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Roland’s heart swelled with gratitude when Pastor Eli and his wife generously offered him a temporary home—albeit a stranger. During the last few years, no one had extended such benevolence toward him, but he harbored no ill will against anyone as they gave him a wide berth of distance when he strolled past. His grizzly beard and long hair often reminded him of a backwoodsman, along with the stench—he almost gagged himself whenever downwind—so no, he didn’t blame anyone for slinking away.
At breakfast, Cheryl insisted he come by and launder his clothes today. Although he had bathed daily since arriving, changing into a fresh set of clothes would be nice. He also needed a clean shirt and jeans for this coming Sunday’s church service. The kids would no doubt appreciate it.
The pile of clothes in the room’s corner sent up a sour odor that quickly filled the small apartment. He couldn’t let the offensive smell drift next door into Eli and Cheryl’s living quarters. Inspecting the soiled clothes, he shook them a bit and determined they’d likely need at least two washings before smelling fresh. Regardless of how frayed, they had to be clean and not offend those around him. Was that the reason Sister Cheryl insisted I wash my clothes today?
Gathering a full washer load in his arms, Roland knocked on the adjacent door. Cheryl greeted him with her usual smile. “Hello, Roland. Glad you’re taking me up on the offer to use our washer. Come on in. I have a visitor this morning.” She gestured toward the kitchen table. “You remember Renee’s sister, Jeanne?”
He halted at the threshold and stared at the back of Jeanne Adams’ head. He’d know her even from behind. And then she swirled around and stood. Her smile captivated him, just as it had at the shelter. He could not take his eyes off her. A breath slowly slipped from his lips. Jeanne? Did he say her name aloud? No. Relief flooded over him.
Cheryl’s gaze traveled between her two guests a couple of times. Finally, she spoke again, breaking the silence and Roland’s frozen stare. “Jeanne, do you remember Winston’s brother, Roland?”
Jeanne blinked, bit her bottom lip, and glanced toward Cheryl. “Um...yes. Good to see you. How have you been?”
“Jeanne.” This time, he actually spoke her name, and it was like angels playing musical instruments in the heavens. Mentally he shook himself out of the dream he’d been lost in for at least the last three days.
Jeanne’s lips pressed together. “Yep, it’s me.”
What are you doing? This is your brother’s wife’s sister. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone I knew. How have you been?”
Jeanne laughed. “That’s what I asked you.”
Oh, man, she has the sweetest laugh. “Fine, now that I’m back home.” Roland looked at Cheryl. “I’m sorry to interrupt your visit.” He’d become momentarily nose-blind to the bundle of dirty laundry, but then the heater kicked on. The resulting whoosh of air sent a revolting stench up his nostrils to remind him why he had visited. “Sister Cheryl, thank you again for allowing me to use the washer this morning. Is it all right now, or should I come back later?”
“Oh, you’re not imposing. The laundry room is through there.” Cheryl pointed down the hall. “The first door on the right. When you’re finished, please join us. We’re having tea and a snack. Renee baked a batch of oatmeal cookies.”
Roland’s eyebrows lifted. “Renee makes the best cookies I’ve ever tasted. Excuse me, ladies, I’ll be back in a flash.” He chuckled and hurried off. He wanted to glance back and steal a glimpse at Jeanne, but that might be too obvious. He’d be at the table in a few minutes and could take in her gorgeous smile again. As he crammed his clothes in the washer, the two women’s conversation floated into the laundry room.
“Jeanne, will you get an extra cup and saucer for Roland?”
“Sure. But, Sister Cheryl, I better leave before he returns. Roland needs to have a conversation with Winston and Renee before I do. I feel like I’m betraying my brother-in-law and sister. After all, he came home to see them, not me.”
“He will, so don’t worry one bit. Give him time. Baby steps. We can talk more later about your situation. Remember, what we do and say is heard, and our actions affect others. Keep praying for the right time to talk to Renee. She’s more understanding than you know and a wise woman.”
“Thank you. I will.”
“Now, let’s sit and enjoy your tea and a cookie. Not to mention the good conversation with my new houseguest.”
