CHAPTER 6
Before seven the next morning, Beth sat on the edge of her bed, squinting at the fine print on the home pregnancy test she’d picked up the night before. Supposedly, it could detect pregnancy within hours of conception—but as a nurse, she wasn’t convinced.
“Do I even want to know yet?” she muttered, placing a palm over her flat abdomen. “If there is a little person in there, they’re going to learn their mom talks to herself a lot.”
She walked to the bathroom door… and froze. Her body hovered in the doorway. The toilet stared back at her. So did the test.
“Nope. Not ready.” She pivoted toward the kitchen. “I think I’ll call and leave Pastor Steve a message first.”
She walked into the kitchen and started making coffee, scrolling through her phone for the church number.
“New Hope Fellowship, this is Pastor Steve Ambrose.”
Beth flinched. She hadn’t expected him to answer on the first ring.
“Oh—um—hi. It’s Elizabeth Stoner. Sorry, I thought I’d get the machine.”
“Beth! I’m surprised anyone’s calling this early—especially on a Saturday. Guess now I know why I’m here. What can I do for you? Or should I hang up so you can leave a message?” he asked with a warm laugh at his own joke.
“No—don’t hang up. I was calling to see if you were free today and if.
.. if you’d have time to meet with me. Well, not just me, but with us.
I made a bad—like really bad—decision while I was out of town for the conference.
It’s... complicated. I don’t even know what to call it exactly.
But we’d really like to talk with you about it. ”
“Of course, are you okay?” Pastor Steve asked.
“Physically?” she asked, thrown off by the same question Bryce had asked the night before. She blushed at the memory.
“Well, sure, that’s a start,” Pastor Steve replied gently, surprised by her response but willing to meet her where she was.
“Physically I’m fine,” she clarified, offering nothing more.
When it became clear she wasn’t planning to elaborate, Pastor Steve tried another route.
“I can certainly make time to meet with you this morning. Can you tell me a little more about what happened during your trip?”
“I got drunk on my trip and married one of the doctors—someone I work with,” she blurted out rapidly.
Silence.
“Oh, Beth. You are such a jokester. You really had me going there for a second. So, what’s the real reason? Another Sunday school expense report?”
More silence.
“I wish. But no. I’m serious.”
She could practically hear his gray eyebrows shoot toward his hairline.
“Oh dear. I’m sorry for laughing. Come as soon as you can—I’m free until ten-thirty. Shall I call Tami?”
“You don’t have to wake her…”
“She’s already awake. Even if she wasn’t, she adores you. She’ll want to be there.” He paused, then added in a grandfatherly tone, “I could also call and talk to your parents, if you’d like?”
“They already know. I told them last night.”
“Good, good. Eight o’clock?”
“That works. Thank you.”
Beth hung up and left quick messages for her parents and Bryce. Her hand shook as she set the phone down.
Pastor Steve tapped his pen while his wife’s phone rang at home.
“Muffin, can you come to the church right away?” he asked when she picked up.
“Of course. Is everything okay? It’s not even seven,” Tami replied, her voice laced with concern.
“I just got off the phone with Beth Stoner, and boy has she gotten herself into a pickle,” Pastor Steve said, already thumbing through his Bible. “She’ll be here at eight, and I’d like to spend some time on our knees seeking the Lord’s wisdom before Beth arrives—with her new husband.”
“Her new what?” Tami exclaimed.
“MWI,” Pastor Steve replied, flatly.
“Married? While intoxicated?” Her voice rose an octave. “You said Elizabeth? Surely you meant CaroLynn. That would be far more understandable.”
Pastor Steve shook his head, though she couldn’t see it. “Nope. Elizabeth.”
Tami blinked. “Oh my word. The sweet sister, not the wild one?”
“Apparently, the Sweet & Wild Sisters have traded roles for the week,” Pastor Steve said, using their private nickname for the Stoner girls.
“I’m on my way.” Tami hung up muttering, “Beth Stoner… married? What on earth…”
Beth sat on the church steps, cradling an empty travel mug as Bryce crossed the parking lot. He looked... put together, impossibly so. Designer jeans. A charcoal gray polo that hugged his chest and arms. Tousled hair, sun-kissed skin, and eyes that held too many unspoken thoughts.
“Strong and black, the way you like it,” he said, handing her a coffee. “Figured you’d need it.”
She set her empty mug aside and accepted his, taking a sip before blinking in surprise. “This is amazing. Did you make it?” She took another drink, savoring the smooth brew.
“I did.”
“Why don’t you make the coffee in the hospital lounge?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“Because if I did, I’d be stuck making it forever. Next time we’re on rotation together, stop by my office. I always have a fresh pot.”
She smiled, and he offered his hand to help her stand. “Ready?”
“Pastor’s not expecting us until eight.”
“Didn’t you say he could meet with us at seven-thirty?”
“I said he could meet with us—and asked if you could be here by then. Or at least, that’s what I meant.”
Bryce chuckled and sat down beside her.”
“Sorry. I wasn’t clear. I kinda tend to ramble when I’m nervous. Want your coffee back?”
“I’ve noticed.” Bryce didn’t reach for the coffee—just shook his head and smiled at her.
She wagged the mug playfully and grinned. “You might need it. It’s the strongest thing I’ve got.”
“Why would I need something strong to drink this morning?”
“Well... don’t you find this a little weird and stressful?”
He leaned back on his elbows and studied her in the morning light. “No, not really. I don’t find it stressful at all. In fact, I think it’s kind of cool that I woke up married to you.”
Not sure what to do with that, Beth shook her head and changed the subject. “I may have some good news.”
“Oh?”
“I took one of those new pregnancy tests that claim to detect pregnancy within 24 hours of conception. It was negative.” Her grin was wide, her relief obvious.
He frowned.
Beth’s smile faltered.
“You know it’s medically impossible to detect pregnancy that early, right?” Bryce said, his tone laced with skepticism. “At best, hCG shows up in blood six to eight days after conception. Urine tests usually take closer to two weeks.”
He paused, eyebrow raised. “hCG is the hormone those tests detect, by the way.”
Beth stood abruptly, her movements sharp with irritation. “Yes, Dr. Jensen, I know what hCG levels are. I knew it wasn’t entirely reliable, but… excuse me for hoping.”
Bryce reached for her hand, gently catching it before she could step away. He guided her back down beside him, his touch steady, his voice soft.
“Sorry to go all ‘Doctor Jensen’ on you. Which, by the way, you agreed to stop calling me,” he said with a soft smile.
He rocked toward her, bumping her shoulder with his.
“Listen, I know you’re hoping to wake up from this nightmare, and I get it—this isn’t how you pictured your life going.
But I don’t want you clinging to false hope.
I can draw blood next week, run the right tests. ”
She nodded. “Yeah, okay. Although I’d rather wait and take another urine test. I don’t want my bloodwork showing up in hospital records and starting rumors before we even see the results.”
“Fair enough. Are your parents joining us this morning?”
“No. Mom invited us to lunch after, but I thought we should meet with the pastors alone.”
“Good call. How many pastors are we meeting with?”
“Just Pastor Steve and his wife, Tami.”
Beth pulled her hand free, grabbing her mugs and starting toward the doors, but Bryce caught her wrist gently. With her standing a step above, their eyes met evenly.
“I meant what I said, Lizzy. I want to try. I want to make this marriage work.”
Beth swallowed hard. His voice was earnest, his hand warm on hers.
Taking a mug from her, he led her up the stairs, opened the door, and held it for her.
Inside, she realized—her hand was still in his. And it fit perfectly.
She let go quickly, face flushed, and hurried toward the offices.