“Yes, Mark’s dad is the pastor of Seattle Calvary.”
Frankie grumbled something under his breath. “Well, then, don’t keep the boy waiting.”
Grinning, I scooted out of the kitchen. When he saw me, Mark slid out of the booth and headed for the front door. I noticed a couple boys his age hanging around across the street. Both were much bigger than Mark, who was small for his age. I wondered if those were the boys he’d tangled with earlier. I was about to ask but decided against it. As soon as they saw me, the two other boys took off in the opposite direction. That got me to wondering if Mark had come into the café in order to avoid another confrontation. Maybe having me walk with him the rest of the way home was a safety measure.
When we arrived at the church office, Mary Lou looked up from her computer and gasped. “My heavens, Mark, what happened?”
He shrugged, avoiding answering her. “Is my dad here?”
“He’s in a meeting.” She glanced down at the corner of her computer screen. “He’ll be out shortly; do you want to wait?”
“Okay.”
He took a seat in a small waiting area and I sat in the chair next to him. He looked small and his shoulders were slumped forward again, as if he dreaded confronting his father. The wait probably wasn’t helping any.
“Have you finished any more pages in the math puzzle book?” I asked, making conversation, hoping to take his mind off talking to his dad.
Mark nodded. “All of it.”
“The entire book? Already?”
He chanced a look in my direction and grinned. “They were easy.”
“Were not,” I argued. Before I’d purchased the book, I’d flipped through the pages and read a few of the word problems and felt they might be too complex for Mark. Heaven knew they were well above my own capabilities.
Mark was about to say something more when the door to Drew’s office opened. A man and woman stepped out. Drew followed, caught sight of his son, and did a double take. Right away his gaze shot to me. It seemed, and I could be wrong, but when he looked at me, his eyes softened.
Without a pause, Drew turned his attention to his assistant. “Mary Lou, make an appointment with Mr. and Mrs. Wilkens for next week at the same time.”
“Will do.”
Not speaking, he gestured to his son to come into his office.
Mark looked to me and I stood with him.
Drew noticed and raised questioning eyes to me. “Mark asked me to accompany him.”
As soon as we were in the room, Drew closed the door. Mark stood in front of his father’s desk and straightened his shoulders. He looked like a young soldier ready to face a firing squad.
“You hurt?” Drew asked his son.
Mark shrugged. “I’m okay. My eye hurts, but the ice Shay put on my face helped.”
“I have aspirin in my purse, but I didn’t want to give it to him until I’d talked to you,” I interjected.
“You need aspirin for the pain?” Mark asked his son.
Mark shook his head.
Standing behind Mark, I placed my hands on his shoulders while Drew leaned back in his chair and waited, finally expelling his breath. “You want to tell me what happened?”
Mark was quiet. “Not really.”
“Could you have avoided the fight?”
Mark answered with a shake of his head. “I tried, but as you can see, that didn’t work out so well. Are you mad?”
Drew locked eyes with me. “No. But I’m disappointed you let this get physical.”
Mark tensed and I suspected he’d clamped down hard on his jaw as if biting back an explanation. “In that case, I’d rather you got mad and shouted.”
Time was fast approaching when I’d need to leave. I hated to go and glanced at my wrist, silently praying that I’d be able to catch a bus quickly.
“Head on home, Mark. We’ll talk about this more later.”
Mark stood steadfast. “I’d like to get this over with now, Dad. I don’t want to sit at home, wondering what you’re going to do. It’s all right if you want to yell, but I’d like it if you did it all at once. Okay?”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered to them both. “I need to leave or I’ll be late for my class.”
Drew’s focus was on his son. He nodded, letting me know it was fine for me to go. Giving Mark’s shoulders a gentle squeeze, I turned and left the office. As I waited for the bus, I had a sneaky suspicion that there was more to the story of Mark’s black eye than he was letting on. I remembered the two bigger boys who were waiting on the other side of the street when we’d left the café. If he’d gone up against those boys, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. My thoughts remained troubled and I felt the need to tell Drew what I’d seen and share my suspicions.
Once on the bus, I took my seat and reached for my phone, texting Drew.
Can I give you a call tonight after class?
I hadn’t heard back by the time I reached the school and was distracted for the entire class. As soon as class was over, I grabbed my phone and saw that Drew had responded.
Sure.
Not wanting to have the conversation while on the bus, I waited until I was home before I called.
Drew answered on the second ring. “Hey,” he greeted.
“Hey,” I returned. “Everything okay with Mark?”
“Yeah, I think so, but he wouldn’t give me any details of what happened. It isn’t like my son to get into a fight. And he didn’t have a good reason for not taking the school bus home.”
“Drew, the reason I called is because I’m not sure Mark was in a fight.”
Drew paused as if he needed to take in my words. “What do you mean?”
It was then that I mentioned the boys I’d seen, who appeared to be waiting for Mark.
“You think those boys might have beat him up?”
“I don’t know, but that’s my guess. Did he say anything about them?”
