Ednita Mansion

CHAPTER EIGHT

When he went back to see Juanita, he went to the doctor with her and then they went to buy nursery furniture. Juanita was overjoyed at all they bought for the baby, the doctor said she would probably give birth in one month. When he asked if they wanted to know what the sex of the baby was now, Juanita said very excitedly “no! That is Gods secret and not ours to know until the baby is born.” Edward put his arms around her to comfort her because she was so upset. He didn't understand what upset her so. She told him when he asked why she was so upset about it, that the Baby is not theirs yet but when it is born, then is the time to meet Gods’ gift to them and get to know their child. Edward said that was fine with him and he understood. This pleased her and she was content to wait to see her baby when it was Gods time.

Edward wanted to bring his cousin Grace out to meet Juanita. He knew if he asked Grace to keep his secret, she would say nothing to anyone. He felt he ought to prepare her first. So he told Juanita he was going to bring his very special cousin out to meet her. When he went home to get his cousin, he told his mother he wanted to take Grace for a few days to see some of the pretty land and to introduce her to some of his friends a little ways away. She was glad that he was taking an interest in Grace and told them to have fun and be sure to be back in time to start to school. They laughed and said they were sure they wouldn't be gone that long.

When he was alone with Grace, he told her he wanted to have a long talk with her and then he wanted her to meet someone. But first, he said, you must promise me that you will not reveal what I am about to tell you to anyone. Grace told him he could trust her to tell no one, as long as it would not hurt anyone. He agreed to that. Then Grace told him how sad she was when she heard that Mary Ellen was divorcing him. He said that is part of what I want to talk to you about.

When he started to talk to Grace, it was like a fountain of words started flowing from him and as he talked, it was as if a heavy load rolled off him. He was not sure what to call it. Was it grief, or anger, or gladness or sadness? He just didn't know what, but he had kept this bottled up inside of him with no one to talk to about it and now here was Grace, ready to listen and not judge him for choosing wrongly. Grace was a true Christian girl and she told him. “If you don’t mind, I would like you to find a place where we can stop the car for a while and pray about this. Edward told her he had not said one prayer since he was a little boy and prayed “now I lay me down to sleep” like when we were little. He said he didn't know how. Grace told him he didn't have to pray, but she would like to pray for him. He agreed that it might help, so they pulled over on to the side of the road where there was a pull out for cars to stop for a while or even turn around. They had been driving for quite a while and he was ready for a break anyway. He turned to Grace and asked her to pray that God would watch over his child that was being adopted and give him or her good Christian parents. Grace bowed her head and prayed first for the missing child. Then she prayed for Edward that he would find peace in his heart by getting to know God better and to know what blessings He could give and peace that would pass all understanding. And then she prayed for Juanita, who she hadn't met yet. She asked God to guide them all in ways to straighten out his tangled web that had become his life. She asked it in the name of Jesus. When she was finished, she looked at Edward and saw that he was softly crying. He told her he loved Juanita so much and was so sorry that he had tried to make her think that they were married. Grace said you know there is a very easy fix for that.