Chapter 18
"Thank you so much for staying here." Pastor Mark shook Ralph Jones's hand as the man harrumphed.
"It's me that should be thanking you. You saved my wife and me an awful lot of cold nights. The last time we lost power, we were huddled under blankets together to stay warm, and by the time the power came back on, I wasn't completely sure whether she was more ready to kill me, or I was more ready to kill her," he said, glancing down fondly at his wife, who looked up at him, shaking her head.
"That's quite a story," was all she said.
Mark laughed, although inside he wondered what it would be like to have someone to snuggle with under the blankets and keep warm. He hardly thought he'd be interested in killing her. It might not be something that he'd choose to do on a normal day, but he could think of ways to pass the time that would make snuggling under the blankets not unpleasant.
But he laughed good-naturedly and closed the door behind the last guest to leave.
After three full nights and two full days—electricity for prettymuch all the surrounding areas had come back on. Except for the opposite side of the street in Mistletoe Meadows.
He looked at the dark candle shop. Still no lights there.
"Well, you're down to just us. I'm sorry to be a bother." Olivia walked up to him, her hands shoved in her pockets, her mouth turned down.
Her boys played happily around the large activity room. With all the cots put away and the sleeping bags rolled up, they had the entire place to themselves. Plus, since they were no longer trying to conserve electricity so that the generator wouldn't run out of fuel, but instead they now had electricity and the lights were on, they were taking advantage of their newfound spacious play area.
"You're not inconveniencing me in any way. In fact, I was thinking that if you don't mind, I'll put you guys up in my guestroom so we can all enjoy the luxuries of having hot showers nearby, and a kitchen as well."
"Oh my goodness. I couldn't possibly—"
"It would actually be more convenient for me to have you there than here." He couldn't really articulate why that was. But it was true. Having them in his house would make it easier for him to keep an eye on them, and serve them the way he wanted to. Plus, he wanted to do the very best that he could for Olivia.
"Are you sure?" she asked, biting her lip and looking like she was ready to grab her kids and run back to the cold and dark candle shop.
"I insist. Please, let me do this."
"All right. But only if you let me help."
"I'll tell you what, I'll let you help by rolling up your sleeping bags and tidying up your area. I'll go grab sheets and blankets and make up the beds in the spare rooms."
She seemed reluctant, but she nodded her head and said, "All right."
He hummed to himself as he walked back through his house, enjoying the fact that every time he turned on the switch, there waslight. What a tiny thing to take for granted, but what a huge thing when one didn't have it.
Thank you, Lord, for electricity. Thank you that the entire town seemed to get along, and that we had some new converts, and people who decided to start coming back to church.That more than made everything worthwhile, although he would've done it without that, just because he knew it was what God wanted.
It was true—the idea of having more people in church, and that several people had gotten saved because of the gospel message that had been presented each evening as they did their evening Bible study and prayer time, had more than made up for any kind of inconvenience. Although, he really didn't consider it an inconvenience. It was just an opportunity to serve. To give back to God who had given so much to him.
He was just finishing putting the blanket on the twins' bed when Olivia stepped into the doorway.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not a thing. If you want to go ahead and give the twins a bath, get them ready for bed, you're certainly welcome to do that. I'm going to go over and make up the bed in your room."
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I know how to make a bed."
"I want to. I was just thinking that I appreciate the opportunity that God has given me to serve others, and I feel like it's the least I can do for everything that he's done for me. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am."
Her brows went up a bit, as though she were surprised that he was articulating it like that. But then she nodded, as though she understood the truth in his words.
"Thank you. Thank you for your service, but also thank you for the reminder. Sometimes I resent all the work I have to do to keep a roof over our heads, and to take care of the boys by myself. But... you're right. Serving them is like serving God, and I should be grateful for the opportunity to give back."
She didn't stand in the doorway, but disappeared once more.
He smiled at her words. Some people would argue with him and continue to be disgruntled. It showed what a servant's heart and what a malleable personality Olivia had that instead of being upset, she looked at herself and saw there were things she could improve.
