When the police left, Jimmy fell asleep again. When he awakened, his first sight was of Roger smiling broadly at him. Robbie was standing behind him looking very concerned. Jimmy tried to talk, but he had tubes going down his throat and speech eluded him.
"Bummer," he mouthed, and Roger smiled.
"That's an understatement," Roger responded. "Don't try to talk. Leave it to me. It seems that my not so secret admirer blamed you for his lack of success in nabbing me. In case you are wondering, he shot himself in the head after he shot you and we've lost him. His boyfriend came to console me. His name is Ira Lawrence. Do you know him?"
Jimmy shook his head to indicate that he did not know the young man.
"Ira wanted to apologize to me for missing all of Matt's symptoms. I ended up by consoling him."
Somehow Jimmy found Roger's hand and squeezed it. With that small action he assured Roger that he would be all right. Even Robbie's glum face put on a smile. Just then Joe came into the room. He embraced Roger and bent over Jimmy. Joe ran his fingers through Jimmy's hair. "You're going to make it, buddy," he said. "God is with you. Would you mind if I say a little prayer for you?"
Jimmy nodded, and Joe started to say his prayer in Hebrew. Much to Jimmy's surprise, Robbie joined in. Nobody in that room, at that moment, doubted that Jimmy would survive and be restored to full health. Robbie even whispered in his ear that their heart was functioning just fine.
"You can all come back later," a voice said. "I need to bathe this guy, put on a new gown, and change his IV. Y'all get something to eat in the meantime." It was Mandy, who had been Jimmy's night nurse after his transplant. Jimmy smiled at her and she looked at him in mock disgust.
"Pastor Winningham, what is so wonderful about this hospital that you can't stay away?" Fortunately she did not expect an answer.
Every day Jimmy got stronger. The doctors were amazed at the speed of his recovery. Roger and Joe joked with the doctors. "That's because you guys never factor God into the equation." The doctors, of course, ignored the two clergymen.
By the end of the first week all the drainage tubes and IV's were removed and Jimmy was back on solid foods. After ten days, the stitches were removed and Jimmy was informed he could leave the hospital. He was elated, but a little bit sad. This stay in the hospital had been totally different from his first stay. This time his room was constantly filled with visitors. Most of his congregation came to see him and wish him well. They favored kissing him over handshakes and embraces. They prayed for him and with him. Peter, Joe, Darryl, William, and Roger mostly came to see him after visiting hours, or they would never have been able to have a proper visit. Robbie never left his side.
The morning after his stitches were removed, Mandy helped Jimmy get his stuff together. Roger was coming to take him home
That first day when Jimmy came home, Roger did not go to work. He undressed and lay down next to Jimmy in bed.
"Is everything working all right?" Roger asked.
"Jimmy removed the covers and said, "Look for yourself." Roger looked at Jimmy's very hard cock.
"Do you think.......?" Roger started to ask.
"I think that if I sit up in bed and drop my legs over the side, I should have no trouble sucking you dry. On the other hand, I'm sure you can take care of me while I am flat on my back."
"Well, let's see how we can work things out," Roger said, as he leaned over and took Jimmy inside his waiting mouth.
That night the two lovers slept entwined. Their naked bodies were fused together and an angel guarded their bed. All was well with the world and there was peace on earth.
Three weeks later Jimmy was back at work. As he approached his pulpit on the first Sunday of his return, the congregation broke out into wild applause. Jimmy beamed. He could not remember a time when he had been so happy. Jimmy always conducted the first service, but he always stayed for the second. At the conclusion of the second service, he joined the crowd in the social hall before meeting Roger for lunch. He considered most of his flock to be friends, and he was not shy about kissing them when he greeted them. Every so often he would think back to the way he was, and he would shudder.
This day a young man approached him and asked if he could speak to him privately for just a moment. He promised not to keep him long. Jimmy took his arm and walked him over to a quiet corner of the room.
