Elaine put her hand on Reagan’s shoulder. “I was going to say . . . that’s a positive sign. That he made time for this.”
“It is. But still.” Reagan tried to condense the story. “I was praying about it the other night and God gave me an idea. Rather than feel bad and complain about what’s happening, I could find a way to show Luke how much I love him.”
Kari smiled. “I like that.”
The others agreed.
“So.” Reagan dropped her voice to a whisper. “I need your help in throwing a surprise party for Luke’s birthday. The Sunday after Thanksgiving.” She looked at Ashley. “I’d love to have it here.”
“Absolutely.” Ashley didn’t hesitate. “I’ll talk to Landon, but I’m sure it’s okay.” She stifled a laugh. “I love it! Surprise parties are the best.”
“I’ll help with the cooking.” Elaine’s eyes lit up. “And whatever else you want.”
Brooke and Ashley said the same thing, and like that Reagan had a plan. She felt a thrill run through her. “Tell the guys later, but not the kids. Not yet.”
“Reagan?” It was Luke. He had leaned into the house, breathless from his time outside. “Are we leaving?”
“Coming!” Reagan said it loud enough for him to hear. “Just helping with the dishes.” Reagan covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. “One minute. Really.”
The others laughed, too, but they were careful to keep quiet.
Reagan felt the thrill again. “This will be the best party ever.” She was whispering again. “Love you all! Thank you!”
She turned and hurried out of the kitchen. Luke was back outside, and as she left the house he took her hand. The kids were already buckled in as Luke and Reagan walked across the grass. He leaned his face close to hers as they approached the car. “I have the nicest wife in the world.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a rush of panic. “Me?”
“Yes.” He kissed her forehead. “You helped with the dishes. I love that about you.”
Luke opened Reagan’s car door and then walked around to the driver’s side. Reagan sank into her seat, relieved. She thought for sure he knew about the party. But he’d only been talking about the dishes. A smile started at the center of her heart and worked its way to her cheeks. The weeks to come would be full of planning. Which was a good thing. Not only so Luke would know he was loved.
But so Reagan wouldn’t miss him so much when he was gone.
12
By Tuesday, everyone at school knew two things: First, Principal Quinn was being sued, and second, the lawsuit was being brought by Cami’s dad—Andy Nelson. Ever since the news broke, Cami had wanted to stay home, but her dad wouldn’t hear of it. She should be proud to take part in liberating the school from religious oppression.
That was literally what he had told her. More than once.
Cami waited outside the school until a few minutes before the first bell. That way she wouldn’t have to linger in the hallways, where people would see her and start talking. Since Monday it seemed that’s all everyone did.
As soon as they saw her coming, they would form little groups and whisper. Cami heard it all. The quiet snickers and rude words. All aimed straight at her. From students angry with her, confused by her father’s actions, and wondering if somehow she was behind them.
Those weren’t the only comments she’d gotten. Several kids had approached her with compliments. “Way to go, Cami! You finally saw the light.” Or “We knew you wouldn’t stick with that Jesus stuff forever.”
A few times, Cami had tried to explain that she wasn’t behind the actions of her father. She still supported the club. She was happy to support it. But her peers didn’t want a conversation.
They wanted the chance at a jab.
Before she left school yesterday, she’d wanted to stand on the tallest building with a megaphone and tell everyone in earshot to back off. This wasn’t her fault. Kids wanted either to applaud her or silence her. They all had something to say. But she had only one thing she wanted them to know: She loved the Bible study club. Being part of the group had changed her life in every possible way.
But there was no megaphone and no tall building. So Cami simply went home, avoided her father—who had been drinking more than usual—and climbed into bed early. At least she could talk to God and ask Him how this had all happened.
And why it was happening to her.
Cami was still outside. She kept her head down, hiding behind a wall, waiting for the moment when she could hurry through the doors. She had one goal today.
Avoid as many students as possible. Especially Jordy.
But even as the thought filled her mind, she spotted Jordy walking with two of the football players. That was another thing. He hadn’t returned her texts or looked for her after school the way he usually did. Yesterday he wasn’t in the only class they shared.
So was he avoiding her now? Did he and Principal Quinn really think she could’ve had something to do with all this?
The possibility made Cami sick to her stomach. Help me, God . . . help me get the word out. This isn’t my fault. Please, help me, God. She leaned against the building and took a few quick breaths.
My peace I leave you, My daughter . . . My peace I give to you. Do not be discouraged and do not be afraid.
The Scripture verse settled in around the scared edges of her soul and whispered truth. Truth Cami desperately needed. She could walk in the peace of God, even if everything around her was falling apart. And she did not need to be discouraged or afraid. God was with her.
Literally with her. Right here at Hamilton High.
Cami took a slower breath this time. The thing was, she didn’t believe her dad on this whole thing. He was angry at Cami’s mother, yes. He thought any Christian man who would have an affair with a married woman must be a hypocrite and a fraud. Okay, Cami could see that.
Cami figured this was the only thing her dad could think to do about it, and now the whole matter had spiraled out of control. So crazy out of control that it didn’t seem like there was any way to undo it.
Because there was no way her dad could’ve really wanted national attention on this thing. People around the country were calling him an atheist and an antireligious zealot. Some supported him, of course. They publicly applauded his efforts. But lots of people were angry, wondering how Andy Nelson could stop such a good thing at a messed-up school like Hamilton.
Whatever was going to happen now, it was too late to stop it.
Except for explaining how she didn’t have a part in it all. She could do something about that, she could speak her mind and tell the kids at Hamilton how this wasn’t her doing. Today at the Raise the Bar meeting, Cami intended to do just that. God would be with her, she knew that for sure. Because she had already asked Him.
The club still met in the school auditorium. Principal Quinn would give a message from the Bible and talk about it. Then the students would break into smaller groups and share what the message meant to them.
Then they’d pray.
Cami guessed that none of the club expected she’d be there today. They probably figured she’d be sitting with her dad in some lawyer’s office dreaming up a way to destroy Hamilton High. As if she’d been a fraud the entire time.
The bell rang. Cami had no choice but to make her move.
She raised her chin and clutched her backpack a little tighter. God, be with me. Please. I can’t do this alone. Give me the chance to make things right. She pushed on the double doors and walked through the school entrance. Most kids were in class by now, but even then she caught a couple of them staring at her. Two boys pointed in her direction as she hurried to her English class.
One hour blended into the next, and Cami struggled to focus on her schoolwork. One thing kept filling her mind when she was supposed to be listening to a lecture in chemistry or geometry. All this time she had taken the school’s Bible study group for granted. As if this were the sort of thing that happened at most schools.