by Annie Pelle
“You are going to hate yourself later when you remember that you admitted that to me. But I won’t. I’m very glad to hear it.” he said going to her bedside and picking up her hand in his. “Go back to sleep.” He whispered to her.
“Ethan, I’m sorry.” She murmured
“Everything is going to be okay.” He repeated stroking her hair away from her lovely but bruised face. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Rachel woke early the next morning and Robin immediately went to her bedside. “It’s me.”
“Hi” Rachel said quietly. “What happened to me?”
“The police said you were hit by a car crossing the street. If you had been where you were supposed to be at our house, this wouldn’t have happened.” Robin said fiercely.
“Please don’t yell at me. I am doing what I think is best for all of us.”
“Well, I’m not yelling yet, but when you get home we will have a very long discussion and I will yell then.”
“Robin, if I go home with you, I’ll just be a burden on you again.”
“Listen to me my dear sister, you have never been a burden on me. We will talk about this later, tell me where you have been living so we can go get your belongings and bring them home.”
“But what about you and Ethan? I can’t be there if you two are dating.”
“We are not dating. You and he are dating.”
“You and Ethan should be the couple, not he and I.”
“I’m not arguing with you about this. I am just going to tell you this one time and one time only. I am not interested in Ethan that way. He is my friend only.”
Rachel started to speak in rebuttal of Robin’s statement when the doctor opened the door. “Good Morning, Miss Hale.” She stated “I’m Dr. Peters. How are you feeling?”
“Sore” Rachel answered “This is my sister, Robin.”
Robin and the doctor exchanged greetings. “You will be able to go home tomorrow as long as you will have someone to help you around the house. You will need to be off your feet for two weeks at least and then possibly a walking cast after that.”
“She won’t be alone. We live in the same house and we can get some additional help anytime we need it.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Dr. Peters announced as she left the room.
“Robin, you are going to be stuck taking care of me again. I’m sorry.”
“Ethan’s right to give you a nuggie every time you apologize unnecessarily. I’d do it too but since you are all banged up it wouldn’t be fair. I will not be “stuck” taking care of you. I have never felt that way Rachel. Please move back home with me.”
“All right.” Rachel agreed and told Robin where her belongings were.
“You have been living in a hotel for six weeks?”
“Yes”
“How have you been taking care of yourself?”
“One of my volunteers has been helping me.”
“How is that different than me helping you? Aren’t you burdening her then?”
“Yes, I didn’t have much choice. I was interviewing candidates for a permanent housekeeper/helper job.”
“We will finish this discussion at home. Go back to sleep, you need your rest.” Robin said as she gently hugged her sister. “I’m glad you are back with me. I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
Rachel had been home from the hospital a few days when Ethan stopped by. He went to see Robin in her shop. “Are you ready? Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Harper are on their way over here.”
“I’m ready. She is going to hate this but then we can sort through everything and get our lives back to normal.”
Ethan had a huge smile on his face as he spoke “Speak for yourself, I think my life is going to change dramatically.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Robin asked smugly
“What is better than fantastic?”
“She isn’t sure about you yet, so be patient.”
“After the last six weeks, I may have trouble with that. But, we still have lots to talk about.” He said opening the door to Robin’s shop so they could exit. They walked around to the front of the house and found Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Harper walking up the walkway in front of the house.
“Good morning.” Ethan stated as he shook their hands. “Robin, we will wait here for a minute so you can check on Rachel.”
“I’ll be right back.” Robin said as she opened the front door. She found Rachel reading her Bible as she rested on the couch. “We have company.” Robin stated heading back to the front door. Their guests were led into the living room and they took a seat.
“Rachel, it is me, Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Harper also.”
Rachel paled and looked down at her Bible. She put the bookmark in it and closed it as she tried to fight back tears. “Hello” she said very quietly.
“We came to apologize for our bad behavior several weeks ago. Our words were mean and hurtful to you. Pastor Hayes and Robin set me straight on several assumptions I had made and shared with Mrs. Harper. We are very sorry.” She finished and Mrs. Harper echoed her apologies.
“Thank you.” Rachel said quietly
“We won’t keep you any longer and we hope you mend quickly.” Mrs. Dillon said as she rose from her chair. “If you need anything, please let me know. I’m a pretty good cook.”
Rachel thanked her and Robin led them to the door. Ethan followed her back into see Rachel. “Hi Rachel.” He said going to sit on the coffee table beside her. Ethan reached for her hand and squeezed it.
“Why are you here?” Rachel asked Ethan
“You and me and Robin have lots to talk about, don’t you think?”
“Is there when you finally come clean about wanting to date each other?”
“We can start with that topic then if you wish. Robin do you want to tell her how wrong she is or should I?”
“I’ll start.” Robin said fiercely “And you can join in when I’m done.”
“You have the floor.” He stated
“Rachel, I do not want to date Ethan and he does not want to date me. Why do you think otherwise?”