"I'm Ira Lawrence," he said. He was about to explain who he was, but Jimmy stopped him.
"My partner told me all about your little talk. There is no need to apologize. There was no way for you to know. Roger and I both spoke to him and we didn't have an inkling that he was violent and suicidal. Promise me you'll put all this behind you, and seek a healthy and fulfilling relationship."
With that the two men embraced.
"See that good looking guy talking to Pastor Darryl?" Ira asked. "We've kinda been seeing each other and it's looking good."
"I haven't seen him here before."
"He just started coming because of me. Let's go over there and I'll introduce you."
The two men approached Darryl and Ira's friend just as Darryl was leaving. Jimmy thought that there was something vaguely familiar about the young man.
"Josh, I'd like you to meet Pastor Jimmy. He usually delivers the homily at the first service so we haven't really met him."
"Nice to meet you Josh," Jimmy said. He no longer offered his hand. Now every newcomer got a hug. Josh hugged him right back. Just to make small talk, Jimmy asked, "Are you from Atlanta, Josh?"
"I've been living here for about 2 years. I go to Emory with Ira. I couldn't wait to get out of Arborville." Jimmy's face went ashen.
"Are you from Arborville, Josh? I used to have a congregation there."
"However could you stand it? The minister at my church spewed hatred against everyone, but especially gays. I couldn't wait to get out of there."
Jimmy thought so that's why he looks familiar.
"Josh, what's your family name?"
"Sommers. Why do you ask?"
Jimmy's knees almost gave out. Josh was Dan Sommer's boy. Once again he was filled with shame. Dan and Josh abided his venomous sermons and never said a word.
"Josh," he said. "I'm going to lay it on the line. I'm Pastor Winningham. I'm the jerk who ranted and raved and preached such hate, but I have changed a million percent, as you can see. Tell me does Dan, er, your father, know that you are gay?"
"Oh sure. My dad and my cousin Mark are the greatest guys in the world and my biggest supporters. They and my Uncle Paul, who is gay, all helped me through my coming out. I couldn't love them more, and I can't wait for them to meet Ira. We are going home next weekend."
"Josh, your dad and cousin Mark are friends of mine. "Would it be all right if I called them and told them that I met you and you are attending my church? I know they will be pleased."
"I'll be speaking to my dad tonight. Can I tell him?"
"You bet, and when you get back from Arborville, if you two can get yourselves out of bed early enough, try the first service and see how I've changed. Hey I've got to go now and meet my other half."
Ira and Josh both hugged Jimmy so hard that his healing incisions hurt, but he said nothing. As they left, Josh kissed him on the cheek and said, "Pastor, I wouldn't have recognized you if my life depended on it. I hated you once, but now running into you has been a joyful miracle. You've made me real happy. Thank you so much."
As the boys ran off smiling and waving back at him, Jimmy thought, Wait until Roger asks me if anything interesting happened in church today.
That evening about 8 PM, the phone rang and Roger answered. "It's really nice to speak to you guys. I hope nothing is wrong and everyone is well." Jimmy looked at him quizzically. "It's for you," Roger said, handing Jimmy the phone. It's Mark and Dan Sommers on a conference call."
"Hi fellas," Jimmy said jovially. "I surmise that you just spoke to Josh. All those years in Arborville, how could I not know what a great kid he was?"
"Maybe it's because you had a closed heart," Mark said, and laughed as he said it so that Jimmy would not take it wrong."
"I am so happy, Jimmy that you will be my son's minister, but tell me confidentially. I am so curious. What is his Ira like?"
"You will love him, mainly because he has a good heart. Beyond that, he's a student at Emory, he's very good looking, about 5'10" tall, blue eyes, dark brown hair, and when he looks at Josh, you can see all the love coming out of him. They are both good kids. They may not end up together, but if they do, it will be a very good thing. Roger has met Ira, but he hasn't met Josh yet. I intend to remedy all that by inviting them both to dinner real soon."
