WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH

Chapter 6- All of My Love

"The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." "You see, the devil has come to steal your joy, steal your peace. We cannot let him take the peace God has given us, the mercy God has shown us, the love God has for us that he sent his only son to stand in our place, the one without sin who paid the price for ours."

My Pa is on fire this morning. God has sure given him a message to share.

Pa is known to get loud and jump on the pews when he gets the spirit moving in him. At first, it would scare her when Jordy was smaller, but now she has gotten used to it; she just pats her hands together and raises them in the air like she's praising the Lord.

I can't get my mind on God this morning where it needs to be. I'm so mad at Nick, but my worry has subsided. I know he must be fine and hadn't got himself into a wreck or in jail, or Nancy would have heard by now.

Not long into service, Pa's preaching is cut short. The small church office is to the right of the altar and the podium. The office phone starts ringing, which never happens during service time. It keeps ringing and ringing until the church secretary unlocks the office and answers it. She walks out of the office and down to the aisle Jordy and I are sitting in with Granny Ree; she leans over and whispers, "Riley Blair, there is an urgent call for you."

My heart is pounding. I hand Jordy to Granny Ree and fumble my way over people's feet, down the aisle to the office phone. It's Nick's older brother Kevin on the other end.

His voice is cracking, and I can hear crying and moaning in the background, "Riley, can you hear me? You need to have someone bring you and Jordy to Mom's."

My voice is caught in my throat. I can't even get out the words to ask why.

"Riley," he repeats several times.

As I'm holding on to the desk and slowly sitting down, I finally manage, "Kevin, why what's wrong?" "It's Nick Riley." He pauses.

"What? What's wrong with Nick?"

Kevin completely breaks down, "He's gone, Rye, he's gone."

"What? Where? I don't understand; gone where Kevin? Where is Nick?"

Kevin's voice almost vanishes, "Nick died. Rye, please come to Mom's." Then, he hangs up the phone.

I can't breathe; I can't move. Then, finally, Granny Ree has made her way to me; she helps me up and guides me to a church pew.

She is holding my hand, "Riley, honey, you are white as a ghost. What has happened?" I take a quick glance around the room, looking for Jordy; she's sitting with my aunt Sandy.

"Jordy, granny, please bring me Jordy." The next thing I know, Jordy is in my lap, and I am squeezing her so tight to try and ease my pain. The service has stopped, and church members and my Pa are gathered around Jordy and me.

The office phone rings again. It's Momma; she got the news about Nick; she tells Granny Ree she and Lyle are headed to pick up Jordy and me.

Thank God Lyle is on his way. Lyle is my rock, my big brother. Lyle has always been my protector, though he can't protect me from this. I still need him. Thank God I have Granny Ree, too. I know I couldn't be in a better place when getting news like this. I make my way off the church pew and down to the floor. I just sit there holding Jordy, crying, praying for God to have mercy on my heart and Nick's soul. Granny Ree lets the church congregation know what has happened, at least all we know, and that is Nick is dead.

The church congregation makes their way to the altar and starts praying, praying hard and praying loud to reach the Heavens, for me, for Jordy, for Nick. I can hear the cries to Jesus to comfort us, to cover us with his feathers, and under his wings give us refuge.