11

A week later Nia was in her bedroom packing. It was hard to believe summer was over. Back to Atlanta for a few days and then on to college. With Keisha. She hoped. She was still refusing to answer Nia’s calls. Things would get back to normal between them once they got to college. Everything would be fine.

Someone knocked.

“Come in, Cooper.”

He opened the door and walked in.

The expression on his face made her stomach twist up in knots. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s no easy way to tell you.” He waited a moment. “It’s Myra.”

The top she’d been folding fell from her hands. She didn’t want to hear any more. “What about her?”

“She passed away last night.”

“No. No. That can’t be true. God was going to heal her. I was sure of it.”

“I’m sorry, Nia.”

She bit her lips to try to stop from crying but it didn’t work.

Cooper put his arms around her and held her as she sobbed. “I know it’s a difficult thing but Myra’s in heaven. And that is because of you. You made sure she was right with God before it was too late.”

She stepped back, shaking her head. “I wanted her to get better. I prayed and prayed for her. I was sure God would heal her, as he did me.”

“Ron wanted me to thank you again for what you did for Myra.”

“I didn’t do anything. She died. I failed.”

“That’s not true, Nia. It’s not about failing or succeeding. It’s about God’s will. And this life is temporary for all of us. You helped heal Myra’s spirit. Her heart was right with God.”

Cooper was right, but Nia couldn’t help feeling as if she’d failed. She’d been so sure Myra would be healed. What had she done wrong?

Cooper was staring at her.

She managed to nod. “You’re right. It’s just…so hard.”

“I know. Rachel got better at handling these situations the longer she did it, but it was never easy. A part of her died each time she lost a friend.”

“I don’t know how she did it. This is…so horrible.”

“It’s part of life, Nia. People live and people die.” His voice was soft. “The important thing is that they die knowing Jesus. Want to go horseback riding?”

“No, thanks.”

“One last ride before you leave? Sweet Cherry would love that. She’s going to miss you.”

She pointed at her suitcases. “Gotta get packed.”

“OK. Are you all right?”

“I guess.”

He walked to the door but turned back toward her. “I know it’s hard, Nia, but you need to remember you did all you could do. You prayed for that child’s soul. And that child accepted Jesus in her heart.”

“But it wasn’t enough.”

“Really? Because she’s with Jesus, now.”

****

Nia strummed on her guitar. The sad music she played matched her mood. She could see the Puzzle Room from where she sat in the practice room, and her heart welled up with even more sadness—she hadn’t thought that possible. She would miss this place so much, but the time had come to be honest with herself and with Cooper. As if bidden by her thoughts, he walked in.

“Hey, Nia. I take it you’re all packed and ready to go home.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She didn’t want to break down in front of Cooper. She needed to be strong. What she had to tell him would be hard enough without her falling apart. “We need to talk.”

“Exactly my thought. I know it’s been a rough few days with the news about Myra yesterday. I hate the fact you’re leaving on such a sad note because I think you’ve done a great job here this summer.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond.

“It’s proven to me that Rachel was right about you. I’m sad to see you go, but I’m excited to see what God will do with you at college this year.”

“Me, too. I guess.”

He gave her a strange look. “You know I’m very proud of you for stepping up this summer. It took a lot of courage for you to just walk into the Puzzle Room that morning and start helping people with their puzzles.”

“I was a little terrified.” But what difference did it make—they hadn’t worked. She wouldn’t be able to heal anyone. Ever.

“You’ve done a great job. Not one person has come up to me to even ask who this young girl thinks she is giving out spiritual advice to people much older than she is.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“It’s a testament to your wisdom.”

“Not mine, God’s.” They both smiled, knowing the other was thinking of Rachel.

“Very true. Anyway, I want you to know how proud I am of you.”

“But?”

“Excuse me?”

“I sense a ‘but’ in there somewhere, Cooper. So what’s on your mind?”

“You are getting very wise. You’ve done a great job, but I noticed you always talk in terms of puzzles. I rarely hear you say the name of God.”

