Read Just Above a Whisper for Free Online Page B

Reese if she had told Douglas and Alison. When Reese said she’d come directly to him, the helpful doctor told her he’d go with her to the Muldoons.

     
    “How do I tell Cathy what happened to us yesterday?” Maddie asked Jace over dinner the next day, glad that Clara was at her own home for the day.
    “Maybe you don’t right now.”
    “You think it might be best to stay quiet?”
    “It’s all so new, Maddie. I know what I said in my heart to God was real. I confessed my need for a Savior and my belief in His Son, but I’m just starting to understand what it all means.”
    Maddie nodded but didn’t comment.
    “Remember how changed Eden was?” Jace spoke of his sister. “She changed so much that we couldn’t help but notice. Now I know you’re not an abrasive person like Eden was, and your aunt and uncle might not notice a huge change, but I’d still rather we give this some time and not talk about it until we’re a little more sure of what we’re going to say.”
    This made sense to Maddie. Could she even explain what had gone on yesterday? She had never done a good job of telling people why she’d been so uncertain and unsettled. The first person to ever understand was Mr. Muldoon. Not even Jace had seen the situation clearly until quite recently.
    But Jace was right. She needed to stay quiet right now. It didn’t diminish the quiet peace she felt inside or that she knew in her heart and from a verse that Douglas had shared with them that God was willing to wait. Always a little troubled with worry, Maddie wondered what would happen if she was never able to tell her aunt and uncle about her belief in the Lord Jesus Christ but then realized how foolish that was. If God would wait for her, He would also wait for Doyle and Cathy Shephard.

     
    “I’m sick of talking about myself, Doc. I’ll let you tell Douglas and Alison what happened at the bank. I’m going to go play with the kids.”
    That said, Reese had exited the Muldoons’ parlor moments after they arrived, gone to the kitchen, and shut the door behind her. She found Joshua, Peter, and Martin at the kitchen worktable. Reese joined them and picked up a piece of string she found there.
    “Hi, Reese,” Peter opened.
    “Hey, Pete. What are you guys doing?”
    “Having a quiet time,” Joshua explained.
    “Are you in trouble?”
    “No, just helping Marty,” Joshua matter-of-factly reported, working not to be bored. “He doesn’t sit so well these days.”
    Reese looked to Martin. “During services?” she asked. “Is that the problem?”
    Martin nodded. “I wiggle and itch.”
    Reese had all she could do not to laugh.
    “The time’s almost up,” Joshua informed them, and at the moment they heard someone on the small back stairway that led into the kitchen. It was Hillary, Jeffrey in her arms. Reese wordlessly held her hands out, and Hillary surrendered the littlest Muldoon with a smile.
    “Still sitting?” their sister asked.
    “We’re done now.”
    “How’d it go, Marty?”
    “I only itched a little.”
    Reese finally felt free to laugh at this, and the Muldoon children joined her. The baby still in her arms, she suggested a game. The family was all for that, and Reese couldn’t have been more thankful. She didn’t want to think about what was being discussed in the other room.

     
    Alison’s elbows were propped up in her lap, her hands covering her face. She’d been in this position for a full two minutes. She wanted to sob her eyes out but knew it would do no good. She listened to the men in quiet discussion, trying to take in their words when all she really wanted was for Reese Thackery’s circumstances to change.
    “ How much is she getting?” Douglas asked, sure he’d heard wrong.
    “You heard correctly,” Doc MacKay told him. “But that’s not my big worry. There are enough of us in the church family to aid her. My fear is that she’ll be vulnerable to someone again. Whose houses will she be cleaning?