Lukas Grant – Chapter 1.3 – How Can This Be?

Months have gone by and Elaine and I are still dating. The minister of Riverview Community Church asked me to share on Sunday morning how my faith had been tested by some of the things I had seen in Iraq. I invited Elaine to come with me. I was very nervous standing behind the podium talking to the congregation that day. There is a lot I couldn’t talk about and would never talk about but I shared from my heart. After church the minister said he was impressed with the man I had become and said my father and grandfather would be proud, which brought a tear to my eye.

She seemed so uncomfortable at the church. Later we sat outside the church in the garden and I just held her for a while not even talking. Even after all this time she has these walls up that I can’t seem to penetrate. Maybe I should have a talk with her father again and find out if there is something going on that I should know about.

On Wednesday night I went over to talk to Norman about what was holding her back from making a commitment to me. He said he didn’t have any more to add and he had probably said too much as it was. He was sure Elaine would tell me when she was ready.

Sherman Bagley, my best friend in high school came over the next Friday night after we went to the Watering Hole. We sat out in the yard after we got a burn pile going. I pumped him for information about Hal and Elaine to see if there was something I just wasn’t seeing. What he told me couldn’t have been any more of a shock. A few days after Elaine caught Hal with Lana Kali, he called Elaine and said he wanted to make up. He wanted to meet at Riverwalk Park, just to talk, but he had other things on his mind. After that night she tried calling him but her calls all went to voicemail.

A few weeks later, Sherman, Hal and George Dean were at the gym for their regular workout together when Elaine came in. She asked him why he wasn’t returning her calls and he said he was busy at work and with his training at the police academy. She tried to pull him aside to tell him something but he wouldn’t budge from his workout. Finally in desperation she said, “well the whole town will know soon anyway, I’m pregnant with your baby.”

They left and argued down in the pool area, and Hal said, “that’s your problem, not mine sweetheart. Go take care of it“. Elaine ran out in tears. Sherman ran after her to see if he could do anything to help but she was inconsolable. Eight months later she had a baby that she gave up for adoption. Sherman had tried to talk to her about it but she wouldn’t talk to him. In fact she doesn’t talk to any of her old friends.

My blood was boiling. I was so angry I wanted to go out right then to beat Hal to a pulp. Sherman was able to calm me down. It’s old news, he said, just let it go. Hal is a cop now and you will end up in jail. How will you be able to help Elaine if you are in jail? Think, Lukas, think. Beating up Hal is not going to help Elaine. No, it won’t, I said, but it will sure make me feel better! Listen, if you want to help Elaine, just be patient with her. It sounds like you are doing the right things so far. I believe she does love you and will come around. If you really love her, wait her out buddy.