“We’re not getting kicked out of the church,” he said. “The first thing we need to do is talk to an attorney about our options. I’m sure there’s a way we can collect our winnings and keep our identities hidden.”
“I hope so,” Sandra said, some of her glee fading. “God really wants us to have this money, doesn’t he, Andrew?”
Andrew pulled her close. “Of course he does. We needed it and he opened a window to give it to us. All we have to do is use it the right way.”
“We’re going to tithe it,” Sandra said. “The church could use the money and there are some other ministries I’d like to bless.”
Andrew kissed her forehead. “You have a good heart, babe. That’s why God knew He could trust us with the winnings. We’ll use it to build His kingdom. I think it’s time for us to start thinking about starting our own church.”
She looked up at him, her joy returning. “Are you serious, Andrew?”
He nodded. “Dead serious. It’s always been our prayer to have our own church. Well, there’s nothing stopping us now. We can use this money to serve our congregation. That’s what God wants.”
Sandra hugged her husband’s side. “Oh, Andrew, I can’t believe this is happening. A few hours ago, we were on the verge of bankruptcy or worse, and now we’re millionaires getting ready to start a church. I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” he said. “God works in mysterious ways.”
Sandra pushed away the uneasiness she felt at her husband’s words. While she was on board with using the money for good, something about God providing it did not set well with her. “What are we going to tell folks when we start doing all these things? They’re going to wonder about the money.”
Andrew hugged her close. “I’ve been thinking about that,” he said. “We’ll tell them that a long lost relative of mine left it to me.”
She peered up at him. “Everybody knows you’re an orphan, Andrew, and that you don’t have any family.”
He shrugged. “That’s all the better. We’ll be as surprised as anybody. Folks will be happy for us and will praise God for providing a way out of no way. They’ll believe us. Why shouldn’t they?”
Sandra knew there was something hypocritical in lying about a blessing, but she didn’t see any other way for them. “I guess we’ve got everything covered then,” she said. “All we need now is a lawyer who’ll help us claim the winnings without anyone knowing who we are.”
Andrew pressed her down on the bed. “We’ll talk to the lawyers tomorrow. Tonight I want to celebrate. Since the kids are at the grandparents’, Mommy and Daddy have play time.”
Sandra giggled. “You’re so crazy.”
His face sober, he said, “Crazy about you.” He wiped a finger down her cheek. “I love you, Sandra, and I love our family. I’m sorry for the pain I put you through. I promise you and I promise God that I won’t ever do that to us again. I know He’s giving me yet another chance, and I’m not going to blow it. This is a new start for us. We’ve been blessed and we’re going to be a blessing to others. We’re going to walk in faith and believe the promise of God for our ministry. Today is the beginning of a new journey for us. We’re not looking back.”
Sandra felt the tears roll down her cheeks. This was the man she married. Not only had God blessed them with money, He’d given her back her husband. She pulled Andrew down to her. Kissing him, she said, “Let the celebration begin.”
Chapter 5
Sandra’s head was still spinning when she and Andrew pulled into her parents’ driveway after leaving the attorney’s office on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. When Andrew turned off the engine, she said, “Is this real, Andrew?”
He chuckled. “Very real,” he said. “We’re rich, Sandra. We’ll never have money problems again. Our kids are provided for and so are your parents. And we have the money to start our own church. God is good.”
“The lottery is good,” she said.
Andrew picked up her hand and kissed it. “Same thing.”
She met his eyes. “I don’t like lying to my parents.”
“Neither do I, but what choice do we have?”
She sighed deeply. “I know,” she said, “but I still don’t like it.”
“Well, I bet your parents will like hearing what we’ve done for them and their grandchildren. I can’t wait to see the look on your dad’s face when we tell him about the horse farm.”
Sandra smiled. “They’re going to be so excited. Let’s go in and tell them.”
Wanting to surprise her parents and the children, they rang the bell instead of using their key. Her mother opened the door. She looked between the two of them. “What are you two doing here?” she asked. “We weren’t expecting you.”
Sandra laughed. She kissed her mother’s cheek and said, “Nothing’s wrong, Momma. In fact, everything is right. Where are Daddy and the kids?”
Her mother accepted a kiss from Andrew and then closed the door after they were both inside. “Your father took the kids out to Harper Farms so they could go riding. They left early this morning.”
“And won’t be back until late,” Sandra finished. Her kids had inherited her dad’s love of horses and riding. She’d had that love, too, until her drunken father had put her on a horse too spirited for her and she’d taken a fall, breaking her arm. She pushed the thought aside, not wanting to dampen the joy of the day. Those days were long gone, anyway.
“Have you two eaten?” her mother asked as they settled themselves in the family room. Her mother took the plush club chair while she and Andrew took the couch.
“We had a fancy lunch down on Peachtree Street.”
“What were you doing down there?” her mother asked.
“We had lunch with an attorney,” Sandra said.
“An attorney?” her mother asked, her eyes wide. “You two aren’t getting a divorce, are you?”
Andrew touched his mother-in-law’s knee. “No way,” he told her. “I love your daughter and she loves me. We’ve been through a rough patch lately, but God has opened a door and cleared up all our financial problems.”
Her mother met her eyes. “What’s happened?” she asked.
“Well, Mom,” Sandra began. “We met with an attorney this morning who informed us that Andrew has inherited a substantial sum of money, very substantial.”
Her mother turned to Andrew. “Who left you some money? I thought you didn’t have any family.”
“I didn’t think I did, either, but apparently there was a distant cousin. Believe me, I’m as surprised as you are. Surprised and blessed. And we’re going to use our blessing to bless others.” He went on to tell her about their plans for a church.
“That’s wonderful, Andrew,” she said. “You have a good heart. I know you and Sandra will make good use of your money.”
“It’s our money, Mom,” Andrew corrected. “Mine, Sandra’s, the kids, and yours and Dad’s. It’s ours. We want you to share in it, too. The first thing we want to do is buy you and Dad that horse farm he’s always talking about. We want you two to start looking for it immediately.”
Ida dabbed