Shelter in Seattle by Rhonda Gibson Page A

was no excuse, and she knew it. Lying was wrong no matter the reason.
    Caleb helped her down from the buggy when they got to the church. She held his gaze as he sat her down on the hard ground. His eyes begged her to confide in him, but she couldn’t.
    “I’d think you two would have stopped staring into each other’s eyes by now.” Maggie stood behind them.
    Julianne sighed unhappily when Caleb pulled his gaze from her and smiled at the older woman.
    “Now, Maggie. She’s my wife, and I can stare at her all day, if I’ve a mind to.” He turned to the wagon and reached for his Bible and Jonathan’s bag.
    “Well, I guess you can at that.” Maggie hugged Julianne. “That blue sure makes the color in your eyes pop out.”
    “Thank you, Maggie.” Julianne fussed with Jonathan’s blankets as she followed the older woman into the church.
    She couldn’t stop the grin no matter how hard she tried. A vision of her eyes popping out and rolling around in the dirt caused her to chuckle out loud.
    The laugh caught in her throat when Caleb dropped his arm from around her shoulder and greeted the Pastor. “Good Morning, Reverend. What do you have in store for us today?”
    “I’ll be teaching on the Garden of Eden and how one lie caused the fall of mankind, and how the sin of omission is still a lie.” The preacher shook Caleb’s hand.
    “Sounds like a good sermon. We better hurry and get a seat.” Caleb placed his hand in the center of Julianne’s back and gently helped her into the church.
    She was thankful for his support. She wasn’t sure her feet would have moved forward if not for him.
    Lying.
    Why lying?
    Did he know of her sin? Was it possible?
    Did everyone know she had lied to her husband? Was still lying to him?
    The service started with songs and prayer. Julianne tried to fill her mind with the joy of singing. But then the preacher entered the pulpit and told everyone that had a Bible to turn to Genesis three verse four. Her palms turned sweaty, and her heartbeat quickened.
    He read the scripture aloud for those who didn’t have Bibles. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:”
    Julianne stared down at Jonathan. The top of her head felt on fire. Was the preacher looking at her? Was everyone looking at her?
    The preacher continued. “Because of that one lie, Eve disobeyed God. She and her mate, Adam fell from God’s grace.”
    His voice continued on. Julianne tried to think of something else. She knew she was lying to her husband. She didn’t need to be reminded of it by a preacher. Sorrow deep and painful tore at her heart.
    Jonathan began to fuss. Julianne took that moment to escape. She grabbed his bag and eased past Caleb’s legs, stumbling a bit in her haste to exit the church. She walked outside on leaden feet to the big oak tree.
    Tears streamed down her face.
    When had she started crying? Had anyone seen the tears?
    She glanced over her shoulder back to the church. No one followed her, so she sank down at the base of the large pine tree.
    Julianne changed Jonathan’s diaper and began to talk to God. Her hands did the work while her heart did the talking.
    “ Lord, I didn’t think this lie would hurt Caleb. I never wanted to do that. Father, please forgive me. Forgive me of all my sins and come live in my heart so that I won’t do it again.” A peace like no other filled her. She savored the feeling of being wrapped in warm loving arms. “ Caleb said you love me so much you sent your son to die for me. I believe him, and I realize now that the only way he will ever believe me is if I stop lying to him. I’ll tell Caleb everything. I don’t know how, but I will. I promise.”
     She wiped the tears from her face and gathered the baby close. Julianne looked up into the sky that peeked through the many trees.
    “I’ll tell Caleb after lunch. Lord, please let him forgive me, too.”
    The sound of male voices singing, Bringing in the Sheaves carried out the