The author was inspired by these words in writing the title and this novel and gives thanks to THE ONE above.

Chapter 18: Beau's Testimony Continues

"Your Honor," Rebecca responded smoothly, "Reverend Morrison is a qualified religious authority offering expert testimony about the theological principles underlying this case. His credentials and education make him eminently qualified to speak on these matters."

Judge Morrison considered for a moment, then nodded. "Objection overruled. The witness may continue."

"Reverend Morrison," Rebecca continued, "You were ordained by the Episcopal Church as a Provisional Deacon. How are you deserving of the honorific Reverend and what does this step mean in the Episcopal Church process for ordination as a priest?"

Beau answered, "The Episcopal Church recognizes several steps after seminary graduation in its process for becoming a priest which the denomination is very careful about ordination of a priest. A denomination like Southern Baptists practices that graduates from their seminaries are automatically ordained as a Reverend. Provisional Deacons and Vocational Deacons get the honorific Reverend for their ministry of engaging the church to offer service, prayer and true evangelism to those currently outside the church but an integral part of the parish."

"What does this mean for the extended training of Episcopal Priests beyond seminary?"

Part of the extended training of prospective priests is to live the ministry of a Deacon who have a vital ministry alongside the parish Priest before learning the ministry of a Priest. This makes me more qualified than a Southern Baptist preacher at this step in my journey for this testimony since I am spreading the good news that THE ONE seeks all including the marginalized, like our parents have done to Delores, to have a personal relationship based in unconditional love."

"You mentioned true evangelism. What does true evangelism mean the way that you understand it which seems at odds with other views?"

"True evangelism expresses the sacred power of THE ONE and not the human desire to put some people down in a vain attempt to assert that THE ONE loves them more. The unconditional love through THE ONE and the sacred power of THE ONE is for everyone and not just for those who try to live by a human proscribed code of conduct."

"Beau, could you clarify what you mean by Southern Baptist principals?"

"Of course. When I describe Southern Baptists, I'm describing the official view of their denomination. I'm not describing those who are members since their views are varied and many are aligned with what the Bible teaches about THE ONE."

Rebecca asked, "Beau, you mentioned the sacred power of THE ONE. Could you expand on that in relation to the matter before this court?"

Beau smiled and responded, "Gladly. As a preamble I'd like to explain the understanding of theologians throughout the centuries to the biblical principles surrounding Delores situation which is just a specific example of THE ONE in using sacred power to humans in general. The Southern Baptists recognize these principals in their "Plan of Salvation."

- After the introduction of sin to Earth, bodies are no longer directly created by THE ONE but come from human reproduction. This is evidenced by the occurrence now of congenital problems. The Bible states in John chapter nine that congenital problems are not the result of sin but are opportunities for THE ONE to show sacred Power.

- What sacred Power of THE ONE does do is to by sacred power give each human sentience by what is referred to as "The breath of life." Sacred Power also gives each human an eternal soul which enables humans to have direct communion with THE ONE with everlasting life once they come into direct relation with THE ONE.

- THE ONE gives all humans, by sacred Power, free will so that not only can they freely make choices but also for those choices to have consequences which are preserved by sacred Power and not negated by intervention of THE ONE.

"Beau, does the Southern Baptist denomination acknowledge those principals of what you describe as sacred Power as regards a case like Delores?"

"No, they do not! While they give lip service to these principals as part of their "Plan of Salvation", they completely discard them to condemn people like Delores like our parents did in their will in agreement with the principals of the Southern Baptist denomination."

"What does the Bible have to say about religious people who deny sacred Power to the marginalized like Delores?"

"Quoting from the King James Version of the Bible, ' Having a form of godliness but denying the Power thereof, from such turn away.' It's very clear that those who assert sacred Power only when it suits them and denies it to the marginalized are not to be believed in their teachings and discarded."

"How would you apply this principal to the case before us in your expert opinion?"

"I would apply this to say that THE ONE has expressed through the Bible that teachings like those applied in the Last Will and Testament of our parents should not be believed and discarded."

Beau's testimony continued for another twenty minutes, during which he systematically dismantled every religious argument Craig's team had prepared. He spoke about the Episcopal Church's full inclusion of LGBTQ+ members, about the difference between human religion and divine love, about the call to comfort the afflicted rather than afflict the comfortable.

"In my tradition," he said, "we believe that THE ONE's love is so amazing, so divine, that it demands our soul, our life, our all, not as sacrifice to human prejudice, but as response to unconditional grace. My sister Delores has given her soul, her life, her all to living authentically, to loving openly, to claiming her place in THE ONE's family regardless of what any human document might say."

When Rebecca asked him about the will's moral requirements, Beau's response was devastating in its simplicity: "The most moral thing my sister has ever done is choose to live as her authentic self. The most immoral thing happening in this courtroom is the attempt to deny her that right."

As Beau stepped down from the witness stand, the courtroom buzzed with conversation and the sound of reporters frantically taking notes. Delores felt tears streaming down her face—not tears of sadness, but tears of relief and gratitude and the kind of love that transcended blood relations to become something deeper, more authentic.

Craig's face was ashen as he watched his younger brother return to his seat in the gallery. The religious arguments he had planned to use were in ruins, undermined by someone with actual theological authority who could speak to the true meaning of faith and family.

Judge Morrison called for a brief recess, and as the courtroom emptied, Delores found herself surrounded by her chosen family—Maria hugging her fiercely, Dr. Martinez offering quiet words of encouragement, members of her support group expressing their pride and support.

