Beth looked away. “I’m not sure anymore. He’s made it clear he won’t let me walk away from this without a fight.”
“What if you’re not supposed to walk away?”
Beth blinked at him. “How can you ask that? You know how this marriage happened.”
“I do. More importantly, so does God. He wasn’t taken by surprise by any of this, and His views on marriage are pretty clear. It’s sacred. You rushed into this marriage, but rushing out might be an even bigger mistake.”
“Bryce said the same thing yesterday morning.” She sighed. “Has it really only been one day?”
Pastor Steve rested a hand on her arm. “All I’m suggesting is to open your heart to the Lord before you make up your mind. See where He leads after we talk and pray, and don’t let fear keep you from walking down the path He has laid out for you.”
Bryce and Tami returned, and Pastor Steve gestured for everyone to sit. The older couple took the settee, leaving the wingback chairs for Beth and Bryce.
Pastor Steve looked to Bryce. “Let’s start simple. Tell us a little about yourself—your background, family, how old you are, what led you to become a doctor. Things like that.”
Bryce nodded. “Sure. I was born in California but raised in Canton, Ohio. Got my undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California, Santa Barbara, then went on to the University of Colorado School of Medicine. One of my professors invited me to do my residency with him in Colorado Springs, so I completed that at Memorial. Afterward, I joined the trauma department at Penrose Hospital and now I’ve just hit my six-year mark. I’m currently co-head of the Emergency Room. I’m thirty-five.”
Beth offered him a soft smile, gently steering the conversation. “Do you have any siblings?”
“Just one full—my younger brother, Brock. It was just the two of us and our mom growing up. My dad died in a car accident when I was twenty-five.”
Beth reached out and touched his hand. “I’m so sorry, Bryce. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. How could you? I never talk about it.” He gave a faint, almost self-conscious smile. “Time heals all wounds… or so they say.”
“I’ve always preferred the saying, ‘God will heal your pain,’” Beth replied gently.
Bryce glanced at her, quiet for a beat before responding. “Only if you let Him.”
The room stilled.
Pastor Steve’s gaze softened.
Tami blinked, surprised but thoughtful, and Beth turned toward Bryce slightly, her expression unreadable—though something flickered behind her eyes. For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Tami tilted her head, her voice kind. “How did your mother take the news of your marriage?”
Bryce hesitated. “I haven’t told her yet. She won’t be happy I got married without telling her—but she won’t be surprised, either. She hasn’t approved of how I’ve lived my life since med school. I’m hoping I can just say I got married… and leave it at that.”
Pastor Steve gave a thoughtful nod. “What part of your lifestyle has she struggled with, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Well, sir, my mom was raised in a very… legalistic church. Her father was a minister, and when my dad divorced her, she was asked to step down from leadership because they didn’t
believe a divorcée could serve in the church. She tried not to raise us with the same rigidity, but… she’s never been tolerant of anyone living outside the Christian faith—especially when that someone is her own son.”
“That must put quite a strain on your relationship,” Pastor Steve said gently. “From what I gather, you were a believer at one point?”
Bryce sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“Most life-changing ones are,” Beth said softly. “Will you share?”
He hesitated, then nodded. “My first year of med school, I was engaged to a woman from my church—Abigail. She was six years older, divorced, and had a five-year-old son, Levi. I loved her—and I adored that little boy.
I’d always planned to be a missionary doctor, and she supported that. We had time—six years before we could head to the field—but we were preparing.
My dad, also a doctor, was paying for school and didn’t support any of it. Not the mission work. Not the marriage. He said he disapproved because she was divorced—but later, I realized that wasn’t the real reason. At the time, I didn’t understand his opposition. He’d been divorced three times himself.” Bryce’s jaw tensed. “Looking back, it’s clear—he didn’t disapprove of the relationship. He wanted it.”
Beth blinked. “Wait… your dad wanted Abigail?”
