Love Away from the Underpass: Out of the Refiner’S Fire into His Grace

BOOK 2

Thanks to my Son Richard and Daughter Paulette for editing and for your encouragement. Thanks to my daughter Nancy, you have been real help, especially when I push the wrong key on my computer

In my extended age I have basked, in my family’s love and caring.

CHAPTER 1

The Dinner Invitation

It was such a beautiful day—the sun shinning, the birds singing their hearts out, and all was right with her world.

With happy thoughts swirling in her head, Jill smiled as she placed the items for the evening dinner into her shopping cart. Jack was coming to dinner; he had proposed again, and she had said yes. Three years earlier, there was a serious misunderstanding. She had broken off their engagement and left town leaving no forwarding address. Hiding from Jack for three years was the unhappiest time of Jill’s young life. But now she had come back home, and she and Jack were reconciled.

Being back with Jack filled her with an exuberance of joy that brought her whole being alive. She loved him so much and was envisioning wedding dresses and wedding cakes. The only thing that could spoil her day now might be Grandma. Jill loved her grandma, but there were times when—oh well, it was best not to think of that again.

Jack, too, was devastated when Jill disappeared. His life was torn apart, wondering why she left and where on earth had she gone? But now she was home with her mother and grandmother, and tonight he was coming to their house for dinner!

Arriving home from shopping for their special dinner for Jack, Jill entered the door at home with two bags of groceries in her arms. Without warning, Grandma, waiting in the kitchen, exploded. She had found out Jack was coming to dinner that evening and let go with a verbal rampage.

Jill, after Jack treated you the way he did while in college, why on earth would you even consider inviting him to dinner? You should cast him out of your life and forget about him. That young man is not worth his salt. He is just full of lies and will once again break your heart and make you miserable. I’ll have no part in seeing him this evening. I will just have my dinner in my room! She marched to her room and closed her door, leaving her stunned granddaughter standing in the kitchen.

Jill’s mother was more understanding than her grandmother. She hugged her daughter and helped put the groceries away. Jill was beginning to feel excited again about their dinner plans.

Jill, I do believe you are as giddy as you were the night you and Jack had your first date for the High School Prom. Remember, I finally had to pin the flower he brought to you for your dress, you were both so beside yourselves.

Feeling again the shock wave of her grandmother’s blast Jill said, But Mother, Grandma still won’t–.

Cutting Jill off, her mom said, No sweetheart, don’t make troubles before they happen. Grandma will be all right when Jack comes to dinner this evening. He just may win her over, with his charm.

With her hands on the sides of her face she muttered, I hope so, Mom. You’re probably right. I just get so nervous when she is upset.

On the verge of tears, Jill managed to control herself. She looked down and swallowed hard. Staring at her hands, she remorsefully said, I’m just so sorry I put Jack and myself through what I did. We could have been married and maybe even had a baby by now.

Let’s think about today, Sweetheart. You are almost starting over. It’s like the Lord has given you and Jack a second chance.

Jill brightened at that thought, Oh, Mom, you’re right! I hadn’t even thought about it that way, and, yes, I do thank the Lord for a second chance.

Excited about a second chance and fixing dinner for Jack, Jill hugged her mother.

It will be so much fun planning and cooking a meal for him.

The rest of the day was filled with the enjoyment of preparing for special company. While they were cooking, Jill wondered what she would wear to captivate Jack. This was to be a festive evening.

Being so happy inside it showed on the outside, Jill simply glowed. I won’t let anything dampen my spirits, she thought. I will enjoy every moment tonight.

Jack had a hearty appetite and liked most foods. Jill and her mother knew he loved ham, so, ham it was. Jill excitedly suggested yams with marshmallow topping.

Jack also likes lettuce salads— so many different kinds of lettuces to choose from or mix together, loaded with different things: tomatoes, sunflower seeds, bell pepper, ripe olives, and anything else you might have on hand. Some of your salad dressing, Mom, the one no one else knows how to make.

