Page 70 of Echoes of Eternity
“My husband who’s in prison.” Sighing, she shook her head as she turned toward Emily. “I know he seems like a dud of a guy, but I promise you, he’s a great guy who has made some mistakes along the way.”
“Sometimes, people make mistakes and regret it, but then still have to deal with the consequences.”
“Exactly. You get it.” Covering her mouth as she became teary-eyed, Brittany shook her head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Wiping her eyes, she took a deep breath. “Just the opposite. It’s right. I feel like your showing up here this morning proves to me something I prayed to God for. . .”
“What’s that?”
“I prayed that God would give me a friend.” Reaching over, she grabbed a hammer and a box of nails and handed it to Emily. “He loves us so much, Emily.”
She smiled. “Yes, He does.”
“If only the church were full of people who cared about the struggling like you do. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met some nice people at church recently . . . but it’s like a switch they flip on for Sunday morning. They’re not around the other days of the week.”
Conviction weighed on her heart as she thought about Ryan and her attitude about giving Linda and Tiffany money. He had lied about it, yes, but he also showed up for a mother and daughter in need. Had Emily been in the wrong for being against it all along?
Snapping out of her thoughts, she asked Brittany before she left the room, “How do you want these pictures and paintings hung up?”
She shrugged and smiled. “Just however you think is best. There’s nothing that can’t be undone. I can always fix it after if I decide to change it.”
A tingle ran up the length of her spine. She had spoken of hanging pictures, but Emily heard a message much deeper to her soul. There’s nothing that can’t be undone, God can always fix it . . .
That evening, back at her parents’ house, while Emily and the kids were laughing and discussing all the work they had accomplished at the dinner table, her father interjected into the conversation.
“How much did you make helping this lady move?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. We volunteered.”
“All of you?” Her father raised his eyebrows, glancing at the kids along with Emily. “Free labor?”
“Daddy. It was a young lady with a bunch of children. She’s in need. Pregnant.”
“Where’s her husband?”
Touching her forehead, Emily looked at her plate, purposely shifting her eyes from him. “Prison.”
“Wow.” He wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin as he shook his head. “Sounds like she’s going places in life.”
“Why are you talking like that? Wait, do you think you’re better than her?”
Her mother interjected, heat in her tone. “Emily Kathleen Curtis!”
Emily narrowed her gaze at her mother. “It’s Fitzgerald.”
Richard chuckled and then said, “No wonder you got along so well. You both have bad taste in men.”
Emily turned to her three children. “Kids, go to your room, please. You’re excused.”
Jack piped up, “But I’m not done with my chicken and?—”
“Now.”
Rising to her feet, Emily leaned with both hands on the table as she looked at each of her parents. “Don’t you ever speak about their father like that again in my presence or in theirs. You got it? You might’ve given birth to me, but you have no right to badmouth my husband.”
As she turned to leave the room, her father’s voice stopped her. “If you walk out of this room, we’re done. You hear me? You'd better find a different place to live within the week.”