Andi thought about her family’s time in Indonesia. The supernatural was more accepted there, and believers regularly experienced encounters with beings they believed to be angels. She thought about the man, pictured his unusual blue eyes and his way of speaking straight to her. Maybe he was an angel. It was possible. How else could he possibly have known her name? Hebrews 13 talked about being careful to entertain strangers, for in doing so some had entertained angels without knowing it, right?
Another set of shivers ran through her. The man had been aware that she’d be early, and he’d known private details about her appointment, her name. Even what it would take to change her mind. There could be no other answer. She covered her stomach tenderly with her hands. “Little one, I’m sorry…I’m so sorry.”
Her tears came like they hadn’t since she first found out she was pregnant. How had she lied to herself these past few weeks, refusing to think of her baby, but only of the abortion? The brochure was right. She would’ve hated herself forever if she’d gone through with it. She stepped out of her car and walked slowly to the front door of the adoption agency. Stuck to the window was a list of hours, same as those of the abortion clinic down the street. Fitting, Andi thought. Life or death, a few blocks apart.
She tapped the agency’s number into her phone’s address book and walked slowly back to her car. A new sense of hope filled her heart. Her baby was going to live! She wasn’t going through the doors of the abortion clinic, not today and not ever. It had been her choice to sleep with Taz, to believe him that in some twisted way, breaking her vow to God would be art. The lie
was flat-out diabolical. Breaking a promise to God, going against what Scripture taught, could only be called one thing.
Sin.
Yes, Andi had sinned against God and her parents. Even against herself and the plans God had for her life. But Andi hadn’t lost all her Bible knowledge in one year. She remembered a verse her parents had referenced often. Romans 8:28—all things work to the good for those who love the Lord.
And she did love Him. She’d put Him off and walked away, but the truth was now as clear as the sky overhead. She loved God and she wanted to live for Him again—the way she hadn’t lived for Him since she’d set foot on the IU campus. Andi started her car one more time to head back to the Kunzmann house. Lucia would be the first person she would tell about this decision. But before she drove very far, she realized something. She had to go back to the clinic and look for Clarence. She wanted to hug him and thank him and tell him what a difference he’d made. Let him know his prayers had been answered. She was choosing life.
One last time she turned her car around, and as she drove she suddenly pictured her sweet friend, Rachel. Something dawned on her, the way it hadn’t for an entire year. Rachel would finally recognize her. And somewhere in heaven she had a feeling Rachel was celebrating with the angels.
Maybe even a blue-eyed old gentleman named Clarence.
K
EITH AND
L
ISA SAT IN SILENCE
, their car parked in a lot across the street from the clinic. They’d been here since 8:35, but still they hadn’t seen Andi. A few protestors were gathered outside the clinic, talking amongst themselves. Keith watched as three of them circled on the sidewalk and bowed their heads, clearly praying for the work ahead of them.
“Interesting.” Lisa was as nervous as him, but she seemed struck by the protestors. “I’ve always seen them portrayed as violent, screaming and waving signs.”
“A few extreme people probably are like that.” Keith narrowed his eyes, watching the group as they continued to pray. “But this doesn’t surprise me. There’s a mission field here—if it’s handled right, anyway.”
Lisa sighed and glanced around. “You think she’s coming.”
“I do.” Keith felt a peace in his heart, a certainty. “I can’t explain it. I just think she’ll be here.”
They had prayed together for almost an hour that morning—most of the drive here. The goal, of course, was to tell Andi they’d help her, to change her mind about the abortion. But beyond that they’d talked about what might come next. Whether Andi would raise her child, or give the baby up for adoption. They both agreed that they would welcome Andi home, and help her parent the child if that’s what she wanted to do. No matter what circumstances led to this life—the life mattered. This was their first grandchild, after all.
Also, early this morning Keith had called Chase. They might’ve
parted ways, but no one knew him better. No one besides Lisa would hurt for his Andi more than Chase and Kelly. The friends who had watched her grow up, the two who knew how great Andi’s love for the Lord had once been, and how drastic the changes in her this past year.
Chase promised to tell Kelly, and even now Keith knew his friends were praying. God was hearing from the people who loved their Andi, and Keith believed this was where they’d find her. God had led them here, after all. He took hold of Lisa’s hand. “She’ll be here.”
He’d no sooner said the words, when a car pulled up a few spots away and parked facing the clinic.
