Copyright © 2018 by Clara Jenkins (Author)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Thank you very much for purchasing this book.
PLUS FREE Bonus Stories Inside!!!
Dedicated
MF Priest and Single Mother
Clara Jenkins
Table of Contents
Dedicated
Description
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Bonus Short Stories
Dedicated
Description
Mason Walker is a war veteran, who after seeing so much suffering finds God. Just months ago, he takes a vow of celibacy to begin his journey to become a priest. Then, someone walks into the church searching for anything that can save her from the life she has been dealt. Those around him don’t see her as the type who can be saved, so he begins to question everything he knows about religion.
Samantha Adams has had a rough life. She comes from an abusive home, from which she was removed at fourteen. She made the rounds of numerous foster homes. At seventeen, she discovered being pretty could go a long way with men who had money in their pockets. She became a muse for lonely, rich men who could keep her fed and sheltered for months at a time. At nineteen, a pregnancy ended it all. About to be on the streets with a baby, she walks into a church looking for redemption.
Will Samantha’s sweetness, beauty and new mindset cause Mason to question his choice of celibacy? Will Mason be able to help Samantha trust him to be a different kind of man than those she has known and grow to believe in God?
Chapter 1
Samantha shocked herself by walking into the church. She hadn’t stepped foot into one since one of her foster parents had forced religion upon her. The woman had believed it would wipe away the sins of Samantha’s birth parents and leave Samantha cleansed of evil. What it had actually done was make her see the family life she was missing and go into a depression. She hoped for better things this time around. Her baby deserved a chance and Samantha sought redemption for the life of sin she had been living.
As she sat down to listen to the sermon, Samantha was reminded of being in a church, much like this one, under the critical eyes of her pious foster mother. She was forced to sit perfectly straight, her back not touching the pew, with her hands clasped in her lap. Her knees were clamped together and her skirt pulled over them for modesty. If she dared change position, there would be hours of prayers on her knees as penance. Other parents held wiggling, crying children or whispered into their teenager’s ears, bringing quick smiles to their faces. She longed to be a part of such a family.
Alyssa, her infant daughter, began to get fussy. She wouldn’t be like her foster mother and pop the baby on the leg to make her quiet. Instead, she reached into the oversized bag that contained her most precious belongings and pulled out a bottle and a teether. She soothed Alyssa with a kiss on her blonde head. Samantha swore she would never abuse her child the way she had been abused all her life.
Samantha felt judging eyes turn her way. Some of the worshipers knew her from the streets of Chicago. They recognized the girl who had run away from home so many times and stolen food from the small grocery stores, so she wouldn’t starve. Others may have seen her with the rich men who kept her fed and sheltered in exchange for companionship and inspiration. Samantha had not thought of herself as a prostitute. She considered herself a muse, aiding the richest of men to find confidence in their dreams and aspirations. Many had doubled their wealth acting on the imaginings others had deemed ridiculous.
Sadly, no man wanted a muse with a child. All her youth and beauty were useless to them if she could not drop everything and follow them around the world on a whim. The needs of a baby put a damper on that quickly. Almost out of money and dreaming of a different life for Alyssa, she had wandered into this church seeking help. The disapproving eyes made her think she had made a huge mistake. But for her daughter’s sake, she would see this through.
Once the service ended, Samantha stayed in her seat. The baby was sleeping and she didn’t want to walk out among the people who were acting as if she didn’t exist. One little girl had reached out to touch Alyssa’s downy hair and her mother had snatched her hand away. Samantha realized the woman had not wanted her child tainted by touching an unwed woman’s baby. It hurt Samantha’s heart to know that Alyssa would be judged by her past sins, though the baby was innocent.
Mason had noticed the young woman and her child enter the church during the sermon. He had noted the stares that came her way and found himself puzzled by the disapproval he saw. What could there be to disapprove of? The young woman was dressed demurely, her light brown hair clean and shining, and the chubby baby appeared perfectly healthy. She had calmed the baby during the service with a gentle touch and a kiss. This was not a drug addicted mother looking for a handout. She clearly loved her child and was here for another purpose.
The church emptied and Mason saw the woman still sitting peacefully with the baby sleeping in her arms. He didn’t wish to disturb her worship, but she looked so forlorn and lonely, he couldn’t help himself. He took a seat in the row in front of her and said, “I’m Mason Walker. I noticed that you’re new here. Is there something I can help you with?”
Samantha looked into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. There was a kindness and understanding in them, she was instantly drawn to. His short, military style hair cut contrasted with the soft voice he used when he greeted her. This stranger made her feel welcome for the first time since she had entered the church. Clearing her throat, she replied, “I just need some time to sit here and find some peace. I promise not to overstay my welcome.”
“Stay as long as you like. If it’s peace your looking for, this is the place to find it. I came here seeking it after I got out of the military and it’s changed my life. If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll be up front clearing away everything from the service,” Mason stated.
“Are you a priest? Can you help me find redemption?” Samantha asked.
