“I know. He feels awful and kept apologizing. He doesn’t think we should rush an annulment. He said we should try to make the marriage work—if there’s a baby.”
“Donald nodded thoughtfully.” And what do you think?”
“I told him no. A baby isn’t a good enough reason to stay married. Not to someone who doesn’t share my faith anyway. I don’t think he knows anything about God.”
“Still,” Donald said, his tone steady and deliberate, “we must meet him. Extend an invitation for tomorrow. Additionally, speak with Pastor Steve. You are in need of counsel—someone impartial, grounded, and spiritually discerning. Your mother and I are willing to assist, but we recognize our perspectives are inevitably influenced by emotion.”
Sue gave a small shrug. “Your father’s right. I’d never be able to stay neutral or grounded.” Her voice was soft, wry—an acknowledgment that she was the one influenced by emotion. Donald, ever the thinker and planner, based his decisions on logic and fact—tools he leaned on to counteract the tensionemotions often caused. He turned to Beth.
“Tell me now, what is the doctor’s first name?”
“Bryce.”
“Very well. Call Bryce. Invite him to meet with us tomorrow and to accompany you to counseling.”
Beth blinked, then frowned. “Dad… you’re kidding, right? I mean, I was planning to talk to Pastor Steve, but I didn’t think I’d take Bryce with me. Do people who’ve probably never even set foot in a church usually go to Christian marriage counseling?”
Donald stood. “They do if they want to save their marriage. Whatever happens, if you are pregnant, this man will be part of your life. Best to know what kind of man he really is.”
Beth stood too.
“Yeah, okay. I already told him I’d call after I talked to you guys. I have his number,” she added with a small smile, remembering their moment on the airplane. “I’ll ask him if he wants to go with me. I’m tired, so I’m going to go home. Chances are good I’ll be back here with the good doctor in tow tomorrow.”
She hesitated before asking, “How disappointed are you in me? How ashamed?”
Sue crossed the room and pulled her into a hug. Beth sank into her mother’s arms, clinging tightly as Sue ran a hand gently over her shiny raven hair. Lynn had inherited Sue’s name—and all her spunk and flair—but Beth had always looked more like her. Tonight, it wasn’t just their features they shared. Tonight, they carried the same weight.
“We’ve never been ashamed of you,” Sue said softly. “Disappointed? Sure. But honey, you’re human. You made a mistake. It’d be different if you’d planned this out, gone looking for trouble—but that’s not what happened. I hate that you’re hurting, but it doesn’t change how I see you.”
She leaned back just enough to cup Beth’s face, her thumbs brushing away the tears.
“I see a woman who loves God and tries to follow Him—even when it’s hard. That hasn’t changed. You’ve touched lives, Beth. You’ve made people feel seen and loved. Don’t let this push you away from Him. Face it like you always do—by leaning into His strength, not your own.”
“I love you both.” Beth said, eyes burning as she tried not to cry again.
“We love you too, LizzyBeth,” Donald said, patting her arm. “Do you want to stay the night?”
Beth shook her head. “Thanks, Daddy, but I want my own bed tonight.”
“Understandable. If you need us, call.”
They walked her to the door. She waved one last time before backing out of the driveway.
Sue watched until the taillights disappeared, standing on the porch long after the car was gone. Only then did she let heremotions simmer over.
“How. How could she have been so foolish, Donald?” Her voice trembled, laced with something dangerously close to anger.
“Now, now, SueLynn.” Donald responded, standing steady.
“Don’t you ‘Now, now, SueLynn’ me. Two men. In Vegas. And she thought that’s the time to try a shot of tequila?” Her hands flew as fast as her words, punctuating every sentence with disbelief. “Did we really shelter them that much?”
Donald wrapped an arm around her and led her inside. “Her error was not rooted in the timing or the act of drinking itself. Rather, it was in failing to comprehend how swiftly a single decision can unravel into multiple consequences. To be fair, we did teach the girls that drunkenness is a sin—not the mere consumption of alcohol.”
“Fine,” Sue shot back, emotion rising in her voice, “BUT we’ve always taught them to think through their actions and consider the consequences. I know CaroLynn doesn’t apply anything we say, but I thought Elizabeth did.”
Donald nodded slowly. “It is plausible she believed the extent of her consequences would be limited to a hangover. A naïve assumption, certainly. In an effort to protect them, Christian parents sometimes construct a bubble—well-intentioned, but incomplete. Without specific examples, young believers may fail to grasp the full implications of impaired judgment. It is common to hear warnings about drinking and driving, or thatintoxication is sinful; howbeit, few—if any—are cautioned they could wake up married.”
Sue rolled her eyes “You’re right. I just... Comon sense should factor in at some point… I mean, I thought she’d know better.”
