Above All Else (Sandy Cove Series Book 7)

by Rosemary Hines

  Taylor smiled and nodded. “And what would you say?”

  Madison took a deep breath and thought. “I guess I’d tell him what a great pastor he’d be.”

  “Anything else?”

  She smiled. “And how scared I was to be a pastor’s wife.”

  “Good, Madison. I’m glad to hear that,” Taylor responded with encouragement. “Now, tell me what Luke would say about your fears.”

  “I guess he’d ask me why I was afraid, and that he thought I’d be fine.”

  “Would you feel comfortable telling him what you thought you could and could not do in that role?”

  Madison thought about it. Then she smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I think I could.”

  “So, let’s say, for example, you told him you weren’t comfortable leading the women’s ministry. What do you think he would say?”

  “Hmmm…I guess he’d say that I wouldn’t have to do anything I wasn’t comfortable doing…but that he thought I’d be a great leader if I let myself do it.”

  Taylor nodded. “I’d have to agree with him on that one,” she replied with a smile. “But what I hope you’re getting from this little exercise is that you are marrying a man, not a ministry. And you know him, Madison. You know his heart for you. My guess is that he puts you above ministry. That only God holds a dearer place in his heart than you.”

  Madison felt a weight lift from her spirit. Taylor was right. Luke would never place demands on her or push her into something she feared. He just wasn’t like that.

  “Why do you suppose I keep getting tripped up like this?” Madison asked.

  “Because you really care. And you want to do things right,” Taylor said. “But also because the enemy found a foothold he can use to manipulate you. My guess is that he’s used the same ploy on your mother and maybe her mother, too. That’s how he works. Strongholds are often generational.”

  Madison nodded.

  “Maybe if the opportunity presents itself, you can ask your mom if she’s ever felt like she’s not good enough. You might be surprised at her answer.”

  Madison nodded. “So how do you break a generational stronghold?” Madison asked.

  “By doing what we’re doing here today. Breaking it apart with the truth,” Taylor replied. “It’s a process, Madison. For some, that process lasts a lifetime. But hopefully, we each keep growing stronger in Christ and more effective in disarming the principalities that seek to derail us.”

  “Yeah,” Madison agreed. She was really glad she’d decided to come talk to Taylor. It always seemed to make things clearer in her mind and to lift any dark cloud that was trying to drag her down.

  “I’ve decided I’m going out to Arizona to see Amber,” Caleb announced at dinner.

  “Whoa. What?” Steve asked, looking up from buttering his potato.

  “I’m going to see Amber.”

  “When did you decide this?” Michelle asked.

  Madison cleared her throat, and Caleb quickly shot her a look. “What? I didn’t say anything,” she fired back.

  “What’s going on here?” Steve looked from one of them to the other.

  Madison just shrugged. “Ask your son,” she said pointedly.

  Caleb felt himself wince inwardly. “I just thought it would be good to go see her and Will. It’s been a while.”

  “I think they’re going to try to come out for the wedding,” Michelle offered.

  “Yeah, but everyone will be busy then, and they probably won’t stay long,” he replied. “Besides, Will was going to teach me about transmissions,” he added. “I like going to his shop with him and learning new stuff so I can fix my own car when I get one. And speaking of that, you said we’d talk about getting me one for next year so Mom doesn’t have to shuttle me to sports practices.”

  “Let’s tackle one subject at a time, kid,” Steve replied.

  “You know it’s annoying when you call me that, right?” Caleb said, feeling his irritation rise.

  “What?”

  “Kid. When you call me ‘kid’ like I’m still in elementary school or something,” Caleb retorted.

  “Sorry,” Steve replied, raising his hands in surrender.

  Madison rolled her eyes, and that just made Caleb more irritated. “What’s your problem?” he asked.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  Ever the peacemaker, Michelle redirected them by asking, “So when was it you thought you’d go? To Arizona, I mean.”

