Chapter 103

"When you two started seeing each other," Suzie picked up. "She was so happy. She told us that you were the best thing that ever happened to her. And she was so excited about the baby..."

I smiled unconsciously, remembering those first happy months we had together.

"But she knew there was this cloud hanging over her, something she needed to find out. And so she did. I think she was afraid to tell you about it and thought you'd leave her." Suzie reached out to Don, needing his support.

"When she came home that night, the night she left you, we prayed," Suzie said softly. "That was the only time we ever prayed directly for a miracle. We prayed for healing. We prayed for guidance. We prayed for strength."

"Then why didn't God answer," I shook my head bitterly. "Why didn't He provide?"

Suzie smiled warmly. She understood why I was so angry; she was hurt, too. However, she had something I didn't: faith.

"God did provide," her voice was gentle and sorrowful at the same time. "God gave you the means to care for her. You don't want for money. Sometimes the answers to our prayers are already here. You got her the best medical treatments. The healing we ask for doesn't always take the form of a miraculous recovery; it's the doctors at the hospital or the nurses from Hospice."

"Why would He do this to her?" my voice broke. "Why would He do this to us? Why would He deny her miracle?"

I felt Suzie's arms around me as I sobbed. She pulled me to her and let me cry.

"God gave McKayla a miracle," Suzie said gently. "He sent her you. You loved her. You cared for her. You gave her the child she always wanted. You were at her side in the good times and the bad. You tried to kick her door down because you loved her so much you wouldn't give up on her. I think without you, Paige, she would have died a long time ago."

My body convulsed as she held me.

"These last three years were McKayla's miracle," Suzie whispered in my ear. "None of us wanted things to happen this way, but that's not for us to decide. God put each of us on this earth for a reason and we thank Him every day that he gave you to us. You saved our daughter and gave us the granddaughter McKayla couldn't have on her own. You were the answer to her prayers. And to ours."