Ministry to the Shepherds

  “No, not really.” She replied embarrassed. “What now?”

  “I step out of the middle and you two take it from here. If either of you needs me, you know how to contact me.”

  “What are you going to tell him?”

  “That he didn’t need my help.”

  “That’s a little obvious don’t you think?”

  “No reason not to be, is there?”

  “Only complete embarrassment.” Robin answered hiding her face

  “From a guy’s perspective, he is going to be relieved that he doesn’t need to be as nervous as I was trying to get Rachel to be interested in me. Asking someone out when you have no knowledge of their interest level is a little daunting and I’m not sure Tom would ever do it.”

  “Probably not.” She smiled shyly “When are you going to tell him?”

  Ethan reached for his cell phone and dialed Tom’s number. As he heard the ringing, he handed the phone to Robin, “Personally, I’d rather you do it yourself.” Ethan left the shop and headed for the house.

  “Hi Ethan” Tom answered

  “Actually, it is Robin Hale”

  “Hi. Why do you have Ethan’s phone?”

  “Can’t you guess?”

  “Afraid to hope is probably more accurate. Did he talk to you?”

  “Yes, but you didn’t need his help. You had my attention already.”

  “Have I been that clueless?”

  “No. I have kept it to myself too. And ever since Rachel disappeared, I have been a lot preoccupied.”

  “I guess I am surprised and embarrassed.”

  “Me too. But let’s not be embarrassed, let’s go on from here.”

  “When Rachel gets back on her feet, will you go out to dinner with me?”

  “Yes, but we don’t need to base the timing on Rachel. We can go anytime it fits into our schedules. I have any number of people who can help Rachel while I am gone.”

  “Are you comfortable with that?”

  “Tom, have long have we known each other?”

  “Three or so years.”

  “Were we ever this nervous before?”

  “Yes, I was.”

  “I need to give Ethan back his phone so call me on my house phone or come pick me up for a coffee date.”

  “I’ll be there in an hour.”

  “Bye.”

  Robin walked back into the house to find Rachel holding a huge stuffed puppy. “Wow” she said handing Ethan his phone. “Where did you get that?”

  “Ethan said I needed some company while I lay here on the couch. Is he cute?”

  “Yes, he is and he looks to be good company. Ethan, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Can you hang around with Rachel for a while?”

  “I was planning too. Actually I took the rest of the week off.”

  “Good. Rachel, you okay with that?”

  “Yes. We are going to watch a movie.”

  “Okay” she mumbled. “I’ll have my cell phone if you need me.”

  “Got it.” Rachel replied “I’m assuming we are about to have more company.”

  “I figured Ethan already told you.”

  “No, that is your business.” Ethan answered

  “Thanks. Yes, Tom is coming and we are going for coffee.”

  “Have fun.” Rachel smiled

  “Thanks. Martha sent me a text message that she was coming with dinner tonight. We should be back by then.”

  “Invite Tom for dinner if you feel comfortable with that.” Rachel commented

  “We’ll see.” Robin said turning to leave the room.

  Robin went to change her clothes and returned to the living room a few minutes before Tom rang the doorbell. Robin went to let him in and led him to the living room.

  Tom said “How are you feeling, Rachel?”

  “I’m sore but I’ll heal. How are you?”

  “Nervous” he whispered

  “I know the feeling.” Rachel whispered back

  “I’m ready to go if you are Tom.” Robin interrupted and Tom moved to leave the room. Robin reminded Rachel that she had her phone with her and they left the house. Tom handed Robin into his car and then walked around to the driver’s side. As they drove away he asked “Why was Ethan there with Rachel?”

  “Well, it isn’t a big secret but it isn’t widely known either, but they have been working on a relationship for a while now.” Robin answered

  “That would be great to see them together at church. Your sister is as wonderful as you are.”

  “Thank you and can you tell her that about fifty times every time you see her? She won’t see that about herself.”

