Free Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury Page B

doesn’t matter
     where we live. You’ll get work again. And when you do, I’m sure we’ll have another house.” She brushed her nose against his.
     “All that matters is that we have each other. Me and you and Molly.”
    They settled into a routine. That fall, Earl found a job. Despite their housing situation, it was one of the happiest Thanksgivings
     Earl could remember. They shared warm conversations with his parents and ate pumpkin pie late into the night.
    None of them could wait for Christmas.

    E arl’s story stopped short. He blinked and his gaze fell to his weathered hands. This was the hard part, the part that didn’t
     make sense. Earl and his family had been halfway to forever, enjoying the kind of life and love most people only dreamed of.
    Bad times weren’t supposed to fall on people like Earl and Anne and Molly.
    Across from him, D. J. inhaled sharply. “Something happened to them?”
    “Yes.” Slowly, painfully, Earl allowed a handful of stubborn layers to join the others in a heap on the floor beside him.
     If he was going to tell the story, he couldn’t stop now. “Yes, something happened to them.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    E arl hadn’t talked about this to anyone. Not ever. But there, with the kindly mission director listening, it was time. He drew
     a slow breath and let the details come.
    On December 22 that year, most of their gifts had been wrapped and placed beneath the tree. Anne and Earl still had shopping
     to do, but Molly was adamant about going out to dinner and taking a drive to see Christmas lights. Usually the three of them
     waited until after Christmas to check out local displays.
    Earl cast Anne a questioning glance and shrugged.
    “Why not?” She grinned at their daughter. “Shopping can wait. Maybe your grandpa and grandma would like to come.”
    “That’s okay.” Earl’s father grinned at them. “You young people go and have a good time.”
    At six o’clock that evening they set out. The night was cool and clear; a million stars fanned out across the winter sky.
     They were two blocks away from home when it happened.
    One moment Earl was driving his family through an intersection. They were all talking at once, pointing at lights and laughing
     about something Molly had said. When suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Earl saw a truck the size of a freight train barreling
     toward them.
    “Noooo!” Earl’s piercing shout stilled the laughter just as the truck made impact. For what felt like minutes, they were surrounded
     by the deafening sound of twisting metal and breaking glass. Their car was spinning, flying through the air. Then, finally,
     it jolted to a stop, leaving a bone-chilling silence.
    Earl’s legs were pinned beneath the dash. His breathing was shallow and choppy and at first he couldn’t find the wind to speak.
    “Anne… Molly…” His words were the dimmest of whispers. Inch by inch, he forced himself to turn until he could see Anne beside
     him. Her head was hanging strangely to one side. Blood trickled from her mouth and ear. “Anne!” This time his voice shook
     the car. “Anne, honey, wake up!”
    There was a moaning in the backseat and Earl fought the pain to twist around. “Molly? Sweetheart, are you okay?”
    She was silent. Then Earl noticed something that turned his stomach. Her head wasn’t right. The entire right side was flatter
     than before. “Somebody, help us! Please!”
    Sirens sounded in the distance and Earl heard people running toward them. A man’s voice shouted at him. “Hang on, in there.
     Help’ll be here any minute. Everything’s going to be okay.”
    Earl wanted to shout at the man that no, it wasn’t okay. His girls were hurt. He needed to check on Anne, make sure she was
     breathing. But black dots clouded his vision. The man outside the car began to fade and Earl realized he was fainting.
    No,
he ordered himself.
Not now. The girls need me.
Then with a final burst of strength he reached out and took hold of