He planted himself on the couch when he realized this was going to be more than just a quick chat.
“How well do you know Shannon?” Dad stared at him intently, and Wesley attempted to read his expression. Was he disappointed about something?
He shrugged. “Pretty well, I think.”
“Pretty well?” Mom’s tone held doubt. Or was it an accusation?
He looked from Mom to Dad. Why on earth were they acting so strangely? Where were they going with this conversation? “What is this about?”
“You haven’t slept with her?” Dad’s gaze was piercing.
“Slept…? What?” His hand plowed through his hair. How fast did they think he moved? And why would they even ask him such a thing? They’d known him all his life. “No!”
“There are rumors going around.” Mom frowned.
“Rumors? About me?”
“You and Shannon.” Dad nodded. “Everyone thinks Melanie is your baby. That you’re living in sin.”
Heat warmed his face. “What?”
“Are you not telling us something, son?” Dad stared at him. “You can talk to us about anything, you know.”
“Dad, I haven’t slept with anybody. Ever.” He shook his head. “Whoever is making up these rumors is lying.”
“It’s Shannon.” Mom stated, staring a hole right through his heart.
“Shannon?” His heart sunk to his stomach.
Mom nodded. “She apparently told Holly that Melanie was your child. And hers.”
Had the two of them even spoken?
“Why would she do that?” It was unbelievable, really.
“I don’t know. Attention, maybe?” Mom shook her head. “All I know is that you probably need to set things straight if you want to salvage your reputation. And maybe you need to think twice about your relationship with Shannon.”
“Now you know why the girls were staring during church,” Dad commented.
Wesley’s head spun. He’d worked so hard to stay pure, to be a good example. All his involvement with the youth…trying to encourage them to keep themselves from the devil’s snares…all of that would be undermined now. Called into question. They’d surely think him a hypocrite of the worst kind.
Why would Shannon do this?
He shook his head and pressed his lips together. He needed to have a talk with her. The sooner the better.
~
Wesley forced himself to exercise restraint by not pounding on the door. So many thoughts and emotions had whirled through his head since his parents had shared the news with him. He barely gotten a wink of sleep. He’d thought God had brought him and Shannon together, but now he was questioning everything. He had to remain calm so they could have a rational conversation. But he didn’t feel rational at the moment. No, he was disappointed. Upset. Desperate.
The door finally opened to him.
Shannon’s expression told him she’d read his mind without him saying a word. “Wesley? Is something wrong? Is everything okay?” Her tone was worrisome.
“No, everything is not okay.” He wouldn’t raise his voice. He. Would. Not. “You told Holly that Melanie was my baby?”
“Yes, I did.” She’d spoken the words like there was nothing wrong with them. Like it was perfectly okay to go around telling people things that weren’t true.
His temperature must have risen a few degrees, because he was suddenly very hot. “Why? Why would you make up a lie?”
“I wanted to shut her up. She was pis—” Her lips smashed together. “She was making me upset.”
“So you told her we slept together?” His voice practically screeched.
“No. Well…” She sighed and shook her head. “I didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”
“How did you mean for it to sound?” He’d determined not to raise his voice, but it was really difficult. More difficult by the second, in fact.
“Wesley, she followed me into the cry room. Then she asked me if Melanie was my baby. Like she just assumed I was that kind of girl. So I told her yes, Melanie belonged to you and me.”
“I don’t understand why you would say that.” His heartbeat showed no sign of slowing down.
“She was annoying me, and it was none of her business.”
“Asking if Melanie is your baby is a perfectly legitimate question.”
“Now you’re taking her side? She practically accused me of sleeping around!”
“Is that what she said?”
“No, but it was implied.”
“And so you…” He huffed and shook his head so hard he thought he just might give himself a headache. “I can’t believe this!”
“Why is this such a big deal to you? Is the thought of the two of us having a baby together so terrible?”
“Shannon…” She had no idea how hard he fought against his fleshly desires. The other night on the couch…
He sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now.”
“About what?” She still didn’t get it.
“Don’t you see? My reputation’s been ruined.”
“What?”
“I look like a hypocrite. Here, I’ve been teaching the youth to abstain from immorality. And now… Shannon, why would you do this?”
“You act like I’ve attacked you personally. I didn’t mean for this to be a big deal. At all. I had no idea your reputation would suffer. I thought you’d find it funny, actually.”
“Funny?” He squeezed his eyes shut. “No, there is nothing humorous about this. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”
“What do you want me to do? I can tell Holly it was just a joke, if that makes you feel better.”
“I don’t know if there’s anything you can do. The damage has already been done. Even if we tell people the truth now, not everyone is going to believe it. There will still be that seed of doubt in people’s minds.”
She lifted her hands. “I don’t know how to make this right, Wesley.”
“To tell the truth, I’m disappointed in you.” There, he’d said it.
“Wesley, if you’re looking for the perfect girl, I can assure you that I am not her.”
“I’m not asking for perfection.” Was he?
