Redemption

Chapter 25

Austin

I absolutely thank God for every blessing in my life. A few years have passed and I'm in the second year of my studies at my university. He's blessed me with continual support from my family–Pops, Aunty, Nova, Ty, and Rose–and a great scholarship. My grades are great and I've even made it onto the Dean's List multiple times. He's blessed me with so much and my heart is gladdened by everything...but there is one more thing that I want.

I have a deep yearning within me that I just can't shake. It's been within me for quite some time now, but it's only seemed to increase these past two months. I pray about it, seeking the Lord to make sure it is in His will, and it only continues. I talk to Aunty and Pops about it and they're pleasantly surprised and encourage me to follow through with the push that may be from the Lord. Having their go ahead, I choose to do so.

And that's how I end up at Roses' parents home, greeted by her mother's shocked expression.

"Good afternoon, ma," I say, prostrating myself.

"Austin?"

I give a sheepish smile as I straighten up and look down at Rose's mother.

"You drove here in the snow?" I asked earlier this week what days she and her husband are at home because I wanted to speak to them. She let me know the days, hoping it was nothing serious. I reassured her that all is well and I'd stop by this week. So, here I am.

"Yes, I wanted to talk today, if that's alright. I couldn't find myself waiting. I'm sorry for the timing." It took almost six hours to get here with the snow, rather than the usual four. So I arrived later than I planned.

Rose's father appears in the background and joins us. Rose's mom tugs me inside, locking the door and frowning as she brushes the snow off my jacket.

"Good afternoon, sir." I prostrate and Rose's dad stops me in confusion.

"You drove all the way here from your school?"

"Abi?" She chimes in. "Isn't your campus hours away?"

"Yes, but I had something important to ask and I just couldn't wait." I would drive all the way to Texas if I had to.

"What is so important?" he asks.

"I want to court your daughter. I want your permission to court her." They both stop and stare at me. I push back the hood on my head, the warmth from inside the home washing over my face. "I want to do right by you both and by Rose. I want to marry your daughter after we graduate. I want Rose to be my wife." I boldly say.

The silence after my words resonates and it's almost deafening. But I don't buckle under the pressure of it.

Rose's Mom finally looks at her husband, but he just stares at me.

"...Austin...you want to marry our daughter?"

"Yes, sir. But that's later. For now, I'd like to court her, that is I'd like to be with her, spending time with her with the intention to marry. We'll do so with sound counsel, placing boundaries where they ought to be to honor the Lord," I pause, unsure if that needs to be said, but I do want him to know what my intentions are. I aim to be as transparent as possible.

"I don't want to just date Rose willy-nilly. I want to respect the fact that she's under your headship, biblically-speaking. With this matter of courting, I'd also respect her as well. As such, if you talk to Rose and find that she doesn't want to be with me in such a manner, you can call me up and tell me it's a no." That'd be a heartbreaking thing—I love Rose dearly; I love her like I love myself. But I'd respect it.