Pierced by Love (10 page)

W
HEN HE SLID into the Explorer, Noelle asked, “Is everything okay?”

He didn’t answer right away. Looking sideways at her, he shook his head. “I’m not sure. That was my dad. He and I aren’t very close. I haven’t heard from him in a while.”

“Oh.” Not knowing what else to say, she left it at that. An image of her own father came to her. She’d always known that she had wonderful parents. Although Noelle hadn’t agreed with everything they said, she just couldn’t fathom how she would have made it through the past week without their love and support.

Pierce turned the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot. They drove through Flagstaff in silence until he turned onto the freeway entrance going east to Winslow. Pierce was still deep in thought, so Noelle thought it best not to interrupt him. She wished that she had brought her backpack so that she could at least have caught up on some of her homework assignments.

After a while, Pierce turned the radio on to a popular station. Noelle’s eyes grew misty from listening to songs of unrequited love or love lost. Weren’t there any good songs out there about love found?

Pierce seemed to notice her distress and turned the radio off.

After another ten minutes of driving, Pierce finally spoke. “You picked a good day to travel. At least it didn’t snow.”

“Yep, although the sky is overcast,” she agreed. “I have to admit that after living in Flagstaff for the last two years, I still don’t feel very comfortable with driving in the snow.”

“That’s understandable when you’ve lived in a hundred-degree climate all your life.”

“But you’re from Glendale, right?” Noelle asked. That was on the northwest side of Phoenix. “You were willing to drive so that I wouldn’t have to.” He nodded without looking her way. “So what makes you an expert on driving in icy conditions?”

“I’m no expert, but I served my mission in Wisconsin.”

“Did you like it?”

He took his time answering, threading his fingers through his hair. “I liked the people there, but the climate was too cold for me.”

“You probably have some good memories of the people you taught.”

He seemed to consider that. “Yeah, but toward the end of my mission I lost my focus because of some things that happened at home with my family.”

“I’m sorry.” Noelle didn’t have to know what those things were to sense the frustration he still felt. She could hear it in his voice. “The gospel really is a wonderful plan with Heavenly Father giving us families to belong to. But sometimes I think that our family members are as much a hindrance to our growth and happiness as they are a blessing.”

He turned his head at her statement. “I guess that’s why we were placed in the families we were placed in so that we could learn to work with each other, despite our differences.”

“And our flaws,” she added. “At least we know that someday we’ll all be perfect.” She sighed. “I wish that I was now. Then I wouldn’t be feeling so upset about everything that has happened lately.” She gave a harsh laugh. “You want to hear the irony? Melody is already as close to being perfect as a person can get. If the situation had been reversed, she would have lovingly told me that it was okay because that must be the way the Lord intended it to be. She never would have fought with me. She would have kept loving me because I’m her sister. I think she’s still feeling a bit guilty about her deception, though, if the little treats and notes she keeps leaving on my dresser are any indication.” Noelle felt the tears welling up inside again as she recalled Melody’s latest note, complete with a small tube of lotion. On the outline of a hand, she’d written, “You’re my favorite sister—hands down.” Tears slid down her face. Feeling embarrassed by them and hoping that Pierce wouldn’t think that she was a total basket case, she offered him a wobbly smile.

However, Pierce only looked at her with compassion. “I’m sorry, Noelle. I know it’s been tough for you. But you’re not Melody. You’re more passionate about life and that’s a good thing. But it also makes you more vulnerable when things like this happen. I’m guessing that’s why you wanted to go to the temple today—so you can figure this out?”

She nodded, trying to speak past the lump in her throat. “I haven’t chosen this path and I don’t have the ability to reverse it. Melody told me that she prayed about marrying Chase and received a confirmation. So where does that leave me? Don’t I matter to the Lord or are Chase and Melody the only ones entitled to happiness?”

“You’re entitled to happiness along with everyone else,” Pierce responded. “It will just take you a little longer to find it. Besides, just because Chase and Melody are getting married in the temple doesn’t mean that they won’t have trials too. Even if their marriage lasts, it will be tested and tried just like everyone else’s.”

Noelle gazed at him pensively. “You sound a bit cynical. You don’t think their marriage will last?”

“Let’s just say that Melody and Chase are starting on shaky ground.” Pierce adjusted the air flow from the vent. “How does she know she can trust him? Or how does he know he can trust her after what they did to you?”

Recalling her father’s advice to Melody along the same lines, Noelle replied, “I don’t know. I guess they’ll have to figure that one out.”

“I’m just saying that even though it might seem like they’re happy, eventually their relationship will hit a rocky point and they’ll either pull together or fall apart.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

A slight pause followed, then Pierce replied, “My parents were married in the temple and have been divorced for four years. I just received news that my dad, who has been inactive for the past fifteen years, suddenly became active again and married a woman I’ve never met. How weird is that?” His disbelief was evident.

“Extremely,” she concurred.

“My mom has been faithful in the Church all her life. She stayed with my dad for all those years until she couldn’t handle his negligence any longer. I’ve been wondering the same thing about her. What will happen to her? Right now she’s still sealed to my dad and will be unless the opportunity presents itself to marry someone else in the temple. But even if she never remarries in this life, I believe Heavenly Father will bless her with a worthy priesthood holder in the next life as long as she has kept her covenants. Whether it’s my dad or not, I couldn’t say. But I do know that Heavenly Father isn’t just a God of justice. He’s a God of mercy too. He’ll do what is best for both of them.”

