Sam
By the time Sunday arrived Sam accomplished quite a lot. Over the past few days she had unpacked all her boxes and put everything where she wanted it. There was still empty space she needed to fill, but over time that would be taken care of. She went to the furniture store on Main Street that was having a fifty percent off sale. She felt incredibly fortunate with the deal she found. She bought a brand new five-piece cherry bedroom suite for just under a thousand dollars. It was a great deal, in her eyes, and wasn’t going to pass on it.
Yesterday, she thought about driving to Waterbury to the mall and see what kind of art they had. One thing she couldn’t stand were bare walls. She had a few items, but she had left other things back in Florida since she wasn’t going to sell her bungalow. She needed something to perk the place up a bit. She had made a list of what she wanted, surprised at how long the list looked.
“Curtains for my bedroom. Curtains for the living room and kitchen. New blinds for five different windows. Pictures to hang in the living room and bedroom. Some potted plants…” she mumbled to herself as she read it out loud. It was a lot, but she wasn’t worried.
Instead of going all the way to Waterbury she ended up on East Main Street at a large two floor consignment shop Junior recommended. He said his boss told him about it, that his wife loved shopping there. When Sam walked in she was astounded at everything they had to offer. She saw the stairs leading to the basement, but she browsed the main floor first.
Sam soon lost her sense of time as she walked around the humungous establishment. She was astonished at the antiques and unusual items that a person wouldn’t see at most places. The store boasted antique lamps, furniture and desks, kitchenware, clothes, games, jewelry, art and various other items. By the time she had walked through both floors two hours had passed and she bought more than she had anticipated. She had to leave a large portion of it there with the promise she would be back within a few days with a friend to pick it all up. When she walked out of the consignment shop she was all smiles and felt giddy inside. She couldn’t wait to tell Junior. Of course, she would need his help, but she didn’t think he would mind.
She stepped in front of the mirror on her large cherry dresser after a good night’s sleep on her new bed. She felt incredible when she woke up. After she took her shower and had coffee she texted Junior to see if he wanted to go to church. She should have asked him the night before, but they hadn’t talked, which concerned her. It was unusual for them to not talk and she had a feeling that something wasn’t right. Maybe they could talk later if she didn’t hear back from him before she left.
She adjusted her blouse before turning away from the mirror. Red wasn’t a color she normally wore, but it suited her and matched her skirt. She was excited about going to church. She hadn’t been in two weeks because of everything involved with her move. She hadn’t been to church in Torrington in what felt like forever. She looked forward to seeing some of the people in the congregation. She particularly hoped the same pastor was still there. She loved how he gave a message and she adored his wife and kids.
As she locked the front door she looked at her phone and saw Junior hadn’t answered her. She frowned and thought about calling him. Shaking her head, she turned and hurried to her car. She didn’t have time. She wasn’t going to be late for the service. She would call him or maybe stop by in a couple of hours.
When Sam parked on the side of the street not far from the church, her excitement was close to boiling over. She could feel the presence of God around her and she almost wanted to run to get there. She had plenty of time apparently because people were still walking in and being greeted by the ushers. Before she could cross the street, she had to wait on a few passing vehicles. As she did she took in her surroundings and was grateful for the moment. Seeing the change in the season was a beautiful thing and once again she was reminded how great an artist God truly was.
In her haste of life, she almost hadn’t noticed fall settling in all around her. She could tell the temperature had shifted, but she hadn’t taken time to see the other obvious changes. The leaves were turning red and orange and were falling from the limbs of thousands of trees. They were beginning to cover the ground all around her. She guessed one reason she hadn’t noticed any sooner was because she didn’t have any trees in her yard. Her neighbors did so she would probably get some of their leaves, but not nearly as many as they would.
She finally arrived at the concrete steps and stepped up to meet one of the men handing out pamphlets. They immediately recognized one another and he was thrilled to see her.
“Sam! How are you? It’s been so long!”
Grinning, she replied, “Hey Bill. I’m good and it’s great to be back. How are you and the family?”
“They are good. They’re inside and will be happy to see you. So, are you visiting for a while?”
She stepped to the side so another couple could go inside the church.
“No, actually. I moved back this week. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”
“Fantastic! I’m happy to hear that. Go find Clara. She will be thrilled to see you.”
