DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 26 (part 2)
so this was fast :P I stayed up most of the night and got up pretty early this morning and voila, the second half of the chapter is finished. I'm surprised how quickly it came to me, lol. I mean, I of course had the whole thing planned out, but I didn't think I would be able to get it written as fast as I did :)
Dedicated to AndreaBorup, a huge thanks for so faithfully reading and voting for my story, I really appreciate the support :)
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Chapter 26 (part 2)
Two days had passed since Oceana had left, and Wesley still hadn’t made up his mind about what he was going to do. Admiral Chesterton hadn’t bothered him with the question at hand, he seemed content to just watch and wait. This both comforted and irritated Wesley. It was nice that the the Admiral was keeping his nose out of his business, but the silence wasn’t helping Wesley make up his mind either.
On the third day after Oceana’s sudden departure from London, Wesley had gone to call on Captain Morrely and his wife and to congratulate them on the news that Leslie was expecting. As he made his way back home, he spotted a familiar face. For a minute Wesley searched his brain, trying to remember the man’s name, at last it came to him.
“Dr. Wilkens,” he called out. The man stopped and turned around. His face clouded as he tried to recognize who it was that had just called his name.
“Lt. Wesley Chesterton,” Wesley reminded him, walking up closer to where the doctor stood. “Oceana introduced us, do you remember?”
Dr. Wilkens stood in deep thought until at last his face brightened. “Ah, yes, now it comes back to me, yes, you were walking with Oceana when she was trying to get to Pentotville Prison. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you when you called me.”
“Do not trouble yourself, we only met briefly and it was two years ago. Are you on your way home, sir?”
“That I am, and you?”
“Also on my way home, I was visiting my captain. I assume you are coming back from the prison?”
“Yes, what is more, I am in a particularly good mood, I had two converts today.” Dr. Wilkens’ voice was filled with satisfaction. “I’m looking forward to telling my family. It is always a joyful evening when they know someone in that wretched place gave his life to Jesus.”
An idea popped into Wesley’s mind. “Dr. Wilkens,” he asked, “what sort of men do you minister too in the prison?”
“Oh,” Dr. Wilkens gave a chuckle, “from petty thieves to hardened criminals, there is a big mix of everything vile in that prison.”
“And what do you tell them exactly?”
“Well, I tell them that are willing they can receives forgiveness and mercy from a God who loved them enough to die on a cross for them. I tell them there is still hope for their life, all they have to do is accept it. Not all do, mind you, my work isn’t one of those where it is a convert every day, but patience comes through in the end and men do give their lives to God.”
“But don’t you think it rather unfair to talk about forgiveness to men who deserve justice?”
Dr. Wilkens laughed at these words. “My dear Lieutenant, the whole idea of the cross goes against the idea of justice. I am not saying they are not going to pay the price for breaking the law. You don’t know how many men I have converted that went to the hangman’s the next day. No, I am telling them that God loves them, and can give them a change of heart and hope for a better life, be it in this world or the next. Love covers a multitude of sins, and God loves those wretched prisoners as much as he loves the most faithful and dedicated church goers.”
Wesley nodded his head as he processed all that Dr. Wilkens had just said. “Dr. Wilkens, are you acquainted with Callum; the Callum who raised Oceana?”
“Yes, I am acquainted with him. We don’t communicate much these days, but there was a time him and I did business together.”
“What sort of business?” Wesley couldn’t quite imagine Dr. Wilkens having anything to do with smuggling.
“It was at the beginning of the century, Chandler was in prison, Oceana was in an orphan asylum and Callum was trying to get her out. I worked a little behind the scenes and helped him get her back. We didn’t know each other long, but I liked the man. He had this sadness about him, like a gloomy cloud of despair, but at the same time he was devoted and caring. Very nice man.”
“Callum is my father,” Wesley confessed.
“You don’t say?” Dr. Wilkens was surprised. “How come he never mentioned you?”
“Because we lost each long ago, that cloud of despair that hung over him came from the fact that he had lost his family. I’m not going to get into the details, Dr. Wilkens, the only point is that for over twenty years we haven’t seen each other. I was mad at him because it was mostly his fault that our family fell apart. But now many things have come up and well, the Admiral is urging me to make peace with him, but I don’t know how, and I don’t know who to turn to for help. Who can help a man when it comes to matters of the heart? Then I saw you, and I thought, here is someone who deals with such problems on a daily basis, and so I decided to talk to you. What do you think I should do?”
Dr. Wilkens pondered for a moment. “I think you should turn to God for help?”
“God?” Wesley couldn’t help scoffing a little, “what would God understand about this?”
