Forever Blessed (Women of Prayer) (20 page)

They sat that way for a long time. Finally he rose and helped her to her feet and led her in the house.

Laney’s two older kids were sleeping over at Ella’s house to make room for her two houseguests. She put Melanie to bed then joined them at the kitchen table, where a pot of tea sat steeping. Ella had finished feeding the kids and had put everything away while they were gone. Laney would have to thank her. There wasn’t much else to say. Austin got settled in Matt’s bed while Sheila headed for Joy’s room. No one bothered to look outside. If they had, they would have seen
him
standing in the shadows, plotting his next move.

*  *  *  *

The fire marshal said arson. Each of the shelters' residents’ significant others’ were under investigation. There wasn’t a single one who had any priors with arson. That didn’t necessarily mean the perpetrator wasn’t one of them. The difficult thing was that no one was supposed to know they were there. So, how do you investigate someone without letting him or her know the details of the investigation?

Each of the residents ended up moving to a different shelter. Out of necessity as well as for their personal safety. Sheila was heart-broken to see them go. Some of the ladies had made such strides in coming to grips with who they are and their own sense of self-worth.

She met with her insurance agency and filed the claim. She was so glad she had each resident fill out a personal property form when they moved in. That helped with their claims. She kept all those types of papers in a fire proof safe. She assumed that would be available to her as soon as the investigation was complete.

Because of everything going on and a lack of living quarters, Sheila and Austin moved up the wedding day. Pastor Mark met with them and did a shortened counseling session. In some ways the fire made things less hectic. She would have time with her new husband while the new house was being built. It would be a fresh start for both of them, all the way around.

She and Laney had found the perfect dress at a little boutique in Madison. The caterers had an opening and were all set. Austin’s two sons were standing up with him as Laney was standing with Sheila. The day was quickly approaching. Just a few invitations were handed out. Austin’s parents were coming up from Chicago, happy that he had found someone to fill the void in his and his kids’ life. The ladies from the prayer group were coming and were a little put off that they couldn’t make the food. Sheila had insisted she wanted them to relax and enjoy the evening, not spend it working.

*  *  *  *

Five o’clock on the evening of the wedding finally came. Laney tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She needed to attend to Sheila, not be worried about herself. She was mesmerized by the bride. “You are beautiful.”

Sheila turned toward Laney, the excitement she felt danced in her glance. “Thank you. I feel beautiful.”

The dress was perfect, not fancy or billowing, but simply cut and elegant. The creamy white material barely grazed the floor, enabling Sheila’s white-painted toenails to peek beneath the fabric from time to time. Her hair was swept up, looking as if was held there by nothing but a winter white lily.  Stunning. Her nails were perfectly manicured. Her makeup was applied. Her mother’s pearls, the one thing she had been able to salvage from the fire, were secured around her neck and lined up perfectly with the scoop front of her dress.

Laney looked to the clock. “The music should be starting any second now.”

As if almost on cue, the slight strains of a violin could be heard through the parish walls and into the sitting room they occupied.

A knock on the door followed. It was Jessi. “Sheila, Laney, its time. Are you ready?”

Sheila nervously smiled at her new friend. “As ready as I’ll ever be. It seems like I’ve waited forever for this moment. Now it’s here. Would you mind praying with us before I go out?”

“Absolutely, that is a wonderful idea.”

Jessi bowed her head. “Dear Lord, we stand before you, and we ask for your blessing on this marriage, on their family and on this couple as they are about to join hands and lives for the rest of their days. Father, I pray that you will calm them and give them peace. Lord we believe this is your will, that you have brought these two together. Be with Sheila, Lord. I thank you for her, in your precious name. Amen.”

Laney left the room first. She walked down the aisle alone, holding a single white lily. Since she was the only attendant, she chose her dress. It was emerald green and demurely cut, the perfect dress for a redhead in the winter months.

She stood at the front of the church, waiting for the lovely bride. The candles flickered against the subdued colors of the church walls. Sconces were lit all over the sanctuary giving the interior a romantic, warm feeling, the perfect setting for such a beautiful couple.

The music changed, signifying it was time for the bride’s appearance. The strings began to play
How Beautiful
by Twila Paris, a fitting song for such a beautiful bride.

Laney watched as Sheila made her way up the aisle. The look on Austin’s face, when she first made her appearance, made Laney wish she were the one walking up the aisle. She had to wonder if she’d ever know this kind of love.

Mark spent a few minutes addressing the small group, then proceeded with the vows. The words he chose had Laney's attention glued to him. Men are supposed to love their wives like Christ loved the church, and gave his life for it? She’d never heard that before. It certainly wasn’t how her father had treated her mother. And it certainly wasn’t how Paul had treated her.

By the time the last words were finished and communion had been served, the smells from the kitchen were beckoning everyone to come and celebrate at the wedding feast.

