NOTE: Sorry for the delay in updating this fic. I hope I still have readers out there. I had some health issues as well as other things happen in life. So I apologize. Any way, here is a long awaited update! Enjoy! Feedback and it may be soon to get this story going again. God bless.

Danny watched as Lacey and her friends enjoyed surrounding each other in a circle of prayer. He had agreed to go to church with Lacey but not to necessarily believe all of her beliefs. He was sure that Lacey thought she could change him. However, his main goal was to spend as much time with his girlfriend as possible. He had a lot of time to make up for due to dating Jo and doing drugs. It was a fresh start for Lacey and him as a couple. If that meant spending time in church, so be it.

Danny had been to church every Sunday for the past month. He didn't know how people could find this fun or joyful when there was other things to do in life. He enjoyed the singing. He had to admit that. The Perry family was very talented and never boring. Pastor Perry was always great at his sermons too if Danny could believe such a thing as God existing.

It was the little old lady a pew in front of Danny that puzzled him. It seemed that every time the same thing happened as if on cue. A little old woman named, Olive Gentry, would say the same thing each Sunday. She was probably 80 pounds soaking wet; however, she was the loudest of all the congregation. Danny wondered how the 90 year old woman could stomp her little feet without breaking her fragile thin frame. It never failed; she managed to do so each service.

Mrs. Gentry would stand up in the middle of singing and start waving her dingy white handkerchief. Her thin wispy, white hair would shake as much as the handkerchief she waved like a flag of surrender. Tears would flow down her pale cheeks as she would make yelps of excited utterances of 'Praise Him'...'Thank you, Jesus'...or just plain 'Woooo!'

No one seemed to take notice but a few smaller children who would giggle at her. When the singing would stop, Mrs. Gentry would speak about how great God was to her and thank Him for her blessings. Danny always wondered why she felt blessed. According to Lacey, Mrs. Gentry's husband had died of prostate cancer about fifteen years ago. Her only child was killed in a car accident on his 27th birthday. Yet the woman shouted praises to God. Strangely, those shouts and praises always caused an uneasy feeling in Danny. He felt as if his heart was being squeezed while his stomach did flip flops. More than once, Danny had to leave the sanctuary due to his discomfort. He left once because he felt tears welling up in his eyes without knowing why he felt a sudden overwhelming of emotion.

With all this, Danny still managed to come to church without missing a service. Once he came without Lacey as she was sick with a stomach virus. It was this one time that Mrs. Gentry decided to sit with Danny. He squirmed uneasily when the frail old lady touched his hand as she spoke in a weaker voice than Danny expected.

"Child, you are such a blessing to have here." Mrs. Gentry's hand, covered in grayish white skin and age spots, squeezed Danny's hand as tight as she could. "You have such a calling in your life."

Danny smiled pleasantly at the older female. He never heard himself associated with being a blessing before. If she only knew the real Danny, this kind elderly woman wouldn't be near him no less telling him what a blessing he was. As far as a calling, Danny wasn't even sure what that meant. She'd probably cringe at her own words if she knew she was sitting by an ex murderer and drug addict. However, with sparkling eyes and a smile that caused Danny to smile back, she shook her head at Danny. It was as if she knew his thoughts.

"Oh Sweet, boy. Jesus doesn't expect perfection. If He did, I doubt any of us would be here." She patted Danny's knee. "He wants one thing from us. Only one."

Danny couldn't resist as he stared questioningly at Mrs. Gentry. "What is that?"

"Our love. Because He loves us." Mrs. Gentry started to turn from Danny and face the front of the church.

Danny's face hardened at those words. He thought of all he had endured at his father's and Tara's hands. He swallowed before stating boldly to himself. "IF there is a God, I'm sure He hates me."

His words were meant for himself. He had whispered them thinking Mrs. Gentry was too old to hear them. He wasn't sure if she did. However, she turned to Danny with the same genuine smile she had displayed on her face before his words.

"You are such a blessing, child." Mrs. Gentry reiterated before she went to pulling out the old handkerchief and wiping her tears.

Danny jumped startled when she bolted up with a loud "Hallelujah! King Jesus!"

Then and there his heart felt squeezed again. His stomach was in knots as well. Danny felt his throat tighten and tears building as Mrs. Gentry praised God with total adoration. Danny took a deep breath before standing up quickly and leaving the church. He decided not to come to any more services without Lacey there to protect him from 80 lb. little old ladies with frail bodies and loud voices.

Danny had to admit that life was pretty good as of late. His mother was happy in a new marriage to Jack. It seemed Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were still in their honeymoon faze. Danny was always catching Jack embracing Karen from behind and whispering in her ear. This would leave Karen giggling like a school girl. It made Danny elated to see his mother being treated well and being happy. Jo didn't bother him at all. She was busy with Whitney most of the time. Danny had caught them kissing on more than one occasion. Therefore, he thought Jo's infatuation was literally over for good. Mostly Danny's life was great due to having Lacey back in his life. Lacey was everything he ever wanted. Once in a while, Danny had to laugh at himself for thanking God for Lacey.

Danny had even been bonding with Jack Taylor, as his new step dad. Jack and Danny would take a trip sailing at least once a week for an hour or so on Jack's new boat. Danny had purchased it as a wedding gift for his mother and Jack. His mother practically begged Danny to buy it. Danny was sure it was to please Jack more than herself. So he bought it. He was glad he did as Jack seemed to want Danny learning to sail along side him. Jack named the boat 'Karen's Dream' after Karen of course.

Danny was even thinking over the God thing. He felt strange in church but at the same time, it was a welcome feeling of a love he couldn't explain. He'd try to figure it all out in due time. For now, Danny was happy. Life was full of rainbows and sunshine as far as he was concerned.

However, Danny had no idea that Jack and Whitney had other plans for him. Those plans definitely needed a storm warning.