The Masterpiece

by Francine Rivers

“I have Samuel Friday night through Sunday evening.” “Let Shanice take care of her own kid for a change.” Grace’s mouth fell open. “I thought you knew. Samuel is my son, not Shanice’s.”

“What about alimony?” “I put my husband through college. He left a few months after he graduated. Thankfully, he didn’t ask for any.”

“What changed your mind?” “About what?” She refolded the map as he drove toward Malibu. “Coming on this road trip with me.” She looked at him. “You didn’t call it a road trip. You said it was strictly business.” “Take it easy. I’m not kidnapping you.”

“When did you decide to become an artist?” She didn’t want to talk about her parents. Okay. “I didn’t decide. It just happened. A teacher caught me doodling in class and said he’d accept drawings in lieu of incomplete homework assignments.”

“Roman, look around you!” She laughed, her face radiant. The hillsides were covered in purple, yellow, and orange wildflowers.

“Then it’s perfect timing we’re here now.” She spread her arms. “Look what God can do with weeds.”

“We’re going to Yosemite tomorrow.” That brought her head around. “What about Golden?” “It’s not going anywhere. Have you ever been to Yosemite?” “No, but—” “If you think wildflowers are something, wait until you see Half Dome.”

She put her hand on the table as though bracing herself. “Why are we really on this trip, Roman?” He let out his breath slowly and leaned back, surveying her. “I don’t know. I want more, I guess.” He smiled slightly, trying to ease the worry flickering in her eyes. “More life. I want whatever it is you have that makes you see what I miss.”

“I’d like to find out if we can be friends.”

Daddy shouted, “Shut up!” Glass shattered. Mommy cried out. Gracie heard a loud thump and covered her ears.

“Leanne, honey, I’m sorry. Leanne . . . What have I done?” Gracie could hear Daddy moving around, pacing, sobbing. “What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” When he started down the hall, Gracie froze in terror. She could barely breathe.

Gracie jumped at a loud bang from the living room.

“Woman’s body in the kitchen. Man dead in the living room—.357 on the floor; looks like a suicide. Neighbor said there’s a little girl—Grace.”

Gracie prayed they would go to heaven to see Mommy and Jesus.

He’d been attracted to women before, but not the same way he was with Grace. She scared him. He could put a stop right now to whatever was starting to happen between them. Jasper said that was his pattern. The old voice spoke in his head. Don’t get too close, Bobby Ray. You know how much love hurts. Walk away before you feel anything more than you already do. She’s going to rip your heart out.

. . arrested four times for prostitution . . . released on her own recognizance . . . overdosed on heroin in Starlight Motel, listed as a Jane Doe until identified by fingerprints. Bobby Ray’s heart stopped. He reread the last part, hoping he had gotten it wrong. His stomach dropped, and cold seeped through him. Mama’s dead.

Roman held out his hand, but Chet pulled him into a bear hug. “It’s about time you came home!”

but they hadn’t buffed the wall he painted when he was seventeen. “Yep. It’s still there.” Chet grinned. “That and the one on the barn are our claims to fame. ‘Roman Velasco’ lived here.” Roman struggled with his emotions. “I thought you’d have developed better taste by now.”

By the time Bobby Ray Dean earned his GED, Roman Velasco had five thousand dollars in savings and several more jobs lined up. All thanks to Chet and Susan and Jasper and their investment in a kid nobody else had time for.

I’m not suggesting anything is going on. Roman never lets people get too close.”

“He left the sketchbooks behind so he could forget us.”

“I knew who and what I was in the streets.” His jaw tensed. “Tomorrow, I’m going to find out what you’re hiding.”

Aunt Elizabeth pinched off a few dead blossoms. “I’ve been cautious my entire life, Grace. Maybe too cautious.” She tossed the dead petals into the garden. “You were right about Patrick. You tried to warn me. I didn’t want to listen.” “Yes, I was right, but that doesn’t mean you can never trust your heart again.” She nodded toward Roman. “He wants to know more about you. You’re on firmer ground now. You know how deceptive the heart can be.” She headed back toward the patio. “Don’t hide away and punish yourself for the rest of your life. It’s no way to live.”

“If you hurt my niece, I swear I’ll hunt you down like a dog and carve out your heart with a dull spoon.” He gave a soft laugh. “You know something, Ms. Walker? I like you a whole lot better for saying that. I was beginning to wonder if you cared.” “She’s been hurt enough by cavalier treatment.” “Not by me.”

“I want to know more about you, Grace. I want to know what makes you tick. We’re trying to become friends. Remember?”

Grace wondered what Roman was thinking. She gave a bleak laugh. “I’ll bet you’re sorry you asked.” “No. I’m not. But it’s not the life I imagined you’d had.”

“My aunt didn’t proselytize, as you put it, and I’d only been to Sunday school a few times. I was still hiding every night when—” Just be quiet. Let him think whatever he wants. “When what?” Tell him, beloved. Now, while there’s time.

“Just like that, you believed. How? Why? To please your aunt?” “It didn’t please my aunt!” She lifted her hands. “Let’s talk about something else.” Beloved, obey Me. Trust Me. Roman glanced at her. “I want to know.”

Lord, please make him believe. “Wherever I was, I slept in a closet. At home, when I was in foster care, in my aunt’s house. It was the only place I felt safe.”

