The Broad Way (The Two Gates)

by Barbara Henderson

  "Belle, we need to talk - how about right now?"

  -------

  Belle was a little apprehensive about Mal's sudden phone call. She had grown to trust him deeply as well as love him. She guessed sadly that it was something to do with his parents. Belle had to admit their reception of her had been an all around disappointment. Frederick and AJ were openly hostile. Shelly had seemed ok at first, but she had not followed up with any sort of invitation or phone call.

  Well, I didn't call her back either," Belle thought guiltily. "Maybe there is some hope there. Maybe that is what Mal wants to talk about."

  Belle's thoughts were interrupted by Mal's arrival. He was as usual about fifteen minutes early.

  "Oh dear," she thought as she opened the door. "I hope this isn't something too bad."

  "Hi honey," Mal said cheerfully. "Are you busy? I mean are you busy in about 3 weeks?"

  "Busy doing what? I have classes and church. That's about it. What did you have in mind?

  "A wedding."

  "A wedding? Who's getting married?" Belle asked. "Are you in a wedding and need a date?"

  "I could be in a wedding if the bride says yes?"

  "You mean he hasn't even asked her yet and he is planning a wedding?"

  "He is asking 'her' right now. Belle, lets get married in about three weeks."

  "But, I thought we were getting married next summer. Why now? You didn't have a fight with your parents or something did you?"

  "Nope. They don't know anything about this. This is between you and me. I don't like you and Amelia alone here. I liked it here the other night, even right after the earthquake. I think we should get married now. Of course you have to finish school before we start a family or anything like that. But now is a good time. Let's go for it."

  "I could consider it. I have to talk to Amelia first though. She is pretty sensitive you know."

  "Somehow, I have a feeling she will be very agreeable." Mal said.

  4th Demension

  stratigic operations

  As usual, Zisa was satisfied with AJ's progress. The idea of a disease for Mitch Farmer's wife was a good one. Of course, Zisa had thought of that ages ago. It was just a matter of timing. Also, Zisa didn’t have the authority to give someone a disease at will. It had to be approved first. She was glad AJ had the idea though. It would make it appear that Zisa was able to answer AJ's wishes. But Zisa was a little confused herself. She had someone picked out for AJ at the university. She would have to see what worked out. Either way, Mitch's wife was already ill. She just didn't know it yet.

  Stellar Dominion Outpost

  Command Center

  As in the day's of Noah, people were getting married, having children, raising families, working, and going on like eternity was here an now. Raphael was glad to see Belle and Mal planning an early wedding. He thought it would be a good match.

  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 were 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.

  4th Demension

  stratigic operations

  Zisa couldn't not have been more satisfied with the reaction to Mal's wedding. She felt like Shelly was really coming around to her side in the matter.

  Stellar Dominion Outpost

  Command Center

  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.

  Chapter 20

  AJ

  AJ was so happy she was almost bouncing off the wall. She had been invited to a very important grown ups only banquet for the campaign. She was the only junior campaigner invited. She needed a very formal dress. Her hair would have to be done. She might even have another makeup consultation like she had had before school was out last year. And, as good as that was, one thing made it even better. It was on the day Mal was getting married. So of course there was no way she could go to that stupid wedding in an office anyway. It really was embarrassing to have such an idiot for a brother.

  AJ was particularly mad at Mal because he had told her flat out he would never vote for Mitch Farmer. Mal had said he was a conservative before he became a Christian, so that meant a radical liberal would never get his vote.

  "I wonder why Mal's lack of intelligence never showed up before?" she wondered to herself.

  -----------------------------------------------

  Shelly was really in a quandary. She couldn't believe she would have ever considered ignoring Mal under any circumstances, much less on his wedding day. But there was AJ's big event on the same day. It was such an honor to be asked to the banquet. The senator had said that AJ had been a real asset in the campaign and that she was a very remarkable young lady. Shelly was delighted to see AJ so happy. Especially after what had happened last spring with the year book.

  Plus, Frederick had noticed that Shelly was becoming more of an assertive person. He had even given her several compliments. And he had suggested they not involve themselves in Mal's mistakes. "Just be there for him when he realizes his mistake. He will need us then to help him out of the mess."

  "Frederick is probably right." Shelly thought. "Of course I would never say 'I told you so' to Mal. But maybe the best thing is to just ignore the entire situation. Let him get in and out of the situation all by himself, and then we will just act like nothing ever happened. I wouldn't want to make him feel bad or anything."

  With her mind made up Shelly went on about her business for the day. She was taking AJ shopping. That had been a surprise indeed. Frederick was usually so determined that she didn't know how to do anything. But he had suggested it.

