inside message, “Be yourself and smile.” She waved the fake brochure under his nose. “You think this will work?”
“No doubt about it. Wait and see.”
A short time later when she walked into the Manning residence, Jane knew Kyle’s advice had been perfect. His parents welcomed her with as much charm and friendliness as the parsonage decor.
“How nice to meet you,” Ruth Manning said, giving Jane’s hand a firm squeeze. “It’s so rare for Kyle to bring home a friend.” She chuckled. “In fact, since he got a place of his own, he never does.”
Kyle’s father opened his arms in a wide generous welcome. “I’m Paul Manning. So nice to have you visit us. Please, sit.” He gestured to the sofa and turned his attention to his wife. “Mama, give this young lady some soda or juice.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Jane said, taking the spot he’d indicated.
Kyle plopped down beside her. “Have a seat, too, Dad. We’re fine.”
He did as Kyle suggested while Ruth excused herself to return to the kitchen.
Jane’s admiration was drawn to the large, yet gentle, man, and she wondered why she had been hesitant to accept Kyle’s invitation. Looking at his father, she could imagine what Kyle would look like twenty years from now. Handsome as Kyle, yet his seasoned face was etched with years of compassion and concern for others.
Dressed as he was in a plaid flannel shirt and navy trousers, to Jane, he didn’t look like a pastor.
“Kyle tells us you’ve had a couple of bad scares since you’ve moved back,” Paul said.
“Well…one at least.” Jane related the things that had happened. “Kyle said the classroom and tires wereprobably just kid’s foolishness.” She rethought her comment. “At least, the vandalized room was.”
“Well, it’s not a very warm welcome to Redmond. We’ve always had a peaceful community here, but lately I don’t know.” He scratched the back of his head, thoughtfully. “I’ve been preaching on that exact subject. I suggest we all keep our eyes wide open for the enemy. He appears in many forms. Even as a coworker or friend.”
His comment slid uneasily down Jane’s spine, but she nodded pleasantly, preferring the conversation to focus on the community rather than on her.
She felt Kyle squeeze her arm. His ability to sense her discomfort was astounding.
“And where do you worship, Jane?”
As if her thoughts of discomfort spurred his question, Jane froze. No doubt, Kyle felt her tense.
With quick thinking, she mustered a vague answer. “My family always went to First United over on Downing.”
“Really? That’s wonderful. I know Pastor Johnson well.”
Feeling cornered, she swallowed and tugged out her honesty. “I’m afraid I don’t know him. I haven’t attended there in quite a while.”
“No? Then Kyle will have to bring you over to First Community some Sunday. We’d love to have you.” He leaned toward her and grinned. “You can hear one of my infamous sermons firsthand.”
Jane felt another white lie coming on. “That would be nice.”
Her words lay heavy in her heart. She studied God’s word and believed in Jesus. But after years of struggling with the feelings about her father, she’d becomefrustrated. She’d broken so many commandments—in bits and pieces. How could she explain that to anyone?
To Jane’s relief, before Kyle gave her another comforting squeeze or his father asked another question, Ruth bustled into the living room and halted the conversation. She headed for the low coffee table and set down a tray containing glasses of fruit juice along with a plate of cheese and crackers.
“Help yourselves now,” she said. “I’m putting the final touches on dinner. Everything should be ready soon.”
Jane liked the woman. Her dove-toned shirtwaist, accented by a perky bow, hung over her slightly plump hips, and darker gray hair curled softly around her pleasant face. Jane thought she made the perfect pastor’s wife:
“No doubt about it. Wait and see.”
A short time later when she walked into the Manning residence, Jane knew Kyle’s advice had been perfect. His parents welcomed her with as much charm and friendliness as the parsonage decor.
“How nice to meet you,” Ruth Manning said, giving Jane’s hand a firm squeeze. “It’s so rare for Kyle to bring home a friend.” She chuckled. “In fact, since he got a place of his own, he never does.”
Kyle’s father opened his arms in a wide generous welcome. “I’m Paul Manning. So nice to have you visit us. Please, sit.” He gestured to the sofa and turned his attention to his wife. “Mama, give this young lady some soda or juice.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Jane said, taking the spot he’d indicated.
Kyle plopped down beside her. “Have a seat, too, Dad. We’re fine.”
He did as Kyle suggested while Ruth excused herself to return to the kitchen.
Jane’s admiration was drawn to the large, yet gentle, man, and she wondered why she had been hesitant to accept Kyle’s invitation. Looking at his father, she could imagine what Kyle would look like twenty years from now. Handsome as Kyle, yet his seasoned face was etched with years of compassion and concern for others.
Dressed as he was in a plaid flannel shirt and navy trousers, to Jane, he didn’t look like a pastor.
“Kyle tells us you’ve had a couple of bad scares since you’ve moved back,” Paul said.
“Well…one at least.” Jane related the things that had happened. “Kyle said the classroom and tires wereprobably just kid’s foolishness.” She rethought her comment. “At least, the vandalized room was.”
“Well, it’s not a very warm welcome to Redmond. We’ve always had a peaceful community here, but lately I don’t know.” He scratched the back of his head, thoughtfully. “I’ve been preaching on that exact subject. I suggest we all keep our eyes wide open for the enemy. He appears in many forms. Even as a coworker or friend.”
His comment slid uneasily down Jane’s spine, but she nodded pleasantly, preferring the conversation to focus on the community rather than on her.
She felt Kyle squeeze her arm. His ability to sense her discomfort was astounding.
“And where do you worship, Jane?”
As if her thoughts of discomfort spurred his question, Jane froze. No doubt, Kyle felt her tense.
With quick thinking, she mustered a vague answer. “My family always went to First United over on Downing.”
“Really? That’s wonderful. I know Pastor Johnson well.”
Feeling cornered, she swallowed and tugged out her honesty. “I’m afraid I don’t know him. I haven’t attended there in quite a while.”
“No? Then Kyle will have to bring you over to First Community some Sunday. We’d love to have you.” He leaned toward her and grinned. “You can hear one of my infamous sermons firsthand.”
Jane felt another white lie coming on. “That would be nice.”
Her words lay heavy in her heart. She studied God’s word and believed in Jesus. But after years of struggling with the feelings about her father, she’d becomefrustrated. She’d broken so many commandments—in bits and pieces. How could she explain that to anyone?
To Jane’s relief, before Kyle gave her another comforting squeeze or his father asked another question, Ruth bustled into the living room and halted the conversation. She headed for the low coffee table and set down a tray containing glasses of fruit juice along with a plate of cheese and crackers.
“Help yourselves now,” she said. “I’m putting the final touches on dinner. Everything should be ready soon.”
Jane liked the woman. Her dove-toned shirtwaist, accented by a perky bow, hung over her slightly plump hips, and darker gray hair curled softly around her pleasant face. Jane thought she made the perfect pastor’s wife:
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