Charlie’s smile caused her to immediately relax. Melody looked at the older man and could see the sincerity in his expression. “I don’t know quite what to say.”
“Don’t worry about saying anything,” Charlie began again. “Father and I talked long into the night. He is quite supportive of my plans. He even wants to help with the school.”
“That’s wonderful.” Melody knew her tone was still guarded. She looked at Mr. Decker. “Charlie is quite good at teaching. I’ve heard nothing but enthusiasm for his Sunday school class endeavors. I would imagine running an entire school would suit him quite well.”
Charlie’s father nodded. “I believe Charlie would make an excellent teacher.”
“Father has been so encouraging that he’s offered to pay for the school to be built. I told him that I needed to discuss things with you first. And given all that you’ve been through this last week, I have no desire to burden you with it now.”
“I don’t think your dreams for the future are a burden, Charlie. You know I support them. I know that you’ve neverenjoyed...” She fell silent. It wasn’t right for her to comment on how Charlie felt about banking. That was entirely up to him.
“You know that my son has never enjoyed banking,” Charlie’s father said with a gentle smile. “Isn’t that what you were about to say?”
Melody bit her lower lip and nodded. She felt terrible for having related such thoughts because now Charlie’s father would know that he’d told her everything.
But instead of anger, Mr. Decker leaned forward. “Miss Doyle ... may I call you Melody?”
“Please do.” Melody continued to rock.
“Melody, I know that you must think me a terrible man.”
“No!” she exclaimed, shaking her head. “I don’t think that at all. I believe you to be firm, fixed in your thoughts. A man of opinion.”
He chuckled. “Yes, to be certain, and those opinions were usually quite negative. But God has dealt with my bitter heart. As I told Charlie, much of my bitterness came from not seeking my own dream, but rather following the plan that my father put in place for me. I don’t want to do that to Charlie any longer.”
She glanced at her husband-to-be and found him smiling. She cocked her head to one side to silently ask the reason for his amusement.
He leaned forward and lowered his voice, as if trying to keep his father from hearing. “It’s just so strange that he’s calling me Charlie. He never would before. He said it wasn’t fitting.”
Mr. Decker leaned forward as well. “A lot has changed by the grace of God.”
Melody felt the last of her tension ease. “God is good.”
“To be sure, my dear.” Mr. Decker eased back against the sofa. “Charlie has told me about your recent loss, and I am heartily sorry. He said that you were very close to your father.”
“Yes.” Melody folded her hands. “Da was a good man who always saw to our needs.” She hesitated to say more lest she burst into tears. “I loved him very much. I still do.”
Mr. Decker nodded. “It is never easy to lose anyone we care about, and even harder when it’s someone who has touched your heart so deeply. I didn’t have that kind of relationship with my earthly father. He was a man of rules and regulations who held no mercy for those who failed him.” His joyful expression was replaced by a look of sorrow. “I am so sorry for having repeated his mistakes.”
“Father, you were honoring Grandfather as you should. He was deserving of your respect.”
“Yes, but I didn’t have to become the very things I detested. Thank God you were strong enough to resist my bitter heart, Charlie.”
Melody had never expected such confessions, and yet for a reason she couldn’t explain, it comforted her. To see a man like Mr. Decker humble himself before her and his son was evidence of true contrition.
“You are forgiven, Father.” Charlie squeezed his hand. “Now, let us speak of it no more. You have a new heart, and God will direct the days to come.”
“I agree, son. Let us talk of your plans to marry this beautiful young lady.”
“Melody and I haven’t had much time to plan anything. I want to give her time to mourn. So many of our first experiences, even my asking her to marry me, have been mingled with sorrow. I want her to have all the time she needs.”
Melody was again touched by Charlie’s consideration of her feelings. However, she knew that her father had hoped to see her married right away. He hadn’t wanted to leave her to manage alone and had said merely living with friends wasn’t good enough to give him peace of mind in her remaining in Cheyenne. Not only that, but he had chosen Charlie for her.
“I’d like us to marry right away, Charlie. I don’t want a big wedding. Something very small, with our friends. Maybe we could just get married on Sunday night after the church services. We wouldn’t even need to announce it to anyone.”
“But I’ve already heard about it,” Marybeth said from the open doorway. She held Carrie in her arms, and the child was amazingly quiet. She looked at Melody. “When you didn’t come out, I feared something was wrong.”
“No, not at all. Charlie and his father stopped by to see me. Mr. Decker, this is my dear friend Marybeth Vogel and her daughter, Carrie.”
