A New Day (66 page)

    
Norman’s eyebrows went up sharply.  “How many of these childish stunts have you been involved in?”  He asked sarcastically.  “Pattie’s newest story about you involved a similar but
worse
scenario.  And that is saying something.”

    
Tasha visibly trembled.  “I grew up rich, and spoiled.  I also suffered a lot of abuse at the hands of other rich and spoiled people.”  She said evenly.  “What happened with that man when I was fourteen, was not my fault.  I was young and very naive.  However, what happened to me is not uncommon.  It is unfortunate that children have to suffer sexual abuse, but sometimes they do. 

    
"The man involved wanted to have some fun, and I’m sure he was pretty much used to doing whatever he wanted.  Rich and powerful men do that kind of thing.  Usually, they get away with it.  I don't hold it against him, but I refuse to take responsibility for being molested when I was just an adolescent.”

    
"Well, will you set the record straight about that incident?" Norman asked with gleaming eyes.

    
Tasha stared at him, aghast.  "I am not eager to talk about what happened to me.  It was swept under the rug years ago, and the devastation of my personal life,  my sexuality, is something I have always struggled with.  But,  I suppose that I have nothing to lose, now that it’s a matter of public discussion.”

    
She sighed, and gathered her strength.  “He was a close friend of my father's.  He took me places very often, usually with his daughter along.  She was my age, and we were good friends.”

    
"On that particular weekend, he invited me to go to his cabin, along with his daughter.  I was told that she had a dance rehearsal that afternoon, and would join us later.  She was a dedicated dancer, and I thought nothing of it.  But, she never came to the cabin.” 

    
"She happened to call my home that evening, and my housekeeper became alarmed when she realized I was alone with the man; and that his story wasn't panning out.  She called the State police; they came out to the cabin to investigate, and took me home." 

    
"Did he rape you?"  Norman asked with interest.

    
Tasha just looked at him blankly.  "No.  No, he did not, Mr. Nielsen.  He was watching me get ready for bed, and I didn’t know it.  The State Police came, and I did leave there a virgin.  I remained a virgin until the day I married my husband.  Gary Taylor is the only man I’ve ever slept with, to this day.  The sensational tactics that Pattie Danniels has used to paint me as some kind of tart are absolutely ridiculous and false."   

    
"I understood from Pattie Danniels' account of the incident that you ran out of the cabin that night, without a shirt and without a bra.  Is that correct?"

    
Tasha closed her eyes and almost crumbled.  She set her jaw and blinked back most of her tears.  One tear trickled out onto her cheek and she brushed it away, impatiently.  She lifted her head proudly, her eyes glittering. 

     “
Yes.  I was desperate to get away from him.   And that will be the last answer you’ll get about that incident.  There is nothing to be gained from dragging all these people through the mud.” 

    
"Pattie Danniels has caused me, Timothy, and the family of this man, untold pain by trying to sensationalize my past.  This incident has absolutely nothing to do with Tim, nothing to do with our relationship.  It has nothing to do with Tim’s ministry.  It hasn’t been an issue with me since 1990.  We’d all be a lot better off, if you all would leave it in the past where it belongs.  There is nothing good to be gained from examining it now.”

    
Norman shrugged, and smiled innocently.  "I'm just trying to help you tell the truth you say you want to share.   So, you married Gary Taylor after a whirlwind romance.  If my sources are correct, you ran away from him just before your engagement was announced.  You went to your father's Idaho home and there your father broke your nose?" Norman asked incredulously.

    
Tasha tipped her head patiently.  "That is ancient history, Mr. Nielsen.  My father and I have a wonderful relationship now, and my having a broken nose has absolutely nothing to do with Timothy Rain."

    
"Well, tell us about your husband, then.  Were you happily married?"

    
"Oh, yes.  We were extremely happy.  He was a wonderful man.  It was almost more than I could bear, to lose him.   But he was a saint, and he saved my life.  He brought me to Jesus and then, he made me his wife."

    
"I did hear that you took care of him when he was ill, and that you were with him when he died.  What was that like?"

    
Tasha looked up, as if asking for strength from heaven.  "It was wonderful.  Sweet.  It was heaven; and it was hell.  Every moment was precious.  But, it was very painful.  Naomi was only two, and Lucas was just a few months old, when he left.  But I'll never forget the joy and love in his eyes when he could see the children.  It was very hard on him, knowing that we'd be left alone."

