Chapter Forty-Four

When Lee Roy Goodnight and Charlie Mendoza dropped by the parsonage on Saturday afternoon, Dodd had no doubt he would lose his job. The elders’ request for his family to stay away from Clyde, Fawn, and the Turners had been blown apart by his mom’s and Grady’s visit to the Dairy Queen earlier in the week, and Dodd felt certain Neil had driven past Ruthie and him the night before.

He didn’t regret his actions any more than his family regretted theirs, but his attitude regarding the church leadership shamed him. He hadn’t turned out to be a very submissive minister—or Christian—but given the opportunity, he’d continue talking to Ruthie. If she let him.

Lee Roy and Charlie sat in the living room, avoiding eye contact. Dodd pulled a couple of chairs from the kitchen, and he and Grady settled into them as his mother removed a pie from the oven. The scent of meringue followed her into the room.

Lee Roy cleared his throat. “Dodd, I’m sorry we’re not here under more pleasant circumstances.” He reached for a needlework magazine on the coffee table, absentmindedly laying it across his knees before fingering the corner.

Charlie withdrew a folded paper from the hip pocket of his Wranglers. “We thought it would be easier to communicate in written form.” He opened the paper and glanced at Dodd as he rested a pair of lightweight glasses on the end of his nose. “Do you mind if I read it aloud?”

“Please do.” Dodd remained calm, but his heart cramped. He had put a tremendous amount of energy into the little congregation and had planned to do much more. He felt his family was being sent away before they had finished the job.

Charlie’s cheeks turned rosy as he read.

Brother Cunningham,

As shepherds of the Trapp congregation, we would like to thank you for the service you have granted our flock. You and your family have been a source of encouragement not only to our congregation but also to our community. Your sermons are doctrinally sound and always ring true. Since your arrival, our congregation has seen spiritual growth unparalleled in the history of our church. Your effort, talent, and love are to be commended.

Because of the bond each of us feels, it is difficult for us to breach the current situation with you, and much time and prayer have gone into our decision. We regret to inform you that, as of today, you are dismissed from your position as minister of the Trapp congregation. As is customary, you will receive two weeks’ advance salary. You are at liberty to remain in the parsonage until you acquire alternate living arrangements, not exceeding eight weeks’ time.

We pray blessings on future ministries to which the Lord may lead you. We have enclosed a letter of recommendation for future employers.

Sincerely,

Lee Roy Goodnight

Charlie Mendoza

Neil Blaylock

Charlie folded the letter, then handed it to Dodd as though it might burn him if he held it any longer.

Dodd leaned with elbows on thighs, holding the paper. When he looked up, he thought the sadness in Charlie’s eyes would break him. “Charlie? Lee Roy?” He hesitated before asking softly, “Do you support this decision?”

Lee Roy dropped his gaze and blinked at the magazine in his lap. He frowned and returned it to the table. “Dodd … so much has happened.”

“I know, Lee Roy. The decision couldn’t have been an easy one.”

Charlie let his shoulders relax. “We talked until we were blue in the face. Lee Roy and me? We’re caught in the middle. We don’t want to see you go, but it came down to Neil’s word against yours.” He shook his head. “Roots run deep.”

Lee Roy wheezed a small cough. “We had to stand behind our man. Neil’s going through so much turmoil right now, he’s about to break in two.”

Dodd felt the effects of too many sleepless nights catching up to him, and he blew out an exhausted breath. “I understand, but I hate it for the church.”

Charlie rose slowly. “This has been difficult for everyone involved.”

“Sure has,” Lee Roy said as he patted Milla on the shoulder.

“There’s something else.” Charlie paused at the door. “Neil requested you clean out your desk … today.”

Dodd’s jaw tightened. Up until then he felt sorry for the men delivering such bad news. Now his pity ran short, and he stifled his frustration. “No problem. Grady and I will go right now.”

“We’ll go with you,” Lee Roy said.

Dodd scrutinized him, wondering if the old man meant to keep an eye on him. He picked up his keys and switched into autopilot. “I’ll need to go by the United and get a few boxes out of the back Dumpster. I’ve got a lot of books.”

“Let me help,” Charlie said. “We can take my truck.”

Dodd shrugged and then told Grady to bring Lee Roy to the church building in the El Camino. They would meet there and get this over with.

He rode in the passenger seat of Charlie’s truck with his mind surprisingly vacant. Maybe being released from his preaching position cleared his head—if only for a few seconds. His thoughts drifted away from the church and all its drama. All he could think of was Ruthie and what she must think of him. He sighed as they pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store, but when he saw her standing by her mother’s car, his mind jerked to attention and his pulsed raced.

“Well, don’t that beat all,” Charlie said as he maneuvered his truck behind the Dumpster, blocking their view of the parking lot.

“What?” Dodd reached for the door handle, anxious to get one more look at Ruthie before she and her mother drove away.

“I could’ve sworn I saw Neil over there talking to Lynda Turner.”