Moonlight Dance

By Elle H. Raye

Nightly, sweet giggles from ten-year-old identical twin sisters fill the air.

A disease abruptly takes one twin, leaving the other gripped with survivor's guilt for the next ten years. But during this span of time, Alexis Jenkins believes her parents and God's promises are not what she needs.

Will she open her heart again to the Lord? What's God's plan for Alexis?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elle H. Raye
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223353973

Elle H. Raye

Elle H. Raye writes God’s message with inspirational tales in an array of romantic dips and bends. Small-town living flourishes in her novels, novellas, and short stories. The author makes her home in the deep Piney woods of East Texas with her Boxer, Honey, whose favorite pastime is playing squirrel tag.

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Moonlight Dance

Elle H. Raye

Copyright © 2021 Elle H. Raye

Revised 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed,

or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording,

or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher,

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and

certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations or paraphrases are taken from the Holy Bible,

New International Version ®, NIV ®, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. (TM),

and Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously.

Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.

First printing edition 2023, in the United States of America.

Name: Raye, Elle H; author, b. 1958

Title: Moonlight Dance/Elle H. Raye

Description: First edition

IBSN: 9798223605973

Subjects: FICTION/Romance/Contemporary | FICTION/Christian/Romance.

Cover Art and design by Elle H. Raye www.ellehraye.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Silent Memories Excerpt

~ About the Author ~

~ Dedication ~

To my Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, through Him, all things are possible.

~ Key Verses ~

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Chapter 1

Alexis Jenkins snapped off the bedroom light, then eased open the door, hoping the noisy hinges didn’t talk, but they did. Her shoulders hunched. Darkness shrouded the hallway as she pushed the door wider.

Familiar snores and a few snorts strangled from her father’s nose with bear-like grouses. She abruptly halted. Her identical twin, Ashely, older by mere seconds, smashed into her, shoving her into the jam—Alexis’ eyes rounded. Ash, shush.

Ashley fumbled with a box piled high with crepe streamers, glitter-adorned paper, and silk flowers.

Alexis gave a go-ahead wave and led them down the hall. Moonbeams cast silhouettes of tree branches across the family room walls as the girls tiptoed. Beyond the back door, their adventure awaited. Alexis cracked open the portal to their quest, and a warm breeze brushed her cheeks. On Ashley’s next footfall, a squeaky floorboard echoed. The girls paused wide-eyed, and then a snort ensued from the other room. They froze for a moment and then forged forward. There was no way they would let a couple of sleeping bears interfere with their mission—tonight was special.

The lake’s low tide gave the twins access to an old stump perched on the water’s edge that offered endless possibilities, a throne, a critter hideaway, and a chair for the youngsters. They dubbed it ‘Fairy Chair.’ Under the full moon, the girls wound streamers and adorned silk flowers on the chair while whispered giggles filled the air. Moonbeams glistened off the waves and set a path straight to the chair like a royal carpet for them to promenade up. To finish the beautification, they sprinkled glitter on the seat.

Fireflies took flight off the stump, flittering in every direction. A trail of glitter comparable to stardust splattered across the sky from their wings. God must’ve placed the little creatures there to amuse the girls as a birthday present.

The girl’s heads donned rainbow-colored halos made of silk flowers and ribbons. They frolicked around the chair, then flopped on the ground. The twins spoke in a different, mixed-up language, letting no one interpret their secret lingo. They also often completed one another’s sentences, frustrating their parents or anyone who tried to put the girls on tilt.

The twins celebrated their birthday yearly at the family’s summer house on Lake Texoma in Mead, Oklahoma. They’ll turn ten tomorrow, but tonight was theirs to ask what the other wished, not of monetary value, but of themselves.

With no more giggles and secret messages left, the girls headed back inside, careful not to wake the sleeping bears. Getting in trouble on their birthday wasn’t their plan. Alexis pointed to the squeaky floorboard so Ashley would miss the hazardous alarm. The older twin giggled, leaped over the spot, and landed on her knees. They froze. No one stirred, so they hurried into their room. The girls jumped into bed, pulled the covers over their heads, and laughed until they fell asleep.

The morning after their glorious escapade with the ‘Fairy Chair,’ Ashley fell ill.

Alexis’ spirit plummeted with something akin to prescience. She stayed at her sister’s bedside and refused to let go of her hand. The youngster prayed, just as her parents and Sunday School teacher taught. Her faith never faltered. Ash, you’ll be fine, big sis.

Sweat saturated Ashley’s auburn tresses. Alexis’ fingers drew signs in her sister’s palm, speaking in code. Her soft green eyes opened, a smile edged up, and she closed them one last time.

Tears streaked the younger twin’s cheek. I love you, Ash.

They rushed little Ashley to the hospital, but the doctors could not save her.

After that heart-wrenching night, the ‘Fairy Chair’ sat dark and alone. Colorful flowers remained in place around the stump until wind and moisture loosened their hold. Birds, squirrels, and other small critters carried away the decorations in tiny pieces. The lake claimed the rest, never to be seen again.

But on certain nights during low tide, the summer residents cocked their heads and insisted they heard faint giggles from the lake’s edge. They’d peer through windows, some even ventured outside, but the joyous laughter evaporated on the wind. Not sure what they really heard, they’d retreat inside their abodes.

Alexis didn’t return to the lake house. Her heart was empty without Ashley—her best friend and sister. Broken-hearted, she resolved that God had abandoned Ashely and her in their hour of need.

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Alexis jerked awake. She struggled with the same night visions—dreams of her and Ashley for an entire decade. The clock on the dresser, 4 a.m., again. Would the dream never stop haunting her?

Each dream was about the last summer vacation she and Ashley spent at their parent’s lake house. Their final adventure, together with the ‘Fairy chair,’ was the night before their birthdays and the last time they