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taking a deep breath and attempting a smile. “And I apologize for my reaction. I had no idea you were thinking of such things.”
    “Why? Is it because I’m old? Jake, old men get lonely. Am I to be denied love even though I’m up in years?”
    Hannah held her breath. What was Jake going to say? Would he offend Mr. Brunson?
    “But you have your own people,” Jake said, meeting Mr. Brunson’s eyes.
    “That I do,” Mr. Brunson said. “But good women at my age are hard to find. At least good women with the values I admire.”
    “Surely there would be someone,” Jake said. “Have you any idea how hard it will be to marry into our faith? And that’s if Mary would even accept your offer.”
    “Now, now,” Mr. Brunson said, laughing softly. “You underestimate me, Jake. What woman would turn down a great catch like me?”
    Jake laughed as Mr. Brunson’s words broke the tension.
    “It’s not that simple,” Hannah spoke up. “There would be the matter of becoming part of us. Do you know what taking on our ways means? It’s very hard.”
    “I would think it would be worth the sacrifice,” Mr. Brunson said. “Especially to win the heart of a woman like Mary.”
    “I take it then that you are well into thinking about this,” Jake said. “Is there anything we can say to persuade you otherwise?”
    “I’ve thought long and hard about it,” Mr. Brunson said. “I didn’t ask to have you tell me I couldn’t pursue the woman. I want to know how to do it legally. So I don’t run afoul of traditions, religious beliefs, and that sort of thing.”
    “And do you think Mary will be agreeable to this, ah, pursuit?”
    “I don’t know. But an old man must try again when he sees another chance at love. I don’t have many years left, Jake.”
    “This is a hard thing you ask.”
    “But don’t you see?” Mr. Brunson continued. “I am what I am today because of you and Hannah. Because of you two I have a renewed relationship with my son, Eldon. I came back from my self-imposed exile after the accident that killed my wife and daughter. I could never have come back from all that without your friendship, without the kind of Christian example your people gave me. I’ve received hope from watching your lives, and I was given a reason to try again. I know it’s hard to explain, but I want what you people have.”
    “And you think marrying one of our women would give you what we have?”
    “No, not entirely,” Mr. Brunson said. “I mean, it’s not something I intentionally did or set out to do. It just happened between us. I would call it one of the most improbable things imaginable. Who would have thought that buying a dozen eggs would open such a door?”
    When Jake and Hannah had no reply, Mr. Brunson spoke again. “I’ve upset you both and I’m sorry for that. I don’t like to upset my friends.”
    “Jake’s a minister,” Hannah said, leaning across the table toward Mr. Brunson. “He can’t tell you what to do in a case like this. There are others to think of. Other opinions that could be different from his. Jake will be okay. He’s got a really gut heart. So why don’t you tell us about Mary and yourself?”
    “Is that correct?” Mr. Brunson asked, glancing at Jake.
    Jake smiled, “I don’t know about my gut heart, but the rest is correct. I can tell you what the rules are, but I don’t have the power to decide anything. That is done in counsel with the other ministers first, and then with all the church members.”
    “I see,” Mr. Brunson said, toying with his fork.
    Hannah stood up from the table and said, “The ice cream is melting, and the cherry pie needs to be eaten. We can talk further while we eat dessert.”
    “That’s sounds good to me,” Mr. Brunson said. “What better time to speak of love than over cherry pie and butter pecan ice cream?”
    Jake laughed. “None that I know of.”
    “Do you think if I tell my story it will help my case any?” Mr. Brunson asked.
    “I