Home to You (15 page)

Not that she didn’t have butterflies in her stomach.

She did.

But it had to be done. She couldn’t keep hiding, as Margaret had informed her only yesterday when she and Mary had come with more packages for her. She had to get out and face that fear, or that fear was going to eat her up. And those two old women were right.

Though they liked to argue and were definitely a bit eccentric, they had wisdom that spoke to Meghan’s heart.

So she’d agreed to go today to Bible study.

“There you are,” Carolyne’s smile was forever in place. She had just gathered her purse and keys and was getting ready to leave. She wore a pair of khaki pants with a button-up top. Her hair, turning silver, was combed back and curved under around her neck with a slight puff about her face. She looked very attractive and stylish.

She wore little makeup, but really didn’t need it as her face glowed with an inner peace and happiness that Meghan envied. To finish off the outfit, she wore a pair of brown loafers. She looked as if she wanted to kick about the house rather than go to church. “Am I over-dressed?” Meghan asked.

Meghan had dressed a bit more formally with a
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brown skirt and long-sleeve silk blouse, hose and dress shoes.

Carolyne shook her head. “You look wonderful, dear.

We dress however we feel comfortable at church. Some women wear dresses and others wear jeans. We’re not particular here.”

Meghan hesitated.

“What is it, honey?” Carolyne asked and her brow creased with concern.

“I just, well, I’m nervous.”

Carolyne nodded, her eyes full of understanding.

“That’s why we want to take small steps.”

“But what about the gossip? Do you think this is going to hurt Dakota?” She hadn’t seen him all week.

Late, after she was in bed, she’d hear his car pull up and many mornings he was gone before she came down for breakfast. He worked too hard and she didn’t want to add to his burden with her reputation.

“Let Dakota worry about Dakota, honey.”

Meghan couldn’t help but be worried.

“Come on. Show them what you’re made of.” Carolyne started toward the door.

“If I knew, maybe I could.”

Carolyne waited for Meghan to exit and then locked the door. They climbed into the station wagon and put their seat belts on. “You’ll discover yourself as you have time to heal.”

As they drove, Meghan found herself relaxing and enjoying the morning. The last of the leaves were falling from the trees and the wind whipped them along.

She had forgotten how much wind there was in such an open city. The air was chilly. She’d needed something
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on her arms and was glad for the long sleeves. The air was fresh here, not polluted like in the big city and she found that she enjoyed the evenings and mornings outside, inhaling the scents of small-town America.

She could see for miles just outside the city if she would venture that far. And the stars at night were so bright. It was so different. She didn’t remember Shenandoah being like this. Of course, she’d been five when they left. This was breathtaking. How she loved it, and loved this woman for everything Carolyne had done for her since she’d arrived.

Cars chugged about the streets while people hurried from store to store. And yet, despite all the hustle and bustle of the harvest season, the town was still quaint and peaceful.

As they drew nearer to the church, Meghan saw Chase standing on the corner writing up an accident.

A small sporty red car and a white compact sat back to front as if the white compact had stopped at the light and the red sports car had bumped it. Both were dented but no one seemed to be hurt. Another officer directed traffic around the accident. Chase saw them and waved, and then glancing about, he started across the street toward them.

Carolyne checked her rearview mirror and then slowed down. Smiling, she rolled down her window.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.” Chase walked over to the car, slipping the clipboard under his arm. Leaning down so he could look inside, he asked, “Where are you off to?”

“Bible study,” Carolyne replied. Chase touched his hat in acknowledgment of Meghan.

Meghan nodded. “Hi.” He was a nice-looking man
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and had a good attitude too. But she was still embarrassed that a police officer had seen her drunk, and was unsure how to act around him.

“So, how is Sarah doing?” Chase’s attention had returned to Carolyne.

“She’s doing fine. She mentioned that you were remodeling the house.”

Chase shook his head and chuckled. “I’m only thinking about it.”