  “That’s why she hasn’t been around in a while isn’t it? I thought something was wrong with Ethan but he was quiet on the reason.”

  “Yeah, that’s a long story for another time if she wants to tell you.”

  “It isn’t my business anyway.” Tom agreed as they reached the coffee shop.

  Chapter 7

  Ethan was watching Rachel sleep. She still had numerous bruises and cuts on her face and arms but he was just glad she was here with him. Thank you again Lord they we are moving forward with our relationship. Help me to show her that the things she is worrying over are not an issue. Amen.

  Ethan was still praying and reading when he heard the back door open, he saw that it hadn’t disturbed Rachel but he went to investigate. “Hi Martha” he said quietly as he entered the kitchen

  “Hi Pastor Hayes.” She replied surprised “Where’s Robin?”

  “She went somewhere and I’m helping Rachel.”

  “How is she?”

  “Sleeping finally.” He answered “I put her to sleep watching a movie.”

  “Good, she will heal faster with rest. Isn’t it great to have her back? I missed her so much.”

  “Me too.” He agreed enthusiastically

  “I heard something about that.” Martha teased him “Personally, I think you make a fabulous couple.”

  “Thank you, so do I. Now I have to convince her.” He said pointing over his shoulder

  “I don’t think that is the issue as much as it is how to convince her she isn’t bothering anyone.”

  “I better not hear that word out of her mouth ever again.” He growled and Martha chuckled “That’s my Rachel.”

  “Robin, are you here?” Rachel called from the living room

  “She is not back yet.” Ethan answered coming into the living room “What do you need?”

  “Well, to know if you were still here first of all and if you could help me up?”

  “Sure. Martha’s here too.” Ethan said helping her to stand and get her balance as he handed her the crutches.

  “Hi sweetie” Martha said going to Rachel’s other side. “Can I help you?”

  Rachel told her what help she needed as she headed towards to restroom to freshen up. They returned a few minutes later and Rachel’s hair was combed. “It is good to be up for a minute” She said entering the room “but these crutches are brutal. Two weeks of these things is going to seem like an eternity.”

  “You are tough enough to handle it.” Ethan joked with her as he helped her to settle back on the couch. “I have faith in you.” He spoke quietly as Martha left the room with a smile at him.

  “Thanks” Rachel replied shyly “Sorry I crashed during your movie.”

  Ethan wrapped her in a head lock and gave her a nuggie before she finished the apology. Rachel grabbed a pillow and started beating him with it. “Hey, I’m injured here, I get special treatment.” She laughed

  “Maybe, but what you don’t get to do is apologize unnecessarily.” He growled playfully at her. “I don’t care if you fell asleep during the movie. I just don’t care about those things.”

  “What do you care about? What makes you the most angry?”

  “Good question.” He said then thought about his answer “Pe
tty squabbles in the church probably. Injustice to a child, like child abuse. A man not being the head of his family and properly taking care of them. Those are probably the biggest for me. What about you, what makes you the most angry?”

  “Child abuse is a biggie for me too. I’m not sure how I’ll be if I become a mother, but abusing them is abhorrent behavior.”

  “Let’s talk about you becoming a mother.” Ethan stated “Do you want to be a mother? And why are you unsure?”

  “I want to be a mother if the father is able to take up some of the responsibilities that I won’t be able to do.”

  “Like what?”

  “Reading to them, helping them learn to ride a bike, stuff like that. Do you want to be a father some day?”

  “Sure, if I have a mother for them that will teach them to be as strong and independent as she is and will love them more than they can imagine. And if she teaches them to read Braille.”

  Rachel was surprised for moment “Isn’t that jumping ahead a few stages?”

  “Yes” Ethan answered “Isn’t that our end goal though? Are we working towards that until the Lord shows us differently?”

  “I think so, I just was unsure of how much we wanted to talk about a possible marriage.”