Roland clicked the washer to the correct setting, and images pummeled his mind from days earlier when Jeanne served meals and interacted with his niece and nephew at the shelter. Her sweet smile was the same one she had offered him moments earlier. Genuine heart. Is she married, have a boyfriend? Does she live here? Roland shook his head. She’s Renee’s kid sister. Stop it. Now.
Before entering the kitchen, he froze at the doorway when he overheard Cheryl talking to Jeanne. The word ‘situation’ impaled straight into his gut. Was she in trouble? Or, even worse, had she sinned? The impulse to find out more swirled through his mind. But it was not his business. He chided himself for eavesdropping.
To ensure the ladies heard him returning, he cleared his throat. “Thank you, Sister Cheryl, for your invitation. I love Renee’s baking. Whoever taught the woman how to cook did an excellent job. I don’t know how she did all the housework and cooking when Dad got ill.” A glower creased his forehead. Something heavy had fallen across his heart. Images of his dad inundated him, and the same something sent a shiver down his spine. Not wanting anyone to witness this unfavorable side of himself, least of all Jeanne, he stared at the cookie tin and waited for the invitation to help himself.
Cheryl gestured. “Please have a seat. Did you want tea or milk with your treat?”
“Tea, thank you.”
He claimed the chair across from Jeanne, the ideal spot to take in her beauty and close enough to have an intimate conversation if Cheryl left the room.
Cheryl filled his cup with hot water and pointed at the floral tea box. “I have a variety. Help yourself.”
The various flavored little baggies were lined up like rows of soldiers waiting for marching orders. He perused the selection and glanced at Jeanne. “What did you pick?” One of his eyebrows twitched, waiting for a response. Surely, I’m not flirting.
Jeanne’s earlier confident tone now turned shy. “The green tea.”
After he spied the same tea, he flashed her a grin. “I’ll try the same.” Man, you are flirting. Stop it.
“Jeanne, have you heard this young man has decided to stay in the community? Eli is helping him find a job.” Cheryl took a sip from her cup. “I really think you’d be an excellent youth minister at our church, Roland. Eli confided in me about how terrific you were with the kids—a natural teacher and leader, answering all their questions. We’ve been searching for the right person to fill the position for quite a while.”
“Thank you, Sister Cheryl. Your vote of confidence means a lot. I don’t know where or what God has planned for me. But I’ll keep praying about His will for my life and the path He’s set me on now that I’m home.” His chin lifted, and his gaze met Jeanne’s. Lord, I need a little help. Her eyes are so...so beautiful. Then she smiled. His heart seemed set on pounding right out of his chest.
“Jeanne, when are you leaving for home?”
Her gaze shot over to Cheryl. “I’ll be going home a week from this Thursday. My parents expect me back so I can start my new life.”
Oh, good, conversation about Jeanne. Please, tell me more about you. Wait! Did I hear that right...going home? New life? Was she married or engaged? No, no, no. Agony reeled within Roland’s gut. He found a woman he’d fallen in love with in a matter of seconds, and now she is leaving.
Neither Renee nor Winston spoke about Roland often, except for a prayer or two for safety and to bring him home. Yet something about him nudged at Jeanne’s soul, and she wanted to know him better. All she knew about him was that he’d just turned eighteen when he left home and joined the army.
Now Jeanne sat across from the man whom she had spent countless hours praying for—most recently, last night. She struggled to understand why he’d left the family and community. What happened? Was he running away from something, like her?
She couldn’t forget those gorgeous blue-velvet eyes after their first meeting when his family arrived in Hopewell for Renee’s wedding. Back then, she had a silly schoolgirl crush on him despite having limited contact. The other day at the center, he’d captured her attention again, even though his grungy appearance was less than appealing.
After Roland started his laundry and returned, the three settled at the table for a hot cup of tea. When Sister Cheryl spoke about Jeanne going home to Hopewell, something flashed across his face, and a noticeable change took place in his demeanor. She wanted to understand his sudden expression change. Had something happened during the homeless years he suffered or his stint in the army? Had he perhaps sinned? He was certain to have had unpleasant experiences. Did she want to know? What would she talk to him about or him with her? They had nothing in common.
