Topaz Heat (Christian Romance) (The Jewel Series) by Hallee Bridgeman

birthday, I recognized you from my dreams.”
    Maxine’s eyes shifted to a distant and very private memory and she confirmed, “God speaks to us in dreams.”
    Robin pursed her lips and swallowed hard, but her expression was more angry than sad. “Your mom was just protecting you,” she finally said, as if telling herself.
    Knowing now, knowing the bond that held the three of them together, remembering the love she had for her sisters that surpassed anything she could have imagined, her heart gave a painful, tight beat. “It wasn’t fair,” she whispered. “Maybe if we had been together, I could have coped with all of it instead of just forgetting.”
    “Hey,” Maxine said, gripping her hand. “Take it as a gift. Take it as a gift from God. You were able to live a normal life, all things considered. You found a family, with uncles and aunts and cousins. You had parents who tucked you in at night and read you bedtime stories. You went to church and had Christ in your life early when you were still young. God gave you that for a reason – either for them or for you, we can’t know. But Robin and I don’t begrudge any of that for you.”
    “You were probably the only person in the world praying for us,” Robin said. “And look at us now. We are together, a family.” She held her hand out, and Tony stepped forward to take it. Derrick stood next to him, and Barry put his hand on Maxine’s shoulder. “We beat the system, and the odds, and God made us into a family. Our children will never have to worry about any of the things that we faced as children, as long as there is breath in our bodies.”
    Sarah leaned down until her head rested in Robin’s lap. Her sister ran her fingers through her hair.
    Tony spoke above her. “We should pray.”
    Barry affirmed, “Good idea.”
    Derrick cleared his throat. “I’ll do it.” Sarah felt her neck muscles automatically tense up, but she closed her eyes and did not object. In a circle, they held hands, closed their eyes, and bowed their heads in prayer.
    “Father God,” Derrick began, “I’m not sure what to say. There is so much pain in new memories, and it’s on top of fresh grieving. I’m afraid that it’s a little overwhelming right now. I would like to start off by thanking You for placing me in the elevator tonight when the power went out. Thank you for letting me be with Sarah when she experienced the return of her past.”
    His voice, once grating to her very nerves, now soothed her, caressed her, until she felt the fist that clinched her heart loose its grip, until she felt a sense of calm slowly overtake her. Her sister’s hands felt warm against her cool skin.
    “Mighty God, you are a healing God. Your word tells us that You can do all things and we have faith that it is so. We know that if it is Your will, You can erase the scars of the past and heal the pain of past wrongs as if they never even happened. God, we have faith that it is so. We petition You to touch Sarah, tonight. Even now, God, we pray that You hold her up in the very palm of Your mighty hand and comfort her through the Holy Spirit.”
    As he prayed for healing and forgiveness, Sarah just relaxed and felt his voice flow over her body. Her heart felt lighter and she knew that they were in the very presence of the Holy Spirit.
    “God, we pray for all those who persecuted us in our past. We pray that we can be living witnesses to them of Your glory and Your promise. We pray that we can testify to the truth of Your word and Your enduring love. Father, let Sarah feel that love tonight and let that love fill her to overflowing. Let her see Your love shining in her sisters and her brothers in law. You know how long I have loved Sarah, Lord, and just how much.” As Derrick suddenly quit speaking, Sarah’s breath caught and she sat up quickly, turning to look at him. Without her glasses on, she couldn’t see a lot of detail on his face, but she could see that he stood frozen.
    She