by Mark Goodwin
“But you heard his testimony. He sounds like a great guy. What else are you looking for?”
“Maybe I’m not looking for anything. I’m not you, Charity. We don’t all dream of a little white picket fence and flower boxes under the window sill. Maybe I’m content to be alone.” She put the key in the lock, opened the door and looked around, still anxious about entering the apartment.
“Are you?”
“Am I what?” Ava led the way in.
“You said maybe you’re content to be alone. You didn’t say that you’re definitely content to be alone.” Charity followed her inside and closed the door.
Ava locked all the locks and put the chain on the door. “It’s better than getting set up and knocked down like my mom.”
“So you’re afraid.”
“I’m not afraid. Can we just change the subject? Your car is still over there. Aren’t you worried that it could be getting vandalized?” Ava kicked off her shoes at the door, tossed her keys on the kitchen counter and made her way to the living room.
“Not until you just said something about it.”
“Sorry.” Ava clicked on the television and plopped down on the couch. “Let’s see if the news is covering the story.”
CHAPTER 6
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19
Ava looked up from the television as Charity walked back into the living room with her phone to her ear.
“Hold on, let me ask her.” Charity lowered the phone and sat on the arm of Ava’s couch. “James is really upset. I told him I’m fine and that neither of us were injured, but he wants to stop by. He said he’ll feel better if he can see me, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Is that okay?”
“Sure.” Ava nodded. “That’s really sweet that he wants to check in on you.”
“Thanks.” Charity put the phone back up to her mouth. “She said you can come by, but only for a minute. We’ve got work in the morning, and Ava has to take me back to my car.” Charity paused. “Okay, see you soon. Kisses.”
“Anything on television yet?” Charity placed her phone on the coffee table.
“No. I’m sure they’ll cover it at ten. Listen, I want you to sleep over, but I don’t want to get in the way of you and James. If you want to leave, I’ll be okay. I’ve been dealing with being alone since Mom passed.”
“No way. I do not want to go back to my place and stay there by myself after what happened tonight.” Charity curled up on the other side of the couch.
“Yeah, but James would stay with you if you needed him to, right?”
Charity shook her head. “Nope. We can’t do that. We tried movie night alone at my house a couple of times. We didn’t technically go too far, but we went farther than we should have, if you know what I mean. We’ve decided not to put ourselves in that situation again.”
“Three more months and you’ll be husband and wife. You guys can make it.”
“Three long months.” Charity sighed.
“Will you feel comfortable sleeping in my mom’s room?”
“It doesn’t bother me. Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
“Yeah. I’m good. Just if it creeps you out or anything, you can come sleep on the couch.”
“Hey, I’m sorry about being so pushy with Foley.” Charity lowered her head and gave her best puppy dog eyes.
“It’s okay. But I’m still dealing with losing my mom. My emotions are raw. I’m not ready for a guy right now. Maybe I am a little timid, but you have to admit, I’ve got good reason to be. You know getting involved with a guy is risky. And I simply couldn’t take being let down right now. I have to get past my grief before I take on that challenge.”
“You’re absolutely right. I hate seeing you alone. I feel like a bad friend because I’m not here for you all the time. I guess I thought my solution was right, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all fix. I’m sorry.”
“You’re a great friend, Charity. You were there for me when Mom started getting sick, you brought us food, came and sat with her, I’ll never forget that.” Ava leaned over and embraced her friend in a hug.
A knock came at the door.
“James couldn’t get here that fast. You better check the peephole.” Charity stood up.
Ava grabbed her kitchen knife on the way to the door and whispered, “I’ll be glad when Buckley gets moved in.” She peered through the peephole.
Ava removed the chain and unlocked the deadbolt. “It’s my neighbor from downstairs.” Ava opened the door.
“You’re okay! Thank God!” Megan held Danielle’s hand who clutched Good Bear in her other arm.
“Come in.” Ava ushered them in, closing the door behind them. “How did you hear?”
“I have the Channel 46 News App on my phone. I got a text alert saying there was a shooting at Faith Chapel. At least twenty people are dead and many more are injured.”
“Twenty dead?” Charity asked.
“Yeah.” Megan passed her the phone.
Ava offered her account of what happened at Faith Chapel earlier that evening while Megan listened and Danielle played with the stuffed bear.
Several minutes later, another knock came to the door.
“That’s probably James, but I’ll check to be sure.” Charity got up to go to the door and let in her fiancé.
James came in and looked Charity over from head to toe. “No bruises? No cuts? Nothing?”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
He kissed her and gave Charity another once-over before acknowledging anyone else in the room. “Ava, good to see you.”
“You, too. These are my friends, Megan and Danielle.”
“Nice to meet you. Do you work with Charity and Ava?” James remained standing.
Megan turned to him. “No. Actually, I was a courtroom stenographer, but I’m working at a daycare for now. It’s the only job that allows me to be with my little girl all day. It’s a pay cut, but you can’t put a price on raising your own kid.”