“I’d forgotten you were a carpenter before you headed to the big city.” The sound of cars passing on the damp road from a rain the night before was rhyth-mic as one by one they drove past.

“That was a long time ago.” He shifted his stance.

“So, Sarah’s talking more then?”

Carolyne smiled. “Just give her time, Chase. She’s coming around.”

“I really appreciate all you’re doing for her,” Chase said. “By the way—” he pulled the clipboard from under his arm as he got ready to go back to work “—I’ll be getting off early today, so she might not be at your place after school.”

Carolyne reached over to roll up her window.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“See ya.” He hunkered back down and smiled at Meghan. “Have a good day.”

“Thanks,” Meghan murmured.

Carolyne turned back to the light, waiting for it to turn green. “That’s nice he’s getting off early,” Carolyne said.

That brought up a subject Meghan wanted to ask about. “Dakota puts in a lot of hours, doesn’t he?”

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Carolyne glanced at her briefly before the light turned green and she continued down the street. “Yes.”

“I don’t mean anything by asking. I just noticed that he comes home many times after I’m in bed and is gone a lot of mornings when I get up. I didn’t know pastors put in those types of hours.”

Carolyne sighed. “I think he puts in too many hours, Meghan. But that’s a mother’s opinion.” She hesitated and then added, “If he could hire an associate pastor to help with the load or even have some volunteers, it might give him more time to spend at home. His new youth pastor is great, but he needs an associate.” She shook her head. “But that’s not how it works, so he puts in extra hours to get everything done.”

With a flash of insight, Meghan suddenly realized Carolyne was a very lonely woman, without a driving purpose in life. She had noticed that Carolyne always had dinner ready, waiting for Dakota even if he didn’t show up.

It hadn’t dawned on her until now just how empty Carolyne’s life must be, nothing to do but knock around an empty house and wait for a son who never showed up.

“But at least he’s doing God’s work,” Carolyne said and her melancholy gaze was gone, replaced by the normal perky Carolyne whom Meghan had come to recognize this last week.

Her comment about God’s work brought about another question that Meghan had been pondering. She’d been spending many nights up, thinking about all she and Carolyne had discussed. Every day they would sit down and talk about the verses she’d read as well as the
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new information she and Carolyne had found on multiple sclerosis. She felt as if she were in school again, though this time she was enjoying it. “Is that what God is about? Doing work for Him?”

“Not at all. First and foremost, it’s about a relationship. For example, a husband and wife have a relationship. They talk, eat together, sleep in the same bed, and spend much of their time together. The same is true of God. God wants a relationship with us. He wants to talk with us, worship together—He wants to spend time with us. But it all starts with that commitment in our heart.”

They turned into the church parking lot. Meghan hurried on with what she wanted to say. “I read about how God chased Jacob all over the place until he crippled him and then finally Jacob became Israel.”

“That’s a very good point.” Carolyne put the car into park and turned off the engine. “God loved Jacob and He wanted Jacob to serve Him. He didn’t give up on Jacob.”

“I keep thinking about that type of love, how wonderful it must be. God sent His Son to die for us, and He is willing to chase us down because He loves us so much. And with everything you’ve shown me, there’s no way I can say Jesus isn’t real.” She thought of the many different historians and eyewitnesses that she’d read about in the various notes from various books. She shrugged and then admitted, “Even if you hadn’t shown me the evidence, my heart tells me Jesus is real.”

Meghan trembled and turned toward Carolyne. It took everything she had to say what she wanted to say next. She had been thinking about it for two days now
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and she just couldn’t ignore the longing within her anymore. “I want that love in my heart, Carolyne.”

Carolyne smiled the gentlest of smiles Meghan had ever seen. And then she reached out, took Meghan’s hands in hers and said, “All you have to do is ask.”

And that is exactly what Meghan did, right there in the car with Carolyne. She asked Jesus to come into her heart.

Chapter Twelve

Carolyne was happy. As they walked into the church, she admitted that the joy in getting to pray with someone when they accepted Jesus was probably the best feeling in the world.

