33

Friday evening, Trevor drove onto the church property and surveyed the nearly full parking area. “Lydia wasn’t kidding when she said we should arrive ahead of time. Looks like half an hour wasn’t too early.” He pulled up and stopped in front of the church doors. “I’ll let you ladies out here, and I’ll find you inside after I get parked. This should be a good break from the hospital, at least.”

“Thank you, dear.” Laureen unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the passenger door. “Hayley and I will wait by the doors. I just wish Franklin could be here with us.”

Hayley took her arm. “But he insisted we should come, and he wants to hear all about it tomorrow, right?”

Laureen nodded, sighed. “God is so good.”

Hayley and his mom disappeared inside the church. He drove to the far end of the lot, eased his vehicle between two SUVs, and hiked back to the building. Inside, he found his mom and Hayley talking to Lydia and a middle-aged couple.

Hayley must have been watching for him, because she waved him over, her eyes alight. “Trevor, come here. Meet Daniel and Melody Martens, Will’s parents.”

Trevor stuck out his hand to Daniel. “Pleased to meet you, sir. And thank you for the invitation.”

He turned to Melody, but instead of taking his hand, she pulled him close for a hug. The lady was small, but her strength surprised him. “Handshakes don’t work for me, I’m afraid. I’m happy to meet you, Trevor.”

“You, too.” Embarrassment made him mumble.

Laureen took his arm, saving him from further conversation. “We’d better find our seats, while there are still some available.”

Melody grasped Hayley’s hand. “Don’t worry. We’ve saved places for you. But you’re right, Laureen, we should go sit down.”

“Hey, T-man, how’s your dad?”

A hand clapped onto Trevor’s shoulder, and he spun around. “Carlos. Glad you made it. Dad’s surgery went well, and he got the breathing tube out this afternoon. First thing he said was, ‘God is good.’ That’s my dad. And he’s right.”

The lady behind Carlos stepped forward and smiled. “Remember me?”

“Eva. Of course.” He wouldn’t mention how he remembered the angry ex-wife. From the sparkle in her eyes and the way she grinned up at Carlos, maybe she really had changed. Trevor tugged Hayley away from Melody. “This is my girlfriend, Hayley Blankenship.”

Carlos raised one eyebrow and grinned while the two women exchanged greetings. “We’ll talk to you guys later. Gotta find a couple seats.”

Melody spoke up. “There may be enough room by us, if we hurry. And sit close together.”

“Sounds good to me,” Eva said, with a wink at Carlos.

~*~

At seven o-clock, the church lights dimmed and Pastor Dave walked onto the stage.

Trevor half-listened to the pastor’s greeting as he studied the sparse set. Plywood or cardboard walls painted as blocks with barred windows indicated a jail cell. A shiver tickled the back of his neck. He’d meant to look up the Barabbas character in the Bible he’d unearthed in his room, but the events of the last couple days had distracted him. He wished he knew what was coming.

Everyone bowed their heads, so he ducked his as Pastor Dave prayed. Man, the guy could talk to God. Like He was right there. Trevor stifled a snort. Of course God was there. It was His place. He concentrated on Dave’s words.

“Father God, we ask You to bless this little drama. May it bring glory to Your holy name, and may each person here attain a clearer understanding of Your amazing love and redemption through Jesus Christ. In His name, amen.” Dave looked over the audience. “We don’t pretend to know the whole story of Barabbas and his reactions, but this is a fictional account woven together with what we know about Jesus. One thing I ask. At the close of this evening, please leave quietly to allow yourselves and those around you to absorb the meaning of Good Friday. Thank you.”

He walked offstage, and a spotlight lit a previously dark corner of the cell. A man, naked to the waist, crouched like a caged animal. His dark blond hair was matted, and dirty smudges covered his whole body. A clank sounded, and the man stood and turned.

Trevor stared at his back, covered with realistic, long, jagged scars, and marvelled at the makeup job.

A Roman guard stood at the doorway to the cell, his expression a grimace of disgust. “You! Barabbas. Get out here.”

Barabbas stood like a fighter, his feet spread and fists clenched. Then he scowled. “I’ve got one more day. You can’t…”

The guard opened the door and spat. “I’m not your executioner, you filthy, murderous animal. We both know you deserve to die, but you’re free to go.”

Barabbas’s mouth fell open, and his hands hung loose. Then he scowled. “Not likely. Is this some kind of cruel trick? I know I’m slated for a cross tomorrow.”

The guard stepped away from the doorway, leaving it wide open. “And you deserve to hang, but you’ve been released. That prophet from Nazareth, Jesus—he’s taking your place.”

