The Reason For Grace (Sequel to A Reason To Stay)

epilogue

3 months later:

Joshua lay in bed holding his wife. The kids were all asleep. Everyone had had their baths, it was Saturday night. Sunday morning chores would come early and he yawned. Payton patted his chest and whispered an 'I love you', to him in the darkness of the room. Baby Grace slept in her cradle across the room. She was still a very light sleeper and once she was woken up getting her back to sleep was a real fight. The child had went from sleeping all of the time to never wanting to sleep. It took so little sleep for her to run on. She was now rolling over and around everywhere. She hadn't attempted to crawl yet and that was fine with Payton. The baby's motor skills were still slow but she was happy. She was still only eating breast milk, every time they tried to introduce solid foods she choked. Payton was content to nurse for three years if that was what it took. Even though the baby was over six months she was still on the level of a three to four month baby. Payton cherished every moment with the baby. She knew that one day she would be running and playing with the other kids, or at least she dared to dream she would. She prayed often that the day would come when she could but if not then God would help her cross that bridge when it came.

Joshua pulled her closer to him, "Will you be joining us for services in the morning?" Payton giggled. He had asked her the same question every Saturday night since she had stared going back to church. She wondered if he was afraid she might stop again. Really he was afraid that it was all to good to be true. Things had been so bad for so long and now it was all so good. He cringed to know what was around the corner.

Payton kissed his smooth cheek. "Yes, Of course I am." she whispered.

"Payton?" he asked

"Yes?"

"What turned you around? I mean what happened that day that set it all right? What changed?"

Payton knew that Joshua had a right to know but she herself was still struggling to understand. "I don't really know, Joshua. All I can tell you was that I had reached my lowest point. I suddenly realized that I was wrong, I guess.... I just....." she sighed, "I guess I understood why God had given Grace to us...."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Payton had to think for a moment what exactly she was trying to say... "I needed to learn about forgiveness and anger and bitterness and love...... I guess I just needed to learn how to be a better person...." she started to cry but they were happy tears.

Joshua could feel her tears and misundersttod, "Oh, love, you were a good perosn!" he caought himself and lowered his voice to a whisper, "You have always been a good person..." He dried her tears with his thumb.

"Oh, Joshua, that's not what I mean.... I know now..." she sighed and took a deep breath, "I know the reason for Grace. I know that before Grace I might have been like Gertrude Banks..."

He started to object but she put her fingers over his lips, "Shh... just listen. I don't know what I might have said or done but now, now I know that words hurt... I have learned so much since we got Grace and she's not even a year old yet, although not far from it.... Just imagine what God will have taught us by the time she's 5 or 10 or even 20??? I know now that the reason for Grace is to help me make it to heaven one day."

Joshua hugged her unable to say anything. He loved his wife and he was so thankful that through the mist of trials God always seemed to bring them closer.

THE END

Dear Readers,

I want to apologize that it has taken me SO LONG to finish this book. I simply got busy with my life and when I would try and decide how things were going to end with Joshua and Payton I simply didn't know.... I guess I really didn't want to say good bye to them but as a writer you never really say good bye to your characters; You never know where the next writing experience will take you or who you might meet along the way. I might find myself one day revisiting Joshua and Payton and writing about the life they have once Grace is 10 or 12. Or we might find them planning a wedding for Hannah or welcoming another child or even a grand child.... The best books leave you wondering what happened to the people when you run out of pages and when you get to pick up another book and catch up its such a wonderful feeling. I hope that is how this book has left you. I love to write (when I have the time! haha) Again, I am so sorry for the rather long and irritating pause I took around chapter 36... I hope you enjoyed it and don't hold it against me to much. Thank you for sticking it out with me and reading. Please leave me comments on if it ended well or what you would have liked to have seen. Let me know if you are happy with my ending and if not, why. Thank you all again!!!!!!