“You should go home and get some sleep, Ben,” Tessa said after they’d finished their second coffee for the morning. He was looking worse than he had when she’d arrived a few hours earlier.
He frowned. “I can’t leave. What if Jayden wakes up and I’m not here?”
Ben was right. How could either of them leave when any moment Jayden might wake? “Why don’t you close your eyes and get some sleep here? I’ll stir you if anything changes.”
“I’m tempted…”
“Just do it! I’ll be okay. I’ll read to him. And if his eyes even flutter once, I’ll wake you.”
“Okay. You win.” He kissed her cheek and pulled the blanket around him, adjusting the pillow before sliding down in the chair and closing his eyes. Within moments, snores filled the room.
Tessa’s heart warmed at the sight of her husband sleeping like a baby. It had been such a long week, but God had given them the strength they needed to stay strong, and she was positive He would pull Jayden through this.
She opened her Bible and began reading where she’d left off yesterday in the book of Hebrews, keeping one eye on Jayden at all times. Sometime later, as she started yawning and began to think how nice it would be to have a nap, Jayden opened his eyes.
She sprang forward and shook Ben’s leg with one hand as she reached out to Jayden with the other. “Jayden! Welcome back!” She couldn’t hide her elation. But the blank expression on his face soon wiped it away. His eyes might have opened, but there was no recognition. As Ben straightened and they both stared at their son, Tessa clung to the peace she’d felt that morning and to the verse in Hebrews she’d just read: ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ Just because Jayden didn’t recognise them, it didn’t mean he had brain damage. Did it?
Ben pressed the buzzer. Moments later a nurse scurried in, her gaze shifting straight to Jayden. “Well, hello there, handsome!” She lifted his arm and took his pulse. A smile grew on her face. “All good. Take your time, son, you’ve had a bad knock to your head.” She placed his arm gently back onto the bed and turned her attention to Ben and Tessa. “I’ll call the doctor, but this is good.”
The nurse’s assurances helped Tessa cling to her hope that God would return Jayden to them, whole. As his eyes flickered and then closed, tears streamed down her cheeks. They had to be patient, and keep trusting.
The doctor ordered another CT Scan. The results were still inconclusive, but he was hopeful.
They called her parents, Zoe and Harrison, Stephanie, and Fraser Stanthorpe, and almost sent a text to Angie. Tessa suggested they should leave her alone for now. “It’s not as if he’s actually awake. And it might make things difficult for her.”
“You’re probably right. It sounds like this Cole is a bit of a…”
Tessa grabbed Ben’s hand. “Don’t say it.”
“But he is, isn’t he?”
“He’s very charming. He’s very attractive. But yes, he’s a bit too controlling. But he’s Angie’s boyfriend.”
“He must be annoyed she came here to see Jayden.”
“I think so. You would have been if I’d done that when we were dating.”
“I wasn’t the jealous type.”
“Oh yes, you were! Remember when I was planning on seeing Michael? You weren’t happy about that.”
“That’s different.”
“No, it’s not.”
Ben shrugged. “You win.”
“It’s not a competition.”
“It feels like it.”
“Will you two stop it!” Stephanie wheeled her chair into the cubicle and laughed. “I can hear you from out in the hallway.”
“Steph!” Tessa stood and wrapped her arms around her friend. “It was just friendly banter. You know that.”
“Yes, just as well I do. Great news about Jayden.”
“Yes, it’s so exciting. Although we have to be patient. It could be days, even weeks, before we know whether he’ll be okay or not.”
“He will be. I just know it.”
Tessa nodded, wiping her eye, her voice catching. “So do I. But I have this niggling doubt in my head.”
Stephanie patted her hand. “God will bring him through, just like He did me.”
“Yes, but you’re still in a wheelchair.”
“And I’m fine with that.”
Tessa sniffed and offered a smile. “I know you are. Anyway, thank you for coming.”
“You’re welcome. Apart from seeing Jayden, I wanted to tell you I saw Troy again this morning.” Her face grew serious. “He’s doing it tough, poor kid, but your message about Jayden came through when I was with him, and that made a difference. At least he has hope now that he won’t be facing life in prison.”
Tessa turned to Ben and grabbed his hand. “We should see him.”
Ben’s brows furrowed. “Let’s not be too hasty. Jayden’s our priority at the moment.”
“Yes, but from what we understand, that boy didn’t mean to hit Jayden, and it might help him if he knows that we don’t hold any grudges.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Stephanie said quietly, “but it’s your choice.”