    
"So he was at home until the last, and it is said that you were with him when he died?"

    
Tasha smiled and let the tears run down her face.  She couldn't help it.  "Yes.  I was there." She assured him.  "If I never knew for sure before that there was a God in heaven, I was certain of it that day.  I felt Gary's spirit rise up before me, with incredible joy and excitement.  And I felt a flurry, like of angels' wings, all around me.  There was incredible love and joy in that room.  And now I know that heaven is real, and that my darling is still alive ... with Jesus."

    
Her voice was trembling with emotion, and her words painted a picture that touched the hearts of those listening.  Tasha’s innocent devotion and heartache were very plainly demonstrated.

    
"Yet you went back to the lifestyle of the 'rich and famous' and quit going to church?" Norman asked in disbelief.

    
Tasha collected herself.  "It was painful.  It was shattering to lose my wonderful husband."  She said, shaking her head.  "I didn't want to live, anymore.  I didn't know how to live without him.  My faith was shaken.  I tried to hide from God.  I wasn't strong enough to face it all.  It's my failing, but I can't deny it.”

     “
My father called, and invited me to come home.  He wanted to patch things up, and make it up to me, for our prior estrangement.  He guessed, rightly, that I needed 'some taking care of.'  So, I reconciled with my father, and went to live with him.  I didn't want any more than a simple, private life.  I didn't care about having any more than that, for a long time.  I was just living inside empty walls, and I didn't even have the courage to build a new life.” 

    
"I stayed busy with college, and my children.  I skied.  I acted as hostess for my father.  That's about all that I could manage.  I didn't want to serve God, anymore.  It had been too painful an experience for me.  My life with God was one hundred percent, tied in with my relationship with Gary; and he was gone.  I didn't know how to separate the two.  When Gary passed on, it felt like everything else from that life was dead, too."      

     “
And while I was trying to recover from losing Gary, here came Timothy Rain.”  She laughed.  "The Holy Spirit told him to befriend me and get me to the conference.  That's all that he tried to do.  God bent me to His will, and I went with Timothy.  Before that week was over, he'd managed to split my heart wide open, and he gave me back to God on a silver platter.  It was excruciating.”

     “
For three days he kept snapping at my heels, until I cracked and let the Lord back into my life.  Then the Lord began to talk to Tim about me, and he knew that he wanted to marry me by the end of the week.” 

    
"I knew, too, that Tim was very special.  I was very attracted to him, but I was frightened.  He kissed me, and told me he loved me.  He asked me to think about it.  Then, he left and went abroad.  He wrote me letters and sent me cards and flowers.  By the time he came back to Salt Lake to see me, I was desperate to stay away from him."

      “
Why is that?" Norman asked immediately.

    
Tasha paused.  "When Tim left to go abroad, it was as if life settled back into its normal pattern, again.  It was like a short chapter that was over, and I was able to just go back to the way things were, except that I had Tim's letters and calls to look forward to.”

    
She tried to find the words to convey what she'd been feeling.  “It’s hard … to even conceive of loving someone else again; as much as I loved Gary.  I was afraid to take any risk on a new relationship.  I feared that I would hurt Tim; that I wouldn't be able to do it.”

     “
You see, it’s a very frightening proposition; especially so soon.   Tim is not the kind of man who does anything half-hardheartedly.  He would require my whole heart because of who, and what he is.  He’s all or nothing, the kind of man who totally commits his heart.  He would want and deserve the same from me.”

     “
So, I’m trying to come to grips with Gary’s death and set a new course for the future.  But it's very scary for me.  The harassment we are receiving is making it very difficult.  But, I do think that Tim is magnificent if overwhelming, and definitely worth the effort.”

     “
So you have pretty much made up your mind, after all?”

    
Tasha smiled and blushed.  “We are trying to give it some time, and see.  I think we may be able to work things out, once Pattie Danniels has blown all her hot air.”

     “
What about your father?”  Norman cut in triumphantly.  “How can you live with him, after all he did to you?”

    
Tasha smiled sadly.  “I simply forgave him.  He wanted to mend bridges after Gary died.  He has been my saving grace.  He took us in and cared for us, and I needed him desperately.  I find him a changed man, and life with him has been very good.”

     “
So, have you set a date to marry Tim Rain?”

     “
Again, we will have to see.  Pattie Danniels is doing all she can to hinder our relationship.  I don’t believe she can succeed, and I am here to try to put a stop to her destruction of Tim’s ministry.  It would be horrible and pointless, if she were to succeed in discrediting his name.”

