Abide with Me Read Online Free Page A

he was directing a large mass choir. He loved everyone from Tramaine Hawkins to Sandi Patti. Just as long as the song had a little Jesus in the lyrics.
    Sunday evening, Raymond had tears in his eyes as he bid good-bye to his parents. In a tender embrace, his father told him how proud he was of him. His mother shared the same sentiment and whispered how much she loved him.
    “I think your folks had a great time, don’t you?” Trent asked.
    “Yeah, I think so. Thanks again for helping out,” Raymond said.
    “I love your folks. They’re like family and it was my pleasure.”
    “Even my pops, with his sometimes evil self,” Raymond laughed. He didn’t think his father was evil, just a little difficult at times, or as his mother put it, stubborn as a country mule. It was a part of his charm.
    “Your pops is cool. He’s coming around. Besides, he’s so excited by the fact his son is going to be a judge, one day soon he might even accept us as a couple.”
    “My pops accepts us,” Raymond said defensively. Raymond Sr. had never really voiced opposition toward Trent, at least not to Raymond. He couldn’t understand why Raymond Jr. wanted to move to Seattle when things were going so great for him in Atlanta, or so he thought. The truth was, Raymond had become bored with Atlanta, bored with his job, bored with his social life. When he fell in love with Trent, they both wanted a new beginning.
    “Really?” Trent quizzed. Raymond smiled at his partner as he gazed into Trent’s cinnamon-brown eyes with their rims of dark charcoal. After a few quiet moments, Raymond spoke of his father’s pride.
    “Yeah, I think Pops is cool with us. I know he’s pretty excited about this judge thing, but I don’t know what he’s going to do if I don’t get confirmed.”
    “Of course you’ll be confirmed. Are you worried about that?”
    “Naw. If it’s to be, then everything will be cool,” Raymond said confidently.
    “Are you excited about it?” Trent asked. His face took on a serious expression.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Aw, you know. This confirmation process sounds like a bitch.”
    “Yeah, it could be. But this is an opportunity I can’t pass up. You should see how the people in my office are acting. It’s like I’ve been appointed to a court in heaven,” Raymond said.
    “You know I support you two hundred percent if this is what you want,” Trent said. His full lips curved into a tender, loving smile.
    “So you think I should do this?” Raymond asked.
    “You’re kidding, right? Didn’t you hear me? I’m behind you all the way. We need people like you on the bench.”
    “I know that, but the FBI is going to be getting into my business.”
    “Have you done anything you’re ashamed of?”
    “Yeah, but I was acquitted of those charges,” Raymond responded with a marvelous, deep-throated laugh.
    “What are you going to do when they ask about your marital status?” Trent asked as he took a slow sip of his beer.
    “I’ll tell them I’m in a strong, stable, and loving relationship,” Raymond said. “Besides, they must know I’m gay.”
    “Have they said so?”
    “Not really, but you gotta know they’ve already done some investigating before they nominated me.”
    “Yeah, you’re right. Did your father give you advice on how to handle this?”
    “Not really. Just to make sure I tell the truth, but don’t tell them anything they don’t ask,” Raymond said as he loosened the gold metallic tie that lay against his snow-white shirt.
    “What’s your mother sending you?” Trent asked.
    “Huh?”
    “She said something at dinner about sending you something that would help with the nomination process. Don’t you remember?”
    “Oh, yeah. It’s probably some good-luck charm or some of her cookies and brownies. I hope so, ’cause it’s been years since she sent me some. Kirby gets them all now.”
    “Maybe she thinks you’re too old for her cookies,” Trent joked.
    “You’re never too