“Not a word. In fact, he’s remained stubbornly silent about the entire incident. I don’t want to pressure him to tell me what happened.”
I could understand that. Mark’s pride was badly hurt, and talking about the incident would humiliate him all the more. Still, two against one was bad enough, and two much larger boys against a smaller one was grossly unfair.
Drew was silent again. “I appreciate the call.”
“Sure, anytime.” I was ready to hang up when Drew spoke.
“Do you have plans for Saturday? You aren’t working, are you?”
My heart rate quickly accelerated. “No, it’s my free Saturday.” I worked every other Saturday and Sunday. I’d planned to stay home and study, but if Drew asked me out I’d find another time to hit the books. He’d broken our last almost-date and he hadn’t asked me out since.
“I was wondering if you’d mind staying with the kids for a couple hours?”
He wanted me to babysit? Well, that was definitely a letdown. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”
“Sarah wants you to do that thing you do with her hair again, if you would?”
“Of course.” To the best of my ability, I hid my disappointment.
“Great. Does eleven-thirty work for you?”
“Sure.”
“Great, I’ll see you then.”
Drew sounded chipper and pleased with himself.
My heart sank with disappointment.
So much for him asking me out on a real date. I’d apparently been relegated to the friendly babysitter.
Marion Rowden was eighty-five years old, a widow, and one of the most faithful members of the church. She’d been attending as long as I’d served as pastor and likely thirty years before that.
Years ago, when I’d first started in ministry, Joe had mentioned that he’d been inspired and encouraged in his role as pastor to spend time with the older members of the congregation. He claimed he’d learned a lot from their own walks of faith. Joe’s advice had sounded solid at the time. It wasn’t until my recent visit with my friend
and mentor that I remembered what he’d said. For the life of me I don’t know why I had never followed it.
Marion lived in an assisted-living complex. I arrived shortly before noon and I went up to her room to collect her. I knocked on her door and waited for her to answer. She didn’t move as quickly as she once had, but I was patient.
She came to the door dressed to the nines, complete with a hat and white gloves. “I see you’re on time.”
“Always,” I assured her. “I wouldn’t want to keep my date waiting.”
Her smile was warm enough to melt the Arctic icecap. I extended my elbow, and she tucked her hand there as I escorted her to the elevator.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Best restaurant in town,” I assured her. I wouldn’t dream of anything less. Well, what was in my budget, at any rate.
“Mickey D’s,” Marion teased.
I laughed. “Actually I was thinking of Denny’s. A bit more upscale than McDonald’s but within my price range.”
“I was hoping you’d say Denny’s,” Marion told me. “My husband and I used to dine there every Saturday night. God rest his soul. Miss him, I do, every single day. Nothing feels the same without him.”
Marion chatted as I drove to the closest Denny’s, and I listened as she told me about the love of her life, a man who I’d never met. From what I remembered, Anton had died in his mid-fifties, and she still grieved for him. I could identify.
Once inside, we were escorted to a table. I pulled out Marion’s chair and took my own seat. I studied the menu and was surprised to see Marion didn’t.
As if reading my mind, she said, “I always order the same thing. You take your time. I’m in no rush.”
When the server stepped to our table, I waited for Marion to speak first.
“I’ll have the bourbon bacon burger.” She grinned sheepishly and looked to me. “That’s about as close to drinking hard liquor as I’ll get. Anton would have loved that. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a menu item when he was alive.”
Although I’d had something else in mind to order, I asked for the same thing.
My time with Marion was a delight. We had an entertaining two-hour lunch. She did most of the talking, and I listened. She told me about a negative experience she’d had with a judgmental church when she was a young teen. I marveled that she hadn’t allowed it to taint her attitude toward church and other Christians and told her so.
“My dear Drew,” she said, looking me square in the eyes. “I never confused God with the church. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. The key is not allowing anyone to stand in the way of how we view our Lord.”
“How wise you are,” I whispered, determined to thank Joe for this suggestion once I returned home.
Following our lengthy lunch, I drove my date back to the assisted-living complex and walked her to her room. “I had a delightful time, Marion.”
“I did, too,” she assured me. “Next time we should invite Nancy to join us. She’s one of my best friends.”
“I’ll do that,” I promised, determined to continue dating Marion and the other widows. I was far more familiar with the older men in the congregation. This was my effort to correct that oversight.
Eager now to return home, I drove back to the parsonage. I’d barely said hello to Shay before I had to leave to collect Marion. I appreciated her willingness to stay with Mark and Sarah. My daughter had been giddy with delight when she learned Shay was coming. Mark didn’t show any emotion one way or the other, but I could tell he was pleased.
Shay insisted it wasn’t necessary that I pick her up; she was accustomed to getting around town on the bus and was coming from breakfast with Lilly, the woman who had served as her counselor. Apparently, the two remained in close contact. My hope was that she wouldn’t need to leave right away, as I was looking forward to spending time with her. My schedule and hers had made it hard to find time to see her. I’d stopped by The Corner Café a couple times, and that only served to frustrate both of us as she was busy and too distracted to carry on any kind of conversation.
