Page 109 of Share with Me

“And I can have tea at least twice a week with Yun.”

Grandma seemed to welcome that. Ivan watched her nod. Still, she was quieter than usual.

“What are you going to do on St. Simon’s?” Ivan asked.

“I bought half of Dad’s reno company.”

“You did?”

“He would’ve sold me the whole business but he’s such a control freak that it would kill him to be outside looking in. So he only sold me half of it.”

“Sounds like a lot of work,” Grandma said.

“Work is good. Besides, I’m working with some good people who know what they’re doing so I’m happy about my reno crews.”

“What do you do with the houses you fix?” Grandma asked.

“I’m thinking we’d either sell or rent them out.”

Grandma looked like she had another question but the clock chimed on the hour.

“Ladies, we’d better get going.” Ivan helped Grandma to the door. “Don’t want to be late for Sunday School or church.”

* * *

Brinley saton Ivan’s good side at the edge of the pew. He didn’t want anybody bumping his precious left wrist. Seaside Chapel was crowded with people attending one last Sunday morning service before they went out of town for the rest of the year. So all the pews were full.

The crowd looked different to Brinley now that she was saved. Her perception of people had changed. She saw individual faces as people and no longer as a collective mass. She saw each visage as he and she was, unique and brilliant. Each person made by God was individually loved by God. Wow.

And here was Ivan.

Brinley was sitting hip to hip with him with only room for an iPad sandwiched vertically between them. She found it amusing that Ivan was that modest. After all, they had kissed. And here they were in the sanctuary with an iPad between them. Maybe he was trying to be funny.

When they stood up to sing in church, Brinley found that Ivan had a terrible singing voice. She was sure that God didn’t count that against him. But wouldn’t it be better for everyone if Ivan shut up or something? Was it a sin for her to even think such a thought?

I have much to learn about being a Christian.

After the congregational singing was over, Brinley sat down. She realized that Ivan had dispensed of his iPad. His right arm was over her shoulders now. Claiming her? She wasn’t sure. She was glad he’d stopped singing his awful rendition of the otherwise soothing Christmas medley.

The soloist who went up front to sing turned out to be Pastor Gonzalez's wife, Olivia. After church today, Yun was going to introduce Brinley to her. Brinley was looking forward to telling someone other than Yun, Ivan, and Dad that she now believed in Jesus Christ. Dad was excited but Mom was leery.

What about Dillon? Well, Brinley would find out soon enough on Christmas Eve when her older brother would arrive in town.

Dillon had decided not to fly to Paris for Christmas, but spend Christmas Day on Sea Island as he had done every year.

When Olivia Gonzalez sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” Brinley finally understood the words to the carol. It was like blinders had come off and she could see clearly without the fog.

The fog of sin.

It was only when Olivia was helped down the podium that Brinley realized thesoprano leggerocould not see.

Brinley took some notes during Pastor Gonzalez's Christmas sermon centered on Matthew 1:21 which he had someone read aloud in its entirety.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Brinley’s heart had never felt so loved.

My sins.

All forgiven.

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