Page 77 of Sing with Me

“I have a question for you then,” Matt said. “Are you ‘weary in well doing’? Are you tired of doing good things for people who may not appreciate all that you do for them? Don’t answer that question until we get to the next verse. Will someone read it for us?”

Tristan raised his hand. “I will. ‘As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ Galatians 6:10.”

“Therein is the catch,” Matt said. “Now let’s go back to my question. The Bible says we need to do good to all people, particularly those in church. What if some of those people are unlovable or even spiteful?”

“It’s not conditional,” Ivan said. His Bible in one hand and a pen in another, he was in focus. “When God tells us to do good, we do good, regardless of how the recipient behaves. They, in turn, have to answer to God for their own issues.”

Diehl remembered the first time he had met Ivan, back when Brinley and Ivan became an item. Diehl had opposed the relationship, convinced that the poverty-stricken Ivan was out to get Brinley’s money.

The opposite had been true. Ivan had refused to sign the prenuptial agreement that was standard fare in Brooks marriages. However, he had a prenup of his own, that made everyone impressed with the way he managed what little money he had. He had turned Yun McMillan Music Studio into a profitable venture. Somewhere in that violinist mind, there was a pocket of business savvy that served him well.

That wasn’t all. In fact, Ivan had been such a godly husband to Brinley, taking care of her in her times of need. In her last trimester of her first pregnancy, Brinley didn’t have to lift anything. Ivan did everything for her.

An exemplary husband.

Diehl wondered if he could come close. He dared not compare himself with Ivan.

“Ivan summed it up,” Matt said. “There’s only one more thing I can add to that. We’ve discussed doing good to others. What about when they do good to us? Let’s be careful not to take advantage of Christians who are kind, benevolent, and self-less.”

Everyone nodded.

That made Diehl wonder. Skye had been kind to him and his children, spending a couple of hours of her days off picnicking with them. Had he returned that kindness by taking advantage of her?

On Saturday, an opportunity presented itself in the yard of the beach house. She was standing there, looking kissable. And he wouldn’t be one to miss a chance.

Yes, he meant it. Every moment. Every savor.

His heart was in it.

However, had he moved too fast?

Within a week of her being in the beach house for practically three times a day, Diehl felt that he had known her for ages. By the time the next Saturday rolled around, he was sure there was something between them.

Something special.

Something he could lose.

His heart told him she was the one. And yet, how could he tell either way? After all, he had failed in his first marriage. He had married poorly and ended up very unfulfilled, in spite of their having two kids.

Could love—true love—come to him a second time around?

Chapter Twenty-Two

When Avery gave her a concerned look as soon as she arrived at Olivia Gonzalez’s house for the Tuesday night Women’s Bible Study Group meeting, Skye knew that something was off. Avery had several levels of concern, and this wrinkled-eyebrow expression with heavy sighs only appeared in a Category 4 hurricane.

It was too hot to take their dinner outside, but fortunately, fewer women were in attendance this evening. It was summer, after all. School was out, and many of the mothers had gone out of town with their families. Also, they were early because it was their turn to set up the buffet table.

Skye and Avery settled near their spot by the microphone. They were both leading the singing that usually opened their Bible study. At the moment, they were the only people on the couch.

Tonight’s Bible study was a continuation of last week’s, but Skye admitted that she hadn’t spent enough time preparing for it. Usually, she’d read the email that Olivia sent, then the attached verse and notes. This week, she had spent more time making sure she looked decent and presentable whenever she showed up at Diehl’s house, and more time shopping for the food that he might like to eat.

Clearly, Skye’s heart was elsewhere.

First sign of trouble?

“Doesn’t it feel weird to you at all?” Avery asked.

“Feel?” Skye asked. “I thought you, of all people, walked by faith and not feelings.”

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