Hope was wheeled back into her hospital room after having her leg set and cast. The impact of the accident had driven her knees into the dashboard, snapping her right thigh bone. Heavily medicated, Hope struggled to answer the questions the officer was asking. “Hope, can you identify the other car?”
Hope closed her eyes and envisioned herself turning around in Marla’s car, “It was a two-toned, gray on gray Buick Park Avenue, with black leather seats. There was a parking sticker in the lower right corner of the windshield. It had a sea gull or a pelican standing on a rock. The license plate number was xxl-555.”
“That is wonderful, Hope, although I suspect we will find this is a stolen car,” the officer responded. “Did you get a good look of the driver?”
“I got a very good look at him; so did Marla.”
The officer ignored Hope’s reference to Marla, suggesting, “I think we need to get a police sketch artist over here right away while it is still clear in your head. In the meantime, I’m going to put a BOLO out for this car. I’m certain we will find it was stolen and that it has been dumped somewhere, but maybe we can get prints or other evidence off it.”
As soon as the officer left her room another man entered and introduced himself, “Hello, Hope, I am your attorney, Samuel Parker. I have been retained to represent you, so I do not want you talking to anyone from now on without me being present.”
Hope started to respond when the officer came walking back into the room and asked, “And who are you and how did you get past the desk?”
Parker gave his most practiced ‘I have every right to be here’ kind of look but before the officer could even respond, Hope asked, “So, Mr. Parker, just who is paying you?”
Smiling a smile that only a greasy, conceited, player can produce, Parker patted Hope’s hand and said, “Hope, now don’t you worry about a thing. It is all taken care of.”
“Well, since I am not guilty of anything except being naive and gullible, I doubt that I will have any need of your services, Mr. Parker. I suspect Estelle Gundersol is picking up your tab so you just go back to her and tell her to stay out of my business. I do not need you filtering my words for me.”
Parker picked up his briefcase and quickly excused himself.
Hope turned to the officer and said, “I guess I hit that nail on the head. Officer, a minute ago you said you suspected the car was stolen, why?”
“Almost two hours before your accident, Hope, the LAPD got a tip that Marla’s car was going to be involved in a fatal accident.”
“A tip, you mean that man really did intend to kill me?” Hope could not quite believe all of this.
“Not you, Hope—Marla. We had a BOLO out for her car but could not find it.”
Puzzled by this news, Hope asked, “But who would want to have Marla killed?” Even as the words came out of her mouth, Hope already knew the answer.
“Michael Gundersol called in the tip himself. He was in a panic, having spent the past three days searching the greater LA area for Marla Brown. I don’t know all of the details; however, I do know that he overheard his own mother telling his father that the plan was set and their guy had found Marla and it would be done tonight. I guess Michael stormed into their room and confronted them and demanded to know what the ‘plan’ was. Once he realized his mother had hired a hit on Marla, Michael immediately called the police and told them everything. Once the accident was reported, Mr. and Mrs. Gundersol were taken into custody for questioning. We need to find the driver and get him to flip on Mrs. Gundersol. With all their money, we will need a rock-solid case before we go after her.”
Amazed at what she was hearing, Hope said, “So Michael called the police on his mother? I can hardly believe he had the nerve. Maybe there is hope for him after all. That also explains why Estelle sent her lawyer. Obviously, she wanted to keep me quiet. The person she really better be fearful of is Marla.” Then with real concern, Hope asked, “Officer, is Marla going to be okay?”
“I’m not sure, Hope. She is still in surgery. Her injuries were much worse than yours because it was her side of the car that took the direct impact.”
Twenty minutes later Michael came into Hope’s room, broken and bewildered. “Hope, I am so sorry about everything. You were not supposed to be in that car with Marla.”
“Well then, that makes everything okay, doesn’t it, Michael? The officer just told me that you did try to stop it and that does count for something. I know all about Marla. She told me everything before that man tried to run us off the cliff.”
Collapsing into the chair beside her bed, he buried his face in his hands and said, “I’m glad it is over. I never wanted to hurt you, Hope; I just didn’t know how to get out of it.”
“Is Marla hurt badly? You do realize that, no matter how sick and twisted your relationship is with her, she does love you.”
Michael let out a huge sigh. “They just rolled her out of surgery but they won’t tell me anything; they won’t even let me see her.” He lifted his head and admitted, “I’ve really made a mess of things. I was willing to ruin your life just so I could get what I wanted. I had no idea my mother would go this far. I really didn’t.”
