UNTIL GRACE

Chapter 20

Sarah stood at the door looking at the surprise visitor.
She could tell Queen was nervous and Harry was just looking around the house.

"So... How are you?" She tried to start a conversation, but Sarah knew that wasn't her reason for coming.

"What do you want, Queen?" She jumped to the main point.

"I just thought of coming to check on you-"

"At this time, Queen? It's almost nine o'clock and why would you bring Harry with you?"

"Okay, you got me. I confronted my parents about the orphanage thing and they agreed to being responsible. I promise you, Sarah, I would never do something like that, I promise," Sarah looked at her halfheartedly. Queen was the leader of a popular group at school, one that everyone was, scared, you could say, of. And here she was about to cry.

She gave her a hug, something must have happened between her and her parents, she'd never drive that late.

"Come inside."

"What about... Your dad?" Queen asked quietly, the last time she'd been to her house the man had broken all their glassware.

"Don't worry about that, come on, Harry."

The little boy immediately put his hand in hers and let her lead the way into the house.

The neighbours were still seated in the living room watching a movie.

"Uh, guys this is my friend, Queen. She had a problem at home and she'll be staying for the night."

"That's fine... Queen right?" Her dad stood up to shake her hand.

"Uh, yeah," she slowly took his hand.

"You look a little familiar," his smile slowly turned into a frown, "Queen, Queen McMillan?"

"Y-yes."

The man let out a hysterical laugh, "Reign, sorry, but this won't work."

"But dad, she needs somewhere to stay."

"What about her house?"

"Her parents aren't doing too well."

"Well of course they aren't. What else is there to expect from a bunch of thieves?"

"I'm sorry, but that's not very polite and for your very own information, my parents are hard working people, unlike you."

Sarah turned to her defensively, "Queen, watch it! I'm trying my best to help you and all you're doing is making matters worse."

"Sorry, but your dad is the one who doesn't know how to watch his tongue. My parents go out each morning to make their money and even though they don't have time for us, I know they do it for us."

"Well then, little princess, you should know that your so-called hardworking parents were the ones who put me in bankruptcy."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, your said hardworking papa got me into drugs in highschool and when I walked out of that, years later he comes into my life and steals two years worth copies of my music that were part of a contract I signed with a music company."

Every one turned to look at her and she just stared at them in confusion, he was probably right.

"I t-trust my dad completely," she stammered out.

"Oh yeah, here's the proof," Sarah's dad sprinted up the stairs and later came back with a photo, "this was our class photo and to the right you see he and I standing."

"That doesn't prove anything."

"I can't prove he stole my songs, but I know for a fact that the so-called hardworking man your father is, is simply a liar, a betrayer and a fraud. He visited after a number of years only to steal two copies of my music and sold them to another company. If you don't believe me, ask him but there's no doubt he'd care about not lying to his kids."

Queen was conflicted, she turned to Sarah, "do you believe him?"

"Of course, he's my dad and above that, a son of God."

"A son o- for goodness sake, he killed your mom!"

"Even that was because of what your dad probably did! But I'm not going to blame anyone. Dad, if she doesn't believe you, she can leave, but Queen, my dad's not lying. He might be a lot of things, but he doesn't lie, especially not at this time of his life."

Queen was silent for a while before sighing, "okay, I don't know if you're telling the truth or not. But if my dad really did do such a thing, I'm so sorry."

Her dad just stormed out, "I think we'll be going home now."

"Okay miss Fischer, thanks for dropping by."

Sarah took Queen and Harry upstairs to her late mom's room.

"You guys can stay here for a while."

"Thanks Sar. I'm sorry about my behavior towards your dad. I just never expected my dad to do such a thing. I know he's a lot of things, but I don't expect him to be a thief. But now that I think about it, I don't know much about him. Probably as little as he knows about me."

"It's fine. You trust your dad and I trust mine."

Queen looked up at her with a smirk, "so, you are a Christian now?"

"As a matter of fact. You know, it's surprising how things turn around in just a few minutes. One minute, you think about how much you hate God, the next you debate and the last, you give your life to Him."

Harry stood on the bed in front of Sarah, a smile plastered on his face, "you know it too, don't you?"

She looked at Queen then back to him, "I know what?"

"That God's not dead, that He's alive, that He's always been there."

She thought for a moment, a smirk on her face before answering, "yes, but how do you know it?"

"Marilyn told me, she told me that God loves me and you and even Queenie over there, she also said that God loves everyone in the world despite their sins and trans- uh, trans-something. She uses big words."

Sarah started laughing and pulled him into a hug, "you and I know the truth, that's enough."

"Okay enough you too, I'm tired of hearing all this stuff. Sarah,  we'll take our showers and then maybe... We can watch a movie."

"Uh, yeah sure. I'll bring dinner up when you're ready."

Psalms 31:5 (KJV)  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.