Melissa checked on Courtney, then went back to the sanctuary and sat three rows behind Shawn. He sat alone and she watched him as he sang and opened his Bible during the pastor’s sermon. There was something swirling inside that made it hard for her to concentrate on the message.

When the service ended, Shawn turned and got her attention. “Hey, the pastor and his family open their house on Sunday afternoons for lunch. You’re welcome to come.”

“Wait, you invite people to someone else’s house?”

“They trust me to invite anyone who looks like they could use lunch.”

“That’s nice but I can’t today,” Melissa said.

“Really? You’re welcome to come and bring your daughter.”

How did he know she had a daughter?

“They have a great swing set in the back. She’d have fun.”

Melissa took a step back. “Maybe next week.”

“Sounds great. See you then.”

She retrieved Courtney from her class and as they pulled out of the parking lot, she saw a few families heading across the road to the parsonage.

“Where are they going, Mom?”

Before she could answer, they passed Shawn on the corner. Melissa rolled down her window.

Shawn leaned down and waved at Courtney, then looked at Melissa. “You sure you don’t want to come?”

By the time they left the pastor’s house, it was dark and Courtney was exhausted from playing in the backyard with her new friends. After that, the Explorers Class led to a home Bible study at Shawn’s place. Melissa learned so much as she read through the Bible. They all brought up questions and made observations.

“I’ve never really read the Bible before,” she said to Shawn after the study ended one night.

“I was the same way. And now I can’t go a day without getting my nose in there and seeing what good things God has for me.”

On their first date, Shawn insisted Courtney come along. He took them bowling and said he brought Courtney so he could have an excuse to raise the bumpers. But Shawn seemed better at bowling than he let on. Melissa wasn’t sure if he let her get close to his score on purpose so he could get three strikes in a row at the end. He beat her by two pins. It was almost like he had planned it.

The next year, as they were getting close to Christmas, Shawn got down on one knee in the middle of the Bible study and proposed. The group cheered when she said yes and Courtney was elated when she heard the news.

A week later, Melissa showed up at Shawn’s house in tears and gave the ring back.

“What’s this? Melissa, what are you doing?”

“I can’t do it. You don’t understand. You don’t know me.”