Trevor could see himself in the guilty man, and he swallowed hard as the room went dark.

The spotlight switched on again and highlighted a narrow, stone road filled with people, some crying, others jeering. He could see the top of a crude, massive wooden cross as the one carrying it trudged up the road.

Barabbas, now washed and clothed, ran from person to person. “Who is this Jesus? What did He do? Why is He being crucified?”

One after another, they answered with a story of a wonder, how Jesus had touched their hearts and lives. A woman said he’d raised her dead brother. A man shouted that Jesus had healed his daughter. He’d cleansed lepers. Changed them all.

Time suspended as Trevor entered the scene. He could have been Barabbas. If not for Jesus…

The light shut off, and the pounding of a heavy hammer and screams of pain echoed through the room.

Trevor recoiled with each strike. Then, as a shadow through a curtain, he saw the cross raised, its victim slumped. Trevor gulped back a sob. Jesus. It should have been me.

A beam of light illuminated Barabbas at center stage, his arms raised and his head thrown back. “I am guilty! He is not. It should have been me!”

Trevor flinched at every word. Grief turned liquid and dripped off his chin.

The light dimmed, and Pastor Dave’s deep voice came from the darkness. “For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Around him, Trevor heard sniffles and more than a few sobs. As the room lights came on, Laureen handed him a tissue, and he wiped his face. He looked toward the darkened stage. And he knew, without a doubt. He was Barabbas.

~*~

Other than quietly spoken directions to the Martens’s house, silence filled the Jeep until Laureen said, “How I wish Franklin could have joined us. It was amazing. I’m glad we went.”

Hayley gathered her thoughts back from the crucifixion. “It hit hard—in a good way. Made me understand a little better what Jesus suffered. And why.” She let out her breath in a shuddering sigh. “For me. For all of us.”

Trevor pulled in front of a yellow bungalow. “Here we are. Gotta admit, I’m not sure how ready I am for a party right now.”

Hayley leaned forward. “It’s not really a party. Just Will and his wife, the Harrises and us. Melody said Will requested it. I can’t wait for you to meet him—and his wife. She’s been a special friend, even when I was at my worst.”

Trevor turned off the engine but didn’t move to get out. “All right. But we won’t stay long, right?”

Laureen reached over and tousled his hair. “We’ll leave the minute you say so. Agreed?”

“OK.” He got out, went around the vehicle, and opened the passenger door for his mother and the back door for Hayley. He offered an arm to each of them, and Laureen set the careful pace to the house.

“I like this front porch.” Laureen patted a thick column on the covered deck. “Very cozy. And the twig chairs make me want to sit back and relax out here—although it is a bit chilly.”

Hayley grinned and looked behind them at the house across the street. “It’s a lot like…oh, I guess that makes sense. The one over there was Daniel’s house before he and Melody married.”

Trevor pressed the doorbell, and the door swung open.

“Welcome, come on in.” Melody reached for Laureen and pulled her into a hug. She released Laureen and motioned to Hayley and Trevor. “Please, make yourselves at home. Dave and Lydia will be a few minutes yet, but our son and daughter-in-law will be right over.”

Trevor looked confused, so Hayley whispered, “They live across the street.”

Daniel joined them in the small entry and held out his hands. “Let me take your coats. And help yourself to some coffee or hot cocoa and goodies. There’s quite a variety, and I can assure you, they’re all fantastic. I know, because I tried one of each.” He winked.

Melody laughed. “My husband loves to sample my baking. And I love to let him.”

As Laureen, Hayley, and Trevor handed their jackets to Daniel and Melody, Hayley heard steps on the porch. She grabbed Trevor’s arm and pulled him to the side. “That must be Will and…”

The door opened, revealing Will and Nila, and Trevor’s arm stiffened under Hayley’s hand. She glanced up. His jaw dropped and his skin lost its color as he gaped.

“N-Nila? Nila Black? Is it really you?”

Nila stared back. “Trevor Sinclair?”

Hayley looked from one to the other. “You know each other?”

They didn’t seem to hear her, and Will shrugged as he tugged Nila inside and shut the door.

Trevor swiped his arm across his eyes. “Nila.” His voice trembled, and Hayley had to lean closer to hear him. “My favorite foster sister.”

Hayley gasped as understanding dawned. Oh, God…

Nila’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and she ran to Trevor’s outstretched arms. “I can’t believe this! I heard you were in jail.”

He squeezed her tightly and wept until his shoulders shook.

“And I…I thought you were dead.”