A Blessed Union

By Rachel Vanderwood

Although they're both young, Peter and Mary Angeline knew from the moment they met that God had a hand in bringing them together. As their relationship grew over the course of two years and both families offered their own means of support and encouragement, the day came upon them when Peter eagerly made his intentions clear to make his official lifelong commitment to her. As elated as her future husband was to join their lives and families together through marriage, Mary Angeline found herself having to rely on her trust in him when Peter and his father were suddenly called away on one last mysterious Christian mission before the ceremony could officially take place. Unable to contact Peter while he was away, Mary Angeline, her family, and future in-laws are left with the task of making all the arrangements without him. Faced with a short window of time to bring everything and everyone together, opposing opinions between family and friends of how the details should be arranged, and unforeseen setbacks, Mary Angeline and Peter's special day approaches faster than they are prepared for. But in keeping a strong faith in God and one another despite the temporary distance between them and obstacles they're faced with, the young couple finds that there is someone already ahead of the chaos and has his own plan of how the day will proceed.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886160802

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A Blessed Union

Rachel Vanderwood

Copyright © 2022 by Rachel Vanderwood

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 1

Hopeful to have been able to awaken when the sun had at least made its way across the horizon, Julia unexpectedly found herself peeling her tired eyes open at a mere 4:30 a.m., mostly due to the excitedly expectant two-and-a-half-year-old that had made her way into her room and on to her king-size bed.

Turning over and realizing that her husband had already begun his day and was no longer beside her to take over the responsibility of their youngest child, Julia smiled at her failed attempt to resume her peaceful slumber and laughed before reluctantly sitting herself up and formally greeting Lyla Grace with a nurturing hug and multiple kisses to her soft cheeks.

You certainly are our eager child, Lyla Grace. I don’t know what you think you will be missing getting up so early, but I guess we should go downstairs and check it out, Julia complicitly said to her giggling toddler.

You’re funny, Mommy. Lyla Grace observed of her mother as she took notice of her mother’s unbrushed hair and the silly faces that Julia made at her to entertain and bond with her youngest daughter. Satisfied that their quick interaction had motivated her enough to strike up the energy to place her slippers on and arise for the early Monday morning, Julia took hold of her daughter’s hand and slowly made her way down the stairwell of their three-story Victorian-style home as Lyla Grace attempted to count each and every step that she navigated. As the pair made their way closer toward the bottom step, Julia could hear her husband, Aaron, moving around in their kitchen toward the back of the house, making his morning coffee and preparing to leave for work.

When she and Lyla Grace entered the dimly lit kitchen and had made their presence known to Aaron, he smiled then walked up to his wife to kiss and greet her. As he looked down to their youngest child, he then picked her up into his arms and said, It looks like someone didn’t let Mommy get enough sleep this morning.

Finding humor in her mother’s hesitance in the surprise early rise, Lyla Grace placed her hands in front of her mouth and began to giggle. When she found her father to be laughing along with her, she leaned over and whispered in his ear, Can I come to work too, Daddy?

Amused by the sentiment of his daughter’s request, Aaron hugged Lyla Grace and kissed her cheek. Not today, baby, but someday, I promise. You need to stay here and help Mommy, okay? he lovingly replied.

Okay, Daddy, Lyla Grace happily agreed as her father carefully handed her over to his wife who had been standing at his side, adoringly listening to their interaction before he continued to make his preparations for the busy day.

Aaron, Julia called her husband to attention.

Yeah, honey, what’s up? he asked as he finished washing the remainder of his breakfast dishes.

Do you think that Mary Angeline can go in to work a little later today? There is a company board meeting this morning, and I need to finish my presentation. There are a few more notes that I have to go over, and I could really use her help to drop Benjamin Francis off to school, Julia explained.

I certainly wouldn’t have had a problem with that Julia, but you’re a little late. She’s already left for work. She left about fifteen minutes before the two of you came downstairs, Aaron replied.

Already? I guess I can consider it a good thing that Lyla Grace woke me up so early then, Julia replied, surprised by the knowledge that her eldest daughter had already been well on her way to starting her day.

Aaron, we interacted with her more when she was away on her mission trips. She’s only been back three months from the last one, and it seems like she spends more time at the restaurant than with her friends or family, Julia responded out of a rising concern.

Julia, I agree, but of her own will, I assure you, Aaron clarified to his wife.

