Prodigal

By Craig Kent

Dan Caldwell is unscrupulously ambitious with everything to lose.  His world is rocked when his terrifying nightmares become his reality.  Prodigal is a gripping, thought-provoking tale of the massive price of redemption that crosses beyond the realm of the supernatural directly into the space that God, Himself occupies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hillcrest Media Group
• Release date: Aug 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781635054255

Book preview

12

Chapter 1

 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall.

2 Chronicles 26:16

How many days have to officially pass to add up to a ruined life? Is it a single event that occurs out of nowhere on a given day, or does it look more like a number of consecutive days that pass simply adding up to an entire lifetime trashed? Dan agonized, searching to find an answer. He couldn’t figure out if it was too late for him or if he still had some time left.

He slowly realized that the blood behind his temples had been throbbing deeply for some time. His fingers shot to his head abruptly, in a delayed knee jerk reaction. The agile responses of his body were clearly out of sync with the slow, permeating thoughts that lilted through his mind. He struggled to remember exactly how he ended up here. The pain in his brow intensified, but it wasn’t enough to distract him from the relentless question. When did it start, he demanded in frustration pounding his fists on the table. His mind finally settled on the only day that stood out as the catalyst for the course of events that were to come.

Dan took inventory of his stunning surroundings. I’ve finally got it all. Everything that I’ve ever wanted! I can’t think of a single thing that I don’t have or can’t get at this point in my life. Life was just about to get that much better he thought to himself as he placed the phone down having just spoken with the manager of the Mercedes dealership who had just confirmed that he was about to deliver his new S-class to his door within the next hour.  Running through the list in his head he bragged, I’ve got an unbelievably prestigious job- Check. Gorgeous family with 1.5 kids- Check. Palatial home in a gated community overlooking the ocean- Check.  Membership at an exclusive country club- Check. World travel by private jet- Check… And my golf game is still keeping steady with a 13 handicap, he mumbled sarcastically with a pumped up sense of pride. 

Dan continued to reflect on the various areas of his life. I’ve got everything I ever wanted, but, the thrill of the acquisition is getting harder and harder to come by. Whenever I do get that rush, it passes in what seems like a blink of an eye and I’m fighting that feeling of discontent all over again.  Things are just so easy and so comfortable. I barely have to think it, and things just materialize almost like magic, he thought looking out the window into his backyard with a view overlooking the ocean. He could feel his boredom set in hard which suddenly became overwhelming. Dan understood full well that his boredom was turning into restlessness and he knew that his restlessness would then turn into recklessness without any effort at all.

Dan’s mind began to wander and quickly shifted to Pamela, the new tennis instructor that he had spotted at the club a few days back. Succumbing to his daydream, he remembered her cute, perky little figure looking so sexy in her short, white tennis skirt and the too-tight polo shirt that caressed her voluptuous breasts. He pictured her long, tan legs wrapped around him at the hip as he pushed her against the wall of the spa, kissing her lustfully.

Just as he was moving onto the next scene in his mind, Rachel walked through the door.  You heading to the club today, she asked, eyeing her husband of 19 years. Dan felt his face lightly flush; slight feelings of guilt now stirred within him having been caught in a compromising moment. He quickly turned his back to her and faced the ocean. Yeah, I’m waiting for the car to be delivered and then I’ll head over, he said quickly regaining control and shrugging off his feelings of surprise.

In all of the years that Dan and Rachel had been married, he had always been faithful.  He grew up in a small town with traditional parents who stuck with each other through thick and thin. He had been reared to believe that marriage was forever. Dan had always been an overachiever and held himself to high moral standards. Great at sports, top in academics, an Eagle Scout and even a Choir Boy who attended church each Sunday...  Dan just possessed supernatural ability from the moment he was born that made him the most popular guy in town that everyone wanted to know and many tried to emulate no matter how young or old they were. 

People always used to talk about how Dan was going places and he always knew he was special. He exuded confidence in every area of his life which was something that Rachel had initially been attracted to.  But what started out as confidence and self-assuredness in his abilities, a few short years later turned into arrogance and cockiness. It’s amazing how a few successful life accomplishments can turn a heart hard and smug.

