A Wedding In The Family

“It’s about a mile farther down this road. Then make the next left” They were nearing their destination as Heather asked for the third time how long this trip would last

“Just a few minutes more, hon. Are you getting hungry?” Angela inquired.

“No, but I want to play ball. My Sunday School teacher told me we would.”

“If Mrs. Fletcher told you that, then I’m sure you will,” Angela responded with a certainty about another human being that she rarely displayed. She glanced at Adam, and wondered if she’d ever be able to trust him that way. What a refreshing possibility.

What she couldn’t know was that Adam was wondering the same thing. Only he suspected that earning her trust now would require more truth from him than he was ready to reveal. And what did the Lord require from him so early in this relationship? Honesty, he knew, but in how large a dose at a time?

Soon they arrived and parked in the gravel alongside her parents’ car. Judging from the vehicles already there, it was a good turnout, as usual. Adam helped Angela unload the items she had brought, as well as the case of soda he had placed in her van. Before long, the kids were engaged in a softball game and it was time for Adam to meet Angela’s parents.

“Mom. Dad. This is Adam Dalton,” Angela introduced her date. She had advised them earlier of this impending meeting.

Smiles from Grace and Ed Granston did little to ease the tension of the moment. No man would easily receive the approval of this older couple where their daughter was concerned. Angela was no kid, but she would always be their child. Exactly who was this Adam Dalton who threatened their daughter’s freedom and peace of mind in the wake of her unhappy marriage? They both prayed Angela would find a loving man and marry again someday—but the right man.

“Hello, Adam.” Grace spoke first, but Ed did extend a hand in an almost friendly fashion. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s good to meet both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Granston.”

“The name’s Ed and this is Grace,” Angela’s father answered in a somewhat gruff voice. “Let’s find a seat around here somewhere.”

They unfolded the lawn chairs they had brought with them and, after greeting and speaking with some of their friends from church, settled into a comfortable place to watch the kids play ball. And to talk. Adam hadn’t needed to meet anyone’s parents like this since—he couldn’t even remember the last time. Unless, maybe with Patty…But that had been years ago.

So the long day began with introductions and discussion about everything from Ed’s real estate business to Adam’s log home that his brother had helped him build last year.

“I didn’t know you were good with carpentry work,” Angela stated. “How did you get started with that?”

“When I was a teacher, I spent part of my summers helping my brother with his home-remodeling business. I’ve even been on a few missionary trips to South America to help build churches and parsonages for the nationals there.”

Ed’s face lit up on that comment. “I’ve been on a couple of those trips myself, Adam,” he began. And Angela and Grace shared a secret smile and both leaned back in their chairs. Once Ed started reliving his travels, it would be a while before he stopped. Fortunately, Adam could relate to many of the stories and seemed to enjoy the lengthy conversation.

“Mom!” Heather called when, nearly an hour later, she ran over to where Angela sat. “We need another player. The other team has two grown-ups on it, and we’re getting pounded out there. Could Adam play?”

“What? You mean you don’t want me?” Angela asked.

“Get real, Mom. You know you can’t pitch.” She looked over at Adam, who had already stood up to join her. “Can you?“

“Yep, let’s go,” he replied. “Excuse us, we’ll be back after we win this game.”

Angela watched them cut across the playing field. She saw Adam touch Heather’s shoulder and then point her in the direction of first base.

“I like him, Angela,” Grace stated quietly and with a confirming smile. “Very much.”

Ed cleared his throat roughly. “I have to agree with your mother. I like him, too, but it will take you a while to really get to know him. Probably a year or two.”

Angela looked over at her father instantly. “A year—” She stopped speaking when he laughed affectionately at her surprised expression.

“I wouldn’t want you to rush into anything,” he added before squeezing her arm lightly, “but maybe a year or two would be asking a lot.”

