Logan Airport
Meredith’s life as she knew it was over. Which meant that before long she’d have to decide if she was going to take Connor up on his advice. Make some new connections in the publishing industry. Right now, she couldn’t imagine doing anything other than writing, teaching, proclaiming God’s word to women around the world.
But was that door shut to her forever?
On her best day, Meredith would give herself some kind of pep talk. Remind herself that there were many women creating online presences for themselves without a six-figure publishing deal backing them up. She could learn the ropes, take her writing and her inspiration and her videos and go indie. Maybe now was the time. Maybe this was God’s way of moving Meredith forward.
So why did it feel like such a setback?
Yesterday’s meeting was a shock, and yet not altogether a surprise. Still, she hadn’t expected to lose her entire career in a single day. The final strike came a few weeks ago when Meredith brought up her memoir as a personal prayer request at the start of one of the weekly online board meetings.
“I’m writing about my experience of sexual assault in the church, and it’s bringing up some difficult memories. I’d love your prayers.”
Her request was met with silence until the chairman finally stated, “I thought you were doing that Bible study on Esther.”
Meredith tried not to let her exasperation show. “Yes, I’m also working on my Esther study on the side, and the final manuscript is still on target to be sent in this spring.”
“Well, I think you should focus on that.” Richard spoke with finality.
And Meredith expected the conversation to end there. She’d never needed Richard’s approval about what she wrote in the past, and she certainly didn’t need it now. It wasn’t until she received that email the following day, she realized Richard had gone behind her back. Talked to four of the six other members and then drafted a letter strongly urging her not to write about such a heavy topic, mentioning that readers had come to expect Bible studies from her, not self-help manuals.
It wasn’t until Meredith asked her assistant Angie to scour all the Living Grace bylaws when she realized that yes, technically the board could vote to decide if one of her books should be published or not, even though her contracts had always been signed under her own name and were distinctive from her work with Living Grace.
She should have seen then the turn that the board was taking against her, but she still thought of herself as the leader of Living Grace, the ministry she’d started in her studio apartment with nothing but a desktop and a dial-up modem.
“Well, look who it is.” A familiar voice interrupted Meredith’s thoughts. “I had a feeling God would bring us together again.”
Meredith glanced over. It was Grandma Lucy, smiling up at her in genuine pleasure. “Did you find out about your flight?” she asked.
“The Grand Rapids airport is closed due to the snow. I’m on my way to the ticket counter to see if I can get on a different one.”
Grandma Lucy smiled. “Well, if you don’t mind a quick detour to Detroit, that’s where my first plane’s going. Flight 219. Still on schedule to take off on time. Maybe I’ll see you on board.”
Meredith smiled. “Maybe you will.”