Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky

by Jennifer Johnson

  HENRY WARD BEECHER

  Having washed down the last chair, Megan sat back and looked around the classroom. Her music room. Kirk and Marianna worked together to put up posters. Her mother set a pile of music workbooks on the table then sat down beside her.

  “It’s really coming together nicely.”

  Megan grinned. “Yeah, it is. Two weeks and I’ll be teaching twenty to thirty kids at a time in here.”

  “You ready for it?” her mother asked.

  Excitement jumpstarted the butterflies in her belly. “I’m so excited I could just burst.”

  “You’ll do a good job. You and Marianna were both always so good with kids.”

  Megan turned and studied her mother. Her red curls lay a little longer on her shoulders than they used to. Her makeup wasn’t fixed to perfection as she used to wear it. Even though she’d done remarkably well, Megan knew her mom still grieved their dad’s death.

  They still hadn’t officially hashed out the past, but her mother had softened toward her. Megan didn’t know if it was because of her mother’s kindness or because of God’s constant hammering, but her heart had become tender toward her mother as well. In time they would deal with the pain from the past. For now she would enjoy the relationship they were building.

  The gesture seemed crazy and uncomfortable, but Megan reached her arm around her mother’s shoulder. The tension faded, and she warmed as her mom responded to the sideways hug. “I’m really glad you came to help.”

  “Me, too.”

  Megan let go, and then her mom tapped her leg. “So, have you heard from either of those boys? Justin or Colt?”

  Marianna scoffed. “At least she’s done with her job at Frasure, Frasure, and Combs. She’ll only have to see Justin at church.” She winked. “Unless you start attending with us.”

  “Justin’s a Christian now, Marianna. You need to give him a chance,” Kirk reprimanded.

  “Are we talking about the same guy? The one who ruined my wedding reception by punching out one of my friends?”

  Kirk placed a hand on his hip. “Colt is not one of your friends. You barely know him, and Justin most certainly did not ruin our reception.”

  “He sure tried. Chasing after my sister. She is not going to be just another one of his conquests.”

  Megan gritted her teeth at Marianna’s words. She still hadn’t confronted her sister for telling Amy about Clint.

  “Don’t involve yourself in my business, Marianna.” The words slipped out with more anger than she’d meant to convey.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Marianna.

  “That means you blabbed about Clint to Amy.”

  Marianna walked away from Kirk, grabbed Megan’s arm, and guided her into the hall. “I did that for you.”

  “Telling others about my past is not helpful.”

  “Megan—”

  “It embarrassed me. Infuriated me. It hurt.” Megan rested her hand against her chest. “I don’t want people to know about it.”

  “I don’t want Justin to hurt you.”

  “I have to make that choice.”

  Megan pursed her lips and stared at her sister. Marianna had to understand she could not tell people about her past without her consent. Her sister blew out a long breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around Megan. “Forgive me?”

  “Just stop trying to keep me away from Justin. I’m a big girl. I haven’t seen him for days, and when I do, it’s all platonic.”

  Megan remembered Justin’s declaration of love, and a shudder washed over her. He’d believed her about Clint. He hadn’t blamed her, and she couldn’t help but believe Justin that Timmy made up a lie.

  “Okay. No more talk about Justin.”

  They walked back into the classroom, and Marianna picked up and handed the glue gun to Kirk. She sneaked a peek back at Megan and winked. “I still think Colt would make a terrific boyfriend. Surely you saw the way he looks at you.”

  Megan bit back a growl. Marianna was grating on her last nerve.

  “Quit trying to make her like that guy. If she doesn’t like him, she doesn’t like him,” retorted Kirk.

  Marianna snarled and swatted her hand at her husband. Megan lifted her eyebrows and pointed toward her new brother-in-law. “I agree with Kirk. Colt and I are just friends.”

  “But the way he looks at you—”

  Megan cut her off. “He does not look at me as you suggest. We are just friends. I think I would know it if he felt anything else for me.”

