Seventy Times Seven: Romance Impossible

By Eve Lewis

Becky thought she had conquered her PTSD, but she looked up to the face of the man who had fathered her son. But it wasnt him. Who was this? Steve with her son, Jimmys, gray eyes? Judge Walcott? Shed always harbored the secret fear that Steves clan of rich people would come to take Jimmy away from her.

Her attacker changed and wanted to do the right thing? No way! Roosters never stop crowing . . . but he did. Forgiving was easy, but forgetting was hardand a romance with her attackers brother. Impossible, after her last try, she was through with romance, but it happened! She then thought about what Jesus said: With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26, NIV).

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973612346

Eve Lewis

Eve Lewis is an avid reader. She had her first writing attempt presented at a high school assembly. Since College, her wish to help others has waged war with her reading and writing hobby. Shes hooked on romances, but became repelled by the violent and sexual-explicit scenes that her favorite authors resorted to writing into their novels. She graduated to Christian Romances, but the first ones were too soppy. (Eves definition for heroes and heroines so perfect they never make a miss-step.) thus, she decided to write her own novel. This is her first attempt to combine a romance with two very serious subjects, forgiveness and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD plagues many of our soldiers returning from war. The authors own father probably suffered from PTSD. However, it was largely not treated nor properly named until long after WWI and WWII.

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Copyright © 2018 EVE LEWIS.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-1233-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-1235-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-1234-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017919673

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/18/2018

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

About the Author

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22

Prologue

MONUMENT, COLORADO

"Go ahead, go to the police. My folks will see to it that you’re the one in trouble with the law. I’ve got buddies that’ll swear that I was nowhere near you tonight—and I know a girl that will swear I was with her.

Steve, how could you do this to me?

The confrontation had played over and over in her head for the past month. Lord, how could you let such a terrible thing happen to me? She should have told her folks the night it happened, but she had been so shocked that such a thing could even happen to her. That was a month ago. And now, the pregnancy test was positive.

She trudged home, thinking to herself, Maybe I’ll just wait a few days before I tell the folks. She knew she had to tell them sometime.

She plodded up to the back-screen door, but before she could reach it, her mother opened it with a decisive click, and motioned her inside.

"Well young lady, what do you have to say for yourself? Your English teacher called and said you skipped class this afternoon. She saw you running away from the building just before class time. Where have you been?

She gulped, chin quivering, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks, Daddy, Mom, I have something terrible to tell you.

Chapter One

PUEBLEO, COLORADO MANY YEARS LATER

What do you want? James Nance Walcott III, asked as he scowled at a face that was almost identical to what he saw morning as he shaved—except for vivid blue eyes. The eyes belonged to his younger brother. Thanks to Steve, Jay’s legal career had almost ended before it got started. He had not seen this scoundrel brother nor their parents in over ten years and Jay would be happy if things stayed that way.

I’ve come to ask you to forgive me, Steve replied.

Jay, astonishment written on his face—gaped at his brother. I’ll say this for you, Steve; you’ve never lacked gall. What’s the angle this time?

No angle, Jay, but I don’t blame you for thinking I have one. But I’m on the level this time. I’ve become a believer.

Oh? Really? If true, your conversion rates as a miracle along with Jesus walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee in a thunderstorm. The last time I saw you, you convinced the folks and many of the ‘oh-so-spiritual’-folks from my former church that I was the one who had thrown the rowdy party in my apartment. The noise was so bad the neighbors called the police. Then you had the nerve to use my name instead of your own. We look too much alike. It was only because I was with my prospective employer that whole weekend that I could prove where I was and avoid a police record. But still, thanks to you, my name with your picture was plastered all over the six o’clock news.

I am sorry, Jay. Mom and Dad will—

Get out of here, Jay growled.

Steve Walcott turned to leave, and Jay watched tears well up in the man’s eyes. Crocodile tears, Jay thought sardonically, but then, Saint Steve could always make himself seem like an angel.

Wait! Jay called, If the folks come to see me and don’t expect me to make any effort, I’ll make peace with them. But you? Probably not. You’ll have to prove, as we say in judicial circles, ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ that this isn’t another one of your shenanigans.

That’s all I can ask, Jay. The folks will come to see you. Thanks.

Jay watched his brother look at him sadly, pivot, and walk out the door. Forgive him? Hardly. I almost lost my first job on account of him.

Jay watched him leave, shook his head, and walked over to the window. He stared down at a pavement baking in the hot August sun. The heat rising in waves matched his mood. As he mulled over what had just transpired, he thought, Like I would ever forgive this shyster. Unfortunately, an almost forgotten Bible passage popped into his mind. If you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so your father in heaven may forgive you your sins, but he resolutely ignored this prick at his conscience.

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Even though he’d been reluctant to make it easy for them, a month later, Jay was glad to make peace with his parents, especially when he learned that three years earlier, his father had suffered a heart attack that resulted in open-heart surgery. Although his senator father was constantly in the news, Jay had resolutely avoided reading or watching any news that included any Walcott name except his own.