Aaron, I have come to accept that our daughter chose not to go to college in order to be able to pursue what she feels as her calling to serve others when the opportunities arise, but I don’t like the fact that when she does come home, she works herself to exhaustion. She’s missing so many things, Julia shared with her husband in frustration.

Again, I agree, but what do you suggest we do about it? We both made a promise to her to allow her to follow her own path, Aaron reminded.

I’m not trying to control her, Aaron. I’ve just been worried that there’s something bothering her that she’s working to hide what’s really going on. I don’t know, call it a mother’s intuition. If there is an issue that is causing her distress, I just don’t want it to make her miss anything, Julia replied.

So I’m going to assume that you want me to talk to her today then? Aaron perceptively asked as he walked over to his wife and held her in his loving embrace to console her justified anxiety concerning the matter.

Yes, the two of you are close. If she would open up and be honest with anyone, it would be you, Julia replied.

All right, I’ll talk to her. And I’ll see if I can convince her to cut her hours back. To be honest, I’ve been just as concerned as you, Julia. I don’t want her working her life away either. You and I can both relate to that. Aaron gladly agreed as he kissed his wife one final time before making his way down the hall toward the front door.

As she witnessed her husband to have his hand on the door handle starting to open it and exit, Julia called out one last time, Aaron, don’t forget to pick up Benjamin Francis from school today. It’s your day to bring him to practice. Your mom is going to meet you there and bring him home. She’s taking care of the kids today.

Smiling as he replied, Got it, Aaron then walked out of the front door to take on the tasks of the day.

Expecting to begin his day by helping his daughter to set up the tables and chairs before beginning their inventory check and food prep, Aaron was surprised to find that Mary Angeline had completed each of their early morning obligations as he entered his long-standing business.

Soon after his arrival, as he looked upon the detailed precision that his daughter placed in her efforts to prepare the restaurant to open later that morning, Aaron caught sight of his eldest daughter hurrying to add the final changes to the centerpiece décor of the booths and rounded tables that accented the dining area. Mary Angeline’s focus was so intent on her task at hand that she did not notice her father standing nearby, carefully watching her movements and assessing her demeanor. When Aaron made his presence known to his daughter, he startled her.

I don’t think this place has ever looked any better, Mary Angeline, he complimented in observation.

Oh… Dad…hi… I’m sorry… I didn’t see you there, she quickly replied.

That’s all right, your attention seems drawn to your efforts, Aaron replied.

Suppose you’re right, Dad, she replied with a smile before walking back toward the kitchen in an effort to not draw her focus away from what she intended it to be.

Now more concerned in alignment with his wife that Mary Angeline had in fact been avoiding direct interpersonal contact with her loved ones, Aaron entered the kitchen to find her beginning to prep the food for the day. Noticing her refusal to directly look into his eyes, Aaron said to his seemingly distressed daughter, Your mother was worried about you this morning. She thought that you may be working too much. And to be honest, so do I. I think it would be in your best interest if you take a day off. Spend time with your friends. I’m sure if you call Tonya, she would love to meet you out for lunch. I’m sure she could use a break from her classes.

That’s ridiculous, Dad. I’m fine. And I will call Tonya soon, I promise. Intend to call her, Mary Angeline unconvincingly replied to her father as she carefully gathered a bunch of fresh parsley and carried it over the stainless steel three-compartment utility sink to rinse and clean the leaves.

And besides, it’s been too busy here. You need me. Plus, I get to see Anna Lynn and Sam almost every day at work, she then reasoned.

Mary Angeline, that’s not the same thing. You girls should go out. Go shopping, go to the park or out to eat, somewhere other than here, Aaron compassionately argued.

Dad, I get it, I will, okay. Can we move on from this? Please? Mary Angeline pleaded with her father, hoping to change the direction of their conversation to keep focus away from her underlying heartache.

We can move on, when you are honest with me and tell me what’s really going on with you. You know that I know you, Mary Angeline. And I know when you are upset. So let’s stop pretending that everything is okay when we both know that it’s not, Aaron replied as he walked over closer to his daughter.

Dad, it’s nothing, okay? I promise, she replied.

It’s not nothing if you are desperately trying not to think about it, Mary Angeline. What’s going on? Aaron intuitively asked as he took his daughter’s hand and led her over to a small table in the corner of the kitchen only big enough for two set two chairs across from one another.

