Hope pulled her car into a parking space in front of Sean’s condo. He had asked her if she would take Grace to church. She had agreed but prayed with earnest that he would also attend. As Hope stepped from her driver side, Sean opened the door of his condo.
“Hey, I saw you pull up. Grace is almost ready, but you should probably check her hair.”
Hope immediately noticed Sean’s casual dress. A heaviness weighed in her chest. Grace rushed in front of her as soon as she stepped inside the door. The little girl spun around. “I think he did a good job on my hair this time. What do you think, Hope?”
“Hmmm. I think you’re right. He’s learning, huh?”
“Yep.” Grace smiled wide.
Sean bowed dramatically, waving his arm in front of him like a devoted knight. As he stood straight again, he looked Hope in the eyes. “Thank you for taking Grace with you.” He diverted his gaze. “She needs to go.”
“You’re welcome.”
“When you two get back, I’m taking us out for Sunday lunch.”
Hope didn’t want him to feel he owed her in any way. “No, I can pick up something.”
“Nonsense, I want you to come.”
His gaze met hers and melted away at her resolve to not allow him to get to her. She sighed. “Okay. We’ll be back a little after noon.”
Sean was ready when Hope and Grace returned. The three piled into his car, and Grace chattered about her Sunday school teacher and all of the boys and girls she had met. She barely slowed while eating. As they finished their meal, Grace switched the tone of her monologue.
“You know what? A girl got baptatized today. Can I do that?”
The color drained from Sean’s face, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Would he answer her? It wasn’t Hope’s place to jump in, though she wanted to. The waitress appeared with the ticket, which jolted Sean from his silent daze.
He waved the bill. “I’ll pay this and meet you all at the car.”
Hope stood, grabbed her purse, took Grace’s hand, and led her outside.
The car was quiet as Sean pulled from the restaurant parking lot.
“I just remembered something,” Hope said. “Grace’s Sunday school teacher asked where she would be attending kindergarten.”
Sean glanced at Hope and then quickly back to the road. “Kindergarten? Good grief. I didn’t think about her being old enough for school.”
“I’m five,” Grace said emphatically.
“The church has kindergarten classes. It’s really a good program.” Hope bit her lip. Sean might not want Grace to go to a church school.
“What do I need to do?” His tone suggested interest.
“I can get you a brochure.”
“Yeah, that would be great. Not to change the subject, but I just remembered this. My mom and dad are having a cookout next Sunday afternoon. They wondered if you’d come?”
Did Sean want her to go or was this an invitation only from his parents? Could she continue to be near Sean without giving in to her attraction to him?
“You hafta come,” Grace called from the backseat.
Sean grinned. “Yeah, you hafta come.”
“I know, we can all go to church together and then to the picnic.” Grace’s voice was animated. “Please?”
Sean’s grin was gone. “We’ll see.”
Hope silently cheered Grace on.
* * *
Sunday morning Sean awaited Hope’s arrival donned in khakis and a blazer. Grace had finally worn him down over the last several weeks. He would attend church with her and Hope today. What could it hurt? Lots of the people who sat in the pews were just as much a hypocrite as he was. The only difference was he wouldn’t pretend to be saintly on Sunday and then live opposite the other six days. He was going to appease Grace.
Hope’s gaze scanned him head to toe, and her eyes widened.
“Yes, I’m going with you today, but don’t expect it to become a habit.”
A smile lit Hope’s face, weakening his knees. Did she know what she did to him? But, her faith was central in her life, which meant he had a zero percent chance. His parents had preached against Christians being yoked with unbelievers. How ironic, he still remembered the lingo.
With Grace dropped off at Children’s Church, he followed Hope to the sanctuary. As he entered the double doors, his stomach tightened. He took a deep breath and let it out. What was wrong with him? He wouldn’t explode or be struck by lightning.
He spotted his mother up ahead. She blinked her eyes, and her mouth gaped.
“Hello, Mother.”
She barreled toward him, grabbing him in an embrace. She pulled back. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Your granddaughter wore me down this time.”
Identifying Grace as her granddaughter had slipped out unexpectedly. It was true, but the reality had yet to sink in for him. He was a daddy.
They took their seats on the Holland pew. After similar shocked reactions to his presence from his brother and sister-in-law, the service began.
Everything went well until the pastor began speaking on the prodigal son.
“That son strayed, but his new lifestyle didn’t turn out as well as he thought. It seemed good at first, but it let him down.”
The empty place inside Sean screamed out in response to the pastor’s words. He shifted in the seat.
“The Bible says that the young man came to the end of himself, came to his senses, and headed back to his father’s house.”
The pastor moved from behind the pulpit and descended to the floor. Was his gaze fixed on Sean? Sean’s hands were wet. He swiped them on his khakis.
“Folks, let me bring it to a personal level.”
Sean’s chest tightened.
“We stray from our Heavenly Father, because the world lures us and seems promising. But we quickly discover that it doesn’t satisfy or fulfill our longing.”
Sweat trickled down the back of Sean’s neck.