The caterers had been busy. Tables were covered with dark green tablecloths and napkins. White china place settings were lined up, waiting patiently to be used and enjoyed.

The attendees enjoyed a small table of hors d’oeuvres while a few pictures were captured. Laney dipped a large shrimp in some sauce. Her stomach grumbled, complaining.

Ella and the children joined her in the small line.

Ella filled her small plate while Laney helped Melanie get some cheese. “I am so happy for them. I really am.” Her wistful tone gave Ella a bit of a pause.

“We don’t know what God has in store for us. All we can do is trust him and be happy for others. Right?”

Laney realized she had been being a bit mopey and made a concentrated effort to show her happiness for her friend. She smiled in spite of the gloom she felt. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I would never hurt Sheila.” She set Melanie down at one of the long tables set up for visiting while they waited. “I promise I’ll do better.”

Ella patted her hand. “I know you will, dear."

It wasn’t long before Sheila and Austin returned to the newly remodeled community room in the basement of the church. Candlelight was the theme of this room as well. They dined on scallops and beef Wellington with twice-baked potatoes and steamed asparagus. The strawberry filled cake was cut and served with coffee as soon as dinner was over. Austin was kind and slipped the small piece of cake into Sheila’s mouth. Sheila on the other hand, wasn’t so kind and the kids all got a kick out of seeing Austin with icing on his nose and cheek. His eyes sparkled, promising he’d get her back.

Austin’s parents took his two boys back to their North Chicago home so the happy couple could spend a week together alone in Tahiti. The boys were not happy about heading back to school while their dad was on a nice beach by the ocean, but resigned themselves to their situation and vowed to the make the best of it.

Everyone pitched in to clean up the church, including the bride and the groom. By the time Laney was alone, the tears she’d been holding back all evening could not be held at bay any longer. Yes, she was happy for her friend. But, she also longed to be the type of woman that a man would give his life for.

             
             
             
Chapter Twenty-Five

Paul watched the happy couple leave the church. Fools. He should have known that first PI he’d hired was a pansy. Laney and her friends were so predictable. They would pay. He’d see to it. Anyone who helped her would regret the day they’d ever met her. He would make sure of it. He’d teach them all a lesson and he’d end with Laney.
She thinks she has found God, has she?
Well, he’d make sure she met her maker a little earlier than she planned.

The starless night made keeping an eye on his belongings that much easier. She passed within ten feet of him as she walked home with that old woman and she never knew it. Not even the kids knew their father was nearby. At one point he thought he had been made. She told everyone to be quiet and she turned around and listened. If there had been any light where he stood, she would have seen him. But, the darkness covered him well. She turned back and started for her little home. She better not have any one keeping her warm in that little home. If so, he’d wish he had never been born.

He slowly tracked the little group as they made their way home. The old woman went into her house and sat in an old rocker in her living room. Dumb woman. Doesn’t she know to close her drapes at night? You never know who might be watching.

Laney must have put the kids to bed and then settled at her kitchen table. It appeared she was reading. Laney would get hers soon. For now, he turned his attention to the old lady sitting in the rocker. She was next.

             
             
             
Chapter Twenty-Six

Not wanting to be noticed, Laney entered the church quietly. She could hear voices coming from the far end of the hallway, where the prayer meeting took place. She still had the “be seen and not heard in church attitude” that had been instilled in her since childhood. She had no idea how she let Ella talk her into this.

After signing Melanie into the children’s room, she quietly slipped into the library where the prayer group was meeting. Ella was talking with Merry, Jessi and Mark’s aunt. She motioned with her head for Laney to join them. Laney had to learn the art of not making eye contact. She had no choice but to join the two older ladies.  Otherwise she was being rude.

“Hi, I made it.”

Merry wrapped her chubby arms around Laney. “I’m so glad.  I’ve heard so much about you.”

Laney glanced at Ella, anxiety clouding her expression. Ella shook her head no, letting Laney know her secrets were still safe.

“Thank you, I’m glad to be here. I think.” Laney let go first.

Ella took her arm and led her to the coffee and tea and cookies. “Come on, I’ll show you around and introduce you, not that I know that many of the women yet myself.”

They made their tea, found a couple of open chairs and waited for the meeting to start.

“Is there always this many women here?”

“Sometimes, sometimes not, depends on who is sick, who can get a ride, and who is still alive.”

Laney choked on her tea.

“No, really. With us old folks, you never know.”

At the front of the room, Merry rapped a pot with a metal spoon, calling the meeting to order. “Ladies, it is time to get started. We have important business to attend to. We don’t want to keep the Father waiting, do we?”

Murmurs of different levels were heard coming from all corners of the room. The ladies made their way to their chairs.

“We have a first time guest today. Everyone welcome Laney, Ella’s neighbor.”

Laney wanted to crawl under her chair and hide there until the meeting was done. No such luck. The corners of her mouth spread in a tight-lipped smile sending a silent greeting to the rest of the room.