Free The Lost Truth by T.K. Chapin Page A

still believe in God, right?”
    Nodding, I didn’t go into detail about my angst.
    “Good. Then you believe in the Bible and the power of healing. Jesus cast out demons, but he also healed the sick. I always tell my patients to focus on Matthew 8:6 which states that Jesus ‘healed ALL the sick.’ ”
    “Cute,” I replied. “Looks nice hanging in a picture frame, but try to tell that to someone with cancer.”
    “You have cancer?”
    “No.” Looking down, I continued. “I’m sorry. I have some beef with God right now . . .” My old life with Gail and Cindy flashed through my mind, and then reminders of the day in the trailer park pierced my consciousness. “Tell me about the wrinkles you work with.”
    “What?” she asked as we stood up. We began walking up the path that looped around the playground and up alongside the hill that divided the park from the forest.
    “The old people?”
    She laughed. “Mr. Harris is my favorite. He never has anyone come visit him, but when the trick-or-treaters come on Halloween each year, he’s so excited. He dresses up in the same superman costume every year and hands out candy. He loves it.” Her eyes warmed with joy as she spoke about him.
    “That’s awesome that he does that. He sounds like he’s full of life. So he has no family?”
    She shook her head. “I saw his son once. That was when he first came to the home. He dropped him off and . . .” She paused as she shook her head and looked over at me again. “That was it.”
    “That’s so sad. I don’t get why people don’t cherish their parents more.”
    Katie nodded. “I agree. Family in general, really. We have no idea when someone will be gone the next moment.” She looked as if she was swept away in a thought as we continued down the pathway.
    We made it over to the gate that we had first come through earlier that morning. There was an attendant there this time, who let us through with, “Have a good day.”
    I smiled at him. “You too.”
    As we climbed the inclined paved road up toward my sister’s house, I said, “I’d like to sit and have a conversation with my dad again.”
    She nodded. “I’d do anything to bring back a loved one for only five minutes.”

CHAPTER 10
    O ver the course of the next couple of weeks, Katie came out to Janice’s house every other day. She helped me with exercises, forced me to go on walks, and we spent a lot of time down at the lake, working my leg muscles to build them back up.
    Sitting in the grass beneath the starry night sky one evening with Katie, I looked into the vastness of space. She and I spent a while just admiring the greatness while we shared a silence that we had both become accustomed to. A lone satellite suddenly streaked through the dark sky. Noticing Katie closing her eyes, I erupted in laughter.
    “What’s funny?” She opened her eyes and looked over at me.
    “Were you just making a wish on that satellite?” I turned onto my side and propped my head up with a hand.
    “No.” She laughed. Cringing, she continued. “That wasn’t a shooting star, was it?”
    I shook my head. We both began laughing.
    The moment swept us by surprise, and suddenly, we both leaned in toward each other and our lips touched, sweeping us further into the moment. Pulling back from the kiss, I was a bit confused. Judging by the look on her face, she was too. “What was that?”
    “I’m not sure . . .” She hid her face in her palms. “I’m so embarrassed. You’re my patient.” She jumped up to leave.
    Reaching over, I grabbed her hand. “Katie, wait.”
    “What?” she said nervously. “This is weird, Clay. We’re sitting here under the stars, and I’m supposed to be helping you, and I feel like . . . I don’t know.”
    Gently pulling her back down to the ground by her hand, I shook my head. “Stay. It’s okay.”
    “Can we just not talk about the kiss?”
    “What kiss?”
    “Seriously? The one we just had.”
    I laughed and shook my head.