Child of Promise (19 page)

The answer came easily. She must stand with her patient or forfeit the right to call herself a doctor. And in her heart of hearts, Beth knew Mary Sue was telling the truth.

“I believe you,” she replied finally. “And I’ll stand by you. That doesn’t mean, however, I won’t support Noah in his efforts to effect a reconciliation between you and your husband. I’ll just see to it that, in the doing, your safety is paramount.”

“And for how long will you support Noah?”

“For as long as necessary,” Beth replied. She sighed, withdrew her hand, and leaned back. “Until you either see fit to return to your husband or leave him once and for all.”

“Mr. Peterson can’t see you, Reverend Starr,” the bank teller said after returning from her trip down the hall. “He’s very busy right now with an important account, and—”

“What I’ve got to say to Mr. Peterson is more important than some paperwork. Thank you very much, though, for your time and effort.”

With that, Noah stepped around the teller and headed in the direction she had just come. The woman gasped in dismay, then seemed to think better of trying to stop him. Which was all for the best, he thought. He really didn’t want to make a scene any more than she seemed to.

Harlow’s door was unlocked, and after a quick knock on it, Noah walked in, shutting it firmly behind him. The banker glanced up. At the sight of his pastor standing there, he scowled.

“Blast it all! I told Dottie I wasn’t to be disturbed. That girl’s going to lose her job for sure if she keeps up this kind of behavior!”

“Dottie’s not at fault, Harlow.” Noah pulled up a chair and sat before the banker’s big desk. “She tried to stop me. I just didn’t want to be stopped, that’s all.”

Harlow grunted. “You’re getting to be rather pushy these days. Can’t say as how I find that particularly pleasing in a man of God.”

“Well, that makes two of us who aren’t particularly pleased then.” Noah locked gazes with the man across the desk. “This problem between you and Mary Sue has got to stop. Now. Today.”

Harlow eyed him narrowly. “And who are you to tell me what I can or can’t do in the privacy of my own home?”

“I’m your pastor, Harlow. Do you think I could in good conscience allow this to continue, now that I know what you’re doing? Do you?”

“Blast it! I’m not doing anything!” Harlow stood and leaned forward on his desk. “It’s all Mary Sue’s doing. She’s sick in the head. She’s harming herself, then trying to pin the blame on me.”

“And why would she do that? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Well”—Harlow lowered his bulk back into his chair— “that’s why they call crazy people crazy, don’t they? And with Mary Sue, there’s no telling what got into her head.” He shrugged. “Maybe she thinks I’m seeing another woman. Or maybe she’s just mad because I can’t afford to give her everything her greedy little heart desires.” He threw up his hands. “How should I know? Ask your wife. She’s the expert on sick people, isn’t she?”

“Beth doesn’t think Mary Sue’s crazy,” Noah said quietly. “She does think, however, that Mary Sue should leave you.”

Slowly, crimson suffused the banker’s face. “I’d never allow it. Mary Sue’s mine. No matter how bad it gets, I’ll never let her go.”

Even if it gets so bad you end up permanently maiming or even killing her? Noah asked silently. He decided against putting voice to his thoughts, however. Harlow Peterson wasn’t a man to be won over with accusations.

“Well, if you feel that way,” he said instead, “then there’s still hope things can be worked out. Say you’ll start coming back to the rectory to talk this out, Harlow. If you don’t try to meet Mary Sue halfway, I don’t know what else can be done to save your marriage.”

“How about just staying out of it and letting us work this through by ourselves?”

Noah shook his head. “It’s well past time for that, and you know it.”

Harlow slammed his fist down so hard on his desk it made Noah jump. “Blast it! A wife’s supposed to be obedient unto her husband. If Mary Sue would just do that and quit acting so crazy, none of our problems would’ve ever come to this. That’s what the Bible says, and you know it.”

“The Bible also counsels husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. Beating Mary Sue into submission isn’t love. Not in the Bible, and not in my mind, either.”

“Well, you’re hardly the one to cast aspersions, are you?” Harlow demanded with a sneer. “You only think you covered up that scandal surrounding you and Doctor MacKay by marrying her. There are still folks who continue to question your morals and your fitness to remain as the Episcopal church’s pastor.” He smiled maliciously. “I’m surprised you haven’t yet received a letter from your bishop regarding those concerns.”