Ben shrugged and drew a slow breath. “I guess we can, as long as you can handle the media.”
“Maybe there’s a way of doing it discreetly. Besides, they seem to have lost interest. They weren’t there when I came in this morning.”
“They’re there now. They must have heard about Jayden waking up,” Stephanie said.
Tessa groaned. “News travels fast.”
“It sure does.”
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’d like to go.” She turned to Ben. “Tomorrow?”
“I guess so, if it can be arranged.”
It was sorted. Ben and Tessa would visit Troy Barrett in the Remand Centre the following morning. They tried to keep it out of the media, but as they pulled up outside the modern jail, a barrage of reporters and photographers mobbed them. They’d agreed that if this happened, Ben would give a prepared speech.
The previous night they’d talked at length about how they felt about Troy Barrett. Stephanie had shared more of his story with them, and the more they learned of the boy’s disadvantaged home life, the more Tessa’s heart went out to him. Coming from middle-class white families, neither she nor Ben had had much exposure to those less fortunate than themselves in their own country, although the time they’d spent on mission in Ecuador had given them an insight into how others lived and an appreciation that material possessions didn’t always equate to happiness.
Their visit to Troy Barrett would be considered unusual by the media and the population in general, but it was an opportunity to show God’s love in action. They’d also agreed, after prayer and reflection, that their response would have been the same had Jayden died. According to Stephanie, the boy was repentant and distraught about what he’d done, so what other response was there?
After stepping out of the car, Ben cleared his throat and waited until the crowd quieted. Beside him, Tessa clung to his arm. “We’re visiting Troy Barrett because he’s a young man who made a mistake and now regrets his actions. Everyone deserves forgiveness, and we’re prepared to offer him that. Our son is also starting to come out of his coma, although it’s too early to tell what long-term damage he might suffer, if any. My wife and I are trusting God, and we look forward to him waking up properly. In the meantime, that’s all there is. So, if you don’t mind, we’d like to get on with our visit.”
As the cameras continued to click and reporters threw question after question at them, Ben guided Tessa inside where they filled out forms and underwent security checks before being led into a private meeting area. A prison guard stood to the side as they sat at a cold metal table and waited. Soon after, another guard walked in with Troy Barrett.
The boy had dark, wavy hair and held his head low as the guard motioned for him to sit at the table opposite Ben and Tessa.
The guard nodded to the other one standing against the wall and then left.
Tessa reached for Ben’s hand, hoping he’d take the lead.
He cleared his voice. “Troy, I’m Ben, and this Tessa. We’re Jayden’s parents.”
Troy nodded, his head lifting slightly.
“We know Stephanie. She said you’re a good lad and that you didn’t mean to hit Jayden that night.”
“I didn’t. I don’t know how it happened.” Tears from his dark eyes streamed down his cheeks.
“It’s okay, son. We don’t hold it against you. We’re going to ask the police to drop the charges.”
Troy’s eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you deserve a chance, that’s why. Being in jail won’t do you any good. You don’t belong in here.”
The boy’s eyes welled again. “I hate it in here.” His gaze darted to the guard standing against the wall.
Tessa’s heart went out to the boy. “I can imagine you do. Has your family visited you?”
He shook his head. “They don’t care about me. Mum’s a druggie and me brothers and sisters aren’t any better. Stephanie’s the only one who visits. And the lawyer lady.”
“Stephanie has a big heart.”
Troy nodded and wiped his face with the sleeve of his grey prison shirt.
“We’ll see what we can do. We’ll contact your lawyer and try to get the charges dropped. In the meantime, take care, and keep reading that Bible.”
Troy looked up, his brows pinched. “Howja’ know I was readin’ it?”
“Stephanie told us.” Tessa smiled.
“I don’t understand a lot of it, but it’s kinda makin’ sense.”
“Read Matthew 6, and ask God to speak to your heart,” Ben said as he pushed his chair back and stood.
“I will. Thank you for comin’.” Troy’s genuine smile reached deep into Tessa’s heart. He was just a kid who needed love.
Back in his cell, Troy lay on his bed and opened his Bible to Matthew 6. As he began to read the prayer, memories of standing in church with his mother and brothers and sisters when he was little flooded back. It was all so familiar… “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Could God forgive him? Why would God forgive him? He was a nobody, just like everyone here told him. But those people today were different. Just like Stephanie and the lawyer lady. They were all nice to him. Maybe he wasn’t a nobody after all.
Troy kept reading, and although he didn’t understand a lot of it, his spirit lifted.