Free The Divided Family by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page B

maybe he would have turned his life over to the Lord instead of putting himself first.
    I shouldn’t be thinking about this right now,
she told herself.
I can’t undo the past, nor can I, or anyone else, make Joel become a Christian if he doesn’t want to. He was raised in a Christian home and exposed to Bible teaching from the time he was a boy. Joel became selfish and self-centered of his own accord. All I can do is pray for him
—
pray that he will see the truth before it’s too late.
    Pushing her thoughts aside, Kristi stepped into Audrey’s room. The light beside her bed was still on, and Audrey’s eyes were open. For a minute, Kristi thought the dear woman was staring at the ceiling, but taking a closer look, she realized Audrey wasn’t moving.
    Kristi’s heart pounded as she checked for a pulse. Nothing. And no breath came from Audrey’s slightly open mouth.
    “You’ve gone home,” Kristi murmured tearfully. “Your body is healed, and now you are in the presence of the Lord.”

C HAPTER 10
    I appreciate you having me over this evening.” Joel flopped into a chair in Tom’s living room. “Otherwise I’d have been alone on Christmas Eve.”
    Tom’s dimples deepened as he took a seat on the couch across from Joel. “You’re welcome to stay the night and spend Christmas Day here, too.”
    “Naw, that’s okay. Your folks will be here tomorrow, and I wouldn’t feel right about cutting in on your family time.”
    “It’s no big deal. I’m sure Mom and Dad wouldn’t be bothered if you joined us for dinner.” Tom thumped his stomach. “Mom will be cooking a juicy ham, baked potatoes, and a green bean casserole. My contribution to the meal will be the pumpkin and apple pies I bought at a local bakery the other day.”
    Tom’s offer was tempting, but Joel declined. “My aunt Verna called this morning and invited me to join her at my sister Elsie’s place for Christmas dinner. Things have been kind of tense between me and my family since Dad’s will was found, so I think I ought to show up and try to be sociable. I’m taking everyone gifts, so maybe they’ll see it as a selfless act.”
    Tom’s forehead wrinkled. “You think so?”
    “Sure, why not?”
    Before Tom could reply, his cell phone rang. “I’d better take this call. It’s my mom.” He grabbed the phone, lying beside him, and headed out to the kitchen.
    Joel leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and tried to relax. Tom kept yakking like a magpie, carrying on a lengthy conversation with his mother, while Joel tried to ignore it. He’d told his buddy previously about the situation with his family and Dad’s stipulation regarding the will. Now he wondered if he should have kept quiet. From the look on his friend’s face before his phone rang, he didn’t approve of Joel buying gifts for his family in the hope of getting the envelope Dad had left for him. It didn’t matter what Tom thought. Joel had to try something to get his aunt’s and sisters’ approval.

    “I’m sorry our new youth pastor couldn’t join us this evening,” Kristi’s mother said as the three of them sat at the dining-room table, eating open-faced sandwiches and tomato soup. “I’ve tried on several occasions to schedule a time when he could come for a meal, but either he’s been busy or you’ve had to work.” She looked at Kristi with a hopeful expression. “But I’m not giving up. If I can’t work something out before the end of the year, I’ll try to set something up with Darin for the first or second week of January.”
    Kristi groaned inwardly. Mom meant well, but Kristi had no interest in developing a new relationship with anyone so soon after breaking up with Joel. While the pain from it was diminishing, at times like tonight, she missed what they’d once had. Then there was the sadness she felt over losing dear, sweet Audrey. A short memorial service would be held at the nursing home the day after Christmas. Since Audrey had no