by Rena Olsen
“Of course! You will join today, in fact. No time to lose. It is imperative to your relationship with Bryce that you share this experience.”
Excitement bubbled in my stomach. I was ready to go right in that moment, but I could tell that the Reverend wasn’t quite finished. “Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity,” I said, and I could tell it was the right response as the Reverend’s eyes lit up. “I’ll be sad to leave my Bible study, but if you think it’s best, I suppose I can see the women other times.” I ignored that guilt I felt at giving in to the Reverend’s demand so quickly, especially when it seemed he was being a bit unfair. He hadn’t exactly said anything negative about my Bible study, but there was that same underlying tension when he talked about them as I heard in Bryce’s voice when we discussed the women in the group.
“You’ll see them at church, for sure,” the Reverend said. “Now, on to the other things we need to discuss.” The topic of my Bible study was clearly closed. “I’m not sure Bryce had time to talk to you about how everything works with engagements here.” He looked at me expectantly.
“Um, no, we didn’t get a chance. I’m assuming some premarital counseling?” Kate and Eddie had done premarital counseling. She’d said it was a waste of time because they were so in love. See how much good that had done them.
The Reverend shifted, his pleasant expression not changing. “It’s a bit more involved than that, Julia. We take marriage very seriously in our church. We do not want mismatched couples joining their lives. It’s not good for their souls and it’s not good for the family.”
“I agree,” I said, nodding. “I take marriage very seriously as well.”
“Good.” The Reverend inclined his head toward me. “Now. Bryce played his part beautifully. He came and requested permission to date you, which we granted after he told us of the time you’d spent together. That was before we’d even met you. When we did meet you, I’m going to be really honest, Julia, we weren’t sure. I was frankly surprised that Bryce had chosen someone who didn’t share his beliefs. He has always been so devout, at least since I’ve known him. I had always pictured him with someone from the congregation, someone in a position similar to his own.”
I looked down at my hands. I had gotten the feeling from Nancy that I didn’t quite measure up when they met me, but the Reverend had never given that impression at all. I’d felt accepted and loved from our first introduction. It was painful to think that he hadn’t wanted Bryce to be with me in that first meeting. My instincts that first week about not fitting in had been more accurate than even I’d believed. I wondered if they’d regretted saying no to Bryce’s relationship with Stacy, if they thought that he would have been better off with someone like her.
The Reverend placed a finger under my chin and raised my head to look at him. “I will always be honest with you, Julia, even when the truth is painful. That is the truth of when we first met you, but that is not the truth of today. Today Nancy and I couldn’t be happier that Bryce found you. I truly believe it was God’s hand in your life that put you in Bryce’s path. You were lost, and we found you. You have proven your dedication over these past months, and when Bryce came to request permission to propose, I was only too happy to grant that as well.”
It was astonishing how much influence this man had over my life that I was completely unaware of. Bryce had to ask permission both to date me and to propose? But it made sense when I thought about it. The Reverend heard from God more than anyone. He had wisdom I couldn’t even fathom. Instead of feeling violated, as others might (I pictured Van’s reaction and almost started laughing), I felt protected, cherished. The church really took into consideration every aspect. They cared so deeply for their members, their family, that they had a hand even in this. I couldn’t help but wonder, if more people had been involved in my relationship with Jake, if things would have turned out differently, if they could have helped me see the ways it wasn’t working sooner.
I smiled at the Reverend. “So what’s next? I’ve said yes, but I’m guessing it’s not just on to the wedding planning now.”
He laughed. “There will be plenty of time for that, my dear. Nancy is very excited to get started with helping you plan. But in addition to joining the Gathering, you and Bryce will be attending twice-weekly counseling sessions with myself and Nancy. We will also connect you with a mentor couple, with whom you will be expected to meet weekly. In addition, I’d like you to come here, to our spiritual counseling center, to learn more about your individual gifts and how you will use them in your marriage and in the church.” He paused and leaned forward. “Your dedication to all of these things and your ability to balance your faith and personal lives will help me to determine whether you are truly the best match for Bryce.”
My mind was spinning. I attempted to calculate the sheer time commitment of all of those meetings and sent up a prayer to God to extend the days by a few hours until the wedding. “That’s . . . a lot,” I said. “With work and other commitments . . .”
“This has to be the most important thing, Julia.” The Reverend’s voice grew sharper than I’d ever heard it. “Not just the engagement, but your commitment to the church and to God. I’ve mentioned this to Bryce, but you’ll need to look at your priorities in activities outside the church, such as your job. I’d hate to see you make an idol out of your work there. I understand you’re doing quite well, and I have seen others go down the path of putting work above family and faith.”
“I would never do that,” I said, but at the same time I knew that I had been working longer hours as Elaine depended on me more. A promotion would mean later evenings and travel, even some weekend commitments. We worked when the clients wanted us to work. “I have faith that God will help me organize my life and make the decisions that need to be made,” I said, sounding more confident than I felt.
