Chapter 12

Lex left the Gladstone diner and drove to Henry Gladstone’s home. Wiggling worms morphed into a tangled knot of snakes the closer he got to Mysti’s parent’s house. But, as terrifying as this felt, it was worth everything to him. He’d received his mother’s blessings, now he needed Mystery’s dad’s. Scariest of all, talking to Mystery.

Henry welcomed Lex into their home and asked Emily to bring them some sweet tea. Lex smiled. His mother had served the same thing. “Mr. Gladstone, I’ve come from Texas where I talked to my mother. Now I need to talk to you, sir.”

Henry grinned widely but remained silent.

Emily brought a tray with three glasses and distributed two to Lex and Henry. She sat down, too, and crossed her leg. Lex’s eyes darted to her and back to Henry. “Thank you, Emily.”

“Sure.” Her eyes were wide, expectant.

“I-I came straight from the road, Mr. Gladstone, I haven’t even been home yet, I apologize for my appearance.”

“Not a problem, son.” Henry gazed at Lex but continued to say as little as possible.

“Well, Sir. I’d like to ask for your permission.” He glanced at Emily and nodded, including her in the request. “To-to marry your daughter, Mystery. I love her with all my heart, and I promise you I’ll protect her til my dying day.”

Henry cocked his head to one side and glared at Lex. “I can’t give you my permission to marry Mysti, son”

“What? Why not?”

Henry jumped to his feet. Lex followed his lead. “Because she should have the final say about if she wants to marry you or not.” Henry took Lex’s hand and started to shake it vigorously “However, I wholeheartedly give you our blessing to ask her to marry you.” Henry laughed deep from his belly.

Lex let go of the breath he had been holding captive in his chest. “Thank you, sir. Emily.”

Henry turned to his wife. “Did you hear that, Em? Pastor Cayden wants to marry our Nancy, er Mystery!”

“I heard.” Emily stood, also.

“Now.” Henry sat down. “Let’s talk about this proposal I made to you. Have you thought about heading up a new church?”

Lex sat down and leaned back. His head still reeled from anticipation of Henry’s answer. He drew in a deep breath. “Yes sir. If things go right, tonight, when I ask Mystery to marry me.” He swallowed hard. “I’d like to get married as soon as possible. That would allow me to move into Mystery’s apartment above the store. I know she wouldn’t want to move away from her shop, so that seems like the most logical choice. Of course, I need to discuss it with her first ... after I ask her to marry me, that is.” His voice trailed off.

Henry leaned forward. “Okay, so instead of a Parsonage, we can check on zoning, and remodel the house into a church. How’s that sound.”

Lex nodded. “That’s actually what I was thinking.”

“Good.” Henry grinned. “We are of like minds, Pastor Cayden.”

Lex’s eyes met Henry’s. The title had a whole new meaning now.

“So, tell me, what have you come up with for the name of our new church? I have some ideas but I want to hear yours first.”

Lex nodded. “Well, you know Texas is a long way away, and I’ve had a lot of time to think about this. I want the church to reach people who, like Mystery, have been hurt by church. Those who are lost and afraid. I’d like a name that doesn’t conjure up images of Begley’s kind of church. I was thinking something like: ‘The Unchurch.’”

Henry blinked. “Well. Hum. The Unchurch.” Henry rubbed the stubble on his chin. “It has a certain ring to it, but I just don’t know.”

Lex remained silent, letting Henry think it over.

“I really don’t want to let Begley and his accusations overshadow our plans for this new church. Unfortunately, we have to consider the damage his slander has caused. While I hear where you are coming from, Pastor, I sincerely think that if we call it ‘The Unchurch,’ people will think it’s one of those New Age Ministries. Begley would fuel those rumors and I’m just afraid the negativity would shoot us down before we could get up and running.”

Lex nodded. Disappointment filled him with remorse.

“Let me run this past you.” Henry continued. “Remember when I made this offer to you? I told you we want a new beginning.” He paused and watched Lex’s reaction. “How about we call it ‘The New Beginnings Church.’ It says what we need it to say, regarding Begley and his judgmental approach to the gospel. And I think it’ll reach those you desire to attract. It’s a new church, new beginnings for everyone who comes through the doors. And once they enter, we’ll show them love and respect, the way we ought to. I think people will come back once they experience the atmosphere of this new church.” Henry scooted to the edge of his recliner to lean closer to Lex. “Don’t you?”

A clock above the Gladstone’s hearth chimed a song to the halfway point. Lex’s eyes darted to his phone. Four-thirty! He was late! “I’ve gotta go. Thank you, Mr. Gladstone, er Henry, Emily.” Lex quickly shook Henry’s hand. Emily hugged him and he jogged to his truck.

Four-thirty and no Lex. He’s never ever late. Was it all a rouse? Had he really gone back to Begley? The phone call earlier, was it just a trick? It’d be like Begley to do something so cruel if he had control over Lex’s moves like he said he had. She flopped down on her couch. Pacing the floor wasn’t getting him there any faster.

Back to her feet.

She couldn’t sit still. She called Leanne. Voice mail. “Call me.”

She thumbed to Harry. Voice mail. “Call me.”

Where was everybody?

She called Lex. Voice mail. She hung up.

Four-fifty-five. Her phone rang his text chime. Lex! “Little pig little pig, let me in,” he texted.

He’s fifteen minutes late and wants to be cute. She pushed the lock release and soon he walked through her door.

She didn’t move.

He paused as well.

Should she run to him, throw herself into his arms? Tell him how much she’d missed him. Ask him where he’d been. She couldn’t move.

“Come here, you.” He held his arms out wide for her.

She sprinted into them. “Oh, Lex. I missed you so much!”

He kissed the top of her head. She inhaled the aroma that distinguished him from anybody else she knew. A blend of cedar and musk. It filled her soul and gave her a sense of home in his arms. She’d stay here forever if she could. But there was a dinner party waiting and they needed to get going. She forced herself to pull back and looked deep into his golden brown eyes. A zing shot through her body. She loved those eyes.

He smiled so sweetly and yet, there was something lurking behind the mirth. She considered it a moment but couldn’t put a description to it. Suddenly her gut clenched. Was there more to tonight than she realized? Surely her cousins wouldn’t allow him to set her up for some public humiliation like Begley had done. She bit her lip. Still, if Begley had his way, Lex would announce his penance and humiliate her as publicly as possible. She had to ask.

“What’s that look in your eyes?”

He shook his head. “I can’t get over how beautiful you are. You make that dress look amazing.”

Heat filled her cheeks. Only Lex could make her blush like that. It was embarrassing, but she kind of liked it. “You clean up all right, yourself.”

Maybe tonight would be all right after all.

He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to the back door. “Shall we?”