"Please hurry, Mr Burns!" Matt begged out loud.
As the seconds dragged past, Matt felt the contents of his stomach rise into his throat and he collapsed on the floor.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 46
Casey stared blankly past her mother.
TJ watched her daughter's face and saw some disturbing emotions welling up inside her. "Casey, are you okay, honey?"
Casey refocused her gaze directly onto her mum and swallowed hard, shuddered and then broke, weeping bitter tears. TJ folded Casey in a hug and glanced worriedly across to Ben.
"Finish it, TJ," Ben whispered urgently.
Ben knelt next to Casey and swept his daughter up into his arms, holding her tightly. The frightening memories were coming back in a torrent of fear and she needed to hear the end. Ben gently rocked her like a baby and spoke tender words of comfort and love while Casey responded and wrapped her arms around his neck, as he walked around the room rocking her and reassuring her.
"No one is ever going to hurt you again, sweetheart. I've got you and they have to get past me first."
Casey's heart calmed and she settled in the strong arms of her father, knowing she was safe.
A forlorn whisper leaked from around Ben’s shoulder as Casey pleaded, "Please tell me they didn't hurt Gwendolyn!"
Ben nodded to TJ and she acknowledged him and continued...
*~*~*~*
Gwendolyn cowered against the back wall of the barn and as she watched the five men approaching her, she sobbed a frantic prayer.
"Please, Father!"
A leathery hand grasped at her arm and then the barn doors exploded inwards, ripping from their hinges and splintering into a million pieces.
Five men turned toward the angry giant standing in the doorway.
"How would you like to feel the fear my daughter is feeling now?"
Gwendolyn couldn't believe what was happening.
Bluey was standing in the door.
He grabbed the men, one at a time as they tried to get past him and launched them into the air, falling heavily, groaning and writhing in pain.
"No one tries to hurt my daughter and lives to tell the tale!"
Police cars abruptly skidded to a halt out the front of the house and officers rushed in, handcuffing the bleeding and dazed thugs but warily watching the angry giant.
Gwendolyn stared up at Bluey, shaking.
Wondering what was coming next.
He turned toward her, dropped on his knees and held out his arms to her like he always did.
Emotions and fear raced across the frightened girl's face and then, the offer of Bluey's safe arms was too much and she ran into his embrace.
Bluey broke down, holding Gwendolyn. "Don't… ever… leave us like this again or you will break our hearts."
"I..I don't understand," Gwendolyn sobbed. "I killed TJ!"
"No you didn't, honey. She’s hurt, but she is okay," Bluey comforted.
As Bluey’s words sank in, relief took the place of fear on Gwendolyn's face and with her trembling emotions on overload, she broke and cried in her daddy's safe arms. "M..Marlene Styles told me you and Hannah were going to court on Monday... to get rid of me," she sobbed.
Bluey peered into Gwendolyn’s traumatised eyes and tried to respond softly, "She got half of it right, sweetheart."
Gwendolyn pulled out of his arms and backed away from Bluey again, but Bluey grabbed her and pulled her back into his embrace. "We are going to court, but to apply for your adoption into our family permanently. Not to get rid of you. We were going to your favourite restaurant to celebrate and break the news to you there."
Gwendolyn beamed.
"I..I thought…" She pulled tight into Bluey's embrace and held her father's neck and wouldn't let go. Bluey felt Gwendolyn's tears running down his shirt and onto his back.
"Next time anyone puts doubt into your mind about your family and our love, please come and see us first!" Bluey squeezed Gwendolyn so tight she gasped.
"Okay, Daddy."
"Oh, I’m so glad you’re safe, my little alley cat... no, not alley cat. You’re my tabby cat." Bluey swept her up into his arms and started walking toward the car.
"I like that name, Daddy. When I am adopted, can I change my name to Tabbie? Tabbie Gwendolyn Burns."
*~*~*~*
Casey's eyes were wide and staring.
Her mouth hung open in shock.
"Gwendolyn was... is my mum?!"
