Leave a Candle Burning (27 page)

Maddie had spent all week thinking about Cathy. They hadn’t seen each other, and Maddie hadn’t spoken of the conversation to anyone, not even Jace. Jace had Valerie in his arms, and Maddie delivered the food. The moment she was finished arranging her dishes, however, she began to search for her aunt.

“Are you going to be all right?’ Troy asked of Reese. The two were standing in the kitchen at the big house.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“It’s awfully warm and humid today, and you look a little pale.”

“I’m a redhead, Troy. I always look pale.”

Troy only studied her.

“If you keep this up, you’ll have Conner worried.”

“That’s not my intent, but it is warm out.”

“We’ll put our quilt under a tree.”

Noise from the green could already be heard, so Troy decided to act.

“Show me which one we’re taking, and I’ll go make sure we get shade.”

“All right,” Reese agreed, sounding only slightly resigned. She gave the quilt to Troy and almost let him get out the door.

“Troy,” Reese called his name.

He stopped and looked at her.

“Thanks.”

Troy didn’t speak. His smile said it all.

“How are you doing?” Maddie asked Cathy as soon as she tracked her down.

“Fine.”

“Have you told Doyle anything?” Maddie clarified with Cathy, who, being on the committee, was still helping to organize.

“No, and Doyle hasn’t noticed.”

“Cathy,” Maddie shared, deciding to be blunt. “Doyle might not be that observant. You might just want to tell him what’s been going on.”

Cathy thought about this for a moment, even knowing she didn’t have time to stand around.

“On Sunday,” she declared. “If he hasn’t noticed by tomorrow night, I’ll say something then.”

Maddie, now doubting whether she’d handled this well, only nodded. She wished she’d told Jace. He might have told her to encourage Cathy to talk to Doyle no matter what. At the same time, it seemed to Maddie to be good thinking, and even an act of faith on Cathy’s part, for her to want Doyle to notice. A new creature in Christ was a different person; changes should be evident.

One of Maddie’s temples began to ache. It was too late to change the past, and today she wanted to enjoy and pray for the wonderful people of Tucker Mills. Hoping to do just that, Maddie moved to find her husband and daughter.

“Tell me something, Scottie,” Reese asked when she’d joined them on their quilt. “Do you usually come to this celebration?”

“This is my first time,” she admitted.

“Why is that?” Conner asked.

“Eli’s mother never came, so I didn’t, and then when she died and Eli and I married, it bothered me to leave him for so many hours.”

“And today?” Reese pressed.

“Eli wanted me to. He said he’s been sorry all these years that I didn’t think I could go.”

“Are you glad you came?” Troy asked.

Scottie didn’t immediately answer, causing the older man to smile. He thought he’d heard reticence in her voice.

“It won’t be long, Scottie,” Reese reassured her. “The speeches never last long, and once the picnic begins, it’s easy to slip away whenever you want.”

Scottie thanked her and remembered what Eli had requested. He would be curious about the speeches, who was there, and what she ate. She realized now that he’d known exactly what he was doing.

Twelve

Dannan walked toward home, a drooping child in his arms, his heart at peace with the way the picnic had gone. He’d fought his emotions and natural desires; he’d fought hard. Not once did he search Scottie Peterson out with his eyes or have special thoughts about her. He spotted her a few times, but his eyes didn’t linger and his mind didn’t fantasize.

The fellowship during the course of the day was extremely sweet, and with only one minor injury during the townball game, Dannan had enjoyed a day off. The food had been a feast in every sense of the word, and after Corina played herself into exhaustion, Dannan decided to head for home.

Corina didn’t wake while he washed her face and hands or when he changed her into her nightdress. She was as limp as her cloth doll by the time her head touched the pillow, and Dannan did not hear from her until morning.

How are we doing on hospitality?

The question rolled around in Scottie’s mind all the way home from the meetinghouse. Douglas had asked the question at the beginning of the sermon, not preaching on it but simply taking some time to remind everyone what a vital and important command hospitality was in Scripture.

Never before this day had Scottie considered that she might need to do things differently. Always she had assumed that a bedridden husband made biblical hospitality impossible.

And it wasn’t as if no one visited,
Scottie heard herself rationalize.
Eli has company every week.

Even as she said this, Scottie realized she never did; she never had anyone over. She took a moment and thought about trying to have folks into Eli’s room and nearly shook her head. There wasn’t much room. And Eli’s leaving the bed was not an option.

Scottie was home without even noticing the distance, and as usual, she headed right for Eli’s room. Her feelings and thoughts were totally foreign to her, and for the first time seeing him was not a comfort. What if her questions made her sound disappointed in him? The thought was heartbreaking to her because it was so untrue.

“How was your morning?” Eli asked as soon as she entered, his eyes seeing immediately that something was on her mind.

“It was enlightening.” Scottie said, taking her seat on the bed.

“And upsetting?”

“A little, because I feel as though I’ve missed something all these years.”

“What?” Eli asked, his voice patient.

Scottie hated that he had to coax it out of her, but she was still working to find the words.

“Douglas mentioned hospitality, and I think I could be doing a better job.”

The uncertainty in her eyes surprised him. Scottie was never afraid to talk about an issue with him, but clearly she feared something right now. Thankfully, she continued.

“I feel as though my thoughts are going to give you the wrong impression—that I’m disappointed in my life.”

“I do not believe that would be my first thought.”

“Or disappointed in you,” Scottie went on.

“My mind wouldn’t entertain that idea either.”

Scottie nodded, relief showing in the way she held her body. Eli watched her nod a little and then begin.

“You have company every week, but how do I offer hospitality to others and not leave you out?”

“That’s a good question,” Eli complimented her. “Are you thinking about other families or women friends?”

“I haven’t gone that far in my thinking yet. I just know that I could be doing better but don’t know where to start.”

Eli’s head went back against his pillow, his eyes on the ceiling. He was thinking about her question but also about some aspects of his own personality that entered into all of this. He knew right then that there were things he needed to confess to his wife, but he wanted to find the words. For the moment, he ended with a suggestion.

“Why don’t you join Douglas and me for our session tomorrow? I think he might be a big help to us.”

“You don’t mind?”

“No. I think it’s just what we need.”

More relief bowed her shoulders, and Eli knew he was going to have to fix this. It hadn’t occurred to him before today that this was a problem, but right now he could see it as plain as day. He picked up his wife’s hand.

“Isn’t it a sweet thing when we’re convicted of something and God gives us a chance to change?”

Overrun with conflicting emotions, Scottie didn’t have words and only nodded her agreement.

“I’ll get dinner now,” she said after a few moments of silence.

“Are you too tired?”

“I am tired, but I’m hungry too. I suspect you are as well.”

Eli didn’t detain her, but his mind went back to work on the issue the moment she left. He wasn’t sure how it would all work out, but he was clear on a few things: He was the leader of their home. He was the head of their small family, and his selfishness had gone on long enough.