Page 78 of Sing with Me

“Brinley has told us about her brother for a couple of years now, all the way up to a couple of weeks ago before he came to town,” Avery began. “Every time we prayed for him, it’s about his lack of interest in going to church or matters pertaining to God. How many times has Brinley cried because her brother doesn’t want to talk about Christ? Which Christian do you know refuses to talk about their Savior?”

Skye recalled their many prayers for Brinley’s brother. However, when he showed up at Brinley’s beach house, he seemed like a nice guy.

And very attractive.

“Brinley has told him about our sister church in Atlanta, but did he ever go there? Not even once.”

That was true. Skye recalled being excited about Midtown Chapel because her own brother planned to attend that church after his wife finished graduate school.

Not even once.

Those three words bothered Skye. She recalled Brinley saying so. Diehl had not made any effort to go to church in Atlanta. Was it possible for a Christian to never step inside a church’s door except for funerals, Easter Sunday, and Christmas?

“Why is he suddenly all over church now?” Avery asked.

“Maybe he realizes how important church is?”

“It’s not about the church per se, is it? It’s about Jesus Christ. How important is Jesus to him?”

Skye remembered her conversation with Diehl over the phone on Friday night, how she had mentioned salvation in Jesus. When Skye told him that he couldn’t be partially saved, he did not say on which side of the fence he was on. His question to her was telling.

How many times do I need to pray to receive Jesus in my heart?

Skye ate her salmon on salad quietly. Was Diehl truly saved? Or was he a Christian prodigal son who had to find his way home to the Heavenly Father?

It mattered to her because her brother would rather she date a Christian than an unbeliever.

Date?

Skye didn’t know what to think. If Diehl was unsaved, then their relationship wouldn’t work out because how could he lead the family in the ways of the Lord when he himself had no idea what they were?

Family?

Skye closed her eyes. She needed to step back and assess the whole situation.

Maybe the Lord had sent her good friend to her for such a time as this to wake her up.

I don’t want to wake up. I think I’m in love.

Avery drank more tea—her second or third glass this evening—and then she had more to say. She was on a roll tonight.

“Are you two dating?” Avery asked.

Did she read her mind?

Skye couldn’t answer her.

“I saw him kiss you on Saturday,” Avery whispered. “You two held hands at church on Sunday.”

It happened so fast.

Too fast.

“I wonder what Brinley would say,” Avery said. “She knows her brother very well.”

Brinley? “I don’t think we should bring her into this. I’m not dating her. Besides, she’s having a difficult third trimester, so the last thing she needs is to be stressed out over her brother.”

“She cares for us, for you. We’re like the sisters we each never had—I have a cousin around my age, but I’m closer to you and Brinley than I am to her.”

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