Unforeseeable (9 page)

Noah didn't say anything. He just kept frowning at Matthew. His lingering anger with his father-in-law was evident.

“What happened?” Charity asked after swallowing a piece of pie. “What horrible crime is Grandpa talking about? Why is everyone so upset?”

Lizzie reached over and brushed a dark curl out of Charity's face. “Nothing for you to worry about, Cherry Bear. Finish your pie. We're going home.” She looked at Noah. “Would you mind warming up the truck? It's freezing out there.”

He rose slowly from his chair. “No, I don't mind.” He stood there for a moment as though he wanted to say something else to Matthew. However, after getting a warning look from Lizzie, he put on his coat and went outside.

“Charity, why don't you run to the bathroom before we leave?” Lizzie said. When Charity started to argue, Lizzie stopped her. “I'm not asking,” she said. “It's a long ride home, and there's nowhere to stop. Just go.”

Charity sighed and stuck the last bite of pie into her mouth before getting up and walking toward the bathroom. She gave her mother one last withering look and closed the door. As soon as the lock clicked, Lizzie scowled at her father.

“I know you've been saying things around town about Levi,” she said. “And I want you to stop it. Don't you dare use this situation to hurt him. He's a wonderful pastor. His age has nothing to do with his ability to do his job.”

Matthew's expression hardened. I'd seen that look on his face before and knew what it meant. Sure enough, what he said next wasn't a surprise.

“God's Word states very clearly that a man in authority in the church should not be a novice. It is not God's way to use young men to oversee His church! I do not say this of my own opinion. It is from God himself.”

“Being a novice has nothing to do with age, Father,” Lizzie blurted out. “Levi is hardly untrained when it comes to the things of God. He has studied the Word and served the church for many, many years. He knows more about God than almost
anyone I've ever known.” She quickly glanced toward the bathroom door, obviously worried about Charity overhearing her discussion with her father.

Matthew's solemn expression turned even more venomous. “Age has everything to do with this, Elizabeth. Obviously, the longer a man lives, the more he learns. Levi is not even married yet. I believe the church overstepped clear boundaries when he was elected as our pastor. He should not have been considered for this position. He does not qualify.”

“But he is getting married, Father,” Lizzie said, trying to keep her voice low. “And soon. All of the Scripture requirements will be fulfilled.” She shook her head. “Please don't stir up trouble for him. You know he doesn't deserve it.”

Matthew stood to his feet. “Getting betrothed simply so he could be voted in as pastor is not sufficient, Daughter. And now, he has become entangled in this evil situation.” He shook his finger at Lizzie. “This is what happens when God's commandments are broken. Mark my word. This situation will get much worse before it gets better.”

“I wish you'd explain to me why you waited until after Levi was appointed to the pastorate to begin your objections. Why were you silent when his name was offered as a candidate?”

He shook his head. “I wanted to object, but at the time I was encouraged by several in the church to stay quiet—for the sake of peace. After the vote, I realized I had been wrong to allow myself to be swayed by the opinions of others. Christ did not come to earth to bring peace, but a sword. He said clearly that a man's enemies would be those in his own household.”

“Brother Matthew,” I said hesitantly, “wasn't Jesus talking about the world's system in that passage? That He wasn't
bringing peace to the world and that households would be disrupted because some in a family would choose to follow Him and some wouldn't?”

“Callie's right, Father. Christ is the Prince of Peace in the hearts of His children. And you are trying to bring strife and division into His church. I think the Bible has some pretty strong things to say about that, doesn't it?”

“I will not quarrel about God's Holy Word with you,” Matthew snapped. “How dare you try to teach the Word to me?”

Lizzie pounded the table with her fist. “Father, I mean it. If you don't let this drop—”

The door to the bathroom swung open, and Charity came back into the room, halting the vitriolic conversation in its tracks. She walked slowly over to the table and sat down next to her mother, leaning against her shoulder. “I'm tired, Mama. When can we go home?”