     “
Why would she do that?”  Norman mocked.

     “
I really can’t say.  I don't think anyone can doubt, however, that her intent is to pull Tim and I apart.”  Tasha answered lightly.  “She was our constant shadow at the conference where we met.  Every time we'd look up, we could see her hovering, watching us.  Her devotion to getting a story out of Tim and I, has been unwavering for the past year; ever since the day we met, in fact.”

    
"Seriously, whatever the reason, I do forgive Pattie, and I know that Timothy does, too.  I think he pities her.  I don’t understand why she’s done this, and it has been very damaging and hurtful; but I have nothing against her.  I just pray that she does not get hurt by all of this, herself.”

     “
What do you mean?”  Norman asked eagerly.

     “
Just that there are heavy waves for everyone involved to ride out, when something like this occurs.  You reap what you sow.  I hope that Pattie Danniels can repent for what she's doing to Tim, before it comes back to bite her.”

     “
So, summarize for us how you see Tim Rain.”  Norman challenged.

    
Tasha’s smile dazzled like sunshine breaking through rain clouds.  “Oh, my.  Tim is very handsome; very magnetic; very persuasive; exciting to be with.  He is kind, understanding, but bold and strong; and extremely romantic.  He is devoted to God, he’s incredibly talented, he’s totally committed to his ministry.  He is a man of integrity, principle and discipline.  He’s simply an incredible man.”

    
"But you're not ready to marry him?"  Norman pried.

    
"I didn't say that."  Tasha objected smoothly.  "If and when we do decide to get married, we will announce it in our own time and in our own way." She offered coolly.  “We would never announce it to get the press off our back, or in some foolish attempt to try to vindicate ourselves from these pointless accusations.”

     “
A very interesting and moving tale.”  Norman reeled off quickly.  “Thank you for coming and sharing it with us.”

     “
It is more than a story.  It is my life.  It is Tim’s life, and Tim’s ministry at stake.  It will affect people all around the world.  I pray that people will remember this, and be slow to judge him.  It really doesn’t matter, when it comes to me.  But the world needs the gifts that Tim has to share. 
Please
do not rob all the people that Tim could touch in the future, by continuing to propagate these untruths.  It may be that souls hang in the balance.” 

    
"All Tim ever wanted when he began courting me, was a wife.  He deserves that right, just like anybody else.  No one has the right to dictate if and who Tim should marry.  That's what has really been happening, here...”

     “
Ladies and gentlemen, Tasha Charles Taylor.”  Norman cut her off.  He offered Tasha his hand.  She took it, and was amazed to hear a roar of applause from the audience.  Tasha turned to smile at them and saw that they were all standing in tribute.  Tears sprang to her eyes and ran down her cheeks again before she could check them.  “Thank you,” she said.

    
They applauded long after she had gone.

    
Tasha went backstage, and dropped her face in her hands.  Tears poured out unchecked as the tension fled from her body. 

    
It had been rough – Very rough.  She could better understand just how much Timothy had gone through for her sake, when it had been his turn in front of a live audience.

    
A hand settled on Tasha's shoulder.  She looked up to find Rick Snyder looking down at her with a wondering smile.

    
"Tasha, honey.  You were incredible,  simply wonderful."

    
"Thank you."  She answered quietly. 

    
Rick pulled her forcefully into his arms, and kissed her.  Though Tasha came to life, struggling against him violently, he refused to let her go.  He was like a beast, taking and devouring.  Finally, Tasha kicked his shin with all her might.

    
He released her with a curse.  Tasha backed away, and he chased her, limping. 

    
"Come back here!"  He growled, grabbing her arm.  "Tasha, don't go!  Let me explain – I love you!  I need you!  I'm sorry I lost my head.  Listen to me!  Surely you can see that all this publicity has ruined it, for you and Tim.  You can't be with him anymore, it would ruin his ministry completely!  If you ease out of the picture now, he might stand a chance to recover.” 

     “
Come away with me.  We'll get married.  We'll start a new life together.  I love you,  Tasha!  I know it's not fair to Tim, but you're too beautiful; I just can't help myself.  Please!  No one will know, until it’s too late.  Tasha, when we’re married, Tim will leave you alone.  The press will forget you ever existed!  All this madness will end!"

