I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. I have received a number of messages asking for me to continue the storyline, but I hit a bit of writer's block, having thought of a few different ways to take this story. Hopefully, this was worth the wait. The next few chapters should come a bit quicker.
A lot of people have written, telling me to finally let Kurt and Sarah get together. I promise, that will happen. There is very little sex in his chapter, and the next chapter or two will take Kurt on a short diversion from her. I apologize, but I had a couple of adventures for him to go on before he devotes his concentration on Sarah and her church.
I've also had several comments about how it's too difficult sometimes to tell the difference between the thoughts that Kurt is "hearing" and what is actually being said. When I write the stories, I am typing the thoughts in italics, but for some reason they aren't coming through like that when I post them. Therefore, I am now going to type the thoughts not only in italics, but in bold font also. Hopefully this makes it easier to read.
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When I woke up Sunday morning, after spending Saturday doing chores and "busy work" around the house while I recovered from the work-out that Becky gave me, I made myself a good breakfast and then started getting ready to go to Sarah's church.
I was a bit reluctant to go, mostly because I knew that I would be recognized and I didn't want to be a distraction. Sarah needed the attention to be centered on her, not on the man that took down her husband, their former preacher. Regardless however, I promised her that I would be there, so I put my suit on, tied my tie, and got into my truck.
I intentionally got there early and went up to the front, where Sarah used to sit. My thought was that if I got there before most of the others and sat up in front, I would draw less attention, as the rest of the congregation would be sitting behind me and only see my back.
I took a deep breath, readying myself as the band started. About a minute later, the door to the vestry opened and Sarah walked out. Looking around as she started the service, she saw me and smiled. She looked beautiful in a below-knee-length skirt and a white, long-sleeve blouse. She was wearing her long hair down and swept back over her shoulders. I could tell by her smile that she was nervous, but she seemed clearly happy to see me.
'I can't believe that he's sitting in my old seat! How sweet!' I heard from the podium. That was the reaction that I had been hoping for when I sat there. I just smiled at her and gave her a small nod, which I could tell calmed her a bit.
'Take a deep breath and relax,' I sent to her. I saw her chest rise and fall, and then she began.
Instead of a normal service, she gave a brief speech about what had happened the previous week, and the future of the church. She focused on forgiveness, strength, and keeping one's faith strong even in adversity. She spoke about making mistakes and learning from them, and not defining your life by them. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that she had been doing this all of her life. She finished her talk by suggesting that since it was such a beautiful day, they all meet outside for fellowship and joy.
At the end of the service I waited as the rest of the congregation left and Sarah came back out of the vestry. She smiled wide as she saw me and walked up to me. "Thank you for coming," she said. "I can't tell you how much this means to me."
"I promised you that I would be here for you," I replied. "I wasn't about to let you down."
"I knew you wouldn't," she told me, reaching her hand out and touching my arm. 'I hoped that I could trust you!' "You look very nice. I told you that you didn't have to wear a suit, though."
"I know," I replied. "I don't know if you've noticed, but it was going to be hard enough for me to not stand out in this crowd. I had to do what I could to fit in."
Sarah laughed softly, and said, "Yes, we don't have too many men with your build, or with long hair, in our congregation." 'Or that look as good as you do!'
"I noticed," I replied, laughing with her.
"I'm not going to keep you from your congregation," I told her. "I just wanted to tell you that you were outstanding up there today. I knew that you were a strong woman, but you showed even more strength than I thought."
'Don't leave yet!' "Thank you," she replied. "I was up all night writing that sermon, trying to find the right words."
"You did great," I told her. "Now, go out to your people. We can talk more later."
"You're not going to leave me, are you?" she asked, looking scared. 'Please! I need you here!'
"Sarah, these are YOUR people. Go talk to them," I told her. "You don't need me there. I will only be a distraction. There are already plenty of questions about me. You don't need to add yourself to the list."
"Call me later if you want to talk. I would love to see you again," I told her, immediately thinking that I shouldn't have said that.
"I'd like that," she replied, smiling at me. 'I'd like that a lot!'
I waited for her to walk outside, and then I slipped out a side door and got into my truck and drove home.
A couple of hours later my cell phone rang. I smiled as the display told me that it was Sarah.
"Hi Sarah," I said as I answered the call.
"Hi," she replied, softly. "Thank you again for coming out. I can't tell you how much that meant to me."
"You don't have to thank me Sarah," I told her. "It was truly my pleasure."
"How did it go with the congregation outside?" I asked.
"It went great!" she said, her voice picking up. "I am amazed at the support that I am receiving from everyone! I thought for sure that there would be anger and animosity towards me, but it's been nothing like that!"
"Good. I'm glad to hear that," I told her.
"Did you mean it when you said that you wanted to see me again?" she asked me a couple of minutes later.
"Of course!" I replied.
"Good. I'd like that. Would you like to come for dinner again?" she asked.
"Sarah, when was the last time that you left the house?" I asked her.
"Quite a while ago," she said softly.
"That's what I thought," I told her. "How about I take you to dinner?"
"Oh, I don't know," she replied. "I'm still not sure if I'm ready to go out in public yet!"
"Ok, well then how about I cook dinner for you? Here."
"I don't drive, remember?" she asked. "I can't get to you."
"I will come and get you then," I told her.
She hemmed and hawed, looking for an excuse, when I told her, "Sarah, you need a change of scenery, even if only for a couple of hours. Give me a little bit to go to the store, and you can get ready. I will pick you up around, say ... four?"
I think that she finally realized that I wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer, so she agreed.
"Great!" I told her. "What would you like? Steak? Chicken? Seafood?"
"It doesn't matter," she said. "I'm not picky. Whatever you want to fix."
"Ok, I'll surprise you ... and myself," I told her, laughing.
Laughing back, she said, "Ok," and we then hung up. I quickly ran to the local grocery store and tried to figure out a menu from their slim Sunday pickings. I was able to find a couple of decent steaks and some fresh shrimp, so I brought them home and got them marinating before I took a shower and got ready. At four o'clock, I pulled up to Sarah's house and rang her bell.
"Wow!" I said as she opened her door. "You look amazing!"