Lizzie patted her daughter on the head. “Get your coat and your school bag. Your dad should have the truck warmed up by now.”

Charity smiled and jumped up, skipping over to the corner where her coat hung on the coatrack and her bag lay on the floor underneath. While she pulled on her coat, Lizzie pleaded with Matthew.

“Please, Father, I'm begging you to think about this before you cause damage that can't be undone. Your legalistic attitude has created so much harm.” Lizzie wiped away a tear that snaked down her cheek. “Don't stir this up.”

Matthew stared at her, his jaw working. I expected an angry backlash, but instead he only nodded and buttoned the front of his coat.

“I will carefully consider your words, Lizzie,” he said finally.
“And yours as well, Callie. Forgive me for losing my temper. It is a problem I struggle with. But you must realize, Daughter, that sometimes we will disagree. I am not always wrong. You are not always right. However, it is true that God is merciful to His children. He has been merciful to me. Perhaps I am not behaving the same toward others.” He fastened the last button and frowned at his daughter. “But remember that God also warns us about certain situations—just as a parent warns a child to stay away from danger. We must listen when He chastises us. Both of these paths lead to our protection and security.” He stood to his feet. “I know you have confidence in Levi. I hope you will also have some confidence in me.” He smiled at Charity, who had come back over to the table. “Thank you for coming to our house today, Charity. I am always so glad when you visit us. You make your grandmother and me very happy.”

She grabbed Matthew in an exuberant hug. “I love you, Grandpa,” she said.

“And I love you,” he responded. He turned his eyes toward Lizzie, and I was surprised to see tears in them. “And I love you too, Elizabeth.”

With that, he left. Lizzie was silent as she watched him get into his buggy and drive away.

When he was out of sight, I turned to her. “I'm worried. He could make things very difficult for Levi.”

“I know,” she said slowly. “My father is as stubborn as they come. If he believes he's right, he won't back down.”

“What's the matter, Mama?” Charity asked in her little-girl voice. “Is Grandpa doing something bad again?”

The innocence displayed on her face hurt me. The last thing I wanted was for division to once again rear its ugly head in Lizzie's family.

“No, honey,” Lizzie said. “We just disagree about something. That doesn't mean Grandpa's being bad.” She cast a quick look my way.

“Your mama's right, Charity,” I said gently. “You and your mother don't always agree, but you still love each other, right?”

Charity's dark eyes narrowed as she thought this over. Then she smiled. “Yes. Mama makes me go to bed too early sometimes, but I still love her.” She shook her head and her dark curls bounced. Like her mother, Charity didn't wear a prayer covering except on Sundays in church. “I don't want anything to go wrong with Grandpa.” She sighed deeply. “It took a while to straighten him out.”

Even though Lizzie and I were both concerned about Levi, we couldn't help but laugh at Charity's statement.

The front door was suddenly pushed open, and I shivered from the chilly air that rushed in.

“Truck's warmed up,” Noah said loudly. “Let's get going.”

Lizzie stood up. “You get in the car with your father,” she said to Charity. “I want to talk to Callie for just a minute.”

“Not too long, Lizzie,” Noah said. “It's late and it looks like we've got more snow on the way.”

“Okay.”

Lizzie was silent as she watched Noah and Charity head for the door. They both said good-bye to me and went outside to their truck.

“Listen, Callie,” Lizzie said when the door closed, “I don't want you to worry about my father. I'll talk to him.”

“I hope he reconsiders,” I said. “At least he promised to think about his attitude.”

“And that's a step in the right direction,” she agreed. “He
needs to understand that stirring up trouble in the church again would put us right back where we were a year ago. I don't think he really wants that.”

“I'm sure he doesn't.”

“As far as I'm concerned,” Lizzie continued, “Ebbie Miller, Noah, and Levi are the best leaders we've ever had. And Levi is a wonderful pastor. They all work so well together. I'm convinced they will bring positive changes to Kingdom.”

“Elder Zimmerman, Elder Scherer, and Elder Wittsman are strong men of God too.”

