Chapter Thirty Four

Henry heard a ringing in his ear. At first he didn’t know where he was. He still felt the effects of yesterday and it took him a moment for all that had occurred, to sink in. Just as another thought was about to enter his mind, the phone rang again.

“Oh, for gosh sakes, it’s the phone!” He rolled over in his water bed and reached over for the receiver as it was about to ring again.

“Hello.”

“Is this the Pederson residence?”

“Yes, this is Henry speaking.”

“I took a chance. I recall Eddy mentioning that you lived out in the valley near Lumsden. It was the only listing in the phone book.”

Henry recognized the voice. It was low and distinctive…

“Is this Peter?”

“You have a good memory, thanks for remembering. I thought I might have some explaining to do as to whom I was.”

Henry had received a call from Peter’s wife, Angie, just the other day informing him that her husband was critically ill and near death’s door. This however, did not sound like a man that was about to enter the pearly gates.

“So, how are you doing, Peter? Last I heard you were quite ill…”

“Yes, I was, Henry… or is it Hank? Which do you prefer?”

“Either is fine, Peter. Most of my friends call me Hank but those I develop through my business and art call me Henry. So either is fine.”

“Well, I was just about to say that I was very ill and then something happened—”

“My good Lord, Peter. Did you get healed, too?”

“Why, yes. In fact I was pronounced dead and a little while later my pulse came back. I threw the sheet off me and sat up. The nurse in attendance fainted and Angie went hysterical!

“I couldn’t understand what the commotion was all about until they told me that I had miraculously come back from being dead! I’ve never seen Angie look so surprised. Once it sunk in, she started running down the hallway telling everyone that I was healed and that our prayers were answered. Unfortunately, by that time, parishioners that were there earlier and praying in the hallways had already left. So nurses and patients who didn’t know of my condition thought that she had lost it and called for the commissioner to come and restrain her!”

Henry chuckled, “Isn’t that something! So you died and were brought back, as well?”

“Yes, the Holy Spirit swept through me with full power. The nurse who was holding my wrist was healed of her injury, as well. She had been in a car accident and injured her back. She could barely assist patients to sit up or get out of bed. But now the petite nurse feels like a 200 pound weight lifter and easily helps those in her charge.”

“That’s amazing, Peter.”

“I am so grateful to Jesus for the healing, too! I know Jenny is alive and was returned from the dead, as well. In fact, I know that you and Father Engel…”

The phone suddenly went dead. Henry could not comprehend what Peter was saying. The words he was hearing were just too far-fetched to be believed!“Are you there, Hank? Hello…?”

“Peter, how did you know Jenny was dead and came back? Did someone call you… who do you know? It all happened yesterday and I still don’t know all of the details. Did Matilda by chance call you?” Henry just had to know.

“Oh you mean, Eddy’s sister-in law? …No, she didn’t tell me.”

“Well, who then?”

Peter took a deep breath and went on. “You may not believe this, Hank, but when I died, I saw you and Jenny and Father Engelmann and all your guardian angels waiting to enter through the portals of heaven. I was about to come over and beg for Jenny’s forgiveness when I saw this huge angel appear from that brilliant tunnel of light. There must have been some kind of a reunion amongst the angels because I saw all three of yours go over to the archangel. I became as awestruck as you three over what I was witnessing, that it kept me frozen from moving. Then all at once, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit sweep through all of us. I would have been lifted and carried to some place in eternity if it had not been for my guardian angel, as well. I didn’t even realize I had one until I felt his firm grip on my shoulders holding me still.”

Peter stopped and took a deep breath. Before Henry could encourage him to go on and explain further, Peter rambled on. “I was going to join you and Jenny and Father and all the angels in your happy celebration over what God had granted, but then you began to disappear one by one. Jenny was the first, then you and finally Father. He had quite the discussion with his guardian before he left. I think he was given the same choice as I.”

“What kind of choice, Peter?”

