Marry Me (30 page)

Seth couldn't remember the last time he'd been so nervous facing a group of men. Maybe when he'd gone before the Council for his final examination to become an ordained minister. Those men had held his future in their hands, and in a way so did the ones before him now.

He looked around the room at the fifteen men who made up the Session. They varied in age from early thirties to mid seventies. They were lawyers, doctors, businessmen, teachers, handymen, and a farmer. Some of them he knew well, like Ethan Thomas' brother Jake. Others he didn't. Some of them still looked at him as the skinny kid he'd once been and had trouble seeing him as their pastor.

Harris Matheson was one of those men. A tall, austere man with a perpetual scowl, he was a holdover from the James Markham days. Harris was fond of reminding everyone how long he'd been around and how everything had been run differently back then. Of course,
differently
was a code word for
better
. He also seemed to think it was his job to steer the young whelp in the right direction.

Harris had been the one to call the Session meeting in the first place, and they'd barely gotten through the prayer before he stood to launch the first salvo.

“We're setting a dangerous precedent by allowing this young woman to assume such an important position,” Harris stated. “She flaunted a lifestyle that goes against everything we believe, and now we're supposed to act like it doesn't matter?”

“Amen,” the man to Harris' right said. Lawrence Bernhardt made up another third of the “Before Seth Graham” chorus. A prominent businessman, Lawrence had never been seen out in public in anything other than a three-piece suit to Seth's knowledge. “If we condone Meredith Vining's behavior, what kind of example are we setting for our youth?”

Emmitt Jackson, a pediatrician who'd moved to town about five years ago, cut in. “No one is saying we condone what Meredith did in her youth, but we all make mistakes. She deserves a chance to prove herself.”

Lawrence rounded on the younger man. “Maybe you don't care if your children go down the path of unrighteousness, but others do.”

A vein throbbed in Emmitt's temple, a clear sign he was trying to hold on to his temper. “I care what my children do. I've raised to them to know right from wrong, but if my son or daughter got into trouble, I'd hope that they wouldn't have to be condemned for it the rest of their lives.”

“What if she tries to bring that rock music into this church?” the third member of the Before Seth Graham chorus chimed in. Bill Collingsworth, a lawyer with the county prosecutor's office, had remained silent for much of the meeting. Seth knew the balding, fifty-something man had merely been listening and gathering evidence to present his case. “What if she brings that poison into our midst? We don't want her type of music influencing our young people. I'm not sure we want
her
influencing them.”

Jake Thomas jumped into the fray. “Oh, come on,” he said, with a impatient grumble. “You think Meredith Vining is going to be filling our kids' heads with thoughts of running off to be in a rock band or something? That's ridiculous. I have a teenage daughter, and let me tell you, I couldn't ask for a better role model. Who better to tell my daughter about the dangers of falling into temptation than someone who's been there?”

“I personally like what she's brought to the service, and the music,” Joe Donaldson said. “Sure, it's different, but change is a good thing sometimes.”

Seth looked over in surprise. Joe was a crusty old guy who owned the hardware store. Seth didn't know how old Joe actually was, but suspected he had to be nearing seventy. Having his support was shocking, but welcome.

“I still think having a young woman in that type of visible leadership role is a mistake,” Harris interjected. “Especially as she has some questionable morals.”

Rumblings went up around the room, some murmuring their agreement, others vehemently opposed. Tension rose thick enough to cut with a knife.

Seth had heard enough. He stood to face Harris and his two cohorts. “Gentlemen, I'm trying to be generous in understanding your concerns, but if we're going to travel down the path of questioning someone else's moral fitness it's time for me to take a stand. I have been struggling all week to contain my disappointment that my church could be so unwilling to forgive.”

He paused and let his gaze rest on each man in the room. He had their attention. Now it was time to take Julia's advice and knock some heads together.

“A friend reminded me of the verse about throwing stones,” Seth continued. “God has a lot to say about judging people. I look around this room, and I see friends. Many of you have sat in my office and confessed the struggles you've had with sin in your lives.”

This time Seth was careful not to make specific eye contact, but names rolled through his head. One sobbing about his alcohol addiction. Another confessing of a one-night stand while on a business trip and wondering how on earth he was going to explain it to his wife. Another taking money from the company pension fund to cover a gambling debt.

All the men had stories they'd kept hidden from the world. Seth didn't know them all, but he knew enough.

“My heart has been so heavy,” Seth said, struggling to contain his emotions. “Because what I don't understand, is how you who have been forgiven so much can attack someone else. Meredith has struggled with sin like all of us. She realized the path she was going down was the wrong one, and she changed course. She's made her peace with God, and He's the only one who matters.”

“Amen,” Jake murmured.

Seth nodded his thanks. “The Bible tells us of a story of a shepherd who goes in search of one lost sheep. He doesn't give up, and when he finds it, he rejoices. I know God rejoiced the day Meredith came home. Jesus himself told the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father welcomed his son with open arms and a celebration. It was the older son who protested. I ask you, are we going to be like that older son? Pointing out the speck in Meredith's eye while ignoring the plank in ours? I thought better of you. I thought better of this church, and this body of believers. I have to tell you, if we can't find a way to stop throwing stones we're going to bring the entire church down to the ground.”

Drained and heartsick, Seth took his seat again and bowed his head. No one said anything for a while.

A voice to Seth's right cut through the stillness. “Thank you, Reverend, for reminding us about forgiveness.”

Seth lifted his head. Grey eyes that had reflected despair over a moment of weakness swam with unshed tears. He looked around and saw several others were wiping their eyes. A roomful of men stripped of their arrogance. In that moment, Seth knew a miracle had occurred. He didn't pride himself in thinking his words had turned the tide, but something powerful had happened.

