Aiden took Aimee to the airport to pick up her dad, Deandre and the kids. Tessa let them borrow her six passenger SUV. The flight was on a thirty minute delay so they took a seat in the back of the main Lobby. Aiden had on a baseball hat and dark shades. He bought a magazine and opened it.
“You look ridiculous.” Aimee laughed.
“I know.”
“Is it hard to hide in public?”
“I am use to it. It has been nice though to go around campus and not have to worry. Most days it is ok but sometimes I would love to be able to go somewhere on the spur of the moment and not take months to plan it. I would love to get up and so hey I want to go and go.”
“I have the perfect spot. My Savannah Plantation. It is very secluded.”
“Sounds great maybe someday when you are at the plantation I will just show up and visit.”
“I’d like that but no planning just show up.”
They announced the arrival of the plane. Aiden lead Aimee to the gates to greet them. When she saw her family Maddie came running at her full force. She wrapped her little arms around Aimees’ neck. “I thought we would never get here.”
“I know this has been the longest day.” Aimee took Maddie’s little hand.
Aiden grinned when he saw how Aimee interacted with her sister. He could not imagine Ava being able to bond with a child.
Once they were done in baggage claims Aimee and Aiden took them to the hotel. Maddie came back to the flat with them. Sophia was spending the weekend with her culinary friends at some sort of workshop so Piper offered to room with Lexi and let Maddie stay with Aimee.
The car lot was packed with lots of awesome vehicles. Aimee knew the one she wanted she and Colin had done a lot of research. She spotted it as soon as they entered the lot. Her dad insisted on trying several vehicles to be sure but by the end of the visit she pulled off the lot in her choice. She followed Colin off the lot in her new deep crystal blue Mazda6 Grand Touring.
When she got back to the flat she took Maddie along with Lexi and Piper to Huffington Square. She spent the afternoon treating her little sister to a manicure and a shopping spree. That night her dad took everyone to dinner. Aimee wanted to talk to him alone so when Deandre went to put the kids in bed and Maddie went to get her Sunday dress she took the opportunity.
“Dad can you tell me what places you and mom visited here in Neahovia?”
“Aimee, we have been through this before. I can’t talk about my work when I was here.”
“I am not asking about work. I am asking about you and mom.”
“Aimee if not for my work I would have never met her and you know that. What I can tell you is this. She captured my heart at the very first sight of her. We didn’t do a lot dating stuff because I was here on a mission. What we did do was a lot of talking.”
“Can you even tell me what city you met her in?”
“No.”
Maddie came running in ready to go to Aimees. She loved hanging out there already and Aimee loved having her. Her roommates had been great. She even had the guys eating out of the palms of her hands. When they got back she gave Aimee a present she made for her. It was a DVD she had her mom make for Aimee it was a combination of each of their dance competitions.
They watched the DVD. Afterwards they taught some dance moves to everyone before going to bed.
The next morning Aimee got up early for church. She fixed Maddie breakfast and a pot of coffee. She took a shower while Aiden sat and watched cartoons with Maddie. Her little sister has really taken to Aiden. When she dressed she came and got Maddie ready. Piper had awaken and came in to get ready by then. Lexi was going too and was getting dressed in her room.
The youth sang at church that morning. Lexi sat with Aimees parents during Sunday School and Maddie went to class with Aimee and Piper. When Sunday School ended Aimee joined her dad for worship service and Maddie went to kid’s church with the twins. Lexi was sitting next to Aimee.
Reverend Mark read the entire Chapter of Revelations 21 before he began preaching. And though he read the whole chapter his sermon focused on verse eight. Revelations 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
He preached on sinning and the second death in fire and brimstone. He preached on the horrible acts of the devil. The way he lies and convinces us all into thinking that God would not throw us into fire and brimstone. He picked up his Bible and shouted. “His word says He will folks. If we don’t repent from our sins and believe in the fact that of what Jesus did for us. We were all doomed to the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. To live where the fire never burns out. But we don’t have to go there we can enjoy our lives in heaven walking the streets of Gold a long side Jesus himself.”
“John 3:16 says it all folks: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. So first we believe then what’s next you ask? He opened his Bible to Acts: 2-28: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
He ended the sermon discussing how we have always needed a sacrifice to wash our sins away. Jesus stepped and became that sacrifice for us. He came. He lived on earth. He preached. He died when he did nothing wrong. He was buried and then came back alive three days later. He did that so we can join Him in Heaven, all we have to say is Father forgive me for my sins. I believe in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When it came time for the alter call Lexi stood holding on to the pew in front of her. Her knuckles were white because she was gripping so tight. Tears rolling done her cheeks, her heart was beating out of her chest. She reached her hand over and touched Aimee. That was all it took Aimee knew what Lexi needed. Aimee took her friends hand and walked her down the aisle with her. The second Piper and Tessa noticed that Lexi was walking to the alter to pray they followed her and the four ladies kneeled down to pray next to their newest sister in Christ.
Lexi was praying for forgiveness of her sins and crying out to the Lord. The others praying for her as well. They knew she would now need Gods guidance and strength more than ever. Mark motioned for one of the other preachers to come and take over the alter call. He kneeled down beside Lexi and prayed and talked with her.
When he rose he announced that our new Sister wanted to be baptized today. She didn’t want to wait. It didn’t take long to have the Baptism pool ready. Aimee and Piper stood front row and watched their best friend go under the water and come out praising God. She knew like all of them the water is not what saved her. It was a symbol that she was washing her sins away and coming out new and clean from all sin.
Dinner at the Andersons took on such a new meaning. Aimee’s farther commented on how he came to see his daughter but God allowed him to see so much more than how she was physically doing. His little girl was finding her own way in this big world. He was proud of the responsible young lady she had become. When Colin and Aiden finally arrived Lexi was so excited to tell them she was a Born again Christian. Instead of them making smart comments like she had expected they hugged and congratulated her.