Forever Blessed (Women of Prayer)

by Shortridge, Darlene

  Laney left the room first. She walked down the aisle alone, holding a single white lily. Since she was the only attendant, she chose her dress. It was emerald green and demurely cut, the perfect dress for a redhead in the winter months.

  She stood at the front of the church, waiting for the lovely bride. The candles flickered against the subdued colors of the church walls. Sconces were lit all over the sanctuary giving the interior a romantic, warm feeling, the perfect setting for such a beautiful couple.

  The music changed, signifying it was time for the bride’s appearance. The strings began to play How Beautiful by Twila Paris, a fitting song for such a beautiful bride.

  Laney watched as Sheila made her way up the aisle. The look on Austin’s face, when she first made her appearance, made Laney wish she were the one walking up the aisle. She had to wonder if she’d ever know this kind of love.

  Mark spent a few minutes addressing the small group, then proceeded with the vows. The words he chose had Laney's attention glued to him. Men are supposed to love their wives like Christ loved the church, and gave his life for it? She’d never heard that before. It certainly wasn’t how her father had treated her mother. And it certainly wasn’t how Paul had treated her.

  By the time the last words were finished and communion had been served, the smells from the kitchen were beckoning everyone to come and celebrate at the wedding feast.

  The caterers had been busy. Tables were covered with dark green tablecloths and napkins. White china place settings were lined up, waiting patiently to be used and enjoyed.

  The attendees enjoyed a small table of hors d’oeuvres while a few pictures were captured. Laney dipped a large shrimp in some sauce. Her stomach grumbled, complaining.

  Ella and the children joined her in the small line.

  Ella filled her small plate while Laney helped Melanie get some cheese. “I am so happy for them. I really am.” Her wistful tone gave Ella a bit of a pause.

  “We don’t know what God has in store for us. All we can do is trust him and be happy for others. Right?”

  Laney realized she had been being a bit mopey and made a concentrated effort to show her happiness for her friend. She smiled in spite of the gloom she felt. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I would never hurt Sheila.” She set Melanie down at one of the long tables set up for visiting while they waited. “I promise I’ll do better.”

  Ella patted her hand. “I know you will, dear."

  It wasn’t long before Sheila and Austin returned to the newly remodeled community room in the basement of the church. Candlelight was the theme of this room as well. They dined on scallops and beef Wellington with twice-baked potatoes and steamed asparagus. The strawberry filled cake was cut and served with coffee as soon as dinner was over. Austin was kind and slipped the small piece of cake into Sheila’s mouth. Sheila on the other hand, wasn’t so kind and the kids all got a kick out of seeing Austin with icing on his nose and cheek. His eyes sparkled, promising he’d get her back.

  Austin’s parents took his two boys back to their North Chicago home so the happy couple could spend a week together alone in Tahiti. The boys were not happy about heading back to school while their dad was on a nice beach by the ocean, but resigned themselves to their situation and vowed to the make the best of it.

  Everyone pitched in to clean up the church, including the bride and the groom. By the time Laney was alone, the tears she’d been holding back all evening could not be held at bay any longer. Yes, she was happy for her friend. But, she also longed to be the type of woman that a man would give his life for.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Paul watched the happy couple leave the church. Fools. He should have known that first PI he’d hired was a pansy. Laney and her friends were so predictable. They would pay. He’d see to it. Anyone who helped her would regret the day they’d ever met her. He would make sure of it. He’d teach them all a lesson and he’d end with Laney. She thinks she has found God, has she? Well, he’d make sure she met her maker a little earlier than she planned.

  The starless night made keeping an eye on his belongings that much easier. She passed within ten feet of him as she walked home with that old woman and she never knew it. Not even the kids knew their father was nearby. At one point he thought he had been made. She told everyone to be quiet and she turned around and listened. If there had been any light where he stood, she would have seen him. But, the darkness covered him well. She turned back and started for her little home. She better not have any one keeping her warm in that little home. If so, he’d wish he had never been born.

  He slowly tracked the little group as they made their way home. The old woman went into her house and sat in an old rocker in her living room. Dumb woman. Doesn’t she know to close her drapes at night? You never know who might be watching.

  Laney must have put the kids to bed and then settled at her kitchen table. It appeared she was reading. Laney would get hers soon. For now, he turned his attention to the old lady sitting in the rocker. She was next.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Not wanting to be noticed, Laney entered the church quietly. She could hear voices coming from the far end of the hallway, where the prayer meeting took place. She still had the “be seen and not heard in church attitude” that had been instilled in her since childhood. She had no idea how she let Ella talk her into this.

  After signing Melanie into the children’s room, she quietly slipped into the library where the prayer group was meeting. Ella was talking with Merry, Jessi and Mark’s aunt. She motioned with her head for Laney to join them. Laney had to learn the art of not making eye contact. She had no choice but to join the two older ladies. Otherwise she was being rude.

  “Hi, I made it.”

