Jayden shrugged. “Maybe.” The letter he’d got from Dad last week had almost made him pack up and catch the next flight home. He probably would have, if it hadn’t been for Angie.
He sipped his soda. “A baby, huh?”
Angie’s eyes misted over.
Jayden sighed. Why’d he say that? “I’m sorry. It must be hard on all of you.”
Angie sniffed and nodded. “I just feel so sorry for Jess.” Her body shuddered as tears rolled down her cheeks. “And finishing school's going to be hard.”
“She’ll keep going for a while, won’t she?”
Angie nodded. “As long as she can. And after that, she can study online.”
“And your parents are being really good about it?”
A soft smile grew on her face. “Yes, they’ve been amazing.”
“You’re very lucky to have parents like that.”
“I know. Most parents would have got really angry. They’re sad, but they’re okay.”
Jayden finished his drink and checked the time. “I need to get back to work, Angie, but can we catch up sometime soon?”
“Yes, I’d like that.” She picked up her purse and then angled her head. “Come to Bible Study with me tomorrow night? We could hang out afterwards…”
Jayden let out a resigned sigh. Angie had been asking him to go with her every week since they’d started dating, but he’d always had an excuse. Now he couldn’t think of any. “I guess I’ll have to come this time. You win.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at six.”
Jayden stood and held Angie’s hand as they walked out of the café. Once outside, he turned and smiled at her. “I’ll look forward to it.”
She returned his smile, and stretching up, popped a quick kiss on his cheek. “And so will I.”
Jayden returned to the store, lost in thought. Jessica Morgan, pregnant? Unbelievable. He shook his head and returned to the shelves he’d left half stocked. The Morgan girls were known as good girls around town. This was going to make tongues wag. Good girls didn’t get pregnant, did they? She probably wouldn’t go to Bible Study tomorrow night. Just as well—he wouldn’t know what to say to her.
Chapter 2
Bethany Morgan adjusted her husband’s collar the following morning as he prepared to leave for the staff meeting. “Are you sure you want to do this, Robert?”
Robert placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed down at her. “No, Beth, I don’t want to, but it’s the right thing to do.”
She drew in a breath and sighed. “I know. I just wish this wasn’t happening; I can already hear the gossip that will go round town.”
Robert drew her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “It’s going to be all right, Beth. We’ll weather this storm. I agree it’d be better if it hadn’t happened, but it has, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Tears pricked Bethany’s eyes. Robert was right, there was nothing they could do about it. Their daughter was pregnant, and abortion was out of the question. They just had to face the music and be strong for Jessica’s sake. “I’ll be praying for you.”
He released her from his embrace and held her at arm’s length. “I know you will. Thank you.”
Bethany stood on the porch of their sprawling home and waved as he drove down the driveway. “God be with you, Robert.”
“Is Dad really telling everyone today?” Jessica sat at the kitchen table with her arms crossed and a sullen expression on her face. Her eyes, tinged with red, were fixed on Bethany. Beside her, Blake fiddled with his phone. Angie sat opposite, leaning back in her seat, her hands wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate, and fourteen-year-old Simon watched television in the family room to the side.
Bethany’s heart went out to her daughter—Jessica’s anger was totally understandable. Until a few days’ ago, only two others knew her secret; Angela and Blake. After today, all of Hunters Hollow would know. Well, not quite, but that’s what Jessica had said last night when Robert told her what he was planning, and she probably wasn’t far from wrong.
Jessica slid further down in her seat. “I may as well be dead.”
Bethany sighed. Dear God, please help me. She slipped into the seat beside Jessica and put her arm lightly on Jessica’s shoulder. “It’s not as bad as that, Jess. It’s better this way, you know it is. Everyone would know about it soon, anyway. At least this way, people can see we’re supporting you.”
A lump formed in Bethany’s throat. All night her heart had been heavy as she imagined what it might be like for them all in the days, weeks and months ahead. It was all too raw, too fresh, too vivid, but it was happening, and she and Robert had to be strong and support Jessica. They had to handle the embarrassment of having a pregnant teenage daughter, knowing people would judge them. But how much worse for Jess and Blake? If they hadn’t been held in such high esteem by their peers and teachers, no one would have blinked an eye.
Tears streamed down Jessica’s cheeks.
Bethany hugged her. “It’ll be okay, sweet pea. We’re here for you.” She gazed over Jessica’s head. Blake was still fiddling with his phone. Bethany bit her lip. She and Robert were more than happy to offer him a home until he went to college, but he hadn’t seemed quite as contrite as they would have expected. They’d give him the benefit of the doubt for now—he was most likely still trying to come to terms with it all himself, but they hoped he’d soon understand the enormity of the situation.
Blake must have felt her eyes on him, as he put his phone down and straightened. When she released her hold on Jessica, he took Jessica’s hand. Jessica turned and leaned against him.
Bethany stood and rubbed her hands. “Okay, we’ve spent enough time talking, we need to get some jobs done.”
Three pairs of eyes stared at her.
“Don’t look at me like that. Being busy will help pass the time.” She glanced round the table. “Or you can go and clean out the cow shed if you’d prefer.”
