waiting eventually gets over. Hell never does.”
“Well, you can't tell that by us. I feel like we're there already.”
Richard made a mental note to ask Janet again what they might do to help Diane and her children. And also a note to talk to Court about hurrying up the legal process before Bruce or David snapped under the strain.
* * *
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 – That Friday night Janet and Richard came home early, and Richard cooked hamburgers outside on the grill. They invited the Bryants, Hawkinses and McKinneys over for dinner and to watch the first edition of “911 Live.” Bruce didn't come, but the others did; with the kids running around outside, the neighbors settled in front of the television a little before 7:30.
Janet unexpectedly stood up and asked them to pray with her, and she thanked God for His daily involvement in their lives, and for making such a difference, by using her husband and many others, in everything around them, especially in this show. She finished by praying for protection for everyone involved in the production that night and particularly for the emergency personnel.
She sat down, with a nod and a smile from Richard, as the show began. For ninety minutes they were shown police chases, fires in progress, the rescue of a woman from a car in a flash flood, an ambulance ride for a heart attack victim, and more. From their own city there was an ongoing story on the police stopping a case of potential domestic violence, and one could feel the uncertainty of the police officers as they left that particular home.
If there were, in fact, set-ups of staged crimes for the cameras or outbursts of raw violence, they never made it to the screen. “The panel must be working,” Richard thought, as the show entered its last thirty minutes.
At the conclusion, Janet asked her neighbors for their opinions on the show. Everyone agreed that while it was not a first choice for family viewing, the show was at least tastefully done, with no overt violence; and the added dimension of actually being live did add a lot to the production. They basically enjoyed it because no one knew what was going to happen next.
An hour later, when everyone left, Janet called Bill at the station. He reported that an instant national poll had produced basically the same results and Network staff was very happy.
Janet hugged Richard, smiled, and said, “Thank you, dear, for all your help.”
Smiling back, and hugging her, he replied, “Thank God, not me. He gave me the words. All I did was speak them.”