Sally’s phone chirped like a bird. It was Matt. “Hey, Sal.
Can Abbey and I join you for a day or two? Do you have room there?”
“Sure, no problem-she can sleep in my room and you can sleep
on the little sofa, but it is a bit boring here, I mean not for me, but this
place is quiet and isolated. I have a beach front and there is one small store
about a mile away.”
“Sounds perfect. We shall be there tomorrow in the afternoon
and stay until Friday. I have a job to do on Saturday for the city and Abbey
needs to visit her parents. See you, then.”
Sally sensed news. Maybe the two were engaged. She was not
sure how she felt about Matt marrying a Mormon. Since he had found the TLM,
Matt was more and more pious than ever. She could not imagine how they would
work things out. Abbey was not even a Christian.
These thoughts led Sally to her own problem of the future.
She wanted so desperately to be in order and peace, in harmony and optimism for
the rest of her life. She was coming up for review for tenure, and yet, the
thought of this security did not add to her happiness. She would only enjoy, to
some extent, the pleasure it would bring her parents, who always had
expectations for her. But, she also knew
that even if she was granted this pleasure, Massie and Duke would undermine her
moment of glory. She had seen the drama before, with James, when he was elected
mayor of a small town outside of Fargo Fargo
Massie would not stop. “Well, it is sad that your talents
are so wasted, but then you were never really competitive.” And so on…
When Mary was appointed head of the Museum
of Modern Art in Minneapolis
When Sean won the all-state science fair award, Massie
merely wished that the financial award was larger, and mentioned out loud that
scientists were becoming extinct and that Sean would be better off going into
medicine or dentistry.
Bobbie stopped sharing things the kids were doing, and
Massie complained that she was never told what was going on.
Sally toyed with the idea of not even telling her parents
she was up for tenure. Massie would make a comment, as she had done before,
that the University
of Wisconsin
Sally went inside and prayed. She was now praying up to four
hours a day in her time off. She loved the silence and read Scripture daily.
She even ordered a breviary from the monks at Clear Creek. She was beginning to
plan her day around two of the Hours.
In the morning, earlier than expected, Matt and Abbey arrived.
Yes, she was beaming. Matt was strangely shy. Sally invited them in for a
veggie lunch she had made for them.
After they sat down, Sally said, “OK, tell me the good
news.”
Abbey glanced at Matt. “You tell her.”
Matt said, “Abbey and I are engaged. And, Abbey is going to
become a Catholic. She is taking instruction from Father Eliot, the new priest
in Houston
Abbey held out her hand and Sally took her fingers to look
at the ring. It was a sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Sally’s eyes filled with
tears.
“I am so happy, I can hardly see. Wait, I have to get a
tissue.”
“See, I told you she would cry.” Matt laughed and looked
relieved. He really wanted his sister to love his fiancé as he did.
“And, I have a new job. Do you remember Tomas Page? He asked
me to go into business with him, just the two of us.”
Sally could hardly answer. “I am so happy. Do you have a
date for the wedding?”
Abbey spoke first, “October 7th which we chose on
purpose. And Sally, would you be my both my sponsor when I come into the Church
as well as my maid of honour? As you know, I have no sisters and well, I really
want you to help me through the whole day-both days.”
Sally got up and hugged Abbey. This had to be one of the
happiest days of her life. She said that she and Abbey would talk weekly after
her meetings with the priest, and then, on the big day, she would fly down.
The three passed the time just enjoying each other and
relaxing. The few days went quickly. Sally knew her decision would have to wait,
whatever that decision would be.
Still, Hans’ words echoed in her ears, like the wind coming
off the small lake at sunset.
To be continued…