“Really? Are you sure about that?” But even as she asked the question, she realized it was true. “I suppose you’re right. I guess I just don’t want to impose my beliefs on other people.”

“That makes sense, but talking about God is not the same as imposing your thoughts on other people. It’s about sharing the truth with them.” He smiled. “It’s just something I wanted you to think about. God put it on my heart.”

“I have something I need to talk about with you, too. I…uh…I—” She stopped, not able to find the right words. This was harder than she’d imagined.

Cooper’s eyes were filled with concern. “What is it, Nia? You know you can talk about anything with me.”

She nodded. “I…not to say Rachel was wrong, and I’m sure it’s all my fault.”

“What’s your fault?”

“I don’t think I’m anointed to be a healer anymore. I don’t know what happened. I must have done something to make God change His mind. To make Him mad at me. I’ve tried to be good—even though it’s not always easy.”

“Is this about Myra? Because—”

“It’s not just about Myra. I’ve been feeling this way for a while now.”

“Oh, Nia. I don’t believe for a moment that Rachel was mistaken. God has great plans for you here at Puzzle House. I’m sure of it.”

“I know you don’t agree, and neither does Auntie but there’s something neither of you know.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve been going to hospitals every week for the past year. I sit with sick people. I pray for them. Nothing ever happens. I don’t have the gift of healing. It’s just not there.” She looked the other way not wanting Cooper to see the pain in her eyes.

“How do you know?”

She looked back at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean how do you know none of them were healed? Do you follow up with them later?”

“Well, no, but I don’t feel anything while I’m praying. No warmth. No sense of God working. Like the way it was when Rachel prayed with me when she told me I was anointed by God to be a healer.” She met his gaze. “Nothing.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Rachel didn’t always feel something in the moment. Even in your case, you know that was true. Your healing came over time, not overnight.”

He was right about that but she couldn’t let him sway her decision. She’d made it and was sure it was the correct one. “I want it to be there, Cooper. But it’s not. So I’m done.”

“Now, I don’t know what that means.”

“It means I won’t be coming back here. Puzzle House is not my home. You do what you want with it. I…” She stopped, not able to continue.

“First of all, Puzzle House belongs to you when you turn twenty-one. Rachel was very clear about that. So whether you think so or not, it’s your home. And always will be. To do with as you wish.”

She shook her head, making her tone more adamant. “I’m not coming back. It wouldn’t be fair. I don’t have the gift of healing.”

“There’s more than one kind of healing, Nia. You know that. And you’ve done a wonderful job this summer, helping others find peace. Helping them to reconnect their own creativity with God’s Will. That is spiritual healing. And Rachel always considered spiritual healing to have top priority.”

“I was just parroting Rachel’s words. You said so yourself.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s true. And if I wasn’t completely sure about that before Myra, I’m absolutely sure God has other plans for me. Puzzle House won’t be a part of them.” She stood up and hugged him. “I love you, Cooper. The time I’ve spent here at Puzzle House with you has been so special. It changed my life, and I’ll never forget it, but I won’t be back.”

He hugged her. “Yes, you will be back. No one ever said how long your David years would be, Nia. Waiting for God’s timing is not an easy thing. One thing is true, you can’t hurry God no matter how much you try.”

“I know, but I really don’t think that’s the case. I just don’t feel anything. It’s just not there.” And maybe it never was. It had only been wishful thinking on her part.

“I don’t believe that for a minute.” She started to speak but he held up a hand. “But I’ll give you the space you need. For now.”

She stepped away. “I won’t change my mind. I have to do what I think is right. And it wouldn’t be right to take this wonderful place under pretense. I’m sure God will provide you with a healer. A real one.”

“You are a healer, Nia. Whether you feel it or not. Whether you think so or not. And you belong here at Puzzle House. Not now but sometime in the future.”

There wasn’t anything left to say to Cooper on that subject. “Bye, Cooper.”

“For now, Nia.”

She shook her head and walked out the door as she whispered, “Forever.”