SPRINGTIME PROMISES *published*

CHAPTER 18: BREAKING TRADITIONS

Earl's steady courtship with Louise might have been peaceful, but things were different for Harry. As April pressed on, the tension surrounding Harry and Eva's upcoming wedding was palpable. Earl could see it in the tight lines on his mother's face and in the curt exchanges between his father and Harry. The Brutons were Presbyterian, rooted in their faith as deeply as they were in the land they farmed. It was a part of their identity - of who they were as a family.

Harry, however, was breaking from that tradition. Earl had watched it happen over the past year—what started as the occasional visit to the Methodist church had slowly turned into something more. It wasn't just about Eva anymore. Harry had gone so far as to join the Methodist denomination, a decision that sent ripples through the Bruton family.

Their parents had hoped it was a phase  - that Harry would eventually return to the Presbyterian fold, especially with the pressures of marriage looming, but when it became clear that Harry's decision was more permanent, the tension in the house rose to an almost unbearable level.

"It's one thing to visit their church," their father had said at the supper table the other night, his voice heavy with disappointment. "But to leave our denomination? For what?"

Earl had kept his head down, focusing on his meal, while Harry had set his jaw, refusing to engage. Their mother had been silent, but the sadness in her eyes spoke volumes. She had always been a proud Presbyterian, and the thought of her son turning his back on their traditions for a girl, no matter how much they liked Eva, was difficult for her to accept.

Earl knew Harry well enough to understand that it wasn't just about pleasing Eva. His brother was stubborn, independent, and once he made a decision, there was no changing his mind. The more their parents pushed, the more Harry dug in his heels. Earl had tried talking to him, but Harry was determined.

"They don't understand," Harry had told him one evening as they walked the fields together. "It's not just about Eva. The Methodists—they make sense to me. I feel like I belong there in a way I never did with the Presbyterians."

Earl had nodded but kept his thoughts to himself. Harry's choice was his to make, but it was clear that this division was more than just religious differences. The wedding, set for early May, was fast approaching, and with it came the uncomfortable reality that both families—Presbyterian Brutons and Methodist Curls—would need to come together.

As April wore on, the preparations for the wedding began in earnest, and with them came the expectations and pressures from both sides. The Curls, solidly Methodist, were proud of their traditions and wanted the wedding to reflect their faith. Eva's parents, while polite and respectful, made it clear that they expected the ceremony to be held in their church, with their pastor leading the service.

The Brutons, however, had other ideas. Harry's mother insisted that Harry should marry in the same church where generations of Brutons had been baptized, married, and buried. She had said as much to Earl just the other day as they stood in the kitchen, her hands busy kneading dough but her voice sharp with frustration.

"I never thought I'd see the day when one of my boys would marry outside the Presbyterian Church," she muttered. "I don't know what's gotten into him. It's not just Eva—it's that whole family. They've pulled him away from everything we raised him to be."

Earl had stayed silent, unsure of what to say. He had no quarrel with the Curls, and in his eyes, Eva seemed like a good match for Harry, but the shift in denomination was a deeper issue - one that was pulling at the seams of both families.

As the wedding plans took shape, the tension simmered just below the surface. Discussions about where the ceremony should be held became more pointed. The Curls wanted it in their Methodist church, and Harry was inclined to agree. The Brutons, however, weren't ready to back down.

Harry and Eva, caught in the middle, were determined to make the wedding their own, despite the mounting pressure from both sides. Earl could see the strain on his brother's face each time the subject came up, and it wasn't just their parents who were contributing to it. The wider community had opinions as well—there were murmurs at church, whispers about Harry abandoning the faith of his forefathers, and a general sense of unease about the upcoming union.

For his part, Earl stayed out of it as much as he could. His own engagement to Louise was progressing quietly, without the fireworks of Harry and Eva's relationship. Louise, like Earl, was grounded and steady, and they both preferred to avoid conflict, but Earl couldn't help but feel for his brother. He had always admired Harry's passion and determination, but this was a fight that seemed to have no easy resolution.

As mid-April approached, the wedding grew closer, and so did the inevitable confrontation between the families. Earl knew that a choice would have to be made—either Harry and Eva would bend to the wishes of their families, or they would forge their own path, regardless of the consequences.

It wasn't just about the church - it was about identity, family, and the weight of tradition, and as Earl watched his brother navigate the complexities of his romance, he couldn't help but wonder how things would play out in the end. For all the tension and disagreement, Harry and Eva seemed united in their decision to chart their own course, even if it meant leaving behind the expectations of those they loved.

Earl, sitting quietly on the porch one evening, gazed out over the fields, the sun setting low over the horizon. Change was coming, whether the family was ready for it or not, and as much as he preferred things to remain steady and predictable, Earl knew that sometimes, moving forward meant leaving behind the old ways.