Chapter 19
AJ
"I am not going to any silly wedding in the pastor's office and that is final!" AJ shrieked for the third time.
"I am not going to Mal's wedding." Frederick said in his most sarcastic tone. "Mark my words. The girl is pregnant. It probably isn't even Mal's. It won't last till Christmas. Good grief. Why can't he wait until it's born and get a paternity test? He might be stuck with child support once he marries her whether it's his or not."
"But AJ, Frederick, Mal has told me she is not pregnant. He says there is no way."
"Shelly," Frederick began while AJ rolled her eyes at her mother's apparent stupidity. "Mal means there is no way it could be his. He doesn't mean she could not be pregnant."
"OH!!! Shelly said in disbelief. "I never thought of that. Maybe I should warn him or something."
"Forget it Shelly." Frederick said firmly. "Mal is a big boy. His mind is made up. Let him make his own mistakes. We just don't have to be part of it."
"I have to try don't you think? I will just talk to him. It is my duty as his mother." She went into the living room away from earshot, and dialed Mal.
Malachi
Mal was pretty much in a stress induced stupor. He was getting married. He was happy about that. At least he guessed he was. But the reaction from his family was unbelievable. And the reaction from his mother was especially distressing. Shelly had always been his anchor. She was calm and rational. She gave everyone the benefit of the doubt at least a dozen times. But apparently that was for everyone except Belle. Mal was still smarting from the phone call from Shelly. He still couldn't believe the things she had said about Belle. And all that without ever giving Belle a chance in the first place, much less a second chance. He hoped pastor CC would have some marriage counsel about what to do now. The way it was shaping up with his family did not look good.
Pastor CC was not totally surprised about the problem with Mal's family. He knew from years of experience in marriage counseling that bad in-law relations was a leading cause of divorce or at least very unhappy situations. "I never understood," he thought to himself, "Why people can't understand that there is always enough love to go around. God gives you enough love for everyone He puts in your life. "
"Mal," he said. "I want to tell you it isn't too late to back out of the marriage altogether, or at least delay it. What do you want to do?"
"I want to marry Belle. I wasn't thinking about so soon, but now I like the idea. I really was concerned about Belle and Amelia being by alone in that big house. I don't know how they are doing as well as they are doing. And, I have a whole new life now. I like it. It doesn't seem fair to 'wait' to appease a family who hasn't even given Belle a chance at all."
"Mal, my experience from past family counseling is this. You and Belle are Christians. None of your family are believers. If any of them become believers you will have a chance for a relationship. If they don't, you can never be really close to them. That is very sad, but very true in most cases. They may even come to hate you for what you believe. And your temptation will be to hate them in return, but instead you are required to love them and pray for them. The only way you can handle that is humbly asking God to handle it for you on His terms and His time frame."
"Alright, let's pray for my family now, but I am marrying Belle on the date we have set. They can come or not come" Mal said firmly.
The young Christian and the mature Christian knelt down and prayed for God's blessing on the coming marriage and the extended family.
They took a coffee break and then continued with the secession.
"Mal, what about finances?" Pastor CC asked?
"Good," Mal answered. "Actually I don't have to work you know, but I am trying to find something I would like to do."
"Do you want a prenuptial agreement?"
"No, not really. First I really don't want one, and second, I heard they don't hold up in court anyway. Besides, it would hurt Belle's feelings if I even asked. I just don't want to start off that way."
"Good answer Mal," CC said. "Now I have a little news for you. Belle also does not have to work if she does not want to work. She is quite well off."
"Are you sure?" Mal asked cautiously. "She is so frugal it is down right embarrassing sometimes. She would rather find a bargain than eat chocolate."
"Yes, I know. She was always that way. Her mother was that way too. Which is part of the reason Belle and Amelia are financially secure. When their parents were killed in the accident, the family was already on their way to financial security. Or at least as secure as you can get in this world. Then both parents had substantial life insurance which paid double for an accidental death. Then both girls received a pretty substantial settlement from the insurance company. They could have got more but they opted for a quicker settlement. That was on my advice since I knew their financial situation and I thought it would be better to get it settled. You have no idea of the emotional trauma they have been through. They just hung on for each other. Amelia was in the hospital for most six months after the accident. That is why her settlement was larger than Belle's - she will need some treatment all her life."
"Treatment? Mal said questioningly. "Like more operations or something?"
"Not likely. Mostly just physical therapy."
"Well, that will suit her for a while." Mal said humorously. "Amelia has a crush on her physical therapist. She insisted we find him when we had that earthquake and she got the cut on her head."
"Yes, she has a crush on Huey. He really is a fine fellow. But he is about 14 years older than Amelia."
"Say pastor, I really had no idea that Belle and Amelia had money. Does Belle want a prenuptial agreement? Is that why you brought it up?"
"No; not at all."
"So how do you know for sure that I have money and am not just after Belle's money?" Mal asked.
The pastor looked at Mal smiling.
Then in unison, both men said "Amelia - she always knows things she isn't supposed to know."
"That's right Mal. Don't be offended. Amelia did a little research before she went to you with the idea of moving up the wedding date. I thought it best to fill you in on the financial situation with Belle and Amelia.
However, the fact that you both have some money doesn't get you out of the financial counseling secession. You both have to set a realistic budget and we will go over you figures. I have a workbook here. Get with Belle, fill it out together, and I'll see both of you for the next secession."
"Homework? You didn't say anything about homework." Mal said laughingly.
""Marriage is 100% constant work." CC replied.
Angels of Darkness
Zisa had been listening when Shelly said she was going to call Mal and warn him about the possibility of Belle being pregnant as the reason for moving up the wedding so dramatically. She hovered over Shelly and did the best she could to put words that were evil and hurtful in Shelly’s mouth. She couldn't not have been more satisfied with all the things Shelly said to Mal. She felt like Shelly was really coming around to her side in the matter.
Angels of Light
Raphael was puzzled. He would never understand parents. "Why is it," He thought, "That parents who would do anything for their child suddenly won't do anything for their child when he or she is grown up? He knew that at this point it would not take much to patch up the rift between Mal and at least his mother. But instead of thinking of her future relationship with Mal and his wife, Shelly was just thinking she was mad at him.
"Don't wait to long Shelly, or it will be to late - for everything," Raphael thought sadly.
Choosing Soul Wars Trilogy Book One Page 26
