Pierced by Love (9 page)

He sighed. “Okay, I guess. I’m already sick of this semester. I just want to finish and graduate.”

“All in good time,” she answered cheerfully. “Pierce, honey, I know you’re getting anxious because it feels like everything is on hold right now. But you need to leave it in the Lord’s hands.”

“So you’re telling me to stop whining and be patient?”

“And trust in the Lord. We are always told that ‘faith without works is dead.’ But waiting on the Lord is just as important. Maybe there’s a reason you need to be there now that you aren’t aware of yet.”

“Hmm. Maybe.” He rolled that idea around in his head for a moment.

“Are you meeting any pretty girls up there?”

Suddenly, Pierce’s chest felt tight. This topic of conversation never lasted too long with his mom, mostly because Pierce never felt comfortable discussing it. “Uh, yeah. There are a lot of beautiful girls here.”

“I’m sure. Any special one catch your eye yet?” she asked meaningfully.

“No, Mom.” But if that were true, then why did his mind conjure Noelle Jensen’s face at her question? Deciding to turn the topic on her, he countered, “But I hear you’re dating someone.”

“Have you been talking to Craig or Gage?”

“Both, actually.”

He heard his mom sigh. “Craig met Eric last month and, as far as I can tell, he thinks that Eric is good for me. Gage is a little distrustful of him.”

Which made sense, Pierce knew, because his older brother was still active in the Church and his younger brother was not.

“We’re all grown men, Mom, so don’t worry about what any of us think of him. If he makes you happy, that’s all that matters. As long as he’s a member of the Church, which I assume he is.”

“He is,” she affirmed. “His wife died about two years ago. His children are mostly grown except a daughter who will graduate from high school soon. He has a son on a mission now.”

Suddenly, Pierce broke out into a cold sweat. “What will happen if you the two of you get married while he’s still on his mission?”

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Pierce knew this wasn’t like his situation, but in his mind, he couldn’t stop the horrible memory from slamming in. His mission president calling him in and explaining the situation. Handing the phone over to Pierce and allowing him to call his parents. The shameful tears afterward. President Dryer gently enfolding Pierce into his arms. His companion’s helpless expression as they rode back to their apartment. And the awkward silence that pervaded their ordinarily easygoing friendship.

Everything changed for him that day. Even though he stuck his mission out, something within him had died and he no longer felt he was an effective missionary.

“Pierce, I know it still hurts you to think about that time, but this is a little different,” his mom said gently. “First, we haven’t talked about getting married. We both understand that there are issues we need to work through. You’re right in implying that his son might not like me, although his daughter seems to be okay with her father dating me. We have decided to take it one day at a time and if it is the right thing to do, the Lord will show us how to proceed.”

“You have more faith than I have, Mom,” Pierce replied cynically.

He could hear the regret in her voice as she said, “Honey, I’m so sorry that your dad’s and my marriage fell apart while you were serving your mission, but it was a long time in coming. I was afraid of letting him go. But I couldn’t move on until I did. I’m just sorry that it took me so long to reach that conclusion for myself. And I know it had a negative impact on you boys.”

It was true. His brother Craig had married a girl from Utah in the temple only to find out that they had some issues to work through. Fortunately for them, they’d resolved those issues and they now had two children to show for it. And his brother Gage, who had just received his mission call when the divorce became finalized, had backed out from leaving on his mission and had fallen into a hole of inactivity.

“Pierce.” Sarah Logan’s voice held all the gentleness and compassion a mother’s voice could. “I love you so much. And I know you’ve been avoiding having this conversation with me for a long time. Divorcing your dad was a very painful thing that I never wanted to go through, but some good things have come from it. Your dad was being pulled into the ways of the world, and I couldn’t seem to pull him back. I didn’t like the person I was becoming. My heart had hardened against him and the Lord. I was becoming resentful and cynical, much like I think you are becoming now. I saw the way you and your brothers were starved for his attention and though I was grateful when other priesthood leaders in the ward reached out to you, I hated the fact that your father wasn’t filling that role.”

“I didn’t like seeing you so unhappy, Mom,” Pierce admitted. “There were mornings when I felt bad about leaving for school because I knew that you’d been crying the night before. But you always put a smile on your face for us.”

“Oh, Pierce,” she said sadly. “I wanted us to be an eternal family. I was trying to put on a brave face. And I still want that for the three of you. Craig has a good wife and they are raising a beautiful family. But, like every couple, they’ll have to work on keeping their marriage strong. Gage has some obvious challenges and I worry about him a lot. But I worry about you, too, because this seems to have stunted your growth in ways that you aren’t willing to admit.”

“Like what?” he asked harshly.

“You’re afraid to take a chance on love,” she replied without hesitation.

“Why would I want to put myself through that when I’ve seen how badly it turns out?”

“Pierce,” she chided gently, “you don’t know what will happen. And besides, every person has his or her agency. Whether we seek higher education or take a job or get married and raise children, we can only decide to do our best and leave the rest to the Lord. Two people who are dedicated to each other and the Lord will make a successful marriage.

“But at some point, every person faces a trial that is precipitated by another person’s actions. Mine just happened to come from my husband. We made sacred covenants in the temple, and, oh, it hurt like heck when he turned away from the Church, but sooner or later, every person comes to that wall when they have to decide if they’re going to follow the Lord.

