In the north wing of the twelve-bedroom ranch lodge, Joshua and Abigail had their own private quarters and master bedroom. There was a terrace off their bedroom that opened out to a vista of the valley during the day and a canopy of stars embedded in a black sky at night.
After a long day they sat, side by side, rocking ever so gently on their matching rocking chairs. Joshua was taking gulps from a bottle of water while Abigail sipped a cup of herbal tea. She broke the silence in a soft, almost reverent voice.
“Is that the Milky Way?”
“Yeah. It looks like a trail of diamond dust across the sky.”
“Could you navigate using only the stars? I mean, if you had to?”
“We were taught to do that in flight school. I’d like to think I still could.”
Then Joshua turned toward his wife with a funny look on his face. “After all the years we’ve spent sitting on this porch looking up at the stars, why is this the first time you’ve ever asked me that?”
Abigail had to think for a moment. Then she answered with a smile. “I don’t know. Just occurred to me, that’s all.”
Then after a beat she added another thought. “Astrologers say our lives are wrapped up in the stars. Which I think is a bunch of malarkey. But I do think that God set the stars in the sky for a reason. Don’t you?”
She took a second before she answered. “Well, the Bible says the heavens declare the glory of God…”
“Sounds reasonable.”
“So, then you agree with the Bible?”
“No, I’m not saying that. Not exactly.”
“Then what?” she asked, probing a little further.
“Just that when you say it, it always sounds reasonable. And I know better than to debate with a lawyer!”
She had to chuckle at his dodge. Then she continued. “Anyway, you’d be surprised at the number of grown people I run into who still read their horoscopes every day. Darley said she does.”
“How are things with her?”
“She’s having a harder time than I thought.”
Abigail was struggling over how much to tell her husband, but she needed to share this with her soul mate. “Something came up today when we had lunch.”
“From Darley?”
“Yeah. Some personal stuff.”
“Like what?”
“She’s still grieving over Jimmy.”
“I think about Fort and Darley losing their son like that. Bam, out of nowhere. Just when Jimmy was beginning his life as a man. I don’t think a parent ever gets over something like that.”
Then Joshua screwed the cap back onto his water bottle and prodded a little. “You said it was related…”
Abigail decided just to lay it all out. Her husband needed to hear it. Not only because Darley and Fort were friends, but because Joshua and Fort worked so closely together with the Roundtable.
“Darley really struggled with guilt after Jimmy’s death. She couldn’t let go of the idea that there was something she should have done to protect him. Her doctor prescribed an anti-anxiety medication because she was having such a hard time sleeping. First it was just one pill; then that wasn’t enough and she would take another. Then she decided she needed more. So she went doctor shopping. To three separate doctors. Now she’s constantly dosing on valium. This has been going on since her son’s death. Josh, she came right out and admitted she’s addicted to prescription drugs. She says she can’t get through the day without taking something.”
“Oh, boy. Poor Darley. Does Fort know?”
“Not exactly. Although it may be what the law calls deliberate indifference.”
“You make it sound like he doesn’t care.”
“No, just the opposite. Maybe he cares too much.”
“I don’t follow…”
“I think people who deeply love another person are naturally going to think the best of them, not the worst. Fort may be seeing a lot of clues but unconsciously turning a blind eye. He really doesn’t want to picture his wife as an addict. Who would?”
“So, what did you tell her?”
“I offered to help. Get her into a rehab place maybe. And I told her to tell her husband. He has a right to know, and she needs his support.”
Joshua looked intently at his wife. He took her hands, both of them, and kissed them. “Thank goodness she’s got you for a friend. You’re outstanding, Abby. Really.”
She leaned over and put a long, lingering kiss on his lips. “And you’re an incredible man.”
Then Joshua added, “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
“Thanks, Josh.”
Then she brightened up and focused on her husband’s project. “So, you finish up the Roundtable tomorrow?”
“Yep. We’re going to focus on our media project. This is really going to be big. We’re pulling out all the stops. Abby, this country will be shaken to its core.”
“I’ll be praying for your new venture. This is the AmeriNews project, right?”
“Exactly.”
“So, after you wrap up tomorrow, then maybe you and I and Deborah can do some trail riding the next day?”
“Right…uh, oh…”
“Uh, oh what, dear?” Abigail was already translating the unspoken part of her husband’s reply.
“I just remembered I am supposed to shoot eighteen holes with Rocky Bridger.”
“Well, you could get up early, be the first to tee off, and still be back here in time for at least a half-day of riding with us. Right?”
He smirked. “Yeah. That’s doable. I can take orders. I was a good Air Force officer. Flight plan modified by cencom.”
“You are sooo overly dramatic.” She grinned with a twinkle in her eye.
Then there were a few moments of stillness, where the only thing that could be heard was the faraway rushing of the river down in the valley. Abigail was the first to break the silence.
“So, any plans in the evening while we’re staying here?”
“Nothing, except enjoying the lack of plans. One of these nights I need to review some acquisition and investment data. See how we’re doing.”
Then he caught on.
“You’ve got something in mind, don’t you?”
“Actually, I do.”
“What is it?”
“When we get back to New York, Pastor Paul Campbell is doing a special series of evening talks over at Eternity Church.”
Joshua’s face didn’t flinch, but Abigail could hear the gears moving in his head.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said.
Joshua laughed. “You sure?”
“When you have that look on your face, yeah. You’re thinking, ‘Wife, this is the two hundredth time you’ve invited me to church. And I’ve gone with you a couple times. Just two months ago. But I will have so much that I need to follow up on after the Roundtable when we get back to New York.’”
“Pretty close.”
“But this is different. I think this series of messages are more for you than for me. The topic is right up your alley. Really.”
“Well-played, madam lawyer. So I’m the one who’ll regret it if I don’t go…”
“Absolutely. And if you do go, I think you’ll be surprised. Actually, I think it fits into what you are doing with the Roundtable…”
She had his attention.
“You’ve got my curiosity aroused. At least tell me what this is all about.”
“Better than that, I’ll let you read the brochure I got from Paul. It tells all about it.”
“Okay, I’ll read it. But no promises…”