followed her soberly as she retreated quickly to her seat. She was sure everyone was staring at them.
She watched him minister to the rest of the people surreptitiously, seeing the flow of love from him, to all of them. And they all obviously adored him.
Especially that pretty Marietta creature and her little girl, that had been clinging all over him last Sunday. She was just like Maple syrup now, when he went to put his hand on her head and pray for her. It was disgusting! They had a closeness that was evident to all.
And yet, as suspicious as Tasha was of Marietta's motives, it was a global thing. For all the people there seemed to fit in a place that was exclusively theirs -- to be loved and cherished by their pastors.
Tasha inexplicably began to know a hunger for that special kind of acceptance and love, so freely given here. It was unique. She’d never seen anything like it! It became a dull ache, somewhere deep inside her.
It wasn’t fair that everyone else here should have something so vital and precious – yes, precious! – that she, herself was without. She, with her extreme beauty and wealth, should be better loved than the rest of them!
“ It is because of your need that you should be loved at this time.” a voice said inside her. “Not for anything that you are in yourself, or anything you have done.”
Tasha was astounded. That had not been her thought! And she needed nothing! She needed no one! She lacked nothing! The very thought was ludicrous and insulting!
It made her angry, and unbearable to live with. Everyone had to bite their tongue to keep from reacting to her tirades that afternoon. Everyone except Gary, that is. He alone seemed to be completely unaffected.
Tasha continued to lash out at Gary every chance she had, with greater and greater determination. What really made her angry is that he never seemed to be perturbed by it; and often had that patient, peaceful look on his face that made her feel foolish and tacky for her behavior. More often than not, she found her foot securely stuck in her mouth these days whenever she tried to needle him.
Tasha found herself becoming very lonely. Her behavior was creating gaping chasms between herself and the others in the household. She’d always been something of a loner, but she’d never had this awful, empty, ache inside! She could hardly stand to be in the cabin with any of them anymore.
She’d nearly made up her mind to leave. It’s just that there was really nowhere she cared to go. Her daddy was on the East Coast tied up with boring business, and all her friends were on cruises, or vacationing somewhere. She was high and dry.
She found herself on the deck one evening, in sheer desperation for some company. Jim had been gone on a job out of town ever since that awful communion Sunday, and she was afraid her loneliness was about to overcome her.
She was staring at her nails with dissatisfaction, when a voice behind her shoulder startled her. “Care to take a walk?”
She whirled. Gary stared mildly at her soft hands clenched with tension, her eyes sparking with hatred. “You’ve got to be kidding! Take a walk with you , you pompous bleeding heart ineffectual, sniveling preacher ?” she spat.
Gary let his eyes flick over her briefly in disappointment, and descended the stairs without response.
“ Oh, what the hell.” she muttered and followed him. “I suppose you think you’re being so gallant , asking me to go with you!”
He sighed. “Why would I think that? I just thought it would be nice to have some companionship for a change. Forgive the mistake.”
“ You? What do you need with companionship? You have God .” she mocked.
“ That’s right. But I
She watched him minister to the rest of the people surreptitiously, seeing the flow of love from him, to all of them. And they all obviously adored him.
Especially that pretty Marietta creature and her little girl, that had been clinging all over him last Sunday. She was just like Maple syrup now, when he went to put his hand on her head and pray for her. It was disgusting! They had a closeness that was evident to all.
And yet, as suspicious as Tasha was of Marietta's motives, it was a global thing. For all the people there seemed to fit in a place that was exclusively theirs -- to be loved and cherished by their pastors.
Tasha inexplicably began to know a hunger for that special kind of acceptance and love, so freely given here. It was unique. She’d never seen anything like it! It became a dull ache, somewhere deep inside her.
It wasn’t fair that everyone else here should have something so vital and precious – yes, precious! – that she, herself was without. She, with her extreme beauty and wealth, should be better loved than the rest of them!
“ It is because of your need that you should be loved at this time.” a voice said inside her. “Not for anything that you are in yourself, or anything you have done.”
Tasha was astounded. That had not been her thought! And she needed nothing! She needed no one! She lacked nothing! The very thought was ludicrous and insulting!
It made her angry, and unbearable to live with. Everyone had to bite their tongue to keep from reacting to her tirades that afternoon. Everyone except Gary, that is. He alone seemed to be completely unaffected.
Tasha continued to lash out at Gary every chance she had, with greater and greater determination. What really made her angry is that he never seemed to be perturbed by it; and often had that patient, peaceful look on his face that made her feel foolish and tacky for her behavior. More often than not, she found her foot securely stuck in her mouth these days whenever she tried to needle him.
Tasha found herself becoming very lonely. Her behavior was creating gaping chasms between herself and the others in the household. She’d always been something of a loner, but she’d never had this awful, empty, ache inside! She could hardly stand to be in the cabin with any of them anymore.
She’d nearly made up her mind to leave. It’s just that there was really nowhere she cared to go. Her daddy was on the East Coast tied up with boring business, and all her friends were on cruises, or vacationing somewhere. She was high and dry.
She found herself on the deck one evening, in sheer desperation for some company. Jim had been gone on a job out of town ever since that awful communion Sunday, and she was afraid her loneliness was about to overcome her.
She was staring at her nails with dissatisfaction, when a voice behind her shoulder startled her. “Care to take a walk?”
She whirled. Gary stared mildly at her soft hands clenched with tension, her eyes sparking with hatred. “You’ve got to be kidding! Take a walk with you , you pompous bleeding heart ineffectual, sniveling preacher ?” she spat.
Gary let his eyes flick over her briefly in disappointment, and descended the stairs without response.
“ Oh, what the hell.” she muttered and followed him. “I suppose you think you’re being so gallant , asking me to go with you!”
He sighed. “Why would I think that? I just thought it would be nice to have some companionship for a change. Forgive the mistake.”
“ You? What do you need with companionship? You have God .” she mocked.
“ That’s right. But I
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