Tender Love (22 page)

Kristin and Eddie came running in the room and lined up beside Alice. “Do you think your family will do you credit today?” Alice asked. “We don't want you to be ashamed of us.”

“I wouldn't be ashamed of you if you wore rags,” he said. He knelt to hug Kristin and Eddie.

“Daddy, be careful—you'll muss my clothes,” Kristin said as she backed away, but Eddie threw himself into his father's arms. When Mark stood, he took a long look at Alice, and hugged her so tightly that she squealed.

“Maybe I don't want to be mussed, either,” she teased, but he only squeezed her harder. With his lips close to her ear, he whispered, “I don't deserve you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.”

Alice and her family were ushered to a front seat in the crowded sanctuary. When Mark entered and took his seat on the platform, his eyes searched the congregation until he found them. He smiled broadly and surveyed the other worshipers with a sweeping glance. There were no empty seats, and the ushers were scurrying around trying to seat latecomers in the balcony.

“I want to thank you for calling me as your pastor, giving me a second chance to take up the cross I'd laid down,” Mark said in his opening remarks. He read the text for the sermon.

“‘But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.'” When she heard the text, Alice surmised that his sermon would be a personal testimony.

Since this was the first time Alice had heard Mark preach, she tried to be objective in her appraisal, and that was difficult to achieve when her heart was stirred at his physical appearance. He was more robust now than he'd been when she'd first met him, his color was better, and his erect stature hinted of strength and confidence. His voice was deep and compassionate, and he spoke with an authority and firmness that kept the audience's attention.

“Oh, God,” Alice prayed inwardly, “thank You for Your perseverance in bringing Him back to You and Your service.”

In a trembling voice, he told of the trying days during the illness of his son and wife. “I let my troubles overwhelm me, and for months I neglected the ministry I'd been called to. I was in the depth of
despair when I cried to God, like David of old, asking Him to ‘bring me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, and set my feet on a rock and give me a firm place to stand.' That's when He sent Alice to our home as a nanny for the children. She encouraged all of us to a higher plane of living, and the fact that I'm back in the place God wants me to be is due primarily to Alice, whom I married a month ago.”

A hush settled over the sanctuary—he held everyone's attention.

“This time last year, I'd never heard of Alice. Some of you know what our situation was like when she came to us in May, and if you compare it to our home life today, you'd understand why I'm so grateful to Alice and why I love her so much. She's been God's instrument to work a miracle in our lives.”

Mark discussed his personal goals, his aspirations for the church, and how he had submitted his life totally to the will of God.

After he completed his sermon and had the closing song, Mark paused significantly. “I feel that it's necessary for me to once again refer to a personal matter, which I will never mention before this congregation again. It's no secret that there has been some question about my morality in the past few months, and I'm happy that all of those matters have been cleared up, and any ill will between me and others has been completely resolved. I can't have scandal soiling my life if I'm to serve God the way I intend to.”

Alice couldn't help wonder if it was wise for Mark to broach this subject, and it embarrassed her, but on the other hand, this public announcement of his feel
ings toward her might set to rest, once and for all, any question about their past relationship.

“Until I met Alice, I didn't suppose that there was any woman who could epitomize the wife cited in the last chapter of Proverbs, but I believe that Alice does. I want to read a few select verses from that portion of Scripture, and if you other men feel about your wives as I do about mine, reach out and take their hands as I read.

Two little hands reached for hers, and Alice thanked God for her family, as Mark continued to read.

When he finished reading, Mark held out a beckoning hand to Alice, and she joined him in front of
the congregation. Mark hugged her tightly with one arm, the huge audience rose to its feet, and applause resounded throughout the room.

Mark and Alice had been accepted, and they publicly committed themselves to a life of service.

A
lice stood in the large hallway and watched as Kristin came down the stairway, wearing Clarice's wedding gown, which Alice has preserved carefully for this day. She kissed her daughter when she reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Thanks, Mother, for giving me this beautiful wedding. You've been so good to all of us, and I hope I can be as good a wife and mother as you've been.”

Alice's throat was too tight for words, but she went with Kristin to the rear door where Mark waited for her. In his black tuxedo, he was more handsome than ever. In ten years, most of his hair had turned a beautiful gray, with only a few dark streaks to remind her how he'd looked when she first entered his Richmond home.

Mark wanted the privilege of escorting his first-born to the improvised altar they'd arranged in the white gazebo of their elegant flower garden. His associate minister would conduct the first part of the
ceremony, but Mark would take the vows of Kristin and the young man she'd chosen.