Noah was grateful he had kept his temper for as long as he had, but he could finally feel his anger rising. He shouldn’t be surprised, though, that the conversation had taken this ugly turn. Harlow Peterson had always struck him as a man who would fight dirty when his back was against the wall. But Noah also knew Harlow was afraid—afraid of a lot of things. What he needed most right now was compassion and support, not anger.

“If that happens, I’ll deal with it when the time comes,” Noah said, struggling to keep his voice calm, his words kind. “In the meanwhile, what matters is you and Mary Sue. I want to help the both of you. To do that, though, I’ve got to get you two to talk, to begin working to solve your problems.”

“You mean
my
problems, don’t you?”

“I never said some of the fault doesn’t also lie with Mary Sue. Right now, though, you and I are talking. All I can do is deal with you. But if you promise to come to the rectory and meet regularly for a while, I think—”

Harlow shoved back his chair so hard it crashed into the wall behind him; then he strode around the desk to where Noah sat.

Noah rose to his feet and stood there, refusing to be intimidated. For a fleeting instant as Harlow bore down on him, his face purpling with anger and his fists clenched, Noah feared he might have to defend himself. Then the other man slid to a halt before him.

“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” the banker demanded, glaring down at Noah. “Well, I’ve had about all I can take. Get out of my office. You’re not going to believe me no matter what I say, and if I have to listen to you another minute, I’m afraid I’ll forget who you are and hit you.”

“Just like you hit Mary Sue,” Noah asked softly, “whenever she doesn’t see things your way? Is that how it is, Harlow?”

The blood drained from the man’s face. His mouth opened, moved, but no sound issued forth. He just stood there, staring, until Noah decided it was probably past time to make an exit. If he was lucky, maybe he had gotten through with that last, brutally painful remark. He could only hope so—for all their sakes.

Either way, nothing more could be done today.

18

I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10

That night at half past ten, an insistent pounding came from the front door. It woke both Beth and Noah, who had retired only a half hour earlier. Noah was the first to slip from bed and begin dressing.

When Beth made a move to get out of bed, Noah stopped her. “No sense in both of us getting up. If it’s one of your patients, I’ll come fetch you.”

Gratefully, Beth slid back beneath the covers. Even in June, the nights could be chilly. Thanks to Noah’s recent presence, though, the bed was still cozy and warm.

“I guess it
could
be someone needing your pastoral assistance as easily as it could be a patient,” she said. “It’s just going to take some getting used to, having a husband who can just as likely be called out at night as I am.”

As he buttoned his shirt and tucked it into his trousers, Noah grinned. “Well, considering it’s only your first night home as a pastor’s wife, I suppose I can forgive your mistake. Just don’t let it happen again.”

Beth stuck out her tongue at him. “So not only are you very sure of yourself, but now you’re already starting to lay down the law. What comes next? Me being at your beck and call?”

He appeared to consider that for a moment, then nodded. “Sounds like a fine plan. And when exactly were you thinking to begin?”

She made a rude sound and sent a pillow sailing toward his head.

With a laugh, Noah dodged it, then headed toward the door. Beth snuggled down beneath the covers and, for a time, waited on Noah. From below, the sound of men’s voices rose, their conversation indistinct. Clearly, though, one voice was calm and one was agitated and apparently pleading with the other.

As the conversation dragged on, curiosity finally got the best of Beth. She climbed from bed and tiptoed to the window. From there, the voices came more clearly now, and one of them was Harlow Peterson’s.

Beth ran over and began to dress. There was only one reason he could be here at this hour. Earlier that evening she had convinced Noah again to allow Mary Sue to stay at the rectory after the woman had admitted her parents refused to involve themselves in her marital disputes. Harlow was surely here now, demanding his wife return home with him.

Beth found Mary Sue standing near the bottom of the stairs, out of sight, but close enough to hear what the two men were discussing. Beth walked over and took her hand.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered, leaning close. “Harlow won’t get by unless Noah lets him.” She gave Mary Sue’s hand a quick squeeze, then released it.

“Let me in, Father Starr,” Harlow was saying. “Please, let me in to talk with Mary Sue. I’ve already told you. I’ve done wrong by her. I admit that, and I repent of it most sincerely. So please, just let me in.”

“Harlow,” Beth heard Noah say in that low, soothing tone of his, “not tonight. It’s too late. The women are asleep, and so’s my daughter. Come back tomorrow, and we’ll all talk. I promise.”

“B-but you d-don’t understand.” The banker’s voice became shaky. “I can’t bear for my Mary Sue to leave me. I swear. I-I don’t know what I’ll do if she leaves me. I love her. I love her s-so much!”