Thinking of the special dinner for Jack, Jill said, This will be so much fun. I have never cooked a meal for him. Janet smiled at Jill’s attempt for a playful mood.

Strawberry shortcake was Jill’s choice for dessert. Her mother made a light and fluffy shortcake from biscuit dough. She added an extra pat of butter with just a touch of sugar. She baked it in individual cakes and served it a tad warm with coarsely chopped strawberries, sweetened to taste. It was so simple but oh, so good. Jill could make a meal on just the delicious strawberry shortcake. Her mother added whipped cream for extra taste.

Dinner was almost ready to put on the table, and Jill imagined Jack heading for their house. There was just time for a shower and the fun of deciding what to wear. Plus she needed a few moments to calm down. After several changes, she finally decided on what she would wear.

The doorbell rang. Jill started for the door and stopped, Oh, Mom, you go! No, wait, I’ll go!

Well, for goodness sakes, one of you better go, stated Grandmother as she stood in the doorway of the kitchen and then hurried into her room and firmly shut the door.

Oh Motherrrrr, Jill pleaded as tears started to well up.

Janet pondered—Jill had never been one to cry so easily, but since her father’s funeral, it seemed Jill would cry over almost anything a bit stressful.

Her Mother took hold of her shoulders, No, don’t go there. Don’t pay any attention to your Grandmother now. Honey, you love Jack, just think on that. Go to the door and just lose yourself as you greet him.

Janet touched her beautiful daughter under the chin and smiled a huge smile. Be happy, darling girl.

The bell rang again. Jill charged for the front door. Opening the door, she stood mute. Words would not come. There stood Jack, but what had he done? With her hand at her throat she screamed, Oh Mom–Mom–come quick–hurry.

Jill’s frantic call brought Janet running to the door, Jill what is it? Jack, come in, Jill, what’s wrong, Honey?

As Jack stepped into the house, Jill looked outdoors and asked, Where is your car?

Before he could answer, Jill’s grandmother came running then stopped in her tracks with recognition, Jack, what are you doing here after the way you’ve treated Jill? She turned and marched right back to her bedroom. She took hold of herself as she again closed her door–yes, firmly.

Jill stood dumbfounded as she looked at Jack, I’m sorry, Jack, I must apologize for Grandma. Looking at Jack, she sighed, Oh, Mom, isn’t he gorgeous!

As if awestruck she stared at him in disbelief, Mom, he is even more handsome than when I last saw him dressed up at college, three years ago.

Hadn’t she told her mother? She couldn’t remember for so much had happened lately. He had shaved off his beard and had a haircut of an office worker. He had on a suit, tie, white shirt and new shoes. He was indeed a made over man.

As they went into the living room, Jill turned and placed her hand on Jack’s chest. His arms went around her waist as he held her in an easy embrace. She put her hand on his smooth face, questioning herself, whether she liked the change or not. Well of course she liked his change but it was not expected and was such a shock. What did it mean?

She had almost gotten used to seeing his bushy face, longhaired, tattered and torn form. Here he was changed back to the Jack she had known before. Isn’t he beautiful, Mom?

Not understanding her daughter’s unusual behavior, Janet looked perplexed as she questioned her daughter, Jill, are you alright?

Jack was both amused and concerned seeing Jill’s expression in the surprise. He gathered his wits about him and tried to calm Jill as he explained to her Mother, I believe she is fine Mrs. Surgeaze. You needed to have seen me a couple hours ago, and you would understand. Here, I brought these flowers for you. I hope they are not crushed.

With her mind spinning, Janet took the flowers, thanked him and invited him to have a seat in the living room. Going to put the flowers in a large vase, she had to stand for a few seconds to admire them. They surely were beautiful. Something was puzzling though. She was having a hard time understanding just what on earth was going on with Jill.

Going into the living room, she noticed her lovely daughter sitting on the sofa as close as possible to Jack. Jill was looking him up and down with joy on her face, then with almost disappointment as she asked him, When did you–why?