“Because you get along so well.” Rachel yelled losing her temper. “Why wouldn’t I think that? And why would he not want to date someone who is well and whole and not handicapped?”
“So what if we got along so well, he is a nice person. You are just scared of what you feel for him.”
“That’s right. But I am also blind. Why would he…?”
Ethan interrupted “Okay, I can’t handle being talked about in the third person. Talk to me Rachel, I’m not going anywhere until you do. Robin is right, I don’t want to date her. I want to date you.” He emphasized.
“How did you all find out about what they said anyway?”
“I’ll let you get away with that sidestep for right now.” He said “Last Sunday, Mrs. Dillon told Robin and I that we made a cute couple and we set her straight on that. At the same time she mentioned that she had told Mrs. Harper “that very thing right outside the church building”. Robin and I sat her down in my office and she told us the whole story of what they said. We assumed you were sitting outside and heard them talking.”
“I did. They were right, I’m not a help to you. Either of you. I wouldn’t make a good pastor’s wife and you two probably do make a cute couple.”
“Will you stop saying that? I don’t want that getting around.” Robin stated fiercely
“Why not?” Rachel and Ethan asked in unison.
“Because it might discourage others from asking me out.” She said vaguely
“Like who?” Rachel asked
“None of that matter’s right now.” Robin tried to evade answering
“Like Tom Green?” asked Ethan
Robin jumped up from her chair and hurried to the kitchen.
“Where did she go and how did you know that?” Rachel asked
“She ran to the kitchen and it was a hopeful guess. He has been talking to me about her.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.” He answered Rachel. “Robin, we will table that discussion for now. Come back out here.” He shouted towards the kitchen.
“My personal life is not up for discussion right now. We are discussing you, dearest sister.”
“She is right again” commented Ethan “How did you even assume we would want to date? I thought I was pretty clear on my preference of Hale sisters.”
“Why would you want this face when hers is perfect?” shouted Rachel as she pointed to her scars
“I’m not even going there sister dear.” Robin shouted back. “How do you know his face is perfect? Maybe he isn’t so handsome and you are prettier than he is?”
“She is prettier than me.” Ethan answered
“I am not.” Rachel countered “And who cares if you have a scar?”
Ethan smacked his head in his hand. “But it is supposed to matter to me that you do? How is that logical?”
“It just is.” Rachel defended
“No, it isn’t” Robin laughed at her. “I’m tired of that subject and I’m moving on. How and why did you think you had suddenly become a burden to me and why did I need my freedom from taking care of you?”
“They said they felt sorry for you and how you were always helping me.”
“And you listened to them?” Robin shouted “You take care of me just as much as I take care of you. We are family and I love having you here. I need your help as I always have.”
“What have I ever done for you?”
“You take calls for my business. You write emails to people for me. You find me business.”
“So, big deal.”
“It is a big deal. You keep me on track and I need that.”
“You could do that without me.”
“You are so stubborn.” Robin stated exasperated. “Fine. But if I ever find out you are leaving me again except to get married, I’m trapping you in that dungeon you call an office and throwing you a scrap of food once a day.” Robin shouted “I love you dear sister. Please stay here with me.” she said calmly and sincerely “My personal life is not affected by you in anyway.”
“I’ll stay.” Rachel stated
“Good. Now, is my part in this discussion over with? Can I leave you two here and let you have your discussion in private?”
“Ethan is leaving. We have nothing to discuss.” Rachel said
“Goodbye Robin.” Ethan stated firmly “Rachel and I have plenty to discuss.”
“I’ll pray for you Ethan.” Robin spoke as she left the room.
“That’s a great idea.” He said taking Rachel’s hand in his. Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for bringing Rachel back and thank you for her injuries not being more severe. Help us to discuss things rationally and calmly and to remember it is your will not ours. If we are to take further steps in our relationship, help us to do it with you as our first priority. Thank you for loving us more than anything imaginable. In Jesus Name. Amen. Ethan continued to hold her hand as he began to speak.
“I am so glad you have been found.” He said with emphasis
“I wasn’t lost. I left. And the Lord closed the door on you and me.”
“I don’t believe that anymore than you do. You are scared of not living up to some ideal of a pastor’s wife and you think the Lord closed this door.”
“It looks pretty closed to me. The church would not be pleased with me as the pastor’s wife.”
“And if it comes to us getting married and the church is unhappy, I’ll resign and go somewhere else. It isn’t a church I would want to pastor if they could not see the real you.”
“They do see the real me, helpless.”
“You are not helpless and if you tell me that again I’ll give you another nuggie.”
“I have a broken leg remember.” She said firmly
“And it has nothing to do with your head. Why do you insist on thinking you are helpless?”
“Because I can’t cook, I can’t clean house, I can’t do other things around the house. I have to be taken anywhere I need to go.”