“She hasn’t left you, Harlow. She’s just spending the night somewhere else. She’ll be gratified, though, to know how you feel about her. I’m glad you came, that you had a change of heart, but you really need to head on home. It’s just too—”

“No. P-please!”

Even from their hiding place, Beth could tell Harlow had begun to weep. Beside her, Mary Sue inhaled a ragged breath.

“Harlow,” she whispered. “Oh, my poor, poor boy.”

She took a step forward. Beth grabbed her arm.

“Don’t, Mary Sue. Noah’s right. This can wait until the morning.”

Mary Sue hesitated. Then, as her husband’s sobs grew louder and even more intense, she shook her head.

“He needs me, Beth. I can’t let him leave like this. At least let me speak to him.”

Maybe seeing his wife would ease enough of Harlow Peterson’s anguish to convince him to go home for the night. Beth certainly hoped so. One thing for certain, though. Mary Sue needed to stay here. Even if Harlow was finally beginning to face his part in this sorry mess, he still had a long way to go in understanding and controlling his volatile temper.

“Fine,” Beth said at last. “Go to him. Reassure him of your love, then send him on his way. In the meanwhile, you two need to stay apart until we can get some things worked out.”

Mary Sue nodded. “Of course. I just can’t bear to hear him crying, that’s all.”

Beth motioned for Mary Sue to go ahead of her. She stepped out immediately, hurrying into the entry to stand beside Noah. Beth followed in her wake.

As soon as Harlow caught sight of his wife, he shoved past Noah, threw himself at her feet, and flung his arms about her legs. “Oh, beloved. My beloved!” He began crying once more. “I’m sorry. So very, very sorry. Can you forgive me? Can you?”

With a soft, crooning sound, Mary Sue bent and cradled his head against her. “I love you, too, sweetheart. I’ve always loved you. I just didn’t know what to do anymore, and you scared me so.”

“I-I know,” he said, sobbing. “I know. I was wrong. I was so wr-wrong! Just say you’ll forgive me and come home, or I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Hush, hush, my love.” Mary Sue began to weep as well. “I can’t bear to see you like this. I just can’t bear it.”

“Th-then say you’ll c-come home with me. Say it, Mary Sue. Say it!”

She lifted her gaze and met Beth’s. In it, Beth saw the growing doubt, the change in her resolve.

“No,” Beth mouthed. “Don’t do it. Wait.”

Mary Sue closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked to Noah. “What should I do?” she asked softly.

Beth watched the emotions play across her husband’s face. She saw him glance down at the sobbing Harlow, then up to gaze into Mary Sue’s pleading eyes. He hesitated. Then, as if he had made up his mind at last, Noah gave a curt nod.

“If you think you’ll be safe, go home with him, Mary Sue. This may well be a significant breakthrough for Harlow. I’m hopeful now that your marriage might be saved.”

“No!” Beth grasped her husband’s arm, squeezing it tightly. “No. Mary Sue mustn’t go home tonight, or for many nights to come. Harlow might be repentant right now, but the real proof lies in his willingness to face his problems and begin to work through them. And that’s not all going to happen tonight.”

Noah turned to her and laid a hand over the one she had placed on his arm. “It’ll be all right. I agree. Harlow and Mary Sue have a lot of work ahead of them, but I think he’s turned a corner tonight. And they need to begin their marital healing at home, as much as they need to with the Lord, with my assistance. Keeping them apart will only slow, if not damage, that process.” He smiled. “I feel it in my heart, Beth. This is God’s will.”

She stared up at him, stunned. Was Noah blind? Nothing of any great significance had been accomplished tonight. Indeed, she’d bet this was the usual sequel after all Harlow and Mary Sue’s fights. He begging forgiveness, she magnanimously granting it, and then another period of quiet and loving union. Until the next time, and the next, and the next.

But how could Beth go against her husband, especially now, in front of others, questioning his judgment as a man of God? It wasn’t fair. They had only been married three days, and already she had slammed right up against the reality of the lot of a preacher’s wife.

What had Ian said that night they’d eaten in the hotel?
I never saw ye as the kind of woman cut out for the life of bein’ a preacher’s wife. Ye’re far too independent and free
–
thinking.
 
.
 
.
 
.

But this wasn’t being independent and freethinking. This was something entirely different. This was sound medical judgment, common sense, even. Still, Noah was far more experienced in these kinds of matters than she was. She had been out of medical school now barely two years, while Noah had been a priest almost fourteen.

