Moments for the Heart

Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. The Medical world is frustrating. I had my PET scan scheduled only to have it cancelled due to an insurance snag. Then rescheduled once it was fixed. Then called me while I was on my way to it, saying their facility had a power outage. Rescheduled again. Really? Maybe third time will be the charm on Tuesday. Sigh.

The Five Barred Gate parts 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.


Last week we opened up Chapter Ten; Michael is confronting his father about his past. Here is a bit as a reminder.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Michael, other than what I’ve already told you.”

“Tell me about twenty years ago,” Michael said.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” Michael said, sitting back and folding his arms. “I want to know who Official Edwards is.”

We pick up right were we left off. Let’s get right into it.


Jacob matched his son and sat back in his chair, stroking his chin.

“C’mon, dad.”

“Hold on, son,” Jacob said with an extended hand. “I’m just trying to figure out where to begin. It’s been twenty years. I’ve pushed that man out of my mind. But there isn’t a week that goes by that his face doesn’t sweep across my mind. I’m just grateful you were so young that you don’t have to go through such memories.”

“Let’s begin with the jail. What law did you break that put you in prison with him?”


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

Jacob laughed.

“This is funny?” Michael said.

“No, son, it’s not. Sorry. But, when I look back at how I was, I can only laugh because God saw me through it. I was young and stupid. I was a hothead and thought I could get away with anything. It was not too long after the laws became enforceable. Edwards was the Official appointed to our area. To make a long story short, your mom and I were separated at the time. I went to the house and made a scene. She called the police, but Edwards showed up first. He and I had an altercation, and he took me into custody.”

“How long were you in jail?”

“Three months.”

“So, what happened after that?”

“It is not so much what happened after that but inside that prison cell.”

“Is that where you met Eric Lassiter?”

“Yes. Yes, he was in another cell in the jail with me. He is the man who led me to Christ. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

“Hmm,” Michael responded.

“We talked through a vent at the top of our adjoining cells. Eric helped show me that I was full of hate and needed to change, or I would die trying to live the life I wanted to.”

“Was he right?”

Jacob sat in thought, looking into the distance, then back to his son. “Yes. I was determined to see you and make things right with your mom on my terms. I didn’t want to fail, and I was trying so hard to do it my way that I was pushing her away. And getting in the face of that Official that day…” Jacob shook his head. “And now knowing what he was capable of. Yeah, my life was in danger.”

“But Jesse was the one who ended up killing Edwards,” Michael said, not sure how his dad would react to the comment. It wasn’t well.

Jacob’s eyes began to tear up. “Yes. He sacrificed his life so I could get away. Edwards wanted to pin Eric’s death on me to the public then murder me and say it was an escape attempt.”

“But how did the authorities know it wasn’t you?”

“CCTV. That and before Jesse came into the room, he videotaped a confession about his involvement and what Edwards had done with Eric and his cruelty. It was enough to exonerate me.”

“Where was mom?”

“Home,” Jacob said, wiping tears. “She had no idea what was going on through most of this. We had gotten back together, and you two had stayed with me in my apartment until…” his dad paused.

“What?”

“…until your mom was ready for me to move back into the house. We had things to straighten out.”

Michael knew his dad was leaving something out. But he could tell it was a sensitive matter, so he chose to leave it alone. If it mattered to what was going on right now, he would’ve pressed, but it didn’t, so he let it go—some other time when he and dad could have a heart-to-heart.

“So, what happened after Edwards was gone and things returned to normal?”

“Well, that took about a year,” Jacob said. “By then, local police were back in charge of the area, and we haven’t seen an Official since. That office was torn down. It’s a car wash now. I won’t go near it. Neither will your mother.”

“The Spik and Span?”

“Yeah, that’s it,”

“Dad, I go there twice a week to wash my car. Sometimes I have the kids with me.” Michael suddenly felt sick. Not that the men meant anything to him, but shining up his rims over a double homicide didn’t sit well with him.

“It was twenty years ago, son. I figure it didn’t matter. It’s in the past,” Jacob sighed and walked to the window. “In the past, where it should stay.”

Here we get some background. Most of the story of Book 1. So if you haven’t read it, there ya go. But I would still love for y’all to pick it up and give it a read. It’s available through the link below. The eBook is there too. Add it to your list. 🙂

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Featured Titles

Other titles by Jeff S. Bray:

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Jeff S. Bray’s Children’s Series:

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Jeff S. Bray

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