“Michael, you are young. You can still build a life for yourself and Marla if you want to. You’ve never needed your parents’ help, you just didn’t want to work for the life you really wanted.”
He stared off into space for a moment, and then admitted, “My mother will never forgive me for betraying her. All my life I did what she wanted, everything except giving up Marla. I just couldn’t do that. But betraying her by calling the police—that she will never forgive.” Turning back to Hope, he concluded, “Hope, I can never have the life I want now. I need my mother’s money and my father’s name and support. I’ve lost both today. I’ve lost everything.”
Without another word Michael walked out of Hope’s room and her life for good. As she watched him walk down the hallway, Hope realized that although he seemed truly sorry for what had happened, he was still more concerned with what all this meant to him and his future. Hope thought about everything Michael had said and done today, and concluded that as much as Michael could love anyone, he did love Marla. At least he did do the right thing by calling the police. But now, as the full weight of his heroic decision comes to light, Michael is beginning to waffle, something at which he is very accomplished.
Hope leaned back against her pillow, realizing just how lucky she was to finally be rid of all three of the Gundersols. Looking up at the ceiling, Hope said, “God, I am so thankful. I am lying here in a hospital bed with a broken leg, having just escaped a near-death experience, I just sent the man I was supposed to marry out of my life for good and I can truly say I am thankful.”
With a realization that made her shudder, Hope added, “I could have been married to that man. I could have had children with him. Estelle could have been my mother-in-law and without knowing it, I could have been forced to share my husband with Marla. But God, none of that is true now and I know it is not because I was too smart for them. It is because I promised Lisa I would pray Jeremiah 29:11 as a prayer to you until I understood what it meant. God, I do understand it. People make plans. Sometimes their plans walk all over people and abuse and misuse them for their own purposes. God, I want to know and to start following your plans for my life. I want to follow your plans for the rest of my life and I want to stop being gullible and foolish.”
A few minutes later a very sheepish Jean Winslow entered her daughter’s room. “Hope, your dad and brother are in San Diego fishing. I just talked to Dad on the phone and he wanted me to tell you they are driving back tonight and he will be here at the hospital first thing tomorrow morning.”
“That’s good, Mother; I’m glad. For a few minutes today I was afraid I’d never see my family ever again,” Hope confessed.
Mortified at learning everything that happened, Jean began to cry as she confessed, “I wasn’t sure you would want to see me after all of this. I had no idea Estelle could go this far to get her way. I was so full of pride and blinded by Estelle’s wealth and connections, I let her manipulated me into pressuring you to stay in that relationship. I knew you were miserable but I kept telling myself it would get better once you two were married. Somewhere deep inside, I knew I was lying to myself and to you, but I let the promise of such a vast fortune coming to you cloud my judgment. Estelle had me hook, line and sinker, and I let her reel me in. That woman gets whatever she wants.”
“Well, Mother, that might not be true any longer. Estelle’s dream of another generation of political power, privilege and prestige is shattered. Michael, her tool to achieve all of these lofty dreams, has finally turned on her and betrayed her. The cherished name of Gundersol, the name that would always open every door for her, is now tarnished beyond repair. And finally, Mother, all of Estelle’s treasured family money will probably not keep her out of prison. That is quite a fall for someone who always believed she was untouchable.”
Jean sat there quietly thinking about everything her daughter had just said. Almost too afraid to ask it, but knowing she needed to know the answer, Jean finally asked, “So, you have not yet said what is going to happen to us. Are we too broken? Did I betray you to the point that you cannot forgive me?”
Hope smiled at her mother for a moment before saying, “I have a long recovery ahead of me. I will be here in the hospital for at least three more days, then the doctor wants me off my feet for at least a month before he will release me back to work. You and I have a lot to talk about. I have a wonderful family in Atlanta and Jefferson, but I realize it is not a competition. I do not have to choose one over the other. I am blessed to have both. I want you to get to know this part of my family the way I have come to know them and I want them to get to know you. Mother, this family is all about forgiveness. I want you to meet all of them and maybe, someday, you and I can talk about how I became a follower of Jesus. He is the One who teaches us that to live a full life you must start with asking for forgiveness—first from Him, and then He wants us to walk a forgiving life. I know you don’t understand what I am talking about right now, but you will because I can truly say that I do forgive you, Mother, with all my heart.”