“Hi, Mom. Meghan.”

Dakota walked up the carpeted aisle, papers in hand, as if he was on his way out. Carolyne smiled at her son.

He looked tired today, dark circles starting to develop under his eyes. However, when those tired eyes turned to Meghan, they brightened, Carolyne noted with surprised interest.

“Hello, honey,” Carolyne replied, watching the emotions that played across her son’s face before his gaze turned back to her.

Carolyne also saw the pink that entered Meghan’s cheeks.

She wondered how she had missed this over the past week when they’d been together. “Meghan has some
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wonderful news,” Carolyne prompted when Meghan glanced her way.

Her son smiled and waited.

“I—um—well, I asked Jesus into my heart.”

Dakota looked speechless and then grinned. Snag-ging her, he suddenly pulled her into his arms and en-gulfed her in a bear hug.

Carolyne had never seen her son react quite that way with anyone over any news.

“I’m so happy for you, Meghan!” He hugged her longer than was necessary before he finally released her and stepped back.

Meghan stepped back, too, flustered but happy. Running her hands down the front of her legs and eyes shining, she said, “I don’t know if I feel different or not, but inside I think there is a peace that I can’t explain.”

Dakota, still grinning, replied, “Everyone has a different experience.” He checked his watch and the smile left. “I have to get these papers to someone but I want to talk later.”

Carolyne frowned at her son, and how the interplay between Meghan and Dakota was forgotten at such a much-used phrase. “You often say that.”

He had the grace to look guilty. “I promise. This time. I’ll be home early tonight and I want to hear the entire story.”

His gaze returned to Meghan and the attraction in his eyes was gone. He took her hand and squeezed it.

“Thanks for sharing.”

Eyes still shining, Meghan nodded.

Carolyne wasn’t sure how she felt about what she’d seen pass between the two. One thing was certain, how-150

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ever: she didn’t think her son realized how much he actually cared for this woman—and as more than someone to help. She had just seen the evidence. And watching Meghan’s face, she feared Meghan was already half in love with her son.

Worries about Meghan at this stage in her new walk warred with how any rejection by her son could hurt her.

Satan could certainly use something like that to cause her to stumble. Of course, with so many new things in Meghan’s life, Carolyne had to wonder if the young woman was even ready to be looking at a man as she had Dakota.

Then there was Dakota. He was so busy. Could he find time for a relationship? Did he even want to? He rarely dated, too busy with life to bother, he often said.

But then Carolyne reminded herself that God was in control and it was in His hands. Both her son and Meghan were old enough to handle whatever took place, and Carolyne would simply be there to help if things went awry.

“Where do we go?” Meghan asked, and Carolyne realized she’d been standing there studying her retreat-ing son.

“Through the door to the right of the pulpit. It leads to the offices and extra classrooms.” Carolyne led the way. “I don’t want you to be nervous. Remember, most of these women are nice. But we all have our faults.”

“I’m not sure how that makes me feel,” Meghan chuckled nervously, making Carolyne realize that instead of encouraging Meghan, she had done the exact opposite.

Working to reassure her, she offered information.

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“You’ll enjoy the study. We’re on the golden laver, which represents the daily washing the priests did. Its spiritual significance is daily Bible reading and how we need to look into the Bible and wash ourselves with the Word. But enough of that. They’ll go into more detail in the class. We also have refreshments.

Coffee, tea and usually some sort of snack, so feel free to help yourself. And don’t feel you have to share anything with anyone if you don’t want to when we have our share time.”

They got to the door and Carolyne pushed it open.

She noted half a dozen ladies sitting about the oblong white table and chatting. More, Carolyne realized, stood over near the concessions. And of course, the very one she had hoped wouldn’t show up today was there. Georgia Bennett. Georgia rarely missed a meeting of any kind at the church. And of course, with Meghan around, she’d want to keep up on anything going on. This was evidenced by the way Georgia spotted Meghan immediately as if she’d been watching the door and lying in wait. She started toward them.