“Heavenly Father loves you, Pierce, and He knows you. He sent you to earth to perform a mission for Him and He trusts you to do it. Please don’t allow fear to hinder your progress.”

The truth of her words hit him hard in the gut. Pierce was silent for a long time. He hadn’t even realized that he’d reached his apartment and his vehicle was idling.

“Pray about it, okay, son? We can talk more about it later.”

“I will, Mom.” His voice came out sounding choked. When had his throat closed up?

“There’s something else I need to tell you.”

The ominous words instantly put Pierce on alert. “What?”

“Your dad has been going to church again.”

The news stunned Pierce. “He has?” he repeated dumbly, trying to remember the last time he’d talked with him. “When did this happen?”

“A few months ago, from what I understand. And there’s more.” Although she still sounded cheerful—his mom was a pro at it—there was a slight catch in her voice. “Apparently, he met a lovely woman and they just got married.”

“What?” he cried out. “Aren’t you still sealed to him?”

“Yes, I am.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Pierce’s heart slammed into his chest. “Why?”

“They were only married civilly. But if or when they are sealed in the temple, I will be happy for him because I still love him as a child of God. He deserves to be happy.”

Pierce could have argued that point with her, but his mom continued, “Call your dad and talk to him, Pierce. Offer him your congratulations.”

“Do I have to?”

“Now you really are whining. Just do it, okay? It will be good for the two of you to talk. I need to go now. I want to call Gage and see how he’s doing. Will you call me next week?”

“All right.”

“Okay. I love you, Pierce. Always remember that.”

“I love you too. Thanks, Mom.”

“Bye.”

He told her good-bye and pocketed his phone, lost in thought. It was a long time before he went inside.

When Saturday came, Noelle was running late. She rushed home as fast as she could, took a quick shower, and yanked a dress out of her closet. Her heart pounded as she dressed and reapplied her makeup. Pierce would be here any minute to pick her up. She hadn’t been able to switch schedules with Avery at work as she’d planned. Pierce hadn’t seemed to mind the delay when she called him but she didn’t want to keep him waiting any longer than necessary.

Jessie walked into the bedroom and asked, “Where are you going?”

“To Snowflake.”

“Is there a Young Single Adult conference I don’t know about?”

“No. I’m going to the temple.”

Just then Melody entered the room. “You’re going to the temple, Noelle? Can I come too?”

Noelle looked at her sister, taking note of her eager expression. She debated how to turn her down without hurting her feelings. Ordinarily, she would have loved to attend the temple with her sister, but after all, Melody was the reason she was making this special trip. “Well, um, actually, I’m going with someone else.”

“Oh, really? Who?”

The sound of the doorbell chiming interrupted her. Perfect timing. A moment later, Hannah called, “Noelle, Pierce is here for you.”

Noelle swallowed thickly at the looks of surprise on their faces. She would have laughed at their mirrored expressions had the situation been different. “It’s not a date,” she cautioned. “I just happened to mention to Pierce that I wanted to attend the temple and he offered to take me.”

“That makes sense,” Melody said. “Doesn’t he usually take his dates on more adventurous outings? At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Yes, he does,” Jessie reported, “but attending the temple together can count as a date too.”

“But it isn’t this time,” Noelle interjected, grabbing her jacket and leaving the two of them to their debate.

Hannah glanced curiously at Noelle as she greeted Pierce, who looked great, as always, in his white shirt and tie. She came closer to him and tugged on it. “What?” he joked. “You don’t like my tie so you’re going to choke me with it?”

“I do like it,” she declared. “I was just admiring the miniature Angel Moronis on it. Nice touch.”

“Thanks.”

“Trying to impress the girls, eh?”

“Something like that,” he quipped, his lips twitching. “Are you ready to go?”

“Let me grab my temple bag. Just a sec.”

She went back to her room and located the bag. Double checking for her recommend, she grabbed it and darted back out to the living room, her brain barely registering the stunned look on Melody’s face. “I’m ready.”

“All right. Let’s jet.”

She turned to her roommates and shot them an angelic smile. “Bye. Have fun at the dance.”

“We will,” Jessie assured her. “Don’t forget your cell phone.”

“I’ve got it right here. Remember Cinderella’s charm only lasts until midnight,” she called on her way out the door.

Pierce glanced back and forth between them with a bemused expression. “You girls are so weird.”

Noelle shrugged her shoulders playfully. “Just watching out for each other.”

The cold air hit her as soon as she left the warm apartment. Tugging her jacket tighter around her middle, she followed Pierce to his Explorer. Just then, his cell phone buzzed. He answered it as he unlocked the door and opened it for her. “Hi, Dad,” she heard. Noelle sank into the plush seat as he rounded the car with the cell phone held to his ear. When he came to his side, he didn’t open the door but continued to talk into the phone. She watched, fascinated, as his brows slanted downward and his face became stony. There was no other way to describe it. A total transformation had come over his features. Pierce Logan definitely didn’t look like the fun-loving, adventure-seeking guy she knew.

She waited a few more minutes until he finished his conversation and hung up, staring into the distance. Noelle’s heart ached at his expression. Finally, he squared his shoulders and opened the door.

EIGHT