Anything but Normal - Melody Carlson [53]
Wes looked slightly stunned. “Wow. That must be kind of cool.”
“Cool?”
“I mean cool as in kind of a relief. My parents are way interested in everything I do. They’re the nosiest people on the planet. Believe me, it can be a pain.”
“Guess I’m lucky.”
Wes made a half smile. “You know, Sophie . . .”
“What?”
“Well, if you ever want to really talk . . . I’m here for you.” She frowned. “Meaning?”
“Meaning . . . sometimes I get the feeling you’re carrying this heavy burden.”
“Seriously?” She made a contorted face and acted like she was lifting some huge weight.
“Funny.” He got serious again. “And sometimes I get the feeling that you use humor as your smoke screen.”
“Seems like you’ve given this a fair amount of thought.” She frowned at him. “Guess you take after your parents.”
He chuckled. “Okay, now that actually was funny.”
“Thank you,” she said in her Elvis voice. “Thank you very much.”
“But really, Sophie. If you ever need someone to talk to or a shoulder to lean on, I am seriously here for you.” He looked directly into her eyes. “I mean that.”
She felt a lump growing in her throat as she nodded. “Thanks, Wes. I know you do.”
“You’re a cool girl.” He smiled. “One of the coolest people I know. But even cool people need someone to talk to sometimes.”
“Yeah.” Her voice sounded husky. She was afraid she was going to cry.
“And even though I’m not as strong a Christian as you are—by the way, that was a great ending to your speech—I am a believer. I’m just not really vocal about it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Of course, some people don’t think Episcopalians are really Christians, but I happen to know that I am.”
“That’s cool.” To her own surprise, she threw her arms around him and hugged him hard. “Thanks, Wes.”
“Thank you!” He grinned as she stepped away.
Okay, it wasn’t like she’d kissed him. And really, she was not ready for that. She didn’t know if she’d ever be ready for that again. But it was good to know he was there for her. In her corner. The big question once again was, would he be there for her if he knew? How would a guy feel to know that a girl he really liked was pregnant with another guy’s baby?
“Sophie Ramsay,” she told herself as she pulled out of the parking structure, “you are a living, breathing soap opera!” As she drove down the street, something caught her eye. She slowed down by First Christian Church and saw that there was a well-lit nativity scene out front. Not one of those cheesy plastic versions but one made of wood, with characters that looked semirealistic and a real wood stable and manger with hay.
She parked her car in front of the church and got out. Since it was a Thursday night, the place was quiet and devoid of onlookers. So she just stood there gazing at the figures and thinking. Sophie knew that Mary had been a pregnant teenager too—and unmarried at that. Of course, it had been God’s doing and an incredible honor. Yet Sophie suspected that Mary could relate to her dilemma.
“What should I do, God?” Sophie said aloud. “What?” It was the first time she’d prayed a genuine prayer to God in ages, and she wasn’t even sure if he’d want to listen. “I know I messed up,” she continued. “I know you must be disappointed in me. And I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I’ve told you that about a hundred times. But you haven’t told me what I need to do. Tell me what to do.”
She waited and waited. Shivering in the chilly December air, she buttoned her jacket up to her chin, turned up the collar, and waited some more. What she was waiting for was unclear. Perhaps a miracle or a bolt of lightning or maybe even a single star as a sign of hope. But nothing happened.
At least nothing out of the ordinary. The truth was, something was happening. A calm, quiet voice was whispering inside of her. A voice she knew belonged to God. And as much as she didn’t want to hear this particular message—or to even admit that she’d been ignoring it for months now—she knew that God was making himself perfectly clear. God wanted her to confess her sin and to ask for forgiveness, but not only with him this time.