    
Tasha delivered a stinging slap to Rick's cheek, that snapped his head sideways.  "You get away from me, and don't you ever come near me again!  I wouldn't have you if you were the last man alive on the face of this earth!  Timothy trusted you!  I think you're despicable, to talk and act this way!"

     “
Come on, baby.  Don’t do this, now.  I want you, and you can’t have Tim.  Face the truth!  You said yourself, you don’t want to ruin his ministry.  Come away with me, then.  I’ll take real good care of you, honey.  You don’t have to go through any more of this torment. 

Just come with me.  Take my hand, and we will walk out of here, and no one will ever know what happened!  Tim will be able to go on with his ministry, and you and I will live happily ever after.”

     “We’ll go out of the country for a time, and no one will even remember your name, this time next week.  I’ll give you time to adjust to the changes, if you need it.  I can be very patient.  Just take my hand, and we’ll get out of this nightmare.  We'll be great together!”

    
Tasha stared at him, unable to fathom his lack of faithfulness to Timothy.  “Please understand this, Mr. Snyder.  I will not go anywhere with you.  You make me sick to my stomach!  I find you absolutely despicable!  Tim trusted you, though I never fully did.  Now, please go away.  Don’t ever call me, don’t ever let me see your face, again.”

     “
Nice speech, doll.   Now face facts.  I’m all you’ve got!” He snapped.  There was an ugly sneer on his face, and a nasty light in his eyes.  “Get wise, and fall in line.  I’m the only one who wants you besides Tim, and you can’t have him.”

    
Tasha was steamed.  “Then I’ll do without, until hell freezes over.” She snorted. “Get out, and leave me alone!"

    
"I couldn't have answered any better, myself."  A man's quiet voice said from the doorway. 

    
They turned to find Timothy standing there, hands in his coat pockets.  Though his face wore a passive expression, his eyes were like chips of blue fire. 

    
"Rick, you were one man I thought I could trust with my lady.  I can't believe what you just did."  He said coldly.

    
"She's not yours!"  Rick denied hotly.  "If she were, you wouldn't have to still be trying to convince her to marry you.  Why don't you knock it off, Tim?   She doesn't want you!"

    
Tim shrugged.  "That's really none of your business." He informed Rick in a low voice.  " I have no intention of just stepping out of the way.  Especially when she's made it clear that she wants nothing to do with
you
.  If she never marries me, I'll still help her ditch you, buddy."  He slowly walked over, and got right in Rick's face.

    
"I also have no intention of further association with you.  Please understand that all doors between you and I, are closed permanently.  I'd like the keys to my office, please.”

    
Rick looked at Tim belligerently, and set his jaw.  "You want to go outside, Tim?" he challenged with a red face.  "I'll fight you.  Come on, let's go!"

    
Tim just stared at him.  "I have no interest in fighting.  Just get out of here.  And stay away from Tasha.  She's made it clear she doesn't want you around."

    
Rick narrowed his eyes as if considering. 

    
Tasha picked up the courtesy telephone and asked for an outside line.

    
"What are you doing?"  Rick asked her suspiciously.

    
"I'm calling the police, Mr. Snyder."  She informed him coldly.

    
Rick glared at her – and then back at Tim.  "Well, maybe she doesn't want me, anymore.  But she doesn't want you, either!  Believe me, she let me know how sick she is of your pathetic devotion to her!"  He taunted.  "And what about all your fine words about grace and forgiveness?" he taunted

    
Tim gave him a thoughtful look.  "I do forgive you, Rick.  Believe me, I can honestly understand what made you do it.  Tasha is a very beautiful woman.  So, you took a chance.  But just the same, I don't trust you anymore.  I sent you to Tasha to take care of her for me.  Not to harass her, not to try to take her away from me.  Because I don’t trust you, I can't have you in ministry with me.  That's just the way it is.  I certainly can't have you around Tasha anymore, and that is going to pose a problem.  So I'll just ask you to go, now."

    
Rick stared back at him with pure, penetrating hatred. Then, he slowly smiled.  “She was worth it.”  he told Tim slyly.  He turned on his heel, and walked out without a backward glance.

    
Tim turned to Tasha, and looked her over with eyes seemingly void of emotion.  "How about if I see you back to your hotel?"  he asked evenly.

    
Tasha smiled up at him faintly.  "All right."  She agreed tiredly.  "Norman has provided a limo.  We may as well make use of it."  She suggested.

    
Tim nodded, and kept a hand on her back as they went through the building to the back exit.