The Calling

by Deborah A Hodge

  “Cate? Cate Timmons?” Austin Black repeated, as he made Cate’s acquaintance.

  “It’s Cate Jones,” Cate corrected, as she and the others exchanged hellos. Through a quick side-glance, she saw the puzzled look on Miss Janet’s face.

  “Hey Tommy,” James asked, “how do you know such a beautiful lady,” he nodded at Cate, “and why did you call her Timmons?”

  Tommy shrugged, “She used to be my sister-in-law.” Cate took another quick side-glance toward Miss Janet, who now had a look of total shock on her face.

  “Used to be your sister-in-law?” John Minery echoed.

  Tommy hugged Cate, “Yeah, my brain-dead brother left her for another woman. By the way, Cate, I really mean that. I think Justin was crazy to let you get away.”

  “Thank you—Tommy,” Cate caught a glimpse of Miss Janet, who was taking it all in.

  “You’re welcome. So what, you’re down here on vacation or something?”

  “I’m actually teaching at a mission school nearby.”

  “Good for you. I always knew you were that kind of person.”

  “What are you doing here?” Cate asked.

  “We took some time off from school. We thought we’d take advantage of the wonderful weather down here and do a little bicycling and backpacking.”

  “It is a beautiful country,” Cate said.

  “It sure is.”

  “When did you get down?” Kim asked.

  Cate was thankful she joined the conversation. Both she and Miss Janet had been noticeably silent ever since Tommy had made his announcement that Cate was his former sister-in-law.

  “We’ve been here a couple of days. We flew from New Orleans to Quito and are going to bike down the American Way to Cuenca, spend a few days sightseeing and catch a flight back home on March ninth,” Tommy answered.

  “You’ll enjoy the scenery very much. Be sure and visit one of the historical haciendas before you leave,” Miss Janet said, breaking her silence.

  “Thanks for the suggestion. That’s a great idea,” Austin replied.

  “Well, I guess we’d better let you ladies get back to your shopping,” Tommy said.

  “It’s been great to see you Tommy. I wish you all the best,” Cate hugged him bye.

  “Yeah, you too,” Tommy hugged her back.

  “Fellas, it was nice to meet each of you. Take care of this boy, won’t you?” Cate added.

  “We always do anything a beautiful lady asks,” John Minery joked.

  Miss Janet and Kim joined in the goodbyes as each group went their separate way. Cate was anxious to know what Miss Janet was going to say. She didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  Miss Janet snapped her purse shut, “Let’s call it a day.”

  “But, it’s only early afternoon,” Cate waved at the vendors.

  “Why don’t we have lunch-and a nice talk?” Kim suggested.

  “I’d like to go home now,” Miss Janet demanded, rather adamantly.

  “Come on, Miss Janet, please. Let’s have a late lunch at this open air café,” Kim insisted, as she sat down at a table.

  Reluctantly, Miss Janet sat down, and seeing that Miss Janet was quite agitated, Cate nervously sat down. The server came and took their orders. Though Miss Janet’s body language was shouting, several moments passed without anyone saying anything. Finally, she broached the subject, repressed anger in her voice.

  “So, Cate, why have you never told us that you were—divorced?”

  Cate took a deep breath, This had to happen sometime. “It’s not something that I’m proud of.”

  “I would certainly hope not,” Miss Janet responded.

  “I’m sorry that you’re upset,” Cate struggled to remain calm, “but that part of my past is something that’s hard for me to talk about.”

  “Hard for you to talk about?” Or something you’re trying to hide?”

  “No! I wasn’t trying to hide it,” Cate sat tall in her chair, “but neither do I wish to openly talk about it.”

  “I would imagine not, since it would disqualify you to teach at the mission school.”

  “That’s not why I didn’t tell you, and it didn’t disqualify me. Matthew knows. He knew when he hired me.”

  “Matthew knew,” Miss Janet’s eyes widened, “and he still hired you?”

  “Yes, he did,” Cate fought to maintain her composure.

  Miss Janet rolled her eyes. “What in the world was he thinking?”

