Here we go. I fear he’s headed toward talking about me. Dan seems to sense this, and places his hand over mine.
“But at the end of the day, church, all we’re truly asked to do is follow Him. To follow someone doesn’t just mean to walk behind them with your heads down. No, it means to follow their ways. Jesus called himself The Way. Anything else is a dangerous back road to nowhere.” After a roaring applause, Roland returns to the podium, places his hands on it, and looks to the crowd after a deep breath.
“You can’t Mapquest this route. No Google map will take you there,” he says before reaching for his Bible. Lifting it, he continues in a soft voice, like he’s speaking to parents holding a sleeping baby. “This. This is the only map you need. The Way. One hundred percent. Make a commitment before leaving here today. If you’ve backslid, turned away, or are ready to make a commitment for the first time. Do it today. Here’s your map. Trusted and unfailing for over two thousand years. Let’s pray.”
I close my eyes and lean forward, holding my head. At this point in the service, and all services I’ve attended, the preacher makes a plea for those who are still searching for Jesus. Asking by a show of hands—anonymous to the rest of the crowd thanks to the bowed heads—who is ready to make a commitment today. I always fight the urge to lift my head and look around. I’m not yet fighting the urge to lift my hand, though I know that day will likely come. I’m just not there yet.
I’m startled when my mother feels around for my hand, grasping it and giving it a squeeze as she says “Amen,” with the rest of the assembled parents and students. I’m shaken, once again fighting tears while listening to Roland’s prayers. This time, by my mother’s side. A woman who has far more history with this man of God than I ever intend anyone around me to know.
“This place has great-looking food!” Dan bellows as we cross the threshold to Mission Hall.
True to convention, Mom didn’t mention the hand-hold during the closing prayer, and none of us directly discussed the speech-sermon hybrid offered by Roland. The only pleasantries shared on the walk to the dining hall were, “That was a nice ceremony” or, “What a gorgeous looking group of boys at this school,” courtesy of my mother.
“It is good,” I admit, leading them to the center of the large hall. “Over here is the salad bar, over there, the Hibachi station…” A shriek of epic proportions from behind me overrides my flight attendant-like speech.
“Kenedeeeeey!” Turning, I find Eden race-walking toward me with the biggest smile I’ve seen on her to date. And her entire face is flushed and glowing.
“Hi!” I say, trying to match her excitement as she barrels me with a hug. “What’s, um, up?”
Eden takes a step back, retaining a grip on my upper arms. “He asked me! Jonah asked me on a date. Finally! He waited until today because our parents got in last night and we all went out to dinner and apparently he asked my dad while I was in the bathroom or whatever, but I’m so excited!” She hugs me again.
Admittedly, my first thought is thanking God that Jonah hadn’t spilled that I pushed him to ask her out. I don’t think I had to push that far, honestly, since they’re so clearly suited for one another. My second thought is how archaic and sweet—at the same time—it is that Jonah asked Eden’s father for permission for a date.
Stepping back from the hug, though, my third thought is one that’s unfamiliar to me. One I haven’t dealt with much at all in my life. Less of a thought and more of a feeling. One of jealousy. I’m fighting loud voices shouting that I want the picture-perfect guy to ask my dad if he can ask me on a date.
Which dad?
I guess it’s best I just focus on being happy for my friend, who has way less baggage than I do.
“That’s so amazing.” I smile, pulling back from our hug. “It’s about time!”
“Right?!” Eden runs a hand through her hair.
“Oh! Is your family here now? I’d love to meet them.” I turn to my parents and shoo them off with my hand, holding up one finger to tell them I’d be back in a minute. They seem happy to turn to the food stations and fill their plates.
Eden grips my hand and leads me through the hundreds of people that have descended on Mission Hall. While I expected her family to be sitting with Jonah’s, I’m still caught off guard seeing him at the table.
“Guys,” Eden introduces me from the head of the long rectangular table, “this is my other roommate, Kennedy.”
Eden’s clone, who I take to be her mother, rises to her petite feet and extends her arms. “Kennedy! I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’m Lily, Eden’s mom. We’ve heard so much about you!”
Great.
After hugging her mother, I shake the hand of her father, Ford. Ford Vaughn. It sounds so exquisite, I’d expect him to be in a board room. He might be a businessman, but it occurs to me I don’t know what he does.
“And,” Eden points to the young man next to her father, “this is my brother, Caleb.”
Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father
Andrea Randall's books
- Sacred Sins
- Sins and Scarlet Lace
- Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
- Bed of Roses
- Son Of The Morning
- Cover Of Night
- Affairs of State
- A Profiler's Case for Seduction
- Because of Rebecca
- Conflict of Interest
- Eclipse of the Heart
- Flames of Attraction
- Illusions of Love
- Keeper of the Moon
- Keeper of the Shadows
- Legacy of Love
- Love Proof (Laws of Attraction)
- Miles of Pleasure
- Of One Heart
- Off Limits
- Off Sides
- Out of the Dark (The Brethren Series)
- Out of the Depths
- Pool of Crimson
- Prince of Wolves
- Rules of Entanglement
- Shadow of My Heart
- Something of a Kind
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Taste of Desire
- Taste of Love
- Translation of Love
- Web of Deception
- Words of Love
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- The Scars of Us(Scars Series)
- Dreams of Lilacs
- House of Ivy & Sorrow
- A Question of Honor
- The Owner of His Heart
- The Heir of the Castle
- Tower of Glass
- The Last Prince of Dahaar
- Terms of Engagement
- Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage
- David Lord of Honor
- Return of the Prodigal Gilvry
- Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)
- Starting Over(Hart of Seattle)
- The Resurrection of Aubrey Mill
- OFF SIDES
- Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom
- Stolen: Warriors of Hir, Book 3
- The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)
- The Law of Moses
- A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)
- Arouse: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book One)
- Awaken: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book Three)
- The Art of French Kissing
- Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Echoes of Scotland Street
- Stinger (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)
- The Song of David
- The House of the Stone
- Ashes of Honor: An October Daye Novel
- The Weight of Feathers
- Blood Brothers
- Face the Fire
- Holding the Dream
- The Hollow
- The way Home
- A Father's Name
- All the Right Moves
- After the Fall
- And Then She Fell
- A Mother's Homecoming
- All They Need
- Behind the Courtesan
- Breathe for Me
- Breaking the Rules
- Bluffing the Devil
- Chasing the Sunset
- Feel the Heat (Hot In the Kitchen)
- For the Girls' Sake
- Guarding the Princess
- Happy Mother's Day!
- Meant-To-Be Mother
- In the Market for Love
- In the Rancher's Arms
- Leather and Lace
- Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark
- Seduced The Unexpected Virgin
- Southern Beauty
- St Matthew's Passion
- Straddling the Line
- Taming the Lone Wolff
- Taming the Tycoon
- Tempting the Best Man