  “Then why’d he fight Justin?”

  “‘Cause Justin hit him first, and boys are weird.” She looked at Kirk. “No offense.”

  Kirk nodded. “None taken. I was a bit surprised by the display myself. Haven’t seen Justin physically squabble with anyone since high school. He must really care about you.”

  Marianna gasped. “Kirk, you take that back.” She looked back at Megan. “Besides, it doesn’t matter if he likes you. He’s the last guy on the planet you’d like, right?”

  Megan growled, “Marianna, I thought we just decided in the hall—”

  Their mother interrupted, “Megan, honey, why don’t you and I go get the supplies you need and maybe grab a bite to eat for all of us. I’m getting hungry.”

  Megan looked over and spied her mother waving her list of supplies in the air. A break would be good. She needed to clear her mind and get out of the classroom for a few minutes. Even though she appreciated her sister’s and Kirk’s help, she needed a reprieve from Marianna.

  Megan nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”

  “Yeah.” Marianna walked to Kirk and took the glue gun from his hand. “We’ll go, too.”

  Their mother jiggled the keys in her hand. “Why don’t you two stay and fix the broken bookshelf? We’ll bring you back something.”

  Megan bit back a sigh of relief. She loved her sister, but the woman would not stop hammering her about Colt and Justin.

  Marianna frowned. “But—”

  “That sounds like a great idea.” Kirk wrapped his arms around Marianna. “I’ve never made out in an elementary school.”

  “Ew!” Marianna punched his arm. “We will do no such thing.”

  Megan giggled as she walked out of the room. Before opening the bathroom door, she heard Kirk respond, “I was just kidding.”

  She looked atrocious after spending the morning cleaning and rearranging the classroom. After washing her hands, she splashed water on her makeup-free face to clean off any remnants of dust or grime. She pulled off the University of Kentucky ball cap, ran her fingers through her matted hair, then fixed the ball cap again.

  Leaving the bathroom, she took her purse from her mom, then they walked out of the school. She sat in the passenger’s side of her mom’s car and buckled her seat belt.

  Her mom pulled out of the parking lot. “We’ll go to the store first.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Her mom didn’t respond, and the old awkward feeling she’d known when she’d spent time alone with her mother resurfaced. Megan clasped her hands in her lap. Things hadn’t changed as she’d hoped.

  “You know, I’m really proud of you. Your dad was, too.”

  Megan looked at her mom. “I’m glad.”

  She cleared her throat. God had hounded her for months to talk with her mom, to be honest, to forgive, to restore their relationship. She knew feelings sometimes had to come after obedience. She shifted in the chair. “Mom, I should have listened to you and Dad about Clint …”

  Her mom shook her head, and Megan was startled to see tears stream down her mother’s cheeks. “We were wrong. Bill and I talked about it a ton of times, but we were both so stubborn. Didn’t want to admit …”

  Megan sucked in her breath and pinched her lips together as her mother pulled into the store’s lot and parked. Her mom shifted toward her. “You weren’t the first teenager to like a boy your parents didn’t approve of.” She placed her hand
s against her chest. “I did it myself.”

  Megan focused on her breathing. She’d never witnessed her mother crying so hard. Years of pain seemed to surface on her mother’s body, and Megan’s heart began to melt.

  Her mom placed her hands on her cheeks. “What he did to you … and we couldn’t even confront him. I never comforted you.”

  Her mom’s words came fast and short. Megan searched her purse for a tissue and handed one to her mom. She never expected this. Thought she’d have to forgive her mom without an apology, without her belief Megan had been hurt by the boyfriend.

  Megan leaned over and hugged her mom the best she could in the front seat of the car. “It’s okay. I forgive you.”

  “It’s not okay. The things we said. We hurt you. How could you possibly forgive me?”

  Megan thought of the many times she’d said those words to God when she knew He wanted her to forgive her parents. But

  God’s working in a woman’s heart was a wondrous thing, because in the depth of her spirit, she knew she did forgive her mom. She shrugged. “Because of God.”