  “Miss Janet, I don’t understand why you are so upset.”

  “Why are you so upset?” Kim asked Miss Janet.

  “I’m upset because,” she paused-and looked at Cate, “she passed herself off as someone she isn’t.”

  Cate’s mouth flew open at the fierceness of Miss Janet’s attack.

  “How did I do that?”

  “You passed yourself off as a dedicated, single young Christian woman,” Miss Janet answered, with concentrated anger.

  “Miss Janet, she is a dedicated, single young Christian woman,” Kim attempted to mediate the situation. “The children love her, the villagers love her.”

  Miss Janet’s eyes flashed with anger, “No, she’s a young divorced woman, who passed herself off as a single woman.”

  Calmly, Cate said, “I didn’t try to pass myself off as anything.”

  “A divorced woman is not a proper teacher, not according to mission rules.”

  “A few days ago, you told me that the school was lucky to have me.”

  “That—was before I knew you were divorced.”

  “Miss Janet, I can’t change the fact that I’m divorced, but it’s not the unpardonable sin. God forgives divorce, and God called me to teach in a mission school,” Cate desperately tried to make Miss Janet understand.

  Miss Janet rolled her eyes, “I don’t believe God calls divorced people to missions to teach young and impressionable children.”

  “Miss Janet, we’ve lived with Cate for seven months. You know what kind of person she is,” Kim tried to reason with her.

  “I don’t believe I do know her.”

  Cate shook her head, “How can you say that?”

  “Because it’s true, you’re not the person that I thought you were,” Miss Janet answered.

  “Yes, I am. Miss Janet, I promise I am.”

  Miss Janet was unmoved. “I’m sorry, but you’re not.”

  “What can I do to prove it to you?” Cate pleaded.

  “I don’t believe there is anything you could do-short of leaving the mission school.”

  Cate’s mouth and eyes were both wide open, but she couldn’t form any words.

  Kim couldn’t believe what she heard, “Surely, you don’t mean that.”

  Miss Janet was filled with self-righteousness, “I do, and the sooner she leaves the better.”

  “But, Cate’s a great teacher, and we need her.”

  “She’s a divorced teacher. It’s against the rules, against–the–rules.”

  The server brought the food; but no one ate. Miss Janet sat at one end of the table rigidly guarding her plate. Cate sat at the other end, her head down and tears falling in her food. Kim sat in the middle wondering how she could bring about reconciliation. Finally, she decided that at this point it wasn’t possible. Kim asked the server for the check, paid the bill, and suggested that they return to Peguche.

  The short drive home seemed to last for an eternity, and the silence was deafening. Kim drove, Miss Janet sat resolutely in the back seat, and Cate sat dejected in the front seat. Kim prayed for the situation all the way home.

  When they arrived home, Miss Janet promptly got out of the car and stormed into the house while Kim and Cate took Matthew’s car home. Kim asked, “Cate, are you all right?”

  “No.”

  “I’m so sorry about Miss Janet’s attitude.”

  “Me too, but I don’t know what to do about it.”

  “Just give it time. I’m sure she’ll see that she’s over-reacted,” Kim ga
ve a half-smile. “She’s a good Christian woman, compassionate, forgiving.” At least I thought so.

  “But, what if she doesn’t? It hurt to hear all of those things she said, and to know her opinion of me.”

  “I know, but she’ll come to her senses, just give her time.”

  “I hope you’re right, but there’s something else that really bothers me.”

  “What?”

  “Did Matthew really hire me in violation of mission rules?”

  “I don’t know.” Kim turned to look at Cate, “I don’t know about any rules like that, but it wouldn’t have affected my hiring you.”

  “I have to know,” Cate said.

  Matthew met them as they parked the car. He saw their anguished faces, “What’s wrong?”

  Cate walked up to him, “Matthew, did you hire me in violation of the mission rules?”

  He held up his hands, “Whoa! Where did that come from?”

  “Miss Janet said the rule is that a divorced person can’t teach at the mission school. Is-that-right?”

