The Passenger by Jacqueline Druga (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📗

baby to see her, because he would get fussy. Haley was handling it and Cate just went back to the church.

She took her usual seat in the front left row, said her hellos to everyone.

Haley came to the row a few minutes later, sitting next to her.

“Is the baby good?” Cate asked.

“Oh, he’s fine.”

“Hey, can you scoot down? The Chief asked that we save two seats. He’s coming in with someone.

“The chief is coming to service? Wow. I wonder who he’s bringing.”

“I think it’s Jessie.”

“Oh, that would be nice.”

The church lights lowered, and the colorful stage lights brightened as the screen lit up with the words, the band started playing.

Jonas had taken the band and the service to an entire new level. Pastor Rick was known as the cool, hip pastor and people came from miles away. The service was always packed, and the energy was magical.

Cate kept looking over her shoulder during the first song, waiting to see the chief and Jessie.

It wasn’t until the second song the Chief came in. His presence was noticed by everyone who knew him. Like he was a celebrity walking in.

But he didn’t walk in with Jessie.

It was David Jenkins.

Cate wasn’t angry when she saw him, she was happy.

From the moment he was arrested in Fremont, Jonas took his side.

He testified for him with the judge.

Cate and Grant helped as well. Had he not been in the car with Jonas, they would have lost their son that night. They did what they could for him. David didn’t know they helped with his attorney’s fees or money on his prison book. All he knew was they kept him in their prayers daily.

Instead of condemning him, many people in Williams Peak wanted to help him. It was a community thing.

Marge forgave him for that day and convinced Pastor Rick to start a bible study at the prison.

It took a year, but David finally joined.

Jonas kept his word. He wrote to David, visited him and spoke on the phone. He saw something in David and believed in him. In return, David started believing in himself.

Seeing him was a surprise. She knew he was up for parole; Jonas had given a statement to the parole board.

Cate hadn’t heard a decision about it until he showed up in church.

David had changed. It was evident in the way he looked and walked.

He had weight on him, his hair was short, he looked happy and peaceful.

Cate knew when he slipped into the row he was anxious, she could tell. She grabbed his hand, kissed him on the cheek, and held on to him as they stood during the song.

It didn’t take Jonas long at all to see him.

His face lit up and he grinned widely upon seeing David. For a second he stopped playing to point at him, give a thumbs up to show him in some way how happy he was to see him.

Shoulder to shoulder with him, Cate felt him breathe in deeply and slowly let it out. His arm was tense as she held on to it. He was uncomfortable, nervous. Of course, he would be. Fresh out of prison, starting a new life. He couldn’t have picked a better place than Williams Peak.

It had a spirit about it that was contagious. He would learn soon enough.

To her, David would always have a place in Williams Peak, with her family and in her heart.

He saved her son’s life in more ways than one, she would always be grateful he was the passenger in the car, that fateful, life changing night.

<><>END<><>

From the Author

Thank you so much for reading this novel, I hope you enjoyed it.

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