The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots Read Free Page A

Don’t worry. It’ll be me riding the motorcycle, not you, not the church membership. Me .”
    “Sweetheart, I had no idea you were feeling this way. If you get a motorcycle—I’m not sure how I’ll handle that.”
    I looked at Aaron. His concern caught me a little off guard. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, it’s dangerous. People die on those things. I love you. I’ll do anything you want to help you get through this…this hump or whatever it is. I’m just not sure a motorcycle is the answer.”
    I sighed. “Aaron, all my life I’ve wanted one. I…”
    Aaron looked worried. “I’ll pray about it.”
    He kissed me on the forehead and crawled into bed. I flopped in beside him. There was no more talking to him tonight. I wanted his blessing and God’s if I intended to do this crazy thing. We turned out the lights on our bed stands and lay in dark silence. I felt creases in my brow deep enough to drive a whole motorcycle gang through. I massaged my forehead until the crevices vanished.
    Tomorrow, I’d go shopping for motorcycle boots.
    Big, black, bad ones.
     
     
     
     

4
     
    “Aaron, I’m leaving! Keep an eye on Timmy. If you get hungry before I get home the crock pot has supper in it!”
    He came out of his office reading a book and spoke without looking up. I often wondered how he didn’t fall over the railing.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Reba’s meeting me at the Harley dealership with Lily and Opal.”
    “Are you serious?” He was looking at me now.
    “Yes. I told you, remember?”
    Apparently he didn’t. As usual he was reading a book or studying and hadn’t heard what I said. I kept walking toward the door.
    “Watch the boys, please. There’s a marathon showing of Cops on TV this afternoon. Just turn that on, and Timmy will be OK until I get back. But could you please bring your stuff down here to study? I’d feel better.”
    Aaron stared at me with wrinkly bulldog eyes as he started toward his office. I gathered my purse and waited until everyone was in the living room. As I opened the door, Patrick said, “Don’t worry, Dad, Mom won’t be able to pass the test, and then she can forget this motorcycle insanity.”
    Aaron and Danny chuckled above the Cops theme song playing in the background.
    I set my chin and closed the door firmly. I could still hear them laughing as I jumped down the porch steps, two at a time.
    I picked up Lily at her farmhouse and drove to the Harley dealership. Her cheerful banter made me jittery.
    “Oh, Kirsten, you’re going to love riding. I have such fond memories of riding with Milo when he was younger. If only that old-timer’s disease hadn’t gotten him. I miss those days.” Lily sighed and looked out the window.
    Autism was my enemy. Alzheimer’s was Lily’s.
    “I bet you made some wonderful memories.” I kept my eyes on the road and my voice steady. It was difficult seeing Milo fade into someone we no longer knew.
    “There are some disadvantages of marrying someone so much older. But I don’t regret it. Milo was a wonderful husband. He still would be if he weren’t ill. One of my fondest memories is when we rode to Mackinac Island on the back of his Goldwing before the kids were born.”
    “I’ve always wanted to go there. Isn’t it romantic? I’ve seen pictures. And of course, watched that romantic movie that featured the island.” I stopped the car at a red light on the edge of town.
    “Oh, yes. We stayed at the Grand Hotel. We had to leave our motorcycles across the lake, though. They aren’t allowed on the island.” Lily stared out the window. “But that was long ago, and then life happened—raising kids, farming, and me working at the hospital as a nurse. Life got too busy. We never did get around to going again.”
    We drove out of Eel Falls and thirty more miles to the nearest Harley dealership in Pike Creek. I felt my pulse beating in my eyelids. I didn’t want my life to get so busy I forgot to do the romantic, fun