Redemption's Road by C.J. Murphy

Author:C.J. Murphy [Murphy, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Desert Palm Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

AFTER A QUIET SUNDAY service that was heavily attended, we fellowshipped with our congregation. Close to thirty people, some regulars and some not, had joined us. With Xander’s death still weighing on us all, Naomi and I crafted a sermon that would offer hope. To be able to give comfort in the face of such grief took a light touch and a great deal of prayer. Naomi had dealt with this type of incident far more times than I had, so I deferred to her experience.

When my parishioners walked out that day, they looked lighter. I hugged Holly, then Ian.

“You call me if you need anything, even to talk. Promise me that?” I was holding him tightly to me and could feel the tremble in his upper body.

“Thank you, Pastor. I promise.”

Naomi and I were joined in the loft by Karmen and Tank, for our weekly after-church meal. Before the service, our resident chef had placed a beef roast with carrots and potatoes in the oven. The night before, Naomi baked a chocolate, raspberry-mousse cake for dessert.

The loft smelled like heaven itself. Tank and I left preparations to the experts. As was my Sunday routine, I pulled out the guitar and headed to the window seat. I’d been working on a few power ballads for Ellie.

The last note faded, and I looked to Tank for her critique. “Well, what did you think?”

“Can’t wait to hear her sing it. You may not be in the band anymore, but you keep Regal Crimson on the charts. The Confluence’s crowd was buzzing the other night. You know you won’t be able to get by with only instrumental anymore. If I were you, I’d keep your partner in crime ready to go.”

“The nightingale will remain happy if I have anything to say about it. Life is so much better with her here.”

“She’s always been so good for you. You’re blessed my friend. You’re aware of that, right?”

Naomi moved around the kitchen with the grace of a dancer.

“With every breath.”

Tank sighed deeply. “I keep hoping, someday, I’ll find my one.”

“How do you know you haven’t already met her?”

Tank sighed. “Ellie blew me off at the funeral, when I tried to be there for her.”

I shook my head, frustrated that Tank couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see what was right in front of her. “What you saw as supporting her came off as trying to be something she didn’t want. She needed a friend, Tank, not a lover. I’ve never pried into what happened between the two of you, whether it was once or more than once. The truth is, I didn’t want to know and still don’t. It would force me to take some side between my sister and my best friend. Instead, I tried to let the two of you work it out. Now, I’m going to throw my two cents in. Ellie is an adult, fully capable of making choices about what she does or does not want. You’ve been holding this torch for someone who’s had at least four significant relationships since your brief affair.

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