“Really? Because it sounds to me like that’s exactly what you’re looking for.” Tears shimmered in her eyes and her chin quivered. “If you’re going to dump me, please, just do it now. These kids don’t need another heartbreak.”
And just like that, his resolve crumbled.
Is that what she thought? That he was dumping her? He needed to make things right.
He gentled his tone and approached her. “The kids don’t, or you don’t?”
“Both.”
“Hey, now.” He stepped close and touched her shoulder, then reached out and brushed her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “I’m not dumping you. You’ll have to do a lot worse than that to get rid of me.”
He opened his arms now and pulled her to his chest.
“I’m sorry.” She sobbed.
He felt like a jerk. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. Forgive me for overreacting?”
She nodded. “If you’ll forgive me for saying what I did.”
“Already have.”
He lifted her chin, and stared into her glistening eyes. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
She nodded and smiled through her tears. “I’m probably going to kiss you back.”
“Okay.” He grinned and lowered his lips to hers.
FIFTEEN
Christopher eyed his wife over the bowl of delicious beef stew she’d prepared. Nothing like a hot bowl of stew on a cold day to warm up his insides. “Judy, how did your time with the boppli go today?”
Her face lit up like an Englischer’s Christmas lights. “Wunderbaar! That little one is just a sweet doll.”
“I’m worried that you might be getting too attached.”
“Ach, do not worry about me, husband. That family needs us.”
“I
think maybe we might need them just as much, ain’t so?” His throat burned, but it wasn’t because of the stew. That happened every now and then when he thought about the past and all the mistakes he’d made.
“She remind you of her too?”
“Little Katie?” He nodded. “Very much so.”
“And Jaycee is so much like our Kendal.”
“Could be his brother. But his brother…” He let his voice trail off. Kendal’s brother, Wesley’s dat, had been the only one of the kinner to survive the accident that fateful day. Then he rejected the church to live in the world. Out of the three they’d lost, his departure had been the worst.
“You miss him, ain’t so?”
“I miss them all. Especially this time of year. We have so many gut memories. Remember when Kendal had the part in the school’s Christmas program?”
“Jah, he stole the show.”
“I don’t think his teacher expected him to jump onto the audience like that. Neither did the audience.” He chuckled. “That bu was something else.”
“Well, we did tell him that, with Gott, all things were possible. He really did believe he could fly. Can’t fault a boy for having too much faith.”
“No. Some have too much. Others have too little.”
Judy instinctively understood the shift in conversation. She could practically read his mind. “You know that he goes to a church. Has for a long time.”
He shook his head. “But it is not a Plain church.”
“Don’t you think it’s time? Life is too short, Christopher.” Tears pricked her eyes. “Our son is alive, yet we treat him like he is dead.”
“What do you want me to do? You know my hands are tied.”
“But you are the bishop. If the other leaders will listen to anyone’s suggestion, it would be yours.”
“I don’t think I can change their minds. The shunning is what Jacob Ammon stood for. It is what sets us apart. You know that’s the way we have always done it.”
“What if the way we’ve always done it is wrong? What about what Jesus stood for? What about love?”
“If you think I do not love my son, you are ab im kopp, fraa.”
“Then do something about it. Show him. I assure you that what he has been receiving from us is not love.” His fraa’s reprimand stung. But she spoke truth. “Has it not been a joy getting to know Wesley these last few years? He is just like his father.”
“I know.”
“Maybe Der Herr brought this little family into our lives for a greater purpose. Maybe it’s not just about helping them, but about opening our eyes to all we’ve lost.”
“Ach, you make too much sense.”
“That’s why you married me, schatzi.” She teased now.
“I will pray about it. Only by a miracle will the Bann be lifted.”
“Last I heard, Der Herr was still in the business of miracles. And this is the Season for miracles, ain’t so? I will pray with you.”
Christopher didn’t miss the hopefulness behind his fraa’s smile. Jah, he’d pray with everything in him. It would take a miracle indeed.
SIXTEEN
If Wesley wasn’t careful, he could see himself addicted to spending time with Shannon and her siblings. Being with them seemed so natural. “Before I leave, I’d like to have a talk with you.”
“Didn’t we already?”
“A different kind of talk.” He glanced at the children in the other room. “But not until after the kids go to bed.”
“Well, they need to go to bed soon anyway.” She clapped her hands and they walked into the living room, commanding the boys’ attention. “Alright, time for bed now.”
“Aww…” Jaycee protested. “Already?”
“Yes. And no arguing. Wesley and I need to talk.”
Brighton snorted. “I think she means kiss.”
“Brighton.” It was the warning tone again. Shannon cast an apologetic look at Wesley.
Wesley raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Hey. That sounds good to me.”
Shannon shook her head and tossed a couch pillow at him. “Don’t encourage him.” She turned to Brighton. “We are planning to talk. Now off to bed.”
“Are you going to read to us tonight?” Jaycee complained.
“No, not tonight. Now scoot. And don’t forget to brush your teeth.”
“And say your prayers,” Wesley added for good measure.
