Chapter 1
The moment
“Is that it? A lousy $500? That’s an insult! I’m worth much more than that.” John Hero laughed silently with a mischievous smile sneaking out. “No worries,” he thought. But then almost as if a voice was speaking to him, giving him orders as a drill sergeant, he leapt into action.
“Honey, you and the kids should go stay with your parents for awhile.”
Corrina looked up from her quilting with a perplexed look on her face, “Why?”
“There might be trouble with hornets.”
“What?” John showed her the email.
“500?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s get packed.”
“Actually I’ll stay here.” He braced himself for her to disagree and argue with him. Everything within him hated to fight with this woman that he loved from the bottom of his heart. “I think God wants me to poke the nest a bit. It might get hairy. You guys need to get somewhere safe.” Corina paused. She had seen that look before. Hero continued, “A reporter will be here in a couple of hours. It would be great if you were already out of town before that.”
Corina knew that it was an impossible moment. She began to cry. “John, I …” She lost her ability to speak for a moment.
John delicately hugged her. “You’re probably right, But I am convinced that this is what God would have me to do. I can’t leave town because of $500. At the same time I must protect my family. This would not be something that I would want them to experience and many years from now have to share with a counselor. For me life must appear to be normal. I know that you’re afraid. I am too. If I run over $500 this will never end.” He smiled at her. She sobbed. “Besides how do I know you won’t take the $500?”
Corrina allowed a little laugh to sneak out. “Ok, we’ll go but I don’t like it. Kids! We’re going to grandma and grandpa’s house. Pack a bag to last a few days.” Screams of delight echoed throughout the house and three packed bags suddenly appeared in the kitchen. “Did you remember underwear?”
“Yeah.” Long pause, “I’ll check” All three faces were smiling. Hero helped carry all of the bags to the minivan. Corina became silent. “I’ll call you after the reporter leaves.” They kissed as a couple who would never see each other again. Strangely the kids never asked why daddy wasn’t going with them. The ecstasy and innocence of childhood clouded their minds from the seriousness of the moment. “Honey, its $500. They can’t be that serious. I can handle this, but I can’t if I need to worry about you and the kids. This too will blow over. Corina pulled herself together and climbed into the van, started it up and pulled out of the driveway. The kids waved goodbye happily, Corina and John looked at each other deeply, gazing into each other’s eyes and then turning away; the van casually moved away from home. Life was about to get interesting.