Although Senator Walcott had been away in Washington at the time, and not involved, Steve had instigated an explosion of problems that had almost demolished Jay’s career before it got started–his father had never been the problem, and Jay regretted that he had closed him off, too.

Brother Steve was a different matter. Jay’s attitude toward Steve toggled between skepticism and astonishment, with some puzzlement thrown in. He could see a seemingly changed attitude, but then Steve could always project sincerity. Finally, he just had to ask him about it. So, tell me about this big change of heart, he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

You met Lorraine at the folks’ dinner the other night, so you know I’m married, Steve replied, and she might still divorce me. When she found out that the sex and drinking party in your apartment was really my gig, that I’d seen to it that you were blamed, and found out about some other things I’d done since we’d been married, she started to file divorce papers. She held off when I agreed to go to marriage counseling with her. Her preacher got to me. I was forced to see myself as I really was, and I hated what I saw. Jay, I’ve made a real commitment to God. He’s forced me to change. As much as I can, I’m really trying to make things right for the people I’ve wronged.

Jay was astonished. He looked at his brother and shook his head.

Steve bowed his head, There’s more, and it’s worse.

Worse than that?

Yeah, and you might as well know it all. Just before high school graduation, I forced this girl to have sex with me,

You what?

And got some of my football buddies to lie for me, Steve finished.

That was criminal!

"As soon as her church found out about the baby, her old man was asked to resign as a church elder. They left Monument right after that.

That’s what I’d expect from ‘oh-so-righteous’ church members, Jay interjected acidly.

Lorraine and the pastor think I should try find the woman. When the girl told me about the baby, I told her to go get an abortion, but I wasn’t going to pay for it.

If there is a baby, Steve continued, I need to make some financial provision for it.

You do know that, if you find her and acknowledge the child, she can bring criminal charges against you? Jay stated with heavy irony. In Colorado, like murder, the statute of limitations never expires on rape. I´m surprised Lorraine hasn´t already divorced you. I would have.

She would have, but she’s pregnant. She said that if I do the right thing, she’ll consider staying.

Way to go, little brother. You deserve everything you get. But Dad doesn’t deserve the publicity.

Yes, I know, Steve said contritely, but I’m prepared to do the right thing, even if it means going to prison. I talked it over with Dad. He agrees that I need to face up to my responsibilities.

Jay turned, stared at his brother, and shook his head. You must have been invaded by aliens. Who was she? Anybody I know?

Yeah, Becky Baldwin. Peter Baldwin’s little sister.

I remember Peter. He and I were friends in high school. I don’t remember his sister, though.

You’ll remember when I tell you. She was the blonde cheerleader I took to the senior prom.

Jay remembered then. He’d seen her when the couple had come to the house in their prom finery to have their pictures taken. He remembered thinking at the time she wasn’t his brother’s usual type. She was blonde, but that was all he remembered. He couldn’t put a face to the name. He didn’t remember if he’d known she was Peter’s sister or not. His stomach curled.

Steve saw the revulsion on his brother’s face and winced. I know. I’m ashamed. I want to find her if I can, even if I’m prosecuted.

There’s also the matter of the media, Jay said, frowning. They already watch your every move, especially since you’ve been an El Paso County commissioner.

I know, Steve replied, uttering a remorseful sigh. But I still need to do the right thing. I was hoping you could or would help me. His face reflected that he expected a resounding ‘no’ from his disapproving brother.

It depends on what you want me to do, but I warn you I intend to keep my distance. I’m not going to let you get near enough to me to burn me again. Understand?

Yes, Steve replied. I just want to know how to find her. Her family left Monument, and they could even have left the state.

Have you thought of using a private investigator? Jay asked. Even then, you’ll need someone that you can count on to be discreet. There is the one that our office uses. He is completely trustworthy. I’ll give you his phone number, but you need to call him yourself. And please, don’t mention my name. I have a reputation for being honest.

Chapter Two

Everyone rise, Becky Baldwin heard the bailiff say as she turned her attention to the bench. The Honorable James Walcott III, presiding.

Judge Walcott? It disconcerted her to hear the Walcott name after all these years. She glanced up toward the bench and registered shock. It was Steve, but no it wasn’t. Those unusual gray eyes! She blanched as she looked at an older replica of her son Jimmy’s face, especially the eyes. He was obviously a Walcott, but not Steve. Who was he?

Steve did have an older brother about Peter’s age. Another Walcott? That was all she needed. That must be what Jimmy would look like when grown. The man certainly looked forbidding in his black robe. The old cliché Sober as a judge must have been coined with him in mind. Was he as mean-spirited as his younger brother?

She glanced over at her boss. Lloyd better watch his step. I wonder why I don’t recall seeing this judge before.

When she’d been a freshman in high school, her