CHAPTER 4
You are making a joke,” Donald said, tilting his head slightly.
“This is a fabricated story constructed to divert our attention from your sister’s announcement.
Is that correct?” His expression was unreadable as he tried to reconcile the grounded, steady daughter he’d raised with the impossible thing she’d just confessed.
“No, I’m not joking. I wish I was. But… Wait. What was Lynn’s announcement? Why would you think that?” Beth’s concern momentarily overrode her own crisis as she focused on her younger sister.
“Forget your sister. You’re serious? You’re married?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m serious.”
Sue shook her head. “Oh my. When you mess up, you really go all out, don’t you?”
“Thanks. That’s what I needed. As if I haven’t told myself that all day.”
“Apologies, LizzyBeth,” Donald interjected, recognizing their heightened emotions.
His voice remained calm and measured. “Your mother’s comment was not intended to wound.
This development, following closely on the heels of your sister’s engagement, has simply produced considerable emotional strain.
It is, in all regards, a highly irregular evening. ”
“Lynn’s engaged? What? She’s only known the guy a couple weeks! What is she thinking?” Beth exclaimed.
“Really Beth? Are you the pot or the kettle?” Sue asked, putting an end to Beth’s overprotective big sister rant.
“You’re right! What am I thinking? I’m the one who got married after tequila!” Beth dropped her head into her hands.
“We’ll talk about Lynn later,” Sue said. “You can get an annulment.”
Beth nodded. “That’s what I said. But then Bryce—Dr. Jensen—pointed out that I might be... well, there’s a chance I might be... I mean, I’m not taking...”
Sue’s coffee mug hit the coffee table with a thud. “You might be pregnant.”
Beth’s eyes welled up.
Donald registered the shame in Beth’s posture, the tears glistening in his wife’s eyes. He breathed in slowly, said a quiet prayer under his breath, and then moved to sit in front of Beth. His voice was calm, composed.
“If you are with child, it will be all right—with Christ’s help. What does Dr. Jensen have to say about all this?”
“He wanted to come tonight.”
“Why did he not?”
“I told him not to. I couldn’t face telling you with him sitting next to me.”
“Elizabeth, he’s part of this too,” Sue said gently.
“I know. He feels awful and kept apologizing. He doesn’t think we should rush an annulment. He said we should try to make the marriage work—if there’s a baby.”
“Donald nodded thoughtfully.” And what do you think?”
“I told him no. A baby isn’t a good enough reason to stay married. Not to someone who doesn’t share my faith anyway. I don’t think he knows anything about God.”
“Still,” Donald said, his tone steady and deliberate, “we must meet him. Extend an invitation for tomorrow. Additionally, speak with Pastor Steve. You are in need of counsel—someone impartial, grounded, and spiritually discerning. Your mother and I are willing to assist, but we recognize our perspectives are inevitably influenced by emotion.”
Sue gave a small shrug. “Your father’s right.
I’d never be able to stay neutral or grounded.
” Her voice was soft, wry—an acknowledgment that she was the one influenced by emotion.
Donald, ever the thinker and planner, based his decisions on logic and fact—tools he leaned on to counteract the tension emotions often caused. He turned to Beth.
“Tell me now, what is the doctor’s first name?”
“Bryce.”
“Very well. Call Bryce. Invite him to meet with us tomorrow and to accompany you to counseling.”
Beth blinked, then frowned. “Dad… you’re kidding, right? I mean, I was planning to talk to Pastor Steve, but I didn’t think I’d take Bryce with me. Do people who’ve probably never even set foot in a church usually go to Christian marriage counseling?”
Donald stood. “They do if they want to save their marriage. Whatever happens, if you are pregnant, this man will be part of your life. Best to know what kind of man he really is.”
Beth stood too.
“Yeah, okay. I already told him I’d call after I talked to you guys.
I have his number,” she added with a small smile, remembering their moment on the airplane.
“I’ll ask him if he wants to go with me.
I’m tired, so I’m going to go home. Chances are good I’ll be back here with the good doctor in tow tomorrow. ”
She hesitated before asking, “How disappointed are you in me? How ashamed?”
Sue crossed the room and pulled her into a hug.
Beth sank into her mother’s arms, clinging tightly as Sue ran a hand gently over her shiny raven hair.
Lynn had inherited Sue’s name—and all her spunk and flair—but Beth had always looked more like her.
Tonight, it wasn’t just their features they shared. Tonight, they carried the same weight.
