A special church service had been called for the next evening, in honor of their safe deliverance from the storm. Angela had called her twice about it. Megan’s mother had also called, and of course, Peter.
“It’s a wonderful thing that the Pastor put this service together,” Peter said. “That’s why people in Tom’s River are so happy with him.”
Megan felt compelled to attend as her home had been one of those spared. She dressed simply in a beige linen dress and tied her hair back. There would be no harm attending the service, she wanted to give thanks. She also wanted to set a good example for Mallory, who she would take along.
Mallory was excited about going. She was excited about most things these days. The storm didn’t seem to affect her as much as Megan feared it would. Mallory was glad to have people around the house fixing it, and thrilled that school would be out soon and she’d have free time to play. These days Mallory asked less and less about Kyle, too. It was amazing how children adapted to change, Megan thought, how they were able to live in the moment.
Angela had saved a seat for Megan near the front row, and called her over as Megan walked in.
Megan walked down to the front row, saying hello to people she passed along the way. When she got to the row she noticed that Angela had also saved a few other seats as well.
In a few seconds Peter walked in and came right down to his seat. He gave Angela a light little hug, and nodded at Megan, his eyes fixing on her.
Megan smiled at him and took her seat. Thankfully, Angela sat between them. Megan’s parents, who came a few moments later, took seats at the end of the row.
Megan looked around to see who was there and saw Abigail, the Pastor’s wife, sitting a few seats away, looking quite somber. Megan tried to imagine her taking herself to meet Hunter at the Lumber Yard, but couldn’t. Like Megan, Abigail’s hair was pulled back tonight, and she was dressed sedately, in a dark brown suit. A beautiful teenage girl, sat next to her, looking lost. What an odd pair, Megan thought. Who was that girl? She hadn’t seen her before.
Angela leaned over. “That’s the runaway,” she whispered to Megan, “Holly.”
Megan was jolted. “Who?”
“You haven’t heard about her?” Angela asked. “Doesn’t surprise me. You haven’t heard about anything since you’ve been living in your own private world.”
Megan didn’t know how to react to that comment. She’d never been interested in town gossip.
“The girl arrived at the church one day, terrified, and is still staying in the upstairs quarters,” Angela went on. “Pastor Halding is taking care of her.”
“That’s lovely of him,” Megan said, “is he in touch with her family?”
Angela smiled oddly. “We don’t know. No one knows. He’s protecting her privacy, refuses to give out details.”
“What are you two talking about? The runaway?” Peter leaned over and interjected himself.
She has a name, doesn’t she, Megan thought.
“The Pastor’s handling all the details,” Peter assured them.
What details? Megan wondered, and how did Peter know? The Pastor’s wife certainly didn’t look too happy either, sitting there beside the girl, almost like a surrogate mother.
At that moment the Pastor stepped in front of the congregation, holding his hands out in front of him to bless them all.
All together, everyone’s head bowed.
The Pastor’s voice rose, deep and resonant then, filling the church.
“Father, we thank you and praise you for delivering us safely through this storm. By your great grace and love you cared for our people, not allowing any serious harm. This is a miracle and we thank you for it. When a storm like this strikes at the root of our town, we must all pause together and look within. We plead with you to let us know what we might have done to offend you. What could we have done to bring this trial upon us? Is it a warning, a judgment, an alarm? Are there misdeeds we are not aware of? Are there those among us in need of care that we may be neglecting? Let us take a moment to reflect.”
Silence filled the room. Megan had never quite heard a sermon like this one. Was he suggesting that the storm was brought to town by the deeds of the people?
“From unperceived faults cleanse us, father,” the Pastor went on.
Unperceived faults, Megan’s eyes closed deeply. Of course we all have many of them, she thought, wondering once again if something she said or did could have been part of the reason Kyle disappeared.
“What are we?” the Pastor continued, “reeds in the wind, clay in your hand. Here today and gone tomorrow.”
Megan drew in a swift painful breath. Of course that was true. There was only a short time for anyone to tread upon this earth. Each person had to make the most of it.
“Let us turn our hearts to you and ask for forgiveness, let us ask for guidance and protection. Let us ask for the wisdom to fight temptation and to know right from wrong,” the Pastor continued.
Megan shivered along with the rest of the congregation. The sermon seemed unnecessarily severe and frightening, Megan thought, although clothed in the Pastor’s soothing voice. As he spoke Megan saw Angela’s hands form into tight, little fists. She saw Peter’s hands flat out on his thighs, his head bowed, nodding, seemingly agreeing with everything.
Megan was seized with a sudden desire to get up and run out of there. She felt stifled, suffocated. Was that what Kyle had felt? Is that why he suddenly vanished? If there was only a short time to live on this earth, why couldn’t it be lived with joy? Why couldn’t they celebrate every moment? The somber sense of sorrow and wrong doing was draining her hope and happiness.
Megan looked over at Angela again, and saw tears falling down her face. Megan was then filled with sadness for her friend. Angela was in such a long, futile struggle with Brian. Megan prayed for Angela to find happiness and freedom from the trap she was in. She prayed for Brian to be honest with her. She also prayed for Peter to find the right woman for him, as well.
“Only love and truth can save us,” the Pastor intoned. “I believe we were spared from more grievous harm, because this is a town where people care for each other. In fact, there are no strangers here. Newcomers are welcomed and taken to heart.”
Megan immediately thought of Hunter. Randy had taken him in, given him work, and now he was part of her world, as well. Yet still, he was a stranger. He was new, different, didn’t really belong. Hunter’s spirit was different from the others here, too. That’s what drew her so forcibly to him - the flavor of the unknown, the possibility of something brand new.
The choir got up and sang a hymn and the congregation joined in.
Megan listened to the music and felt the hearts of those she was surrounded with. They had good hearts, they meant well, they struggled to be fair and kind. And yet, she could not suppress her desire to be free, and like Hunter –to be totally herself.
What would happen if she did that? A chill of fear passed through Megan. She had no idea where it would take her, but at this point, she had no choice but to find out.