Page 130 of Praying for Thunder

I ran. I leaped up those front wooden stairs and through the open doors.

There she was, kneeling in front of the man on the cross. When she heard me, her body froze… then I heard her angelic voice. “Thank-you-and-amen.”

Sixteen. She was sixteen and even more beautiful than the first day I ever saw her, which I had thought was impossible.

Up from her knees, that once girl, now becoming a woman, ran her bare feet down the aisle. It had been years, yet she ran as if I had been gone mere minutes.

Seeing her face full of tears, her desperate to get to me, I knew there had been no one else. No one had touched her precious heart and spirit.

There was only one.

Her Thunder.

My chest cracking wide for this girl, I opened my arms and bent my legs, ready to catch her, hold her, and never let go.

Jumping into the air, her body hurdled, then melted to mine. Sweet arms around my neck, squeezing as if afraid I’d disappear again. “Thunder.” Her voice, even though more mature, in my ear, was nothing if not angels whispering I’d come home.

Feeling her so close was the answer to a prayer I hadn’t dared speak out loud.

My embrace was fierce and full of gratitude. “Rya.”

Her voice was distraught. “My brother.”

I tightened my hold, wanting to reach inside her chest and cradle her terrified heart. “I’m so sorry.”

Her chest heaved. “At the hotel… Why was he by the pool at three in the mornin’?”

I leaned my head to hers. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

She cried, “Thunder.”

“Right here. Right here.”

“I hurt.”

I started pacing. “I know. I can feel it.”

“Thunder,” she cried.

“Shh.” My eyes slammed shut. Her agony was debilitating. “I’m so sorry.”

Her lungs struggled… “I did what was asked of me.”

To cope with her pain, I kept pacing the aisle. “Who asked you? I don’t understand.”

“The dreams.” Her body trembled in my arms. “I did what they asked. I let you go.”

Stopping at the altar, almost timid of what she had to say next, I nodded. “I know. You told me.”

She panted in anguish. “I kept dreaming.”

I pulled back to see her face. “Is that good?”

Her little nose was red. Her beautiful eyes were swollen. Her mouth was open, trying to breathe. “They helped keep us safe.” Her sweet breath whispered across my face.

“Us?”

“Me and the boys.”