Marriage

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For the first few months after his parents' divorce, Trevor lived with his mom. She had become very depressed about the divorce and Trevor was afraid she would get worse if he wasn't there. He helped her with chores around the house, ran errands for her, and kept her company. But then when she started getting better, Trevor started to pay more attention to his own feelings of having trouble handling living in a broken home. No way was he going to give his feelings to God in prayer. He had prayed that God would keep his parents together, but He didn't listen. But Trevor remembered the Parkers and how happy he'd felt whenever he went to their house as a kid. He decided he would move in with them for an indefinite period of time, till he figured out his next move.

One Friday night he told his mother, "I love you so much, Mom, but living in a broken home is hard, so if you don't mind, I'd like to live with the Parkers for a while. I remember how much fun I had at their house when I was a kid, and I think that would be a good place where I could think about things and sort them out."

It broke Henrietta's heart to see her son move out, but she respected his feelings enough to let him make his own choices, so she let him go. Trevor packed a suitcase, kissed her goodbye, got into his car, and left.

At the Parkers' house Miranda lay asleep on the couch. Her parents were already in bed, but she had been watching a movie. Suddenly the sound of her doorbell awakened her. She got off the couch and went to the door. "Who's there?' she called.

"It's Trevor Gaynes," came the reply.

Miranda was shocked. She hadn't seen Trevor, that skinny little kid, since they left junior high! She opened the door and was surprised and happy to find a hunky young man with black hair and a muscular physique on the other side of the door. She put her arms around his neck and said, "Gosh, I'm so happy to see you! It's been forever! Come on in!"

Trevor followed Miranda into the house. He kept staring at her. She was very beautiful, with her long black hair and chestnut eyes. But then he told himself to stop having these feelings. They were just friends. Besides, it wasn't like he would ever court a woman after what happened to his parents.

"So, how have you been?" asked Miranda.

Trevor sighed. "Well, things at home are kind of tense. It's a long story, so I'll tell you and your parents more in the morning. I was wondering if I could stay with you guys for a while," he said.

"Well, of course. What are friends for?" And he's such a hunk, thought Miranda. Lord, if You are willing, let Trevor stay long enough for us to become more than friends, she silently prayed.

"Thanks, Miranda. You're a real pal," Trevor said with a smile. Someday I hope we'll be moe than pals, he thought to himself as he studied her beautiful features. Then he stopped himself. Trevor, stop having these thoughts, he told himself. Romance leads to nothing but pain.

"So, would you like anything to drink?" Miranda asked. "Maybe a midnight snack?"

"No, thanks, Miranda. I'm not really hungry," Trevor replied. "I stopped at In-N-Out on the way here."

"Oh. OK. Well, it looks like good minds think alike. I love In-N-Out," Miranda said.

"Oh," said Trevor. "Cool."

"How's college going?" asked Miranda.

"All right." Then Trevor remembered he wouldn't be in town for a while until he straightened some things out out in his life, so he decided to withdraw from his college on Monday. "Are you in college?" he asked Miranda.

"Yes. I go to UCLA," Miranda replied.

"Nice. Do you have a major?"

"Not yet," Miranda said, "but I'm thinking of studying art. I love to draw."

"That's cool."

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm thinking of becoming a doctor," Trevor answered, "so I'll probably get into studying medicine in the future."

"That sounds like a great career," Miranda told him.

With that the two friends continued chatting till they were too tired to talk anymore. Miranda went upstairs to her room, and Trevor fell asleep on the couch.

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