Love Builds the House: A Christian Love Story

By Debra Harris

Lynette Harper is having one of the most trying days of her life. She goes to the place where she knows that she will find solace—her church. Little does she know, her life is about to change forever. At Hillside Church, her past and her present collide when she meets army colonel David Miller. Lynette doesn’t know it, but David is a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643457543

Debra Harris

Corrie and Debra Harris are a mother and daughter collaboration team. Corrie graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois, with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. Her mother Debra is a retired educator. Ten Little Flakey Turtles is their first collaboration with Debra helping to illustrate the story.

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Debra Harris

LOVE BUILDS THE HOUSE

Copyright © 2019 Debra Harris

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Stratton Press Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in the work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-64345-703-1

ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-64345-754-3

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter One

Lynette Harper pulled into the parking lot of Hillside Church and parked next to a black luxury SUV with tinted windows. She looked around and saw there were only three other cars on the lot. She recognized Phillip Carter’s truck and the dark blue sedan that belonged to Ruth Johnson.

I guess I’m early for prayer, she thought.

Hillside Church was the place where Lynette found peace and solace regardless of what was happening in her life.

At this moment, she felt totally in despair. As she sat staring blankly at the windshield, she replayed the last twenty years of her life. What went wrong? How did I get to this place in my life?

God, I need your help, she cried aloud. I don’t know what to do. I’m hurting so badly. Please give me strength. It had taken her a long time to heal, but in one instant, her emotional wounds had been reopened, and she felt mentally and physically drained. She was grateful that tonight she would be among friends.

As a social worker, Lynette was used to giving so much of herself to help meet the needs of her patients, but now she was the one in need. Tonight she needed the comfort and support of her church family. Her faith in God had always gotten her through tough times, and she knew her faith would continue to give her the fortitude to press on.

She took a minute to collect herself before going in. She looked in her rearview mirror. She had been crying all afternoon, and her eyes were red and puffy. As fresh tears began to well up, she brushed them back and rested her head on the steering wheel. Take a deep breath and get yourself together. She rambled in her purse and found a tissue. She wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and put on the bravest face that she could muster. After several more minutes, she got out of her car and walked toward the education wing of the church.

The door of the SUV parked next to her opened. She glanced back to see a tall dark-haired man getting out. The tint on his windows had prevented her from seeing him before. She felt angry and embarrassed that he had just witnessed what she thought was a private moment. She walked briskly across the parking lot to avoid talking to him, but the man caught up with her in a couple of strides.

Are you okay? he asked. You seemed upset.

I’m fine, she snapped as she turned to face him.

For a moment, he stood motionless, staring at her with a startled expression, like someone who had seen an apparition. He quickly regained his composure and asked, Is there anything I can do to help you?

She assumed from the way he was staring at her that she must look awful. Now she felt even more embarrassed. No, there’s nothing you can do for me, she said dryly. I already told you. I’m fine. She couldn’t believe that he had been sitting in his car watching her the whole time.

I drove up right before you did, and I wasn’t sure where the entrance to the education wing was, so I decided I’d walk in with you, but when you started to cry, I didn’t know what to do. I hope you’re all right. Now he regretted not going over to her car and offering to help in some way.

Thank you again for your concern, she said, but I really am fine. She was not fine, but she wasn’t about to discuss her problems with a man that she had just met.

As the two of them reached the door to the prayer room, Ruth Johnson met them with a smile and a group hug. Lynette was a bit taken aback.

This is wonderful. The two of you have already met.

No, we haven’t been officially introduced, said Lynette with feigned enthusiasm.

Lynette Harper, meet my godson, David Miller.

"It is so nice to finally meet you," he said, extending his hand.

It is nice to meet you too, she said stiffly. Lynette was still angry that he had seen her during an unguarded moment. Pretending not to see his hand, she turned and greeted church deacon Phillip Carter and his wife, Brenda.

Hello, Phillip and Brenda. How are you tonight? she asked.

Hello, Lyn, they both said before giving her a hug.

We missed you last week, said Brenda.

I missed being here. My week just isn’t the same when I don’t make it to prayer.

Phillip turned toward Ruth and the man standing next to her. You must be David, said Phillip. Ruth told us that you were coming.

David, I’d like you to meet Phillip and Brenda Carter. They are our prayer group leaders.

He shook hands with Phillip and then Brenda. Ruth was smiling brightly. She was overjoyed that David had come to prayer tonight.

I’m pleased to meet you, said David.

We are always happy to welcome a new member to the Hillside Church family and to our prayer group, said Phillip.