Gone were the small pleasures in life of watching your children grow and being enamored of the little things they said that would make you marvel at their precious beings.  Now that they were teenagers, he just wished that he could sew their mouths shut since he was tired of their constant complaints and moody behavior.

On a whole other level of dissatisfaction was his wife, Rachel.  She was such a nag! Nowadays, he would physically wince whenever he heard the sound of her voice. She was always complaining about something he wasn’t doing right, always wanting to talk him to death and he was feeling smothered by all of her desperate acts for attention.  He just wanted to get out of the house and away.

He’d done so much for them, he justified. All of the money, cars, toys, trips and all he ever got in response were their complaints. There’s no use trying to please them. They’ll never be happy with anything I do, he reasoned.

So, you’re finally getting your car today.  I know that you’ve wanted it for awhile, Rachel offered struggling to find a way to converse.  Dan turned around and fidgeted with some papers on the desk.  Uh huh, he managed to muster purposely trying to ignore her. 

Rachel understood that he was disengaged and felt a great sense of sorrow well up in her. I’m going to head out for a few hours and run some errands. I’ll be taking Lauren to see Dr. Koch as well. she said trying to sound nonchalant. Alright, you do that, Dan responded robotically without any sense of feeling. Is there anything that I can get you while I’m out, Rachel replied.

Dan thought for a minute as he caught sight of his reflection on his LCD screen. Hmm, he started.  I just remembered a weird dream that I had last night.  Rachel stood still as she waited for him to continue. 

Dan closed his eyes momentarily trying to recall the details surrounding the dream. "I remember now that I dreamed that I had come down into the kitchen to find something to eat. I saw the basket of apples sitting there and washed one.  As I bit down into the apple, I immediately felt a tooth crack and break. I remember jerking the apple out of my mouth and seeing my tooth embedded right there, in the apple. I ran over to bathroom mirror to see what kind of damage I had done, and was horrified to see that all of my teeth had broken off. I remember frantically rubbing my finger along what was left of the bottom half of my teeth, seeing what remained crumble through my fingers. I remember vividly how my body went cold and I shrieked back, repulsed by my own image. Then, suddenly, I jolted myself awake, he said incredulously. I’ve never been so happy to wake up from a nightmare."

Rachel realized that this was the most he had said to her in quite some time. She was happy that he had actually shared his thoughts with her and looked at him sympathetically. That sounds like a really bad dream, honey. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose all of your teeth like that.  Hey…make sure that you are watching what you eat before you go to bed, maybe it’s spicy food or something she said trying to keep things light. Whatever the case, it was probably just a dream that you’re working out through your mind.  Maybe you’re just wrestling with something that can only be resolved through your subconscious, she suggested thoughtfully.

Dan wasn’t amused. Don’t get all psycho-analytical on me, Rachel!  I don’t want to hear about your old wives tales either! It’s just a bad dream that I only remembered because you just mentioned Dr. Koch’s name. Nothing more than that, he spewed with heightened irritation.  Just go and have your time and I’ll have mine, he said with finality.

Rachel knew that it was time to leave.  She had overstayed her pseudo welcome. Before turning around, she replied solemnly, Dan, no one is trying to lecture you.  I just wish that you could hear me and understand what I’m really saying.  I’m not the enemy or your oppressor.  You have yourself to thank for that.  With those words still hanging in the air, Rachel left the room and Dan was left standing even angrier than he was before.

Dan quickly sat down in his chair seething. That bitch has a speech for every topic! Nobody appointed her subject matter expert so she needs to just keep her big trap shut, he said starting to feel the rage well up inside him. If I’d asked for her advice that would be one thing, but I didn’t so she doesn’t need to try to impress me with her so-called knowledge on dream interpretations, he went on. As Dan continued to get more entangled with his anger toward his wife, his cell phone rang.

I’ll be out there in just a minute, he breathed heatedly into the phone, struggling to control his fury.  As Dan walked out of the house toward the driveway, he was immediately distracted by the beauty that stood before him.  Black, shiny and sleek, the S65 AMG sat there as the manager waved the shiny keys in the air.  You are the proud new owner of this fantastic vehicle, Steve said smiling. Dan looked at the car very impressed.  I’ve been waiting for this upgrade for a very long time.  I’m so glad that I can finally take it out for spin, he remarked. 

