He’d been surprised it didn’t take away from his worship with God. If anything, he felt like he had been lifting Michelle up to the Lord. Guy swallowed and took his seat as the Bishop suggested. Had he been wrong to keep his girls from church? Shouldn’t he have lifted them up to God? He didn’t do a baby dedication, something he and Charlene had talked about at length. They had agreed it was best.
Was it too late?
He stared at his Bible realizing he had turned to Isaiah 61 just as the Bishop had asked. He shook off heavy thoughts and focused on the words. He read along but stopped when he read, “to comfort all who mourn.” That’s what Evan had been offering by inviting him to Bible study.
That’s what he had been offering Michelle when he held her hand. To comfort. Again, words from the Bible study replayed in his mind. Jo said they were to comfort others. He inhaled, his heart rate increasing. He swallowed trying to rid himself of the strange tickle in his throat.
How many people had he pushed away who had tried to help him mourn Charlene? His own mother had told him it was time to stop hiding in the past. To spread his wings and raise his girls on his own. He had been so hung up on the hurt she inflicted, he never stopped to consider the truth of her words. It was time to leave despair behind and pick up praise.
Praise that he wasn’t alone. Praise that God was willing to give him another chance. Because he needed one. He knew deep down ignoring God not only hurt him, but his children. It had prolonged his mourning. It had suffocated any hope of joy. It destroyed the memory of his late wife.
He wiped a hand over his mouth, his fingers trembling and the pounding of his heart drowning out the Bishop’s words. His mind turned inward, trying to listen for the still, small voice. Although silence remained, Guy’s heart clamored with the truth.
He needed to stop mourning. It was time to raise his girls with the foundation of the Lord and honor his wife’s requests. He needed to praise God for the time he had with her. And he needed to look forward, not back.
Lord, I’m sorry for ignoring You. Sorry for thinking You abandoned me and Charlene. How could I forget the slim chance the girls had of living? They were all supposed to die but they didn’t. Thank You. I don’t know what my life would be like without having their joyous laughter and love to fill my days. I surrender.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Michelle stood in front of the hospitality table. She grabbed a blueberry muffin to go with her coffee. Guy had gone to say hello to Evan and Darryl. She looked around, wondering where Jo and Chloe were. Jo always came with Evan and Chloe never missed a day.
She stilled when she saw Jo coming from the ladies’ room. Michelle waved a hand and headed her way.
“Hey, JoJo.” She gave her a hug.
“Hey. Where’s Chloe?”
“I was hoping you knew.”
Jo stared at her in shock. “Didn’t she sit with you?”
“No, I sat with Guy.”
Jo’s mouth dropped wider. “Am I dreaming?”
She snorted. “Not likely. I’m sure you wear overalls in your dreams and not church clothes.”
Jo laughed. “True. But seriously, you didn’t see Chloe at all?”
“No. Do you think she’s sick or something?”
“Only one way to find out. Let’s go to her place.”
She nodded. Hopefully, Chloe was all right. She didn’t even know the girl knew how to miss church.
“I’m going to tell Evan. Can I ride with you?”
“Of course.”
She watched as Jo talked to Evan. He kissed her cheek, and then Jo made her way back. “Let’s go.”
As soon as Michelle parked, Jo jumped out of the car, her long legs carrying her up the sidewalk. She knocked on the door, the pounding ringing in Michelle’s ears.
“Jeez, JoJo, you knock like the police.”
“Well, if she’s sick she may not hear me.”
They turned at the sound of the door. Chloe stood there a look of abject misery on her face. “Hey.”
Michelle’s chin dropped to her chest. “Are you sick?”
“No. Why?”
“Uh, Chloe,” Jo stammered out. “It’s Sunday.”
“And?”
They gasped. Something was wrong with Chloe. Seriously wrong. Lord, what is going on with her? How do we help?
Jo pushed through and Chloe stepped aside. Michelle closed the door and stared in amazement while Jo led their friend to the couch. “Tell Mama Jo what’s wrong?”
Chloe’s bottom lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes. Michelle rushed forward to sit next to her. She put her arm around her friend.
“He didn’t want to see me!” Chloe cried out.
“Oh, sweetie.”
Michelle met Jo’s gaze over the top of Chloe’s head. Jo stroked her arm, whispering words of comfort. It didn’t take a genius to figure out Chloe had contacted John Davenport.
How could a man deny his child? Granted, he may want a paternity test, but still...
They set there, each trying to comfort Chloe. The sermon rang in Michelle’s mind and the urge to offer Scripture for comfort grew strong. Now Michelle understood why Chloe did the same thing. It was seeped into her spirit. But Michelle didn’t want to hurt Chloe by offering platitudes, so instead she just rocked her softly.
Finally, Chloe’s tears subsided. She sat up and looked back and forth between Michelle and Jo. “Thanks for being here, guys.”
“Of course.”
“Definitely.”
They chuckled and the air lightened some. Michelle looked at Chloe, wondering if she should share the thoughts in her head. She reached for her ring to twirl and then stopped, staring at the tan line which had slowly begun to fade in the spring’s sunshine.
“Church had an interesting sermon,” she said
