removed.”
“I see. Daddy get sick of your management style? Benign neglect does smack of laziness. That was never Howell’s way.”
“I’ve saved your ass more than once,” said Hugh angrily.
“As I’ve saved yours.”
“Right. We’ve been friends. For a long time. I care about you. I always have. You’re a good minister and I value that, you know I do. But there’s no way I can help you now.”
You may be surprised, thought Isaac, though he had the sense not to say it out loud. “What are you going to do now that your father no longer needs you to manage the field ministry?”
“I don’t know,” said Hugh, finishing his drink. “Knowing him, he’ll probably give me the position back tomorrow morning.”
“Or forget he ever fired you.”
“Yeah. That’s possible.”
Isaac sat back, folding one leg over the other. He had to proceed with caution. “Hugh, as much as you may not want to admit this even to yourself, your father is losing it. You and I both know it’s true. Sooner or later everyone else in the church will know it as well. It won’t be long before he has to step down.”
“He’ll never do that.
Never.
They’d have to pry his hands off the pulpit.”
“Maybe. Still…” He gave Hugh a second before continuing. “Have you ever thought of forcing him out? Taking over the reins of the church yourself? Forming a coalition with some of the other ministers who now see Howell Purdis as a liability?”
Hugh shook his head. “No,” he said firmly.
“I don’t believe you. In any case, if his behavior becomes too bizarre, and you really
do
care what happens to the church, you may have no other choice.”
“I can’t think about that.”
“Why? Because you’re a coward?”
“No! You of all people should understand. If I failed, if Father retained his position, my son would lose his chance to one day head the church. Father would be so angry at me, it would spill over onto Joshua. I can’t do that to him. I simply can’t.”
So, thought Isaac. That was his answer. “Well,” he said, rising and turning on the light next to him. “I think it’s time we call it a night.” He moved quickly over to the door, hoping Hugh would get the point He wanted to be alone now. Time for talk was over.
Setting his glass down on the coffee table, Hugh stood. “I’m sorry I had to be the bearer of bad tidings. I… thought someone should at least warn you.”
“I appreciate it” Isaac opened the door.
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Yes. Without a doubt.”
“I hope this doesn’t come as too big a blow.”
“I’ll survive.”
Hugh held Isaac’s eyes for a long moment and then peered carefully into die hallway, looking both ways down the silent corridor. “Night,” he whispered with a jerky wave.
Isaac stood for another couple of seconds, watching his old friend’s lumbering frame disappear around the corner. What a useless human being, he thought to himself, feeling a sudden sadness.
Then again, he had to be pragmatic. If someone needed to be sacrificed, better Hugh than him.
10
Lavinia woke the next morning to the sound of running water. Peter was humming in the bathroom as he took his shower. Easing back into the pillows, she closed her eyes and luxuriated in the remembrance of last night’s lovemaking. Peter had been so passionate, saying how much he missed her during the few days they’d been apart. Lavinia felt the same way. To her, Peter was like a walking hot fudge sundae. She couldn’t get enough of him. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She wondered if he knew how happy he’d made her. She hoped she made him feel the same way.
“Ah, you’re awake,” said Peter, breezing out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.
Lavinia gave him a half-lidded smile, hoping it conveyed just that right note of
“I see. Daddy get sick of your management style? Benign neglect does smack of laziness. That was never Howell’s way.”
“I’ve saved your ass more than once,” said Hugh angrily.
“As I’ve saved yours.”
“Right. We’ve been friends. For a long time. I care about you. I always have. You’re a good minister and I value that, you know I do. But there’s no way I can help you now.”
You may be surprised, thought Isaac, though he had the sense not to say it out loud. “What are you going to do now that your father no longer needs you to manage the field ministry?”
“I don’t know,” said Hugh, finishing his drink. “Knowing him, he’ll probably give me the position back tomorrow morning.”
“Or forget he ever fired you.”
“Yeah. That’s possible.”
Isaac sat back, folding one leg over the other. He had to proceed with caution. “Hugh, as much as you may not want to admit this even to yourself, your father is losing it. You and I both know it’s true. Sooner or later everyone else in the church will know it as well. It won’t be long before he has to step down.”
“He’ll never do that.
Never.
They’d have to pry his hands off the pulpit.”
“Maybe. Still…” He gave Hugh a second before continuing. “Have you ever thought of forcing him out? Taking over the reins of the church yourself? Forming a coalition with some of the other ministers who now see Howell Purdis as a liability?”
Hugh shook his head. “No,” he said firmly.
“I don’t believe you. In any case, if his behavior becomes too bizarre, and you really
do
care what happens to the church, you may have no other choice.”
“I can’t think about that.”
“Why? Because you’re a coward?”
“No! You of all people should understand. If I failed, if Father retained his position, my son would lose his chance to one day head the church. Father would be so angry at me, it would spill over onto Joshua. I can’t do that to him. I simply can’t.”
So, thought Isaac. That was his answer. “Well,” he said, rising and turning on the light next to him. “I think it’s time we call it a night.” He moved quickly over to the door, hoping Hugh would get the point He wanted to be alone now. Time for talk was over.
Setting his glass down on the coffee table, Hugh stood. “I’m sorry I had to be the bearer of bad tidings. I… thought someone should at least warn you.”
“I appreciate it” Isaac opened the door.
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Yes. Without a doubt.”
“I hope this doesn’t come as too big a blow.”
“I’ll survive.”
Hugh held Isaac’s eyes for a long moment and then peered carefully into die hallway, looking both ways down the silent corridor. “Night,” he whispered with a jerky wave.
Isaac stood for another couple of seconds, watching his old friend’s lumbering frame disappear around the corner. What a useless human being, he thought to himself, feeling a sudden sadness.
Then again, he had to be pragmatic. If someone needed to be sacrificed, better Hugh than him.
10
Lavinia woke the next morning to the sound of running water. Peter was humming in the bathroom as he took his shower. Easing back into the pillows, she closed her eyes and luxuriated in the remembrance of last night’s lovemaking. Peter had been so passionate, saying how much he missed her during the few days they’d been apart. Lavinia felt the same way. To her, Peter was like a walking hot fudge sundae. She couldn’t get enough of him. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She wondered if he knew how happy he’d made her. She hoped she made him feel the same way.
“Ah, you’re awake,” said Peter, breezing out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.
Lavinia gave him a half-lidded smile, hoping it conveyed just that right note of
Similar Books