Although hesitant at first to share the worries that were causing her most recent distress, Mary Angeline resolved within herself to openly admit to the validity of her father’s loving concern.

"I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m just being paranoid or overthinking it. But it’s been three months since I’ve seen Peter. And I know that we’ve been apart for longer periods of time in between our mission trips, but this time it’s different. The last time that I talked to him was Friday. He and his father are getting ready to leave on a mission together, just the two of them. He won’t tell me where they are going or what they will be doing. It’s like it’s a big secret. I don’t even think his mother knows where they are going.

"Peter told me that while he is away, he will be out of touch. He told me that I can’t even call him or message him. And wherever he is going, he won’t even be able to receive mail, I assume to hide the location. Peter said that they are leaving the beginning of next week, and he promised me that he would call me this Saturday for my birthday. Wish he could be here for that.

I just miss him so much already, Dad. And I’m afraid he’s never not been completely open and honest with me about what he does or where he goes. What if he’s intentionally avoiding me, Dad? Maybe he’s found someone else and doesn’t want to hurt me by admitting it, Mary Angeline replied as she maintained her fixed gaze on the table in front of her, unable to directly face her father.

After taking his daughter’s hands in his in loving support and prompting her to look up to him as he replied to her misguided assumptions, Aaron assured, "Mary Angeline, if it’s one thing that I don’t doubt in Peter is his love for you, even though you both are still young. Trust me when I tell you that there are very, and I mean very, few men that me and your Uncle Damon will ever deem worthy enough of you girls, and Peter is definitely one of them. Now I’m not saying that your concerns aren’t warranted, but if I had to bet, there is a good explanation as to why this particular mission has to be kept secret.

We have a few minutes now, seeing that you did so much already this morning. Why don’t we pray together? We can pray for Peter and his father. We can pray that they have a successful mission, and when it ends, that they have a safe return home. And we can pray for strength in yours and his relationship. Aaron offered, noting his daughter’s silent acceptance of his suggestion in the form of a smile and slight nod.

Holding tightly to her father’s hands, Mary Angeline bowed her head, and the two silently prayed their intentions. Having suddenly felt a renewed sense of confidence and internal peace after lifting her anxiety to God, Mary Angeline looked up to her father and smiled ready to move forward in their busy day. And no sooner did she stand up from her seated position than was she greeted by the friendly hellos of her closest friends and fellow coworkers.

Good morning, girls. The two of you seem to have broken a record for your punctuality it seems, Aaron remarked as he noted them to have arrived as always a half an hour early.

We would have been here sooner, Mr. Vitale, but my sitter was late. And Adam had a case of separation anxiety, Sam replied to her benevolent boss.

I certainly can relate to those troubles, Aaron replied as he laughed to himself in reflection of his own experiences with his children.

How are you this morning, Mr. Vitale? Anna Lynn asked.

As good as it can be for a Monday morning, Anna Lynn. In fact, now that you girls are here, maybe the two of you can convince my overworked daughter to take a much-needed rest and socialize a bit with a girl’s day away from work, Aaron eagerly suggested.

I think that we can arrange something, Anna Lynn agreed with a warmhearted smile as she walked over to Mary Angeline and wrapped her arm around her shoulder in support.

Absolutely. Couldn’t agree more, Mr. Vitale. A girl’s day would be great—that is, if I can find a sitter for Adam, Sam excitedly agreed.

Well, if you girls can figure out a time that works, maybe Julia and I can set up a play date for Adam and Lyla Grace, Aaron gladly offered.

He would love that, Mr. Vitale. Adam loves your daughter. You may need to watch out though/ He has a little bit of a crush on her, Sam admitted with a lighthearted chuckle.

That’s good to know. I’ll keep that in mind, Sam. But I think that all will work itself out. So now you have no other choice. It’s us three against you, Mary Angeline. How about it? Are you willing to spend a girl’s day out with your best friends? Tonya would be on our side if she were here, Aaron asked his daughter now seeming to be calming down her defenses.

Looking up to her father as she reluctantly settled to submit to his request, Mary Angeline replied, All right, Dad, but it will have to be after this week. The three of us are scheduled to cover Kelly, Charles, and Isaac during their weekday shifts so that they can cover for all of us Saturday for my birthday dinner.

Okay then, Sunday, the restaurant is closed on Sundays, and your mother and I will both be home for Lyla Grace and Adam to have a playdate, Aaron replied, not giving an option for a refusal.