“One night, I saw light under the closet door. It was different. I can’t explain it, but I was curious, not afraid. I came out and saw a man standing beside my bed. He didn’t look like anyone I’d ever seen before. He was bigger than my father, and light was all around him. All the fear I’d been feeling went away. I climbed onto my bed and sat there and talked to him. I told him everything that happened. He told me I didn’t have to be afraid anymore, and I believed him.” She let out a shuddering sigh. “I never slept in the closet again.”

“He said God loved me. I believed him. I still believe. He told me I’d never be alone, and I believed that, too. I never stopped believing in God, even when I listened to people who didn’t.”

“I’ve wondered about that a lot. I think it’s because I didn’t need him anymore. When I accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live in me. That’s what the angel meant when he said I’d never be alone. I sense when God speaks to me. I don’t have to see an angel. Unfortunately, I haven’t always listened.”

Someone sat on the side of her bed. He smiled at her, but didn’t say anything. She felt him telling her she could come out. He wouldn’t hurt her. The fear went away, and she came out. The man didn’t look like anyone she’d ever seen before. He glowed. She stared at him, wide-eyed. He rose, towering over her like a giant, but she wasn’t afraid of him at all. Instead, she felt loved.

He told her she could go to sleep now without worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow would take care of itself, and he would be watching over her. When she lay down and pulled the covers up, he sang over her.

“I’ve seen places over the last few days I’ve only dreamed of seeing, Roman. Thank you for insisting I come along. Even if it’s obvious you didn’t need me on this trip.” I need you more than you know.

He thought he’d be fine once they got inside the air-conditioned restaurant, but he barely made it to the sidewalk before his legs turned to jelly. Grace cried out, trying to break his fall, and he took her down with him. He wanted to ask if she was okay. He wanted to say he was sorry if he hurt her. She was screaming for help and rolling him onto his back. He didn’t feel anything but a heavy pulling sensation. He barely heard Grace cry out. “Roman. Oh, God . . . Jesus, help him. Help us!” Her voice faded as he sank into a sea of darkness.

Weightless and weak, Roman felt the cold wind blow at his back and the fiery heat of hell ahead. He screamed out the last thing he remembered. “Jesus!” Shrieks rippled through the cavernous tunnel. Roman cried out again. “Oh, God! Christ, help me!” Blinding light filled the darkness. Someone clasped his wrist, lifting him, and in the midst of hell’s cacophony, whispered, “I am.”

“Grace . . .” The EMT didn’t hear him. He tried again. “I need Grace.”

“Oh, God.” He moaned, crying now. “Oh, Jesus, don’t let go of me.” The veil had been wisp-thin between life and death. All his strength hadn’t been enough to break free, but one soft word from Christ, and he was alive again.

“He got me out.” Grace didn’t understand. “You don’t have to talk right now. Try to rest.” He squeezed her hand again. “I was in hell.” Grace felt goose bumps rise all over her body. Leaning down, she put her free hand on his forehead. “What are you saying?” “Jesus,” Roman rasped. “He got me out. They were hanging on to me. Ripping at my leg.”

His eyes drooped. He widened them, fighting sleep. “Jesus, I don’t want to die. I’m not ready to die.” Grace couldn’t bear it. She cupped his face. “Listen to me, Roman. Jesus would not rescue you from hell and then throw you back.” “It grabbed me. It ripped me . . .” “Roman.” She spoke quietly, calmly. “Jesus saved you.” He looked broken and confused. “Why?” What could she say to that? “He’ll tell you later.”

“I’m still trying to figure out why Jesus rescued me.” He expected Jasper to make a joke. “Apparently, He’s not done with you.”

“I could send her home, but she doesn’t have a car.” “Loan her yours. You can arrange a limo ride home. Or don’t you trust her with your keys?” “I trust her with my life.”

Jasper gave a soft laugh. “The fact that Grace stayed with you through all this should tell you something. The girl cares.”

“Do you need anything?” Roman said he was fine, then missed her the minute she walked out the door.

She thanked God the man didn’t have a clue what she was feeling. Everything had been fine until he died on the sidewalk, and her world turned upside down. She didn’t want to love him. She’d just be hurt again, far worse this time than ever before. She felt a blush coming and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Turning away, she opened the jar of peanut butter. Get a grip, Grace. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with here.

Oh, Lord, don’t let me make another mistake, please. I don’t want to be like my mother and pick a man who’ll destroy me. Patrick came close. And the other . . . I can’t blame anyone but myself for the choices I’ve made.

“I was off duty. Was picking up a few things on the way home.” He turned and looked at Roman. “The Bird is done flying, isn’t he?” Roman had forgotten to sign the piece in the tunnel. He wouldn’t be going back to lay claim to it. “Yeah. He’s done.” “Have a good night, Mr. Dean.” He got out and opened the door for Roman. “Thanks.” Roman grasped his backpack and slid out. The police car pulled away. Another second chance.

Shanice sat with Roman on the wall. “Beautiful night, isn’t it?” She tilted a look at him. “Please be careful with my friend.” “I haven’t done anything to earn a warning.” “It’s the way you look at her when she’s not looking that concerns me.”

Maybe there was hope. “Yeah, but I’m not talking about that. It was coming on before that. I wanted more.” “More of what?” “Life.” He was close enough to touch her and did. Her breath caught. The skin of her throat felt like warm silk. “You want more, too, don’t you?” She didn’t deny it, but she took a step back. “I work for you, Roman. We’re friends. Two people saved by God’s grace. That makes you my brother in Christ.” He wasn’t going to let her get away with that. “I’m more than your boss or your brother, and you know it. I see it in your eyes every time you look at me.” When she turned her head away, Roman cupped her face. “Keep looking at me, Grace.”