Not all of them were happy, of course. The Before Seth Graham chorus sat with arms folded, their faces red with righteous fury. They had lost, and the defeat did not sit well with them. Seth figured he'd be short a few members come Sunday, but he could handle a slight exodus.

The meeting adjourned without taking a vote. None was needed. The men filed out, most without talking to anyone else.

Seth went to his office and prayed. Thanked God for averting the crisis and asked for strength and guidance. He even prayed for Bill, Harris, and Lawrence. By the time Seth walked outside, the moon had risen high in the sky. He paused to drink in the sight. No matter what madness human beings cooked up, the moon and stars stayed constant. To the naked eye at least.

He crossed the parking lot to his car but stopped when a voice called out. Jake Thomas loped toward him.

“I thought everyone was long gone,” Seth said.

Jake shook Seth's hand and slapped him on the back. “A couple of us were out here talking. That was some thrashing, Reverend. Inspired even. I've never seen you so on fire. If I'd been in your place, I would have bashed some heads together.”

Seth chuckled. “That's what my friend said.”

“The same one who reminded you about throwing stones?”

“Right.”

“Smart friend.”

One more hand shake and Jake walked back to his car. Seth headed for home. Much of downtown was closed up tight. Devon's restaurant seemed to be doing a good business, though, and he could see several people milling around inside the bookstore. Main Street's one traffic light turned red, and Seth stopped.

He thought about Jake's parting comment. Julia had given him a good kick in the pants, and in the end she'd proven to be his inspiration. He should call and let her know what had happened. Better yet, he could go over and tell her in person. He couldn't wait to see her face when he told—

Somewhere in his mind a key turned. The drums he'd heard in the park on first seeing Julia started up again. Only this time they pounded like a thousand waves crashing into the shore. He wondered if this was what Paul had felt like on the road to Damascus. The clarity of vision. The utter certainty that his life had changed forever.

Who was the first person he wanted to tell good news and bad? Who had he come to for advice in the first place? Who had he been trying to
stop
thinking about for weeks now? It certainly wasn't Amy. His feet had taken him in the direction he needed to go before his heart had been willing to admit the truth. Meredith and Brian had recognized the truth, but he'd been too caught up in a memory. Too scared to let go.

A horn blared behind him, and he jerked back to the present. Seth waved a hand in apology, and after a slight hesitation he turned in the opposite direction from Grace's house.

A few minutes later, he made a left. He parked near the entrance and got out. Gravel crunched under his feet as he made his way past gravestones bathed in the silvery glow of the moon. Moist earth and the scent of dozens of different blooms filled his lungs. Crickets and his own breath were the only other sounds he could detect.

When he reached the magnolia tree he stopped. The words chiseled on the stone swam in front of his eyes, but he didn't need to see them.

ELIZABETH JOY GRAHAM

BELOVED WIFE AND DAUGHTER

ALIVE IN GLORY

Seth stared down at the grave marker. “Hey, BG,” he choked and blew out a gust of air. A sweet-scented breeze slipped past his cheek, and he smiled. “Yeah, I guess you know why I'm here. You've probably been up there shaking your head, wondering when I'd get it. I'm stubborn, but then you know that, too. I didn't want to let you go when you were here, and I held tight even when you'd gone. But like my dad said, there's room in my heart for you… and Julia. It just took me a while to figure that out.”

He squatted down, and touched the top of the gravestone. “Who would have ever thought? Prickly, bitter, keep-your-distance Julia Richardson. I guess she's had to be all those things to survive, though. I think you would have liked her. She's pretty special, BG. She'd kill me for saying this, but she's actually sweet and kind and loving. And she makes me glad I'm still alive. Dad was right about that, too. I think she
is
what I need now.”

Pushing to his feet, Seth stood. A lump seemed to clamp around his throat as he stared down at the marker. Reaching into the vase of the grave next to him, he plucked a couple roses and placed them on the ground in front of Beth's tombstone.

The vise pressing down on his windpipe eased as fresh tears flowed. “Night, BG. Love you.”

Without looking back, Seth walked away.

“Get to the church, now.”

Julia stared at the phone in confusion. She'd been focused on the million and one things that needed to be accomplished for Laurel Manning's wedding, including confirming final fittings, hair appointments, limousine service, catering, and delivery of everything from boutonnières to a mammoth ice sculpture of a swan about to take flight, to Hadden Acres. So, it took a moment to process both the identity of the voice and the disjointed comment.

“I'm sorry?” Julia asked.

“Unless you want to consign me to the fate of wearing a bubblegum pink Southern Belle number you'd better get yourself over to the church right now.”

“Meredith?”

A distinct sigh of frustration floated through the phone. “Of course it's Meredith. Do you know anyone else with a sister who would force her to wear a hoop skirt and corset in the middle of summer?”

“I don't even know what you're talking about,” Julia said as she read through her notes.

“Amy called to tell me Seth asked her to come by the church. To talk, she said. Amy has gone into blushing bride mode already. She's convinced he's going to pop the question today. She's on her way there.”

The dire warning finally succeeded at getting Julia's full attention. “Where are you?”

“Giving a voice lesson,” Meredith said. “I'd cancel, but I'm not sure thwarting my sister's engagement falls under the category of family emergency.”

“Do you think he'd pop the question at the church? That doesn't seem very romantic to me.”

“Amy seems to think it would be exactly the place he would pick.
Are you moving yet?
”

The last question was sharp enough to make Julia leap to her feet. She had her hand on the front door, her mind already wondering how on earth a person was supposed to stop an impending proposal. “Yes, I'm moving.”

“You're going to bust it up?”

“I'm going to try.”

Julia heard a little
whoop
on the other end of the phone. “Hallelujah! Go get him, sweetie,” Meredith said.

Julia slipped into her car. “Shouldn't you be pulling for your sister at least a little?”