But it was Serina's embrace that grounded her, that reminded her what she was fighting for beyond money and recognition.

"He was incredible," Serina whispered in her ear. "Your brother just changed everything."

When court reconvened, Craig's attorney attempted to salvage their case by calling witnesses to testify about Delores's "lifestyle" and "moral character." But Beau's testimony had shifted the entire framework of the discussion. Instead of defending her right to exist, they were now arguing about the nature of morality itself, about whether love could ever be immoral, about whether authenticity was a virtue or a vice.

The photographs that had been taken of her and Serina were introduced as evidence, but in the new context, they seemed to prove Beau's point rather than Craig's. Here was a woman capable of love, of connection, of building meaningful relationships. Here was someone living authentically, openly, courageously.

Judge Morrison studied the images with careful attention, then looked up at the courtroom. "I see two people who appear to care deeply for each other. I see what looks like a committed, loving relationship between consenting adults. If this is what the opposing counsel considers evidence of moral failing, then I question their understanding of morality."

The hearing concluded with closing arguments that felt almost anticlimactic after Beau's transformative testimony. Craig's team tried to refocus on legal technicalities and the deceased's right to distribute their estate according to their wishes. Rebecca argued for human dignity and equal treatment under the law.

But the real argument had been made by Beau, that love was love, that family was family, that THE ONE's children deserved equal treatment regardless of who they were or whom they loved.

Judge Morrison retired to consider her decision, and the courtroom emptied into the hallway where Delores was immediately surrounded by reporters asking for statements about the case. Rebecca handled most of the questions, but when one reporter asked Delores directly how she felt about her brother's testimony, she found her voice.

"I feel grateful," she said, her voice steady despite her emotions. "Grateful to have a brother who sees my soul before my shell, who understands what THE ONE's love really looks like, who's willing to stand up for what's right even when it's difficult."

Later that evening, as they waited for Judge Morrison's decision, Delores and Beau sat in her apartment talking about the day, about the transformation he had undergone overseas, about the future they hoped to build together as a family.

"I owe you an apology," Beau said, his voice heavy with regret. "Actually, I owe you about sixteen years' worth of apologies, but I'll start with the most important one."

"Beau—"

"Let me say this, please. I'm sorry for not seeing you sooner. I'm sorry for being so caught up in my own confusion that I couldn't recognize your courage. I'm sorry for making you feel like you had to earn my acceptance instead of just giving it freely."

Delores felt tears starting to form. "I never expected you to understand immediately. I knew it was hard—"

"It shouldn't have been hard to love my sister. It shouldn't have been complicated to see that you were happier, more yourself, more alive after your transition." Beau's expression grew more serious. "It shouldn't have taken me eight months overseas and a seminary education to realize that THE ONE's love doesn't come with gender requirements."

"What changed? What happened over there that made you see things differently?"

"I met people who had been rejected by their families for being themselves. I worked with chaplains who understood that THE ONE's love was bigger than human categories. I studied scripture in its original languages and discovered that most of the passages used to condemn people like you were mistranslations or taken out of context." Beau smiled sadly. "I realized that I had been choosing comfort over courage, tradition over truth, human religion over divine love."

As the evening wore on, they were joined by Serina, Maria, and other members of Delores's chosen family. The apartment filled with conversation and laughter and the kind of warmth that came from people who had chosen to see each other's truth and love what they found there.

"Whatever Judge Morrison decides," Beau said as the gathering began to wind down, "I want you to know that you have family who sees you, who loves you, who will stand with you regardless of what any legal document says."

"Even if it costs you money? Even if it means going against Craig?"

"Especially then. Money is just money, Delores. But family, real family, the kind that sees souls before shells, that's everything." Beau's eyes were bright with determination. "Besides, I have something Craig doesn't have."

"What's that?"

"I have the truth. I have THE ONE's love. I have the understanding that comes from actually studying what scripture says about love and acceptance and the radical inclusivity of divine grace." His smile was fierce. "And I have a sister who has taught me what courage really looks like."

That night, as Delores lay in bed with Serina beside her, she thought about the day's events, about the way Beau's testimony had shifted the entire conversation from legal technicalities to moral truths. She thought about the photographs that Craig's team had used as evidence against her, and how they had instead become proof of her capacity for love.

Most of all, she thought about the moment when Beau had looked directly at her from the witness stand and called her his sister, not with hesitation or qualification, but with the kind of certainty that came from finally understanding what family really meant.

The battle was far from over, but something fundamental had shifted in her favor. She was no longer fighting alone, no longer defending her right to exist without allies who understood her truth.

Tomorrow would bring Judge Morrison's decision, and with it either victory or the need to prepare for a longer legal battle. But tonight, she would rest in the knowledge that she had been seen, acknowledged, defended by someone who understood both the law and the deeper truths that transcended legal documents.

Beau had done more than testify on her behalf, he had transformed the entire framework of the case from a dispute about inheritance to a declaration about the nature of love itself. He had shown the court what authentic family looked like, what THE ONE's love really meant, what it cost to choose truth over comfort.

And in doing so, he had given her something more valuable than any inheritance: the knowledge that she was worthy of love exactly as she was, that her authenticity was a gift rather than a burden, that THE ONE's love was indeed so amazing, so divine, that it demanded nothing less than her soul, her life, her all, offered freely in response to unconditional grace.

The real victory had already been won. Whatever Judge Morrison decided, Delores had reclaimed her place in her family, had found her voice in the courtroom, had proven that love was stronger than law and truth more powerful than prejudice.

The transformation was underway. And THE ONE's love was winning.