Chapter 11
The Plan
The next day Annie called Harmony and invited her over for coffee and cookies. She invited Beth, Trish and Patti too but they said they had made plans. Annie took that as a sign that God wanted it to be just her and Harmony for coffee. It was just a short walk to Annie's house, so it took just a few minutes for Harmony to arrive.
Annie hadn't even made it into the living with the tray of coffee and snacks yet when she rang the bell. Annie hollered for her to come in. "Hi," Harmony called as she walked into the kitchen. "Hey girl!" Annie greeted her. "How are you?" "Well, the morning sickness is gone. So I'm pretty good." Harmony answered.
"I still have some queeziness sometimes, but no more trips to the bathroom," Annie told her with a chuckle in her voice. "I'm happy for both of us," Harmony said, with a giggle of her own. "That's a cute shirt," Annie complimented her, admiring her yellow and brown plaid top paired with tan leggings.
"Thanks. I had to buy them," she said, patting her growing tummy. "Only a few of my clothes fit me now." "Yep. Won't be long and I'll have the same problem," Annie said with a grin. Annie put the refreshments on the tray and carried them into the living room. "You and I almost match," Harmony said, looking over Annie's outfit.
Annie was wearing a green and white plaid shirt and black leggings. "Almost," Annie said, taking a sip of her coffee. Harmony did the same, after she doctored it with cream and sugar. Annie guessed she should stop stalling and come right out with what she had to tell her friend. "Harmony. "Charles is in the custody of the Boston Police now."
"And they are transporting him here sometime today; to Len's station house that is." Harmony made of grunt of sorts while a single tear rolled down her cheek. But she didn't cry. She simply said, "I'm glad. Charles needed something like this to happen to him to wake him up so he'd realize he needs to change his life, before he has to spend the rest of it in jail."
Annie gave her a tight hug, and then the front door was opened unexpectedly. Annie turned to see her husband Len with two very unexpected and welcomed visitors. "Katie, Charlie!" she squealed, and bounded across the floor to where they stood, nearly bowling them over. Len was beaming at her the whole time.
She enfolded both of them in a crushing hug while Len and they laughed. "It's good to see you my friend," Charlie said, his gray eyes sparkling. "It's great to see both of you too!" she gushed, whilst pulling on one of Katie's red curls. "Where are the other guys?" she asked. "Back at Seminary holding down the fort," Charlie said. "They all send their love."
"Come and meet Harmony," Annie said, leading them to the sofa. She made the introductions and Len, Charlie and Katie sat down while Annie ran off to make three more cups of coffee and get some more cookies. They were homemade chocolate chip and she knew Len could a plateful by himself.
Len suddenly excused himself from his guests and went to the kitchen, where Annie was putting more snacks and the needed coffee on another tray. He tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, "Did you tell Harmony about...." Len started. "Yes," Annie interrupted him, also in her lowest voice. "And she's okay." "Good," Len said nodding.
Len and Annie then headed back into the living room, just as Charlie was saying, "Harmony. I'd like to have a talk with Charles today if you don't mind," he said gently. Harmony smiled at him and said, "I don't mind at all. Charles may seem hopeless to me now, but I know that all things are possible with God."
"That reminds me. Charles should arrive at my station in about an hour," Len announced. "Well, if that's the case Charlie," Katie started, "you probably should make that phone call now. "You're right," Charlie agreed. "Is there a place where there's a little more privacy?" Charlie asked, his eyes moving back and forth between Annie and Len.
"Of course," the two of them chimed. "You can use our bedroom upstairs," Len told him. As soon as Charlie was out of sight, Annie turned to Katie who was sitting on one side of her. (Harmony was on the other) and said, "Okay pal. You know how I feel about secrets. I don't...." "You don't like them one bit unless you're in on them." Katie completed for her. The others laughed.
"Now, I understand if this is a personal thing. But I don't think it is, is it?" Annie asked Katie shrewdly, her green eyes narrowed and a brow raised. Katie laughed and then said, "Charlie, when he heard Charles story, and I hope you don't mind that Len told Charlie Harmony," she said, with an apologetic look at her.
"Not at all," Harmony said with a smile back at her. Katie grinned and then went on. "Well, Charlie thought it would be good to have reinforcements." Annie's brows came together in confusion. "Charlie's calling Uncle Frank," Katie told her. Annie now peered over at Len on the other side of Katie. Len having looked at his wife's face didn't need for her to ask her question.
"Charlie and Katie arrived at the station an hour ago and when I saw them, I had a strong gut feeling. I mean another one, other than the pure joy I felt to see our friends again. I thought Charlie could have a talk with Charles. You know, how God has a better plan for his life than what he's living. So Charlie and I hatched a plan."
" You know honey how Uncle Frank," then he stopped and turned to Harmony, "Frank Malone is the uncle of one of our friends at Seminary with Katie and Charlie. His name is Bobby Malone and we met Frank through him," Harmony smile and nodded. "Well, Frank's been sharing the Gospel with the prisoners in all the jails in the Tri-State area. He used to be a criminal himself Harmony. But he's working for God now."
"That's why I thought, and Charlie agreed, that Uncle Frank could maybe convince Charles to give up his life of crime and tell him how much better it is on the Christian side of life. I think with Charlie and Uncle Frank opening up and telling him their stories, there is hope for Charles." Len ended. "And I hope with all my heart you're right," Harmony said, a tear sparkling on her face. Len then continued with his news.
"Uncle Frank was over at Danbury Prison yesterday talking to a few of his friends who are inmates there. The friends have a prison ministry and Uncle Frank was delivering a box of Bibles for the inmates who don't have one. He pays for them himself," Len said with a great deal of pride for Uncle Frank. "But anyway, we thought we'd better make the visit for tonight because tomorrow we're supposed to get hit with a snow storm. And if proves to be as bad as the forecasters say, none of us will be going anywhere." Len ended.
"That's a great plan you and Charlie had," Annie said, kissing her hubby on the cheek. Len grinned at her and said, "It was God's plan. We're just carrying it out. Or as Charlie always puts it, we're God's messengers." Just as Len had finished, Zack, Trish, Jamie, Patti, Beth and Eric came through the door, at the same time that Charlie was coming down the stairs.
The group whooped and laughed at the sight of their old friends; and Katie and Charlie were hugged to pieces. When all of them were comfortably seated, Charlie told everyone about his phone call with Uncle Frank. "Frank will be here within the hour," Charlie announced. He's really stoked about meeting Charles," he said, grinning widely at Harmony in particular.
"Thank you Charlie," Harmony said, wiping a tear away, "Thank you to all of you for caring so much. It means more than I can tell you," she said sweetly. "Thank you Heavenly Father," Len said with his eyes raised to heaven. "I do love it when a plan comes together," he added, putting an arm around Annie, who beamed up at him.
End of Chapter 11
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Book 3- Annie Adams-College Years
Mystery / ThrillerAnnie Adams is off to college in the fall to study Criminal Justice. But before that happens there is a....proposal and marriage in Annie's near future. Old friends and new ones will be along for the ride when Annie Adams and Sheriff Len Summers o...
