Moments for the Heart

Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. I write this upon my return from Nevada from being with my son Dylan. I had considered foregoing this week, but you as my family, and we go through so much together, I could use your support in this. Dylan had surgery to remove a tumor that was growing on his optic nerve. The good news is they got 99 percent of it. The bad news, to make a long story short, the doctors found it to be very aggressive. We need to wait for the full pathology, but it doesn’t look good right now. Dylan could use your prayers. I believe in a healing God. However he chooses to send that healing.

The Five Barred Gate part One and Two are available on Amazon! Pick up your copies today!!

SYNOPSIS:

Michael Andrews thought he was far removed from the events his father experienced twenty years ago. He heard the bedtime stories so often, he had driven them out and was barely speaking to his dad. Religion was the last thing he wanted, until it became the only thing that mattered.

A new threat arises; his wife is arrested for talking about God to the wrong person. Now Jacob Andrews may be his only hope. He must lean on him, Rachel’s attorney, and those who understand what occurred twenty years ago and may be happening now when an old adversary returns to wreak havoc, using federal laws to exact revenge on the Andrews family.

Will he succeed, or will justice prevail to set Rachel free?

SNIPPET:

Summary:
This Five Barred Gate sequel, is a Dystopian Suspense about what would it be like if freedom of expression liberties were taken from us. In this installment laws have become more strict. One could be arrested for simply speaking their mind if another chose to press charges. This only multiplied within the Christian community. The laws were strict for Jacob in the first novel, now twenty four years later, his son Michael must face his own battles.

Here is a bit from last week.

Michael knew Frank was right. He had fought to see Rachel at the courthouse. He should fight to see her at the jail. He looked up at the clock. There was no way he’d get into the prison this late. Another night of making up excuses for Mommy. He sighed.

Frank must’ve read his mind; his hand was on his arm. “You need to tell the young’uns.”

“I know,” Michael said. “I just don’t know how to say it.”


I may

“Best thing is just to say it. They won’t understand it, but you have to tell them. Lyin’ every night will just tear your conscience apart and only hurt more should they find out some other way.”

Michael nodded. But how do you tell a five-year-old that Mommy’s in jail? He looked up at the ceiling where the kid’s footfalls were making the chandelier vibrate.

“More tea?” Frank offered.

Michael shook it off. “No, it’ll keep me up. I should get the kids home. It’s almost bedtime. Maybe I can think of something during their bath.”



::There is your ten, but let’s continue on for a moment.::


“Stay strong, Michael. Lean on the Lord. He’s your strength,” Frank said, giving him a couple of firm pats on the shoulder.

Michael wasn’t so sure. He and God weren’t exactly on speaking terms. He couldn’t remember the last time they had a conversation, let alone him opening a Bible or setting his foot in a church.

“I’ll try, Pop,” Michael finally said. He stood and walked up the stairs to the room where little voices giggled.

“Daddy!” Aiden and Angela said in unison when he opened the door. Maggie sat in a rocker in the corner with her patented smile.

“Heavens, Michael. I still can’t get over how much you look like your father,” Maggie said. “Spitting image.”

Michael smiled. “Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad.”

Maggie laughed, “Most certainly a good thing, my dear. You are a handsome man. Your wife is a lucky woman.”

Maggie put her hand over her mouth, realizing what she had said. She looked over at the kids who were looking for the cat who had hidden under the bed, oblivious to their conversation.

“Don’t worry about it. They’re fine. She’s fine, I guess. I don’t know. I didn’t get to see her. Long story. Pop will fill you in,” Michael said in a near whisper, then a bit louder in Aiden and Angela’s direction, “I need to get these munchkins home and cleaned up for bed.”

“Nooo,” again in unison.

“We’re having fun, Daddy,” Angela said.

“Can we stay the night again?” Aiden asked.

“We have stayed enough nights, buddy. It’s time to go home and sleep in our own beds. Now go get your stuff so we can get going.”

“All right,” Aiden said. “C’mon, sis.”

Both children headed out of the room, leaving them alone. “I don’t know, Maggie. I’m at a loss. At some point tonight, I need to tell them their mom isn’t coming home anytime soon. I just don’t know how to word it in a way that a five-year-old would understand it.”

“You’ll figure it out, sweetie. You should do fine if you have your dad’s brains like you have his looks.” Maggie said.

Michael grinned, “Thanks. Again, I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

“We’ll he raised you, and you turned out better than average,” Maggie elbowed him with a chuckle. “So, I would say that is a good thing.”

Michael knows it’s time to drop the news to the kids. Lying is only making things harder and worse. Trust is being violated and it is a fragile thing with a young child. Even with serious issues. Michael must now make a decision.

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Jeff S. Bray’s Children’s Series:

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In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post n ew snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.

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