It took moments for the astonishment to penetrate into Casey's heart. "How..I..I don't understand. The two people are totally different. Gwendolyn was so selfish and..."
"Wounded," TJ filled the space. "Gwendolyn's life changed incredibly when she remembered her prayer to Father on that bridge, that fate-filled night. Return me to my family and I will follow You for the rest of my life. She blossomed into the woman of God you know and love. She learnt how much Father loved her and like you, she flourished under the influence of Hannah’s and Bluey’s unselfish love. Bluey never had to prove his love again to Tabbie. They were inseparable and once she saw what my injuries were, she never left my side, either. It was her determination that drove me to walk again and when I’d fall and lose my focus, she’d come alongside and gently encourage me to keep going. Tabbie would open her small pocket Bible and read; and I can still see her skinny frame absolutely glowing in the Father's love."
"Did she ever marry?" Casey interrupted.
"No, sweetheart. She was sickly most of her life, still suffering from the abuse she sustained in her formative childhood years. But Father used her pain to reach many hurting people with His love, drawing on what Bluey and Hannah had loved into her."
"Including me," Casey added.
"Many people suffer horrible abuse and even torture at the hands of the Evil One, but Father can turn that around if we let Him and make something truly beautiful from our brokenness."
TJ giggled at a memory. "Tabbie spent many months doing odd jobs for people and scrimping every last cent, until she could afford to buy that Bible you now own. She proudly wrote into the front cover, To my beloved Father, Sergeant Major Pell (Bluey) Burns. All my love, Tabbie and with every ounce of love she had, she presented it to Bluey and Bluey cherished the Bible, seldom seen without it."
The realisation that Casey had a valuable piece of family history entrusted to her, warmed her to her soul.
Something else suddenly dawned on Casey. Tabbie had passed on her Bible to her, hoping she would realise what it meant. Tabbie was preparing her to continue on the Father's redemptive call, challenging her to be a Tabbie with the lessons TJ and Ben were teaching her; and to love the unlovely, binding up the walking wounded.
Just like Tabbie had done for her.
"I get the story," Casey suddenly explained. "Tabbie wanted me to pass on what I’ve learnt and to love the unlovely."
TJ's eyes filled with tears as she hugged her daughter. "Yes, but only as Father directs you, Casey. A heart surrendered to Him can achieve great things."
"So, what happened to Matt Barns and Marlene Styles? Did she get away with what she did?"
*~*~*~*
Chapter 47
"Well, Matt was of special interest to Tabbie and she never forgot what he had done for her. Bluey and Hannah gave him a home for a short space, but he went wild. I think he always saw Bluey as a threat and cowered around him. Tabbie lost contact with Matt after that until one year, out of the blue, she received a letter from him via the State Corrections Department. He had been incarcerated for aggravated assault and petty burglary and must have been feeling pretty low and desperate within himself. Tabbie began to write to him and then she visited him regularly. She encouraged him to find Father and after a while, he got involved with the prison's chaplain. He accepted Jesus and now he is deeply caught up with the prisons ministries, a lovelier man you couldn't hope to meet, while Tabbie and Matt remained friends right up until her death."
Casey sighed heavily,
missing Tabbie horribly and only just beginning to appreciate the woman she was.
"What about Marlene Styles?" Casey prodded.
"Well, I wasn't there, but apparently Bluey's aim to put it right, made quite a disturbance that Monday in court..."
*~*~*~*
Phelps couldn't believe his luck when his finger rested on the court list for Gwendolyn's adoption case. Justice Morgan Greer had been replaced with Justice Brewster. He glanced across at Marlene Styles, sitting on the opposing side of the bench and smirked.
"What are you so happy about, Phelps? This adoption is never going to happen," Styles rasped spitefully.
"We'll see," Phelps returned.
"All rise," the tipstaff announcer boomed. "Justice Jeremy Brewster presiding. This court is now in session. The court will be hearing arguments for the application of Mr and Mrs Pell Burns for the adoption of Gwendolyn. Constable Bryan Phelps will be acting on behalf of Mr and Mrs Burns."
