Here is chapter 4 finally sorry for the delay. Had a bit of writer's block and a lot of homework. *Yuck* enjoy! This is not the end but we will find out the secret of the plan.

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The next morning…

Jeremy and Lucy were pacing in the kitchen waiting for everyone to gather in the living room. They bumped into each other as they were circling the kitchen island.

"Sorry," they both said at the same time.

Once everyone was gathered in the living room, Lucy came in with Jeremy walking beside her.

"Okay. I suppose you are all very curious about what the 'secret' plan is," started Lucy, nervously.

"Yes!" said the family as a whole.

"Well after some late night talking and lots of walking and talking. Jeremy and I have decided that we can be together. We realized that what was needed was communication. We also realized that we were lonely without each other. We just wanted to check with you guys to see if it would be all right with you."

"Hmm. It sounds all right with me. It seems that you have thought this out and I trust you both." Eric said with a grin on his face. Ever since Lucy had come home from New York that there were some things that need to be talked through and she was glad that they had. Even though their first announcement of engagement had been a shock he really was happy for Lucy and liked Jeremy.

"Sounds good," everyone else said in their own time.

Lucy and Jeremy stood there hand in hand with big smiles on their faces.

"Could the rest of you kids please excuse your mother and I. We would like to discuss a few things with the happy couple."

Everyone got up to go to his or her respective rooms or out to start the day. Since it was Saturday.

"So what do we need to talk about Dad."

"Well, I just want to be sure you have a good plan and your mother and I want to help you out as much as we can."

"That's right, Honey," said Annie.

"What are planning to do,' inquired Eric.

"Well, I have semester break now, we get out a little earlier that out here. So I thought I could spend that time here if that is all right with you, of course. Then we will kinda go from there, I guess." Said Jeremy, and Lucy nodded her agreement.

"That is fine with us," said Eric, after a quick "eye" discussion with Annie. "If I may make a suggestion."

"Of course, Reverend Camden."

"I think that you have done a good job thinking things through. And Jeremy I can tell how much you love Lucy and vise versa. I can tell you that I have not seen genuine happiness in Lucy's eyes in a long time. Now I think that like you said spent some time here during your time off and your more than welcome to spend Christmas with us. After you go back to school though I think that Lucy should either go back with you and reapply to the seminary or another college or stay here and go to the community college for a semester."

"Thank you, Reverend, and it sounds good to me. What do you think Luce?"

"Okay, I will see if I can return to the seminary, I still want to become a minister."

Eric got up from his seat next to Annie and gave Lucy a big hug and gave Jeremy a handshake, while Annie gave Lucy a hug.

"Reverend Camden can I request something," asked Jeremy.

"Of course."

"Could you marry us when we set a date?" Jeremy inquired, as Lucy had a big smile on her face.

Eric did not reply he was too choked up he just drew Jeremy into a hug, that said it all for everyone. Eric was thrilled to be the one to marry his daughter but was also sad to know that she was al grown up and didn't need her as much as she used to. As he watched them leave he flashed back to when Lucy was little and sad she would curl up in his lap and let him hold her. He missed her all ready. But he was so proud.

Sunday…

The reverend stood up on the pulpit and started his sermon.

"We all hit a time when we get jealous we don't always know why. There are times that we will leave when we love someone. There are times we will be mad at people we love. There is one thing that all these things have in common that is lack of communication. In every relationship communication is needed whether it is with God, spouse, children, friends, or colleagues…"

After the service…

"Very good sermon reverend," said his parishioners on their way out. Eric shook their hands with a smile on his face big enough to light the world.

More to come…