Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow Read Free Book Online Page A

last night. I told your mama that if your heart was fixed on the Lord, it would be the sign we needed." He paused and looked at her. She nodded. "You have our permission to take the job in Savannah if that's what you believe you're supposed to do."

    It was a serious moment. I felt a shift in responsibility for my life to my own shoulders. A touch of fear gripped me.
    "But what do you think I should do?"
    "Exactly what you did last night," Mama answered. "Hear his voice and obey it."
    "He didn't say anything about the job."
    "What is in your heart to do?"
    "My heart is desperately wicked," I began.
    "Stop it!" Mama commanded. "Don't abandon your faith."
    Daddy spoke more gently. "Have confidence in God's goodness. Isn't that what you felt last night?"
    "Yes sir."
    I looked at their faces. I knew they loved me. I knew Jesus loved me. I shut my eyes for a few seconds. No visions appeared behind my eyelids. I opened my eyes and looked at Mama.
    "What does your heart tell you?" she insisted.
    I tried to look past the darkness at the core of my being and spoke slowly. "I think God has opened a door for me to go to Savannah, even though I don't know what's on the other side."
    "Then finish out the semester and go to Savannah with our blessing," Daddy said.
    Mama hugged me. "You'll be back. I know it."
    AFTER DADDY LEFT FOR WORK, I called Braddock, Appleby, and Carpenter. As the phone rang, I imagined what the firm's office might look like. With fifteen lawyers and support staff, it would be too large for a grand old house converted into a law office. Most likely, the firm was in a modern office building. The receptionist transferred me to Ms. Patrick.
    "This is Tami Taylor in Powell Station," I began. "Thanks for faxing the information about the job."

    "I hope you've made a decision. There are other deserving candidates."
    I took a deep breath. Even with Daddy's permission, I felt tentative. "Yes ma'am."
    There was an awkward moment of silence. "And?" Ms. Patrick asked.
    "I'd like to accept," I responded quickly before fear jumped on my back.
    "I'll notify Mr. Carpenter. Any questions about the terms of the offer?"
    "No ma'am."
    "Then sign it and mail it to my attention. Will you need help finding a place to stay?"
    "Yes ma'am."
    "Would you like to live alone or with a roommate?"
    I hesitated. Alone would be expensive, and I needed to save as much money as possible. But a roommate could be risky. In college, I shared a dorm room with a teammate from my high school basketball team. We were different, but she respected my beliefs. She wore headphones while listening to her music and never brought a boy into the room while I was there. I kept the room immaculate and helped her pass freshman English and chemistry for nonscience majors.
    "A roommate would be fine if we have a chance to talk before making a decision," I replied.
    "One of the summer clerks is a girl from Atlanta. Do you want her name and number?"
    "Yes ma'am." I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from Mamas nightstand.
    "Here it is," Ms. Patrick said in a few moments. "Julie Feldman. She's finishing her second year at Emory."
    I swallowed. Feldman sounded Jewish. Our church believed the Jews were God's chosen people, but I'd never had to choose one myself. Ms. Patrick rattled off a phone number and e-mail address that I scribbled on the sheet of paper.

    "Give Julie a call or send her an e-mail. She's already been down to look for a place to stay."
    "Are there any other summer clerks?"
    "Yes, a young man who grew up in Charleston. He's attending Yale."
    My eyes opened wider. The thought that my neophyte legal work would be compared to that of an Ivy League law student was instantly intimidating.
    "Okay. I'll get in touch with Julie."
    Ms. Patrick spoke in a more pleasant tone of voice. "Call if you need help or have other questions. You'll have a great time in our program. Summer associates get to sample everything Savannah has to offer."
    "Yes ma'am."
    I hung up the