Daybreak: The Days of Redemption Series, Book One Read Free Page B

Lovina Keim’s face turned colder. “ Nee .” Slowly, she walked to the narrow, steep steps and began descending.
    Still holding the photograph in his hands, Peter let her walk down by herself.
    “Daed, what does this mean?” Elsie asked.
    It meant everything. But of course, he could withhold the truth as well as his mother.
    “I don’t know,” he whispered. “Let’s go downstairs, too, Elsie.”
    Slipping the photograph under his arm, he helped guide Elsie down the stairs.
    When she was in her room, and he was sure the rest of the house was silent, he strode to his bedroom, opened up the door to his bedside table, and pushed aside the neat stack of books.
    Behind the well-worn hardbacks, he found what he was looking for.
    And though it wouldn’t solve his problems, it would help him not care. Even if it was just for a little while.

chapter two
    It seemed that two years could, in some ways, feel like a lifetime. After their lengthy hug, Ed stepped back and took a closer look at his father.
    When he was growing up, most folks said he was a carbon copy of his dad. They both were blessed with hair so dark it seemed inky black and deep blue and gold eyes. The unusual combination had been a source of pride for Ed growing up. More than one girl had commented on his looks.
    But he’d always been happier to know that he was following in his father’s footsteps. There was no better man in the world. Now, after two years’ absence, he realized that he was looking at his future.
    Yes, Atle Swartz still favored blue shirts, black trousers, and black suspenders. He still had his gray beard, too.
    Of course.
    But other things were different. His father looked smaller and frailer than Ed remembered. Whereas Ed used to have to struggle to carry as much hay as his father, now his daed looked like he wouldn’t even be able to push a wheelbarrow. His body looked half its former size. His father’s hands, once so strong and perpetually suntanned, now looked heavily blue-veined and pale. Especially here, under the fluorescent lights of the card room.
    “Seeing you does my heart good, Edward,” he said.
    Feeling tears prick his eyes, Ed grabbed a chair and sat across from him, so close their knees were touching. “It’s been too long, Daed.” He ached to say he was sorry for his absence, but he wasn’t sure if that was true. He’d missed his father, but his heart had been full of the joy he’d received from the people of Nicaragua. Doing mission work had changed him in many good ways. And because of that, he couldn’t ever think of his time in Central America as a mistake.
    “It has been too long,” he agreed, his voice hoarse with emotion. “I am verra pleased to see you. And shocked, too!”
    “But it’s a good surprise, yes?”
    “It’s good . . . but confusing, too.” His eyes narrowing, his daed looked him up and down. Just like he was checking for new flaws. “You must tell me what you are doing here.”
    “I’m seeing you, of course.”
    “Don’t tease.” Pointing to a sheet of notebook paper on the table, his father said, “I received your letter this morning. You gave no indication that you were on your way home. I think you could have done that, son.” He paused, looking him over yet again. “Unless . . . something bad happened?”
    “Nothing bad happened.” Eager to push off any more charges of misbehavior, Ed picked up the note, saw the date, and grinned. “This letter is dated three weeks ago. I’ve written you at least two more letters since then.”
    “But surely you could have remembered to let me know you’d soon be heading this way . . .”
    Knowing his father had no concept of how disorganized life at a mission post could be, Ed tried to explain things as well as possible. “Daed, when I wrote this, I didn’t know I would have to leave so soon.”
    “You had to leave quickly?” Worry flashed through his cloudy eyes. “What happened?”
    Aware that several other residents