Season of Blessing by Beverly LaHaye Page A

dose at a time, I will.”
    â€œCould you do that? That’s what I’ve been doing. It was the only way.”
    â€œOf course. Harry, if you’ll make a list of what needs to be done, I’ll do everything that doesn’t require a doctor. You need to be with Sylvia. You don’t have to feel guilty about it.” He came and sat down next to him, put his hand on Harry’s back. “The Lord is still in control, you know.”
    â€œI know,” Harry said. “I know he is. I would never want to suggest that he isn’t. But my wife…”
    He was going to lose it. He was going to break down right here in front of Jeb. He couldn’t handle that, so he got up and headed for the door. “I’ve got a lot to do, Jeb. I have to get home and pack.”
    He took off without another word, walking as fast as he could to the old Fiat parked out beside the clinic. He realized that he had just contradicted himself. He’d said that he needed to organize supplies so that the medical missionaries could come in and take over, then he’d headed off to pack.
    Jeb would understand.
    He got to his house and went in, looked around at all the things that screamed Sylvia’s name. The smell of her lingered on the air, and he suddenly felt a sense of deprivation, as if she’d already been snatched from him and he didn’t know why. He went to the bedroom, pulled her pillow out of the bed, lay down and curled up with it…and began to weep. After a while, he got off the bed and knelt beside it to pray.
    â€œPlease,” he begged his almighty God, “heal her. Please don’t let this be the end. We’ve tried to be obedient, Lord. We’ve tried to do everything you’ve said. Father, please don’t take her. I’m begging you. I’ve never asked you for a lot, not anything really big. This is the first time, Lord. Please save my wife.”
    He fell prostrate on the floor, pleading and crying for God’s help and mercy.

C HAPTER
    Sixteen

    It was eight-thirty the following night when darkness began to dominate the sky. Steve had finished mowing just before daylight gave up its ghost. Cathy took a glass of cold lemonade to him in the backyard. His sweaty T-shirt stuck to his chest and back. He grabbed the towel that hung over the lawn mower handle and wiped his face, then took a long swig of the drink.
    â€œI like a wife that brings me lemonade.”
    She smiled. “I like a husband who mows the lawn. I haven’t done it since you moved in.”
    â€œSee? Marriage does have its perks.”
    â€œLots of them.” She lowered to the chaise lounge chair under the covered patio and looked up at him. Steve touched her neck. “You’ve been quiet today. Have you talked to Sylvia?”
    â€œNo, she made herself scarce, said she wanted to read and think about the decisions she had to make. And I think she’s out picking Harry up at the airport now.”
    â€œYou didn’t sleep much last night.”
    â€œHope I didn’t keep you awake. So many things were going through my mind. Sylvia and Mark…”
    He took another drink. “What about Mark?”
    â€œWell, I’ve been thinking a lot about this GED thing. We’re getting down to the wire. School registration is the end of the week, and I found out that a new GED class is starting up next week. He would have the choice of going nights or mornings.”
    â€œIf he went nights, he could work during the day.”
    Cathy sighed. “Yeah, but I don’t know if I want him doing that. Working all day and going to school at night? That’s a lot of stress.”
    Steve nodded. “It is, but I thought it might be beneficial for him to work like a dog for a few months, and find out how valuable that college degree is.”
    â€œYou have a point,” she said. “Only you realize, don’t you, that if he’s doing a full-time job