Next Time I Fall

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

What exactly did you offer a man of the cloth on a social visit? Putting on a pot of coffee this late in the evening probably wasn’t the best idea. Did Baptists drink alcohol? Maybe. Jesus had turned water into wine, after all.

Whatever, it probably didn’t matter. Steve wouldn’t be there for a social call. He’d probably just pick up his dog and leave. In any event, Eric didn’t have much time to think about it. His doorbell rang about the same time Drake jumped up and rushed to the door. Felix raised his head from the sofa cushion as if debating whether or not it was worth the effort to follow suit.

“That’s your master,” Eric said, and pushed himself up from his seat. When he opened the door to the image of yet another version of the young man he’d met twice previously, Eric momentarily lost his ability to breathe. He stared, wide-eyed, and took in the sight of the sharply dressed man. Pastor Steve looked as if he were dressed for a wedding—as the groom.

“Felix!” Steve spotted his pooch immediately, and upon hearing his master’s voice, at last Felix shot up from his lazy slumber. He hopped off the couch and waddled quickly across the floor. “Thank you so much,” Steve had crouched to greet his dog but was looking up at Eric. “I’m truly sorry about this, but thank you.” He scooped his dog up into his arms and rose to a standing position.

“Why don’t you come in for a second? Would you like an ice tea? Coffee? Um…”

Steve smiled, and the genuineness of his expression nearly melted Eric’s heart. His eyes seemed to sparkle even in the dim light. “Ice tea sounds awesome.” He hugged and kissed his dog, then gently placed him back on the floor. “Wow, you really have a nice place here.” He glanced down to the table beside the front door and spotted the vacation Bible School flyer. “I forgot about that. So that’s how you got my number.”

“Oh yeah. I remembered you said you live on Van Dyke but I had no idea where, then remembered the flyer.” He walked out to the kitchen and Steve followed a few steps behind.

“I love this kitchen. You know, I’ve never lived in a home with a dishwasher.”

“Really?” Eric laughed as he retrieved two glasses from the cupboard. He stepped over to the ice dispenser in the fridge and filled them to the brim. “Sweet or unsweet.”

“Unsweet.”

“A man after my own heart. Down south, it’s hard to find a good glass of unmolested ice tea. They ruin it by adding sweetener. Tastes like medicine.”

“I really haven’t traveled much other than one summer when I toured some of the Midwest. Always wanted to travel more, but never had the chance. I was raised in northern Michigan, in a small town named Boyne City, and I went to school in the Grand Rapids area, and now I’m back.”

“My former…uh…roommate used to love sweetened tea.” An image of Max flashed into Eric’s mind and the excitement of the new guest in his home slightly waned. He placed the glasses on the counter and removed a pitcher of tea from the fridge.

“The young lady who was here this morning?”

Eric looked up. “No, no. That’s my friend Kathleen. She’s never been my roommate, but she did stay over last night. We attended a dinner party and got back kind of late.” He held out the glass of tea to Steve.

“Thank you.” He took a sip. “Mm. Fresh brewed.”

“My former roommate was Max. He just moved out a few days ago, left for California.”

The dogs had followed them to the kitchen and Drake was rubbing against Eric, looking up at him.

“He really loves you.”

“Unfortunately, not the way I love him.” Eric looked down, suddenly realizing Steve was talking about the dog. “I mean, he can’t possibly love me more than I love him.” He leaned down and kissed Drake on the head.

“I know what you mean. That’s how I feel about Felix. I’ve had him since I was fourteen. He’s almost ten years old.”

“So you’re twenty-four and already a pastor?”

“Twenty-three. I’ll be twenty-four in December, and I’m actually just an associate pastor. I only deliver the main Sunday-morning sermon when the senior pastor, my boss, happens to be away. And I’m kind of the youth pastor as well.”

“That’s interesting. Not to be nosy, but is it a lot of work? What do you do beside preach?”

Steve laughed. “That’s not an unusual question. A lot of people don’t realize exactly how much work is involved in being a pastor. I rarely have a day off. On Sundays I have a Sunday school class and have to attend and participate in the morning worship service. Then I preach on Sunday night. Usually on Mondays I meet with the pastor for our weekly meeting and prayer session, and I do nursing home and shut-in visits. This week we’re also having vacation Bible school, so I’ll have that every afternoon. Tuesday is our men’s prayer meeting at six in the morning.”

“Oh my God! That’s early…um…sorry…language.”

Steve grinned. “Yeah, and usually it’s the one day of the week that I have spare time. After the prayer meeting, I’m free the rest of the day. But Wednesdays we have our Bible study, and I usually use the morning and afternoon to prepare my sermon and lesson plans. Thursday is youth group. Friday is volunteer-s***h-community day. Saturday is canvassing and evangelism. It’s a full schedule, probably way more than a standard forty-hour work week. A pastor is also pretty much on-call twenty-four-seven. And even in my spare time I’m often helping Pastor Mathers. I usually go with him on Thursdays to the hospital for visitations. I help with funerals, weddings, etcetera.”