“But we don’t usually say prayers.” Brighton stared at Wesley.
“Why not start now?” Wesley suggested.
“How?”
“I’ll show you, if you’d like.”
“Uh…” Brighton’s gaze flitted from Wesley to Shannon, then back. He shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
“I want to pray too!” Jaycee puffed out his chest as if he was in on some top-secret mission.
“Okay, point me to your bedrooms.” Wesley smiled.
“We only have one. The boys have to share,” Brighton said glumly.
Wesley nodded. “My brother and I shared when we were younger too.”
“You have a brother?” Brighton’s head tilted sideways.
“Sure do. He’s off at college right now, so now I get the room all to myself.”
Jaycee sighed dramatically. “It’ll be a lo-o-o-ng time before Brighton goes off to college. I’ll never get my own room.”
“It’ll be here before you know it, buddy. Trust me.” Wesley followed the boys down the hall. “Hey, this is a pretty cool bedroom. Do those stars glow in the dark?” He pointed to the ceiling.
“Yeah, they’re super cool! Sometimes I pretend like I’m in a spaceship flying through the galaxy.” The excitement in Jaycee’s voice was palpable.
“Well, I think it’s perfect for praying,” Wesley said.
“How come?”
“Well, because God lives in Heaven and that’s way up in the sky, and God made all the stars. Do you know how many stars there are?”
Jaycee scratched his head. “Um, two thousand?”
“More like a billion, Jaycee,” Brighton interjected.
“Actually, counting the stars that scientists actually know about, they say there is at least enough for each person on earth to own eleven trillion.”
“Whoa! I can’t even count that high.” Jaycee laughed.
Wesley smiled. “I can’t either. It’s a lot. And Heaven is past all those stars. But even though it’s far away, God can see us right here, right now.”
“How?” Brighton asked.
“Well, because He’s God. He doesn’t have limitations like we do. He can be everywhere at the same time.”
“Whoa,” Jaycee exclaimed.
“We should probably pray now before your sister loses patience with us and kicks me out.” He chuckled.
“She won’t kick you out, she likes you too much. She talks about you all the time. Are you gonna get married?”
Wesley chuckled at Jaycee’s plethora of comments. “Whoa. Where did that question come from? You know what, never mind. We’d better pray now.”
“What do we do?”
“First of all, let’s turn off the light so we can see those awesome stars.” Wesley nodded for Brighton to hit the switch. “Now, come and kneel next to the bed.”
“How come?” Wesley didn’t mind all Jaycee’s questions one bit. In fact, he welcomed them.
“Because if you lie down to pray, you’ll probably fall asleep like I do.” He knelt and folded his hands to show the boys. He could barely see them in the dark. He’d keep it short, although if he was praying alone, he’d say much more. “Now, you just talk to God like this, but you can say whatever is on your mind. ‘Dear God, We come before You to give You praise. Thank You for who You are and for everything You’ve given me, especially for my home in Heaven. Thank You for letting me meet my super cool new friends, Brighton and Jaycee. And their sisters too. Thank You for the food you gave me to eat today and for watching over me. In Jesus name, Amen.’ It can be as long or as short as
you want it to be. Just tell God whatever is on your heart.”
“Okay. I want to pray now. But, do you mind if I pray in private?” Jaycee asked.
“Yeah, me too,” Brighton said.
“Nope, not at all. God can hear you even if you don’t say the words out loud.” Wesley nodded.
“You can go kiss my sister now.” Brighton’s sly look nearly made Wesley laugh.
“Thank you for your permission. But I think I need her permission too.” He chuckled. “Goodnight, boys. Sleep well.”
“Goodnight, Wesley. Come back tomorrow, okay?” Jaycee said. Both boys looked at him expectantly.
“We’ll see.” He stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
“There you are,” Shannon whispered. “Melanie’s already asleep.”
“The boys are praying. They should go down soon.”
“Thank you for doing that with them. They really look up to you. Not just Jaycee, but Brighton too.”
“Yeah, I kinda got that feeling. I hope I don’t disappoint them.”
“You won’t. From what I know of you, you are a good man, Wesley.”
“Whoa. Don’t go putting me up on a pedestal. I am just a sinner saved by grace. If it weren’t for Jesus, I’d be a mess. Whatever good you see in me, that’s Christ.”
“I’m not sure I understand all that religious stuff. But you don’t need to explain it to me.”
“Okay.” He held up his hands. “No pressure from me.”
“So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?”
Wesley followed Shannon into the living room and they both took a seat on the sectional. “How do you feel about being part of the Christmas project?”
“Christmas project? What’s that?”
“It’s something that all the community churches participate in. People in need sign up and people in the churches try to provide for those needs. It’s mainly just buying Christmas gifts for the children.”
“They buy Christmas gifts for other people’s children?” Her eyes widened.
“Yes. Probably not anything super expensive like a laptop or anything. But they do ask what the children would like. Are you interested?”
“I don’t know.” She frowned. “I just…I feel like such a charity case already with everything that you and your grandparents have done for us.”
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