“I’m not a full-fledged priest yet, but I’m working on it. You can talk to me. I swear not to pass judgement on anything you say. If that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll find the priest and bring him to you,” he soothed.
“I’d rather speak to you. You have kind eyes and I need that. My past isn’t the best. In fact it’s awful. I’ve made so many mistakes in my life and I want to change. My baby deserves a real home filled with love and kindness. I never had that and I don’t know where to start. By the end of the month, I’m not even sure where we’ll be living. Can I be saved? Maybe, I don’t deserve it, but Alyssa is innocent of all wrongdoing. Thankfully, she is too young to see the looks we are given by the other worshipers. I never want her to feel that kind of pain.”
“It sounds like there’s a long story behind your reasons for coming here today. I’m willing to listen as long as it takes. Let’s start with the basics. What’s your name?” Mason asked.
Chapter 2
“My name is Samantha Adams and my daughter’s name is Alyssa. It’s just the two of us,” she began. “My birth parents were abusive. They drank and did drugs. I kind of took care of myself. After a beating, when I was fourteen, I was taken away. The foster homes weren’t any better. So I ran away. I lived on the streets until I was seventeen.”
&nbs
p; “I’m so sorry that your childhood was stolen from you,” Mason replied. “No child deserves to be beaten or abandoned. You survived somehow. Where did you go after seventeen?”
Samantha bowed her head and answered, “Men started looking at me differently. At first, they offered me food just for my company. They claimed I was too pretty to starve. One man had been sitting alone on a park bench for hours, staring into space. He had lost an important business client and was afraid of telling his boss. Somehow, I managed to give him the courage he needed by telling him about my life. He offered me a place to stay in return. From then on, I always found a place to live. Yes, they eventually wanted more from me than just words. I gave it freely. I needed to feel loved and they helped.”
“You’re speaking in the past tense. Have you walked away from that life?” Mason inquired.
“It walked away from me,” she explained. “I got pregnant and wouldn’t get rid of the baby. Her father provided for me until she was born. I was so afraid that I couldn’t take care of her that I offered to give him custody. He freaked out. He told me that he was married and wouldn’t ever tell his wife about us. He gave me enough money to last six months and sent us away. We’ve been living in a rundown motel by the freeway. No man wants a woman with a baby, no matter how pretty she is or how she can inspire him. I wanted out of that life anyway, for Alyssa. Can I be forgiven?”
Mason smiled and said, “You already have been. God sees our hearts and he found a good one in you. He blessed you with a beautiful daughter and the courage to keep her. It was most likely He who sent you here today. The first thing you need is a job. You have rent to pay and food to buy.”
Samantha replied, “I’ve tried. No one around here will hire me. Either they remember me from stealing food as a child or they say I would be unreliable because of the baby.”
“I intend to help you with that problem. Give me a few days and I will see what I can come up with. You’ll need childcare as well so that you are reliable. Where can I reach you?”
Samantha gave him the name of her motel. “Why are you helping me? You really don’t know me at all.”
“Helping those in need is part of what I vowed to do. Besides, I see something special in you, a worthiness you are unaware of. The way you forgive those who treat you badly, without anger and the way you love Alyssa shows me how good you are inside. Everyone deserves a second chance. I’m determined to see that you get yours,” Mason declared.
Samantha carefully bundled up her sleeping child, picked up the hefty bag and left the church. She stared up at the sun breaking through the clouds and saw it as an omen. She whispered, “Thank you for sending an angel to guide me.”
Mason watched her leave. He couldn’t understand how someone so lovely, sweet and gentle could be treated so badly. People had to see that her inside was as beautiful as her outside. She needed a chance to convince them of her sincerity and value. He prayed he could make that happen.
From behind, a gruff voice said, “You shouldn’t get involved with her. Leave her to me. You are too vulnerable to her wicked wiles as yet. Her beauty will cause you to falter and forget that she is a harlot.”
Mason was shocked by the priest’s words. He had never heard such a terse tone from his mentor. He answered, “She’s a lost spirit, looking for redemption. I don’t see her as a harlot. She was pushed into her way of life by circumstances beyond her control. If I had been exposed to such an atrocious childhood, I’m not sure I could have handled it at all. I would probably have joined a gang and be dead before I reached eighteen. She’s asking for help and she was sent to us to get it.”
The priest retorted, “I see she has already gotten her claws into you and swayed your viewpoint. It would be best for you to walk away and leave her be. She will find another man to take her in. I don’t believe she truly wishes to be saved. If she did, she would have come to us long ago. I saw her a few times, sitting in the back with her foster mother. She had a chance then to learn a different way. Instead, she ran from it and the home she was given.”
“She had a reason for running, I’m sure. Not everything we see is as it appears. Samantha may have been brought to church, but what happened in that foster home we don’t know. She wasn’t rejecting God. She was rejecting a world filled with pain and heartache. She sought love in all the wrong places. It doesn’t make her evil or unredeemable. I refuse to believe that. I won’t back away and leave her begging for help,” Mason declared.