  Merry wrapped her chubby arms around Laney. “I’m so glad. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Laney glanced at Ella, anxiety clouding her expression. Ella shook her head no, letting Laney know her secrets were still safe.

  “Thank you, I’m glad to be here. I think.” Laney let go first.

  Ella took her arm and led her to the coffee and tea and cookies. “Come on, I’ll show you around and introduce you, not that I know that many of the women yet myself.”

  They made their tea, found a couple of open chairs and waited for the meeting to start.

  “Is there always this many women here?”

  “Sometimes, sometimes not, depends on who is sick, who can get a ride, and who is still alive.”

  Laney choked on her tea.

  “No, really. With us old folks, you never know.”

  At the front of the room, Merry rapped a pot with a metal spoon, calling the meeting to order. “Ladies, it is time to get started. We have important business to attend to. We don’t want to keep the Father waiting, do we?”

  Murmurs of different levels were heard coming from all corners of the room. The ladies made their way to their chairs.

  “We have a first time guest today. Everyone welcome Laney, Ella’s neighbor.”

  Laney wanted to crawl under her chair and hide there until the meeting was done. No such luck. The corners of her mouth spread in a tight-lipped smile sending a silent greeting to the rest of the room.

  Merry continued. “I put the book on the table. If you are praying for a loved one’s salvation, write down their name in the book. If a loved one has accepted Christ since our last meeting, write down the praise report. We like to keep good records of the important stuff. Don’t forget. Everyone ready to pray?”

  Watching the actions of everyone around her for her cue, Laney followed suit and got down on her knees. Ella, she noticed, remained in her chair.

  Laney prayed for her children. She prayed for her mother. She prayed for Austin and Sheila who were still on their honeymoon. She prayed for the ladies now living in other shelters due to the fire. She prayed for everyone but the one person who she knew wasn’t saved. Paul. Finally, she rose from her knees and made her way to the book sitting on the t
able. Should she write his name in there? Did she care?

  She picked up the pen and held it between her fingers, rolling it as she pondered. I suppose, God wants him saved. It can’t hurt. Maybe, just maybe, he’d leave me alone if he found God. She wrote his name next to the others. That was when she noticed her own name written in a spot a few lines above his. Someone had been praying for her? Somehow the information alarmed her and comforted her all at the same time. She was alarmed because someone like Paul definitely needed saving. But did she? And it comforted her because it meant someone cared enough to think of her.

  She returned to her chair and dropped to her knees, closed her eyes and sought the attention of God, who apparently loved everyone, no matter what they have done. “God, I don’t know how to pray for Paul and I don’t know if I want to pray for Paul, but I ask that you save him. I know you love him like you love me. I don’t understand that, but I have found I don’t understand much about you. So, I am going to do what I feel I should do. Help him God. Help him to know you love him and died for him. In your precious name. Amen.”

  Laney sat back up in her chair. Her prayers had been short. Apparently she was the only one with short prayers as everyone else continued to pray. Somehow feeling comforted and not wanting to leave, she quietly made herself another cup of tea. She had nothing to compare it to but her own situation. The feeling in this room gave her the same feeling of peace that had come over her when she accepted Christ. Life would be good if she could stay here and never leave.

  Some of the women prayed a little crazy, but she was getting used to it. Church service pretty much sounded the same. Some women were loud and some moved around. Some even talked kind of crazy, but she knew their hearts were in the right place. The safety one felt in this place made praying easy and comfortable. One lady started crying and told everyone about her daughter who found Jesus this past week. Laney’s heart began to do somersaults. She didn’t know the lady but she was happy for her anyway. How could a person be in that room and not feel joy?

  At the end of prayer group, she and Melanie were taking Ella to lunch. The older woman babysat and spent more time with her kids than she herself did at times. Now that she had things under control financially, she felt she could splurge and properly thank the woman who filled such a hole in her life.

  After Merry ended the prayer group, Laney headed for the nursery to pick up Melanie, then returned to the library and waited for Ella to dress for the cold weather. February had to be the coldest month of all in Wisconsin. If the weatherman predicted the weather correctly, five degrees was the high. A big bowl of soup would help warm her insides.

  She started her van from inside the church. Thank heaven for remote starters. At least they would have a warm van to take them to lunch.

  They spent the lunch hour at a little café downtown and ate their fill of homemade chicken noodle soup and club sandwiches. Ella’s choice. After lunch they made their way home. As Laney pulled into the driveway, she heard Ella gasp. The front picture window was broken. Shattered glass lay everywhere. Laney called the police.

  Vandals. Probably kids skipping school and getting their kicks from breaking windows. Laney called for help then escorted Ella into her own small house next door to Ella’s.

  The police found the rock with the note. Fearful that the elderly woman would have a heart attack, they first showed it to the young woman that was with her. The officer spoke directly to Laney, who had answered the door when he knocked. “Do you have any idea of anyone who might want to harm Ms. McCarthy?”

  “No, of course not. Why should I?”

  He doubted it was anything more than a kid playing a terrible prank, but just in case he had to ask. “Because we found this note, tied to the rock that busted her front window. If it was deliberate, she might be in danger.”