“My guardian angel said that I could choose to stay and continue through the tunnel of light, or I could return to earth. If I chose to stay, I would be welcomed into heaven as the Lord had forgiven me of all my transgressions. If I went back, it would be to serve longer as a pastor, but even more so, it would be to ask for Jenny’s forgiveness, as well as my daughter’s. There was the risk that the two ladies might not forgive me and hold me in bondage. Or anger or frustration might overtake me in the course of my daily living as is often the case with our human frailty being what it is and I may plunge into sin. So I was taking a chance in returning when the doors of heaven were opened for me… but I so desired to hear Jenny say she forgives me that I had to come back. And the prayers of so many, besides my wife, kept drawing me, as well. I love serving the people of my parish. In the end, I knew what I had to do… and here I am.”

Once again the phone was silent. Henry couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How was it that Peter, and supposedly Father, as well, could see and remember what transpired after they had died, and Jenny and he were not able to?

Why?

Henry couldn’t wait to talk to Father and ask him to relate what happened when he had died, as well. Would it verify what Peter was saying?

“Peter, that is incredible. I don’t know what to say. So that is how you knew Jenny was healed, as well, and brought back to life?”

“That’s right, Henry. That is also the reason for my call. Angie also told me that you informed her that Camilla knows she was adopted and suspects that Jenny might be her mother. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s absolutely correct, Peter. As incredible and unbelievable as it is, it does turn out that Camilla is Jenny’s daughter.”

“I knew it in my dreams, Hank. I just knew that was the case. Well, I want your help in setting up a meeting between Jenny and me and… if possible, for Camilla to come, as well. I need to speak to them. The Lord has given me another chance and He may take me again at any time. I do not want to waste a minute of any part of each and every day from now on. My life will be completely for His service.”

“I, I, understand Peter, and I feel the same way. Life’s moments are very precious, especially once you see how fragile our lives are and how much of it we waste and squander.

“I am seeing Jenny today and will discuss it with her. Don’t expect me to get back to you right away. Jenny and her daughter have barely had time to meet each other and the medical community is swarming to the hospital to question Jenny about her healing. It may take a few days, Peter, but I will get back to you as soon as I can, I promise.”

“That’s all I can ask, Hank. Do you have my phone number?”

“Yes I do. Your wife gave it to me when I spoke with her last time.”

“Great. Thank you for your time and understanding. I know that horrible evening has caused you much pain and anger, as well. Thank you for your forgiveness… please help me get Jenny’s and Camilla’s as well.”

“I will do everything I can. And give my best regards to Angie. That is a wonderful wife you have, Peter.”

“I know, and if the truth be known, she was the first reason why I wanted to return. I knew it was her love that drew me and I know her love will help me see this through with Jenny and… our daughter.”

Henry hadn’t thought of it that way. Yes, Camilla wasn’t just his daughter-in-law; she was also Peter’s daughter…

Suddenly, it hit Henry what happened that night… that this man had taken his beloved and violated her person and showed absolutely no regard for her… or for Henry. Henry recalled how upset and hateful and revengeful he felt for days, months and years over what Eddy and his friends had done. Slowly his anger had subsided and he let go, beginning with Eddy. But now, once again, a slow anger began to surface. For all these years he had suspected Peter was the one who had raped Jenny… but he never was completely sure. Until now.

His uncertainty had held his feelings in check.

But now, feelings he had suppressed and never really felt about that night, mixed with this new knowledge of what had really happened, were suddenly coming to the fore.

Yes, Peter actually did do what he had suspected for years.

Peter’s admission that he had violated Jenny and that Camilla was the result of that assault, stared Henry coldly in his face. He could feel the anger and hatred and he didn’t like where this was going. A fuse was lit that would travel and burn deep within himself and he knew this matter was far from over. If not dealt with quickly and with compassion, this could all explode into something tragic.

Perhaps Peter’s decision to return to his earthly life may not have been in his best interests.