“Andi!” Lisa practically shrieked her name. “Dear God, it’s her…”
“Thank You, Lord…thank you.” Keith’s eyes blurred with tears, and he held his wife’s hand more tightly. “Don’t rush. There’s no hurry now.”
They stepped out at the same time, and as they did, Andi spotted them. From the moment Keith saw his daughter’s eyes, he knew something had changed. They shone almost as if she’d seen a vision. She jumped out of her little sedan and rushed into their arms, the three of them hugging and rocking and not ever wanting to let go.
“Mom…Dad…I’m sorry.” She spoke the words against Keith’s chest, and he clung to her. His precious daughter. His baby girl. As he did, he realized that this was how the father in
Unlocked
must’ve felt. Holding his child and knowing that in this moment a miracle had happened.
Because here and now he had his Andi back.
“You know,” she looked up at them, tears spilling from her eyes. “You must know, right?”
“We do.” Lisa pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “We found this in your trash can. When we didn’t hear from you we figured we’d come here and wait.”
“I made the worst mistake of my life.” The guilt that seemed to consume her was almost a physical presence. “I knew better, but I wanted to do things my way. I’m so sorry.”
Lisa pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it to Andi. “It’s okay now, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I know.” The guilt lifted, and the newfound light shone in her eyes once again. She told them a rambling story about some family named Kunzmann who took her in over the weekend and how they lived out their faith, and that the woman prayed with her this very morning, and how an older man named Clarence stopped her from going into the clinic, and how God—only God—could’ve led her to the adoption agency down the street.
“Wait!” Keith searched his daughter’s eyes. “You drove down the street and randomly came across an adoption agency?”
“Yes!” Unbridled laughter came from Andi, and she tipped her head back for a moment. “Isn’t God so good? He led me there, Dad. I’ll show you.”
Keith felt a slight sadness, one that he had to acknowledge. Andi had apparently made up her mind—she was giving the baby up for adoption. It was the best decision by far, and Keith would spend the next months applauding his daughter for having the courage and compassion to give her baby to a Christian family, parents ready for a child.
But in this single moment, he marked the loss—Andi’s firstborn, their grandchild. A little boy or girl none of them would ever know.
Andi linked arms with her parents and walked across the street. Boldly and with great joy she talked to the protestors and thanked them for the work they were doing. Then she asked about Clarence.
A woman in her forties shook her head, glancing at the others. “I’ve been coming here every day for two years. For a few hours each morning.” She looked back at Andi. “I’ve never met a Clarence.”
The others agreed. There was no one named Clarence working this clinic, helping girls know the mistake they were about to make, trying to compassionately lead them to choose life. Andi nodded, and thanked them again. Keith had never been more proud of her in all his life.
“You get it, right, Dad?” The shine in her eyes made her look alive again. “He must’ve been an angel. What other explanation is there?”
Keith could only agree. God was answering every prayer they’d breathed this past weekend. Why wouldn’t He send an angel for Andi? They caravanned together to the adoption agency a few blocks down—Lisa riding with Andi. Once there, they went inside and Andi took the lead.
“My name’s Andi. I’m pregnant, but I’m not ready to be a mother,” she told the woman at the desk. “And God led me here.” She looked at her parents on either side. “I’d like to give my baby up for adoption to a Christian family.”
The woman must’ve dealt with scenes like this one every day, but listening to Andi—her joy and certainty—brought tears to the woman’s eyes. She blinked a few times and handed Andi a packet. “Why don’t you have a seat in the lobby. Look this over. Someone will be out to talk to you in a few minutes.”
Keith could hardly believe the morning was playing out this way. They’d jumped major hurdles all in less than an hour—and now Andi—her childlike faith once more a driving force in her life—was ready to tackle what would inevitably be the hardest decision of her life. They looked through a book of families ready to adopt, but the counselor told Andi she didn’t need to make a decision yet. That could come in time. She’d have several more counseling appointments—one a month, tied in with her checkups. The agency worked with a doctor a few minutes away. All medical expenses were covered by the agency.
Throughout the hour, Andi never wavered in her decision.
She was happy and talkative, and when she looked at the pictures of families she dabbed quietly at her eyes. With Lisa’s help, Andi filled out the paperwork while Keith mostly took in the scene. A life had been saved today. He was too awestruck to do more than think on that single fact. Besides, between the Kunzmann family and Clarence and the time here at the adoption agency, Keith didn’t need to say much, really.
