by JoAnn Durgin
Heather’s heart softened when she glanced at David. “What did you want to tell me, Mr. Landers?”
David lifted his head and met her gaze. The clarity of his blue eyes matched Chase’s. The man before her was well-dressed and soft spoken. While he looked like an older version of his son, he was obviously much different in temperament.
“I wanted to tell you how much Chase loves you. He came to see me recently and all he could talk about was you, Heather. We talked and shared like we haven’t in years, and I have you to thank for giving my son back to me.”
“Giving your son back?”
“Chase has been so focused on his ministry for the past few years that he’s neglected his own wants and needs. Don’t get me wrong. I can tell how much he loves those kids. But ever since his mom—my late wife—died, Chase has carried a heavy burden. For a long time, I thought he blamed me for everything from Melanie’s death to the fact that I have a gambling addiction.”
Heather darted a glance at her father. He listened carefully and nodded his head. She wondered what was going through his mind right about now.
“I was wrong,” David said. “Chase told me he regretted never telling me he was proud of me, and that ever since you’d come into his life, he’s felt a renewal of his spirit and even of his faith. He said you’d taught him how to live again, and how to love again. And because of your relationship with your own father, he knew he needed to apologize to me for the bitterness he’s harbored. We, uh”—David glanced away and Heather glimpsed moisture in his eyes—“more or less reconciled. We’ve been going through the motions for so long, and we haven’t been close. I call Chase every week and he picks me up to take me to my Gamblers Anonymous meetings. I haven’t needed him to drive me for a long time, but I never told him that. I wanted to see him, wanted his company, even if all we did was sit in the car next to each other without saying a word. I needed my son in my life, but I felt that I’d let him down so much that I’d pushed him away forever. But, ever since you came into his life, our relationship has been much better.”
Heather swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m so glad to hear that.”
“I know you might resent me coming here, and I know it’s really none of my business, but I wanted to ask you—beg you, if needed—to reconsider and maybe give Chase another chance. My son is a good man, and I know he loves you with all his heart. From talking with your father, I understand Chase came to see him to ask his permission for your hand in marriage.”
Heather rose from her chair and went to kneel beside David’s chair. She covered his hands with hers and held them tightly within her grasp. “I love Chase, Mr. Landers. Don’t ever doubt that. But there have been extenuating factors. And then when I saw he’d been hurt with a knife, I didn’t handle it well. I’ve always known his position as a youth pastor could be dangerous. But is it really any more dangerous than walking across the street or walking into a convenience store?”
She shook her head. “When I put my trust and faith in God, I pledged to him that I wouldn’t give anything to Him halfway. I needed to reason through some things in my mind and come to grips in terms of what a relationship with Chase might mean.”
She sighed. “It means that there will be times when Chase will have to chase down kids. Or visit them in the hospital. Or counsel them. Or go to the jail to bail them out. As morbid as it sounds, he might have to one day identify one of them at the morgue. Ministry isn’t easy, but my strength doesn’t come from within myself now. It comes from having Christ living inside me. He’ll help me face anything that comes.”
After releasing David’s hands, Heather moved back to her chair. “You might be happy to know that I’ve finally come to my senses. I had a visit from three of the key members of Chase’s youth group tonight. They more or less begged me to come back, and I’ve agreed to go see Chase on Sunday night at the church. I plan to talk with him then. The question in my mind is whether or not he’ll want me back in his life again. If he agrees, I want the opportunity to love him for the rest of my life. But after running away from him like that, how can he trust that I won’t go running away at the first sign of trouble?”
“Trust me, he won’t think that.” David gave her a small smile. “He told me what you did the night of the wedding. That’s when he knew you were a strong woman who could meet the challenges of his ministry. You’ve proven yourself very capable. And everyone’s entitled to a small setback every now and then.”
Heather moved her gaze to her parents. Her mother had visibly brightened. “I’m so happy to hear you’ve had a change of heart, darling.”
“Me, too.” Jeremy echoed Ellyn’s words. “Which brings me to my next point.”
Heather cleared her throat. “Fine, but can I please get a glass of water first?”
“Oh, certainly. I’ll get it.” Ellyn went to the desk behind them and poured a glass of ice water from the pitcher. “David, Jeremy, would you like some, too?”
David asked for water but Jeremy declined.
“Heather, we know you must be tired after your performance tonight, so we’ll try to keep this as brief as possible,” her father said.
“Jeremy, let me handle this.” Ellyn handed the glasses of ice water to Heather and David and then took her chair once more. She sat up straight and crossed her legs, wrapping her hands over her knees. “Heather, I’m aware your recent dinner with your father might have instigated part of the problem.” Ellyn darted a glance at Jeremy when he started to speak, and he fell silent. Only her mother had ever been able to silence Jeremy Montague with a single glance. She apparently still held that power.
“Do you know the reason why Jeremy sold the casinos?”
“The reason?” Heather took a quick sip of her water. “I have no idea. I assumed because they’re not as lucrative anymore or that he’d become bored with them. He’s conquered that world, so now it’s time to move to another.”
“I did it for you, Heather.” Jeremy leaned forward in his chair, staring at his hands.
