Free The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots by Karla Akins Page B

held out the small Bible he carried in his pocket.
    “Oh. Hi, Pastor. Those rotten kids are crawling all over our furniture. I don’t know why Lily let them come in here.”
    “You know how women are, Milo. They can’t resist children. Your Lily has a soft spot in her heart for them.”
    “Yeah, I know it. But kids should mind their manners when they’re here.”
    “Yes, they should. Would you like me to ask them to leave?”Aaron guided Milo to his favorite chair and sat on an ottoman in front of him and looked into his face.
    Milo nodded.“Hurry up about it.”His frustration and anger hung on his words. Milo had always been an impatient soul, but never angry.
    “Children.” Aaron stood and spoke with authority to an empty room. “You need to leave now. Go on. Your time is finished here. It’s getting late, and Milo needs his sleep. Go.”Aaron walked to the front door, opened it, and motioned for them to leave.
    We all sat in silence. I held my breath. What would happen if Milo still saw children?
    Lily held the ice pack to her face and wiped away tears.
    “Thanks, Pastor, those kids were getting on my last nerve. A body can’t sleep with all that ruckus.”Milo broke the strained quietness.
    “That’s understandable. I’m sure they wore you out. Ready for bed now?”
    “I peed my pants.”
    “Not a problem, Milo, we can fix that. C’mon, buddy. Let’s get in the shower.”
    My husband tenderly guided Milo to the shower. I blinked back a tear. Just a few short years ago, Milo was a prominent spiritual leader in our church. If the parking lot needed plowed after a snow storm or a door needed hung in the church, Milo was there getting ’er done . And if members were in the hospital or in need of prayer, Milo never hesitated to visit and pray with them.
    “It must be breaking your heart, Lily, to see him like this.”I rubbed her back slowly as we sat side by side in the dining room.
    “Oh, Kirstie, you have no idea.”
    “You do know you can’t keep taking care of him by yourself.”
    “I won’t place him in a home.” She set the ice pack down with a thud and crossed her arms. “And I can’t afford twenty-four-hour care. The insurance will only pay for care during the day when I’m working. And then I pay out of my pocket if I want to ride with you and the girls.”
    “Why didn’t you tell us? Lily, we wouldn’t want you to be sacrificing like this just to ride with us.”
    “But I need to, Kirstie. It’s the only thing I look forward to now.”
    Lily laid her head on my shoulder and wept as I rocked her and searched for the right words to say. In the distance, I could hear Aaron talking to Milo and helping him with his shower.
    “Who are you? Where’s Lily?”
    “I’m Pastor Aaron, remember, Milo?”
    “What are you doing in my bathroom? Where’s Lily?”
    “She’s busy in the kitchen. She asked me to help you.”
    Between washing his hair, showering, and toweling off, I heard Milo repeat the interrogation several times, and Aaron answer with the same patience and compassion each time.
    Lily blew her nose and stood. “I need to find his medicine. I was getting it for him when he hit me.”
    I followed Lily into the kitchen.
    “Sweetie, it’s not safe here alone anymore. We can get people to come sit with you in the evening. You know that. I’ll come.”
    “Kirstie, you have your hands full with those boys.”
    “I’m not too busy for you and Milo. There are other options, Lily, and you need to consider them. I know it’s hard, but…”
    Lily turned and faced me. Her piercing green eyes stared intently into mine. “Tell me something, Kirstie. If Timmy hit you, would you leave him in a home?”
    I looked down at the floor and shook my head. “No. I could never do that.”
    “Then you should understand why I can’t let Milo go.”
    She was right. I could never entertain the idea of Timmy in a home other than my own. Not yet. Not now.
    Lily and I helped Aaron dress Milo