Eric shook his head. “I never really thought about it. You really do have a demanding job.” He laughed. “I’m just an accountant. I pretty much work nine to five with at least an hour lunch. And I leave early whenever I can.”

“You must be very smart.” Steve’s expression sobered. “I totally suck with anything like that. I’m not good with numbers.”

Eric couldn’t help but laugh. He liked it when the pastor didn’t sound so pastoral.

“I always tell my kids—my youth group, I mean—they shouldn’t use that word. Suck. It’s kind of rude.”

“You’re fine, and to be honest, I’m thankful that most people think accounting sucks. It gives me job security. If everyone realized they could do their own taxes and bookkeeping, I’d be out of a job.”

“I think it takes a special kind of brain. God gives us all different and unique gifts.”

“Are you involved with the music at the church?” He motioned with a tilt of his head that they should move to the living room then led the way. Steve followed him in and they took their seats on either end of the same sofa.

“I’m not a music director, but I guess you could say I’m musically inclined. I do play piano and sometimes sing.”

“As a soloist?” Eric raised his eyebrows, impressed.

“Occasionally. What about you?”

“Oh yeah, but only in the shower.” They both laughed and then grew serious as their smiles gradually faded. Eric took a deep breath. “Actually, there’s something I should tell you. I mean, I know you’re very involved in the church and everything and you’ve invited me to attend.”

Steve looked at him, his expression sober, conveying genuine interest. “Not every interaction has to be for the purpose of proselytizing. I’d never try to force my beliefs on anyone. There are so many different religions.”

“It’s not that. I’m truly non-religious. I guess you could call me an agnostic. The thing you should probably know about me, though is that…”

Steve continued to look at him, waiting.

“I..uh…I probably won’t ever attend your church.” Why couldn’t he just say it? Why couldn’t he just state the obvious, that he was gay?

“Can’t we still be friends?” Steve smiled. “Maybe we don’t have a lot in common, but we have this.” He motioned to the dogs. “We have Drake and Felix, and we both love unsweetened iced tea.”

Eric returned the smile. “True that!” He held up his glass for a toast, clinking it against Steve’s. “So…you say you have Tuesdays free mostly? Want to have dinner or something?” What the living hell is wrong with me? I’m not really asking the man on a date!

Steve thought for a moment then nodded, smiling broader than ever. “That’d be awesome!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eric picked up the handset from his desk and rang his assistant. “Philip, do you happen to have the quarterly analysis complete for Richardsons’ yet?”

“Uh, yeah. Just finished it. I sent you an email, but I can bring you the printed report if you want.”

“You know what? That’d be great. They’re pretty old school and want to see everything in print. I’ll review it, attach a note, and mail it to them.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll bring it right in.”

Philip smiled broadly as he pushed open Eric’s office door. “Here you go, sir.”

“Philip, you don’t have to be so formal. You can call me Eric.”

“Oh…sorry.” Still smiling.

“You’re in a pretty good mood today.” Eric rose from his seat and extended his hand to receive the paperwork. “If I didn’t know better, I might think you were…you know…in love.”

The kid’s cheeks instantly reddened, and Eric laughed. “Well, no. Not exactly, but kinda. I did have a date last night.”

Eric smiled. “Anything you want to share?”

Philip took a step closer and leaned in. “You know the new girl, the one who works downstairs? Rachel.”

“Yeah, I think so. She’s the lucky girl?”

Philip grinned once more. “It’s kind of too early to tell. We went to church together.”

“Oh really? You went to church on a date. That really is sort of old school…more like courting.”

“Yes, sir…I mean, Eric. Yeah, Rachel’s pretty wholesome, and she’s really sweet. But that’s okay. Exactly the kind of girl I want.”

“Hm. That’s interesting. I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I met someone yesterday too, someone who’s also kind of religious like that. We’re going out tomorrow. You know I’m gay, right?”

“Yes sir…um…everybody knows that.”

“Well, this guy I met, he’s a preacher.”

“Really?” Philip laughed. “And you think he’s…ya know…like you?”

“Ummm…” Eric slowly sat back in his chair. “I don’t know for sure, but I kind of think so.”

“Well, you said you have a date, so he must be.”

“I asked him out to dinner, but I didn’t say it was a date.”

Philip shrugged. “Seems pretty obvious. What’re you gonna do on your date? Go to church?” He chuckled.

“You know, that’s a good question, but I just might follow your example. Not church…but the old fashioned courting thing. He might like that.”

“Sounds like a plan, but sir, if I may be so bold, can I say one thing?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“I’m not all that religious myself, and this church we went to last night, the preacher was awesome. But they’re not all like that. Some religions, especially around here, are downright hateful. Just be careful, okay?”

“I appreciate that, Philip. Don’t worry, first sign of hate speech or homophobia, and I’m out. He doesn’t seem the type though. I think he’s one of the good guys.”

“Let me know how it goes. Good luck, sir…I mean, Eric.”