  “I want to talk seriously about it. It will help to sort out our feelings, whether or not we are thinking in the same direction, and it will help us to know if it is a step we want to take together. We need to learn things about each other that you won’t learn if you just date. Do you agree?”

  “Yes, I think it will help me be more confident in you. I don’t want to be insecure about you.”

  “I don’t want that either. You are strong and independent about everything but me and that concerns me greatly so I am going to be upfront with you about what I feel. Are you ready?”

  “Uh yes, I think so.”

  “Okay, sit up for a moment” he said lifting her head. He sat down on the couch and helped her to lie facing him with her head resting on his arm. Ethan gently took hold of her hand and kissed it then placed over his heart. “You know I would never lie to you and tell you half truths right?”

  “Yes”

  “So you will trust and believe what I am about to tell you?”

  “Yes” she answered

  “And this is not a discussion or an argument. I’m telling you from my heart what I feel. Understand?”

  “I understand.”

  Ethan leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead “I care very much for you Rachel Allison Hale. I have spent much time in prayer over the last weeks and I don’t have any doubts that we are heading towards a marriage. I don’t really believe you have doubts about that either and I think that scares you. But anyway, at first when you ran away I was hurt and upset and angry. I gave the situation to the Lord though and I trusted in His timing. I had to because I didn’t understand why you ran away. I didn’t understand why you ran without talking to me but now I think I do. You were scared.”

  Rachel nodded. Ethan continued “I don’t have a picture of an ideal wife in my head, I never have. I have qualities I want in a wife and values I want a wife to have and you exceed those. We have time to learn about each other and grow more comfortable together and put God first in our relationship.” Ethan took her hand in his again and kissed it. “I love you.”

  “Oh Ethan” Rachel was crying as she reached her arm up around his neck and he pulled her close for a hug. Rachel eased back from their hug a moment later “I’m sorry I hurt you. I believed at the time it was best for you if I wasn’t around.”

  “I know.” He answered solemnly “But I don’t want you to ever think that again or act on it. If we need to end our relationship, then we talk about it and decide that as adults. But even still, we part as friends.”

  “I promise.” Rachel pledged

  “I promise too.” Ethan pledged also.

  Martha came to tell Ethan how much longer dinner needed to cook and then she kissed Rachel goodbye and left. Ethan went to check on dinner and was in the kitchen when Tom and Robin came through the back door.

  “Hi” Robin said as they entered “How’s Rachel?”

  “She is fine. I put her to sleep with my choice of movie and she slept for a while.”

  “I’m going to go check on her then I’ll be right back to put dinner on. Tom you can come with me or stay with Ethan.”

  “Tom and I can handle dinner; we will call you when we are ready.” Ethan volunteered

  “Okay.” Robin smiled as she left the kitchen.

  In the living room, Rachel was lying quietly but not reading. Robin was unsure if she was sleeping. “I’m awake.” Rachel stated as she heard someone approach.

  “Hi”

  “Hi yourself. How are you?”

  Robin sat down close to Rachel and whispered “Am I dreaming?”

  “Not unless I am too.” Rachel whispered back “Did you get along?”

  “Really well, he is staying for dinner.”

  “That’s great. How long have you felt this way about him and why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  “I wish I had then maybe you wouldn’t have disappeared on me.”

  “You didn’t answer my questions.”

  “A long time and I was not sure anything would ever come from it.”

  “And now how do you feel?”

  “Stunned. You are sure I’m awake.” Robin chuckled

  “Yes. And I am happy for you.”

  In the kitchen, Ethan was talking to Tom on the same subject. “How did it go?” Ethan asked

  “Very well. We had plenty to talk about and the time went too fast.”

  “And what’s next?”

  Tom chuckled at the question “We get to know each other as something besides music minister and choir member.”

  “I’m glad for you.” Ethan smiled at him

  “And I guess I should say the same for you. You have been quiet about you and Rachel.”

