This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus’ words from John’s Gospel reverberated in James’s heart. And James suddenly knew the truth of it, the truth of Amanda’s words, the truth that had always, always been his friend, Travis. Even without deliberation, Travis lived God’s greatest commandment without hesitation. Unwavering faith…Innocent and complete devotion to what was right.

James looked at Amanda.

She smiled gently and then looked away and out the window. Sunlight sparkled through the glass sending a sheen of beauty across Amanda’s face. Her tranquil, peaceful face, as if she shared an understanding moment with James. No, with God. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Amanda knew not only what Travis had done, but also why. If her expression was anything to go by, Travis’s sacrifice for her had brought Amanda out of her darkness and to a deeper understanding of her Creator.

The Lord truly was amazing, guiding, protecting, reassuring in ways James had forgotten—almost abandoned.

But not today. Hopefully, not ever again.

He glanced at Ian as the boy rested his head on Mary’s shoulder. She comforted her son with a motherly embrace that Ian did not balk at—despite his age and gender. In the age old gesture, Ian cemented the need for his mother, the love that God had infused into Mary’s heart, for such a time as this. The overwhelming love he had for his sister’s strength made tears threaten, but James held it in. Barely.

From the corner, Mrs. Wexler’s face beamed with joy. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“OK,” Duane said, breaking the emotional moment. “Let’s see if we can get the DA and Public Defender’s office on the phone, so we can get Travis outta that place.”

~*~

James helped Travis load his suitcase into the bed of the truck, and then they got inside. One last look at the formidable building brought a shiver to James’s body, as he contemplated what the rest of Travis’s life could’ve looked like. No matter how calm Travis was, no matter his acceptance of that fate, James was glad his friend would not have to endure it ever again.

They travelled in silence most of the way home. What had started as a sunny day turned to a decent, steady snowfall by the time they reached Kipling city limits, and James paid close attention to the road while the passing scenery outside the truck held Travis’s attention.

At the house, James exited the truck and grabbed Travis’s bag out of the back. The leather was soaked and dark in spots, but probably not all the way through.