  He opened the note with his gloved hands. “Old people who harbor criminals pay dearly. Watch out. You’re next.”

  Laney took a step backwards and bumped into the wall. Could all this be about her? The fire? Now this? Would Paul do such a thing? Would he hurt other people just to get back at her? She ran her hands through her hair. Oh God. No, he wouldn’t. He only cares about hurting me, not innocent people he doesn’t know. It couldn’t be him. “I’m sorry officer, but I can’t think of anyone. I am not sure Ella is up to answering any questions today. Can I tell her about the note and get back to you? We wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”

  “I’m going to need to speak with her, but it can wait until later after she is calmed down. Can you give me a call tomorrow morning?”

  “Sure, we’ll call you then. Thank you for being understanding.”

  Laney closed the door and returned to the kitchen and to Ella who was nursing her hurt with a cup of chamomile tea. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I just feel so violated. I’ve always felt so safe in my own home. Now, I feel as if an intruder has inserted himself into my private space. I feel cold and empty. I need to pray over my house.” She started to rise. “What did the officer have to say?”

  “We can pray over the house later. Why don’t you rest for a while? You can lie down in my bed.” She tried to ignore the question about the officer.

  “Well, I am a little weary. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Of course not. You need to take it easy. I’ll make the kids be quiet when they get home from school so you can rest. Then you can eat some supper with us. By that time, things should be pretty much cleaned up. A guy from church has a window business. Mark called to tell me he’d be over within the hour. Your place should be as good as new when you wake up.”

  Ella grasped Laney’s hand. “Thank you Laney. Thank you for being here. Even though this is a horrible thing, I am comforted knowing you are here with me.” She drank the rest of her tea and turned toward Laney’s room and shut the door behind her.

  Laney thought back to the scribbled note the officer had shown her. There was something vaguely familiar about the words of the note. Paul had told her again and again if she ever tried to go against him she would pay dearly. Could it be? Could he be the one doing all the damage? She couldn’t shake the feeling that Paul was the one behind all this. The thing that bothered her the most was that he had not yet contacted her directly. That was something the old Paul would do. If this was the new and improved Paul, she had no idea what he might be capable of.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Austin and Sheila pulled up in front of the burnt structure that used to be the shelter. Sheila felt the threat of tears and took hold of Austin’s hand for support.

  He gave her hand a quick, supportive squeeze. “It’s going to be okay. The workers are going to clear the area beginning tomorrow and we can start working with the builder on the plans. Everything is going to work out. I promise.” He lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed her gloved hand. “Now, should we head over to Laney’s and get all the latest? I’m sure she wants to see you. While you visit I am going to go over and register the boys for school. Might as well get that done too.”

  Sheila waved goodbye to Austin as Laney opened the door. The two friends hugged. “I’ve missed you. Did you have fun?” Laney closed the door, blocking the biting wind from taking over her home.

  “I could have stayed there forever. It is so easy to forget about your problems when you are in paradise. Wishful thinking.” She shrugged her coat off and hung it on the hook by the door then slipped her wet boots off. “It’s so cold here. I want my sunshine and ocean back.” She cuddled into the couch and pulled an afghan over her. “How do we do this every year?”

  “I’m not sure but we survive. Someday, I’d love to take the kids on a vacation where there’s lots of beach and sunshine. For now, there’s reality. My boss told me to expect to work some longer hours here starting next week. Tax season is here. So, I can dream about the ocean and warm weather while I crunch numbers.”

  “Did you really have to bring up reality? I was quite happy
living in my very recent past.” She readjusted the afghan to cover her cold toes. “Did I tell you we rented a house near here? We weren’t sure what we were going to do. Austin already has accepted an offer on his house in Illinois and with the shelter in ruins, well, we thought we’d better just rent something for now and figure it all out later. It’s just a couple of blocks from here. That way we can be close to the building site.”

  “I’m glad you’re not moving to Illinois. I wouldn’t know what to do without you. Besides, it’s too far away and too close to Paul.” Laney sat down on the other end of the couch. “Speaking of Paul, do you think he could be the one behind the fire?” Laney told her about Ella’s window and the message on the rock. “Ella called the police station the next morning and told them she had no idea what the note was referring to. She doesn’t even know any criminals. But, what if he is talking about me?”

  “Laney, the police are investigating. Even if it was Paul, it’s not your fault. You have never been nor will you ever be responsible for him. He’s a grown man. Now, if there’s a reason you think he could have done this, then we need to tell the police so they can check him out. If he is doing this, then he has definitely found you and is sending a very clear message.”

  “I’m not sure. There are little things. Like the words in the note and the other night I got the creepiest feeling someone was watching me. It was when we were walking home from your wedding. I turned around but it was so dark, I couldn’t see a thing. I figured it must have been my over-imaginative frame of mind.” She made her way to the kitchen. “I don’t know. There’s just something about all this that is bugging me. Do you want some tea? Sorry I didn’t offer right away.”