As an act of true repentance, Jean suggested, “Hope, we need to call your mom, Lisa, and tell her what has happened to you. Do you have her phone number?”
“It is in my purse and that was left back in my car at the gas station when Marla kidnapped me. Besides, I think Lisa has already moved into Ben’s house and I don’t have that number yet.”
Jean considered her options. “Hope, I could call your Aunt Gladys. She should know how to get hold of Lisa. I would think Gladys’s home number would be easy to find.”
Smiling at hearing her mother refer to Gladys as “your Aunt Gladys,” thrilled her heart. Seeing her mother so anxious to include her “other” family, Hope quickly agreed, “Mom, you can call information and ask for Gladys Carter’s phone number. She lives on Hayter Street in Jefferson, Georgia.” Then remembering the nurse telling her that no long distance phone calls could be made from the hospital room, Hope suggested, “I guess you will have to go down to the lobby and use one of the public phones.”
Saddened at the idea of not being the one to tell them she was all right, Hope decided to just focus on the fact that her mother was now willing to make this call for her. Jean grabbed her purse and headed for the door when Hope cautioned, “Mother, just please make sure they know that I am all right, especially Gladys. I don’t want her sitting in that house all alone worrying about me.”
Several minutes later Jean returned to Hope’s room full of smiles and excited. “I was able to get through to Gladys Carter for you, Hope; what a sweet lady.”
Frustrated at such little information, Hope prodded, “So, what did you tell her? You didn’t get her upset, did you? You did just ask for Lisa’s phone number, right? Did you call my mom and tell her what happened to me?”
Jean pulled the chair closer to Hope’s bedside and lifted the hospital phone onto the bed, saying, “Hope, you won’t believe it. When I called Gladys’s house, Lisa answered the phone. It just so happens that your whole family is at Gladys’s house tonight. It’s a long story for another day, but they are calling here in just a few minutes because they all want to talk to you.”
Beaming with excitement, Hope grabbed the receiver on its first ring and said, “Hi, Mom, first off, I am fine. I don’t want you to worry about me.”
Jean’s eyes welled up with tears as she watched her daughter’s face light up. As she listened to this one-sided conversation, she thought about how foolish she had been; jealous of Hope’s new family ties, blinded by Estelle’s pride-centered friendship, and knowing how much of this had been her own fault. Jean looked at Hope and thought, “I doubt that I would have been so generous to forgive someone who had betrayed me.”
Hope interrupted the questions being fired at her, “Mom, I really am okay. So everyone is at Gladys’s house tonight? Can you put me on speaker phone so I can tell all of you what’s happened to me? No, Mom, not about the accident, something even more important. I’ll wait until you get it on speaker so everyone can hear it together.”
Jean smiled at her daughter, assuming the important news was going to be that Hope had finally broken off the engagement, but she was soon to realize that Hope’s news was much more important.
Two clicks and several background voices could be heard suggesting putting the telephone in the center of the room, then Hope could hear Scott in the background saying, “Wait, we need to go wake up Ruth. She would want to be here for this. Tell Hope to wait just a moment while I bring Ruth into the living room.”
Lots of excited chatter could be heard while everyone got seated and then, “Go ahead, Hope, we are all ears,” announced Lisa.
Hope took hold of her mother’s hand, leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then started. “Hi, everyone, I need to tell you I am all right. I have a broken leg and am pretty banged up, but I will be fine in a couple of months.”
Several people tried to shout comments but Hope quickly took control of the conversation saying, “Everyone, I know you want to know all the details about the accident but can we set all that aside for right now? I promise I will tell you every horrid detail in a day or two, but right now I want to tell you all something so much more important. Something I know you all want to hear.
“First of all, I need you to know that my mother, Jean, is sitting here beside me and she has not heard what I am about to tell you, but since you are all my family, I want to tell you all at the same time… so here goes. Ruth, are you there?”
“Yes, I’m here, Hope,” Ruth called out.
“Ruth, remember last Saturday morning when you and I talked in the den?”
“Yes, Hope, I remember our conversation,” Ruth called out.
“Well, everyone, Ruth explained to me the difference between just being a religious person and being a person of faith. She told me exactly what that means and then she gave me one of Tobias’s study-guides to read.