“Oh, God understands a lot more than you think. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God became a man so he could understand men. Isaiah calls Him a man of sorrow and aquainted with grief. Trust me, there is no better doctor than Jesus Christ. After all, men like me can only help your body, but matters of the hear is something only He can touch and heal. If you are looking for peace, go to the man who calmed a horrible storm with only three words: Peace, be still.”
“But…how would I talk to God?”
“What do you think prayer is, Lieutenant?” Dr. Wilkens gave a little chuckle. “You can go to a church is you want, that is where many people feel closer to God, but it isn’t strictly necessary. When Oceana wants to talk to God, she usually goes to the shore. Or my son Eric, for an example, he prefers praying inside his closet, wherever you feel most comfortable, Lt. Chesterton.”
“That is your only advice?”
“Yes. Trust me, you don’t need any other.”
“Then thank you very much, Dr. Wilkens,” Wesley shook his hand. “I will bid you a good evening and allow you to on your way.”
“Good evening to you as well, Lt. Chesterton, I will pray that you will find your way through the storm.”
The two men parted ways. Wesley had almost reached his home when he noticed the little chapel that stood alone and almost forgotten on the corner of the street. He knew it to be open at this time of the day, and he figured why not step inside. Except for the bent little man sweeping the floor, the chapel was empty. Wesley walked along the pews till he got to one that was closer to the front. Taking a seat he looked at the altar in front of him, and the large cross hanging over it.
“I’ve rarely prayed in my life,” Wesley spoke in a voice hardly above a whisper; he didn’t want the janitor to hear him. “The only time I’ve really spoken to You was during the storms at sea, when You were the only one I could turn too. I don’t know that much about You, even though I claim to be a Christian, and I’m sorry for that. I’m caught in another storm, only this one is happening inside of me. I don’t love my father, not in a way a son should, but I know You love him. That cross over there tells me just how much. Healing broken lives was what Your life on earth seems to have been all about. There are two broken lives here, his and mine and we’ve wandered very far from each other. From the way I am looking at it, seems like You’re the only one who knows the way back, so please show it to me. I know You asked Your Father to forgive the men who were crucifying You, and well, I’m going to have to ask you to give me the forgiveness that I just don’t have. I don’t know how to face him, I don’t know what I am going to say when I meet him, but I think I have a funny feeling I know what You would do and say so I guess we’ll just have to somehow work this out together. If You really can make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, then You can certainly help me out here. Help me let go, put the past behind me and move on.” When the words had finished Wesley sat in silence for a few minutes. Then taking a deep breath, he stood up and left the chapel. His mind was made up and he knew what he had to do.
Marching into the house, he found Admiral Chesterton impatiently waiting for Wesley’s return to have dinner.
“What took you so long?” He grumbled. “I’m starving here.”
“I’m sorry, I was talking to God,” Wesley said.
“Where you now?” Admiral Chesterton raised his eyebrows, “how uncharacteristic of you. What were you talking to Him about?”
Wesley only smiled and sat down to eat. For some time the two men ate in silence. As the meal was coming to a close, Admiral Chesterton spoke up.
“Who would have thought I would finally get around to using that telephone you installed? But the day finally came.”
Wesley shot the Admiral a puzzled look.
“Miss Patterson rang me and we chatted over the phone. It was strange, hearing her voice without actually seeing her. Anyway, she wishes to call on us the day after tomorrow. What do you say?”
Wesley rose from his seat and placed his napkin on the table. “She can call on us all she wants, but I’m afraid I won’t be around to help you entertain her.”
“No? And where is it you plan to be?”
“Scotland.”
The features on the Admiral’s face brightened and standing up, he grasped Wesley by the shoulders.
“That is good my boy, that is very good. It is time for you to make peace with your past, so you can make plans for your future.”
A smile appeared on Wesley’s face from these words. “Thank you, William Chesterton, for everything you did for me. I owe you so much, I don’t know if I ever will be able to pay you back, but I want you to know I am very grateful.” He shook the Admiral’s hand warmly,
“Oh, go on, go on,” Admiral Chesterton urged him, “go on and get out of here.” He gave Wesley a parting thump on the back. Wesley nodded his head and with an excited, yet slightly nervous feeling in his stomach, went off to collect his traveling bag. If he hurried, he would make it for the midnight train.
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So yay! We're finally getting to the moment of truth :) Yikes, I can't believe this story is almost finished. But not quite, we've still got the best part coming up, so don't run off just yet :D I'm really excited about the next chapter and I'm guessing it will be up sometime this week. I'll just see how fast my homework comes along. (I have to face my teacher tomorrow....so yeah, if she's happy with me then I should get chapter 27 on Friday :P )