Chapter 6: Skipping Into his Heart

"It was really nice that you came by for lunch." Annie kissed her husband.

"No problem. I'm sure it gets lonely around here; since Ruthie and the twins are at school all day." Eric spoke.

"So how are things going at the new church?"

"I guess it's okay?"

"Okay… What does that mean?" Annie wondered, "Aren't you helping people"

"People do come by my office for advice."

"Isn't that what you wanted… to help different people."

"I guess I thought that when I was offered this job, it was what God had attended for me... but nothing has happen yet." He explained.

"Give it time?" Annie asked confused.

Before they could continue on their conversation, the telephone had unexpectedly rung. Annie reached over and grabbed the phone, "Hello?"

"I'm just going to grab something drink." Eric diverted.

"Hello, this is John Michaels High School." The woman introduced.

"Is everything okay?" Annie asked the woman.

"We're just wondering if you'd meant to excuse your daughter… Ruthie Camden from school." The woman said tonelessly.

"What do you mean 'excuse'?" Annie started to worry.

"Well it seems today Ruthie has missed her last three periods after lunch and… she is absence from her class right now… So if the presumable thing to guess is that she is skipping school."

While he was pouring his juice, Eric was startled when he heard his wife yell, "She did what?!"

Ruthie was sitting in Mac's lap as they watched the boats sail off into the sea. Mac had taken Ruthie to the pier, where they could be alone together. Ruthie, without a doubt, wouldn't ever trade this moment for anything.

"I have to tell you something." Mac said softly.

"Yeah," Ruthie looked up to him.

"I haven't exactly been honest with you."

"How's that?"

"I told you that this was my first year attending college, but the truth is, I never went?"

Ruthie said confused, "What?"

"I was enrolled and everything… and I was supposed to start this fall, but I never showed up."

"Why not?"

"I just thought that I could spend my time doing something more useful."

"Like what?" Ruthie said sympathetically.

"For such a long time my parents had my whole life planned for me— graduate high school with honors, attend a good college only to go on to an ivy league college, and then get a high paying job." He explained.

"That sounds like a reasonable plan."

"Yeah, but it wasn't my plan. It wasn't what I wanted… I guess before I go to college, I want to know exactly what kind of person I am."

"What kind of person do you want to be?" Ruthie asked.

"I'm not sure yet."

"You want to be someone who's happy." Ruthie connected. She kind of felt the same. She was a minister's daughter, and her whole life was planned for her. Her way of life was already designated.

"You know what I'm going through? I mean, your parents are totalitarians?" Mac connected.

"I guess my parents got me program as a person… and I'm just afraid its too late to change."

"Wow, I'm really glad I have someone who understands. Especially someone who is so beautiful." Mac leaned and pressed her lips against hers.

"You want to hear something funny?" Mac said.

"I guess so." Ruthie smiled.

Mac leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I think I'm falling in love with you."