Free Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross Page A

have to struggle with all these complex matters.”
    “Sam’s taking care of all the complex matters.”
    “I know, but as soon as the estate’s settled, everything will revert to you. And frankly, Miss Julia, I don’t think you want that burden. And, if I may speak lovingly, I’m not sure you’d be able to handle it.”
    He had a point. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle it, either. I couldn’t depend on Sam forever, and Binkie was getting so busy she might not want Wesley Lloyd’s affairs dumped in her lap. I probably could’ve worded that better.
    “Who would you suggest, Pastor?”
    “Not a lawyer,” he said, as if he knew my thoughts. “Lawyers can tie you in knots, giving you first one side of a question and then the other, and letting you make the final decision, and charging you for every minute. You need to consider someone who is, first of all, a Christian, and second, someone who is a strong, stable, family man. One who has proven that he’s able to care for those under his protection. I would suggest someone in this church who has proven his ability through consistency and diligence. Someone who would be able to see through these devious attempts to gain access to the Springer estate through guile and subterfuge, as is being done even now by way of that child you’ve so unthinkingly taken in.”
    “Maybe I’m still not following you,” I said. “Are you saying that I ought to deny that child’s lineage, when anybody wholooks at him can tell who his father was? Are you saying that I ought to lie about it?”
    “Oh.” He laughed and shook his head at my density. “Not lie, Miss Julia. Just not saying anything is not lying. Mr. Springer did so much good in his life, and will do even more in the future, that I think we can afford to overlook some, ah, human foibles. After all, what is a Christian but one whose sins are forgiven?”
    My nerves were about to jump out of my skin by this time. I kept thinking that I wasn’t hearing him right, but every time he opened his mouth he said something even more unbelievable. “You want me to deny this child’s very existence, is that it?”
    “Well, we really don’t know for sure whose child he is, do we?” He looked at me for a long minute, frowning with concern. “I’m worried about you, Miss Julia, truly worried. I fear that you haven’t thought through all the ramifications. It seems to me that you need responsible, spiritual guidance to prevent, shall we say, a rash action on your part. For instance, have you thought that the child could have a claim on Mr. Springer’s estate? And your recognition of him can’t do anything but help that claim? Why, it’s possible that a good lawyer could take the entire Springer estate away from you and give it to that unknown child. Now what kind of stewardship would that be if you let that happen?”
    Now I understood. Anytime a preacher starts talking about stewardship, he’s talking about your money and his plans. Especially his building plans. It’s hard to fathom the lengths some of them will go to fill the collection plates. Why, not too long ago I heard about a preacher in Chapel Hill who had an ATM installed in his church. But then, as Wesley Lloyd used to say, that’s Chapel Hill for you.
    “Let me ask you something, Pastor,” I said, steering him back to my concerns. “Did you know about Wesley Lloyd’s adultery?”
    “Well,” he said, smiling, as he sat back in his chair and looked off over my head. “I don’t think that’s a subject for us to be discussing. I’m sure it makes you uncomfortable, and gossip, which is all it was, is beneath us, don’t you think?”
    “So you did know.”
    “Let me counsel with you seriously here, Miss Julia.” He leaned forward again, resting his arms on his knees and putting an earnest look on his face. “Some men, certain men, carry a heavy burden in life. They have great and terrible responsibilities. We don’t understand this, but in