All right, you win, Dad. Sunday is girl’s day. Mary Angeline agreed, knowing that her father and two friends would not accept a refusal.

This will be so much fun. I can’t wait. It has been way too long! Anna Lynn squealed.

Me either! And we are so coming over early Saturday for your party to decorate. I found some amazing ideas online last night! Sam assured as she hugged her friend.

Grateful to witness Mary Angeline’s now willing compliance to his and her friends’ request, Aaron was ready to begin the pending responsibilities of his day.

Like most weekdays, the lunch crowd on that particular Monday demanded a steady pace and continual flow of plates served and collected, leaving little room for breaks in between the prepping, searing, baking, and frying of the various dishes that their restaurant was famous for. In the midst of their busy day, the phone consistently rang with hungry expectant customers anxiously awaiting their turn to place their orders for takeout. Although most in line for the matter of business pertaining to food, there was one call that stood out from the rest.

Mr. Vitale, there is a call for you at the desk. He didn’t say his name, but he asked to speak with you, his hostess Michelle relayed.

Unable to turn his focus away from the food that he was preparing on an open flame of the stove, he asked, Can Mary Angeline take it? Or Sam?

He specifically asked for you, Mr. Vitale. He claims that it is important for him to speak to you now, Michelle explained.

Puzzled, both Aaron and Mary Angeline looked to one another each in their own minds trying to decipher the intentions of the unknown caller.

Can you cover for me for a few minutes before I get back? Aaron reluctantly asked his daughter.

Sure, Dad. Don’t worry. I can manage it, Mary Angeline assured as she watched her father exit the kitchen toward the front desk of the restaurant.

Already curious as to the nature of the mysterious caller, Mary Angeline was even more perplexed when her father returned mere moments later in good spirits as he walked back and kissed the top of her head before resuming his responsibilities preparing the meals for their hungry patrons.

Who was that, Dad? she asked hopeful for a clear explanation.

Oh, just an old friend that I haven’t seen in a while. Just wanted to catch up, Aaron simply replied.

Is everything okay? his daughter asked, not satisfied in his vague response.

Absolutely, sweetheart, as it should be, Aaron responded as he smiled at her and continued to engage in his daily routine.

Chapter 2

Finding his daughter avidly continuing to work in the kitchen well past what he expected her to be late the following Saturday afternoon, Aaron approached Mary Angeline to redirect her focus to where it should be.

Mary Angeline, if you work a minute longer, your mother will never let me hear the end of it, Aaron assured his daughter.

Okay, Dad, just a second, she reluctantly replied, keeping her back to her father as she finished her instructions to Isaac who would be taking over her position for the evening.

We really should be on our way, and besides, there is a customer that wants to pay his compliments to the chef before we head home, Aaron relayed.

Can’t you talk to him, Dad? Can you cover for me? Honestly, Dad, just two more minutes, okay? she asked, seeming to find more tasks to complete to delay their departure, remaining naively unaware of the unannounced guest that had been standing in the entrance of the kitchen, watching her interactions as he eagerly awaited her greeting.

Well, I would, Mary Angeline, but I really think that you should talk to this one, Aaron adamantly suggested.

Although resistive to comply with the request at first, Mary Angeline reluctantly replied, Okay, dad, before turning around to follow through with what her father had asked of her.

When she had turned her body’s position completely around, she stood facing the answer to the question that she had earlier in the week and suddenly found herself awestruck by the sight of who she now knew the mysterious caller to have been.

Peter! Oh my god, Peter! Is it really you? she cried as she raced toward him to embrace him.

As grateful to reunite with Mary Angeline as she was of him, Peter looked down upon her as he held her in his arms and smiled.

Mary Angeline, I couldn’t forgive myself if I weren’t able to be here for your birthday. So I managed to persuade my father into taking a quick detour on our way to our next assignment. Unfortunately, I won’t be here long, just until tomorrow. But I’ve missed you, and I wanted to tell you that in person before I left, Peter explained as he continued to hold her closely to him.

Even if I could only have you here for five minutes today, it would still be the best present that I could ask for! Mary Angeline replied in heartfelt sincerity as she looked up to his loving gaze upon her.

Knowing that her father had kept his promise the entirety of the week in keeping the well-guarded secret a surprise, she turned to him and said with a grateful smile, "Well, at least