Chapter 4

Silas felt his entire body trembling as he sat behind his desk, waiting to open the envelope. He had just returned from a meeting with several church members to see the letter on the parlor table. This was it! He thought excitedly. This was his official notice, stating that he was now a full-fledged minister of religion.

Before telling anyone else, he had closeted himself inside his office to savor the news.

With a broad smile, he reached for the letter opener and slid it between the seal, slowly working until it was open. Putting away the opener, he took out the official-looking document with the church's letterhead. Taking a deep breath, he started reading, the excitement coursing through his body.

He had reached the end and was about to put away the letter when he noticed the date.

The letter was dated three weeks ago. Shaking his head, he stared at the date again. He had been a minister for the last three weeks. Then he recalled that there had been some unrest with the postal services, and mail had been turning late.

That explains it, he thought, a simple explanation. They had not called to let him know because that was not how the church worked. It had to be done by mail. No matter, he was a minister-

Suddenly, the color drained from his face, and the shaking started. Grabbing the letter again, he stared at the date.

"Oh God, no," he whispered agonizingly. "Oh, dear God, what have I done?"

If he had been ordained and made official three weeks ago, the ceremony he had performed in the chapel a week ago, the same wedding ceremony he had persuaded his brother and Kendra to participate in, was actual. The letter slid from his nerveless fingers to fall on the desk.

The ceremony had been carefully documented, and there was even a certificate. They were married! Leaning back in the chair, he tried to calm his racing heart.

He had allowed pride to dictate his movements, telling himself that he wanted to be prepared, but it had been pride, and he had involved not only his brother and his friend but also his parents and others.

He did not know what to do. He would have to tell Harvey and Kendra first, and he was quaking at what Harvey would do. He had neatly trapped him into marriage with a perfect stranger, and he could not blame Harvey if he wanted nothing to do with him again.

Shifting forward, he buried his head in his hands and felt his body shaking. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, he shoved away from his desk and started pacing. He had to tell them. Glancing at his watch, he noted the time. Harvey would still be at the job site, and Kendra would probably still be at the store.

Squaring his shoulders, he returned to the desk to grab his phone. It had to be done.

*****

"You sounded stressed when you called. What's going on?" Harvey was waiting for him in the parking lot of the floral shop as he had instructed.

"Shall we go on in?" Silas asked, without answering the question. "Kendra said she is alone."

Harvey gave him a curious look and followed him.

The door was unlocked and pulled open, and Kendra greeted them with a polite nod as she stepped back to let them in.

"Would you like some tea?"

"I am not a tea person and feel this is not a social call," Harvey told her sardonically. "If it's all the same, brother, I would sooner get this over and done quickly. It's been a hellish day, and I want nothing more than to shower and crash, in that order."

Ignoring him, Kendra turned to Silas, a frown touching her brow as she noticed the pallor of his skin. "Silas, is something the matter? You don't look well."

"Can we sit?" he gestured to the table with several sprigs of water lilies strewn on top.

"Let me get these out of the way." Kendra swept them up and placed them carefully on a long trestle table at the side before sitting down.

"What is it?" Harvey demanded impatiently.

Without a word, Silas handed him the letter. He skimmed it, lifting his head and looking puzzled at his brother. "I guess congratulations are in order. What does this have to do with me? And why are we meeting here?"

"Look at the date."

"It was dated three weeks ago." Harvey pointed out, still not realizing the significance, but Kendra did.

She grabbed Harvey's letter and scanned it, but she felt sick in the pit of her stomach. "It was dated three weeks ago," she said.

"Now that we have all agreed on that, can someone tell me what the hell is the significance of the date?"

Taking a deep breath, Silas met his gaze squarely. "It means that when I performed the ceremony a week ago, I was an ordained minister."

"So what- "Silas saw when the realization slammed into him and braced for the attack. "We are married."

"Yes," he whispered agonizingly. "I had no idea – the mail service had been on strike- "

"There is no reason to panic," Harvey said, forcing himself to be calm and rational since his brother appeared to be falling apart. The ceremony was not consummated. It's a simple matter to get it annulled." He looked from one to another, puzzled that the solution had not been taken well. "What is it?"

This time, it was Kendra who explained. "It cannot be annulled. The ceremony took place in the chapel in front of several witnesses. The church has zero tolerance for divorce, and especially since this is your brother's official act as an ordained minister, if we go ahead and get an annulment, he would be finished."

Harvey stared at her briefly, trying to determine if she was making it up. His eyes swung to his brother, and he saw the sick look on his face, a face that had been leached of color.

"Is this true?"

"Yes," He whispered hoarsely, eyes bright with tears he was trying to fight.

"That's complete bullshit. Surely there must be a way to explain to the higher-ups that this was all a misunderstanding? After all, you tried to ensure you were good enough to meet their high standards. If they are so forgiving, this mistake can be brushed aside. It's not your damn fault that the mail was late."

