Twelve

Vicki looked down at the letter in her hands and froze. She flipped it over and ripped it open, then grabbed the letter and threw the envelope onto the floor. Her dark blue eyes scanned the words and misted up with tears as she read the letter again. Vicki clutched the letter to her chest with closed eyes and then charged up the stairs toward her parents room.

"Mom! Dad! I got a letter from Andy," she yelled as she ran down the hall.

The door to the parents' room flew open and they came out with wary glances at the paper in Vicki's hand.

"Why don't I go get Steven and Max? Liz, you and Vicki meet us downstairs."

Vicki and her mom descended the stairs in silence, stepping into the den without a word as the tense excitement built. This can't be happening, Vicki told herself. She looked down at the letter and smiled. But it was. Andy was safe.

"What's going on, Vicki," Max asked as he sat beside her on the couch.

"Wait for Steven," their mom said quietly.

Vicki gave Max a smile and then looked down at the letter clutched in her fingers to read it again. Thank You, God. Thank You for keeping her safe.

"Okay, Vicki. Do you want to do the honors?"

"Honors," Max asked. "What are you talking about, Dad?"

Steven slouched against the doorframe of the den. "Looks like you have a captive audience, Vicki. Better make the most of it."

"Andy wrote a letter," Vicki said with a big smile.

Steven straightened sharply and stepped farther into the room. "A letter?"

Vicki waved the letter in the air and then smoothed it out on her lap before she started to read.

"'Vicki, for all the things I did to you I can only say "I'm sorry" and hope that it's enough. You'll never know how much I appreciate the fact that you tried to be my sister even when I pushed you away. I just hope and pray that you'll be able to explain to Steven how much I am sorry for what I did to our family. To Steven and Max. Do you think they'll stop hating me one day? I've only just begun to stop hating myself. Don't let mom and dad think that because I haven't come home I don't think I'm welcome. I know I am, but my relationship with Christ has to come first because it's suffered the most. Besides, you need time to heal as much as I do, and you'll be able to do it faster with me out of the way. For now. You might see me around the school, and you might not. If you do, don't hesitate to come over and say 'hi'. Or talk. Or whatever. Maybe it'll give us a chance to get to know each other again. Until then, keep me in your prayers.'"

Vicki looked up with tears in her eyes and carefully folded the letter. "It's signed Andromeda Lyn Modine, daddy."

The End

Don't miss the continuing adventures of Vicki, Wil, and the gang in book 4: Unsung Hero.