“Mom…” Angie rolled her eyes. “You win. Tell us what you want us to do.”
For the rest of the day, Bethany kept her three children and Blake busy with jobs. Music she normally wouldn’t listen to blared through the house, but at least it was Christian music, or so they said. She couldn’t tell. Teenagers. The only reprieve was when Angie sat at the piano and practiced her exam pieces.
The day passed and Robert finally arrived home around four o’clock. Bethany waited outside on the porch as he lumbered towards her. He gave her a tired smile and wrapped his arms around her. They remained in silence for several moments. Inside, music still sounded from the upstairs’ rooms, but outside, the sounds of the ranch filled her ears. Robert’s brother, John, and his wife, Mary, lived nearby. John looked after the ranch which had been in the family for generations. He must be out in the fields, as a tractor rumbled in the distance. Fall had come early, and they’d need to harvest all the hay they could before the first snow fell.
She inhaled slowly. She’d stay in Robert’s arms all day if she could, cocooned from the world and all its problems, but that wasn’t the way to deal with things. She slowly pulled away and lifted her eyes. “How did it go?”
He held her gaze. “Amazingly well. They appreciated me being upfront, but there’s no saying what the students will think when they find out.”
“Oh Robert, how’s she going to cope?” She gazed into her husband’s clear blue eyes, searching for an answer.
“She’ll be fine, don’t you worry. She’s stronger than you think.”
“But it’s going to be so hard for her.”
Robert ran his hand lightly down her cheek. “It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world. Everyone makes mistakes, just hers is obvious. Or soon will be.”
“In the olden days she would have been sent off to a home for unwed mothers.”
“I guess she would have.” Robert placed his arm on her shoulder as they walked slowly towards the front door. He paused and faced her. “I also dropped in
at the church on the way home and told Graham. Thought he should know, with Bible Study on tonight. Word might already have gotten out.”
Bethany sighed. “What are they all going to think?”
“It could happen to anyone, Beth.”
“But I feel I’ve failed her. It shouldn’t have happened.”
“Don’t start saying that.” Robert tilted her chin upwards as he gazed into her eyes. “You’ve been the best mother a girl could ask for. We’ll stand by her and support her, regardless of what everyone thinks.”
Bethany nodded, but tears stung her eyes. She swallowed hard, and sucked in a breath. “How can you be so calm?”
He shrugged. “We can’t change what’s happened, and it’s no use beating ourselves or Jess up about it. Besides,” he wiped her tears with a tissue, “you know what this means, don’t you?”
Bethany shook her head. “No... what?”
“You’re going to be a grandmother.”
Bethany inhaled slowly as a small grin formed on her face. Robert was right. Jess was carrying a baby, a real little person; their grandchild, and right or wrong, they’d support and love her, regardless.
* * *
Jayden raced home from work on his bike, threw a frozen meal into the microwave, and quickly showered and dressed while it heated. He was eating the last bite when a car horn sounded. He peered out the window. Angie’s car was parked just outside the apartment block. He gulped down his soda, picked up the Bible Angie had given him a week ago, and ran down the steps. Before opening the main door, he paused and steadied his breathing, not wanting to appear over eager.
He sauntered up to her car, a small Ford Focus she shared with Jess, and opened the passenger door. “Hey Angie. Thanks for picking me up.”
Her whole face beamed. She really was the most beautiful girl.
“No problem. I’m glad you’re coming.”
If only they were going somewhere other than Bible Study, but at least he’d be with her. He could survive a Bible Study if Angie was beside him. “You didn’t give me much choice.” He flashed her a cheeky grin.
She let out a small chuckle before starting the engine.
“I guess Jessica and Blake aren’t coming tonight?”
The smile slid off her face as she put the car into gear. “No. Dad went through with it, so news will start spreading now.” She glanced at him before pulling away from the curb. “Jess didn’t want to face everyone just yet.”
Jayden rubbed his forehead. “If some of them know already, you might get asked about it tonight. Are you ready for that?”
“Since when have you been so sensitive?” Angie flashed him a playful smile before her expression changed. “But yes, I had thought about that. Not sure it would have spread that quickly, but if it has, I’ll deal with it. They’ll know soon enough anyway. Dad told Pastor Graham this afternoon, so he knows already.”
“Wow.” Jayden drew a breath and faced the front. As he did, he thought he saw Mom driving the other way. He quickly turned his head, but the car disappeared around a corner. Maybe it wasn’t her. Either way, he should try to see her sometime soon, although since he’d moved out of the cottage she shared with Buck, she’d been avoiding him. He really didn’t know what to feel about her anymore. Some days he couldn't care less, other days he felt sorry for her. Today, well, he really didn’t know.
Angie slowed down and pulled into the parking lot of the Hunters Hollow Gospel Church. After switching off the engine, she turned and faced him, touching his wrist lightly. “They’re a nice bunch, Jayden. You’ll be fine.”
He’d recognized a few of the young people he’d met at church last Sunday from when he went to school, but no one he really knew. But they seemed all right. Better than Roger and his old group from Austin. “I’ll be okay.”
“All right, then, let’s go.”
