“Who told you to let peace go? Speak up! God can’t hear you,” the pastor of Faith Miracle Church preached the following morning.
Hallison sat in her usual pew, next to Parke and Cheney. One familiar space next to them was missing. Hallison scanned the sanctuary and spotted Mrs. Beacon on the opposite side near the back.
“What part of Exodus 14:14 don’t you understand? The Lord shall fight your battle, or ye shall hold your peace? This is not an ‘if’ scripture. It’s a ‘just do it’ by faith scripture. If you drop peace, the only thing you’ll pick up is discourse…” Elder Baylor Scott ministered to the congregation.
At the end of service, Mrs. Beacon, with her head high, headed for the west exit as Cheney chatted with Hallison.“We needed that message, sister,” Hallison said, hugging Cheney. “Hey, where’s your husband?”
Cheney looked around and saw him. “You know Parke. It seems he can’t leave church without speaking to at least one hundred people. C’mon. He’ll meet us at the SUV.”
They walked out the building to the parking lot. Hallison found a piece of candy for Kami as Parke’s heavy footsteps caught up with them. He was snarling.Hallison frowned; Cheney lifted her brow.
“What’s wrong with you? We’re still on church property and you look mad.”
Parke waved his wife off. “Sorry. Let’s go.”
Cheney didn’t move. “I don’t know what attitude you slipped into just now, but go take it back to the devil.” She pointed to nowhere. “What is wrong with you, Parke Kokumuo Jamieson VI?”
“Oh, no, not that K word,” Hallison joked with a smirk followed by giggles. When she couldn’t contain herself, a hearty laugh escaped.
“I’m glad you think it’s funny because I find it downright irritating.”
“What?” Cheney squinted.“That’s the second guy this week. First Bible class, now today.” Parke disarmed his vehicle. “Brother Carr and now Brother Thomas asked if Hallison was my sister and if she was available.” He frowned incredulously.
“What did you tell them?” Hallison hadn’t thought about other men expressing interest in dating or them asking her former boyfriend’s brother to intercede on their behalf.
“You don’t want to know.” Parke opened the SUV’s back door, and Kami insisted on climbing in unassisted.
“Wait a minute. Hali and I both want to know.”
He cleared his voice. “Well, the short version is that you’re separated and he just left jail this weekend.”Giggling, Hallison slapped his arm.
“Why would you say that?”
“Honestly, Brother Carr changed jobs three times within the past six months. It had nothing to do with the economy. Brother Thomas, I just didn’t like him, period. Either way, neither would pass my inspection.”
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