“I’m glad to hear it,” the Reverend said. “Learning to balance your time is a key skill to have.” He rubbed his hands together. “There’s more to discuss, but it can wait until later. For now, why don’t we make our way to the Gathering?”
I jumped up, my excitement evident.
“You’ll sit in the back and observe at first, Julia,” the Reverend said, leading the way to the door. “When you’re ready to join fully, I will let you know. It could be only weeks, but maybe longer.”
Observing was better than sitting in the café, waiting. With a skip in my step, I followed the Reverend from the room, leaving the troubling aspects of our conversation behind me.
Chapter 14
At the end of the hallway, double doors opened into a large circular room. A mural splashed over the domed ceiling, and I wanted to take some time to study it, but my attention was drawn to the group of people gathered in the center of the room. The Reverend touched my arm.
“You can stay back here and observe,” he said, his voice low. He nodded toward a small grouping of chairs near the door. “Please do not interrupt or ask questions. There will be time for that later.”
I almost laughed at the idea that I would draw attention to myself by interrupting whatever they did in this room, but I only inclined my head to indicate that I understood, then turned and made my way to the chairs and sat in one facing the room.
By now the group had noticed our entrance, and the low rumble of conversation extinguished as the Reverend made his way toward them. I caught Bryce’s eye and he winked at me before turning his attention back to the Reverend. That small gesture showed me that I belonged here, even if I was still somewhat on the outside, and settled whatever nerves I had following my conversation with the Reverend.
I recognized several of the people in this group, though I knew few by name. I’d been introduced to all of them, I was sure, but I had gravitated elsewhere, toward the women in my Bible study and those who surrounded them. The only time Bryce and I spent much time with large groups of people from the church was at the Sunday
dinners that had become our weekly routine with the Reverend and Nancy. I regretted not paying better attention before to all the people who had paraded through the house from week to week.
There were no windows in the room, and once the door was closed, someone came over and pulled a heavy black curtain over the doorway so that no light from the cracks could sneak in. The electric sconces along the wall were extinguished and candles were lit on tables around the large space. I was amazed at the size of the room. It must be located at the back of the church, the same side as the Reverend’s house, not visible from the road or from Bryce’s apartment. I couldn’t imagine having missed a part of the building like this. There were about fifty people in the room, and they stood in loose groups of three or four.
The Reverend stood at the front of the room, and everyone’s attention turned to him as he raised his hands. “We thank You for Your Word at the service this morning, O Lord. Now we request Your presence.”
In unison, everyone else in the room repeated his words like a prayer, or a chant. They turned to each other and clasped hands in their small groups. Nancy, who had been standing to the right of the Reverend, walked to a corner to a small round table that held only a silver goblet and a small silver plate, similar to what we used during Communion. As she lifted the goblet, candlelight reflected off curved markings on the side, but I couldn’t tell if it was writing or just a flowing design. The plate held small discs of varying neutral colors, some a dark tan, almost brown, others lighter beige, almost white. She walked to the first group and handed each person a disc as they held their hands cupped to received it. Nancy exchanged low words with each recipient, but I couldn’t decipher what was said. Next, they passed the goblet around and each took a sip. Nancy moved from group to group and repeated the same ritual before returning to her spot next to the Reverend. He reached for her hand and they continued praying.
The room filled with sound now, but it was no longer in unison. Some continued the prayer from before, while others moved their lips, no sound coming out. A couple were speaking audibly but almost as if in another language, and on one side of the room raucous laughter broke out. From my perch, the situation was devolving into chaos, and now I understood why the Reverend had told me not to interrupt. I searched for Bryce, and found him standing in the center of the room, his hands in the air, face raised to the ceiling. His mouth opened wide and he started laughing. When he turned his head, I gasped at the size of his pupils. None of the blue was visible from where I sat. His eyes were pools of black, transforming his handsome face into something maniacal, and I couldn’t decide if I was drawn to him or repelled.
This was nothing like what I’d expected. I had been picturing a board meeting, or an extra-elite Bible study of some sort. This was terrifying, and growing more intense by the minute. The groups had split by now, and those who were speaking gibberish or chanting or laughing converged around Bryce in the center, while others moved to the outer edges of the room. A woman whose name I couldn’t recall fell into the seat next to mine.
“Didn’t happen this time,” she commented. “It’s been over a month.” She looked distraught, but I had no idea how to comfort her. I had no idea what was happening. She glanced at me, then reached over and patted my knee. “Almost over now.”
Almost as if her words had triggered it, a rumbling sounded from the floor. I looked at the woman in a panic, and she just smiled reassuringly. The rumble grew louder and from nowhere a strong gust of wind swirled through the room, extinguishing all the candles.
“Better get the lights,” the disembodied voice of the woman said, and the fabric of the chair rustled as she rose and moved away. As the lights came back on, my eyes were drawn to the group in the center of the room. They had huddled together, some standing, some who had clearly fallen to the floor being gently helped to sitting positions. The Reverend stood over them, holding his hands over them and saying a quiet blessing.
I stood as the group dispersed, waiting for Bryce to come over to me. By the time he reached me, he was back to normal, looking as fresh-pressed as he had when he picked me up this morning.
