Page 142 of Sunday Morning
I stood. “That’s the hardest part for you, isn't it? You can’t figure out why I’m here. Why did God spare me despite my sinful trip with Isaac to Nashville? Well, I don’t know either. And some days are easier than others, but I’m not wasting my chance, this gift, or blessing.” I shrugged. “Maybe God likes Isaac. Maybe He made him just for me.” I opened the door.
“If you leave?—”
I turned and lost my resolve. My fists relaxed, as did my shoulders. With one blink, I released so many emotions that I’d been holding back. “If I leave, I want to believe that my family will come visit me and watch me do what I love. If I leave, I want to believe that I’m welcome home any time. If I leave, I know I’ll never regret it because I’m not doing it for Isaac or anyone else. I’m doing it for me. God loves me unconditionally while allowing me to make my own decisions, even if they are mistakes. Can’t you try to love me like He does?” I closed the door behind me.
When my sistersreturned from the store, I told them over dinner about the stops Isaac and I made over six weeks away. My mom tried to restrain her smile as if she knew my dad wouldn’t approve of her being happy for me.
“Are you getting married?” Gabby asked.
Eve shot me a smirk with wide eyes while Dad kept his gaze on the bowl of soup.
“Mom and Dad said Isaac needs to marry you before hegets you pregnant.” Gabby shrugged as if she didn’t know that she was stirring up trouble. But she did. I could see the mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“That’s not exactly what we said,” Mom corrected her.
“I don’t want to get married. I’m too young.”
“But you’re going to live together?” Gabby's follow-up question stoked the tension.
I wanted to muzzle her.
“Yes,” I said. “But you shouldn’t be like me. You should find a nice boy who goes to church every week and wants to marry you before living with you.” I shared a toothy grin with everyone at the table.
“You mean like Matt?” Gabby wiped a drop of soup from her chin. “I’d marry him.”
“He’s too old for you,” Eve said.
“He’s four years older than me. Isaac is six years older than Sarah.” Gabby was too observant for her own good.
“Then you can marry him in four years,” Eve said, earning matching scowls from Mom and Dad.
But I couldn’t help but snort.
After dinner, I helped with dishes before calling Isaac’s house.
“If you love your dad, you’ll stay here tonight,” Mom said as I dialed the number. She gave me a pleading look before joining my dad in the living room.
“Yes! Stay. Please!” Eve stood behind me, wrapping her arms around me so her lips were at my ear, and she whispered, “I have tequila.”
I giggled. “Isaac’s better than tequila.”
“It’s just one night. Stay and tell me all the ways he’s better.”
Violet answered the phone just as I twisted my head to look at Eve’s hopeful smile.
“Hi. Is Isaac there?”
“He’s in the shower, Sarah. I’ll have him call you.”
“It’s fine. Just tell him I’m staying here, and I’ll call him in the morning.”
“That’s wonderful to hear, sweetie. I’ll tell him.”
“Thanks, bye.”
“Good night.”
“Yay!” Eve clapped her hands. “Let’s walk down to the creek.”