Tender Vow by Sharlene MacLaren

recourse but to state the truth. “Rachel’s not doing very well right now…psychologically.”
    “Psychologically? You mean, she’s having some sort of mental breakdown?”
    “No, nothing like that. She’s just overwhelmed and consumed with loneliness. I was sort of worried about her, so I spent the night on her couch.”
    “Her couch? Well, that’s interesting. You wouldn’t spend the night on my couch, Jason.”
    He laughed. “She’s my sister-in-law, Candace.”
    “Yes, she is, isn’t she? And a pretty one, at that.”
    “What are you getting at? You’re not jealous, are you?”
    “Of course, I’m jealous! What did you expect? Before you made this ‘recommitment to God,’ as you call it, you and I used to spend many a night together. Remember, Jason?”
    He couldn’t believe the turn in topics. “Candace, I just told you I slept on her couch. Absolutely nothing happened! And, yes, you and I used to be intimate, but, as I’ve told you before—and hoped you agreed—a sexual relationship outside of marriage is just not what God intends for His children.”
    “All the more reason to make it legal between us, Jason.”
    She had a definite point. God, forgive me—again—for not always using my head in the past . Sex outside of marriage had far-reaching consequences, one of which tied two individuals together for life in every emotional sense. Should he make it legal, despite his ever-growing doubts? Shoot, he couldn’t even be sure anymore that he completely loved her. And yet, there remained that physical tie between them, that sense of emotional attachment and, well, obligation.
    He groaned inwardly. “I’d rather not talk about this on the phone, Candace.”
    A pause followed, and he was certain he heard a giant sigh. “Fine. I’ll see you tonight, right?”
    “Sure. I’ll take you out to dinner. How’s six?”
    “I’ll be waiting.”
    ***
    Ever since Jason’s visit, Rachel had felt a little extra fervor for tending to her children and their needs. Why, she’d even started tackling the guest bedroom, which had somehow become more like a giant closet over the past months. Staying busy worked wonders with her mind and body, and, of course, her children always kept things interesting: Johnny with his rascally antics, like hauling all of her plastic storage containers out of the lower cupboard in the kitchen, and Meagan with her continual, almost obsessive desire to follow her around, reciting the alphabet over and over and demonstrating how high she could count.
    At Jason’s advice, Rachel had begun picking up her Bible more regularly, especially when the kids were asleep, and seeking God’s presence. Her grief counselor had told her to choose a verse a week, post it on her mirror or any place visible, and commit it to memory. This week’s verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “ In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ” Today, she’d repeated it aloud while scrubbing the toilets, and, after she’d flushed the last one, she’d actually caught herself smiling.
    As a matter of fact, she’d begun making an effort to smile more often. Jason had told her to try getting her focus off herself and to enjoy her children more—play games with them, read to them, delight more in their presence. For the first time since John’s death, she’d begun to feel herself crawling out of her deep, murky pit—slowly, to be sure, and only inch by inch, but climbing nonetheless.
    All this, thanks to her brother-in-law. She dared not think too much about last Sunday night, when he’d come upon her fresh out of the shower and dressed in her shabby robe, lest it lead her into reminiscent, if not dangerous, territory. Still, she couldn’t help but be thankful for the unexpected visit, for it had indeed worked a miracle on her morose mood and set her feet on a forward-moving path.
    And Jason Evans had found the Lord. Talk about another miracle! Whereas John had been