“During your wedding, Mom, I was struggling with lots of things. I was trying to decide if I was going through with my own wedding plans, knowing I could never really be happy with Michael. I was also struggling over my decision to become a person of faith. I knew I needed to pray the prayer that Ruth and the pastor said God would always listen to, so right during your wedding ceremony, Mom, I did pray that prayer and God did hear it; I absolutely know He did.”
Gladys’s living room lit up with excitement at hearing this wonderful news but everyone was careful to remain quiet so Hope could continue. “I finally told Michael that I could not marry someone I did not really love and I told him I did not think he really loved me.”
Lisa gave Susan a quick high five at hearing this news as Hope continued. “I’ve found out a lot of ugly information today. I also got lots of my questions answered, but I don’t want to waste this long distance call talking about the Gundersol family. I want to talk to you about what I’ve learned.
“I started out believing my life was just one big mistake; given away as an infant. Then the disaster at the bakery and then the trial, were all just part of some cosmic joke with me as the naive and gullible main character. But tonight, having just gone through a second attempt on my life within a year, my fiancé finally gone forever, and most likely at least two more trials in the near future for me, I now know my life has not been, nor will it be, a big mistake because the Creator of the universe has a plan for me and I am excited to find out what that plan is.
“I’ve learned that although my life seemed to be spinning out of control—the One who controls everything has my life in His hands.
“I’ve learned that I do not have to choose between my two families. It is not a competition where for one to win, the other must lose. I actually have one big wonderful family.
“I’ve learned that I need to never be afraid to face the truth—even though painful. It is always better than living a lie.
“I’ve learned that powerful people do not have power over me – that I should never surrender my right to stand up for truth – no matter what they threaten to do to me. I must never ignore my inner truth and allow others to lay guilt or shame on me, forcing me into going along just to keep the peace because—peace at any cost will never produce real peace.
“Today, as we were flying around the curves of the highway, the steep cliff right outside my window and that man trying to force us off the road, I realized that life is much like that curvy road. At times, we have a beautiful vista with blue water spread out as far as we can see, then we hit a curve and everything changes in a flash and what was beautiful just a few moments earlier, becomes treacherous and life threatening. Then, after the crash, when I thought that man was coming up to the car to finish us off, and discovered it really was a rescue squad there to help me, I realized that life is too full of curves to try to maneuver through it by myself. I want to live a life of faith, the same life Tobias talked about in his study-guide, the same life Gladys and Ruth taught you to live, Mom, and I want my mother and father to come along on this journey of faith.”
The hospital P.A. system announced that visiting hours were now over so Hope quickly brought the phone call to an end with, “I don’t really want to end this phone call. There is so much more I want to tell you guys, but we will have the rest of our lives together. Just know that I love all of you and will come back there as soon as they will allow me to travel, but this time I would like to bring my parents with me. I want them to get to know all of you and love you all as much as I do. Good night, everyone, I love you all.”
A huge celebration of thanksgiving erupted at Gladys’s home that evening. Lisa’s joy was overwhelming, as mentally she reviewed Hope’s confession of faith. Gladys came over and hugged Lisa as she said, “Lisa, you know those curves in the road Hope was talking about reminds me of Dickens, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,’ right? But this is certainly one of those best of times moments.”
“It sure is, Gladys,” Lisa agreed, her eyes filled with happy tears as she was finally able to add the one missing part, “and because my girl has experienced her own Epoch of belief, I know that my Spring of Hope has come to me as well.”
As everyone began to settle into quiet conversation, Lisa took hold of Susan’s hand and silently walked out back to be alone with her sister. For several minutes they just sat in the stillness of the night, allowing Hope’s confession of faith to fully sink in. Susan could hear her sister’s breathing change from a contented sigh to a more rapid rhythm as she suspected Lisa was reliving the image of her little girl flying around those dangerous curves. Susan remained quiet, not wanting to force the conversation. The sky was clear and all the stars were out, as if God Himself was putting on a celebration display tonight. After all, one more of His precious little lambs had been rescued tonight and was now safe and sound.
Almost reverently, Lisa slid her arm around her sister’s waist and whispered, “You know, Susan, all those childhood prayers really were answered, weren’t they. God has given us so much more than either one of us could have imagined. I’ve been sitting here thanking God for all the ways He has shown us He loves us – us – you and me, the Miller girls.
“Susan, in my worst of times, I still loved you, but I also resented you. You were moving forward in life, happy, safe, and loved by so many, while I was stuck in a lifestyle no one could justify. I was so full of rage and excuses back then. You kept coming back no matter how I treated you.”
