Faithful (21 page)

“So, Cyd,” Phyllis began tentatively, “don't you think the attitude was a cover? I'm sure deep down she knows she's wrong. Maybe she never intended for things to go that far, and once she was in over her head, she didn't know how to step out of it emotionally.”

Phyllis was experiencing the same feelings she'd had after Scott's confession. She was able to put herself in Heather's shoes. Though Rod wasn't a married man,
she
was a married woman, and if she had acted on the impulses she felt, she would have been no better than Heather.

Cyd thought a moment. “I don't know if it was a cover, and I don't know what she's feeling deep down. And frankly, up until this moment I didn't care, because I had zero sympathy for her.” She broke off a piece of roll and held it. “But I guess we should be praying for her too.”

Awkward seconds passed as Dana stared off to the side. Cyd quickly picked up with the rest of what happened Friday, up until the point when Scott returned and she and Trish left. Dana took over from there, sharing the nature of her exchanges with Scott on Friday evening, Saturday, and this morning before church.

“But things were different this afternoon.” Dana paused now, reflecting. “After everything that happened at church, we were able to have our first real conversation where I could actually look at him without feeling utter disgust.” She gazed into the flame of the tall candle. “The pain and sadness were still there, but it felt like we were on the same side again, that we both wanted the same thing. I could almost believe that if we worked hard and prayed hard, we just might get back to what we had.”

Cyd pushed her plate back. “Or maybe something even better.”

Dana had a doubtful look. “It's hard enough trying to imagine things as they were.” She stared downward and tears tickled the corners of her eyes. “I can't see us making love again, not after seeing . . .”

Phyllis reached across the table and grabbed Dana's hand. “All things are possible with God, Dana. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. On Friday evening you could've never seen where you and Scott would be today.”

Cyd jumped up and brought a box of tissues from the counter.

Dana pulled one out and held it. “That's true,” she said. “I know.” Her voice was a whisper. “It's just . . . it's going to be so hard. When I think about it, I get angry all over again.”

Cyd stood behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Father, we come before You now in the powerful name of Jesus . . .”

Phyllis got up as well and laid a hand on Dana's other shoulder, her head bowed. She loved the way Cyd launched into prayer when an issue arose. Phyllis was more apt to talk it to death.

“. . . on behalf of Your daughter Dana. Lord, You see her situation and You know her pain. We thank You, Lord, for what You've already done, moving Scott to repentance, turning him back to You, using him in the service today, causing them to embrace one another. Lord, You're awesome.” Cyd repeated it again in a whisper—“Lord, You're awesome.”

She continued, “Lord, we're praying that You continue to walk Scott and Dana through this, that Your power would reign in their lives and in their marriage, that You cast down the images in Dana's mind from Friday and help her to heal. We know You're able, Father, and we give You the glory and praise right now. In Jesus' name. Amen.”

“Amen.” Phyllis pulled Dana to a stand and hugged her, rubbing her back. “God
is
awesome, Dana. I can't wait to see what He does with you and Scott. You ministered to couples in the past, but just think how He'll be able to use you once you come through this.”

Cyd brought her arms around them, making it a group hug. “I hadn't even thought about that. I can definitely see God using you two that way.”

Dana wiped the inside corners of her eyes. A weepy smile poked through the sadness. “I knew I needed this dinner tonight. I love you two.”

“We love you too,” Phyllis and Cyd chorused together. They began to rock with Dana in the middle, causing her to laugh.

“All right, you guys are getting silly, and I'm feeling better.” She wiped a tear. “Let's move on. I want to rejoice with Phyllis about Hayes coming to church today.”

Phyllis's spirits took a nosedive.
Hayes, church
, and
rejoice
had no business in the same sentence. She and Dana took their seats again as Cyd carried her plate and Phyllis's to the sink, then brought over the bottle of Pellegrini to refill their water glasses.

Cyd talked as she poured. “We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw him.” She took her seat, telling how she went to get him and brought him to the pew. “So did it happen like you were hoping? You asked him to take the kids to church and he agreed?”