  Her mom let out a long breath. “Megan, I’m sorry for what I did, but I’m not ready for all that God stuff.”

  Megan noted her mother’s hardened spirit. She’d already backed away from Megan. Deep concern laced its way through Megan. Her mother needed the Lord, but she was still saying no.

  Her mom scooped her purse into her hands. “Marianna is constantly harping on me about ‘Jesus this’ and ‘Jesus that.’ I’m not ready to believe in a God that would take my wonderful husband from me.” She lowered her voice. “Or who would let a man walk out on me when I was trying to care for twin babies.”

  Megan grabbed her mom’s hand before she could open the door and slip out. “Mom, I’m glad we’re better.”

  Her mother’s expression softened. She leaned over and kissed the top of Megan’s head. “Me, too.”

  Megan’s heart floated as they walked into the store. The two of them laughed as they made their way through the aisles picking up colored folders, hot glue sticks, markers, tape, and a mound of other items.

  Her mother pointed to a poster of a kitten playing the piano. “That is absolutely adorable. It would look so cute on your door.”

  Megan nodded. She didn’t have the heart to tell her mom the only kitten she’d want on her door would be in the form of a UK Wildcat.

  She grabbed it out of the case. “I’m going to get it for you.”

  Megan smiled. Hanging a kitten on her door wouldn’t kill her. She’d just tape a UK bumper sticker beneath it.

  “Hello, Megan. Mrs. McKinney.”

  Megan sucked in her breath at the familiar voice. She turned, and her hand went to her ball cap. She didn’t want the man to know she cared what she looked like in front of him. Didn’t want him to know he sent her heart to pounding and her stomach to gurgling. “Hi, Justin.”

  Her mother grinned. “I see your face is healed up.”

  Megan grimaced, but Justin grinned as he touched his eye and then his lip. “The lip took a little longer. Every time I opened my mouth, the thing would split back open.”

  Her mother’s eyebrows knit together, and Megan feared she’d scold him for the behavior at the wedding. Not that he hadn’t earned a good scolding; it was just that Megan didn’t want it to happen now. At the store. From her mother.

  Justin looked at her. His eyes still spoke of the words he’d said a week ago. Words she couldn’t believe were true. He said, “I haven’t seen you in a week,” as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Part of her loved that he acted nervous. “I mean. How is the training going?”

  Her mother answered. “Actually we’ve been putting together her classroom this morning. Kirk and Marianna are helping.”

  He smiled at her mother. “I haven’t talked to Kirk since the wedding. Did they have a good honeymoon?”

  Megan forced herself to take slow even breaths as Justin and her mother chatted about palm trees and ocean views. The man’s presence sent her heart into a tailspin. It wasn’t just his looks. She thought of the conversations they’d had at Bible studies, the way he’d treated her as an employee, the change she’d watched God fashion in him. Though he’d acted like a complete idiot at the wedding reception, she still secretly thrilled he was willing to defend her from possible suitors. Even if Colt was nothing of the sort.

  Justin and her mother stopped talking, and he focused on her again. “It’s good to see you, Megan. I—I missed you at Bible study on Thursday.”

  She swallowed. She hadn’t been able to go. She wanted to. She needed to. But she wasn’t ready to spend an hour with Justin, even with five or six other people there.

  She nodded. “It’s good to see you, too.”

  She hated the truth of the statement. For the rest of the day, she’d think about how good he looked in the cream-colored polo and hunter-green shorts. She’d wonder where he was going, since he wasn’t dressed for work, and berate herself for hoping it wasn’t somewhere with a woman.

  Justin walked away, and Megan felt his departure all the way to her toes. She looked at her mother and forced a smile. Her mom was studying her, and it was Megan’s turn to shift her weight from one foot to the other in nervousness.

  Her mom finally spoke. “That man is crazy about you.”

  It was on the edge of her tongue to deny it, but Megan blew out a slow breath and nodded. “I know.”

