Sanctuary Read Online Free

they had been plagued with days of un-relenting cloudy, cool weather. “Unusual for paradise,” Ryan had joked.
    Denny threw in a sweatshirt and a couple pairs of shorts, just in case. Hopefully, sultry beach weather awaited him. He could use a few days of sunny relaxation.
    Along with his Bible, Denny was taking a copy of C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity . Last time Melissa had involved him in a deep discussion of the claims of Christ. He had been pleased to find her far more receptive than he would have guessed. But the newly purchased book wasn’t for her. She wasn’t interested in—didn’t require—either logical or philosophical reasoning as to faith. Ryan, however, lived in the skeptical world of prove it to me . But the bigger question remained: Would Ryan even read the book? Doubtful.
    Denny packed it anyway, in case the subject came up. He grinned. With him, the subject of Jesus always seemed to come up. It was unavoidable, impossible to remain silent about something that mattered so much to him. Even with strangers he met on the streets, Denny usually brought up the matter of Christ—delicately. Well, as delicately as possible for a man his size.
    There were times when he regretted not getting into professional football. Not because he still craved fame or money, but because of the missed opportunity as a sports pro to influence souls for the kingdom.
    Presently, he spent after-school hours and weekends with troubled teens, many who literally lived on the street. There was no greater joy than to roll up his sleeves, get down and get dirty—and make a difference in the life of a needy boy or girl. Helping with food and shelter. Offering a listening ear. Truly caring about their problems.
    But lately he felt exhausted, needed time to reflect, to recharge. This chance to fly to the East Coast and hang out with Ryan and his wife had come at a most opportune time. Besides, this getaway would give him time to think through some of his own issues, especially his relationship with Evelyn and the possibility of marriage.
    Denny dialed his bedroom phone and reached Evelyn Reed on the second ring.
    “Are you packed yet, handsome?” she asked after she heard his greeting.
    Hearing her voice was like coming home. She worked nearly around the clock at Denver’s Children’s Hospital as a nurse, the ideal career for her, a woman with a nurturing and gentle soul.
    It didn’t hurt his feelings that Evelyn liked to refer to him as handsome , even though he knew he wasn’t that good-looking. For one thing, he was slick bald. The fact that she thought he was attractive was all a red-blooded American male like Denny needed to know.
    “I’m having second thoughts,” he replied grimly.
    “About going?”
    “About leaving you behind.”
    “I’ll be fine, you big lug. It’s only for a few days, right?”
    “Suppose so.”
    She was silent for a moment, then—“I’ll be praying for you, Denny. And for your friends Ryan and Melissa, too, that everything goes well.”
    They chatted a bit longer before he said a reluctant good-bye, hung up, and finished packing. He hadn’t left town yet, and already he missed her.
    The phone rang again.
    Denny pounced on the receiver. Probably Evelyn calling back. “Hey, hon …”
    “Uh … Denny, it’s Ryan.”
    “What’s up? Change your mind about my visit?” Denny joked, aware of the hesitancy in Ryan’s voice.
    “Well … actually, yeah.”
    Denny frowned. “Hey, I was just kidding.”
    “I’m not. Listen, this isn’t going to be a good weekend, after all.”
    “That’s cool.” Then, sensing an ominous heaviness in his friend’s voice, quickly added, “Everything okay there?”
    Ryan sighed audibly. “Not exactly.”
    “What’s wrong, man?”
    Denny was stunned to learn about Melissa’s disappearance. “Did you guys have a fight or something?”
    “No, listen … uh, I need to get going. Sorry, we’ll talk later.”
    “I’ll call back tonight, okay?