  “Like in a couple of weeks. I’ve already checked with Amber, and she said it was fine. Plus, I’ve saved up enough money to cover the flight.”

  “What about work?” Steve asked.

  “I’m only going for a week. I’ll clear it with the manager so he doesn’t put me on the schedule.”

  “Okay. It sounds like you’ve covered all your bases,” his father replied.

  “So I can go?”

  Steve nodded. “Sure. Just for a week, though.”

  Caleb felt his spirits rise. “Cool. Thanks!” He turned to Madison and smiled smugly. She just shook her head and looked away.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “You seem like you’re a million miles away,” Luke said to Madison as they drove to the beach to watch the sun go down. Luke had spent the day with his father discussing the orphanage where he and Madison were praying about serving as missionaries. He was eager to talk to her about the things he’d learned. But her mind was definitely preoccupied.

  Glancing over, he could see she was still staring out the window. “Maddie?”

  She roused herself and turned to look at him. “Yeah?”

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “My brother,” she replied.

  “Caleb? Why?”

  She shook her head. “He’s got some ridiculous notion about finding his biological father.”

  “Wow. When did that start?” Luke never thought about Caleb being adopted. Even when Amber was in town, she seemed like she was just a friend of the family’s. Caleb never referred to her as ‘Mom’ or anything like that.

  “I guess he’s probably been thinking about it for a while,” she answered. “But he’s really getting serious about it now. He’s even decided to go to Arizona to talk to Amber about it.”

  “Do your parents know?” he asked as he pulled the car into a parking spot facing the shoreline.

  “They know he’s going to see her. But they don’t know why.”

  “Oh.” Luke turned off the ignition and reached for her hand. “You seem really worried.”

  She nodded. “I have a really bad feeling about it.” She paused and then added, “I get that he’s curious. And I know lots of adopted kids go looking for their biological parents…”

  “But?”

  “But, like Caleb said to me himself, his other father might still be living right here in Sandy Cove.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Luke said. “That is a little weird, huh?”

  “Yeah. He was saying to me that maybe we see the guy around town and don’t even know it’s him.”

  “I wonder how that would be for Cale after he discovered who the guy was. I mean seeing him from time to time. Is he planning to actually try to meet him?”

  “I think so.”

  “It’s hard to imagine what that would be like,” Luke said.

  “What if the guy is a druggie or something and tries to get Caleb into that?” she said, a worried look on her face.

  “Do you really think Caleb would fall for something like that, babe? He’s a pretty smart kid, you know.”

  “Yeah, I guess,” she admitted. “But I’m also worried about how this will affect Dad, and their relationship. Caleb pushes his buttons sometimes. Especially lately. I’ve noticed how they set each other off. It just seems like this could really drive a wedge between them.”

  Luke nodded. “Maybe you should see if your brother would consider talking to my dad about this before he actually tries to meet this guy.”

  Madis
on looked skeptical but nodded. “I guess I can suggest that.” Glancing out the windshield, she squeezed his hand. “Look at that sunset,” she said. “Let’s walk down to the water.”

  As they walked, Luke wondered if he should bring up the orphanage. Maybe it would be good to just start by talking about the wedding. Maddie seemed so emotional when he first got home from college, especially about getting married.

  Before he could say anything, she turned to him and put her hands on his face. “I love you, Luke,” she said, as she looked him squarely in the eye.

  That felt good. Really good. “I love you, too, babe,” he replied with a smile. Leaning down, he kissed her, gently at first and then with abandon, the water swirling at their feet.

  Luke felt his body responding and he ached to hold her in his arms. Pulling back, he took a deep breath. “Whoa. Wish we were already married,” he mumbled softly.

  “Me, too,” Madison replied, giving him a tight hug.

  They both turned toward the sea, watching the sun disappear behind the horizon as the sky was bathed in orange and purple.

  Madison took his hand and pulled him up the beach a bit, away from the water. Then she sank down onto the sand, drawing him down to sit beside her. She fingered her engagement ring and smiled. “Soon I’ll be Mrs. Johnson,” she said with a grin.