Phyllis gave a single laugh that held no humor. “Please. I asked, he said no.” She shook her head. “You should've seen me when I left town. I was so disappointed.”

Dana leaned in, her chin set on her hands. “So what made him change his mind?”

“That call from Living Word. He said he wanted to hear what Scott and the pastor had to say.”

A look of surprise crossed Cyd's face. “Really?” She shrugged it off. “I guess when you mention sexual sin and a confession, it's bound to pique people's interest. What did he think of the service?”

Phyllis ran her finger along the rim of the glass. “I don't know.” There was no way she'd say what he thought of Scott's confession. “It's hard to know what Hayes is thinking when it comes to church.”

“Isn't it awesome that he agreed to be in the group?” Dana said.

“I know!” Cyd said. “What did Scott say to him?”

“Scott really humbled himself,” Phyllis said. “He said the group needed a married couple who could share from a standpoint of longevity and strength and unwavering commitment to one another. He told Hayes that his input would be valuable because he was the only man among them in a marriage that fit that description.”

Cyd sat back. “God is something. He knew just what Hayes needed to hear. Now he'll be at church for another week. Between the church and the group, who knows what'll happen?”

Disappointment clouded Phyllis's expression. “He won't be going to church, only to the group.”

“Why?” Dana spoke softly.

Phyllis could hear herself asking Hayes the same question earlier that afternoon.

Why?

She'd been in a good mood after hanging out with him and the kids, and when they'd gotten a moment alone, she'd asked him what Scott had said . . . and dared to express enthusiasm that they'd be going to church together. He'd quickly disabused her of that notion.

She breathed a heavy sigh. “He said he didn't care about the sermons. He's only participating in the way Scott asked him to, to provide a certain viewpoint on marriage.”

Cyd sat up, hearing her friend's frustration. “But this is such a blessing, Phyl. Think about it. He was in church today. He'll be in the group on Wednesday. That's more involvement than he's had in six years.” She folded her arms on the table. “What did you just tell Dana? One day at a time, one step at a time? And I heard you say something else—with God all things are possible. I know it's hard because you're dealing with it firsthand, but from where I'm sitting, this is exciting. He may not want to hear the sermon, but he'll hear us talking about it.” She tilted her head to coax her. “Come on, now. Don't you see God?”

The fact that she couldn't made Phyllis want to cry. “I can't count the number of times I
thought
I saw God working. And every time I end up disappointed.” She stared downward but could see Dana's eyes fixed on her.

Dana laid a hand on top of Phyllis's. “You're weary.”

Her observation caused the tears to roll. Phyllis's voice broke. “Very.”

“I'll take a cue from Cyd,” Dana said, rising and moving behind Phyllis.

She placed both hands on Phyllis's shoulders as Cyd came around and put a hand to her arm. They both bowed their heads.

“Lord God,” Dana began, “You are loving and You are merciful, and, Lord, we've prayed around this table many times for Hayes. We lift him up again, praying that Your love and mercy would engulf him. Take away his heart of stone and give him a heart of flesh. Open his eyes to the truth, to the glorious truth that Jesus died for him, that he might live. Cause him to bow the knee and acknowledge Jesus as his Lord and Savior.”

Dana squeezed Phyllis's shoulders. “And, Lord, as we wait on Hayes's deliverance, I pray that You fill Phyllis with strength and patience, joy and peace. Cause her to mount up with wings like an eagle and soar with great faith, knowing that You are sovereign and nothing is too hard for You. We thank You, Lord. We thank You, in Jesus' name.”

Understanding dawned in Dana's eyes. “That's the bottom line, isn't it? Phyllis said it before, but it's just now taking hold in my heart. Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing.”

Cyd walked back around the table to her seat. “Yes, ma'am. That's the bottom line.”

Phyllis looked up with grateful eyes at Dana. “Thanks, Dana. I needed that. I need to keep my focus on God and not on the way things look with Hayes. In fact, I'm tired of talking about Hayes.” She turned to Cyd. “I'm ready to find out the deal with Cyd and Cedric.”