“Because I loved you, Lisa,” Susan cried through thankful tears.
“I knew you did, Susan, but I couldn’t hear what you were saying to me at the time. You wanted to wipe away my excuses and make me face who I was and my rage would not allow that. So, God sent Gladys to me. At first, I played the same game with her. I presumed she had no inkling what it felt like to live with crippling rage. I assumed she had always been this perfect, sweet old lady I was observing, someone who could never know my kind of rage.”
Starting to chuckle out of embarrassment, Lisa turned and faced Susan directly and confessed, “Susan, do you know the night I realized how much God loved me?”
Susan was too emotional to answer her sister. She simply smiled and shook her head no.
“I had been living with Gladys for months, listening to Gladys and Ruth tell me all about how much God loves us all. I would usually just sit there quietly trying to ignore what they were saying. I had run through all my excuses and they had fallen on deaf ears. No matter what I said, these two women had a Bible verse ready and waiting for me.
“Well, one night Gladys decided it was time for me to hear her story—the same story she told Hope and Benny just before my wedding. But with me, Gladys went into much more detail about just how ugly she had become while in her rage. She emotionally undressed herself to me so I could see that she really did understand what I was battling inside. She showed me all her scars that night, using words I could fully relate to. I remember sitting there, looking at this lady I had come to admire, telling me that she had been where I was. She was honest and transparent and I loved her for that. It was only then that I realized this Jesus she was talking about was the One who had changed her from that rage-filled person that I identified with – into this sweet and kind person I so wanted to become. I realized that this same Jesus had put this wonderful woman in my life because I needed a flesh and blood example of what Jesus could do for me if I would just trust Him. “That night I surrendered my heart, my excuses, and my past to God. It wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it. Seeing how God had changed Gladys gave me hope that He could, and would, change me also. I cannot imagine that night in the bakery, facing my daughter, if I had not had those eight years of restoration and healing before meeting her. Because Jesus forgave me of my past and changed who I was, I could be as honest with Hope as Gladys had been with me. When you stand before people, a forgiven person, you are able to be open and transparent because you know that the change was all God’s doing.
“Then God sent Hope back into my life. I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t even asking God for that. I just wanted Him to keep her safe. He had done so much for me, how could I ask Him to bring my girl back to me? But God knew that Hope needed to see all the love in this family. She also needed to see our faith in action. Seeing what He had done for me and Gladys, showed her He is real and He can change our lives if we will trust Him.”
“Don’t you forget Ben,” Susan teased. “Ben is a really huge gift.”
“I know. I do not deserve any of this, but God did it anyway.”
“Susan, tonight, hearing my daughter say she accepted God’s forgiveness, makes me realize that I need to do something I have struggled against ever since I was forgiven. The Bible says, ‘With what mercy you show; you shall be shown.’ Gladys and Ruth have been challenging me to take a real step of faith and to finally forgive Mother for my childhood. For a long time I have refused, believing she does not deserve to be forgiven. But, Susan, I have been forgiven so much, how can I refuse to forgive her, regardless of how she responds? I need to go see our mother, but would you come with me? I do not expect her to behave any differently than she always has, but her reaction is not what must guide my actions. I need to tell her that God is in the business of forgiving everyone, you, me and her. I need to be free of the burden of carrying this around with me. I intend to make sure Marjorie Miller has heard the truth and then I will finally be free.”
Susan smiled at her sister. “I’d be honored to go with you, Lisa. Hope is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? As children, hope was never part of our lives, nor was it ever part of our mother’s life. We know that God is not that big ogre up in the sky who enjoys beating us down, but our mother still believes that. We know He has a plan for our lives and that He can be trusted to direct our paths through all the twists and turns of life, if we will simply accept His love and trust His heart. It is the only way to flood our lives with His hope. Our mother needs to know this hope is available to her as well and she can only know it if she knows the God who offers this hope.”
Lisa swung her arm around Susan and started back toward the house, saying, “You know, little sister, God’s hope really has returned, hasn’t it? Just imagine, we two Miller girls have become safe and secure in God’s love to the point that we are willing to go face the lioness to share this wonderful truth with her. I am so filled with gratitude that I cannot think of a better way of showing it than to share it with our mother. What she does with it is up to her but I need to try. After all, Susan, this is not the end—it is only the beginning.