Being totally confused, Janet asked, Alright, let’s just start all over. Please, let me know what is going on here for heaven’s sake and for my sake too. Jill, speak up.

Answering her Mother somewhat reluctantly she struggled for words that would make sense, Mom, I guess I didn’t tell you. Jack was–uh–working–is that the right word Jack? He is doing church work with some homeless people, and he looked just like them. You should have seen his hairy beard, his long messy hair, and his scruffy, worn out shoes. But, Mom, there was no doubt it was him when we miraculously discovered one another in this out of the way drug store several weeks ago. He was in another lane staring at me. It’s hard to believe, but I knew him, dressed as he was, and after three years, but I knew him, I did, I knew him. I was so happy, but then I got scared. I don’t know why. Words just kept tumbling out of Jill’s mouth.

Jack was touched to hear her say those words for his reaction had been the same when he suddenly saw her that day. He reached out and softly caressed her face and whispered, I love you. Tears came to her eyes, which made Jack’s eyes do the same.

It seemed a Holy moment to Janet, and she wondered if she should be witnessing the open love in their demeanor towards one another. Their look at each other and the powerful silence spoke volumes. She quietly waited, a bit ill at ease.

Jack finally looked away from Jill, telling Mrs. Sturgeaze, I entered a group of homeless people undercover, which means I had to let my beard and hair grow out. I was with them under the direction of the Lord and my pastor. My work with them, such as it is, might just be over when they see me—that is, looking as I look now when I go back this evening. I’m afraid they will no longer trust me anymore. I will have a lot of explaining to do, and I pray they will accept it. He pondered for a thoughtful moment, I hope they don’t kick me out thinking I’ve been living a lie and spying on them. Those people have been through a lot of disappointments. I will be continuing my writing while still working with them if they let me stay. Jack looked at Jill’s mom hopefully as he explained.

Turning to Jill with a grin on his face, he said, "You should have seen the look on Pastor Ed’s face earlier when he saw me all clean and shaved, and in this suit.

Hesitating for a moment, he looked quizzically at Jill, I just have to ask you something, okay?

Of course, what do you want to ask me?

How did you happen to be in the drug store where we met that day? You lived so much farther north. What brought you to that very store that blessed day?

Jill answered, One of the girls I worked with told me of this quaint little town, and I wanted to see it.

Thinking about Jack’s question she asked him, How did you happen to be there too? That is a fair distance from Columbia, S.C.

I was getting some supplies for one in the group that I work with. Pastor Ed had picked me up near the campsite and took me to the church. I had to stop at the church before I went to the drugstore for my credit card because Pastor Ed keeps it in the safe at the church, so I don’t lose it. The drug store is pretty close to Pastor Ed’s church, within walking distance in fact—and there you were! Wow! Does God ever work in amazing ways!

Accepting Jack’s reasoning Jill went on, Oh, and Mom he gave them–uh, I guess you should tell that instead of me.

Agreeing with Jill, he tried begging off telling everything. I will certainly explain everything I’m doing but, with your permission, Mrs. Sturgeaze, I’m not at liberty until I have taken care of some details with two Pastors. He included Pastor Ben to escape a whole lot of explaining right at the moment.

With a relieved smile and nod of her head Janet graciously held out her hand, Our dinner is ready. Let’s go into the dining room and see if it is still edible.

The dinner was a royal feast for Jack. They didn’t eat that way at the camp. When it came time for the dessert, his eyes opened in disbelief at the strawberry shortcake.

Whoa, my favorite kind of cake, I haven’t had strawberry shortcake for ages. Jill and her mother laughed as they described the fun they had making it. Jack had his choice about the whipping cream.

With laughter, Janet explained, If that dessert is served topped with whipped cream, it is for those who have gone without sweets for a week, for it has so many calories!

