“Oh, that.” With one hand holding the phone to her ear, Lydia rubbed a troubled hand across her forehead. Why would Sherry even care what she thought? They hadn’t spoken in months! And although Lydia still felt hurt and mourned the loss of their friendship, she wasn’t angry, and she certainly didn’t “despise” Sherry.
“May I explain?” Sherry asked.
“You don’t have to. . . .”
“Yes, I do. I want you to understand. I want to. . .apologize. There’s so much you don’t know.”
Lydia stretched the phone cord out and grabbed a kitchen chair. Lowering herself into it, she waved Tyler upstairs so he couldn’t eavesdrop.
“It started last November,” Sherry began softly. “Jordan, being the treasurer at SPCC, noticed some things about the books that made him uncomfortable. For instance, Gerald had withdrawn an awful lot of money for that new car he drives. Now, while SPCC agreed to furnish its pastor with an automobile, Jordan never expected him to choose a BMW 750iL—the thing cost nearly seventy thousand dollars! I mean, really!” Sherry declared. “What’s wrong with a twenty thousand dollar Ford or Chevrolet?”
“I didn’t realize the church paid for Gerald’s car,” Lydia stated lamely.
“His car and his house,” Sherry added emphatically. “When the congregation agreed to purchase a home for SPCC’s paster, they weren’t thinking of the half a million dollar mansion he chose. What does an older couple nearing retirement need with seven bedrooms, a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and tennis courts when there are needy families at SPCC?”
Sherry paused and Lydia sensed she was gathering steam. “When Jordan suspected a misuse of funds, he approached Gerald with his concerns and that’s when your father-in-law threw a fit. He called Jordan a backslider for having the audacity to question his motives. Next, Gerald removed him from his treasurer’s position, only to replace him with Sim Crenshaw.”
“Oh, Sherry, I don’t know what to think anymore,” Lydia lamented. “I’m so confused over all of this.”
“I’m sure you are. When Jordan told me everything, I had a hard time coming to grips with the truth myself.”
Lydia shook her head, trying to clear it. Her thoughts were as boggled as this whole ordeal. “Why didn’t you say something to me sooner?” she couldn’t help asking Sherry. “Why did you end our friendship?”
“I didn’t want to,” she replied, sounding contrite. “But Jordan and I were scared Gerald would retaliate somehow, so we laid low for a while until Jordan got his new managerial position here in Tennessee. Then we moved. But now we see how wrong we were to run away from the situation instead of braving it out and trusting the Lord to see us through. That’s why I need to apologize to you.” She paused, her voice breaking slightly. “I’m so sorry and I’ve missed you so much!”
Lydia was trying to swallow her own onslaught of emotion. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Sherry sniffed. “And I’ve been so worried about you. Gerald’s been planning a match between you and Sim. Are you even aware of it?”
“Yes, I’ve gotten that impression.”
“Honestly, Lyd,” Sherry continued, using the pet name she’d coined for her years ago, “the very idea nauseates me. I know you trust Gerald completely, but don’t be persuaded to marry Sim no matter how wonderful the promises sound. Simeon Crenshaw cannot be trusted.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in Sim.”
“Good. You put my mind at ease. Well, I have more to say to you, but we’ve talked plenty long on your bill. Let me call you right back and we can chat some more.”
“I’d like that. . .but wait about a half hour so I can get Ty and Brooke into bed. Okay?”
Sherry agreed, they hung up, and Lydia took to the stairs, climbing them two at a time. She felt a bit of remorse for making such quick work of tucking her children in for the night, but she didn’t want to miss Sherry’s call. So many questions suddenly had answers, although Lydia couldn’t say she cared for any of them. And it seemed she was caught in some sort of double bind, for if she chose to believe her mother and Sherry, then she’d have to conclude Gerald wasn’t the godly, benevolent pastor she’d thought.
Oh, Lord, I’m so confused right now.
Walking into the den, Lydia grabbed the cordless phone and made her way into the living room. She sat down on the couch just as it rang. Sherry always had uncanny timing. Chuckling softly, she pressed the TALK button.
“My, but you’re prompt,” she answered.
“Lydia?” a male voice said.