“Anyway, Dad, I’m just trying to decide whether to continue seeing him—not whether or not I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”

“But you shouldn’t date him unless he is a man you could spend the rest of your life with…if you chose to,” Grace commented. “Don’t let yourself fall in love with someone you’re going to have to say goodbye to in the end.”

“Find out about his past and what his plans are for the future,” Ed added. “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

“Dad, I’m not sixteen. I know the risks.” As Angela watched Adam in the distance with her children, those risks didn’t seem to loom so dangerously. She liked nearly everything about him, regardless of how much she didn’t want to. Angela was beginning to wonder how it would feel to be with him, not just the way they were today—awkward, uncertain—but rather, how it would feel to belong to him with familiarity, confidence. How would it be to sit next to him tonight without wondering if she’d ever sit next to him again? Did she trust the Lord enough to allow Him to give her this new possibility? Could she trust Adam?

“Dinner!” The loud announcement brought the players in from the field and most everyone else to their feet. Soon the crowd gathered around the tables that had been set up and covered with paper plates, napkins, plastic forks and spoons, bottles of condiments and bowls of potato chips and other side dishes. There were coolers of soda pop and pitchers of iced tea. The children were hungry, and they came running to meet Angela and get into the line for their sandwiches, hot off the grill.

Adam walked up to stand close by Angela as the pastor announced loudly that it was time for a prayer to thank the Lord for their meal and this day. Adam reached for Angela’s hand, linking his fingers through hers. She looked up, surprised—but pleasantly so—by his action. His smile in return was warm and gentle…and brief as he lowered his head and closed his eyes for the prayer. Angela did the same with a heart filled with gratitude. She’d seen other couples holding hands like this during prayer. In earlier years, she had been a little envious. Then she had either stopped noticing or stopped caring. But this time was different. It was her turn, it was Adam’s hand—and something felt very right about his touch.

Soon they were eating hamburgers that were overcooked and baked beans that were barely warm. The kids opted for hot dogs, which seemed to have been the wiser choice since they ended up going back for seconds.

When the meal was finished, David, Nathan and Heather all headed in the direction of their friends, and Angela and Adam sat down once again with the Granstons. That’s when Ed’s questions became a little unnerving for Angela: he asked Adam about previous marriages. Adam had one, he explained without hesitation. It had ended in divorce.

“And children?” Ed inquired.

“No children,” Adam answered quietly and more politely than Angela thought her father deserved. She decided that it was time to take action.

“Okay, guys, it’s getting late and, Dad, you’re getting a little too personal. Help me round up my kids before it gets dark so we can head home.” She leaned near Adam and whispered, “Save my place. I’ll be right back.”

Adam offered, “I’ll go—”

“No, please, stay here. Let Dad help me find them. I want to talk to him about his investigative work,” she remarked.

His mouth curved into a smile in response to her comment Then he squeezed her hand before letting her go.

“It’s hard for Ed not to nose into his children’s business,” Grace stated after Angela and Ed were out of hearing range.

“I understand,” Adam responded. “I’d be the same way if I had a daughter.”

“I believe you would. And I say that as a compliment, you know.”

“I know,” he replied. “And I want you to know that I really like Angela. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone significant in my life, but Angela…”

”…could be significant?” Grace suggested with a mother’s smile.

“Yes,” Adam concurred and studied the gentle face of this older woman across from him—a face much like Angela’s might look twenty years from now.

“You’re a wise man, Adam Dalton, and you have great taste in women.” Grace stood up, and Adam did, too. “I’m going to try to catch up with those two and help with the children. Thanks for coming here tonight. I’m sure you could have done something more enjoyable than being at this church gathering of people you don’t know, meeting us, eating hamburgers that tasted like lighter fluid.”

Adam laughed. “Mine wasn’t so bad.”

“Well, mine was,” Grace remarked, “but fortunately, I wasn’t very hungry. They never seem to get someone to grill the meat who actually knows what they’re doing.” She reached out and touched Adam’s cheek. “We hope to see you again soon.”

“You will,” he answered.

Grace nodded, and left him to join her husband and daughter.