Beth chewed on her lip. She looked from Noah to Mary Sue to Harlow, who had finally stopped crying and was gazing now at his wife with eager, imploring eyes.

Her glance snagged with his. Yes, the repentance was there, she realized, but something was lacking. Was it, perhaps, a soul-deep understanding of what was necessary for real and lasting change, or even a true commitment to that change?

Beth couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she knew what she felt, and trusted those instincts. “It may be God’s will that a man and wife cleave to each other, but I don’t think it’s His will that one of them rush unnecessarily back into danger in the process. The Bible says blessed is he who waiteth, and it won’t do Harlow any harm to wait to have his wife back with him.” She shook her head with vehemence. “I’m sorry, Noah, but as Mary Sue’s doctor, I must advise against her going home with her husband tonight. Everyone’s been far too easy on Harlow. I think he needs to earn the right to have his wife back. And that earning will come with his faithful attendance at his talks with you.”

Noah eyed her, and to any other person he probably looked composed. But Beth knew him. She caught the tightening of his mouth, the glint of disappointment in his eyes. It hurt, knowing what she had said had wounded him. But it needed to be said.

“In the end,” Noah replied, still looking at Beth, “it doesn’t matter what either of us think. The decision is ultimately up to Mary Sue. Neither of us can keep her here against her will.” He turned from Beth and toward Mary Sue. “What do you want to do, Mary Sue? Stay or go? Either way, I’m betting Harlow will come back here tomorrow.”

Mary Sue’s eyes filled with tears. She looked down at her husband. “Harlow, I don’t know. Maybe it’s best if I stay, at least for tonight. There’s always tomorrow . . .”

The banker climbed to his feet, engulfed her in his arms, and pulled her to him. “Yes, beloved, there’s always tomorrow. But I need you home tonight. Now that we’ve finally admitted our problem, there’s no reason to remain apart. And Noah’s right. We’re both coming back here tomorrow and every day after that, for as long as we need to. I swear it!”

He began to kiss her ever so tenderly. First on the hair, then forehead, then cheeks, nose, and finally the mouth. Beth could see Mary Sue melt against him, her resistance and good sense evaporating in the intensity of his assault. She wanted to scream at Mary Sue, beg her not to give in, but knew it was over. If she and Noah had stood united, the odds were strong they would’ve prevailed in convincing her to stay. But now all Beth had left was prayer.

Prayer that God would be merciful to Mary Sue. That Harlow had truly moved from violence to repentance. And that, at long last, he truly meant what he had said and was willing to work through his problems.

Yes, all that was left now was prayer. The sad thing was, Beth was in no mood for praying.

She shot Noah one final, furious look, then turned and stalked away.

Noah returned to their bedroom a half hour later. As quietly as he could, he undressed in the dark and climbed into bed. It soon became evident, however, that Beth wasn’t asleep.

He lay there for a time, listening to her breathing, feeling the anger and tension radiating from her like the warmth from a cast-iron cookstove. Noah couldn’t say he was all that happy with Beth, either. As his wife, if not as a friend, he expected her to support him in his pastoral duties and decisions. Obviously, though, he had presumed too much.

Lord, Noah prayed, grant me the patience, wisdom, and humility to solve this problem. Help me to help her understand, and help her to help me do the same.

“I know you’re awake, Beth,” Noah said finally. “And I’m willing to guess neither of us is going to get much sleep unless we talk this out.”

“So you think there’s something to talk about?” she asked from her position turned on her side away from him. “It’s not already immutably written in stone that the pastor’s wife should be seen but never heard?”

He sighed. “Beth, we had a difference of opinion tonight. I acted as I saw fit, as did you. We do need, though, to work out a few ground rules.”

She turned over, shoved her pillows up, then pushed herself to a sitting position. “And why do I get the feeling these rules will all flow in one direction—mine?”

“That’s not fair.” Noah tried to quash his irritation. “I just don’t think you understand how delicate matters like Harlow and Mary Sue’s can get. And if you recall, this time both of them came to me as their pastor, not to you as their doctor.”

“So the rule is, the person they come to has total jurisdiction. Is that it?”

“Well, if not, how should we approach similar problems in the future?”

She turned to him. “I think personal safety must always be paramount, even above some biblical admonition that marriage is indissoluble. Other than that, I can’t see much else that might be a source of conflict between us. Oh, yes, and I don’t particularly appreciate it when you bring in God as your ally, either. It’s kind of hard to go up against Him.”