“For me?” Her heart thudded in her chest.
“Yes, for you, darling,” Ellyn said.
“Dad, is that true? Why would you do that?” She could barely wrap her mind around that statement.
“Because on the night of the honorary dinner, the night when I was being hailed as a great man, one of the most important women in my life looked at me with such disdain that I began to loathe myself. Your mother shared with me what you said. I had no idea you felt the way you do about my work. I hated that I’d made you so angry with me, Heather. But then you got up on that stage and made such a beautiful speech, and…” Jeremy covered his eyes with one hand and his shoulders shook.
“Dad?” In an instant, Heather was out of her chair and reached him. Tugging on her father’s shoulders, she pulled him out of the chair and wrapped her arms around him. “Please, Dad. I don’t hate you. I’ve never hated you. I didn’t say anything I didn’t mean in my speech. I’ve always loved you. I haven’t always admired you or liked the things you’ve done, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re my father. I need to ask your forgiveness for the way I’ve acted for far too long,” she told him.
“I’ve made wrong assumptions and blamed you for things that are beyond your control. And, I’m ashamed to say I’ve judged you, and that’s the worst thing of all in God’s eyes. That’s not my job. My job is to love you as you deserve to be loved.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Jeremy pulled away and wiped beneath his eyes. Not once in her life had she ever seen her father cry. Until now. “Your words mean a lot to your old man. I sold the casinos to earn your respect. I waited to see you until I knew it was a done deal and the financing had been secured for the new hotel. When I met with you for dinner, I made a complete idiot of myself and went about everything the wrong way.” His laugh lacked any real humor. “Now you know why I have a mouthpiece for me in the business. And attorneys on staff. Left to my own devices, I come across as harsh and
unloving, and I alienate others.”
Her father nodded to David. “I met with David earlier this week, and he’s agreed to come work for me when the new hotel opens. In the interim, I can place him with a friend’s hotel here in town. David is an ex-Navy veteran with lots of experience with heating and cooling systems, and I can use a man like that on my team. His friend Charlie is an experienced fry cook, and we can always use another hand in the kitchen.”
Heather rose to her feet again and took a deep breath. She felt rather like she was floating in another time dimension. “I think we just saved Dr. Pendergrass some serious money tonight.” She laughed under breath. “Our family psychologist,” she said for David’s benefit. She looked from one to the other of the three people in the room with her. All four of them were now on their feet. The forgiveness and the love in the room astounded her.
This is your handiwork, isn’t it, Lord? How else could she explain it?
A miracle was taking place.
“Let’s recap,” she said. “And I might call you in the morning, Mom, just to confirm that this isn’t some kind of weird dream.”
“Do you need a dry erase board?” her mother asked.
Heather laughed. “No, that won’t be necessary, thanks all the same. Okay, now. The three of you arranged this meeting tonight to convince me to get back together with Chase.”
They all nodded.
“The three of you also agree that, should Chase actually want me back, you’d like for us to resume our relationship with your full blessing, and maybe—in the due course of events, whatever that even means—we should get married someday.”
They all nodded again.
Heather’s eyes filled with sentimental tears. “I don’t know what to say except thank you. I love you all. You can pray for me on Sunday night when I see Chase again.”
She reached for their hands, and they gathered together in a small circle. Her mother had recently accepted Christ and become active in her church. Jeremy and David didn’t seem uncomfortable with the idea of praying although Heather doubted her father had prayed much in his life. She’d spend a lot of time praying for these two men in the days to come. Sometimes faith didn’t come easily to those who’d resisted for so long. Sometimes it came quickly.
Keep praying for them. From Chase’s work with the teenagers, she understood the power of prayer.
Heather led them in prayer, asking for healing of the relationships represented in the room. Prayer for Chase. Prayer for her relationship with Chase. Prayer for Jeremy in his new hotel endeavor. Prayer for David in his continued attendance at his Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Prayer for her mother’s new faith and involvement in the church.
Marsden glanced at her in the rearview mirror a short time later as he drove her home. “Good meeting tonight, Miss Heather?”
She smiled and closed her eyes. “You have no idea, my friend.”
Chapter 29
~~♥~~
Chase couldn’t seem to focus. Maybe he needed to take a vacation. The Lord knew he never did. Go to a beach somewhere and do nothing but read, pray, surf, and sleep.
Heather wasn’t coming back. More than two weeks had passed and she hadn’t returned. If she wouldn’t come for him, he thought she’d come for the kids. He’d led the Sunday night meeting without a woman at his side for a long time before she’d come into his life, and he’d keep doing it. Apparently he wasn’t marriage material, so he’d keep leading these kids all by his lonesome. He might as well accept being single as his fate in life.
You can do this, man. The kids would pick on his discouragement, and that wouldn’t be good for any of them. At least none of them had plied him with questions tonight like in the past couple of weeks. Where’s Heather? Why doesn’t she come to our meetings? But he’d almost snapped at one of the girls when she told him earlier tonight that she missed Heather. He couldn’t believe that stupid argument they’d had that awful night.