Steve had Dan sign the closing papers and then showed him a few extra features in the car. Sonderklasse, S-class, Dan said to himself running his fingers over the glossy hood.  Finally, a car just as special as me… in a class of its own.

You’ve got the best in safety features here too, Mr. Caldwell, Steve broke in. You have your active safety features which include anti-lock brakes and passive safety features including crumple zones, a collapsible steering column and pre-accident seatbelt tightening. God forbid, you ever find yourself in a rollover. But in the rare case that this would occur, our PRE-SAFE feature will unlock the doors for you and lower the windows about a ½ inch which will allow safety workers to gain easy access inside the vehicle. All of these things are built in to reduce occupant injury.

Dan sat in the driver’s seat and took in the smell of the leather. He looked over the dashboard and got familiar with his new car. Are we done here, he questioned rudely. Cause I’m wondering if there’s a reason why you are preventing me from taking my car out for a ride.

The manager of the dealership was taken aback by Dan’s brusqueness. No, Mr. Caldwell. We are done. Don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions, he said handing him his business card. I know that you will enjoy it immensely, he said starting back down the driveway toward the courtesy car that was waiting for him.

Dan walked into the garage and got his clubs, putting them in the trunk of the car. He sped down the driveway, surging onto Highway 1 toward the Laguna Hills Country Club.

With the sunroof open and the music from his iPOD blaring, Dan felt free. Thoughts of his brush with his wife earlier were now becoming a distant memory. He was getting quite a few looks on the road from people admiring his car, trying to figure out who was inside. This car was well worth the money, he stated with great satisfaction. I feel like a million bucks in this and I got it all for the bargain price of $220K. Great return on investment, he laughed to himself.

As Dan pulled into the parking lot of the country club, he spotted his friend who had pulled into the spot to the side of him. Those are some nice wheels, Matt said admiring his friend’s new car. Dan used some restraint, trying not to boast with pride, but couldn’t help just stand there and admire it too. You know me, Matt. I’m always fascinated by new shiny toys. I gotta have something new to amuse myself with.

You’ll have to take me for a ride a little later. Let’s head over to the range since we’ve only got five minutes till tee time. Dan and Matt walked into the lobby, then over to the greens and situated themselves to tee off. So what’s new with you, Dan besides the new car? How ‘s your family doing," Matt asked his old friend matter of factly.

Dan tensed up and blurted, Let’s not ruin our time out here with talk about wives, kids and other life disasters. I’m here to get away from the prison most people call home, he went on.

Matt stood perplexed and realized that he was going to need to keep the conversation light. Sorry, buddy. I had no intention of throwing you off your golf game by bringing up the realities of your life, he started attempting to rib him. I didn’t know that things were that bad… he trailed off realizing that Dan was about to blow up.

Dan stared at him icily.My good for nothing family shouldn’t be a concern of yours, Matt. Just play the game, Dan stated firmly.

Matt reverted his focus back to the game and took out his driver and swung. He had a smooth stroke and the ball sailed in the air and landed about 15 yards away from the hole. Try to beat that, he taunted Dan. You can take all of your aggression out on this course. Go ahead and knock yourself out.

Dan found his Taylormade R11S driver and got into position. He fixed his eye on the flag waving in the distance and swung aerodynamically. The ball cut through the air landing to the right of the hole, about 11 yards away. Just where I like it to fall, he said assuredly to himself. He couldn’t have planted the ball better himself, always preferring to take the ball in from the right. I’m ready for your challenge, Matt. Let’s just make sure that you’re more action and less talk. You may be unnecessarily psyching yourself out with your quips.

Matt walked over to his ball and aligned his body parallel to the hole and adjusted his feet. He was just about to take his next stroke when he heard a startling pop. Looking over at Dan, he saw him fall to ground with a thud, his face spurting blood. Oh my God, Matt shouted as he ran over to Dan. Dan’s face was covered with blood and he was out cold. He scanned the ground and spotted a bloody golf ball laying about 2 yards away from Dan’s ball.

He immediately checked his pulse which was strong and took out his cell phone and dialed 911. "Hello, this is an emergency. I’m on the first hole of the Laguna