Saving Grace | ✓

Chapter Sixteen

{ Chapter Sixteen }

"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Caleb shoots me a worried look, handing me the baby bag. 

I nod, holding Noah in one arm and throwing the bag over my shoulder. "I need to face him. I was a jerk."

He sighs, nodding, and kisses my forehead. "Call me if anything happens, okay?"

I smile, rolling my eyes. "Of course, Caleb. I'll see you in a little while."

I go to the car, quickly strapping Noah in his car seat, and kiss his forehead before jogging around to the driver's side. Noah stirs a little when I start the car, but thankfully he does not wake up. I drive the familiar route towards the church, humming softly to myself. I turn onto the church's road and park right in front. Taking my son out of his carrier, I pat his back as I take him inside. 

Preacher Miles is at the pulpit, mumbling to himself. He looks up when the door slams behind me. His eyes squint. "Grace? Is that you?"

I nod, smiling softly. His laughter booms through the sanctuary as he comes towards me. I flinch, scared the sound will wake my baby up.

"I haven't seen you in ages! Is this a little brother or-" He stops abruptly, looking at my stomach. "No." His face breaks out into a wide grin. "Grace! Look at you! Already had a child and still here and healthy. You look good, sweetheart." He pulls me into a hug. 

When we pull away, he stares at my child's sleeping face. "What is his name?"

"Noah." I whisper. He stirs in his sleep at the sound of his name. I chuckle lightly. "Noah Alexander."

The pastor smiles and holds out his hands. "May I?"

I nod, sliding Noah into the preacher's arms. He wakes up, blinking slowly before fully opening his big, green eyes. He giggles at the sight of Pastor Miles. The pastor's belly shakes, still watching my son. "He looks just like you, Grace."

He smiles up at me, putting Noah back in my arms. I hold Noah in a way where he can examine the whole room. He lets out an excited yip as he looks around. "So, I was wondering if I could talk to you." I start off uneasily. 

"Sure, Miss Grace. We can sit right here." He scoots into the nearest pew and pats the cushion beside him.

I let out a nervous chuckle as I sit, resting Noah on my shoulder to get him to go back to sleep. "I wanted to-"

Suddenly, Noah starts wailing at the top of his lungs, cutting me off sharply. I change his position, cradling him in my arms, and start to rock him back and forth. His screaming turns into crying, then to whimpering, and then he's asleep.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair, and then turn to the pastor. "Sorry about that. But, I came here to tell you that I'm sorry I was such a jerk to you whenever I first got here, and when Alexis was in the hospital. I had no right to treat you that way."

The corners of the pastor's lips lift into a smile. "It's okay, Grace. God has forgiven you. And if God has forgiven you, we as His people should forgive others as well."

I swipe away a tear that formed in my eye. "So it's all good?"

He nods, a slight smile still resting on his face. "All is forgiven."

I stare at Noah in my lap, a tear escaping my eye and hitting his blanket. "Preacher, will you pray with me?"

I feel him nod. "Let me hold Noah as we do so."

I pass my child over to him, not making eye contact as I secure Noah in the preacher's arms.

"Dear Lord..." The preacher begins his own prayer, right as I begin my own too.