She shrugged. “I guess. They certainly don't seem to have the passion of the younger men though.”

“Maybe that's the reason younger elders are such a blessing. They bring great enthusiasm to the position.” I sighed. “Levi loves being our pastor, Lizzie. He's never cared about anything except serving God.”

Lizzie grinned. “And being with you.”

I could feel myself blush. “Yes, and being with me.” I stared at her silently until she frowned.

“What's wrong, Callie?”

I hesitated a moment, not certain I wanted to open a door I might not be able to close. “It's late, Lizzie, and your family is waiting. Why don't we talk tomorrow?”

“A few minutes won't make any difference. What's on your mind?”

I took a deep breath. “Is it possible Levi became engaged to me just because an elder is supposed to be married?”

“Oh, Callie. Is this because of what my father said?” Lizzie got up and slid into the chair next to me, taking my hands in hers. “I know Levi's not very demonstrative, but if you could see his face when he looks at you . . .”

I wrinkled my forehead in confusion. “I see his face all the time, Lizzie. He doesn't look at me in any special way.”

Lizzie squeezed my hands and laughed softly. “He hides his emotions around you, sweetie. But when he's sitting in the dining room, watching you work . . .” I was startled to see tears in her eyes. She cleared her throat and smiled at me. “Never doubt his devotion to you, Callie. Trust me. Levi loves you. You really need to believe that. It could be very important in the days ahead.”

“I was afraid to bring this up. I was so insistent earlier when I said I knew he loved me.”

She nodded. “I've been concerned that you didn't really trust his love. But you should.” She gazed earnestly into my eyes. “There may be some things you might doubt, Callie. But Levi's sincere devotion shouldn't be one of them.”

I was encouraged by what she said, but I still wondered. Did my father think the same thing about my mother before she left us? Would Levi's feelings for me change when he got to know me better? When he realized how flawed I really was? My fear was that someday I would see disappointment in his face. That he would be sorry he married me.

“I still remember when you came to work here,” Lizzie continued. “You told me the very first day that you intended to marry Levi. Of course, poor Levi had no idea you'd set your cap for him.”

“It must have seemed silly to you.”

She smiled. “I guess it did. But after I got to know you, I realized you were the best thing that could ever happen to him. I'm so glad you two fell in love. You already feel like my sister, but when you marry Levi, we'll be real family. Noah's excited too. His brother's been alone for a long time.”

“I know. Even though we both had to wait awhile, it was worth it.”

Lizzie chuckled. “You're still young, Callie. You didn't really wait that long.”

“Well, it seemed like forever to me.”

Lizzie's eyes shone as she smiled at me.

“You know what? I understand exactly what you're saying. I felt the same way about Noah. Like I waited an eternity for him. But now—”

“It feels like he's been in your life forever?”

She nodded. “You're going to make me cry, and if I go outside with tears on my cheeks, they're liable to freeze on my face.”

I laughed. “You'd better get going before Noah comes back and drags you out.”

She let go of my hands and stood up. “You're right.” She took off her apron and started toward the kitchen.

“Leave it here,” I said. “I'll take care of it.”

She stopped and looked around the room. “I feel awful leaving this mess for you.”

“Don't be silly. Cleaning up at the end of the day is my job. Besides, I kind of like being in the restaurant by myself.” A small meowing sound came from the stairs. Dora had come down to check on me. “Well, almost by myself.” She ran into the dining room, stopped, and slowly stretched. Then she meowed again, this time with more enthusiasm.

“I think she's ready for dinner,” Lizzie said.

As if he'd been waiting for his friend, Prince's plaintive mew came from the kitchen. “I guess they're both ready,” I said with a chuckle.

Lizzie paused as she put on her outer garments. “This
certainly has been a strange day. Frankly, I'm glad it's almost over.”

“It won't be over for me until Levi is home.”

“I'm sure he'll be fine, but I'll certainly feel a lot better when I know he's been released.”

“Me too.”

“How are you doing upstairs?” Lizzie asked suddenly.