With a mischievous smile Jill confessed she used only half the biscuit to cut down on the calories. Her mother used the other half. Jack ate the whole dessert, with whipped cream. He was so full he was uncomfortable.

When the evening with Jill and her mother would be over he knew he would have to take a long walk, to settle all of that food before he went to his bedroll. Also, he knew he must decide about a way to somehow explain about the most unusual way he had inherited a rather large amount of money. To Jack the whole incident seemed to be unbelievable—at least to him it was a miracle.

Jack was grateful Jill’s mother was such a thoughtful person as she had quickly shifted away from the discomfort of his explanations. They had an enjoyable evening getting reacquainted. He could sense though, that Jill’s mom was still ill at ease with him not having a regular job. Janet knew too that she would have to do some explaining to her mother in the morning, about Jack’s writing—as a job? She would defend her daughter though–gently, of course.

When Jill drove him out to the campsite after their dinner she was amused at him taking his ‘uniform’, his homeless clothes with him. When he rang their doorbell, he had put them on the porch swing in a paper bag.

Jack’s car, stolen sometime earlier, turned out to be a blessing. He didn’t have to store it when he became a part of the homeless group or try to explain to the group why he, as a bum, had a car. He gave thanks to the Lord again as He always had answers for everything.

Dropping Jack off alongside the busy highway later in the evening, made a hasty goodbye necessary so, a hurried kiss had to be sufficient. They would call one another in the morning to see what the next step would be.

As she drove home, Jill remembered about the job interviews her old boss, Mr. Tyler, had set up for her when she explained to him that she felt she should move back home. With some resignation she wished, as others did at stressful times, that the world would stop and let her get off to rest awhile.

Sure enough, the next morning at Jill’s mother’s house, things were tense, and the air charged with possible explosions. First Janet told her mother, how the three of them had enjoyed a lovely time over dinner and missed her not being with them. Then she explained again, how Jill finally understood about Jack’s heavy schedule and being unable to write to her for a time while in college.

Janet thought she had a fairly good understanding of both Jill and Jack’s viewpoint. It usually takes two to create a misunderstanding, and they certainly had done a great job of it. Now Jill wanted to put it behind them and hoped her Mother and Grandmother would do the same.

Janet was remembering well the difficulties she had with her mother’s interference when she was Jill’s age and dating Jill’s father. It was developing into an engagement, then eventually their marriage. Yes, she remembered well.

Janet’s husband Fred died of a heart attack while Jill was still in college. He was only fifty-three years old, leaving a heartbroken, dazed wife, and an almost paralyzed daughter. Jill had been so close to her father starting when she was a small toddler, clear into college.

When Jill found out how ill her father was with a bad heart she wanted to stay home from college, but her father would not hear of it—she had only a half-year to graduate. He insisted she finish and graduate, but he died while she was away at college.

With a lot of help from God, Jill and her mother had sadly carried on with their lives, and Janet’s mother came to live with them.

Returning from taking Jack back to the camp, Jill found there was no peace at home. Grandmother was again upset with Jill for taking up with, who she thought, was a no good hooligan that treated her so badly. Darling, you just let people walk all over you.

Jill’s thoughts took her to, who was walking all over her now? Did Grandma realize that she was doing it again, rehearsing Jack’s failure to write to her granddaughter while they were in college—over three years ago? She would not cry. Jill vowed she absolutely would not cry as her Grandma was giving the same sermon over and over.

So much was going on in Jill’s life she felt she was drowning. So many things were pressing in on her life. She hadn’t understood, until just recently, Jack’s situation and how hard it was for him, back before graduation. He was overloaded with a full schedule, plus the extra classes he had to take for a promised job. He had little time to eat or sleep, much less write letters. It was almost overwhelming as he studied for finals. It was a wonder he even graduated, and with honors.

