now. “If you’re bound and determined to keep wiggling your rear end into those skinny jeans—”
“—even if it kills you—”
“—you might need some Spanx,” they finished together.
“Oh, man,” Kelli said, “remember this one? ‘If you don’t want everybody and their momma to see your sea billows roll . . .’”
Cedric had been eyeing the two of them with creased brow. “And here I thought you girls were having deep intellectual conversation in your car, like Lindell and me.”
“Uh-huh,” Cyd said. “Must’ve been too deep for words, ’cause from what I could see, whoever wasn’t driving was asleep.”
Cedric chuckled. “Exactly.”
“Maybe we should’ve taken our cue from you and done the same,” Kelli said, “but we couldn’t stop talking.”
“I’m guessing Stephanie and Lindell won’t be making the nine o’clock either,” Cyd said.
“Oh!” Cedric sat up. “I have to go to the nine o’clock. Actually, I’m supposed to be at both. Scott and I are announcing the new ministry for young guys.”
“Oh, I forgot too,” Cyd said. “And I’m so excited. You and Scott are perfect for this.”
Cedric sighed a little. “Yeah. We can certainly share from personal experience what not to do in life.”
“And about God’s grace, Cedric. It’s awesome. Did you ever think you’d be talking to young men about God? And Scott . . . he thought God was through with him in public ministry, and not even a year later, here comes an opportunity.”
Kelli stretched out on the bed again. “Is this the Scott who was in your wedding? Dana’s husband?”
They both nodded.
“I guess I shouldn’t ask . . .”
Cedric and Cyd looked at one another.
“It’s okay, Kelli,” Cyd said. “Scott confessed in front of the church, so it’s not a secret. He had an affair last year.”
“Wow. I never would’ve thought. He and Dana look so happy together.”
“Trust me, they didn’t look like that last fall,” Cyd said. “They went through a whole lot. But again—God’s grace. It’s been incredible to watch.”
“Wow,” Kelli said again, thinking more about that word grace than about Scott.
“I’d better get rolling,” Cedric said. He stood, yawning.
“I’m coming with you to the nine o’clock, babe,” Cyd said. “I’ll run downstairs and get you the ibuprofen.”
Cyd left, with Reese trailing behind. On his way out, Cedric looked back. “You coming, Kel?”
“Umm . . . I don’t know. Might shoot for next week.”
He stepped back into the room. “You okay?”
“Just tired. Why?”
“I remember you used to bug me about going to church. You were so on fire for God. But you said you haven’t been going to church at all in Austin.”
Kelli felt a sudden sadness. What irony—Cedric asking her about church. As much as their mother had done for them, she hadn’t raised them in church. It was her best friend, Brian, who’d invited her to go at the beginning of high school, and her whole world had changed. Lindell was away at college, but she got her mother to come now and then. Cedric, who was already working, always declined. She’d prayed for God to change his heart. Now here he was, on fire, involved in ministry. And she . . .
“I guess I kind of drifted during college,” she said.
“I can understand that.” He sat next to her. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about the ways God changed my life. You know how I was.” He gave a lopsided smile. “Cyd had a lot to do with where I am now, but as I think about it, Kelli, so did you. God used you to plant the seed a long time ago.”
She tried to will them away, but tears started in her eyes.
Cedric put an arm around her and brought her close. “I’ve still got a lot to learn about God and how He works,” he said, “but I think this move is about more than you being with your family again. This is about you and God.”
Kelli knew he was right. She found it hard even to talk to God now.
“God’s got a plan for you, Kel. Know how I know?”
She answered reluctantly. “How?”
“Because if He didn’t have a plan, you’d still be in Austin staring at four walls, unemployed and by your lonesome. And I’m thinking He put the crazy idea in my head to drive through the night and get here so we could all go to Living Word today. Yep, I’m putting it on Him so I can feel better about suggesting that drive.”