Cheryl’s innocent question was a strident reminder to Jeanne, one that sent a painful streak of reality through her mind. Something nudged at her, a longing to stay here in Grove Hill, a resistance to the idea of returning to Hopewell—not now, when spring filled her heart, even though winter would be upon the land soon.
Jeanne hung on to every word Roland said about last Wednesday night’s youth group meeting. His appearance transformed from sad to happy when speaking of the experience, and his smile lit up places in her heart she’d considered locked away for no man to capture. The men back home never interested her, and she cringed at the idea of living in a loveless marriage. None of her siblings went down that path. Instead, they all fell in love like Jeanne longed to do. But if she ever finds a moment to ask her sister’s advice about all of it, will Renee tell her that she must marry through the church like their father wants?
Her father’s steady demands to get married kept her away, so she avoided him. Would he arrange a marriage while she visited Renee? Surely not.
In the evenings quiet, just before she drifted off to sleep, running away often crossed her mind. But now she’d seen how Roland returned home—his unkempt clothes and body odor, not to mention his heart-rending expression of being spiritually crushed. No telling how a homeless female would be treated. Abused? Beaten? Perhaps even killed. No. That notion sent pangs through her tummy, and she dismissed going down that path.
Without realizing it, she fell into easy conversation with Sister Cheryl and Roland when she told them about her snow angel and her rambunctious niece and nephew. Giggles spewed between her lips, and she hoped she didn’t appear too silly. Then she conveyed her desire to study counseling for young girls.
After a while, Sister Cheryl excused herself and left the room. Silence fell between Jeanne and Roland. The shy boy she’d met at Renee and Winston’s wedding had vanished. A more confident young man smiled at her. But she couldn’t think of a thing to say. What was wrong with her?
Jeanne ran a finger around the rim of her cup and met Roland’s gaze. “Are you going to meet with Winston soon?” She bit her lower lip. How could she ask such a question? That was not her business.
He glanced down the hall and then lowered his chin. “I will. I’m not sure when. It’s hard for me to face my brother. He and Renee took on so much, and I’m ashamed of my actions.”
She wanted to lay her hand on his to offer comfort and perhaps ease the pain-stricken expression on his face. But that kind of gesture would definitely be too forward. Besides, he might react negatively. “Roland, I’m sorry, this isn’t my business. But to be honest, he loves you and wants you home. I don’t know why you left or stayed away so long.” She held up her hand to halt his response. “You don’t need to share with me any of your reasons. Just please, believe me, your family loves you. They will forgive you. All they want is to have you safely back in the family.”
He met her gaze, and his eyes softened. “Before I ask for their forgiveness, I needed to know they would. Thanks. I appreciate you telling me how they felt. It will make it a bit easier. Leaving back when I was so young was a mistake...I was naïve and should have talked to Winston. You know Dad had a brain tumor. It made him do and say cruel things. I didn’t blame him. It was the cancer, and... When I was in the service, I did something against the rules. So they put me in jail. People kinda shy away from me when they find out. Did you know I went to jail?”
“No. I won’t ever treat you in that way, Roland. We all make mistakes. If you need to talk, call me, or better yet, text. My phone stays on during the night beside my bed. Things often burden my heart and, well.... I’m not saying my problems compare to yours, but I still have them, and I know they can weigh heavily on your soul. I won’t be in Grove Hill long, but we can talk and text while I’m here...I’d like you to reach out to me when I go home, please.”
“Thanks, Jeanne. I’d like that. But...can’t do it without your number.” A crooked little grin flashed on Roland’s lips.
Jeanne snatched a piece of paper and pen from the middle of the table, scribbled her cell number, and passed it to him. His fingers brushed hers when he accepted the note, and something akin to a lightning bolt trailed up one finger into her arm and straight to her heart. Oh, my.
He folded the paper and slid it into his shirt pocket just as Cheryl returned.