Smiling, Sam walked into the lobby of the church and thought about making a cup of coffee. That was one feature that most churches that she knew about didn’t do. It was a simple gesture, but one that helped make new followers feel more welcome. Instead of coffee, though, she poured herself a small cup of juice and stepped into the main room. She could see a large crowd of God’s people filling the building and it touched her heart. The band was setting up on the stage. She couldn’t wait to hear them and everyone praising the Lord. She already knew she would be emotional. Songs of faith and love for Jesus always made her cry.
As she slowly made her way down the middle aisle she spotted Clara and her two young kids about halfway down. Clara didn’t see her walking toward her and Sam smiled as she approached. Tapping Clara on her shoulder she waited with anticipation at her friend’s expression. When she turned toward Sam her face lit up with surprise and Sam quickly received a squeal and a hug at the same time.
“Oh, my goodness, Sam! When did you get in? You look great!”
Laughing along with her friend’s joy, she answered, “I moved back to Torrington earlier this week. I have been looking forward to coming today and hoped I would see some of my old friends.”
“I’m so glad you are here. Did you see Bill on your way in?”
“Yes, he was happy to see me, too.”
The band began tuning their guitars and the drummer slapped his sticks on one of the drums letting everyone know they would be starting any moment.
“Please, sit with us,” Clara offered. “Would you like to join us for lunch after church? We are going to the diner.”
Sam thought about Junior and dismissed how he never replied to her text. For a second she was irritated at him, but she smiled and said she would love to join them.
Music began blaring throughout the room, sounding like there were speakers along the walls, but it was the acoustics and building design that made it seem that way. Everyone stood and clapped along as the band leader led the congregation in song. Sam wasn’t disappointed with her emotions. Her tears began filling her eyes as the sound of voice and the band lifted her spirit. She never felt more at home than at that moment.
The pastor didn’t disappoint in his message. She remembered how at times he would remind her of what some called a fire and brimstone Bible thumping preacher. He was being that way during his message and the words he expelled reached the inner depths of her soul. He talked about the way the world was today, how the country was in dire need to have God back in the schools and government. He was extremely vigilant about how the country and the world was failing miserably in God’s eyes and that He was coming back soon. He said that if there was anyone in the room who wasn’t one hundred percent sure of where they were going that they better be sure before they left the church.
Sam looked around and could see men and women wiping their eyes with tissues. She saw a few people with fear written on their faces and she hoped they would be sure before they left. When the pastor finished with his sermon the pianist began playing. The pastor invited anyone who needed to change their life forever to come to the front of the church. Sam watched several men and a few women and teenagers make that beautiful decision and walked up front. She couldn’t hold back her tears.
As she watched the event take place before the congregation her hands were clasped in front of her and she looked to the ceiling. She thanked Jesus for His love and all His blessings. Moments later everyone that walked up front stood before the rest of the church with smiles on their faces and the pastor welcomed them home. He then closed the service in prayer and asked the congregation to walk by and welcome the new followers into God’s house.
***
Junior
Junior fumed as he looked at his ruined cell phone that sat on the dining room table. It was filled with water and absolutely no use to him. He couldn’t believe he knocked it into the toilet. He had just gotten it a couple months ago. He’d lost all his numbers and he didn’t think he had any of them written down to refer to. He shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t remember, but he hoped he had enough sense to have bought insurance for it. Otherwise, he would have to buy another new phone.
He had been in the bathroom in front of the sink and looking in the mirror, getting ready to start shaving. The phone was sitting on the edge of the sink. He didn’t know why he put it there, because he normally was very vigilant about never going near water with it. When it vibrated, he looked and saw Sam was texting him so he reached for it. He was half asleep and that was a big reason for the mishap—his fingers didn’t cooperate with his cloudy brain. By the time he realized what was happening it was too late. His phone bounced onto the toilet seat and into the water. He could only stand with his mouth agape for several seconds. He retrieved it and started wiping it on a towel, but he could tell by the way the screen was changing it was too late.
There was no way for him to get in touch with Sam. He didn’t know what the text was about, but she probably wanted to know if he wanted to go to church. He had thought about it. He needed to go and hear the word of Jesus. He probably would have gone too, if he hadn’t been so clumsy. The best he could do now was finish getting ready and drive over to her house. He didn’t know if she went to church or not, but if she did he didn’t know which one. He decided to wait on her porch until she returned. He needed to talk to her anyway.
When he woke up the first thing on his mind was being honest with her about where Chris’s money had come from. He had been honest with her about everything else, and told himself if he truly wanted her in his life he had to be honest about this too, even if it set them back. Hopefully, once he told her about the money she would understand why he had been hesitant.
