Eliana looked at Patience, but the older woman shook her head as if she’d had no idea that was happening.
He continued, excitement in voice, “Together, we drafted a document stating our intention to continue on as one body of Christ, the Kingdom of God here on earth. Regardless of the issues that divide us, we are all children of God. And under the leadership of the lawyer who helped us draft the agreement, we all signed together.
“While it doesn’t mean things around here will change, I would like to partner with other churches in more community events and outreaches, and we will be expanding our food pantry and kitchen to serve even more of the neighborhood. I was even thinking about a block party this summer. Something that hasn’t been done around here in many years.”
Patience whispered, “That’s a good idea.”
“You can find the rest of the information about it on the church app, or if you accept receipt of it, we’re transmitting to each of your phones now.”
Around the room, devices chimed or vibrated.
The pastor smiled. “Thank you, Steve, for doing that.”
Eliana’s phone, tucked in her pocket, didn’t make a sound. Patience slid hers out and tapped the notification.
“Now that your phone is out, scroll with me to today’s passage.”
Eliana reached under her seat, where she’d laid her Bible on the dusty floor, and opened it on her lap. She took out the pen tucked in the case that she used to write notes most Sundays. So much better than electronic notation—not a personal principle but a fact that was well-known enough to have taken schools across the country back to paper, books, and pencils in the aftermath of the Cyber Cold War.
This wasn’t the time to be thinking about how her mother had been right about that, and pretty much everything else.
She focused on the pastor and wrote a note in the margin to remember that every Christian was saved by grace. What one person did wasn’t worse than another, because sin was sin. The more a person had been forgiven, the greater example of how amazing it was that believers were freed from sin and made into a new creation.
When the service had concluded, she closed her Bible.
Patience took her hand for the final prayer and whispered, “Amen” as the people in the room stood and headed for the aisles. She patted Eliana’s arm. “I’m going to talk to Susan. We might go out for lunch.”
“Great idea.” Eliana bussed her cheek. “Call me if you need anything, or if you want to share a car home.”
Patience held her arm, and they stood, then she tottered off toward her friends.
Eliana spun around, searching the quickly dispersing crowd for Carlos.
Maybe she’d imagined seeing him. It had only been his hair.
“You okay?”
Her Bible toppled from her hands and landed on the floor. The way it always did when she dropped it, pages down and smashed together. She sighed, dipping to pick it up.
Carlos got there first. “Here.” He handed it over. “Been a while since I was in church.”
“What made you come today?” She hugged her Bible to her front.
He shrugged, not quite looking at her. “Seemed like a good day for it.”
Eliana nodded. “I needed to be here, where I know who I am.”
She didn’t think that God occupied this building any more than anywhere else, but in church there was a familiarity that settled her soul. That gave her peace she didn’t find anywhere else.
“That your neighbor you were sitting with?” He lifted his chin in Patience’s direction.
“It’s starting to sound like you’re spying on me.” Eliana frowned. “Wait. You’re not protecting me, are you? Is that why you came?”
He leaned in. “Keep your voice down. Do you have any idea the kind of trouble I’d be in if anything happened to you? Your parents would kill me. Of course, I’m watching out in case something happens to you.”
Somethinghadhappened to her, but she didn’t point that out. It happened to both of them, andhewasn’t freaking out. In fact, he looked like he might’ve been working for hours since he came here, or working out, and he had a thermos of coffee—her thermos—in his hand.
“Want an update?”
