The Boy Next Door

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

"Three days later He rose from the grave. What is the significance of this time frame? Why is this so emphasized in the Scripture?"

As usual, Evan's hand rose immediately. For the first time, so did mine. We were at home group Sunday evening hearing our lesson.

"Meg?"

"I-I think it's significant because Jesus was already severely dehydrated and humans can't survive three days without water."

"He was proclaimed dead by the executioner, a professional. Yet people still believed He might suddenly come back to live. His disciples thought He would come back, but after three days they lost hope. Even if He hadn't died on the cross, He must have died by that point because of the dehydration."

I nodded as I listened. It was now weeks away from Easter. I was eighteen and had been for a week. While I'd talked over the budget with Evan, I don't think he's in a hurry to have me move in with him. Considering his relationship with his family, I figured he thought it would sever my relationship with his family.

Monday after school, I got in the car to visit Mr. Walker. This was the third time I'd visited him, but the first time alone.

"Hi," I smiled politely at him.

"Meg, are you here alone? I didn't see Evan walk in with you."

I nodded. "He doesn't even know I'm here. I just wanted to talk." He gestured for me to go ahead, so I did. "Evan's worried about me moving in with him, even though he suggested and encouraged it over the past month. He thinks he'll be tearing my family apart."

"If there's one thing I've learned while in here, it's that Evan loves the idea of family. Having one especially. His sister was a wonder, she would've been a great person for him to have in his life."

I frowned. "His sister? But, your wife died in childbirth. How would you know his sister?"

He tried to backtrack, "Well his mom was an amazing woman, so I can assume she would've been too."

"No, you said she was. What happened to your wife?"

He frowned at me. "She passed in childbirth."

I probably should've realized the signs and backed off, but I didn't and kept pressing. "You told me that she is or was alive. What happened to your wife?"

"She passed in childbirth and the abomination that killed her is gone now too!" he shouted at me. I backed up some. Prison guards that were standing around jumped into action on both sides of the glass and escorted me out.

I immediately called Evan to ask where he was. "Home, why?"

"I need to talk to you."

"If this is about your moving in, I-"

"You have a sister," I said. Saying it made me tear up in joy. Evan wasn't alone in the world the same way he thought.

"Wh-what?"

"Just stay where you are. I'll fill you in in about five minutes." I hung up and sped up, trying to get to the house.

When I got to the house, he didn't hesitate to ask questions. "Do you know her name?"

I shook my head. "I hardly got that your sister's even alive out of him before he flipped out."

"He lied to me about her. I can't believe this." I smiled widely and ran to the computer. "What are you doing?"

Into the search bar I typed "foster parents near me" and about fifteen different names popped up.

Calling the first number, I asked quickly if Evan wanted to talk to them. He shook his head. My heart beat faster, but now was no time to be afraid of talking to anyone. Evan needed me to talk to them now.

"Hello, this is Shelly."

"Hi, Shelly, I'm Megan. Uh, I'm looking for a young girl, probably," I looked over at Evan, who signed 9, "nine years old. She was handed over as an infant."

Evan mouthed to me, "Mom passed nine years and a couple days ago." I nodded. Wow, she was exactly nine then.

"I'm not sure if I've known a child that young, but I do have Savannah."

"What does she look like? I'm calling because my boyfriend and I are looking for his sister."

"Oh! Savannah was brought into the system as an infant. She's been moving from home to home all over the state since almost exactly nine years ago!"

My eyes bulged. "Really? Can we come visit and see her?"

"Of course. Come on down whenever you'd like. Do you need the address?"

"No, thank you. We already have it. Uh, could we come down now? He's excited to see her."

"Sure thing. I'll see you soon, Megan."

"Bye."

I hung up. "Did you hear any of that?"

"Only pieces. What happened?"

"Savannah's nine years old and has been moving from home to home her whole life. She's at Shelly's house now."

He smiled. "And we can go."

We walked out to his car and I put the address into his GPS. He was so excited. I wondered what she would be like. "That can't be good for anyone that young," I said, "moving from house to house every few months."

He nodded. "Even if she isn't my sister, she still shouldn't have to do that. Never knowing a stable home would be difficult."

I took his hand that wasn't on the wheel. "Let's hope this is her. You're eighteen, her brother, and can legally take her now."

He nodded. We prayed that Savannah was the right girl, that she wasn't too confused or angry, and that she had found Him in the midst of all her moving. Hopefully we wouldn't be disappointed.