  “Well, it was pretty new still when she disappeared and then while she was gone, I wasn’t sure where I stood anymore.”

  “And now?”

  “We are good again.”

  “Congratulations” Tom stated

  “To you too” Ethan returned. Ethan called them to dinner as Robin asked how she was feeling. Robin and Ethan helped Rachel to stand and get to the table. Ethan volunteered to pray Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for your answers to prayer. Please help us to put you first in our lives so that our priorities are your priorities. Nourish us with this food. In Jesus Name, Amen.

  The four were sort of quiet as they began to eat. After dinner Robin moved to clear the table. Rachel was getting tired so Ethan helped her back to the couch. “Can I get you anything, sweetheart?” he asked concerned “you look really pale.”

  “I hurt, I should have some pain pills around here somewhere.”

  “I’ll find them.” He said going to the kitchen to see Robin. “She needs a pain pill, do you know where they are?”

  “Right here.” She said handing him the bottle from the countertop. “Is she okay?”

  “She is really pale, hopefully this will help.” He said returning to the living room. “Here it is.” He said handing Rachel the bottle.

  “Just relax for a while until it starts to work.” He said smoothing her hair off her face. “Tell me what to do to make you feel better.”

  “You are doing it.” She said smiling. Rachel laid her head against his shoulder and thought about how good he was to her. Ethan continued to caress her face gently until the medicine began to work and her pain decreased. Rachel was getting sleepy and Ethan decided to head home.

  “Can I come see you tomorrow?” he asked her

  “Well, my schedule is pretty full with lying here on the couch all day, but I can squeeze you in?” she joked

  “Then pencil me in for afternoon and beyond.” He retorted

&
nbsp; “With pleasure.” She smiled at him. He kissed her forehead and stood to leave. “I’m going to go say good night to Tom and Robin then head out the kitchen door. Sleep well, sweetheart.”

  “You too.” She said snuggling the stuffed animal he had given her.

  As Robin and Rachel were finishing their lunch the next day, there was a knock at the back door. Robin went to look out the window and saw Ethan and Tom standing there.

  “Hi” she said opening the door

  “We checked the shop first in case you were in there, we didn’t want to make Rachel get up to answer the intercom.” Ethan stated to Robin. “Hi sweetheart” he said kissing the top of Rachel’s head. “Hi” she smiled at him

  “Hi Tom” Robin said shyly but smiling brightly

  “I know I wasn’t expected. I just wanted to drop these plans off.” He said nervously

  “And I refused to bring them so he had too.” Ethan gloated

  “You don’t have to play matchmaker now Ethan.” Robin groaned

  Ethan continued to smile knowingly at her. “Come on in Tom” Robin said laughing “And unexpected or not, I’m glad to see you.” Tom entered and came to see Rachel

  “Hi Rachel”

  “Hi Tom, how are you today?”

  “I’m great, how are you?”

  “I’m great too.”

  “Did she play matchmaker with you and Ethan?”

  “We are letting her believe that she did.” Ethan answered laughing at Robin.

  “You could just not tell him everything.” She glared at Ethan “Tom, would you like to follow me out to my shop so I can look these plans over?”

  “I really didn’t come to interrupt you if you are working.” Tom apologized

  “You are not interrupting me.” Robin smiled “Come on”.

  Ethan and Rachel moved to the living room as Tom and Robin left the house. “You refused to bring the plans over here?”

  “Not technically. I knew he wanted to see her. He paced my office most of the morning without saying much. He would leave and then come right back and start sentences then stop midway through them. He called me Pastor Hayes three times and called Amanda “Robin” at least four times. He was a nervous wreck so I “forced” him to come over here.”

  “You are enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah. Very much so. But enough about them, how are you feeling?”

  “My leg hurts. But I am paying attention to the medicine schedule today so it doesn’t get as bad as last night.”

  “I’m sorry about that, I really didn’t even think about it. I was just so happy to have talked things over with you and to be spending time with you that I forgot.”