Angie took his hand as they strolled towards the church hall. It actually felt kind of good, almost normal. But his life was anything but normal. Would he fit in? Would they accept him?
Chapter 3
Laughter and music flowed from the church’s meeting room as Jayden and Angela entered the building. Pausing outside the door, Jayden drew a steadying breath. Despite feeling nervous, in some ways he was interested to see what it was all about. Angie had told him they were starting a series entitled ‘How can you know if God exists?’ After his experience in that church on Christmas Eve, where he thought he’d heard from God, this was a topic that actually interested him. Was God real, or was He just a figment of everyone’s imagination?
“You okay?” Angie smiled as she squeezed his hand.
He nodded. “Yep. And you?”
“Yes, I’m good. Let’s go.”
She led him into a room where about twenty young people stood around talking and laughing in small groups, but his attention was drawn to the three boys sitting at the far end. One had a guitar strapped around his shoulder, another perched in front of a keyboard, and the third boy sat behind a set of drums.
“Join them if you want. There’s a spare guitar over there.” Angie nodded towards the wall nearest them.
“I don’t know what they’re playing.”
She shook her head and laughed. “Let me introduce you, at least.”
“If you have to.”
She dragged him to where the boys were sitting. “Hey Gareth, this is Jayden.” Gareth was the guitar player, and with his friendly face, he reminded Jayden a little of Neil. “Jayden plays the guitar really well.”
“Yeah? Grab this one and join us.” Gareth leaned over and picked up the spare guitar and handed it to him. "It’s Johnno’s, but he’s away.”
“Cool, as long as you don’t mind.” A grin grew on Jayden’s face as he took the guitar and sat beside Gareth.
“What do you normally play?”
Jayden stiffened. Would Gareth think he was boasting if he told him he played a Gibson? He let out a breath. Best to play it safe. “Just an acoustic.”
“Cool. Hey, this is Matt on the keyboard, and Dave on the drums.”
Jayden gave them both a quick nod. The boys, who seemed a little older than him, leaned forward and held out their hands. Jayden shook both in turn.
“We’re just having a bit of a jam. Wanna follow along?”
“Yeah.” Jayden settled himself onto the chair and tested the guitar, a basic acoustic that sounded tinny and hollow compared to his, but it didn’t matter. It’d been too long since he’d played with someone else. As the boys began to play, he followed along. He had no idea what they were playing, but it sounded pretty cool, just a lot lighter than he was used to.
Angie stood nearby, her face angled so she could see him. She was talking with an older man who was balding on top. Jayden recognized him as the pastor. There was only one thing they’d be talking about. Jessica.
Before long, a few of the young people stopped talking and pulled up chairs in front of the music team and began singing along. Jayden hadn't been aware that they'd been playing songs that had words to them. He thought they were just jamming, which was what he and Neil had always done. It was kind of strange, but also kind of cool.
The pastor left Angie and walked to the front. The band stopped playing at the end of the song, and those who’d still been talking finished their conversations and pulled up chairs in a semi-circle.
Angie sat on a seat beside Jayden and slipped her hand into his, flashing him a warm smile.
The pastor cleared his voice. “Well, hello everyone. Great to see you all here tonight. For those who are new, I’m Pastor Graham Simpson, and tonight we’re starting a series entitled ‘How can you know if God exists?' But first, let’s open in prayer.”
Angie squeezed Jayden’s hand. He caught her eye again before bowing his head. It seemed a little strange to be sitting here holding his girlfriend’s hand when they were about to pray, but if she was okay with it, well, he guessed it must be all right, and tried to focus on the prayer.
�
�Dear God, we pray You’ll be with us as we study Your word, and we ask that You’ll open our hearts and minds as we seek to know the truth about You and how we can be sure that You actually are real in a world that believes You’re not. Bless our time together, Lord God. Amen.”
Pastor Graham looked up, his gaze traveling around the group. “I’d like to start this series by reading from Romans chapter 1, verse 20. You can read along or just listen.” He flicked to the verse in his Bible and then began. “‘For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.’
“Over the next few weeks, we’re going to look into this passage and others more deeply, but before we do, here are the questions we’re going to investigate. This verse claims that God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly visible in creation, but is there any way of finding out how it all came into being, or do we just have to take a giant leap of faith and believe that God created it because He said He did? If there is evidence, why don’t more people believe in Him, or if they do, why do so many live like they don’t? Assuming there is proof that God exists, what does it take to turn someone from non-belief in God to belief?
“These are huge questions. Questions that as young people I’m sure you’ve asked yourselves many a time.” He shrugged. “Or maybe not. I hope that by the time we reach the end of the series, those of you who’ve been brought up in Christian homes and in the church, and have made a commitment to live for Jesus, will have a better understanding of why you believe, because it’s far too easy just to accept what you’ve been told without really knowing why you do. And for those who haven’t made a commitment yet but are searching for the truth, I hope and pray that you’ll find what you’re looking for, and that once you do, you’ll be willing to commit your life to God, knowing that your belief isn’t just a leap of faith, but is backed with solid proof.”
THE TRUE LOVE SERIES BOX SET: A Christian Romance Page 41