It did hurt Jill to think of Jack and how she had missed him—how she had treated him. Why hadn’t she spoken up while they were still in college when and where all of the hurtful misunderstandings had taken place? Why hadn’t she asked questions, letting him know at the time that she loved him but that something was brutally bothering her peace of mind and aching heart. She had to face it, she just didn’t trust him, and why? Jack had never given her cause to not trust him. Instead of dumping him and turning to someone else, which was almost her absolute undoing, a brief note of honesty from her to him would have avoided all the heartache and mistrust. She would just try to forget troubles and go on to bed. When her mother knocked on her door to say goodnight, Jill opened the door and could smile at her mother’s belief that, Things will work out Sweetheart.

They gave one another a long hug. I hope so, Mother, this is why I stayed away for weeks at a time while I was in Scranton working. To give her Mother peace, she added, Yes, things will work out. I believe that. She thanked God for an understanding mother. Goodnight, Mom, I love you so much.

And I love you. You are such a precious daughter. With a new diffidence, Janet felt forgiveness and love towards her mother, instead of a roaring fire of defending Jill. Honey, I couldn’t have been given a better daughter. I am so proud of you, Darling. Those words meant a great deal to her nervous and suffering daughter.

Jill loved her grandmother very much, and that made it hard for her to defend herself. She knew too that her mother was in the same position. Making up with Jack and having forgiveness for each other, put her devotion for her grandmother in straits. It would be unfair to have to make a choice between them. She didn’t want to lose either of them. Perhaps just kindly standing up to her grandmother last evening might have cooled things off for pleasant days ahead.

CHAPTER 2

Anxious Moments

Arriving at the camp, when Jill had dropped him off, Jack was anxious to see what had transpired while he was gone. He knew Pastor Ben and Larry had a lot to talk about regarding his gift towards purchasing a plot of land. It would be a permanent home for the group. That land would become the new home for the homeless group, which he had become a part of, no more camping illegally at the edge of some farmer’s land.

He was surprised at being so unsure of how they were going to take the shock of his being dressed in a suit, an entirely unexpected appearance. Would they even accept him in business type clothes or would they violently turn against him?

Jack still remembered, months earlier, hiding out in a cave along with the homeless group. They were hiding from the raiding police who were descending upon them again ready to ‘take that bunch in’; arrest them as vagrants living illegally on county property.

He still remembered the anger and strength of Pastor Ben, as he held a knife to his throat. The huge man was at that time known as Big Man. It was unknown to the group of homeless that Big Man was a run-away pastor. That huge fellow resented the intrusion of anyone new to the group; he wanted to get rid of that young upstart. Jack could have been killed, right there, in that cave. Rubbing his hand over his face, he had to clear his mind of that haunting remembrance.

After waving goodbye to Jill as she drove away, he then tried to keep from falling as he slid down the damp grassy embankment in the new shoes and was met at the bottom by Little Ma. She heard the car stop above on the highway and figured it was most likely Jack and his girl. When he appeared alone, she was sure they had had a fight but wait this was not Jack! It was getting pretty dark, and the little lady didn’t have all that good of eyesight.

Hi, Little Ma, I almost did what Jill did the first time she came down on that wet grass, or rather slid down, landing in a muddy heap at the bottom.

With flailing arms, Little Ma signaled Big Man to come quick, Bear, who is this upstart, and how does he think he can call me by name when I don even know ’im? Ya better shows ’im a thing or two.

That huge man became Big Man when he joined the group, but he was Bear to Little Ma.

Determined to shut out intruders, as she had done many times in the past, Little Ma insisted, Turn Mr. fancy drawers upside down, Bear, and git ’im out of here.

Little Ma, don’t you know me? I’m Jack. I’m Pard. I got all dressed up for you. Aren’t you pleased? How’s your ankle?

Jack quickly had everyone’s attention. He wasn’t sure, and they weren’t sure, of how this turn of events was going to end up. All eyes turned to Big Man, now known to them as Pastor Ben.

Others in the camp snapped to attention in quick time. Had Squirrel, up in his lookout space in the treetop, missed this possible troublemaker, and had they been found by the