C
YD TOSSED HER
hand dismissively. “There is no
deal
with me and Cedric.”

Dana gave her the eye as she carried her plate to the microwave. “Yeah, I was wondering too. I might've been going through a tough time at the service, but don't think I didn't notice all the whispering you two were doing.” She punched a couple of buttons and the microwave fan sounded. “How did you get to be so close so fast?”

“
Close
?” Cyd turned in her seat and looked at Dana. “Okay. I need to nip this because you two have a totally wrong impression. There is absolutely nothing between Cedric and me. He's nowhere near my type.” She crossed her legs. “I'll tell you like Stephanie told me. He's a ladies' man.”

Cyd pointed at Dana. “You weren't at the rehearsal, but he had a date with him and was flirting with me anyway. Then on Saturday—”

Cyd realized she was stuck. She didn't want to share everything that happened.

“Saturday . . .” Phyllis made a “continue on” gesture.

Cyd had no choice. “When I got there, he had this rose for me—”

Phyllis gasped, staring at the middle of the table. “
Lavender
roses?”

“Well . . . that was later in the evening, when he gave me those.”

“What?” Dana carried her steaming hot plate back to the table. “I thought you bought these roses as a special touch for our dinner.
Cedric
gave you these? You saw him last night, after the reception?”

Cyd put her elbows on the table and gave Dana a look. “You're way ahead of me. I'm at the church, Saturday morning. Can I tell the story?” She had no desire to relate the evening's events any sooner than she had to.

“I'm all ears.” Dana ate her first bite.

“So he gave me the rose, telling me . . .” She stopped again, realizing she had to mention her birthday, which neither of them had yet remembered. She didn't want them to feel bad, but it was integral to the story. “Telling me it was for my birthday.”

Phyllis gasped again.

“Oh. My. Goodness.” Dana fell back in her chair and put a hand over her eyes. “I cannot believe this.” She peeked at Cyd through her hands. “I cannot believe I forgot your fortieth birthday.”

“I think you might have had some other things on your mind.” Cyd shook her head. “Don't give it another thought.”

“But still,” Dana said. “I haven't forgotten your birthday in all these years. And this was the big one.”

Phyllis expelled a rueful sigh. “I'm so mad at myself. I knew you'd be busy with the wedding, so I had planned to call you last evening. I just plain forgot.”

“You two weren't the only ones.” Cyd gave a slight chuckle. “With all the wedding activity, my parents even forgot. But they called before church this morning, begging forgiveness.”

Dana looked incredulous. “Oh, Cyd. I feel even worse now. You must have felt nobody cared.”

“Except Cedric,” Phyllis added, playfulness in her voice. “Did he say why he chose lavender?”

Cyd pursed her lips. “Girl, he's good. He said it symbolizes enchantment, and he was enchanted with me.”

Phyllis and Dana stared at her, wide-eyed.

Dana spoke first. “He didn't.”

“I told you,” Cyd said.

“What happened after he gave you the rose?” Dana asked.

“He said he wanted to take me out that night to celebrate my birthday, and I tried to blow him off. But then there was the dance at the reception.” A shiver came from nowhere, and Cyd held her arms.

Dana and Phyllis exchanged a glance.

“What dance?” Dana asked.

Reese woke up from her nap beside the table and lifted her head, as if she wanted to hear the story too.

Cyd took a sip of water as the butterflies danced in remembrance. She slowly lowered her glass. “You had already left. The DJ called the best man and maid of honor to the floor and they played ‘U Send Me Swingin'.'”

Dana's eyes lifted. “Uh-oh. Your song.”

“So . . . you know . . . we did this little step dance to it, and some people kind of gathered around.”

“No way.” Dana's mouth hung open.

“And when I was about to sit down, ‘So Fine' came on—”

Phyllis cupped her face in her hands. “Oh boy.”

“—and Cedric pulled me into a slow dance.”

Phyllis sat back and crossed her arms. “All righty, then. And next thing you know, Mr. Ladies' Man is over here with a
bouquet
of lavender roses.”