Roy took his felt hat off and asked if he could come in to talk with her. Washington...with a mean dog look on his face...stepped up on the porch and asked if everything was OK? Sarah told him it was fine...he went back to his apartment. She invited Roy in and they went to the kitchen. Sarah put a pot of tea on the gas stove and said,"OK Roy....I think I already know what this is about."
Roy sat at the table...propped his cane on his leg and said,"That Hilda Hollman came running in the church a few hours ago and screamed that "you and that darky was kissing in broad daylight!" Sarah smiled....sat down across from Roy and said,"Exactly as I thought.....Deacon Smithens...I gave him a friendly peck on the cheek because he was feeling sad." Roy said,"I was there to borrow the Pastor's checker board...she just busted in and started screaming and cackling like a hen on a fat egg!"
Sarah giggled and asked,"What did Pastor Saylen say?" Roy looked down at the table and said,"Well...he...uh....he said he wouldn't let you attend church anymore because she threatened to contact the ministry office in Indianapolis...she would have him removed from the Willowheart church." Roy went on,"He asked be to stop by and tell you...I stopped at the Johnson's first and old Robert grabbed me with gabbing...I spent an hour trying to get away from him....that's why I'm so late."
Sarah smiled and said,"That's fine.....So...I am banned form the church again." Roy hung his head and said,"I'm afraid so....the Pastor said he would come visit you on Wednesday." The tea pot started to whistle...Sarah got up and poured the hot water in two cups...she place two prepared silver tea screens in the cups and swished them around as she said with a sigh,"I knew this was going to happen....I will miss going to the beautiful church....I surely will."
She handed Roy his cup of tea and scooted a bowl of sugar cubes towards him. Roy dropped in five cubes and smiled...saying,"Why don't you just build a church for yourself....you have the money don't you?" Sarah chuckled and said,"Maybe I will Deacon Smithers...maybe I will."
Roy sipped his tea and looked up to see Sarah smiling....such a beautiful smile. He softly said," I went to the wife's grave today....I told her what happened...you know....I told her I was sorry." Sarah put her elbows on the table and her hands under he chin to listen. Roy went on,"I looked up and saw a Turtle dove sitting next to a Red Bird on a willow branch....I felt like I was that Dove who lost his mate and you was the Red Bird."
Sarah reached and put her hand on his....tears were forming in his eyes as he said,"I love her and I miss her so much sometimes." He sniffled and said,"I could almost hear her calling me an old fool...but then...I swear to you...I felt her kiss me on the cheek and say my name." Two tears rolled from Sarah's eyes as he said,"You aint got nothing to be ashamed of...I am a foolish old man but for eternity...I will never forget the Dove and the Red Bird...I will never forget you."
Sarah squeezed his hand and said,"I will never forget you either Roy...never." They finished their tea and Sarah walked Roy to the door...gently holding his arm. As he stepped out the door...he said,"If you ever decide to build that church...I'll make you a stained glass window angel....just like the one I made for Willowheart...better than that one!"
Sarah smiled...as she closed the door she said,"I would love that...you take care getting home...goodnight Roy." Sarah was sad about the decision Pastor Saylen had made but the story that Roy had told her....made her feel wonderful. She wrote the story down in her diary before she went to bed. Sarah worked in her garden on Monday. Tuesday came and a gentle rain began in the morning. Sarah wanted to finish planting flowers and wasn't about to let a little rain stop her.