Phelps reached into his brief case and slapped a thick file on the bench, making a noticeable thud.
Marlene Styles sneered across at him, annoyed by the sudden forceful move, making her glass of water spill some of its contents onto the table.
Phelps rose to his feet. "Your honour, I would like to open my case by calling on Mr and Mrs Burns to take the stand."
"Court calls Mr and Mrs Pell Burns to the stand."
As Bluey and Hannah entered the courtroom, a ripple went through the gallery.
But Marlene Styles' face fell.
Bluey was carrying a girl in his arms and the girl had one skinny arm around his neck, while Hannah closely followed. Softened by a pretty blue dress, the girl’s skinny frame made her look a lot younger than her thirteen years.
While Bluey and Hannah settled into the witness stand, Phelps leaned across to Marlene Styles and placed the file in front of her. "You might want to have a look at that before you open your mouth," he rasped.
"Your honour,” Phelps began. “Gwendolyn has something to say to the court," and then Phelps nodded across to Gwendolyn.
"Excuse me, your majesty…"
A ripple of laughter scampered unchallenged through the courtroom.
Brewster smiled and corrected her. "Your honour will do, Gwendolyn."
"Sorry," she grimaced, embarrassed. "I just want you to know how much I love my mum and dad. I want to be their daughter and I promise I will stay out of trouble. Oh and can I change my name to Tabbie Gwendolyn Burns? That's it, your... honour."
*~*~*~*
Casey nearly choked laughing. "She did not say, your majesty?!"
TJ just nodded, giggling too. "She did, Casey."
"Anyway, Marlene Styles' face went grey when she opened Phelps’ file he’d dropped in front of her. Her jaw dropped…"
*~*~*~*
"How…?! Where did this come from?!" she demanded incredulously.
"I suggest you rethink your position on Gwendolyn's adoption. There is a lot more evidence, including documents with your signature on them, admitting to the abuse and torture of Gwendolyn."
Refocusing on the magistrate, Phelps wrapped up his address to the court. "The case for the application of adoption rests, your honour." Then Phelps sat down.
Brewster raised his eyebrows. Was Gwendolyn’s commentary going to be Phelps’ only evidence?
He certainly wasn't expecting the next scene from Marlene Styles.
"The court will now hear arguments against the adoption. Marlene Styles, acting on behalf of the Department of Child Welfare," the tipstaff announcer boomed.
Marlene Styles trembled to her feet.
Her mouth started opening and shutting like a huge salmon, not saying anything and incredulously eyeing the file lying on the table.
"The..the case against Gwendolyn's adoption is withdrawn, your honour. The Department of Child Welfare will support the adoption." Her face went white, studying the implications of the file’s presence and she flopped back down into her seat.
*~*~*~*
"That finally cleared the way for Tabbie to find her home and her name, once and for all," TJ sniffed, wiping away tears.
But Casey stared at the floor... justice still hadn’t been done.
"So, Marlene Styles walked away from any responsibility for Tabbie's abuse!" she challenged angrily.
"No...! Honey, no! As you can imagine, the court was in an uproar and that was only the start. Two policemen excused themselves and approached Justice Brewster. After he gave an assenting nod, they walked over to Marlene Styles and arrested her. She lost her job and was incarcerated for twenty years, for knowingly setting up Gwendolyn's torture and other abuses."
Casey beamed a contented smile, sitting on the floor with TJ, Ben and Hannah-Jean, encasing them in a hug. "I love you guys so much. I feel like an important mission has been set before me."
TJ wrapped her daughter in her arms. "Tabbie has set you an example, my love, and one of her favourite sayings was... never forget the power of love and the sacrifice of forgiveness."
Casey had a faraway look on her face, gazing past the present and into her future, but she understood.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 48
Seated at the study desk in her room, Casey stared into the backyard through her open bedroom window. She was finishing her final month at high school and her grades had assured her a placement at Dove University. She’d set her heart on Dove ever since the evening, three years ago, when TJ had shocked her with Gwendolyn's true identity. Father was stirring something in her heart and she felt that Dove was an integral step and a jump off point into the adventure she was about to embark on.