They were all three on hallowed ground.
A
NDI COULDN’T BELIEVE HOW GREAT SHE
felt. How had she gotten through the last year without her faith? God had never given up on her, that much she knew for sure. But she’d chosen to walk through her days without His constant presence, His perfect friendship. And she’d made a mess of things as a result.
But God had opened her eyes, and in the light of His mercy and grace she could breathe again. She wouldn’t ever again turn her back on the truths she’d been raised with, never again listen to the lies of the enemy. There was no truth but God’s alone, no other way to eternity. The miracles of this morning were more proof than she deserved. She would live with her parents until the baby was born, and then she’d say good-bye to her firstborn. Maybe if the adoptive family was willing, she’d stay in touch here and there. Send letters and pictures. That way her baby would know how she felt right now. That she loved this child with a love she’d forgotten existed. A love that was God’s alone. Yes, she had mixed feelings about the adoption, but definitely no doubts.
As they left the adoption agency, she stopped and looked intently into her father’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Daddy. If this embarrasses you. If it hurts Jeremiah Productions.”
Her father looked shocked by her apology. “Is that what you thought? That this would embarrass me?”
She nodded, ashamed again. “It’ll look terrible.”
“I don’t care about any of that. If the media wants to write about this, I’ll defend you to anyone, sweetheart.” He hugged her, caring for her. “You’re doing the right thing.”
Andi’s heart soared, lifted by his love and acceptance. Why hadn’t she believed they’d respond this way? She could’ve avoided the heartache of the weekend, but then she might not have heard God calling her back to Him. Now she had a plan, and after the baby, she couldn’t wait to get back on campus and start up once more with Cru. If they’d let her, she wanted to be a group leader. No one could help the girls on campus avoid the lies that surrounded them more than she could. She couldn’t wait to build her relationship with her parents and get back to church. And she couldn’t wait to talk to Bailey.
Before they left Indianapolis, Andi wanted them to make one more stop—to the Kunzmann home. Again her mom rode with her, and Andi tried to explain how God had placed her in their home for His purposes. “It was a miracle, Mom. I’m serious.”
Her mom could only smile and listen. Andi was grateful she didn’t lecture her about not calling or about making them worry. She’d been blinded just hours ago. Now that she could see, she only wanted her parents to love her and forgive her. The way they were doing.
They pulled up in front of a large home, and Andi led her parents up the walk. Lucia answered, and Andi made the introductions. Then without another moment’s hesitation, she flew into Lucia’s arms and hugged her close. “How did you know? You prayed like you knew.”
Lucia laughed, her eyes filled with joy. As she stepped back she looked at the trio on her porch. “About the baby?”
Andi felt the chills across her arms again. “Yes. See…how did you know?”
“Honestly? God told me. I knew from the moment I saw you crying at Megan’s Diner.” She smiled at Andi’s parents. “I figured
if she were my daughter, I’d want someone to step in. Sometimes mission work happens when you least expect it.”
Lucia invited them in and they stayed half an hour, eating lunch with her and the kids—all of whom were homeschooled. When they left, Andi promised to stay in touch. And her mother hugged Lucia for a long time. “You were my answer to prayer.”
“That’s our job as believers,” Lucia smiled at Andi’s mother. “To be an answer to someone’s prayer—every day…as long as we live.”
The whole day was one miracle after another, and on the way home Andi let her mom drive. She was exhausted, certain she would be asleep before they hit the open road. But even as she nodded off, she acknowledged one more miracle—something she hadn’t shared with her parents. She’d found the adoptive family for her baby. The counselor had been clear, she didn’t need to decide yet.
But as she looked through the book, one family stood out.
Andi wasn’t sure exactly what struck her about the family. Maybe because the dad looked a lot like a young Dayne Matthews, and his wife—with her blonde hair—looked a little like Dayne’s wife Katy. Andi had memorized the page, the way the family looked, the description of them. They lived in Indianapolis, and the mom stayed at home with the kids. They loved Jesus and each other, and they were praying for a special birth mother—that she would choose to bring their baby into the world. The book didn’t give last names, but Andi had memorized their first names. She was that certain about her choice.
Luke, Reagan, Tommy, and Malin.
Her baby’s family.