Georgia on Her Mind(76)

He musters a grin. “I should have known better.”

“I’m glad you’re all right.” I squeeze his hand a little tighter.

He motions for me to draw near. Whispering, he says, “I saw Him.”

I pinch up my face. Are the meds talking? “Saw who?”

“Him. Jesus.”

I jump back and regard Drag—I know it’s not the meds talking. “You saw Jesus?” I’ve never heard of such a thing.

“Right after the attack, when I was tumbling in the water.”

“What did He do? Did He stick out His hand and say, ‘Take My hand, My beloved son’?” I used my best King James voice. “Or bonk the shark on the nose?”

Drag gives me half a chuckle. “No. He touched my heart with His hand.”

“Touched your heart?”

“Yeah.” Drag lifts his hand ever so slightly and settles it on his chest. “Right here.”

“Was He in the water with you? On top of the water looking down? How did He do that?” I flit and flutter, unsure what to think.

Drag shakes his head once. “I don’t know. Suddenly I see Him and He touches me.”

“Wow.” I sink onto the chair by the bed. Tears creep down my cheeks. “You really saw Him?”

“I’m undone, Macy. Undone. Tumbling in the waves, trying to find my way to the shore, I thought I was going to die. Then there He was.” He pats his heart once.

“What did He look like?” I picture the painting of Jesus that hangs in the foyer of Beauty Community Church.

“Radiant,” Drag says. “The most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Full of goodness and light.” He pats his heart again. “I’m undone.”

I rest my chin on the edge of the bed, his hand still clasped in mine. I’m one degree of separation away from actually seeing Jesus with my eyes. Who cares about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? I’m touching a man who physically saw Jesus. And I’m jealous.

Drag’s known Jesus a few weeks and already he has this incredible encounter. I surrendered my life twenty-five years ago and I’ve seen Him only with the eyes of my heart. What’s it take for a girl to see her Lord face-to-face? A shark bite?

“Then what happened?” I plead. With a quick motion I glance over my shoulder toward Fallon, but he’s gone.

“My buddies pulled me ashore, my leg half gone, gushing blood like a fountain.”

“Will you surf again?”

“Better believe it. I’ll have a big dent in my leg, but the doc says I should be able to stand on the board—eventually.”

“But you saw Jesus. I can’t believe it.”

“I saw Him first with my heart. You showed me the way.”

His voice is weak and his words stick to the sides of his drying mouth. I offer to help him with a sip of water.

“Thanks,” he says after a long drink. “Dad’s been great. When I leave the hospital, I’m flying to New York with him.”

“Good for you.”

“He and Mom want me home for recovery. And then I’ll start working at Tidwell Communications.”

“You’re doing the right thing.” More tears leak out and run down my cheeks.

“What about you?” Drag gives my hand a little squeeze and tug. “Chicago? Don’t forget my dad is impressed with you.”

“I accepted the Chicago offer.” Then I confess as if caught red-handed. “My dad wants me to move home and take over the family business.”

“Moore Gourmet Sauces?” He remembered.

“Yes.” I lift the water cup to give Drag another sip.

“Why don’t you take up that offer?”

I set the cup down and fall against the back of the chair. “Because it’s going backwards. I never, ever planned on moving back to Beauty. Maybe I’m being stubborn about Chicago, I don’t know.”

“Macy, look at me.” I sit forward. “Look how fragile life can be. One minute I’m catching the biggest wave of the season. Next minute I’ve got shark teeth ripping my leg apart.”

The imagery makes me quiver, but he’s right. Life is full of the unexpected. I don’t know what tomorrow brings.

“Choose what’s important to you, Macy. Not for the moment, but for eternity.”

I lean close. “How do I know?”

He taps his heart, then says, “What’s in here?”

I return to the chair, catching my reflection in the window. For years I’ve prided myself on my appearance (right down to designer socks), my talents, my career status, even the type of car I drive and how much I pay for a haircut. I supported all my worldly achievements with a very shallow pool of inner beauty and in some cases, shallow character.

“My gut tells me taking over the sauce business will reap a different kind of reward than I’ve been seeking. Perhaps the Lord will touch my heart in such a way that I can say like you, ‘I’m undone.’”

I desire to be undone.

“There’s your answer.” Drag’s reply is barely audible, but I hear loud and clear.

Fallon returns with two large coffees in hand. “Visiting hours are over.” He motions to the door.

I lean over and kiss Drag on the cheek. “Thank you, friend.”