"Thank you so much for looking after my boy, but please tell me how you are doing."
"I'm just great. My heart is serving me well, and I am healing nicely from the lung surgery. Prior to the incident, Roger and I had both spoken to the kid who shot me, but unfortunately neither of us detected any symptoms of mental illness in him. We both simply believed he had a crush on Roger and that it was nothing more than puppy love. Be that as it may, it's in the past."
"Yes, thank God," Mark said. "All's well that ends well."
Roger and Jimmy were very engrossed in their work. They were available to serve their flocks 24-7, but they always made time for each other. Roger felt that God had spared Jimmy twice so that they could spend this lifetime together, and he was not about to piss away God's good work by ignoring Jimmy. They always made time for each other,
In bed at night, they melded into one body. In a short time, it was not necessary to make love in awkward positions due to Jimmy's surgery. They were able to resume the physical aspect of their union without worrying about pulling, stretching or damaging any body parts. They made love often and with passionate abandon. Jimmy seemed determined to make up for 38 years of celibacy, and Roger seemed determined to help him in his quest.
Each man believed that their calling to the ministry was divinely inspired and they could not be happier in their work. The very fact that they were doing the same work bound them even closer, and since they were doing it separately, they never got in each other's way. Gay men and women felt just as accepted in Roger's church as they did in Jimmy's. There was no conflict there.
They shared a guardian angel. Robbie was an ever present entity. If they listened hard they could hear him and then they could heed his advice. When Robbie told Jimmy to take a few hours off to rest, he listened because Robbie was looking after their heart.
Rabbi Joe presided over an interfaith service at least once a year. Now that he knew Jimmy, he invited Darryl and Jimmy to participate. The other clergy of the area had absolutely no objections.
The service was always a celebration of love and good will. Roger and Jimmy were particularly happy to be conducting a service together, and with their good friend Rabbi Joe.
One beautiful spring day, Ira and Josh asked Jimmy to perform a commitment ceremony for them. It was a first for him, and he was especially thrilled because he knew the family of one of the participants.
Dan and his wife, Mary, attended, as well as Mark, his wife Jennifer, and their two children. Josh's Uncle Paul attended with his partner.
Ira's family was small. He had only a mother and a teen age sister. They were there too.
Darryl, William, Roger, and several close friends of Ira and Josh rounded out the guest list, but the church was full of most of the congregation.
Ira and Josh exchanged vows they had written for each other, and as they did, Jimmy and Roger looked into each other's eyes and smiled knowingly. Jimmy began to cry as he begged the boys to love each other always, take care of each other always, and never to forget that their union was made in heaven.
The parents made a reception in the social hall after the ceremony for the invited guests. There was a lot of love and joy in the church that day.
Before he left, Dan came over to Jimmy. "A year ago," he said, "if someone had told me that you would preside over the commitment ceremony of my son, I would have called the loony bin to come and take him away. I have seen a modern miracle, and now I can really relate to the expression, God moves in mysterious ways.
"Yes," Jimmy agreed. "It is a miracle and it is mysterious. I got a new heart and a new life, and I thank God and Robbie Cutler for it every day. Once upon a time I could not have dreamed that I could love anyone as strongly as I do and that he would love me back even more. I wasn't born with this heart, but I have adopted it and it's mine. It has given me the capacity to love, to forgive, to be charitable and to serve my fellow man. What else can a man ask out of life?"
That night as they were preparing for bed, Roger said, "I heard what you said to Dan. It was beautiful and I started to cry."
"I meant every word," Jimmy said, "especially about loving you."
Suddenly they were startled by a bright light shining in the room and the voice that had been guiding them said, "You two are going to be just fine. I think I can leave you now."
Each felt Robbie's kiss on their cheeks. They wanted to cry, but before they could, Robbie put them into a deep and peaceful sleep.
The End.