HOPE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER SIX

(Continued)

Ayleen agreed. Her wrist was too sore for her to escape to her job. She had to stop running. Her life as a mess and admitting it was a relief. If God was real, perhaps He could truly fix it?

Then the phone rang with the news about her husband. It was Neville.

Ayleen realised that Leaf and Neville were meant to be in her life, that Neville had released his wife to come. That only God could have shown Leaf where she was and connected her with her lost child.

Gratefully, she thanked the other woman and when Jean arrived, found that she did really like the warm-hearted older lady who had suffered much and yet had learned to love much because of her deep belief in the God of the universe.

Leaf waited until Tom came home, appraising Jean of the whole situation with Ayleen's consent. They exchanged family's and friends' news.

Tom was relieved his mum was being looked after and his meals would still be cooked. He loved his mum but had come home very hungry!

CHAPTER SEVEN

The news about Steve had shocked Ayleen. Somehow she had thought if she worked hard, nothing much would be required. That all she had to do was look after Tom and acknowledge her neighbours from time to time. The dream had made her realise she had deliberately been blind. Now she was being made to think by God and the people who loved Him, no matter how imperfect they were.

Jean helped her to retain a balance. Helped her to see that if God loved her, then she, Ayleen, needed to accept herself and do something about a great many things. 

Gently, Jean led her to pray to welcome Jesus into her life. The older woman also spoke to Tom with Ayleen, so that he might understand. It was not easy.

Tom did not see why a sister might suddenly appear, or even a father. He hadn't wondered too hard about a father before. Lots of kids had no dads. The young boy was angry and hurting. His beautiful mother had not been honest. How could he still look up to her and respect her? He did not have the words to reason everything out. He felt as though his world was falling apart. Wasn't God just a kind of swear word?

Thoughts buzzed in his head, and he felt confused and a little afraid.