  “That… It was my father’s policy, but I don’t think it’s written down anywhere.”

  “So, Miss Janet was right,” Cate sighed.

  “No, she’s not. I’m the head of the school and the mission agency. I decide policy, not my father.”

  Cate seemed to collapse into herself, “But, technically, it’s still your father’s organization and therefore, written or not, his rules apply.”

  Matthew grabbed her shoulders, “No, Cate that’s not correct.”

  Cate shook her head, “Yeah, it is, and I’m sure if he knew, your father would be terribly upset with you.”

  “I make the decisions here, not my father.”

  “But, I don’t think he’d approve of your hiring me,” Cate’s teary eyes found Matthew’s, “and I don’t want to cause trouble between you two.”

  Matthew held her at arm’s length, to get a good look at her, “You’re thinking about resigning. Aren’t you?”

  Cate tearfully nodded, “Yes”.

  Looking to Kim for help, Matthew pleaded, “Tell her Kim. I’m running things, so I call the shots.”

  “He’s right,” Kim nodded. “He’s been running the school for the last three years. Surely, he has the authority to decide policy.”

  Matthew pleaded, “Don’t resign. I promise; my hiring you was okay.”

  Cate avoided his eyes, and remained silent.

  “Please, Cate. Listen to him. Just give the situation time,” Kim said.

  Matthew gently touched Cate’s chin, turning her face to him, “She’s right, Cate. Just give the situation time. I’ll talk to Miss Janet. Everything will be okay.”

  Although Cate agreed, the next day things were the same. Miss Janet refused to go to church with Kim and Cate. She brooded all day. On Monday she stormed into Matthew’s office and confronted him about Cate. “Matthew Kennedy, I’m disappointed in you.”

  Matthew sat back in his chair and folded his hands, “About…”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. I’m sure that Cate told you about Saturday.”

  “Yes, she did, and I must say, I’m a little disappointed in you too.”

  Bristling with anger, Miss Janet responded, “Don’t try to turn this thing around. You know you had no business hiring her.”

  Matthew rose and offered a chair to Miss Janet. “Look, I’m the head of this school and the mission agency. I have the authority to hire whomever I think is right for this school.” Matthew spoke with calm determination.

  Miss Janet reluctantly sat, her eyes flashing with anger, “Your father would’ve never considered her.”

  “You don’t know that—and neither do I.” Matthew remained polite, but firm.

  “Yes, I do. Your father’s rule was no divorced teachers in the mission school.”

  With anger of his own shining through, Matthew continued, “Miss Janet, my father is no longer in charge. I am.”

  Miss Janet’s voice rose, “The rule always has been no divorced teachers. It’s biblical, and traditional.”

  Matthew arrested his anger and tried to de-escalate the situation, “I don’t understand your attitude at all. You know what kind of person Cate is. How can you act this way?”

  “I’m trying to protect this school and its reputation. I know how it’s supposed to operate, even if you don’t!”

  “I cannot see how Cate Jones is going to hurt this school’s reputation. She is one of the godliness women I know.”

  Miss Janet shook her finger at Matthew, “That woman has you hoodwinked. If she is such a godly woman, why did her husband leave?”

  “Maybe, because he was such an ungodly man.”

  “Do you even know the particulars of why she got divorced?”

  “Do you?”

  “No, I do not, and I don’t want to,” Miss Janet sat rigid in her chair, her arms tightly crossed.

  “That’s the problem.”

  “No, the problem is that woman.”

  His anger took hold again, “No, she’s not the problem, Miss Janet. You are.”

  Matching his intensity, Miss Janet responded, “The problem is you violated mission rules when you hired someone unfit to teach here.”

  Matthew carefully considered his next words, “If you are not happy with my decisions as headmaster, maybe you ought to think about leaving the school.”

  “I can not believe you’re making this about me. She’s the one! I came in here with good intentions. Now you’re trying to fire me, instead of her.”

  “I’m not trying to fire you. I’m trying to get your attention, to get you to calm down and see my side of things—and Cate’s side.”