Casey had many friends, both male and female. At present, Damian, a slim dark haired boy, was the one who occupied much of her free time. Even though TJ and Ben didn't say anything, she knew they didn't think he was right for her.
Ben had a policy the girls knew well. Any admirers had to meet Ben first, before they could even think about any sort of relationship with his girls. He would read them the riot act and if he thought the boys weren't respectful or didn't have the girls' best interests at heart, he would just say so. The girls' respect for their father's wisdom would often sway their decision in exploring a relationship.
The sheer size of Ben dissuaded most boys from making a return visit, or pursuing the girls any further.
*~*~*~*
Ben peered across at the bedside clock: ten minutes to midnight.
"Are you still awake, honey?" TJ asked, waking from a deep sleep.
"Mmm."
"You’re worse than a mother hen. Casey has never given us a moment of grief," TJ teased.
"It's not Casey that worries me," Ben replied.
TJ rolled over and kissed him. "It's Father's way of preparing us to let go, so the girls can stand on what we and Father have taught them."
Just then, they heard a key in the front door and the door pushed open.
"Casey, is that you, honey?" Ben called out.
"Yes, Daddy," Casey responded.
Casey sauntered into her parents' room, kicked off her shoes, climbed up on their bed and lay between them.
"I told Damian that I didn't think we should see each other anymore," Casey sighed. "He wants to be more than friends and I just couldn't commit to him."
"Oh!" Ben acknowledged, secretly pleased.
"I knew you would be heartbroken!" Casey teased her father. "I just didn't feel like my heart was in it. Father seemed to be saying wait for His choice," Casey mused.
"Casey, sweetheart, when Father's man comes along you will know and even more, we will gladly give our blessing when you introduce him to us as your choice. But until then, my love, your heart is locked away firmly in our treasure chest."
"Thanks, Daddy." Casey reached across and kissed her father, then across to TJ. "I love you both so much," Casey offered. "I am going to bed. Night, awesome parents."
"Night, sweetheart," TJ and Ben replied in unison.
"You'r
e such a great dad, Ben." TJ beamed.
"You’re the best wife and mother to his children a man could ever hope for." Ben leaned across and kissed TJ for a long moment.
*~*~*~*
Casey nervously stood on the stage of her Christian University, Dove, with a graduate cap on her head. She’d worked solidly for four years after leaving school, to earn honours in a double major, business and ministry. A secure favourite and the darling of her professors, always showing respect when she disagreed and always able to get her point across.
TJ and Ben watched as their daughter bloomed into a beautiful young woman. She was a popular student and her tender heart made her a target for people to unload on. Her wisdom came from her love affair with her Father in Heaven and Tabbie's Bible was never out of her reach. Many men pursued her affections, but she hadn't had the nod from her Father in Heaven, so she just smiled and left them disappointedly watching from a distance.
Ben's eyes were moist as he witnessed Casey receive her awards. TJ took hold of his hand and they smiled a knowing smile at each other, as proud of Casey as any parent could be. Ben’s heart swelled when he saw Casey searching the audience, looking for her mum and dad and breaking into a beaming grin when she recognised Ben's red hair, a full head and shoulders above the crowd. Mingling among the crowd and with her awards in hand, Casey launched at Ben, and TJ closed in the family circle.
"We’re so proud of you, Casey," TJ wiped her moist eyes with her hand. "Hannah-Jean so wanted to be here, but her exams fell on the same night."
Casey's face fell at the mention of HJ not being able to be there and she missed her sister desperately, crossing paths like ships in the night since leaving school, each one pulled in a direction that took them further apart, but the love they shared as sisters was strong and a phone call soon bridged the gap of distance.
Pointing behind her parents, Casey's face brightened as she announced, "Mum... Dad... I would like you to meet someone."
Casey beckoned with her arm and a mountain walked toward them.
TJ's mouth fell open. She thought she was looking up at a Bluey.