Silas shook his head. "You are required to stay married for at least a year." He said tensely. "If you go ahead and annul the marriage, I am ruined." He looked at his brother, the abject misery plain on his face. "I know you must hate me- "

"I don't damn hate you!" Shoving to his feet, he paced to the window. "I just want you to try and find a way out of this frigging mess. I don't want to be married, especially not to someone I did not and would not choose- "he glanced at Kendra and noticed the rigid set on her face. "No offense."

"None taken." She told him icily. "And you are the last person I would ever want to be tied to."

Harvey smiled grimly. "So, we agree. Find a way out of this, and don't contact me until you have done so." Without a word of goodbye, he strode out of the store and banged the door shut behind him.

The silence he left behind was tense, and neither knew what to say.

"I should get us some tea," Kendra murmured.

"Please don't trouble yourself." Silas felt as if he was waking up from a profound sleep. He had never felt so tired in his life. "I am sorry for putting you through this, Kendra."

"I know you are. When are you going to tell him that there is no way out?" she asked him quietly.

"I am waiting until he calms down." He tried to smile, but it fell flat.

"I have a feeling that's going to take some time."

"Yes." He agreed hoarsely. "You must hate me."

"No." She shook her head. "It's a trying situation that I do not want to be in, but I am not going to be a party to you ruining what you worked so long and hard to achieve."

His eyes flared with hope as he stared at her. "You mean- "

"I will continue with this farce if that man agrees."

He grasped both of her hands in gratitude, his expression telling. "I know it would be a sacrifice- "

"You have no idea." She told him feelingly.

Silas huffed out a laugh. "He is never going to forgive me."

"He loves you." She pointed out softly.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "I will have to find a way to get through to him."

"Give him some time to cool down first," Kendra suggested.

"There is something else."

"Oh no."

"You are going to have to live together."

Pulling her hands away, Kendra rose and went to the trestle table to fiddle with the flowers.

"Kendra?"

"I dreamed of my wedding since I was a little girl and was allowed to try on my mother's wedding dress." Picking up the shear, she snipped off some dead petals expertly.

"I would parade in front of the mirror, with her veil on my head, and could hardly wait for the day when I march down that aisle to meet the man I love. I cannot believe it has all gone so wrong."

Pushing back his chair, Silas came to stand next to her, his shoulders drooping in despair. "And I wanted to get a chance to be that man. I know you are four years older than me, but I have always admired you and considered you the perfect fit for a man like me. I don't know what to say to you."

Putting away the shear, she turned to face him. "You made a mistake that involves other people. The God we serve is not going to punish you forever." Taking a deep breath, she stepped back. If you don't mind, I am suddenly exhausted and have some thinking to do."

With a nod, he turned and walked away, a defeated man with an enormous task ahead of him.

Locking up after him, Kendra switched off the lights and slowly slid down until she sat on the floor. She was married to a man she didn't like, and nothing was more depressing than that.

*****

Silas drove around aimlessly for an hour, his thoughts chaotic. His career and calling were over if his brother did not agree to stick with the marriage. He supposed he could always go entirely into the business; his parents would love that. But they would not want him to be unhappy, and that's precisely what would happen if he did.

Turning around, he headed home and stopped briefly. The gate swung open, and he saw that Harvey's light was still on. Deciding against going over to him, he continued along the long, winding driveway. Killing the engine, he just sat there, staring at the encroaching darkness.

The idea of doing something else was too difficult to contemplate. He loved what he did, and even though his family might not understand why he had chosen this path, he had known for some time that it was the only one for him.

He had been born into extreme wealth, and even though he was not like Harvey, who barely tolerated status, he saw the money as a way of helping the less fortunate.

He received a stipend from his church and gave it back each time because he did not need it. He Implemented scholarships for young people and dispensed much-needed funds, clothing, and food supplies to needy neighborhoods.

He did not wear rags and loved his suite of rooms decorated to his taste as soon as he returned home from college. His closet was the size of a medium-sized room, and he enjoyed just sitting on his enclosed balcony and enjoying the beauty the Lord created while he read his Bible.

He also enjoys an occasional expensive scotch or bottles of wine from their vineyard in Tuscany. He was a member of the Elite Club with his father and brother and did not consider it a sin to attend the various functions.

He was doing the Lord's work, and nothing in the Bible ever said it was wrong to enjoy His creation. Everything belongs to Him, and they were put on the earth to be enjoyed. Silas was not going to feel guilty about that.

But the idea that he would step down was the most crushing blow he had ever encountered, and he could not bear to think about it. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and prayed. He had been unable to utter a word since he first realized what a catastrophe he had started. And even now, his prayer was disjointed and halting.

Opening his eyes, he shoved open the door and climbed out, shivering as the wind whipped through the sturdiness of his jacket. Leaving the vehicle there, he climbed the steps slowly and went inside the warmth of the house. As usual, his mother was waiting for him in the main living area, where a fire was burning brightly in the fireplace.