  Her mom pressed her elbows against the cart’s handle. “Your sister vehemently dislikes him.”

  Megan giggled. “You can say she hates him.”

  Her mom cocked her head to the side. “No. Marianna is determined not to say she hates him.”

  Megan averted her gaze. Knowing her mother still watched her, she focused on the different designs of note cards. She leaned down to pick up a cute package.

  “What do you think of him?”

  Megan grimaced. She knew her mom was going to ask her. She could say she agreed with Marianna, that she didn’t care for him in the slightest. She’d tried to force herself to believe that for several months, but it hadn’t changed her heart. And she knew God didn’t honor her not coming clean with Him on her emotions. “I don’t want to, but I think about him all the time.”

  “Hmm.” Her mom pushed the cart away from the note cards and posters aisle. She looked at the list Megan had made. “Did we get everything?”

  Megan frowned. That was it? Her mom wasn’t going to say anything else? Biting back a growl, Megan nodded. “I think we got it all.”

  They got into the checkout line, and her mother insisted on paying for the items. Megan thanked her, and they walked to the car. They placed the bags in the trunk then got back in the car.

  “Marianna’s told me all about him.”

  Megan did not want to talk about this. She’d spent so much time trying to get Justin out of her mind. She and her mother were finally getting along. The last thing they needed was a guy to talk about. Megan clicked her seat belt. “She’s definitely not his number one fan.”

  Her mother chuckled. “No. She told me he’s known for his womanizing.”

  Megan nodded. “He definitely was.”

  “Was?”

  Megan swallowed. “He’s changed since he’s become a Christian.”

  “Hmm.”

  Her mother started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.

  They drove through a fast-food drive-thru then back to the school.

  Even though her mother ordered her a meal, Megan wasn’t sure she could eat. Just seeing Justin sent her stomach to whirling. And the way he looked, and the sporadic questions of her mother. Megan placed her forehead against the window, hoping the coolness of the glass would ease her pounding head. She wouldn’t be able to hold down a single bite.

  Her mom parked the car, and Megan reached for the tray holding their soft drinks. Her mother grabbed her hand, and Megan looked at her. “Megan, I don’t know about his past. I suppose we
all have a past to deal with.”

  She looked up at the sky, and Megan couldn’t decide if her mom was talking about herself or Megan. Probably a little of both.

  She gazed back at Megan. “There is one thing I’m pretty certain of. That man is no Clint. After years of seeing the difference between Bill and your biological father, I can tell.”

  Megan watched dumbstruck as her mom got out of the car and bumped the door shut with her hip. Her mother approved of Justin? She hadn’t approved of Clint, even though the only things he’d done prior to dating her was sneak out of the house and skip a few classes, but she liked Justin?

  Megan knew Justin was different. He was a new creation in Christ. And probably her parents saw something in Clint her love-struck teen eyes couldn’t grasp. Well, obviously that was very true.

  She shook her head. Still, she couldn’t believe her mom liked Justin. Not being able to help herself, she chuckled aloud. “That man knows how to get a gal on his side.”

  She opened the car door and slipped outside. She knew it was more than that. She looked to the heavens. “God, when I get home, we’re going to sit down alone and have a little talk. And I plan to do most of the listening.”

  Peace flooded her spirit, and she knew God would be more than happy to share His will with her.

  Chapter 29

  We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.

  MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

  Colt hung up the phone. He’d had a good conversation with Tina. He was proud of how hard she’d been working at beauty school, and she’d kept a grocery store job and her house cleanings for two months. Proof enough she was staying sober. His brother had never lasted at a job longer than two weeks.

  Hadley walked into the kitchen and picked up an onion off the counter. “Want some help?”

  “Sure.” He handed her a paring knife out of the drawer then turned on the stovetop. He poured a bit of olive oil in the pan then placed the marinated steak strips in the skillet. He grabbed another knife out of the drawer and sliced a bell pepper.