feel like she wasn’t as important as Kazuo’s loving attentions. And . . .
Jenn sat there blinking.
“This time I’m really serious.”
“But how would anybody know that?” Jenn’s question was sincere.
Trish sat back in her chair. How would anyone realize this was different from other impulsive decisions she’d made over the years? Because this really was different. She knew it without knowing how she knew. Deep down inside her, deeper than emotions. “How do I prove to them I’m sincere?”
Jenn continued to blink at her.
What could she do that would undeniably prove she had become a good, Christian girl, devoted to God, earnestly longing to serve Him and —
Wait a minute. Good Christian girl. Devoted. Serving. Who else served the church like no one else? The pastor.
“I’ll get my MDiv!”
Jenn blinked faster. “What?”
“A Master of Divinity degree. Then no one can refute that I’ve really changed.”
“You’re going to go to seminary just to prove that you’re changed? That’s awful.”
“It’s not just to prove I’ve changed. Before this wakeup call, I wouldn’t even have considered doing this. I feel inspired because God is going to make something new and terrific inside me.” Trish nodded firmly.
“What are you going to do with an MDiv?” Jenn asked.
Trish waved a hand. “Anything. Women’s ministry. Children’s ministry. Evangelism deacon. I’m sure God will tell me.”
“You’re going to quit your job to go into full-time ministry?”
“What? No. A couple people from my church got their MDiv, but they haven’t quit their jobs or anything.”
Jenn had started twirling the ends of her hair. “I don’t know, Trish . . .”
“Why not? This is perfect. I’m always taking classes at the community college just for fun — I love taking classes.”
“It’s a lot of work.”
“I’m not afraid of schoolwork, and I’m great with languages. I’m fluent in Japanese, and I learned some Chinese and Spanish — I’ll bet Hebrew and Greek would be a breeze.”
“I don’t know about that. It’ll take years.”
“I’m willing to work for it, no matter how long it takes.”
Jenn closed her eyes and rested her forehead in her hand. “It’s too early in the morning for this.”
“For now, can you be my accountability partner?”
“Sure, sure.” Jenn sighed.
“Good. Kazuo goes back to Japan for good sometime this summer — his uncle is opening a new art gallery and promised to display Kazuo’s paintings at the grand opening — but until then, maybe my three rules will help me transform myself so I won’t be tempted by him.”
“You won’t run into temptation sooner?”
Trish snorted. “Where? At church? Everyone knows you never meet eligible men at church.”
“How about your apartment complex?”
“Ewww. No way. They’re all either married or packing massive emotional baggage. And I think the guy upstairs is doing something illegal.”
“How about at work? They’re all smart and have steady incomes.”
“They’re not Christian, and most of them aren’t cute. No temptation there.” Trish got up to get coffee. “You’ll see. I’ll transform myself, and that MDiv will prove it’s not temporary.”
SIX
If Trish’s supervisor went by “Asian time,” Trish would be on time for the meeting even though the wall clock in the cell culture room showed ten past the hour. However, she didn’t think Diana would find that Asian American joke very funny.
Trish yanked off her nitrile gloves and threw them at the biohazard container. The first official day back from New Year’s holiday was always busy — Diana would understand that, right? She raced to the door of the cell culture room and happened to glance at the container. Rats, the cancer-cell-infested gloves had missed. She screeched to a halt, flung her body back, picked them up by a clean corner between thumb and forefinger, and dropped them into the red plastic bag.
Trish
Mindy Starns Clark
Reece Butler
Cyna Kade
Zoe Chant
Dakota Dawn
Melissa Thomas
Martina Cole
John Barnes
Allyson K. Abbott
Roy Vickers