"Hilda said you left several hours ago, and we have been trying to reach you." Julia noticed his flagging footsteps and the droop on his shoulders as he entered the room. She also saw the pallor on his face. "Darling, whatever is the matter?"

"Is Dad upstairs?"

"Yes, he- "

"I would like to tell you both at the same time."

"Of course." Tucking away the awful worry, she preceded him out of the room and up the stairs. "He is in his study." Leading the way there, she knocked on the door before pushing it open.

"Ah, there you are, son. We were worried- "Gregory's voice petered off at the look on the younger man's face. "Harvey- "

Silas shook his head hastily and sank onto a chair before the massive desk. "Harvey is fine, or I think he is."

Moving quickly to sit next to him, Julia turned sideways, an apprehensive expression on her lovely face.

"I did something–" He shook his head. "I made a disastrous mistake."

He jolted when she closed her hand over his. "Whatever it is, we will understand." She told him gently, almost causing tears to fall.

"I received my ordination letter today in the mail."

"Surely a cause for celebration?" His father sent him a puzzled look.

"Normally, it would have been." Taking a deep breath, he plunged into the story, leaving nothing out. After he had exhausted the topic, he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. The silence that followed stretched until he was almost afraid to look at the other two people in the room.

"Please say something." He pleaded.

"The marriage is valid." His father said slowly.

"Yes. I am afraid so."

"Legal and binding." He turned to look at his mother, puzzled at the soft smile on her lips.

"Yes."

"That might be wonderful news."

"Mother, have you been listening to a word I just said? Harvey is distraught, and Kendra is willing to go through with it, but I ruined her dream of having a proper marriage. They are going to have to live together if I can persuade Harvey not to murder me and do me the favor. If not, my career will be ruined."

"Your mother is right." Gregory gave his wife an amused glance before concentrating on his son. "It might not be such a disaster after all. We could talk to Harvey- "

"No." Silas shook his head, wondering why they were taking it so well. "It must be me. I am going to give him a couple of days to cool down- "

"Sunday is two days away, and you know there will be an announcement in services. You will have to convince him not only to accept the status quo but also to persuade him to attend services. And announce to the congregation that they are a couple."

His color fled as the truth of that hit him. Leaning back in the chair, he closed his eyes and felt the despair cloaking him again. It was like a never-ending cycle that was getting worse.

"There is no way he will agree to that," he said dully. "I might as well accept failure right now."

"Your brother loves you, and he is all about family." His mother reminded him gently.

"She is right. Give him tonight to blow off some steam and go and see him again tomorrow."

"In the meantime," Julia said firmly. "Go to bed and have a good night's sleep. Things always look better in the morning."

They watched as he shuffled heavily out of the room.

"Poor dear, he looks so done in."

Her husband gave her an indulgent look. "And you just had an answer to your prayer."

Her brilliant smile came, light green eyes dancing. "Precisely. God does work in mysterious ways."

*****

He wasn't drunk enough, Harvey thought savagely as he switched from beer to scotch. That dolt. That damned moron, and he could not blame his brother alone. He had been the fool who had agreed to this fiasco that was now coming back to bite him in the ass.

He was married. If it weren't so severe, he would be having a good laugh, but it was severe; it was disastrous. He was married to a stranger, a woman who spent most of her time at church, one who looked as if butter would not melt inside her mouth.

One he would go across the street to avoid. He preferred his women to be worldly and sophisticated, not churchgoing and sweet, with an air of innocence about her.

He was being punished, he decided as he chugged the liquid directly from the bottle, almost choking as it went down too fast. He was going to murder Silas, but first, he was going to tie him to a tree and strip him naked in the blasted cold.

What the hell was he thinking? I agree with some sham ceremonies in a chapel. He was getting soft. Love and devotion for his family had loosened his strict code of conduct. He should have said hell to the no and let him find another fool to do his bidding. And that nonsense about the impossibility of the marriage being annulled.

What utter ludicrous reasoning is that? It would ruin his career, calling, or whatever it was called. That could not be right. And if that was the case, he was better off than being in an inflexible environment that does not allow a person to make a mistake.

Taking the bottle with him, he sat on the side of the bed and felt the headache pounding at his temple. Their parents had been lobbying for one of them to take his position at the corporate headquarters. Perhaps this was a sign that Silas should. They had both been given solid college educations, and he was young; he would fit in very well.

But Harvey could not ignore the stricken look on his brother's face. They had spoken at length about his decision to take up ministry, and each time they had the conversation, he saw the light in the younger man's eyes and the animated look on his face.

Silas was right where he wanted to be, and like him, going into the corporate office would make him exceedingly unhappy.

So what? His mind argued with his conscience. There are worse things that could happen to a person. Taking another deep swallow of the liquor, he stared out the window at the main house. He could see his brother's suite from here.

The light was still on, and he could just imagine Silas on his knees, asking for a way out. Well, he was certainly not going to be that way out for him, not this damn time.