Part 21 (2/2)
Halfway through the chorus, Seth rose to his feet and stepped forward, extending his hand to Donnie Hovater. Missy, who had been sitting several rows behind them, also came forward and placed her hand in her father's. Both teenagers' movements were stiff, as if they were robots, their actions programmed into them.
”Please be seated.” Donnie raised and then lowered his hands, emphasizing his instructions to the congregation.
He then took the two teenagers aside and spoke to each of them quietly, their conversations entirely private. Then he guided Seth and Missy to the front bench, where the song leader scooted down to make room for them. As soon as Seth and Missy were seated, Donnie faced the audience.
”Two of our beloved young people have come forward today asking for the Lord's forgiveness and mercy,” Donnie said, his tone soft and filled with sympathy. ”They were led astray by others and found themselves in bad company. They both deeply regret having made an error in judgment that has caused pain and embarra.s.sment to their families.” He bowed his head. ”Pray with us as we seek G.o.d's loving goodness and ask Him to forgive Missy Hovater and Seth Cantrell and guide them in the paths of righteousness from this day forward.”
The congregation hummed with whispers and a few louder comments ranging from ”Bless them” to ”Amen.”
Tears threatened to choke Cathy. How many times had her heart bled for people who came forward during this phase of a church service to confess to some minor indiscretion that could hardly be called a sin. Not unless you considered everything that wasn't pure and holy a sin. Apparently, many people did. There had been a time, long ago, when she'd been a child, that she had lived in fear of not being good enough, worthy enough, of dying and going to h.e.l.l. And even though she had been a minister's wife for more than fourteen years before Mark's death, she had done her best to raise Seth within the framework of a religion that was based on G.o.d's love and goodness and not on fear.
Just as she had been a product of her upbringing, so had Mark, but he had managed to become his own man despite his father's iron-fisted approach to fatherhood. And although he had often agreed with J.B.'s strict dogma, more times than not, he had disagreed. Mark had been far more his mother's son than his father's, for which Cathy had been exceedingly thankful.
The Sunday morning service ended with another hymn and a final prayer by one of the young deacons. J.B. headed straight for Seth, a satisfied expression on his face. Cathy didn't think she had ever despised her father-in-law more than she did at that very moment.
She leaned over and whispered to Jack, ”I need to talk to Seth.”
”I'll wait for you in the car.” He glanced around at the horde of paris.h.i.+oners as if they were alien beings. Unless Jack had changed over the years, he was not a religious man.
”Okay.” She squeezed his hand. ”Thank you.”
He grinned, then turned and walked away, doing his best to avoid speaking to anyone on his rush up the aisle toward the vestibule.
Cathy smiled, nodded, and even shook hands with several people as she made her way to Seth. By the time she approached her son, Mona and Elaine had joined J.B., and the threesome surrounded him, providing a buffer between her and Seth.
Mona glanced at her, a plea for peace in her eyes. ”Good morning, Cathy.”
”Good morning. I'd like to speak to Seth privately, please.”
”Say whatever you have to say to him in front of us,” J.B. told her.
Seth stood tall and straight as he fixed his gaze on her. ”Thanks for being here this morning, Mom.”
”Where else would I be?” She totally ignored J.B. as she wedged herself between Mona and her mother so that she could touch her son. She put her hand on his shoulder. ”I'd like for you to come to lunch with Jack and Lorie and me. We're going to the Cedar Hill Grill. You love their homemade yeast rolls and their chocolate pecan pie.”
”Seth is going home with his grandmothers and me,” J.B. said, his tone brooking no argument.
Cathy looked J.B. square in the eye. ”Seth is old enough to think for himself. You can't force him to become a clone of Mark or, G.o.d forbid, a clone of you. He is his own person-”
”He thought for himself last night,” J.B. told her. ”And you see what happened. I think you need to remember that you no longer have any rights where Seth is concerned.”
”I'm his mother!”
”You are an unfit mother.”
d.a.m.n him!
Mona gasped.
”Mom is not an unfit mother,” Seth said. ”You shouldn't say such things about her.”
J.B. snapped his head around and looked at Seth as if he'd never seen his grandson before that moment. ”You know better than to be disrespectful to me. That smart-mouth att.i.tude is her doing, and I'll have none of it. Do you hear me, young man?”
Donnie Hovater hurried toward them, leaving his handshaking duties behind as he called to them, ”Please, lower your voices. Remember you're in the Lord's house.”
J.B. stiffened. ”I apologize, Brother Donnie. I'm afraid I let my concern for my grandson-”
”We should go home, J.B.” Mona curled her fingers around his forearm. ”People are staring at us.”
He nodded, then reached out and clutched Seth's wrist. ”We're leaving. Now.”
”I'm going with Mom,” Seth said. ”I'll be home later this afternoon.”
”No, you will not go with her,” J.B. said. ”I forbid you to leave here with her.”
”Perhaps we can reach a compromise.” Donnie looked directly at J.B. ”With your permission, Brother Cantrell, I'd like to invite Cathy and Seth to have lunch with Missy and me today, and then afterward I'll bring Seth home.”
J.B. huffed loudly. Mona tightened her grip on his arm.
”That sounds like a perfectly reasonable idea, don't you think?” Mona's gaze begged her husband to agree.
”Very well,” J.B. acquiesced reluctantly. ”I'm entrusting him into your care, Brother Donnie.” Without another word, J.B. marched off, leaving Mona and Elaine standing there. Both women forced halfhearted smiles.
”Thank you for acting as a mediator in this situation.” Mona sighed heavily as she looked at Donnie.
Elaine grasped Cathy's upper arm, leaned over and hissed, ”Keep this up and you'll lose Seth forever. Is that what you want?”
Acting as if she hadn't heard her mother's warning, Cathy turned to Seth. ”I'd thought we might have lunch with Jack and Lorie, but I'm sure they'll understand why I'll have to cancel on them. I need to find Jack and tell him-”
”Why'd he come to church with you today?” Seth asked.
”He came with me as a friend, for moral support.”
”Are we ready to go?” Donnie asked.
”Yes,” Cathy replied. ”I just need a few minutes to speak to Jack. He's waiting outside for me.
<script>