3
Sins of the Fathers
by Elisabeth Hewitt Bantz
"He will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of men's hearts."
I Corinthians 4:5 (TEV)
FOREWORD
Ever since I met Ruth Solomon, my life's been turned upside down. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. In two years I've advanced from an obscure magazine columnist to a published novelist with the first book selling well, and the second ready to go to press, all thanks to this 95-pound, ninety-something little lady who inspired me.
Aunt Ruth (as everyone calls her), and her niece and nephew-in-law---Rachel and David Christianson---have just told me the most incredible story about their son's wife, Melissa Grant Christianson. In fact, we're sitting in the Christianson's living room right now celebrating their approval of their own story---The Secret Cove---as we drink vanilla-nut decaf and wait for Melissa and Adam to arrive. I can hardly wait to meet them.
Now if only their older son Ben would find somewhere else to go--- He gets on my nerves.
Outside, I hear a car door slam, then another, and the sound of footsteps on the deck.
"I smell turtle sundae cake," the handsome young man---Adam, I presume---declared as he and his family bounded in through the front door. "What's the occasion?"
"Adam, Melissa, I'd like to introduce Kinzey White," Dr. David Christianson said, rising to greet them with warm hugs. "Kinzey is writing sequels to Aunt Ruth's book."
I rose to greet them.
"Kinzey, this is my son Adam," David continued, "his wife Melissa, and their daughter Dawn Joalle."
"How do you do?" Adam said, reaching out to shake my hand.
His blonde rumpled hair and dimpled grin mirror his father's, I noted.
"I've read your first book about Aunt Ruth, Family Secrets, and enjoyed it very much, Miss White," Adam said.
It's Mrs., but I didn't correct him. Although, technically I'm still married, I haven't seen Jim in months. (I'm just thankful for my daughter's sake that he's finally accepted our legal separation.) I forced my attention back to Adam's kind approval. "Thank you, but I think God and Aunt Ruth deserve the credit."
"God deserves all the credit," Ruth Solomon said with finality. Still surprisingly alert and spry for her age, she continues to amaze me, still taking care of herself and her house without help.
"Auntie Ruth," Melissa greeted the honored matriarch of the family with a smile as she came into the living room carrying her baby; "would you like to hold Dawn?"
Ruth held out her arms with obvious delight and the contented 5-month-old settled in, leaning back against her great-great-aunt, and surveying her world like a princess assaying her loyal subjects.
"Melissa," Ruth began, "Kinzey White would like to talk to you."
"Yes. Melissa," I said, grateful for the opening. "I'm interested in hearing the story about you and your family"
Melissa had just taken her seat between Adam and his brother Ben on the couch. "Right now?" She looked questioningly at her in-laws and Aunt Ruth. "Is that why you called and invited us over?"
"Well, no; not right now," I quickly interjected, "but I was anxious to meet you today and maybe set up an appointment; sometime when you're free to talk."
"Whatever for?"
"Ah . . ." Her incredulous tone of voice left me at a loss. I had expected quietness, maybe gentleness, from the young mother.
Ben jumped in. "She wants to write a book about your life, Lissa, like she did for Aunt Ruth. And my folks." Sarcasm oozed from his mouth. I could tell he was relishing the opportunity to stir things up. With a satisfied smirk, he leaned back and began tapping his manicured fingers on the alligator shoe resting across his knee.
His parents turned and scowled at him. He really did have an attitude problem. I wasn't the only one who noticed it.
"What?!" Ben shrugged innocently.
"Mrs. White should be allowed to speak for herself," his father said in a controlled voice.
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. White," Ben replied with a flourish of insincerity.
"Is it true you want to write a story about me?" Melissa asked.
"Ah . . . I would like to meet with you and maybe discuss the possibility, yes."
Melissa looked at Adam, then over to his parents. They nodded as if in agreement with my proposal. Her eyes returned to her husband.
"Well," Adam began, "we can certainly talk it over and consider it. Now about that cake---"
"I'll go get you both some," Rachel offered, her shimmering dark hair swaying as she rose and left the room. Although in her late forties, Adam's mother looked much younger.
"I understand it's your recipe Rachel uses for this cake," I said to Melissa.
"My mother's recipe. Actually, it's my aunt's," she amended. "She first made this cake for my fourth birthday, and it's been a favorite ever since."
"Perhaps you can give me the recipe when we meet again. Aunt Ruth has been sharing with me a little about your friendship with the Christiansons, and how they used to take you out to visit her sometimes after school."
"Yes. That was always a special treat." She smiled. "Her house is always so peaceful. Like this one. It's strange," Melissa paused. "I had been terrified of starting out in Community Christian School when Mom moved us to Fox Grove at the beginning of sixth grade, but Mr. Christianson made me feel right at home in just a few minutes, and when he took me to my class and introduced me to his twins, I somehow knew the three of us would become best friends."
Adam smiled proudly at his wife, then took the cake his mother offered.
"Aunt Ruth accepted me like one of the family, too," Melissa continued, reaching for her own piece of cake. "And when she took me aside one day and told me her amazing story---how she'd lost her parents in a flash flood and then discovered secrets in the attic---it was almost as if she had known that one day soon I'd discover secrets in my own family and I was going to need all the help I could get. Even so, when it happened, I was devastated."
Melissa paused. "As I look back on it now, I realize that from my earliest recollections, I'd always known something was different about my family. Something not quite right. Something scary."
