16

Supper that night was quiet. They told Addison, who picked at his food, consumed with worry at the prospect of changing schools in his senior year.

“Don’t you worry,” Sam said. “Even if we have to move, you can always live with Grandma and Grandpa and finish school here. Everything will be fine.” But the idea of being separated from his son made him nauseous.

At nine o’clock there was a knock on their door. Sam opened it to find Miriam Hodge standing on their porch.

“Hi, Sam. May I come in?” she asked.

“Certainly, Miriam. Come in, come in. Have a seat.”

They sat in the front parlor.

Miriam fidgeted, clearly dreading the reason for her visit.

“What can I do for you?” asked Sam, helping her along.

“Um, Sam, the elders just met, and they feel it’s best for you to leave now. I tried talking them out of it, but they think your continued presence will be divisive. They wouldn’t budge. According to our contract, you’re owed ninety days salary.”

She pulled an envelope from her purse. “I guess they were pretty sure of themselves. They already had the treasurer make out a severance check.”

“Just like that? I can’t come back and say good-bye? Who’s going to preach this Sunday?”

“Dale and the superintendent have offered to preach until we call a new pastor.”

“All of this because I said a prayer at a wedding for two women?”

“I’m sorry, Sam. This wasn’t my idea.”

Miriam pulled a crumpled Kleenex from her purse and blew her nose.

“Ellis and I will be leaving, too,” she said. “I tendered our resignation at the end of the meeting.”

“Oh, don’t do that,” Sam said. “You’ve gone there all your lives.”

“We can’t in good conscience stay. And I owe you an apology. I never should have accepted your resignation this morning. I don’t know what I was thinking. I should have stood with you and fought it out. Please forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Sam said. “You were doing what you thought was best for the meeting.”

“What’s best for the meeting is to not let bullies stomp and scream like spoiled brats until they get their way,” Miriam said. “In that regard, I failed the meeting, and I failed you. I’m so sorry.”

“This is all for the best,” Sam said, not wanting to cause this kind woman further pain. “I think the meeting needs new leadership. Perhaps someone who didn’t grow up here, who can come in with a clean slate. I hope you and Ellis will stay and help the new pastor along.”

“That won’t happen,” Miriam said. “Ellis is furious. When he found out Asa had signed the petition against you, he called him and yelled at him.”

“That’s exactly what I don’t want. Ellis and Asa have been friends since childhood. Tell Ellis I’ve forgiven Asa, and he should, too.”

They sat quietly, both of them thinking.

“You’ve been a wonderful pastor to us, Sam. When Ellis’s brother Ralph was such a mess, drinking all the time, and we had to take in Amanda, you were so supportive. Ralph hasn’t had a drink in five years, and Amanda’s in college and doing well, and Ellis and his brother are back on good terms, all because of you. We’re so grateful for all you’ve done.”

“I’m grateful for you, Miriam. You’ve been a blessing to me and my family.”

“You deserve better than this.”

“You know, things always have a way of working out well for me,” Sam said. “We’re going to be just fine.”

And saying it out loud, he believed it. With all his heart, he believed it. He wasn’t sure what lay ahead, but he knew it would be good.