Technically I’m not a new member of Hillside, said David. Before I left to join the military, I worshiped here when I was in college. Your pastor, Richard Jr., and I were college roommates.

Is that right?

We were roommates for four years. Richard became like a brother to me. David began to reminisce about the first time Richard brought him to Hillside. Ruth Johnson was one of the first people he’d met when he came to church there. He remembered her greeting him with one of the warmest hugs he’d ever felt.

After I met David, I found out that he and my son, Thomas, were also good friends, said Ruth.

That’s when she unofficially adopted me, said David. He gave Ruth’s hand a gentle squeeze and smiled at her lovingly.

I am so glad that David has come home, said Ruth, smiling back at him. Ruth Johnson was a petite woman with long silver hair that she usually wore pulled back in a ponytail. She was small in stature but had a big personality. Her smile had a way of lighting up a room. She was one of those people that everyone enjoyed being around. David had always described Ruth as a love light. Whenever she entered a room, the love of God seemed to illuminate every space. Everyone at Hillside affectionately called her Mother Johnson.

By this time, Lynette had taken a seat at the back of the room. She watched the loving exchange between Ruth and David. Her opinion of him started to soften a little, but she still felt embarrassed that he had seen her meltdown in the car.

As David continued his conversation with Phillip and Brenda, Ruth glanced back at Lynette. She could tell that she was upset about something. She excused herself and walked to the back of the room and took a seat next to her.

Ruth noticed that Lynette had barely spoken to David when she introduced the two of them, and she looked like she had been crying. What’s wrong, Lyn? You’re so quiet tonight.

I’m not quite ready to talk about it yet, but I’ll be okay, said Lynette, looking down at her hands.

You know I’m always here if you need me, said Ruth. She understood Lynette’s reluctance to talk about her problems. Because of all the negative things that she had experienced, it was difficult for Lynette to trust others. Ruth knew that when she was ready, she would tell her what was troubling her.

Lynette saw the love and concern in Ruth’s eyes and decided to open up, but just as she was about to speak, the precocious six-year-old twins of the youth pastor ran up and hugged Ruth. Their parents, Gregory and Cynthia Patrick, led the children’s prayer group.

Hello, Mother Johnson, they said in unison.

Hello, boys. It’s so good to see you.

You give the best hugs, said Joshua.

She sure does, said Jonathan, chiming in.

Thank you, said Ruth. You boys give good hugs too.

Hello, Miss Harper, said Jonathan.

Hello, said Joshua.

Hello, boys, said Lynette, smiling.

At that moment, their mother, Cynthia, walked up and admonished them for running.

Hello, Cynthia, said Ruth.

Hello, Mother Johnson, said Cynthia. I’m sorry about that. The boys get so excited to see you. They sometimes forget their manners. I promised them that they could come and say hello.

No harm done, said Ruth.

Hello, Lyn. It’s good to see you.

It is good to see you too, said Lynette. How is Greg?

"Greg is fine. He’s over in the youth meeting room. Some of the other families and their children drove up when we did. The children’s prayer group usually kept Cynthia so busy she rarely got to participate in the adult prayer group. She was happy to be able to visit for a few minutes with Ruth and Lynette.

She instructed the boys to join their father across the hall. I’ll be there shortly, she said.

Goodbye, boys, said Ruth. She gave the twins one last hug before they reluctantly left the room.

Do you need help with the children? asked Lynette.

No, we have older youth helping us tonight, said Cynthia.

David had watched from a distance while Lynette chatted with Cynthia and Ruth. Lynette seemed okay to him now. She was even smiling. Little did he know, Lynette was wearing her happy mask. On the inside, she was still secretly hurting. He wondered what had caused her so much pain.

As other members of the prayer group began filing in, Cynthia said goodbye and left to join Greg and the children.

After everyone was seated, Phillip asked David to stand. Before we begin tonight’s prayer session, I want to introduce a new prayer group member. I’d like for everyone to please welcome Mother Johnson’s godson, Colonel David Miller. He asked David to tell the group a little bit about himself.

When David stood, Lynette noticed for the first time how tall he was. He appeared to be about 6’3". He had a lean muscular build. His wavy black hair, with just a hint of gray at the temples, gave him a distinguished look. He had amber brown eyes and a deep rich baritone voice that boomed when he spoke. Even wearing civilian clothes, it was obvious from his stance and authoritative demeanor that he had a military background.

I recently moved back to Mississippi after retiring from the army, said David. "I’m originally from Crystal Springs. As I was telling Phillip, I was a member of Hillside when Pastor Kelly Sr. was pastor. Your current pastor, Richard, Jr., and I were college roommates. The church membership was much smaller back then. I could never have