"Well," Rory sighed, "you can never tell if she's telling the truth. Sometimes, she just says that." Rory caught a whiff of her daughter's diaper. It reeked. "Okay, Lizzie. You do have a poopy. Let's fix that, okay?" she grinned down at her two year old as she changed her.
"Daddy's got to go now," Jess tickled Lizzie when Rory was finished with her. "But I'll be back later, okay Lizzie?" Lizzie burst into tears.
"It's okay, Lizzie. Daddy will be home later." Rory consoled Lizzie with a bottle. Lizzie sucked on the bottle contentedly, and while Rory faced Lizzie away from the door, Jess snuck out. Lizzie quickly realized that her parents had tricked her and began crying again. Rory eventually calmed her down by reading to her from the book of Psalms.
Jess shook his head as he drove away from Stars Hollow. He couldn't believe that less than four years ago, he had been blind. Spiritually and physically. And today, he had Rory and Lizzie. God was certainly good to Jess.
Today was the day he had to turn his newest book into the publishing house in Philadelphia. He wondered if he should have gotten a new editor. This book was his autobiographical experience with being blind for four months. His editor would love it--it had everything. But Jess couldn't help but wonder what his editor would think when she read how he had regained his sight. Jess always tried really hard to share his faith with others, but his editor had not been receptive.
Jess, a gentle voice reminded him, Do not be discouraged, for I am with you wherever you go. Jess relaxed. God would give him the strength and courage to share with his editor, and to turn in his book.
Lord, he thought, what should I do? Should I take my book to the Christian publishers? Jess had researched the matter, and there was a Christian publishing house just outside Philadelphia, in Fort Washington.
No, the Lord replied, You need to minister to Truncheon publishers.
Okay. Jess agreed. Whatever your will is, Lord.
He drove to Truncheon uneasily, and presented his editor with the manuscript. "Thanks, Jess." the editor said. "Look, I know we've had differences since you married Rory, but I want to thank you for staying with Truncheon Publishing."
"No problem." Jess obliged.
"Is there any...Christian content?" the editor asked, as if the manuscript contained anthrax.
"Plenty of it." Jess answered truthfully. "Look, Mike, I can't change the facts. I was literally blind for four months, and God gave my sight back to me. I was on the fast track to getting myself killed here in Philly and he slowed me down long enough for me to see everything in a different perspective."
"Then Truncheon Books will be proud to publish this manuscript." Mike said, and placed the package on the pile he had other editors take care of.
"You're my editor, Mike. Jonathan and Stacey aren't. You have to read it."
"Fine." Mike looked quite put out, but took it out of the manila envelope and began reading it. "Happy?" he asked Jess.
"Couldn't be any happier." Jess assured him.