The minute I walked in the front door, Sarah came running toward me, her face bright and full of excitement. “Daddy, Daddy, look at my hair.” She whirled around for me to see the French braid. “Shay did it.”
“Who else would have done it?” Mark asked sarcastically. “The Tooth Fairy?”
“Very funny,” Sarah shot back.
“You look lovely,” I told Sarah, “and your hair does, too. Where’s Shay?”
“I’m here,” she said, her voice flat and emotionless. She had her coat on and her purse strap was wrapped around her shoulder as she headed for the front door with determination.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes.” The words were barely out of her mouth when she started to leave.
“I was hoping you’d be able to stay a few minutes longer.” Disappointment bled into my voice and I didn’t bother to hide it as I followed her outside, hoping to convince her to change her mind.
“I need to get home” was all she said.
Before I could say anything more, Shay was gone.
Stunned, I looked between my two children and wondered if something had happened. Whatever it was had upset Shay to the point that she could barely stand to be in the same room with me.
“Mark. Sarah. Can you tell me why Shay is upset?”
Sarah shook her head. “She was fine until you got home, Daddy.”
There had to be more to this than they were telling me. “Mark, do you have any idea?”
He scrunched up his face as if deep in thought. “We were eating lunch and talking and after that Shay got real quiet and sad.”
“Sad?” I repeated. “Did she get a phone call?”
Sarah shook her head. “She put her phone on silent.”
The only thing I could deduce was something one of the children had said. “What were you talking about when Shay got quiet?” I asked.
“Your date,” Sarah told me.
“My date?”
“Yes, I told Shay you were on a date.”
Groaning inwardly, I looked to Mark. “Watch your sister, I’ll be right back.”
Not caring that I’d removed my coat, I grabbed the front door and raced into the cold, running toward the bus stop, silently praying that Shay hadn’t already caught the bus.
I was relieved to see her standing, waiting. Slowing my steps, I approached her. “Shay, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
A bus approached and she looked eager to board it.
“Please give me a chance to explain,” I pleaded. “Don’t get on that bus. We need to talk.”
Hands tucked in her pockets, she ignored me and stepped forward, as if the bus couldn’t open its doors fast enough to suit her.
“Please,” I tried again, a desperate feeling attacking the pit of my stomach. The thought of hurting her was unbearable.
To my surprise, she whirled around and confronted me. “I don’t believe there’s anything to say. You did nothing wrong, Drew. Sorry, I mean Pastor Douglas. If there’s anyone at fault here it’s me. I was the one who let reality get away from me. Really, why would I dare to think that someone like you would possibly be interested in me? How presumptuous of me. How ridiculous.”
“Shay, that’s not true.” My mouth felt dry and I realized how badly she was hurt. “I took Marion—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said cutting me off.
“It does to me. You matter to me.” There, I’d said it, and I meant it even more than I realized.
“Sure, I matter. I make a damn good babysitter.” She looked up at the sky as if seeking something. “Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t belong here.”
“What are you saying? Belong where?” I was confused, not understanding anything of what she said. She wasn’t making sense.
“Forget it. It’s nothin
g…I feel like an idiot. I don’t ever seem to learn.”
“I’d like to explain,” I said, afraid anything I said now was too late and wouldn’t help. She was hurt and angry and I didn’t know how to make it better. One thing was clear: Shay was in no mood to listen.
“Like I said, it isn’t necessary. Don’t worry, I get it. I’m an ex-con, a felon. It’s a wonder you even allow me around your children.”
As she spoke, several at the bus stop turned to stare at her. My instinct was to pull her into my arms and hold her, to protect her from prying eyes. I reached for her arm, which she jerked away. Her message was clear: She wanted nothing to do with me, and she certainly didn’t welcome my touch.
“I learned at Hope Center to stand up for myself,” she said tightly. “I am unwilling to give others the opportunity to use me. You used me, Pastor. I am nothing more to you than a convenient babysitter. I think the world of Mark and Sarah, but I am not going to give you the chance to hurt me. Not happening.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Shay, please, if you’d just listen.”
“No. There’s nothing you have to say that I want to hear.”
Another bus pulled up just then and Shay was the first one to board. I watched as she marched to the back and took a seat, staring straight ahead.
Defeat and frustration washed over me. There’d been only a few times in my life when I’d felt this uneasiness in my spirit, knowing I’d hurt another person. Everything she said was off-base. So wrong, and I didn’t know how to convince her otherwise.
I don’t know how long I stood in the cold. It was only when someone approaching the bus stop bumped into me that I realized I’d remained frozen in place. It felt like my entire body had iced over.
When I returned to the house, both Mark and Sarah were waiting for me.
“Did you talk to her, Daddy?” Sarah asked, wide-eyed.
“I tried.” I sank onto the sofa and plowed my fingers through my hair, not knowing how to fix this.