***
Sam
Sam had eaten entirely too much. She was bloated and felt like she ate an entire cow. Rubbing her stomach with one hand while driving with the other, she berated herself for being too indulgent. She hadn’t meant to overeat, but she was enjoying the dinner so much she didn’t seem to be able to control herself. Fish tacos apparently were a weakness she didn’t know she had.
She had also very much enjoyed her time with her friends. Bill and Clara and their two kids were a lot of fun to be around. She was glad she had decided to go with them to the diner. They made her heart warm with how they missed seeing her and welcomed her home with open arms. Clara told her she hoped they would talk more often and invited her over on Saturday nights.
“I have a women’s Bible study every Saturday. You are more than welcome to come over. We also eat because all the women bring something with them. I guess it’s sort of a pot luck kind of thing, but after we eat we indulge ourselves on God’s word.”
She was more than happy to accept Clara’s invitation and looked forward to building more friendships within the fellowship. Getting deeper into the Bible was something she felt she desperately needed and craved.
On her drive home, Sam enjoyed the view all around her. The sun was out and it had warmed enough so she could roll her windows down and thrive in the cool breeze flowing into her car. She silently thanked Jesus for His blessings as it had been a gorgeous day in every way. She felt that way until she remembered Junior had not replied to her text and it started to irritate and worry her. She didn’t understand what was wrong and why he was ignoring her. She knew he wasn’t working. As she got closer to her house she asked Jesus to calm her and bless her with acceptance on whatever was going on. She asked him to protect Junior and to keep him safe. Seconds later she was surprised when she pulled into her driveway and saw his truck sitting there. At least he wasn’t in the hospital or anything, she thought to herself, but she still didn’t see him.
Sam stepped out of her car and began walking toward the house, wondering where he could be. Then she realized he would probably be in the back. The way he loved her huge backyard he was more than likely on the back porch waiting for her to get home. When she found him, she wasn’t expecting the troubled look in his eyes. She stepped closer as he smiled at her and waited for a bomb to fall.
***
“Would you please stop pacing the floor and tell me?”
Sam watched Junior as he walked past her several times and she felt some compassion for him. She could tell something was eating at him, but she was beginning to get irritated. He told her what happened with his phone and she was glad it was something so simple. She was also relieved it wasn’t something more serious, but she was beginning to worry about his behavior. Finally, he sat across from her and the tension on his face was frightening.
“Okay, well I don’t know how to go about this, but I need to talk to you about something important.”
Sam drew a breath and caught herself beginning to fidget. She stopped herself immediately.
“Okay. Whatever it is I’m listening.”
Junior ran his fingers through his blonde hair and looked her straight in the eyes.
“There’s something I haven’t been honest with you about, and it’s been tearing me up inside. One thing I promised myself is that I would always be honest with you.”
Sam leaned forward and took both of his hands in hers. Her lips were pressed and she listened intently without interruption.
“I’ve known for a long time where the money came from that Chris left you.” He paused when he felt her grip tighten on his hands, but he had to keep going or he would never be able to do it properly. “Please, understand first off that he had a good reason not to tell you and he made me promise I wouldn’t either.”
“Where?” It was all she could whisper. Her voice had grown dry and harsh.
“Not long before you met me and Chris, he was unintentionally mixed up in something he wasn’t proud of. He managed to get out of it unscathed, but he believed if anyone ever knew about it he would lose you. That was his greatest fear.”
“Damn it, Junior, where did he get the money?!”
Cursing was the last thing he expected and he knew the conversation wasn’t going how he had hoped, but it was too late. He had to tell her.
“He got it from making a deal that he didn’t want any part of. It had to do with selling drugs, but he didn’t…”
She didn’t let him finish his sentence. She stood and gaped down at him as if he was insane. When he raised his eyes, and looked into hers, what he saw tore his heart out. Her beautiful face had turned red and furious, and her eyes brimmed with tears. For seconds that felt like an hour she was speechless, but when she finally opened her mouth she threw words at him he didn’t want to hear.
“Get out of my house.”
Standing, he reached for her and she quickly stepped back.
“Get out!”
He looked at her for only a moment longer and felt defeated. Lowering his head, he walked past her without another word. When he stepped onto the porch he paused with a splinter of hope she would reconsider, but she slammed the door. The sound of the heavy door meeting the frame with such suddenness and force shattered his heart. When he drove away he thought he might never see her smile again.