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Category:
Romance
Publisher: Aileen Friedman
ISBN-10: 0620525649
Type: Fiction
Pages: 214
Copyright: Feb 29 2012
ISBN-13: 9780620526098
Price: $0.99 (eBook)
Tali accepts major loses with God's help and along the way finds new hope, friendship and love.
Tali's commitment to God has wavered for a long time, much to the dismay of her parents. When her surfer boyfriend Cole starts searching for salvation, Tali is drawn back to her Saviour to serve Him.
Just as Tali and Cole's lives become increasingly perfect a series of events happen within a short space of time.
Out of these enormous trials facing Tali, a friendship grows unexpectedly with surprising results
Excerpt
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It’s Friday and I’m going to spend the day with Bob, Jeny, Garth, Merle and Minister Wade. We are going to finalize Cole’s memorial service at Bob and Jeny’s house. I thought they would be so much more emotional than they actually are. Even at my dad’s service they were composed; saddened and somber, but nothing like I expected. Their quiet acceptance of their son’s passing was a little unnerving for me, and when I had a moment with Minister Wade at my dad’s service, I mentioned it to him. He told me he visited with them on their request the night before. He said how he explained the Truth to them and what it meant to Cole and that he is in Heaven now. He said they began to question their own salvation and where they might end up one day. I only stared at him as he told me, not expecting this at all.
He smiled, ‘Don’t look so shocked Tali, you know God works in amazing and mysterious ways.’
‘Will they be studying with you some more?’ I asked.
‘They said they want to wait until after Cole’s memorial, have a bit of time to mourn and then they would like to very much.’
I was speechless, if Cole’s death means another two souls will get to Heaven then it is meant to be.
Knowing today will be difficult and horribly emotional; I wish I could go back to sleep and never wake up or else skip past today without knowing it existed. Either one will not happen as my mum unfortunately already has the kettle boiling and toast ready.
‘Morning dear, you okay?’
‘Thanks Mum, I don’t know how I feel, but I don’t want today to happen.’
‘It’ll be over soon enough, the day will go by quickly, you’ll see.’ She tries to reassure me.
‘Did you know that Bob and Jeny visited with Minister Wade and they want to study further with him?’ I still sound so surprised.
‘Just goes to show you, love, God works in ways we will never understand.’
‘That’s what Minister Wade said too.’
My cellphone rings. It is Garth sending me a message:
The angels and Cole will be smiling on us 2day as the weather is going to be perfect the whole day.
I tell my mum and we giggle a little, knowing it is probably true.
After a long, hot shower and cleaning up the house for my mum – it seems as though a hurricane has gone through it in the last few days – I leave for my house.
Do I still have a house? It probably needs some cleaning too. I’m sure some of the guests and family will end up visiting after the service and besides that, I need clean clothes!
The intercom buzzer sounds. It’s probably Garth and Merle to fetch me. I’ve changed into Cole’s favourite outfit – three-quarter denim pants, a green T-shirt and flat brown sandals. I quickly press the intercom to allow them in, gather up the huge photo Judith had done of him, and grab my sunglasses. As I check that I have enough tissues, Garth takes the stand for the photo to the car.
Standing next to the car I look at Cole’s surfboard on the roof racks. A lump rises in my throat and I look unseeing, mesmerized, until Merle puts her arm around me.
‘It’s so hard now Tali, it’s hard for all of us. But if we can just get through today, it will get better in time. I’m here for you, don’t forget it.’
‘Where is Cole Jnr?’ I reply, feeling the need to hold him.
‘He’s sleeping in the car.’
I get into the car and sit next to him, not saying a word. I hold his hand as he sleeps peacefully, so unaware of what is going on today. I have to fight back tears and the urge to cry.
It will not do me any good to break down now, I keep saying to myself as we drive to the beach in silence.
When we arrive at the beach, we offload the car and take our time walking to where the ceremony is going to take place. Minister Wade, Jackie and a few of our friends from church are already waiting for us at the water’s edge. Minister Wade is going to lead the ceremony, say a few words about Cole and give our thanks to everyone for coming. No eulogies will be said but we’ve requested that people write a note to Cole’s parents that they can treasure. We’ve provided paper and pens and a special box which Jeny has had since Cole was a baby. Minister Wade approaches us and greets us warmly. He assures me that it will be a ceremony befitting Cole’s character.
‘I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle it,’ I splutter, ‘what if I’m not strong enough?’
I clutch Cole Jnr as though my life depends on it. I’m afraid that if I let him go I will fall apart, that if I let go, I will have nothing left – that my heart will crumble and I will fragment into grains of sand and be washed away by the lapping waves.
‘Tali, don’t worry, we’re all here for you. Have faith, put your trust in God and it will be okay.’
There’s no more time to dwell on my sentiments. Cole’s parents arrive and again their composure astounds me. It will be easier, I am certain, to get through the day with their kind of attitude and soon enough, there are dozens of seemingly calm and smiling people at our little spot on the beach. I notice Nick Drummond and Henry Lategan and go over to greet them warmly.
‘Thank you so much for coming, Cole was so very fond of both of you. He’s in Heaven today partly because of you,’ I remind them once again.
‘God will lead us, all we have to do is plant the seed, and if nurtured, it will flourish.’
‘I would very much like to chat to you both a little longer. I hope you won’t leave immediately after the ceremony?’
‘No dear, we’ll be here for a while, that sounds be wonderful.’ Nick smiles.
