The two teenage girls shared a smiling look and changed the subject.
As soon as the bus driver turned in to the beach parking area, Brian assigned teens to help unload supplies and claim an area for the barbecue. “No shirkers! Help each other.” He worked harder than anyone. It was early, breezy and cold, but beach enthusiasts were already arriving. The chill would soon be gone, the sun out, and the beach packed. Girls complained of being cold. Brian drafted help to put up a volleyball net and got a game going. Within minutes, sweatshirts were tossed.
Several girls descended on Grace and asked if they could hold the baby. Seeing that Samuel was more than happy with them, Grace joined the game.
By noon, the sun was high and hot and everyone glistened with sunblock. Brian and the teens bodysurfed or took turns riding boogie boards. Most of the adults didn’t want to get their feet wet. Grace went in knee-deep, holding Samuel in front of her so he could feel the frothy salt water tickle his toes. Squealing in delight, he kicked his legs. Laughing, Grace felt lighthearted and happy for the first time in months.
Brian joined her. “He wants to swim already.”
A day in the sun made the teens mellow and ready to talk on the drive back. Grace admired the way Brian connected with his kids. He joked with them and easily turned light conversation into the more serious discussion of faith and what it meant to walk with God. When asked pointed questions, he shared some of his own struggles and mistakes. Surprised, Grace listened to him talk about sex and the challenge of staying chaste until marriage. Several teased him at first, but a few exchanged glances telling Grace they might have already gone too far.
“All our friends are having sex, Pastor.”
“It can seem that way.” Brian rested his arm on the back of the seat. “Everyone was saying it was okay in my day, too.” Several said sex was no big thing anymore. As long as the two parties consented, it was no one else’s business. “It’s God’s business,” Brian said firmly. “Don’t kid yourself. Sex has always been a big thing. Let me tell you what I’ve learned.” He had their complete attention. “Girls play at sex to get love, and guys play at love to get sex. Charlene and I wanted to do everything God’s way. That meant staying virgins until we got married.”
“How’d you manage that?” a boy asked from the back, and another gave a crude answer. A girl told him to shut up.
Brian held up his hand. “Brady asked a question. How did we manage to stay virgins? We pushed up the wedding date.” The kids all laughed at that. “We got married while we were still in college. We had six great years together before I lost her in a car accident.” Anyone looking at his face would know he still loved and missed her. “What I’m trying to tell you is sex is powerful. In the right context, it’s a beautiful gift from God. Used in the wrong way, it can wound and break hearts. It can ruin lives.”
Grace could attest to that.
The conversation moved to drugs and partying, music and parents. Brian walked forward and talked to the deacon driving the bus. Then he faced the group. “Who’s hungry?” Hands shot up. Brian grinned. “That’s good, because we’re stopping for pizza.” The kids whooped and cheered.
The bus pulled into a Round Table, and everyone piled out and headed inside. Grace sat with two girls while Brian went from booth to booth, talking with the kids. A boy who was not part of their group sat in a booth nearby. Brian paused to talk to him, too. After a couple of minutes, he slid into the seat facing him. Grace thought of Roman. He was a loner, too, though he wasn’t as unapproachable as he’d seemed at first.
The kids were quiet on the ride back to the church. Some slept. Others talked in low voices. Samuel slept on Grace’s lap, his head against her chest. Brian looked at him and smiled at her. “Nothing like the sleep of the innocent.” His mouth tipped. “We’d just gotten the word we were expecting when Charlene was in the accident. Our baby would have been almost four years old now.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Brian.” Grace didn’t know what else to say.
“You can’t take anything for granted in life.” His expression softened. “I’m glad you came along today. The kids took to you.”
“They took to Samuel.”
“He’s a charmer.” He got up and moved again, checking on people one by one.
As soon as the bus pulled into the church parking lot, the students gathered their beach towels and bags and met parents in the parking lot, or headed for their own cars. Brian was busy, talking to the adults, making sure everyone had a ride home. Grace secured Samuel in his car seat. When she straightened, Brian joined her. “I hope you had a good time.”