Destination by Nicole Petrino-Salter
Life leads us to and from many places, but when it comes to eternity there are only two choices for our destination . . .
An unlikely felon returns to his roots and the friendship of a fiery old widow. The last things he expects to find are true love, a ministry to youth, and the unusual burden for his new love’s ex-fiancé.
Thomas Grand serves his time for manslaughter in the second degree and leaves jail as a divorced felon for his unintentional crime. After an emotionally brutal encounter with his ex-wife and with little to look forward to except a hint of hope in his heart, he heads back to the obscure location of his childhood and the one person he hopes is still alive to propel his faith to the next level and to restore meaning to his damaged life.
The summer heat swirls around him along with the dust as he drives up to the magnificent Spanish-style home of the elderly widow he has always known by her familiar nickname of “Grams”. With little ado about his arrival, she immediately accommodates his need for lodging as well as that of acceptance, companionship, and genuine friendship.
Insisting he make himself thoroughly at home, she puts him to work at his request plus takes him on a tour to meet the townsfolk including the owner of the fruit stand just outside of town—one Jarin Page, longtime ex-fiancé of hometown football hero and owner of Stone Insurance in town. The attraction is instantaneous, though Thomas tries unsuccessfully to deny it to himself.
Eventually Thomas meets the attractive and seductive Amelia Jefferson, new owner of the only clothing store in town located next door to Stone Insurance. He does his best to ignore her innuendoes and keeps things strictly business.
When Thomas establishes a friendship with the young grocery store clerk, Cassie, she listens to his simple explanation of the gospel and shows up at church with her friends, including the boy she’s just broken up with because of her new beliefs. Sometime later a drag race takes place between the two young men who’ve been at war over Cassie, and the one she loves is intentionally injured by the other young man everyone calls “Harvard”, ending up in the hospital. When Harvard shows up drunk at the grocery store and makes a forceful play for Cassie, her injured beau pays him a visit.
Joining the town after her wealthy farmer father dies, Michaela Moritz, author and devoted Christian, captivates the lonely Lucas Stone who to this point has never recovered from his sordid breakup with Jarin Page. Michaela is put to the test as the charming, handsome, and rich Lucas Stone pursues her even as she challenges him to believe in a Savior he’s never considered. His struggle to find what he needs to secure her love exposes his hollow lifestyle and sends him into despair.
Through Grams’ intervention and manipulation, Thomas is hired by Jarin to keep her accounting needs in order, and their relationship is quickly ignited. God makes it clear to them that their past failures will only serve to make their present love for one another stronger.
To his surprise Grams alludes to Thomas becoming a friend to Jarin’s ex-love, and before he can fully comprehend the possibility, the two men meet and experience their first confrontation. Lucas wants to dislike the long-haired stranger but finds there’s something undeniably likeable about Thomas Grand. Eventually, Lucas leans on Thomas for information on spiritual matters as his hopeful relationship with Michaela Moritz is established based on Lucas’ investigation of Jesus Christ. This journey Lucas makes is climaxed with a frightening reality, leading him to his darkest moment at which time Jarin Page shows up at his door to bring him a comfort he desperately needs.
Meanwhile, Thomas and Jarin are scheduled to lead the much needed re-establishment of a youth group at church but first must pass the scrutiny of the Board. Their leadership is put on hold when after hearing Thomas’ complete testimony, one of the board members forcefully flares at the facts of Thomas’ history, regardless of it all being prior to his relationship with Christ. Threatening to leave the church in protest, the man irately leaves the meeting. When Grams is informed of the problem in prayer, she informs the pastor that she will take care of it, and he trusts her to do so without asking any questions of her.
Her meeting with the disgruntled board member reveals his own hidden past, and without threat of exposure Grams reminds him that his secrets are known to God. In her anger at his hypocrisy she leaves him to make his own decision, and upon her departure, he writes his letter of resignation to the board for personal reasons and exonerates and endorses Thomas Grand while requesting his own need for privacy as he works out his personal crisis.
Throughout the story, the touching love and respect between Grams and Thomas leads to a closing prayer of joy and expectation as Grams thanks God for His marvelous plans and looks forward to the future—as long as God has designs to keep her around.
Relationship . . . Romance . . . Redemption
Thank you, Lord, for each story. Any good that comes from them goes directly to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
*Please remember to pray for Kristy Dykes.*