She swallowed her amusement. “Gerald. Hello.”
“Hello. Obviously you weren’t expecting my call.”
“No, I. . .I thought you were someone else. But how are you? Have you talked to Elberta?”
“I’m fine and I spoke with Elberta not long ago. She’s decided to spend the rest of the winter in Florida with Mary.”
“I see.” Lydia felt troubled by the news. Was this some kind of separation, the first step toward divorce?
“Now I have a question for you. What’s this I hear about you carrying on with your next-door neighbor?”
Lydia almost choked on her reply. “Who told you that? Mrs. Wilberson?”
“It doesn’t matter. I want the truth, Lydia.”
“I’m hardly ‘carrying on’ with him,” she stated in her own defense. “We had a date last night and he kissed me good night. That’s it.”
“Hmm. . .that’s more than Sim got, from what I understand.”
“That’s because I don’t like Sim,” Lydia stated tersely. She wished she’d realized sooner that her father-in-law had been bent on a match between them. It just wasn’t going to happen.
“Am I to assume you like your neighbor? What’s his name? Alex?”
“Alec. Alec Corbett. And, yes. . . ,” she paused, sending up a quick arrow of a prayer for understanding, “yes, I like him. Very much.”
“Very much?” he repeated as if he couldn’t quite grasp the concept. Then a long pause passed between them before Gerald spoke up again. “Lydia, I thought we had an agreement. I was to screen prospective suitors for you.”
“Yes, but I only went along with it because I wasn’t capable of such a decision on my own so soon after Michael died. I couldn’t think of dating. But it’s different now.”
“And why’s that?”
She shrugged, forgetting her father-in-law couldn’t see the gesture. “I don’t know. It’s as if the fog that hung over me has finally lifted.”
“And we have Alex to thank for this, eh?”
“Alec.” Lydia bristled under the condescension, but she fought to keep her temper in check. She’d known Gerald wouldn’t approve of her seeing him, and yet this was the moment she’d hoped for—her shot at changing his mind. “Won’t you please give him a chance?” she asked sweetly. “I think you’ll like him. In some ways, Alec reminds me of Michael.”
Gerald seemed to ignore the comment. “Is he a believer?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“Where is he attending church?”
“At Berean Baptist.”
“Oh, Lydia,” her father-in-law ground out, sounding frustrated, “that’s a Milquetoast church. If this man is a Christian—and I do mean if—he’s probably a very weak one with no godly standards to speak of.”
“On the contrary, I think he’s a strong Christian. Please don’t pass judgment on him before getting to know him first. I think you’ll be surprised.”
Another pause. “Very well. I didn’t call to argue. I’m only looking after your welfare. . .and that of the children.”
“Thank you, but there’s no need to be concerned.”
“Well, of course there is! I’m Tyler and Brooke’s grandfather. I have a vested interest in your love life.”
The front doorbell suddenly chimed, startling Lydia from her thoughts. Standing she padded to the hallway, where she flipped on the porch light.
Peeking out the side window, she saw Alec.
“Lydia? Are you still there?” Gerald sounded indignant.
“Yes, but I have to go. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.” She clicked off the phone before setting it on the adjacent table. Then she pulled open the door and smiled.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Alec greeted her, placing a green tissue-wrapped bouquet in her arms. “Roses for Lydia Rose.”
She felt her cheeks warm with a blush.
“Am I disturbing anything?”
“No. Would you care to come in?”
Alec shook his blond head. “Better not. After last night, I don’t trust myself.”
“What do you mean?”
A frown furrowed his thick, sandy-colored brows. “Lydia, at the risk of you freezing to death there in the doorway. . .” He smirked good-naturedly. “Want to go put on your winter coat, cap, and mittens? It’s about fifty degrees out here and what I want to say might take awhile.”
“I think I’ll survive the frigid temperatures, Alec,” she stated in jest. “What’s on your mind?”
He leaned against the doorjamb. “Well, I’ve got to confess that in all the months I was engaged to Denise, I never kissed her. Do you believe that? It’s true. You see, shortly after my conversion to Christ, I committed myself to the principles of courtship—no kissing, hugging, hand holding. . .any intimate physical contact, no matter how accepted it might be as far as worldly dating.”
