Page 23 of Whispered Southern Secrets

Caught up in my own thoughts, I barely register the doorbell ringing. I throw my legs over the bed and hurry to get up and get dressed. “Coming,” I call out. When I arrive to the door I see that it’s James.

“James,” I greet as hold the door open. “Man, I apologize. I’m running behind.”

“You look terrible.”

“Thank you for your honesty. I appreciate it.”

“Isn’t lying a sin? Shouldn’t lie to a holy man.”

I chuckle. “I wouldn’t call me holy. I’m simply a man of God. One of His people, the same as you.”

“Aren’t you like the next step to the big man?” James asks as I guide him to the kitchen table. Mama left some fresh biscuits covered for me so I place the still warm plate in front of him. I grab some jam and butter and I think how to phrase my answer.

“There’s been several analogies for preachers, priests, ministers, all head of church figures. Mostly they’re compared to being shepherds with their flock of sheep. I’m not a huge fan of comparing myself to a shepherd because Jesus was also referred to as a shepherd. I think He is still a shepherd to all of us. Jesus has also been described as the bridge of salvation. He is the one who brings us to God. So my dad loves to say ‘build bridges.’ And I love that. I’d like to think by building a relationship with people and connecting with them, that’ll be also be a bridge that leads them to the ultimate bridge, the bridge to salvation. They’ll form their own relationship with Jesus.”

James nods his head in thought. He cuts open his biscuit and begins lathering it in jam. Finally he says, “So you engineer the process of people getting where they need to go. You’re not a shepherd, but an engineer.”

I blink at him in surprise. “Yeah,” I say slowly. “That’s a great way to look at it. Jesus was also known as a carpenter.”

With a mouth full of biscuit, James grumbles. “He had a lot of job titles. King. Carpenter. Shepherd.”

This kid seems pretty wise so I decide to throw one of the questions that plagued me last night. “Would it sound crazy to marry someone you didn’t know?”

“Only if you live in this century.”

“Why this century? It used to be considered romantic. Love at first sight.”

James side-eyes me as he takes a drink. Then he slowly places his glass down and gives me a pointed look. “Yeah, when the life expectancy was thirty. You’d be on your last leg. Of course you’d hurry up and marry the first available and healthy person you saw.”

“But why wait?”

“To get to know them and make sure they’re not psycho.”

I release a huff and take a biscuit. I shove it in my mouth and almost choke when he speaks. “Wait a minute. This is about Miss Honey.” When I don’t answer but just chew and stare at him, he says, “Oh then yeah. You should definitely hurry up and get her to marry you. She can do better, so lock her down before she realizes it.”

“Finish your food so we can get to work.”

He shrugs. “Truth hurts, Preacher Man.”

James and I are working on his community service hours today. We’re going around to people who aren’t able to do yard work themselves. Turns out James is a quick learner and really good at mowing, weeding eating, mulch, trimming, and repairing fences.

After a long day of hard work I take James to River’s End. James tells me that he has an aunt who has arranged for him to move in with her and is getting full custody. It’s great news and I’ll do anything I can do to help, but a part of me is sad.

“I’m going to miss you. A selfish part of me wants to keep you here.”

James completely stops eating. A look of surprise crosses his features. “You mean that?”

“Of course.”

He sucks his lips in and stares down at his plate. “Thank you.”

Sensing that James needs a moment, I walk over to the bar to give them a stack of cards with my name and number. I want to keep reminding them that if they see anyone who needs a ride home that I’m available. And if I’m not, I’ll help find them one. When I return to my seat, James studies me.

“Why is it important to you to give drunk people rides home? Shouldn’t that be their responsibility? Plus don’t church folks frown upon drinking? I guess it could be a good time to preachwhile proving your point about alcohol. But they might not remember it in the morning.”

I see he’s back to himself.

“There’s a lot to unpack there. One not all Christians agree it’s a sin to drink. Many churches use wine in communion, and there are some who don’t view drinking in moderation—moderation the key word—as a sin but still don’t use it in communion.”

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