  “Not soon enough for me,” he replied, still aching to fully express his love for her.

  “We could go elope tonight,” she suggested coyly.

  He looked over at her. “You’re not serious, are you?”

  “I don’t know. Should I be?”

  It was tempting, to be sure. But Luke wanted to see his bride dressed in white before all their family and friends. He wanted her to have that moment when all eyes turned to her. And then they shared their love for each other and their promise of a lifetime before God. Draping his arm over her shoulder, he pulled her close to his side.

  “You are going to be the most beautiful bride the world has ever seen,” he said as he breathed in the fragrance of her hair.

  “Thanks!” she replied, snuggling close.

  Luke’s heart was so full it felt like it might burst. A week ago, Madison seemed distant and afraid. He’d prayed really hard for her. Tonight proved that prayer works. “You seem different,” he said softly.

  “I do?”

  “Yeah. More at peace. More confident.”

  Madison shifted her body and turned to sit facing him in the sand. “God’s been working on me,” she began.

  Luke took both her hands in his and nodded, listening intently.

  “Do you remember Taylor?”

  He searched his memory. The name sounded familiar. Before he could recall who she was, Madison filled in the gaps. “She was my counselor awhile back.”

  Oh yeah. He remembered now. Maddie had sought counseling her first year in college. “Yeah, she works at the center beside the Calvary Chapel downtown.”

  Madison nodded. “Yep. So, I went to see her after we talked the last time we were down here at the beach.”

  Luke could vividly remember that conversation and how frustrated he’d felt. Like he might never be able to convince Maddie of how much he loved her.

  “My head was pretty messed up,” she continued. “I guess it’s just really hard for me to picture myself as a missionary or as a pastor’s wife.” She paused and looked him in the eye. “I mean, after my past and everything.” Her voice shook a little, and Luke’s heart was pierced by her vulnerability.

  “Oh, babe,” he began, reaching over and stroking her arm.

  She smiled a sad kind of smile. “Let me finish.”

  He nodded, letting his hand slip down and take hers.

  “So anyway, Taylor’s really helped me look at us from a different perspective. She helped me see that I’m not marrying a ministry. I'm marrying a man. A man I love very much.” She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “I may not be the perfect wife, but I’m pretty sure I’m getting a perfect husband,” she added with a smile, tears filling her eyes.

  “I think you’ve got that backwards, babe.” He pulled her up to standing and held her close. “I couldn’t imagine a more perfect wife for me.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Caleb grabbed his carry-on bag and headed downstairs. “Dad? Are you ready?” he called toward the kitchen.

  A moment later Steve appeared with his travel mug in hand. “Okay, let’s go.”

  The drive to Portland Airport was a quiet one. Caleb was thinking about his mission to get information from Amber, and he knew his dad wasn’t thrilled about him going to Arizona. If he knew why I was really going, he’d be even more upset, Caleb thought to himself.

  As they pulled up to the departure area, Steve began to move toward the parking lot. “No need to park, Dad,” Caleb said. “You can drop me off here at the curb. I’ll be fine.”

  Steve glanced over at him. Before he could say anything, Caleb added, “I’ve done this before. I know the ropes.” He could see his dad’s jaw tightening as he pulled to the curb. “Relax, Dad. I’ve got this.” Caleb threw open his door and hopped out, retrieving his carry-on from the back seat. He liked to travel light. No need for a bunch of luggage. Amber had a washer and dryer if he needed it.

  Leaning back into the passenger seat, he smiled at his father. “Bye. See you in a week.” Then he headed into the terminal, excited about seeing Amber again and nervous about the main reason for his trip.

  Steve watched his son disappear into the airport. The kid was taller than him, now. In another year, he’d be out of high school. Amazing.

  A rap on the window got Steve’s attention, and he looked over to see an airport security guard waving him to pull away from the curb. Steve smiled, waved, and drove off.