  "Maybe I will get a makeover too when AJ gets hers," Shelly thought. "And maybe Frederick and I could actually go out to dinner.

  Malachi

  Mal was a nervous wreck. Getting married was a much bigger deal than he had ever imagined. He was sure he was doing the right thing. He was sure. He was sure. But, boy, did his stomach ache. And his head. And all of him.

  "I must be coming down with the flu or something," Mal thought to himself. "Oh well, things are bound to settle down as soon as the wedding is over. What else could happen?"

  ------------------------------------------

  Belle and Amelia were having one of those sister chats. As usual, Amelia was telling Belle all sorts of things that she wasn't really supposed to know in the first place, but had managed to find out anyway.

  "Belle, mom isn't here to give you the birds and bees talk, so I guess I better do it for her."

  "What could you possible know that I don't know?" Belle asked.

  "Well, everything you can know without experience. It's all in the books at the library. Besides, you know I had sex education at school."

  "Yes and so did I. Remember? There was a big deal about whether Christian schools should teach sex education or not. Then we went through all that over and over with the "True Love Waits" program. Then they covered it in Sunday school once a year. The only thing left is actual experience."

  "Yes well, I may have paid more attention to details than you did. If you have any questions, just ask me. If I don't know I will ask my sources for the answers," Amelia said jokingly.

  "Amelia, you can either change the subject or this conversation is over. Now, we have managed to run this house ok without mom and dad. But we will have to make a few changes since I'm getting married. For instance, you can't run through the house in your pajamas anymore. You will have to wear your bathrobe. Of course, you have your own bathroom, so that is good. Laundry shouldn't be much more of a problem. But I am a little concerned about meals. Mal might not like our cooking."

  "What do you mean 'Our Cooking'?" Amelia laughed. You are the one getting the husband. I guess you will have to cook for him. And by the way, I gave up running through the house in my pajamas after the accident. It takes me too long to get a robe if the door bell rings. "

  "This is the right thing to do isn't it Amelia? I am so sure of it, but why am I so scared? Do you think it is because of the reaction of Mal's family?"

  "According to my sources, if you weren't scared you would not be normal. And I don't know anything about Mal's family. And at this rate I don't want too. You will just have to deal with them when you have to. Don't worry about it in the mean time."

  "Ok Amelia, now lets get something done around here. If Mal is moving in, we have to move some stuff out to make room for him."

  "I can't Belle," Amelia said jokingly. "My legs hurt. But there is one more thing."

  "What is that honey?" Belle asked absentmindedly.

  "Well, it's Huey of course. I want him to come to the wedding."

  "You can't ask your physical therapist to the wedding. We aren't asking anyone to the wedding except family, Remember? That was your idea."

  "I was afraid you would say that, but I thought I would give it a try anyway," Amelia said in an exaggerated sad voice.

  4th Demension

  stratigic operations

  "The only thing that could be better with this situation is if Mal h
ad been disowned," Zisa thought gleefully. "I had no idea Shelly would so easily fall for a little flattery and acceptance from AJ and Frederick. At this rate she will be ours forever."

  Stellar Dominion Outpost

  Command Center

  Raphael was sad. He thought, "How can Shelly decide that getting her daughter ready for a political campaign banquet is more important than attending her son's wedding?" He shook his head. Over the ages he had seen enough to know that foolish decisions, while so easily made, were very hard to change later. The damage done might not be repairable.

  Chapter 21

  AJ

  "Banquet day is here!" AJ thought happily. "I look great in this outfit. All grown up. I know Mitch will notice. He always notices me anyway, but this will really give him an idea of what I can do when given the opportunity. I sure don't like his wife though. She is such a hold back to Mitch. I really don't know what he ever saw in her in the first place. What a useless bimbo."

  -------------------------------------------

  Shelly was delighted with her personal makeover. She felt fifteen years younger. She was smiling. Her duties for the day were to simply help AJ dress for the banquet and dress for dinner with Frederick. She had shopped as carefully for her dress as AJ had for hers. It had been years since she and Frederick had been out on anything like a date. They were going to an upper class restaurant. Then the symphony. She felt a little guilty about that because she had told Mal she simply couldn't let AJ down. That is it would not be possible to get AJ all ready for her big evening and then still get to Mal's wedding on time. Truthfully, she was going to be near the church where he was getting married at close to the right time. She could have adjusted her schedule to fit the wedding easily. But Frederick had suggested the symphony. It wasn't their fault that it was near the church. They had to drive to the bigger city for most entertainment.