James nodded and turned his attention back to Charity. “Come out in the hallway for a second.”
“I’ll be right back.” Charity waved.
“The news should be on.” Megan checked her phone.
Ava flipped through the local channels. “That’s it!”
The evening report opened with footage of cars burning in the parking lot of Faith Chapel. A reporter stood in front of Faith Chapel. “As you can see Jennifer, Faith Chapel has become the latest battleground where tensions between two very different ideologies have erupted into violence and destruction.”
The woman at the news desk spoke to the reporter in the field. “Porter, the country has seen far too many incidents similar to this one. People have to know that they’re inviting this kind of thing when they provide a platform for controversial people to speak. David Braxton is listed on the SPJC’s website as being an extremist hatemonger. Why would Faith Chapel allow a speaker like him to come?”
Porter shook his head as if he were grieving himself. “I don’t know, Jennifer, but the mistake has cost twenty people their lives so far. Another hundred and ten were taken to the hospital. With many of those in critical condition, you can be sure the death toll will rise overnight.”
“Police still haven’t issued a statement. Have you been able to talk to anyone there who can give you a feel for what happened?”
Porter nodded. “Yes. Evidently, members of the community came to protest David Braxton and his extremist views. Rob Cody, the senior pastor of Faith Chapel has been an outspoken opponent of gun control, so I guess his flock practices what he preaches. Several members of the church were armed and began firing on unarmed protestors.”
“I can’t believe they are spinning this to be our fault!” Ava huffed in anger as she jumped up from the couch. “I’ve got to get Charity. She’s not going to believe this.”
Ava looked out into the hall to catch James and Chari
ty kissing. She cleared her throat. “The news is on, you guys. You’re gonna want to hear this!”
The twosome followed Ava back into the apartment and sat on the loveseat, quietly listening to the local news channel’s interpretation of the events.
The news desk reporter said, “I thought the separation of church and state in the Constitution forbids organizations like Faith Chapel from preaching politics from the pulpit.”
“You’re absolutely right, Jennifer,” Porter replied.
James shook his fist at the television. “There’s no such thing in the Constitution. Unless you’re talking about freedom of religion, which simply means the state isn’t supposed to interfere with the church and religious liberty—which the state ignores!”
Porter continued, “Unfortunately, Jennifer, it often requires an incident such as this one for the authorities to get involved and begin enforcing the law. I’m sure Mayor Beset will get an earful from her constituents tomorrow morning. It will be too late to stop the massacre at Faith Chapel, but I’m confident that she’ll do the right thing.”
“What are the mayor’s options for enacting gun control for the city? Can she act independently from the state of Texas?”
“Some will tell you that state law supposedly prohibits cities from passing ordinances which contradict Texas law. But hundreds of municipalities around the country have passed gun control measures that are far more stringent than those of the state where they are located. In a case like this, Mayor Beset will have to follow her conscience, then take it up with the courts if they want to contest her action.”
James turned to Ava. “Charity said you were thinking of getting your concealed carry permit. You should do it now before they make it harder to get.” He turned to Charity. “You should get yours, too.”
Charity shook her head. “I don’t think I could shoot someone.”
He stroked her hair gently. “Well, get the permit while you still can. At least you’d have the option if it ever came down to it.”
They listened to the broadcast, trying to pick out bits of information from the steaming pile of propaganda being spewed out by the media outlet.
After the broadcast, Megan and Danielle left first.
Next, Charity walked James out. When she came back inside, she said to Ava, “I’m going to hit the hay. Thanks for letting me stay.”
“Sure. It’s nice not to be alone in the apartment. Good night.” Ava double checked the locks, then turned in for the night.
CHAPTER 7
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3
Ava returned to work for Thursday and Friday, and the week came to a close.
On Sunday morning, Ava slept in. Church was canceled because Faith Chapel was still off limits. Crime scene tape surrounded the perimeter of the campus, warning passersby not to cross the yellow plastic barrier. As much as she hated the reason for not being able to go to church, Ava needed the day to finish preparing for Buckley’s arrival. Additionally, she was thankful that she did not have to awkwardly avoid looking in Foley’s direction at church, assuming he continued to sit in the same row after she’d treated him so poorly.
She went for a quick run, came back for a shower and was out the door at eleven. Her first stop was the pet store. She’d bought a leash, food, and treats, but she wanted to get Buckley a bed and a toy to make him feel at home. Ava selected an oversized dog bed, which ensured Buckley would have plenty of room. She picked out a chew toy and a teddy bear, then headed to the register. Once she’d checked out, she loaded the gifts into her Jeep and continued her errands.
She glanced at the time on her phone. “The gun shop closes at 1:00. I should have gone there first. I guess I can get something to eat afterward.”
Ava made her way to the nearby gun shop, arriving in a few minutes time. “Wow! These guys are making a mistake by closing at 1:00. The parking lot is jam-packed!”
Eventually, she found a parking spot by tailing some customers who were leaving. She hustled inside since it was already 12:15. She’d hoped to have at least an hour to look around and ask questions.
