"I guess that's the way I was leaning too. I want to say no, but I have no Bible to back me up. So I guess I have to say... do it at your own risk. Just remember, marriage is forever. So if it doesn't work out, you're going to spend the rest of your life trying as hard as you can to stay married. And maybe not being very happy, or choosing to be happy despite the fact that maybe it wasn't an ideal thing."
"Yeah. I guess I agree with you. I... know that that's not the way our society works, but just because it's not the way we do things in our society doesn't make it wrong. In fact, years ago, arranged marriages were a normal thing. People didn't pick their own mates—they had someone chosen for them, and then they learned to love each other and get along. That's just the way it was."
"That's what I thought too."
Through all of this, Olivia had been quiet, but she finally spoke up. "I know no one asked me, but—"
"You're always welcome to give your opinion," Mark quickly said. He wasn't used to having a woman beside him, and he needed to make sure that he showed her more deference in the future. He'd apologize later.
"That's fine. He came to talk to you. But I guess I would say she must be desperate. Either she doesn't have money, or she doesn't have security, or there's something else going on. But Ty always seemed like the kind of person who wanted to help, and so maybe that's what's driving him. He feels needed."
"I hadn't considered that, but it's a good idea. And it makes it make sense, which was something I was struggling with."
They talked for a bit more, but they didn't come to a different conclusion. It wasn't wrong, even if society was going to think it was crazy. Society wasn't their standard—the Bible was. And that was the way it was supposed to be.
Chapter 28
The next couple of days went by quickly, as they waited for her furnace to be repaired and stayed busy—busier than Olivia had ever been. She made soup for needy people in the community, while Mark continued to help people who were still shut in, visiting them, doing Secret Saint activities. And both of them were involved in the activities at the church, practicing for the various Christmas festivities and taking care of her children.
Usually, they found a few minutes in the evening to get back together and to chat, but several times Mark had to go out for Secret Saint activities while she stayed home, wrapping gifts that he was coming back to pick up and deliver.
She loved that life and thought that it would be a very good one, but she wouldn't have minded seeing Mark more. However, she reminded herself that there weren't typically storms as big as this one, and this was probably not going to be a typical schedule.
They decided not to tell anyone that they were engaged on Sunday, but they did figure that they could allow their relationship to become public. Mark was careful to let everyone know that she was only staying in the guest room until her furnace was repaired,although he said nothing from the pulpit. As he explained to her, the pulpit was for church business, not his personal business.
She couldn't agree more.
The reaction from the congregation was almost exclusively positive. She had caught a couple of side looks, but she honestly didn't know what they meant. Maybe people just couldn't imagine that the pastor would like someone like her. And it had nothing to do with her staying in his house until her furnace was repaired. Thankfully, the repairman came early Monday morning, and they spent Monday afternoon moving her and the boys back into their house.
"I've managed not to stress about getting the candles made this entire time. There was nothing I could do, you know? But now that I'm back in here, I feel a little overwhelmed at all the work I have to do."
"I told you I would help you. And I meant it," Mark said, his words calm and confident. Like he had absolutely no doubt that they would get the candles done.
"You've been so busy. When will you find time to help me?"
"I will make time. I think that's what we do anyway. We have time—everybody has the same amount. Some people just manage to get more accomplished in different things. Because they place their priorities in different areas. If we're getting married, my family will be my top priority, right after God. And that has to be the way it is."
She looked at him, so sincere, so upright, so confident in what he was saying. She believed him, believed he believed it, and meant what he said. She just didn't know too many people like that. They seemed to be tossed about with every wind, blown here and there, without too much effort on their part. But she felt like he was right. If they needed to make time for it, they could. It was a human thing.
"It doesn't help that my parents are arriving this evening too. I'm definitely nervous about that."
The boys were running around in the activity center, and they stood by the door, everything packed and ready to take over to hernow-warm apartment, but he stood in front of her, grabbing her hands.
"Can we pray about that right now?" he asked softly.
Her eyes opened wide. She hadn't even considered praying about it. Of course, she spent a little bit of time in prayer every evening, but instead of being nervous, she should just give it to the Lord. She knew that.
She nodded. "Thank you for recommending it."
They bowed their heads, and he said a short prayer, asking God to alleviate her nervousness, to bless the time with family, and to strengthen and solidify the relationships between parent and child, grandparent and grandchildren. And Mark even said a little bit about himself, that God would grant him favor in her parents' eyes.
After he said amen, he didn't let go of her hand, but instead, when she opened her eyes, he was looking down at her with such love and tenderness that it was all she could do not to close the distance between them, wrap her arms around his neck, and press her lips to his.
"You're amazing," she said instead.
He shook his head, grinning and looking a little bashful. "All I did was pray."
"That wasn't all you did, but I appreciate it. Truly. Are you sure you want to be stuck with me for the rest of your life?" Sometimes she had this feeling of not being good enough for him. Or not that she wasn't good enough—that he deserved someone who was more spiritual, more considerate, less encumbered by the cares of this world, like her shop and her kids and the baggage with her parents.