  Miss Janet’s voice was hard as flint, “I won’t abandon my convictions to accommodate your policy.”

  “I’m not asking you to. I’m asking you to be compassionate and forgiving. Cate’s divorce was not her fault. Her husband lied to her about being a Christian, began seeing another woman, and told her one night that he had filed for divorce.”

  “Did she tell you this?”

  “No,” Matthew took a breath, “David did.”

  Miss Janet’s eyes narrowed, “That’s right. David would have had to be a part in this too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that he knew her before. He would have,” she corrected herself, “should have known about her unfitness to teach. His mission agency wouldn’t have allowed her to teach,” Miss Janet answered.

  “You’re right, his mission agency wouldn’t have, but I did. From the very beginning, I knew the truth about her marital status, and the circumstances behind it. David vouched for her. Everyone had only good things to say about her. I felt that we were very lucky to get her, and I am now more convinced of that than ever.”

  Miss Janet was unmoved by Matthew’s explanations, “I think that you, David, and that woman pulled a fast one, and I don’t think you ought to be able to get by with it. Dr. Kennedy established the rules of the mission for a purpose. How can we teach godly Christian values if we don’t uphold those very rules?”

  Matthew tried a different tack, “Will you please pray about the situation?”

  “I’ll pray, but I warn you. I won’t change my mind.”

  “I hope that’s not so. After you’ve spent some time praying about it, come back and see me again, and we’ll proceed from there,” Matthew said.

  As she rose to leave, Miss Janet warned, “Matthew, you might as well be prepared to proceed in another direction.”

  Twenty Four

  Nothing improved with the passing of two weeks. Miss Janet’s icy coldness caused Cate to stay at school as late as possible, or spend more time with Matthew. She went home only to sleep. Kim and Matthew encouraged her to give God time to work things out.

  Cate prayed non-stop that God would help her make sense out of everything. “Oh God, will I have to pay for my wrong decision forever? God, will this always pursue me and cause problems for those
I love and for me? God, please help me. I don’t know what to do.”

  Miss Janet’s praying did not change her mind. In fact, it reinforced her opinion of the whole situation. She decided to notify Matthew’s father and Dr. Patterson of the situation, but kept this fact to herself until her plans came to fruition.

  When Miss Janet called Dr. Patterson, she asked if he could drive to Peguche. She did not give any specifics, only saying she needed to discuss a matter with him face to face. When he agreed to meet her the next day she asked him to make sure that David be present at their meeting.

  On receiving Dr. Patterson’s call, David suspected Miss Janet’s nefarious purpose for the meeting. Matthew had informed him about what happened in Otavalo and Miss Janet’s subsequent visit to his office, and how Matthew hoped that prayer would defuse the situation. Dr. Patterson’s call made him believe that had not happened.

  David returned Matthew’s favor, and informed him of the meeting the next day. Matthew and David both thought it best not to say anything about it to Cate until the following morning.

  Since Miss Janet had insisted that David be involved in the meeting Dr. Patterson suggested that it be held at David’s house. The meeting was set for the afternoon. Dr. Patterson arrived first, and Miss Janet five minutes later. When David opened the door for Miss Janet, he knew immediately that he had been right about the purpose of this meeting. “Good morning, Miss Janet.”

  Very curtly, she answered, “That remains to be seen.”

  “Dr. Patterson is in the living room.”

  “Thank you,” she stomped into the room.

  Dr Patterson rose to greet her. “Good morning, Miss Cook.”

  Despite her frosty attitude, David played the perfect host, “Won’t you have a seat, Miss Janet?”

  “Thank you.”

  “Well, I believe we are all here now. Shall we get started?” Dr. Patterson suggested, in his usual pleasant voice.

  “You may wish to wait,” Miss Janet corrected. “There’ll be two more shortly.”

  “Two more?” Dr. Patterson looked to David, who merely shrugged.

  “Yes, I decided this morning to include Matthew Kennedy and Cate Jones.”

  David shook his head and let out a sigh. He hoped to avoid Cate having to go through what was about to happen.