Once inside, Ava looked around, but the cases were nearly empty, and the racks on the walls were almost bare. “Looks like it used to be a gun store, anyways.” She made her way to the counter and tried to get the attention of an attendant. “Excuse me.”
He pointed at ticket dispenser. “Take a number and we’ll call you. We lock the door to new customers at one, but if you’re inside with a ticket, you’ll be waited on.”
“Thanks.” She pulled off a green ticket. “104.”
“Eighty-seven!” called a man from behind the counter.
“Great!” She looked at her number again and tucked it in her pocket. Ava inspected the few remaining items in the shop. While actual firearms were sparse, an abundance of holsters, range bags, and carrying cases lined the shelves.
She soon grew bored with perusing the available items and picked up the schedule of classes. After looking it over, she took out her phone. “I’ll text Charity and tell her that I’m signing her up for the CHL class.”
Ava sent the message and waited for the reply. Charity sent back a frowny face Emoji, and Ava chuckled.
She quickly fired back another text reminding Charity of what she’d told Ava about the promise she’d made in her premarital class. Faith Chapel required both spouses to sign a contract stating that the husband would love the wife as Christ loved the Church, and that the wife would submit to the husband as the Church submits to Christ. The contract and the premarital class had to be completed by anyone wishing to be married by a Faith Chapel pastor or to have the ceremony on Faith Chapel grounds.
Ava read Charity’s reply softly to herself. “I’m not married yet.”
Ava texted back. But what a great wedding gift it would be to have your concealed handgun license before you get married. I know James would appreciate it.
Ava waited for a moment, then read the reply. Sign me up, was followed by yet another frowny-faced Emoji.
Twenty minutes passed before she finally heard the man call her number.
“104!”
“Right here!” She dug the precious bit of crumpled green paper from her back pocket and presented it to the man at the counter.
The man had a long gray beard and was mostly bald on top of his head. He wore a holster with a large black pistol on his right side. “How can I help you?”
“I was hoping to find a pistol.”
“What kind?”
“I’m not sure. I wanted to sign up for the CHL class on Saturday, so something small enough to carry with me.”
“Saturday is full. I’ve got a couple of slots left for next Sunday, but they’ll probably be gone before we close today.”
“Oh, okay. Can you sign up me and my friend?”
“You have to pay now. If you can’t make it on Sunday, you get one reschedule, but no refunds.”
“That’s fine.” Wanting to make sure no one else took the openings, Ava pulled out her money and handed the man 2 one-hundred-dollar bills.
“Hang on to your money. I might be able to sell you something else.” The man smiled through his thick beard.
“That might be tough to do. It doesn’t look like you have much inventory.”
“We’ve been selling out before we can get the inventory unboxed and put in the display cases.”
“So do you have anything in the back?”
“Nope. But we can order anything you want.”
Ava looked disappointed. “That doesn’t help me if I don’t know what I’m looking for.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” The man bent down and pulled up his pant leg. He wore an ankle holster with a much smaller gun. He removed the pistol, dropped the magazine, cleared the chamber and passed it to Ava. “How does that feel to you?”
“It’s small enough, I guess. What is it.” She held the gun in her hand,
finger on the trigger with the muzzle in the direction of the sales attendant.
The man took the gun out of her hand, then repositioned it. “Never point the barrel at anyone you don’t intend to shoot and keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.”
“But it’s not loaded.” Ava shrugged.
“How do you know that?”
“I saw you take out the bullets.”
“Never mind that. Unless you’ve inspected the chamber for yourself, you don’t know that it’s unloaded. Even then, you always treat a firearm like it’s loaded. That’s rule number one.”
“Oh.” Ava was careful to abide by the man’s instructions as she examined the pistol.
“That’s a Glock 43. It holds a six-round magazine plus one round in the chamber.”
“If you’re packing around a gun, should you keep the bullets in it, or should you wait ‘til you need it?”
“Depends on the type of criminals you plan on running into. If they’re the polite type that’ll stand back and give you a few minutes to get your gun ready, might be best to keep it unloaded.”
Ava caught the off-color wit of the salesman. “Yeah, so keep it ready to fire.”
Ava put the pistol on the counter. “What’s that one on your side?”
“Glock 21. Same manufacturer, but a bigger gun all the way around. Bigger frame, bigger round, higher shot capacity.” He reloaded the small pistol and put it back in his ankle holster before unloading the large-frame weapon and giving it to Ava to inspect.
“Wow! It’s heavy compared to the other one.”
“And that’s with no bullets,” he added.
“I don’t always carry a purse. I think this is way too big. Even with a purse, it’s heavy. I don’t even think it would fit in some of my purses.” She handed back the pistol.
“There’s plenty of models in-between. The 21 being the largest. There’s one smaller than the 43. It’s called a 42, but it fires a .380 cartridge, which is basically a 9mm short round. You give up a significant amount of stopping power for what amounts to a marginally smaller weapon. Not a good trade-off, in my opinion.”