“Ready for lunch?” he asked, as if everything that I had just witnessed hadn’t happened. I stared at him with wide eyes.
“Bryce—”
He lowered his head to speak directly into my ear. “Now is not the time to talk about it.”
I opened my mouth, desperate for some sort of explanation, but closed it again at his look, my teeth clicking together with the force. Bryce brushed a kiss over my forehead and then took my hand and led me from the room.
We passed the café, but it was dark this time. The Reverend’s conversation with me had delayed the Gathering, and I had honestly lost track of time in there anyway. The café always stayed open as long as it took for Bryce to come back, whether it was ten minutes or an hour. I missed my weekly check-in with Jenny, and realized I wouldn’t get to see her much at all anymore if I was attending the Gathering every week and needed to leave the Bible study. I’d call her this week to see about lunch.
Part of my brain was screaming at me, asking why I was thinking about lunch plans after everything that I had just witnessed. But the bigger part of me wasn’t ready to process it quite yet. I had questions, but I was afraid of what answers I might receive.
It was tempting to tell Bryce I wasn’t feeling well and to bow out of lunch, but it would have been too obvious. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do next. We weren’t supposed to talk about it, but everything had changed now. I followed Bryce silently to the now familiar door to the Reverend’s house and took my seat at the table. I smiled at the woman who served me, but did not attempt to start a conversation. A few of the people from the Gathering joined us this week, so there wasn’t much pressure on me to speak. Bryce glanced at me regularly, worry evident on his face, but it was the Reverend’s gaze that weighed on me.
In that moment, I realized this was part of the test. This was part of my vetting to be Bryce’s wife. My reaction to what had gone on at the Gathering and how I dealt with the aftermath would determine whether or not I received the Reverend’s blessing on the marriage. I was sure Bryce knew it as well by the way he tried to engage me in normal conversation while trying to hide the concern in his eyes. The Reverend had pretty much told me that my ability to deal with everything that was coming would determine whether they would continue to bless my union with Bryce.
Taking a deep breath, I reached over and took Bryce’s hand. He looked at me and squeezed my fingers without interrupting the conversation he was having. I moved into it seamlessly, though I felt as if I were coming out of a trance. I suddenly found myself eager to prove that I could handle whatever had happened. In fact, instead of anxiety, I now felt only curiosity at what I had witnessed. After a bit, I also felt the weight of the Reverend’s gaze lift from me. When I glanced over at him, he was engaged in conversation with one of the musicians from the band. I hoped that meant I had passed.
As usual, we were the last ones remaining after the meal. I sat on the couch, watching Bryce say goodbye to the last of the other guests, when Nancy approached and sat in the chair across from me.
“We need to sit down and start discussing wedding plans,” she said, her voice excited. Though we had been on good terms for several months, I couldn’t help thinking back to our first meeting, and what the Reverend had said about their reservations toward me. The fact that they’d been negative about our relationship at the beginning and Nancy was now eager to discuss wedding plans for my union with Bryce was nothing short of miraculous. It all came down to Bryce. He knew from the beginning that I would fit, and made sure that I did. He had cemented my place with this family.
“We haven’t even talked about a date yet,” I said, smiling at her. “But as soon as we iron out some details, I’d love your help. My mom has been excited for wedding planning since my first boyfriend, so I know she will be ec
static to get started as well.”
Nancy’s face fell slightly. “I’m sure we can discuss dates today, and,” she cleared her throat, “of course your mother will be involved in the planning.” She didn’t sound certain, but I attributed it to having just met my mother. Once they got to know each other, I knew they would get along famously, as we did.
Bryce and the Reverend joined us a couple of minutes later. Bryce sat next to me on the couch, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close. He pressed a kiss to my temple and sighed happily. Nancy stood, allowing the Reverend to sit in the chair. She perched on the arm, and he rested a hand on her knee.
“I’m glad you stuck around today, Julia,” the Reverend said, jumping right in. “I was worried you would try to disappear. I’d hoped you would stay, but it’s a lot to take in at once.”
“A warning might have been nice,” I said carefully, not wanting to upset them.
Bryce squeezed my shoulder as the Reverend smiled. “There’s no way to fully prepare for the Gathering. We’ve found the best way is to just allow one to observe.” He leaned forward, hands clasped, eyes bright. “Tell me, Julia, what do you think happened in that room today?”
This moment was almost worse than being brought up onstage during the morning service. The spotlight was on me again, with three expectant sets of eyes waiting for me to give a satisfactory answer.
“I—I’m not sure,” I said. I wanted to take a guess, but I decided honesty was the best option. “I heard a lot of prayers and gibberish and laughing and . . . it almost seemed like everyone was drunk.” I shrugged apologetically, hoping they didn’t eject me from the house immediately for that observation.
The Reverend was the first to start laughing. Giant belly laughs exploded from him, and he leaned back as Bryce and Nancy joined in. “That’s great,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “That’s the best description I’ve ever heard of the Gathering.”