  On his way from the airport to his office, he thought about his son. Caleb had been such an unexpected addition to the family. He could still remember when Michelle had approached him and told him about the pregnant student in her class that wanted her and Steve to adopt the baby boy she’d soon be having.

  It had been a tough decision. After a failed adoption attempt in the past, both Steve and Michelle were leery. And Steve wasn’t about to watch his wife go into another season of heartbreak. The teen girl who had selected them for adoptive parents the first time around had also been having a boy. At the last minute, she changed her mind and decided to keep the baby. But not before Michelle had decorated the nursery and the two of them had selected the name Caleb for their little boy.

  Caleb. It was a name God used to confirm this second attempt to adopt. Michelle’s student, Amber, had asked for one favor in return for relinquishing her son—that they would name him Caleb. She liked the name because she’d heard the Bible story about the spies Moses had sent into the Promised Land. Only two had come back with a good report—Joshua and Caleb.

  Amber had no idea at the time that they’d already lost a Caleb.

  Steve sighed. He flashed back to their son in an isolette in the hospital the day after his premature birth. He’d been so tiny and helpless. It was hard to believe that little guy was the same person as the tall, lanky son, who was on his way to see Amber right now.

  As he replayed history in his mind, Steve recalled the early days of Caleb’s childhood—his innocence and sweet spirit, and all the fun times they’d shared throwing the baseball or football, shooting hoops in the back yard, and all the other ‘guy stuff’ as Michelle called it. Steve and Caleb had been best buds.

  But things were different now. More strained somehow. Steve could feel Caleb pulling away more and more.

  Sighing again, he shot up a silent prayer for his son’s safe travels and for God to work in their relationship. Hopefully this was just a phase when Caleb was trying to break free of childhood and become his own man.

  Amber was waiting when Caleb arrived at the airport. He could see her standing just outside the door of the arrival area. Rolling his carry-on behind him, he quickly walked throu
gh the automatic doors and headed in her direction.

  “Caleb!” she exclaimed. “Wow, you’re as tall as Will now.”

  He smiled and walked into her open arms. “Hey.”

  “Hey, yourself,” she replied, stepping back and looking him over again. “Okay, so I don’t want to sound like one of those old people, but you really have grown a lot, Caleb.”

  He laughed. “Now that we’ve got that over with, how about lunch? I’m starved.”

  “Lunch it is,” Amber said, leading him to her car. “Tacos or burgers?”

  “I could go for a big, juicy burger with bacon and avocado,” he replied, almost tasting it.

  “You’re on. Off to Bill’s Burgers.”

  Amber peppered him with questions about Michelle and about Madison’s wedding as they drove to Bill’s. “You’re in the wedding, right?” she asked.

  “Yep. Monkey suit and all.”

  “And you approve of Luke?”

  “Yeah. He’s cool,” Caleb replied.

  As he ate his burger and Amber drank her shake, Caleb asked about Will. “Everything good with you guys?” he asked.

  She nodded with a smile. “I’m so glad I found him. For a while I was wondering if there’d ever be anyone for me. Seemed like fate was against it,” she added.

  Caleb thought about her two former boyfriends—his biological father and then the guy she’d been dating after she first moved to Arizona who’d died in a car accident when they were visiting him and his family in Sandy Cove. That had been horrible. He could still remember how devastated she’d been.

  But Will was a great guy. And who knew? Maybe Caleb’s biological father wasn’t such a loser anymore, either. After all, he’d been younger than Caleb was now when Amber had gotten pregnant. Caleb couldn’t imagine what that must have been like.

  “I’m glad you and Will are together,” was all he said. He’d give it a day or two before he brought up his biological father.

  As it turned out, he wouldn’t have to wait that long.

  Will picked up Caleb mid afternoon and took him to his shop. While they were gone, Amber set about preparing Caleb’s favorite dinner ~ spaghetti and meatballs. Although she wasn’t the best cook in the world, she’d learned how to make the sauce from scratch and let it simmer for over an hour to let the seasonings work their magic.