“I see.”
“Are you sure?” Alec grinned, looking thoroughly amused. “Most Christians haven’t even heard of courtship.”
“Well, I’ve heard of it. I just thought it went out with the antebellum South.”
Alec hung his head back and hooted. “That’s a good one, Lydia.”
She shrugged, smiling, although she had to admit, she wasn’t sure where Alec was going with all of this.
Then he pulled out several pamphlets from his inside jacket pocket and gave them to her. With the flowers cradled in one arm, Lydia accepted them with her other hand.
“I talked to Pastor Spencer tonight after church,” Alec continued. “He promotes courtship and he managed to dig up some literature on the subject. I’d like you to read those brochures. They’ll explain everything a lot better than I can.”
“I’ll read them tonight.”
“Great. I wrote down my cell phone and home phone numbers. Call me if you have any questions. And I apologize for kissing you last night. I violated my own code of ethics.”
Lydia nodded, but inside, her heart was breaking. “Alec, I think you’re politely trying to tell me you don’t want to see me anymore.”
His topaz-colored eyes widened in shock. “No way, quite the opposite. But you’re the one who said you weren’t interested in remarrying. See, Lydia, that’s a problem since courtship is a forerunner to marriage. Courtship isn’t another word for dating. It’s completely different.” He gave her a sympathetic smile. “Will you just read those brochures?”
“Yes. . .yes, I will. Now I’m curious.”
“Good. And, um, just one more thing. . . .”
Lydia raised her brows expectantly.
“I want you to know this is no light matter with me. I left Wisconsin determined not to get involved with another woman as long as I lived. After we met, I wanted to stay as far away from you, Lydia, as I could get. . .because I felt an immediate attraction to you. And, honestly, I’m not a man who’s easily swayed by a pretty face. I’ve seen enough of them to know better. I became a Christian when I was thirty years old and I didn’t exactly live a priestly existence. But, praise the Lord, He saved me before I could really mess up my life.”
Lydia smiled, touched that Alec would share something so personal. His sensitivity was showing again, his vulnerability on display, and she could see why he was hurt so deeply over his broken engagement. Once more, that particular feeling came over her, the one that caused her to want to be the woman who changed Alec Corbett’s heart about love and marriage.
“Lydia, at the risk of sounding like a complete lunatic,” Alec said with a wry grin, “I want to—well, that is, if you want me to—I mean, I know we’ve only known each other a couple of weeks and everything, but. . .”
She sucked her lower lip between her teeth to keep from smiling. He looked so cute standing there, rambling on nervously.
“What I’m trying to say is, I’d like to court you.”
“I’m flattered, and I—”
“Read those pamphlets before you answer, okay? But if you have reservations or doubts of any kind, I understand. Like I said, we’ve only known each other a short time. It’s just that. . .well, I could fall in love with you real easy. . .if I haven’t already.”
“Oh, Alec. . .” Lydia was touched to the heart.
“You go on in the house now, before you turn into an icicle, and I’m going home before I do something we both might regret. I was wrong to be so careless last night. Guess I haven’t been walking as close to the Lord as I should. But I want to make things right from tonight on, okay?”
She nodded and, watching him go, she felt more impressed with Alec than ever. In her mind, he was a gentleman among gentlemen.
The phone rang again, and she reentered the hallway, closing the door and latching it securely behind her. Picking up the cordless, she smiled, hearing Sherry’s voice.
“Okay, Lyd, kids are asleep and we can catch up. . .it’s about time, wouldn’t you say?”
“Oh, I’d say, all right. And, Sherry, I’ve got to tell you about my new next-door neighbor. You’re not going to believe this. . .I think I’m in love!”
❧
“You fool. He’s done in two short weeks what you’ve been trying to do for over a year!” Gerald paced the hardwood floor of his mountain cabin while Sim sat comfortably in a nearby armchair.
“It’s not over yet. I’ve still got a couple of tricks up my sleeve.”
“There’s no time for tricks,” Gerald spat irritably. “Lydia is positively smitten.”