“I pray she isn’t your downfall. If you see so much good in her, then of course we will give her a chance. She must be brave to have faced the disapproving stares of the congregation. Do not let her fool you though. Wickedness comes in many forms. Beauty and sadness can cover a multitude of sins,” the priest replied.
Chapter 3
Samantha heard a knock on the motel door. It frightened her. There were so many drunks and drug pushers who stayed in the old dilapidated motel, she never felt safe. She tried to stay locked inside the room, especially after dark, but often strangers pounded on her door. They were either lost or looking to force her into the deepest reaches of their world.
She peeked out the edge of the tattered curtain and breathed a sigh of relief. It was just Mason. Hopefully, he was bringing good news. She checked to be sure Alyssa was still happily playing in the secondhand portable crib she had bought at a garage sale, then hurried to the door. She greeted Mason with a smile of glee. “You came! I honestly didn’t think you would. No one ever keeps promises.”
Mason smiled back and said, “I try hard to keep mine. Can I come in? I don’t particularly like the way I’m being looked at.”
Samantha stepped back and let him enter. She shut the heavy door and slammed the lock into place. “It’s a bad neighborhood. I keep the door locked and when I go to bed I shove the dresser in front of it. I also keep a baseball bat by the nightstand, just in case. It’s the only place I could afford. Diapers and formula are more expensive than I imagined. I wasted too much money staying in a nice place the first two weeks.”
“Well, my news should change that issue. I found you a job. It’s not anything spectacular, but it will pay for diapers and formula. The truck stop needs a waitress who is also willing to wash dishes. It pays fairly well and you’ll get tips. Are you willing to give it a try?”
“What about Alyssa?” she asked. “Does it pay enough for daycare and a place to live?”
“It’s enough to pay for this place, but not daycare. I don’t think you should stay here anyway. I have a better solution. It’s unconventional and may cause some turmoil in both our lives. However, we can weather the storm for Alyssa’s sake. I inherited a great big house from my parents. It has plenty of room for you and Alyssa,” Mason proudly exclaimed.
“Oh, no! I can’t do that. You’re going to be a priest. People would get the wrong idea, especially with my past reputation. Thanks for the offer, but I’ll find another way,” Samantha retorted.
“I didn’t mean you would live alone with me. My grandmother lives there too. She’s lonely for company and would gladly keep Alyssa while you work,” Mason explained.
“I could never ask that of her or you. I don’t want charity. I need to pay my way,” Samantha admonished.
“I didn’t say anything about charity. You would rent a room for you, one for Alyssa, and a bathroom. It would cost the same as this place, but safer and cleaner. As for childcare, grandmother can’t wait to hold a baby again. Just let her tell you stories about the good old days and it will be more than enough payment. She needs a new audience. I’ve heard them all repeatedly,” Mason answered.
“What about the priest and the congregation? They will think the worst, no matter how innocent things are.”
“We’ll hold our heads high and ignore the gossip. Go to work, care for Alyssa and come to services. It will take some time, but eventually they will get to know the person I see inside you. Grandmother and I will defend you. Stop arguing and say you’ll give it
a chance,” Mason implored.
Samantha took a deep breath, looked around the small, shabby room, glanced at her sweet daughter and said, “When do I start work? I want out of here as soon as possible.”
“You start tomorrow. Your shift is from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. It’s a busy time of day. They’re throwing you into the fire. Do you think you can handle it?”
“I have to, don’t I? It’s the best choice for now. Maybe, I can work on getting my GED and find a better job later,” she replied.
“That’s the spirit! I knew you were a fighter. Let’s get you packed up and out of this grim place. I’m taking you home to a fried chicken dinner and chocolate cake. We don’t want to keep grandmother waiting,” Mason said.
Samantha opened a dresser drawer and pulled out some baby clothes. She stuffed them in a plastic grocery bag, then added her few pieces of clothing from another drawer. She went into the bathroom and came back with shampoo, a toothbrush and toothpaste. “All that’s left are the diapers, the portable crib and Alyssa. I carry the rest of my life in my oversized purse. I even have our birth certificates in there with baby toys and formula.”
It was a sadly small number of belongings. It touched Mason’s heart to see how she had sacrificed in order to keep her baby fed and put a roof over her head. Things would be better for them from now on. He was sure of it. They were no longer alone in this world. He would fight for their rights and aid Samantha on her journey to redemption. His priest had been correct in one respect. Samantha had definitely gotten under his skin.
Chapter 4
Samantha’s feet were killing her. Being a waitress at a busy truck stop wasn’t easy. She was constantly moving between tables, the food pass through and the sink. She took orders, delivered them to the customers and raced to the back room to wash pots and pans in between. She never complained regardless of how badly her feet ached. She was earning an honest living, one she didn’t have to be ashamed of. It had taken her a while to become proficient at the job, but after a week she finally had the hang of it. The truck drivers were a bunch of flirts, yet always took no for an answer. They were kindhearted and left great tips, even when she rebuffed their passes.
Dedicated Page 1