“Not being able to do those things does not make you helpless. I can do those things or we can hire household help. Are you really thinking and listening to the Lord or are you worrying needlessly about the small stuff?”
“Isn’t thinking about those things important?”
“Not really. God wants your whole heart and your focus to be on him. He is your first priority, I would be second place just as you would be second place for me if we get married.”
“And how would I take care of you?”
“Don’t you remember the painting, the shelves, my car, the cleaning at the church? You have already proven you could take care of me.”
“That wasn’t taking care of you. That was helping out with a few things.”
“It most certainly was taking care of me.”
“It wasn’t either.”
“Okay, then what do you consider taking care of me?”
“Things around the house, running errands for you, taking on things that you don’t have time to do.”
“Like a pie social? Or getting the painting done on my house? Or getting my car fixed?”
“Yes. No. Don’t sidetrack me. You are not hearing me.”
“I’m hearing you but I’m going to not argue with you anymore. I’m just going to say this, so ours wouldn’t be a traditional marriage but even if you had sight it would not be you staying at home to “run the house”. You have a business to run. I want you to expand that business and do whatever can be done to help other ministers.”
“But what would people think if I didn’t keep my own house?”
“Who cares? I don’t. I want you to put God first in your life and allow him to direct your path. That’s it; that is all I want. If that is happening for you, then all other things fall in the right priority including me. I have no doubts that you would do a wonderful job of taking care of me and if I don’t have any doubts, why should you?”
“That is too easy, isn’t it?” she conceded
“No, sweetheart, it isn’t any more complicated than that. If it is our life, then how we run it is our business not the church members. You take care of me to the best of your ability and I would take care of you to the best of mine. There is no perfect picture of how our life should look. We will have ups and downs just like everyone else. But we put God first and trust in what he has for us.”
“And if I’m still worried?”
“Confess it for the sin that it is and ask for help in clearing up your concerns.”
“Why do you want to bother with me?” she asked sadly
“Rachel, will you do me a huge favor?”
“I’ll try.” She answered
“Lose the words “bother” and “burden” from your vocabulary.”
“Why?”
“Because those words are hard on your self-esteem and they do not apply to you. You do not have the personality of someone who is a bother or a burden, so please stop thinking about yourself like that.”
“I’ll work on that.” She agreed
“Good. Now on to the next subject…”
“Which is?”
“You and me. Honest answer, do you really think the Lord has closed the door on us?”
“No and I’m sorry I listened to those ladies’ comments. It just seemed that they voiced all my fears in one conversation and it scared me. Instead of trusting in you and in prayer, I jumped to a big conclusion. I’m very sorry. Will you forgive me?”
“Yes, I will. I’m sorry if my getting along with Robin made you feel insecure. I should have been more sensitive.”
“And I should have been less sensitive. I have some fears to confess to the Lord and work to resolve. I’ll make that a top priority.”
“
Talk to me if those fears start to get the better of you again. Leaving was not a good solution, I missed you and your family missed you.”
“I missed you too. And of course my family, but I missed you.” She said with emphasis.
“My prayer life was fabulous the last six weeks is the only thing good I can say about your absence. Now are we on the same thought wave, we continue to get to know each other until the Lord really tells us He has closed this door?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Me too.” He said squeezing her hand again. “How are you feeling?”
“I am still sore and my head hurts some.”
Ethan stood up from his seat. “I’m going to go talk to Robin for a couple of minutes while you rest. I also have a surprise for you in my car. I’ll be right back.”
“Get the story on Tom Green for me.”
“That is going to be our topic of discussion, he has asked me to speak to her on his behalf.”
“Really?”
“Yes, do you want me to drag her in here so you can hear the discussion?”
“No, that isn’t fair to Tom.”
“No, it isn’t. I’ll be right back.” He said squeezing her hand. “Close your eyes and rest for a while.”
Rachel nodded and moved to get comfortable on the couch. Ethan went out to Robin’s shop. “Hi” he stated as he opened the door
“Is she okay? Are you all okay?”
“Yes, she is resting for a few minutes and we are back on track together.”
“Did she explain why she did all of this?”
“You know why, she was scared. But that isn’t why I came out here.”
“Don’t embarrass me.” she said firmly as she assumed what the topic of conversation was going to be
“I’m not trying to do that. I have been asked to speak to you on someone’s behalf.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
“I’m going to assume you know it was Tom Green.”
“Yeah, I assumed that too from your comment in the house.”
“He has casually mentioned you to me several times in the conversations we have had since I moved here. However, he met with me last week and made it a little more specific.”
“I have known him for several years, why didn’t he just come to me?”
“He and I have become pretty good friends and he is fairly shy and a little old fashioned on his dating habits. And I’m not trying to be “high school” he wants to know what you think of him kind of a thing, I’m just mentioning him to you. But maybe I didn’t need too?” Ethan asked