“We’ve never been ashamed of you,” Sue said softly. “Disappointed? Sure. But honey, you’re human. You made a mistake. It’d be different if you’d planned this out, gone looking for trouble—but that’s not what happened. I hate that you’re hurting, but it doesn’t change how I see you.”
She leaned back just enough to cup Beth’s face, her thumbs brushing away the tears.
“I see a woman who loves God and tries to follow Him—even when it’s hard. That hasn’t changed. You’ve touched lives, Beth. You’ve made people feel seen and loved. Don’t let this push you away from Him. Face it like you always do—by leaning into His strength, not your own.”
“I love you both.” Beth said, eyes burning as she tried not to cry again.
“We love you too, LizzyBeth,” Donald said, patting her arm. “Do you want to stay the night?”
Beth shook her head. “Thanks, Daddy, but I want my own bed tonight.”
“Understandable. If you need us, call.”
They walked her to the door. She waved one last time before backing out of the driveway.
Sue watched until the taillights disappeared, standing on the porch long after the car was gone. Only then did she let her emotions simmer over.
“How. How could she have been so foolish, Donald?” Her voice trembled, laced with something dangerously close to anger.
“Now, now, SueLynn.” Donald responded, standing steady.
“Don’t you ‘Now, now, SueLynn’ me. Two men. In Vegas. And she thought that’s the time to try a shot of tequila?” Her hands flew as fast as her words, punctuating every sentence with disbelief. “Did we really shelter them that much?”
Donald wrapped an arm around her and led her inside.
“Her error was not rooted in the timing or the act of drinking itself. Rather, it was in failing to comprehend how swiftly a single decision can unravel into multiple consequences. To be fair, we did teach the girls that drunkenness is a sin—not the mere consumption of alcohol.”
“Fine,” Sue shot back, emotion rising in her voice, “BUT we’ve always taught them to think through their actions and consider the consequences. I know CaroLynn doesn’t apply anything we say, but I thought Elizabeth did.”
Donald nodded slowly. “It is plausible she believed the extent of her consequences would be limited to a hangover. A na?ve assumption, certainly. In an effort to protect them, Christian parents sometimes construct a bubble—well-intentioned, but incomplete. Without specific examples, young believers may fail to grasp the full implications of impaired judgment. It is common to hear warnings about drinking and driving, or that intoxication is sinful; howbeit, few—if any—are cautioned they could wake up married.”
Sue rolled her eyes “You’re right. I just... Comon sense should factor in at some point… I mean, I thought she’d know better.”
Donald nodded slowly. “SueLynn, you told her you weren’t disappointed. Was that true?”
Sue was quiet. “Yes. I’m disappointed in her actions, not in her. But I couldn’t say that tonight. She wasn’t in a place to hear it.”
“I see, I see. Do you believe, given time, she will be able to cope with the consequences—to reach the point where she can accept God’s forgiveness and grace and move forward?”
“I pray she can. She’s strong in the Lord. But she’s never faced real tragedy before. Losing your mom has been the hardest thing she’s dealt with. What do you think?”
“With God, she can weather any storm. After we meet Bryce, we’ll have a clearer picture. For now, let us retire. Shall we?”
Sue nodded and kissed his cheek. “You head up, and I’ll follow along soon. I just need a minute.”
“Very well.” Donald, only a couple of inches taller than his wife, tilted his head and kissed her temple. While Sue took a moment to herself, he quietly cleared the coffee cups from the living room, rinsed them, and loaded them into the dishwasher before going back to gather the uncut cake.
Sue stepped outside to the porch swing Beth had sat in earlier. She appreciated Donald’s questions, they always helped her think beyond emotion. She loved his insights—always thoughtful, often deeper than her own.
People sometimes wondered how a former ballerina ended up with an autistic music professor.
Even Lynn had asked once. But Donald grounded her in the most beautiful way.
Growing up in a household ruled by emotion, Sue hadn’t realized decisions could come from logic until she met him.
Some called him robotic. To her, he was calm, consistent peace—the anchor she’d always needed.
Tonight, more than ever, she was grateful for his presence, logic, and his steadiness.
Feeling the need for solitude pass, she rose from the swing and stepped back inside. Donald was just coming out of the kitchen. She didn’t need to ask what he’d been doing—he could never sleep with dirty dishes left downstairs. Yet another perk of being his wife.
With a soft smile, she slid a hand across his shoulder, kissed his cheek, and led him upstairs to their room.