5

Nia drove down the country road in her graduation gift from Auntie. It wasn’t new but it belonged to her. And as far as she was concerned, the car was awesome.

The sign was freshly painted. Cooper had been busy.

PUZZLE HOUSE—A PLACE OF HEALING AND HOPE.

It had been exactly that before Rachel died. Now it was more of a spiritual retreat. Rachel had taught her there was more than one kind of healing. And under Cooper’s guidance, the spiritual healing continued, though he’d be reluctant to agree.

On the green hillside, Cooper stood by the pond with a horse—her horse.

Putting the car in park, she charged up the hill. “Hey, Cooper.”

“Right on time. I had strict instructions from your aunt to call the moment you got here. It seems as if she doesn’t trust your driving.”

“That’s for sure.”

He handed her the reins. “You can get reacquainted while I call Margaretta.”

Nia patted Sweet Cherry. “Hey, Sweetie. Have you missed me?”

The horse nuzzled her hand as if to answer her question with a yes. Nia smiled. “Yeah, I have the whole summer to spend with you. What do you think of that?”

Another nuzzle.

Cooper handed her the phone. “Your aunt wants to talk with you.”

After a quick conversation, Nia disconnected and handed the phone back to Cooper. “I know I’m a city girl and all, but more and more, I can’t wait to get out here.”

“I can’t say that I blame you. It’s a beautiful place,” Cooper said. His ever-present camera hung around his neck just in case a good picture presented itself. “Besides, you should feel that way. This is your home.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do. I’m just working here until you’re ready to take over.”

Ready to take over? In the past three years, she hadn’t even had a tiny sense of being able to heal anyone. Auntie was always telling her ”in God’s timing, not yours.” Cooper would most likely say the same thing.

She turned her attention back to the house. “Yeah, instead of being surrounded by buildings, it’s trees. And no truck or car horns but birds chirping. And I couldn’t wait to come see my Sweet Cherry.” She patted the horse standing patiently at her side. He nuzzled her arm. “Country Boy would be proud of me.”

“I think you’re right about that.” Cooper took a picture of her and Sweet Cherry.

Country Boy was actually Brandon Donner. And her first love—sort of. He’d died before they could really get to know each other, but they’d had a special connection.

“What’s on your mind, Nia?” Cooper’s gentle voice was warm.

“What makes you think anything is?”

“I’m an old man. I can sense these things.”

“You’re not that old. I’m really worried about Keisha. She’s changed. One second she was good, old Keisha and the next, she’d turned into someone else.” Nia kissed Sweet Cherry’s face. “Someone I don’t even want to know.”

“Unfortunately, that happens to young people sometimes. They turn eighteen and think they know everything. They try to be an adult overnight. I’m afraid there might be some hard lessons in her future.”

“She even talks different when she’s around Marcus. I have a bad feeling about all of it.”

“You know what Rachel would say, right?”

“Everyone has to figure out their own puzzle.”

“Which means you can’t do a whole lot other than what you’re doing. Praying and encouraging her. And keep asking her to come spend the summer here.”

“I will. She’d be a lot safer here than with that creep.” Nia sighed. “So who’s here this week?”

“Oh, you’ll love them. They call themselves the Christian Creators. Some of them are writers, some are artists, and others are musicians. They’ve actually taken over the place. They have a workshop every day in the morning, creative time in the afternoon, and fellowship in the evening.”

“That does sound like fun. Maybe I’ll sit in on the workshops, especially the music ones.”

“So you’re still playing music and writing.”

“I don’t know if you’d call it that, but I try.”

Nia stared at Puzzle House. It had been years since Rachel told her that God had chosen her to be a healer—and still no healing. “Cooper, maybe Rachel was wrong about God anointing me to be a healer.”

They walked toward the barn with Sweet Cherry following close behind.

“Why would you say that?”

“It’s been three years. I’ve studied the Bible—a lot. I believe what’s in it, but I don’t feel special.”

“You don’t feel special? But everyone’s special to God.”

“I mean I don’t feel as though I have a special calling.”

“Everyone has a special calling. It’s just a matter of finding it. Maybe it was too easy for you since it just fell into your lap, so to speak. Just because you found out at such an early age doesn’t mean the time is right yet.”

“My David years, right?” No one else seemed to doubt her gift. Why did she?

“Exactly. Your David years. I know it can be frustrating to wait on God’s timing. When Rachel woke up after her accident and told me about her visit with Jesus, I had all sorts of suggestions for her but I kept them to myself. She needed to figure it out on her own. With God’s help, of course. And I’m sure you’ll figure it out too with His help.”

“You really think everyone has a special calling?”

“I do.”

“Then why doesn’t everyone do them?”

“Oh, lots of reasons. Fear, laziness, and doubt are three of the big ones, I believe.”

“I don’t know. I just don’t see myself being able to do any miracles.”

“That’s good, because you can’t do miracles. God is the miracle giver. You’re only the electrical cord. He’s the source of the power.”

“And the person receiving the miracle has to turn on their own lamp of faith.” She finished his sentence for him. “That was one of Rachel’s favorite examples.”

“And for good reason. It’s true.”

“I sure was stubborn back then. There was no way I would flip on that lamp of faith. Even though I was dying.” She shook her head. “How stupid was that.”

Cooper grinned. “And are you sure you haven’t helped along a miracle or two?”

“Not that I know of.”

“What about answered prayers?”

“Sure, there’s been some of those. For me and for other people.”

“As far as I’m concerned every answered prayer is a miracle.”

“I never looked at it that way.”

“Think about it. The God who created the universe heard your prayer and took the time to do something about it. How can that not be a miracle?”

“True.” She opened the stall door and led Sweet Cherry inside. “What’s your special calling, Cooper?”

“That’s an easy one. Taking care of Rachel was my special calling and now, taking care of you when you let me. By me taking care of you. It gives you time to focus on your gift.”

“But that’s about other people. What about you?”

“Life isn’t about me or Rachel. Or you. It’s all about God. He gives each of us gifts and talents and we’re supposed to use them for Him. Rachel healed people, and I baked cookies for them. And for her.”

Nia laughed. “I must admit they are very good cookies.”

“Glad you think so, you might find a few of them in the kitchen with your name on them.”