Page 39 of Betrayed

Logan froze. While they’d made breakfast, they had talked about waiting to tell her dad or anyone. Logan looked at AJ.

Her dad said, “You don’t need permission from her to answer the question I already know the answer to. I could see it in her face and gait when you guys got here yesterday from school.”

“Yes, sir. We’re gonna have a baby. I’m prepared to take her as my wife and be her one and only ’til death do us part.”

“The two of you are done with your fickleness and are committed to each other?”

They both nodded. Logan said, “Yes, sir.”

“Marriage isn’t easy, and you will face things that will threaten to tear you apart. Seek Jesus in the good times and bad times. Seek Him individually and together. Then, and only then, can you face the challenges ahead. You two should have gotten married before now, but you are where you are. You have my blessing. When’s the wedding?”

AJ’s hand gripped Logan’s shoulder. “Needs to be soon enough that I don’t get kicked out of school.”

Mr. Jacobson nodded. “The week after exams, right before Christmas?”

Logan sat up a little taller. “Three weeks from now?”

AJ smiled. “Let’s do it. I never wanted anything too fancy anyway.”

Logan wrapped his arm around her waist. He was going to finally marry his best friend. “We’ll make it perfect.”

Three Weeks Later

AJ held the trash can on her lap as Granny did her hair. In the last three weeks her morning sickness had gotten worse. She was afraid she was going to be walking down the aisle with the trash can instead of her bouquet.

“You look beautiful, Allie.”

“Thanks, Granny. But I feel awful. I’m going to ruin everything by throwing up all over the pastor.”

“You’ll be fine. I remember thinking my morning sickness was going to keep me from everything, but I managed to do what I needed to without losing my breakfast. You’ll be distracted enough by that handsome young man.”

AJ hadn’t told Granny why she didn’t feel good. “Did Daddy tell you?”

“No, dear, I figured it out. When I heard you were planning the wedding so quickly, I was going to take you aside and encourage you to not get pregnant right away, but then I saw the way Logan looked at you. That boy is in love—has been for a long time—but it only grows like that when it’s been multiplied by a new life.”

“Yeah? You think we’ll do okay? Like you and Grandpa? Married forever?”

A shadow crossed Granny’s eyes for a split second. “I pray the two of you have an even more blessed marriage. I know you two have had a challenge keeping your eyes on Jesus, but you must learn to do so. Just because you have the freedom to express your love physically now, doesn’t mean all your challenges will be gone. New ones will rise, especially as you are starting off on the wrong foot.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A knock sounded on the door. Granny went and cracked it open. “You can’t come in here.”

Logan’s chuckle came from the other side of the door. “I know. But I would like to pray with my future wife before we say our vows. I promise I won’t peek.”

“I guess I can’t argue with that.”

Granny left, and AJ went to the door and found Logan’s hand coming from the other side of the door.

She hid on the opposite side of the wall and grasped his fingers. “I love you.”

He said, “I love you too. Pray with me?”

“Yes.”

He prayed for them. Repented of their sin, and implored God for His mercy to abound in their marriage. He prayed for protection and God’s help in navigating the next stages of life. He prayed for blessing and grace above all.

When he said amen, AJ added, “Ditto and amen.”