Chase missed her more than anything. It was all he could to slog through the day and do what needed to be done in the church and at home. He’d missed his night watch shift last week. Sure enough, Rita stomped over to his house, pounded on his door, and demanded he get in position within ten minutes or he’d answer to her. She’d shoved a bag of cookies in his hand as she’d departed, this time double chocolate chip with walnuts. He’d found a new favorite cookie.
Time to focus on the kids. Maybe something they’d read and study from God’s word would help one or more of them. Maybe he’d learn something, too. The Lord always knew the greatest needs in the room. That’s one of the things Chase loved best about how God worked in the lives of His people.
“Okay, get out your Bibles and turn to Philippians 3:14. Trevon, if you would please read that verse for us.” Chase was pleased to see Trevon brought his own Bible with him.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” Trevon read. After reading, he reached for Rachelle’s hand but missed his mark.
“Stop that,” Destiny chastised Trevon. “That’s nasty. You’re in church!” Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes.
Jamal twisted his lips but his laughter escaped.
“Hey, I didn’t mean no disrespect, twit. It was an accident,” Trevon snapped. “Rachelle, tell her.”
Rachelle glanced at Destiny. “Trevon is learning to be a gentleman like Jamal and”—she nodded at Chase—“Preacher. I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”
Well, what do you know? Sometimes a lesson could be taught in other unique ways.
“Trevon, you need to apologize to Destiny,” Chase advised. “And Destiny, I’m sure it was an accident, so let’s not be quick to judge.”
They discussed the verse and Chase was pleased by the depth of their questions, especially from Gabe and Rachelle. Those two kids were smart and the critical thinkers in the bunch.
Closing his Bible twenty minutes later, Chase prayed and asked if there were any questions.
Rachelle raised her hand. She’d been noticeably preoccupied tonight, checking her watch and the door constantly.
“Yes, Rachelle?”
“I brought some refreshments and stuff, but I left them in the Sunday school room this morning. The door’s locked now. Can you go upstairs and get them for us?”
“Sure. Trying to get rid of me?”
Rachelle twiddled her thumbs. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Rising to his feet, Chase motioned to Trevon. “Come with me in case I need help carrying anything.”
“No thanks, man.” Trevon lowered his gaze and looked here, there, everywhere but at him.
Rachelle stared at Chase, her eyes wide with—fear? Strange.
“I, uh, don’t like walking through a dark church.” Trevon grunted. A lie if ever he’d heard one.
A couple of the younger guys squawked like chickens, making Trevon scowl.
“So, I’ll turn on the hallway lights. Never mind.” Chase waved his hand. “I’ll go get them since you all are wimps.”
“Whatever, man,” Trevon said. “It’s only like a plate of brownies.”
“Just go, Preacher.” Jamal grinned and crossed his arms. “It’s cool.”
“Listen to the man,” Trevon added. He and his older brother shared a smile.
Rachelle jumped to her feet, and the other kids—about 20 in all, a decent crowd—followed suit. “We’ll get everything set up down here while you’re gone. We’ve got sodas and chips.” The room was oddly quiet. Usually they buzzed with conversation the second he ended his prayer. Yeah, something was definitely going on.
With a puzzled expression, Chase turned to go. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time!” That came from more than one of the guys. Chase heard quiet laughter behind him as he headed out of the room.
They wanted to get rid of him for a few minutes. Maybe they were planning a Cheer up, Chase! surprise party. After climbing the steps two at a time to the upper level of the church, he
flipped the light switch and strolled down the hallway to the Sunday school room. No, it was more like they’d throw him a Get over yourself! pity party. The Lord knew he’d been a pathetic mess since Heather… He couldn’t even go there. He needed to get over her and drag himself out of this ongoing slump.
Getting over Heather was next to impossible. He probably never would.
As he’d told her, he wasn’t going anywhere.
He’d leave the door wide open for her.
Only for Heather. Always.
Speaking of which, the Sunday school room door wasn’t locked. In fact, it was standing wide open. “I thought you kids learned the Thou shall not bear false witness commandment a long time ago,” he growled under his breath.
“Don’t blame the kids.”
Chase froze.
Chapter 30
~~♥~~
Heather took a step forward toward Chase. His shoulders stiff and straight, he slowly turned around to face her, eyes wide, expression indiscernible.
“Don’t blame the kids,” she repeated. “I put them up to it.”
“You’re here,” he breathed as though he couldn’t believe she stood before him.
“I’m here. If you’ll have me, I don’t plan on going anywhere again.”
Reaching for both his hands, Heather grasped them in hers. “I hope you can forgive me, Chase. I hope you know I never meant to hurt you. My insecurities took over and my fear at the thought of losing you trumped my common sense. I really needed these last couple of weeks to get my head on straight.”
“You thought you’d lose me? I had a cut on my hand.”
“Please be quiet and go along with me,” she said. “I prefer to think of it as almost losing you. Sounds more romantic and tragic.”
“For the ballerina in you.”
“Right. If that works for you.”
“Of course, I forgive you, but my circumstances haven’t changed, Heather. And they won’t anytime soon. I plan on staying here in this church and working with these kids indefinitely. Until the Lord makes it abundantly clear he has another path for me.” Glancing down the hallway, he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