“The wonderful thing is when we realize this world won’t fulfill, our Heavenly Father awaits us with open arms.”
Sean’s pulse pounded in his ears.
The congregation stood for a time of invitation. Sean gripped the back of the pew in front of him and resisted the draw of the altar. He leaned near Hope’s ear and whispered. “Could you get Grace? I’ll meet you at the car.”
He dashed for the exit and sprinted to the car. He leaned against the driver-side door and took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart.
* * *
Hope rushed to the car after the benediction. His grip on the pew-back and his hustled retreat from the sanctuary proved to her that God was getting through to Sean. Between the Lord and Grace tugging at his heart, surely he would see the Light and return to a relationship with Christ. She struggled not to pray for this turn around for her own selfish motives. This wasn’t about her attraction or compatibility. This was about Sean’s heart, eternity, and relationship with the Heavenly Father.
Still a desire burned to be more than just a help with Grace’s care.
When she arrived at Sean’s car, he was already buckled in. She secured Grace in the back and slid into the passenger seat.
Sean made no eye contact. “I thought we might want to change clothes before we head to the picnic at mom and dad’s house.” His tone was even and deliberate.
“That’s a good idea. I brought some jeans and a T-shirt. They’re in my car back at your place.” She studied his profile.
“Great. Okay.” His gaze concentrated forward as he started the car and headed out of the parking lot.
All was silent until Grace’s little high-pitched voice began telling about everything that had happened during Children’s Church. As she chattered on, Sean’s shoulders and face visibly softened.
Would Hope have the opportunity to talk to him about the sermon’s effect on him? Should she? She raised a silent prayer for guidance.
* * *
Hope absorbed the family atmosphere at the Hollands’. She listened to the banter of the adults and the giggles from Grace and Miranda’s play. Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them back, scolding her envy. The sun drooped low as evening approached.
“We better get going. Grace starts kindergarten tomorrow,” Sean announced.
A drawn-out whine emitted from the two girls.
“Aw, come on, the two of you will be in the same class in the morning,” Sean’s brother, Richard, cut in.
At that reminder the two girls clasped hands, jumped up and down, and squealed. Sean stuck a finger in his ear and pursed his lips. “Not used to that yet.”
Hope chuckled.
As they made their way to the car, Sean lightly touched Hope’s elbow. “You’ll stay long enough to help with Grace’s bath, won’t you?”
“Sure.” Hope nodded.
They had just started the short drive to Sean’s when Grace spoke up from the back seat. “Did you know that Miranda got saved and babtatized?”
“Um, yeah, I think I remember Nana telling me about that,” Sean said.
“Well, I want to be saved and babtatized, too. I love Jesus.”
Sean’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles whitened. Hope’s pulse kicked up a notch. She silently asked God if she should speak, but his Spirit held her back.
* * *
Sean paused. Would Hope answer Grace’s question and get him off the hook? Somewhere deep inside, his resistance let go like the tumbling of a brick wall. A warmth spread through his chest like a wave suddenly set free. In his spirit he uttered, Oh God.
That was the only invitation needed. He pulled into a parking space at his condo complex, switched off the engine, and turned to face Grace.
“Sweetie, do you know that Jesus died for you?”
“Yeah. I know that. He died for me, and I ask Him to forgive my bad stuff, and then He comes to live in me and help me. And, one day I’ll go to Heaven to see Mommy.”
Hope sniffed. Sean glanced at her. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Her eyes met his. He returned his gaze to Grace. “I do believe you’ve got it. Have you prayed and told Him this? Have you asked Him into your heart?”
“No, but I can right here, right?”
Sean shrugged. “Sure.”
Grace extended her hands, one toward him, the other toward Hope. “Give me your hands.”
They each took one of her hands. Sean reached for Hope’s other hand, meeting her gaze. She grasped his hand and smiled though tears that trickled down her face. He looked back at Grace, nodded, and bowed his head. His daughter’s prayer rang with pure child-like faith. A knot formed in his throat. Sean hadn’t been privy to Grace’s birth, but God had provided him this special moment of her new birth.
He couldn’t suppress the Truth any longer.
When Grace said amen, Sean burst from his seat, grabbing her from her booster. He held her close and swung her around in circles.
Hope appeared at his side. He wrapped her waist with one arm, still holding Grace in the other, and squeezed. No words came as he looked into Hope’s glistening eyes. They finally made their way inside. Hope looked from Grace to him. “I’m so proud and happy for both of you.” Her lip quivered.
He gazed into Hope’s eyes. “Honestly, I think it took more faith not to believe.”
After her bath, Grace couldn’t keep her eyes open. Sean picked her up and carried her limp body to her bed. Hope followed, stepping in front of him to turn down the bed covers. As he eased her onto her pillow, her lips curled into a slight smile. Sean stifled a laugh.
“I love you, Daddy.” Her voice was low but clear. Sean’s breath caught in his throat. She snuggled her stuffed bear, and her breathing became immediately even.
He glanced at Hope and motioned toward the hall with a nod. Standing outside Grace’s door, he gazed in. “That’s the first time she’s called me Daddy,” he whispered.