Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: CONSPIRACY (01/21/21)
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TITLE: UNVEILING THE TRUTH | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mariane Holbrook
01/26/21 -
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She had met Jim at work in a publishing house in New York City several months earlier, where they both worked in the same department of this Christian facility. At thirty years old, Patsy had nearly given up on finding a suitable mate. She was tired of the teasing by relatives that her clock was ticking rapidly, and if she wanted to marry and have children, she'd better light a fire under someone and make a beeline to the marriage altar.
With a master's degree in journalism, she quickly found a job, and soon, promotions were standard fare for Patsy. She dated some of the men from her church and the publishing house but finally settled on Jim for several reasons. Still, she had some reservations.
Jim was two years older than Patsy but had never married. Their sporadic dating soon turned into a serious relationship, and before long, they began talking of marriage. It was time to invite Jim to meet her family back in Ohio, so Thanksgiving vacation seemed as good as any for this time-honored event.
Her pulse quickened when she heard the chime of the front doorbell. With one last look in the mirror, she prayed things would go well. Her three sisters and one brother had gathered at their parents' home to meet Patsy's fiance. She knew all of them would scrutinize Jim.
Patsy's family warmly greeted Jim. Asked to pray before the lavish Thanksgiving dinner began, Jim's prayer was confirmation that he was indeed a godly man, one whose prayer life was one of substance and not superficial.
The weekend went better than Patsy could have imagined, and on Sunday before returning to their jobs in New York, Jim slipped an engagement ring on Patsy's finger, with the announcement that they would be married at Easter.
Patsy, even with her reservations, felt Jim was God's choice for her. Her only regret was that Jim's parents were no longer living and, as an only child, he had no siblings to invite to the wedding.
They were married in her family's back lawn under a canopy of Easter lilies and baby breath blossoms. Her sisters were all part of the wedding party and her brother, Marshall, served as best man.
They found a suitable apartment in Manhattan and moved in after a honeymoon in Belize, a place both had been eager to visit. After being married for nearly six months, Patsy was delighted to learn that she was expecting a baby several months later.
Back in Ohio, Patsy's brother, Marshall, was uneasy. Jim never wanted to talk about his parents or relatives and changed the subject whenever asked about his younger days.
Privately, Marshall hired a private detective to do a thorough search of Jim's background, and what he learned shocked Marshall to his core.
Jim's parents were alive and living in Georgia. Jim was already married and was the father of one child! The proof was in the copy of the marriage license to his first wife and Jim's son's birth certificate.
Marshall confided in his oldest sister, Ruth, and her husband, and together they conspired on a plan to trap Jim, who they knew for sure was a bigamist. They had no desire to hurt Patsy, but they had no choice.
Inviting Patsy and Jim to come to Ohio for a weekend, they finished dinner at Marshall's house one night when the doorbell rang.
Marshall, as prearranged, opened the door to two FBI agents, one of whom held a warrant for Jim's arrest. Jim feigned surprise and innocence and promised Patsy someone would straighten it out in record time. Patsy fell to the floor in disbelief and disappointment as the FBI agents handcuffed Jim and led him out the door.
Later that night, Patsy was walking down the stairs to the kitchen to get a drink of water. She tripped and fell part-way down the staircase, resulting in the miscarriage of her baby.
Jim spent time in prison for bigamy while Patsy quit her job in New York and moved back to Ohio. In time, she met and married a widower at church who was a soloist for the U.S. Marine Corps band, proving once again that God chooses what is best for those who leave the choice with Him.
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TRUE STORY
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
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