Free The Miracle Stealer by Neil Connelly Page A

Gabriella wander onto the ice and drown in the lake, right? The same God who took away their second child before it was even born? But now that they’ve done enough groveling or tithing or whatever, well, they get to have this baby. A consolation prize maybe. This is the God we’re talking about, right?”
    She slapped my cheek, hard enough to turn my face. “That’s for blasphemy,” she explained. “I love you dearly, but you’re still my daughter. Now let’s speak plainly. This has nothing to do with the Abernathys.”
    I felt the warm skin of my cheek. “Sure thing,” I said. “I don’t care about them. I care about Daniel and the Holy Roller bone-heads who think he’s something he isn’t.”
    My mother sighed. “You know, I’ve been silly enough to be hopeful lately. That night at the Abernathys, I saw you smile when the baby was born. Your old smile. And these last few days, I’ve been thinking that this, whatever’s happening now, could be a whole new chance for you, Ann. A chance to come back.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t want to come back.”
    Again she shook her head and gave me that familiar look of disappointment.
    â€œThat crazy guy from St. Jude’s stopped by,” I said. I pointed to the Superman comic on the coffee table next to the Lock Haven catalog. “Left something on the porch for Daniel.”
    â€œYou saw this man, here on our property?” she asked.
    â€œHold it. You think I’m lying?”
    She took a sip of her wine and tried to act like she wasn’t upset. “I think you’re very angry and confused. How do you know Daniel didn’t leave it there?”
    I pictured that weird cross, which I now regretted breaking. She’d never believe me. “I just know,” I said.
    â€œLike you know the people at the church are all crazies?” My mother stared at me, hard-eyed, waiting for an answer.
    â€œGo ahead and say it,” I told her.
    â€œSay what?”
    â€œâ€˜Just like your father.’ I know it’s what you’re thinking.”
    â€œIt’s a dangerous thing to presume, Ann.”
    â€œGreat. So tell me I’m wrong.”
    But instead of answering, my mother turned away and walked back to the window, looking down on Daniel as the last of the light began to leave the sky. I grabbed the course catalog and headed for the trail to my cabin. But then I worried that maybe the Scarecrow really was out there in the dark somewhere, so I swung around the side of the house, quiet as could be. When I rounded the back corner, there were two deer now, each within an arm’s reach of Daniel. I froze where I was but still they startled, ears flipping up, eyes flashing to mine, spindly legs springing them back into the forest. Daniel turned and said, “What’d you do that for?”
    â€œSorry, Little Man. I just wanted to see how your day went.”
    â€œNot so good,” he said. “Mr. Abernathy made me a hot dog for dinner but they didn’t have any ketchup.”
    â€œBummer.”
    I walked to my brother’s side and rubbed my hand over his hair. I had the urge to ask if they’d wanted him to pray.
    â€œAll that baby does is sleep and eat.”
    â€œShe’ll play when she gets older.”
    â€œWas I little like that?”
    I nodded, thinking of all the nights he slept cuddled next to me in my bed. He was warm and smelled so clean. “Sometimes you ate so many peas that your poop was green.”
    â€œGross.”
    I held my nose. “Tell me about it. I had to clean those diapers.”
    â€œThanks,” he offered.
    â€œMy pleasure,” I said. And really, it was true. Those days before he fell into the ground felt like a fantasy now. Back then, my most serious problems were school projects, chores around the compound, and being a good big sister.
    â€œI could hear you and Mom fighting,”