As she watched them, Alice was suddenly swept off her feet.

“Stop it, Eddie,” she cried, as he swung her high and planted a big kiss on the back of her neck, a habit he'd started when he became as tall as she was. When he released her, he grinned, his blue eyes sparkling. “I thought it was customary to kiss the mother of the bride.”

Alice kissed his cheek, her heart overflowing with love for this boy who'd been such an important part of her life.

Eddie offered his arm and escorted Alice to her seat and joined the minister and groom to wait for the bride. Looking at Eddie's broad shoulders, she could hardly envision him as the sickly, scrawny kid he used to be. Although only a high school junior, he was already under consideration for scholarships by many colleges due to his track record.

Some melancholy mingled with her happiness as Alice watched her family gather. The ten years had not all been easy—Mark had undergone many crises in his ministry; during his childhood, Eddie had several physical relapses; and Kristin had often been rebellious. But time had a way of healing the hurts and problems, and during it all, the love she and Mark shared had never wavered.

Alice noticed Grover Tatum and his family in the group of assembled guests, many standing on the outside of the picket fence when the seats were filled. After Alice had saved his son, Tatum and his family had returned to the church's fellowship, and he'd become one of Mark's most vocal supporters.

The organist started the processional and Alice turned slightly to watch the wedding party. Susie, Kristin's longtime friend from Richmond, was the maid of honor, followed by seven-year-old Melissa, who took seriously her role as flower girl. Dressed in a pale-pink dainty dress that set off her blond features, she was almost an exact image of what Alice had been at that age. As Melissa took her place before the altar, Mark and Alice exchanged glances, and he smiled.

Alice knew that he, too, had remembered the day she'd bolted into his church office, although she never bothered him when he was on duty there. When she saw Mark, she'd burst into tears, and he'd rounded the desk immediately to take her in his arms.

“Why, sweetheart, what's the matter?”

Swallowing a sob, she said, “I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby.”

Mark was silent for a few moments. “And that makes you unhappy?”

She shook her head back and forth on his shoulder. “No. No. I'm happy. I've wanted to have your baby, but I'd given up—I decided I couldn't have children.”

Mark drew her even closer in his arms and laughed in his low, chuckling way.

“I couldn't be happier. I want a daughter just like you.” And he'd gotten what he wanted.

A trumpet blast rolled from the organ, and Alice turned her attention from Melissa. This was Kristin's day, and she was sorry that Clarice wasn't here to see the child she'd borne, and that Gran, who'd died, peaceful and happy in their home three years ago, couldn't have lived to see this day. Except for Mark,
Melissa and Eddie, Kristin had no blood relatives with her today, but strangely, it didn't seem to matter to the girl. Not only had Alice adopted Mark's children; they had adopted her and her relatives as well, and all of Alice's family had come today, as well as Ethel Pennington, now happily married, who'd remained like an aunt to Eddie and Kristin.

While the wedding guests enjoyed a full meal at the long tables set up by the caterers on the front lawn, Alice posed for pictures with her family. She surveyed the magnificent antebellum home she'd provided for them. They'd been happy here, and she prayed that they might have many more years to enjoy it.

Although all eyes were on Kristin, Mark put his arm around Alice. “She's a beautiful bride,” he whispered, “but not the most beautiful woman here today. You know who that is.”

“You've always been a bit prejudiced, but I like it that way.”

“I wonder what the future holds for us?” Mark said speculatively.

“It doesn't matter as long as we're together, does it?”

Mark answered with a soft kiss on her lips.

Dear Reader,

Although my characters are often affluent, I don't want to come across as a person who believes that riches ultimately bring happiness, for in many cases, wealth can have a detrimental effect on a relationship. While I try to create characters who overcome their conflicts by means of personal attributes and spiritual beliefs, I also like to portray rich people who are good stewards of their money, using it to improve the lives of others.

I believe the Bible teaches that Christians are expected to share their money with those less fortunate than themselves. I've been a tither since I had my first job when I was fifteen, and it's always a pleasure for my husband and me to contribute at least ten percent of our income to spread the Gospel. We've been blessed financially and spiritually because we keep the Lord's command: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (
Malachi
3:10)

Wealth can be a blessing or a curse, but my characters have made riches a blessing because they portray the Scriptural words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (
Acts
20:35)

I will be happy to hear from my readers at the following address: P.O. Box 2770, Southside, WV 25187.