Noelle slumped in her seat, crossing her arms as she said, “I know that blessing extends to all women who never receive the opportunity to be sealed to someone in this life. But somehow, I just never envisioned myself being one of them.”

He chuckled. “Noelle, don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic? You’re only twenty or so.”

“Twenty-two.”

“You’ll meet some guy who won’t be able to pass you up.”

Like you?
she wondered and then nearly gasped. Where had that thought come from? “Maybe.”

“Finding a girl such as yourself with good looks and an awesome personality is every guy’s dream. So why would you think there is nobody else out there for you?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’m still feeling like yesterday’s trash.”

His brow lifted in obvious challenge. “You know that’s just Satan talking to you, right? He wants you to feel that way. But that isn’t the way the Lord works.”

She said nothing but turned her head to look out the window. They had left the Sitgreaves National Forest and the scenery had transformed into desert shrubbery. That was how her soul felt. Dry and lifeless.

Pierce’s voice came softly from behind her. “Have you thought about serving a mission?”

She turned back to him. “I’m too old. Now that the church leaders have lowered the age requirements, I would feel out of place among all of those kiddos.” Pierce chuckled. “Honestly, I’ve never had a burning desire to serve a mission. But I’m considering it. Maybe it would be good for me.”

“And for someone else who needs to hear about the gospel,” he said drily.

“Yeah, there is that.” But though she admired those who served missions and taught the gospel, she couldn’t envision herself actually doing that with strangers. “I need to be thinking about completing my teaching degree and finding a job.”

“Where do you want to go after this?”

She knew that he was referring to NAU. “I don’t really have a preference. I’ll start sending out resumes while I’m student teaching. But I’m not going to limit my options to Arizona.”

“That’s good.”

Noelle was pleasantly surprised by how easily they were able to converse through the next two hours. Pierce was a good listener. Noelle had forgotten about the instant rapport she had felt with him when he was her home teacher. It was almost like their friendship was picking up where it left off before she’d started dating Chase.

The Snowflake Temple stood at the top of a hill on the outskirts of the Mormon town. It was beautiful. Noelle liked the red rock landscaping featuring an artificial waterfall along with the Native American pottery and art that was displayed inside.

The temple session was full. Noelle felt self-conscious about Pierce being in the same room. She told herself to treat this like she would a normal ward temple excursion and willed herself not to pay any attention to him. She sighed in relief when the session ended and she made her way into the celestial room, enjoying the tranquility. Pierce soon entered and sat on the opposite end of the sofa on which she sat, obviously content to quietly ponder. Glancing nervously at Pierce, she debated what to do. She had intended to pour her heart out to Heavenly Father but found her power of concentration missing.

Reining her thoughts in, she decided to go through with her plans and closed her eyes and bowed her head.
Heavenly Father
, she prayed silently,
what is the right course for me to follow? And please help me to forgive Melody and Chase. Please help me to feel Thy peace and comfort.

A warm feeling came to her bosom at that moment and spread to her limbs before it gradually faded. Noelle immediately knew that it was the Holy Ghost. Although she didn’t experience such a powerful feeling every time she prayed, Noelle took comfort in knowing that Heavenly Father really did love her and would help her navigate this difficult path. She closed her prayer and opened her eyes to find Pierce engaged in a prayer of his own. She wondered if he was praying for his family situation as well.

Pierce opened his eyes and continued to stare at the floor for a few minutes longer. At length, he turned to her and whispered, “I’m ready to leave whenever you are.”

She nodded her assent. “Okay.”

She met up with him again just beyond the dressing rooms where he was viewing the various paintings on the wall, most of them depicting events of the Savior’s life. Pierce turned to her and asked, “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Once outside the temple, Noelle immediately noticed that the sky had darkened. Gray clouds had thickened, creating a feeling of apprehension in Noelle’s chest. Glancing at her watch and noting that it was getting late, she asked, “What’s the plan?”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

“Me too.”

“Let’s find a place to get some food and get back on the road.” They drove further into town and found a small café to order some food. Noelle dug into her purse for some cash and extended it to Pierce. He shook his head at her, saying, “Keep it.”

She felt her cheeks warm in embarrassment. “Thanks.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Not just for the food, but for taking me to the temple. I needed that.”

He gave her a look that could easily be mistaken for affection but Noelle knew better than that. Pierce Logan was a player. All the girls at the institute talked about his dating exploits. “I hope it helped.”

“It did.” Bravely, she asked, “What about you? Did you find it enlightening?”

“If you’re asking whether I was hit by a bolt of lightning, then the answer is no. But it was nice to be there.”

“Maybe this thing with your dad will turn out all right.”

His expression clearly conveyed his doubt. “We’ll see.”

They’d fallen into a comfortable silence on the way home until they passed a sign on the freeway for Walnut Canyon. “Have you ever been there?” Pierce asked Noelle, indicating the sign.

She shook her head. “Walnut Canyon? No. Why?”

“There are some cliff dwellings made by the ancient people who inhabited the area that are really cool. Want to hike up there and check them out some time?”

He turned to her to gauge her response. Noelle looked at him sharply. “As in a date?”

“Not a
date
date,” he said quickly. “Just as friends. We could even go with some other people, if you wanted to.”

“How would we get around not inviting Chase and Melody?”

“We don’t have to exclude them, but if you’d feel more comfortable without them, then we could choose a day and time when they would be busy with something else.”

After a few moments, she replied, “I’ll think about it.”

Pierce released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. She hadn’t said no. For some reason, however, he’d really hoped that she’d say yes. “Fair enough,” he said and drove further into Flagstaff and back to their apartment complex.