After getting home, Franklin got a phone call a few hours later. It was Braxton.
“Dad, I’m putting my house up for sale and leaving town. I just wanted to let you know.”
“Don’t be silly Braxton. I need you at the butcher shop. It’s time you went back to work.”
“I’m not going back to the store, Dad. Not now, not ever. I’m done with that.”
“What do you mean you’re done with it? You can’t leave me in the lurch like this. With your brother going to jail, his business on the rocks, and Megs and the kids struggling with all of this, I don’t need this right now, Braxton. You need to go back to work and take care of your responsibilities.”
Silence emanated from the phone.
“I’m telling you this once, and only once. I’m leaving town and I won’t be back. You no longer have a say in how I live, who I marry, where I work, and what I’m to do with my life. I’m choosing my own destiny and moving on with my life, and living by God’s way, not yours.”
Franklin was cut to the quick by his remarks. He responded, “God’s way? What do you mean by God’s way? I’ve always followed the laws of God.”
“You might have followed God’s laws, but without the love necessary to make it live. You have no love for anyone but yourself. Real love means that you think about others first, that you’re kind, patient, and forgiving. When have you given up your wishes for those of ours? When have you ever been kind, or patient, or forgiving? Give me one example, Dad.”
Franklin was hurting now, with echoes of Jed’s conversation still ringing in his head. This was the second time today that he’d been accused of not being able to love.
“I’m leaving Dad. I’m going to work at learning to love and in God’s way. To help others and not myself, and to serve in this world, by doing good. I’ll write you sometime and let you know how I’m doing. Goodbye Dad.”
“Braxton, you can’t leave like this!”
The click on the phone cut at his heart, as his oldest son hung up on him, walking away from his control and maybe his life as well.
Franklin leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, stinging from the loss of both boys.
What did I do to deserve this?
The image of Pastor Andrew Brown’s face came to him. In this man’s face he saw love. Love for him, for all those he taught, always being gentle, quiet, kind and patient and with a devotion he couldn’t understand.
I’m not a failure, am I? How could this turn out so wrong? I did all the right things, didn’t I? I raised my sons in the ways of God, by his laws. I put my whole life, money, time and effort into that church.
Franklin wrestled with his conscious. He finally determined that he had done nothing wrong. It was his boys fault, making the decisions they had. They’d come to their senses and come back to him one of these days.
After all, he was an influential man in this town and a strong religious man. That was the most important thing, wasn’t it?
Franklin picked up the phone and called Stanton.
“Hello?” his youngest son answered.
“Stanton, Dad here. Have you heard about Jed and Braxton?”
“I’m not sure what you mean? I know Jed’s probably going to prison for the rest of his life and Braxton’s leaving town. Is that it?”
“Yes, partly… But both of them just accused me of not loving them. That’s not true. I love all you boys.”
Stanton paused, wondering what to say.
“Your love isn’t the right type of love Dad.”
“What do you mean… right type of love? Either you’re loved, or you’re not!”
“No Dad. There’s man’s love, which is selfish and self-centered, and then there is True Love, God’s love. One brings harm and pain, while the other gives life and happiness.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he said in anger and frustration.
“I know you don’t. But someday, maybe you will.”
“With your brothers unavailable, I need you to help out at the lodge.”
“Sorry Dad, but I have a life of my own, a family of my own and a full time job. I don’t have any extra time to give you. You’ll have to find your help somewhere else.”
“Stanton…”
“You heard me Dad. The answer is no.”
Franklin was silent.
“Gotta go, Dad. See you in church Sunday, unless I get called into work. Maybe you can come over for dinner, sometime. I’ll check with Jean. Talk to you later.” And with that Franklin’s youngest son hung up.
Franklin sat in his chair and closed his eyes as tears of separation and failure slid down his face. He sat there well into the evening, in a dark house, lonely and a broken man.
Moving On