My mum joins us and I leave them chatting once again, as though they’ve been friends forever. I find Cole’s parents and bring them over to introduce them to Nick and Henry too. I secretly hope that they will have the same influence on Bob and Jeny that they had on Cole.
‘Tali, Minister Wade says we should start; everyone seems to be here.’ Garth comes up to me and takes my hand.
He leads me to the water’s edge. Merle, Bob and Jeny follow and stand close to me.
Minister Wade calls out to everyone that we would like to start with the ceremony and everyone gathers around us, at the edge of the ocean. The sea is calm and very flat, no waves to speak of at all.
Cole would’ve been so cross had he wanted to surf, I think sadly.
As I look out over the sea, I wonder if Cole ordered this perfect day for this occasion and I smile wanly.
Minister Wade reminds everyone to write a message to Cole’s parents and explains that, after a short message from him, Cole’s best friend Garth and his other surfing friends will take his ashes out to sea and lay him to rest. I’ve asked Garth to put his ashes into the metal tin Cole kept all our photos in. Minister Wade keeps his message short, simple and very touching. He compliments Cole for the man that he was. Tears are not required, but smiles, in memory of my dear Cole.
The surfers gather at the edge of ocean, the sea washing over their bare feet. They hold their boards as Garth goes in first, the metal tin that holds my world balancing on the tip of his board. I stare, as one by one they paddle out on their boards.
How many are there? I wonder, and count.
48, wow, 48 of our surfing community are here today to pay tribute to Cole.
My heart swells and the tears flow. I cannot help it; I am so moved by this sincere expression of friendship and love. I take Cole Jnr from Merle again and hold him tightly, kissing his forehead.
‘This is so perfect for Cole, Tali, I know he is enjoying watching this, I know he is.’ Jeny puts her arm around me and leaves it there, while we watch Garth sit up on his board. The other surfers do the same. They gather close to each other, forming a huddled group, bow their heads and on the shore we can hear the murmur of a farewell prayer. Garth opens the tin, lifts it high up into the air, tilts it, and as a slight breeze blows gently, Cole’s ashes fly up into the sky. I watch them dance in the wind and then sink onto the water into nothingness. Cole flies from my life but not from my heart. I gasp, and try to catch my breath as I am overcome with anguish. Merle cries too, and Jeny holds me tightly. I hang on to Cole Jnr for dear life. Bob turns around and embraces Jeny and me, his calm composure broken.
Singing reaches our ears – it is our friends from church. They sing, ‘God be with you till we meet again’ and soon everyone joins in. Bob, Jeny and I remain as we are for a little while longer and then lift our heads and look to the horizon. Garth comes running out of the ocean first and as he hits the sand, he drops his board and the metal tin, and runs straight to Merle, flinging his arms around her. I seem to have, while wrapped up in my own emotions, forgotten that Garth has also lost his best friend, his brother, his lifelong buddy. He is hurting so much too, and has been nothing but everyone’s pillar of strength. I feel so bad, so selfish, far too wrapped up in myself, when here I can see Cole’s best friend hurting just as much as I am. He is too much of a good person to let me worry about his pain. As ‘Amazing Grace’ is sung I embrace Garth and Merle. Garth is distraught. After days of holding back, all his pain is released. He sobs so much that his shoulders shake violently, a sound of anguish erupts from his throat.
Poor Garth, poor beautiful, gentle, loving Garth.
Somehow we manage to compose ourselves and the rest of the afternoon we spend talking about Cole, and we get to know others that we have not met before. I make a particular point of thanking every surfer for helping to make this tribute to Cole so perfect. I’m not surprised to find how much each and every one of them loved and respected Cole. As I chat to them I realize how much they are like him; each with a love for life and all things simple – like Cole, there is nothing false about them.
‘Tali, you are amazing. For someone that has had to go through this twice in one week, you are truly an inspiration.’
Josh, Sondra, Neville, Cheri, Tian and Booker come over to give me a hug and to express their condolences. They all comment on how perfect this ceremony was for Cole.
‘It’s only thanks to all the support I’ve had that I’ve been able to get through it,’ I reply to Josh, once I’ve greeted everyone.
He takes a step forward and hugs me for the first time. Not even at my father’s service did he do it. It feels natural, as though I were hugging a friend.
He is a friend is he not?
The weather is still perfect although a slight wind has picked up. Minister Wade asks everyone to turn and look to the sunset. The sky is still a bright blue, interrupted here and there with a few puffy clouds that have gathered to say farewell to Cole as well. The sun is a fiery red ball, sitting on the horizon. It still shines so brightly that it is difficult to look at without sunglasses.
‘I would like to ask you all to raise your glasses, or paper cups, and toast a man that was – a gentleman, a man of God, a loving son and a loving fiancé. As the sun sets on this perfect day that God has graced us with, we celebrate and pay tribute to Cole. We can all take this opportunity to thank God for allowing this wonderful man, Cole, to be a part of our lives, even if for so short a time. I’ve spoken to almost everyone here today and the love you have for Cole is evidence of the person he was. He will always be a part of our lives and will always be remembered as perfect as the sunset is perfect. He’s an angel with God in Heaven now, guarding over those he loved most.’
‘Here, here,’ resounds from the guests and then we fall silent as we watch the sun set on this perfect day and on Cole.
I bow my head and pray as the tears fall gently down my cheeks. Cole is gone but he will live on in my heart forever and never be forgotten.
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