“She won’t be for long.” Sim grinned conspiratorially, rose from the chair, and walked to his briefcase, lifting out a folded document. “I hired an investigator who ran a check on our friend, Mr. Alec Corbett. Take a look.”
Gerald felt hopeful for the first time in days.
“He’s got a past a mile long.”
Reading over the report, Gerald smiled. “Very good. Very good.” He glanced up at Sim. “You’ve done a fine job. When Lydia sees this, she’ll be appalled.” He pursed his lips in thought. “I’ll return home tomorrow and confront her.”
“No. Wait a week or so.”
“What? And give Mr. Corbett another week at romancing Lydia?
Sim nodded. “Another week and she’ll be all the more hurt when you spring the news of his jaded past on her. Emphasize the women, Gerald. Don’t be afraid to break her heart. And then I’ll come along, and—”
“And dry her tears,” Gerald finished incisively. He mulled over the idea. “Yes, I think that’ll work just fine.”
“Let’s hope so,” Sim said crisply. “SPCC’s future is depending on it.”
Thirteen
Alec lay awake in bed, unable to sleep. He glanced at the digital alarm clock/radio on his headboard. It read 1:00.
Man, I’ve got to get some shut-eye!
He thought ahead to the busy day he had planned at work, starting in just several short hours, and groaned. Turning over, he plumped his pillow. If he could quit thinking about Lydia, a good night’s rest might still be achieved.
It had been at Pastor Spencer’s suggestion that Alec decided to share his heart with her and now he couldn’t help wondering if he’d turned her off completely. He thought she would have called, but she hadn’t. What did that mean? She wasn’t interested in him and his courtship convictions?
Well, better to alienate her now than have her change her mind later, he tried to convince himself.
He began to reflect on how different t
hey were—Lydia, a pretty little Southern belle and he, a “Yankee.” She seemed so dignified compared to him, and yet Alec never felt inferior with her—she didn’t allow it. In fact, Lydia Boswick, with her sweet ways, made him feel more like a man than any other woman he’d ever known.
Suddenly visions of his older sisters flitted through Alec’s head. They wouldn’t like her. Pat and Sandy knew how to make most men cower with their loud, bossy temperaments. Small wonder they made such good supervisors in the two Wisconsin factories where they worked. They were in their elements, but if they ever came face-to-face with Lydia’s femininity, those two would undoubtedly declare that she set the women’s rights movement back a hundred years.
Alec grinned in the darkness of his bedroom. Perhaps that was where the attraction was—thwarting his two sisters at last! No. It was more than that, of course. . .and if he didn’t quit thinking about Lydia, he’d be a basket case at work tomorrow.
Rolling over once more, he closed his eyes and, out of sheer will, Alec finally slept.
❧
All of Monday, Alec stayed busy. He’d been assigned to work on a kitchen remodeling project and spent a majority of his day tearing out the old cabinetry and preparing to install the new cupboards. When he arrived back at home, it was dark outside. Lights glowed from Lydia’s house as he walked from the garage, and he debated whether to call her, but decided not to push. She had a decision to make and if she was waiting on the Lord, praying for His direction, Alec didn’t want to intrude.
He showered and thought he heard the phone ring. But after he was out and dressed, he checked his voice mail and since there weren’t any messages, he figured he’d imagined it.
He watched a football game, read his Bible, and went to sleep, too exhausted to fret over his lovely next-door neighbor another whole night long.
❧
Tuesday morning found Lydia sitting at her desk, flipping through the literature Alec had given her Sunday night. She’d read and reread each pamphlet and now saw the wisdom behind courtship’s principles, even though she had first viewed them as bothersome rules. But the more she considered them, the more she realized they were guides that served as lines of protection. “There isn’t a more powerful drive than the desire for intimacy,” the author of one pamphlet wrote. “Likewise, anyone familiar with our culture knows that few things have brought more heartache and despair than misguided passion.” Lydia certainly couldn’t disagree with that statement. She’d known a couple of Christian friends back in high school who had fallen into such sin and now, being the secretary at church, she frequently observed people coming in for counseling sessions with Gerald because of the devastation in their lives caused by immorality.
Southern Sympathies Page 10
