Coming Home (13 page)

"The sun is going to be shining in here like a beacon
in about fifteen minutes."

"Oh, right."

The movie started and they watched it in silence. Or rather
Craig watched in silence and Susan watched it while exclaiming and jumping in
surprise.

When the movie ended Craig pressed the stop button and
Susan could hear him chuckling.

"What?"

"You still watch movies the same way you used
to."

"I can't help it. I get surprised."

"Don't worry about it. I like it. It makes the movie
more interesting."

Susan looked at him, wondering if he were teasing her.

"Are you hungry?"

She had been feeling her tummy rumbling for the past hour
and a half, she hadn't eaten since breakfast, which meant he was probably
hungry too. "Are you?" She asked.

"Yes, but I asked you first."

"Do you want me to get you something?"

"Susan, are you hungry?"

"Yes, I am, but I can take care of myself. Do you want
me to get you something?"

He sat up and looked at her, "I know you can take care
of yourself, but I want to make something for you."

She opened her mouth to protest.

"Just because I have a broken arm doesn't mean I can't
do anything," he said as he stood slowly.

"I know. But shouldn't you take it easy?"

"You can do the hard part," he said as he walked
toward the kitchen.

"What hard part?" She asked as she followed him
into his kitchen.

"Draining the noodles," he said as he pulled a
pan out of the cupboard and placed it in the sink to fill it with water. When
it was full he looked at it then at his arm and back at the pan. "And
maybe a few other things," he said sheepishly.

Susan chuckled and walked over to pull the pan out of the
sink. "What exactly am I making here?"

"My homemade spaghetti with salad and garlic
bread."

"Mm mm... sounds good."

"It is," he said pulling some cans from the
pantry cupboard, "But you have to promise to not give away my secret
recipe."

She held up two fingers, "Scouts honor."

He grinned at her, "You were never a scout."

"I know but I thought that would sound better than
cross my heart hope to die yada yada yada."

He smiled at her.

They worked together in companionable silence as the pasta
and sauce cooked. Susan prepared the salad while Craig struggled to put butter
on the bread to make garlic bread. She considered offering to do it for him,
but she wanted him to be able to do it himself if that is what he wanted.

When he finished he looked at it askance, "Well, it
definitely won't look perfect, but I think it will still taste good." She
helped him place it in the oven then they set the table while everything
finished cooking.

They sat down to eat ten minutes later and Craig looked at
Susan, "Is it okay if I say grace?"

Susan nodded her head and as he prayed she thought maybe
this would be the perfect time to tell him about her decision for Christ. As
they lifted their heads she opened her mouth to tell him and the phone rang.

Craig looked at the phone in annoyance. Then walked over to
answer it, "Hello? Oh, yes, Hi, Kate."

Susan tried very hard to not listen to his side of the
conversation which only lasted a minute. She continued to eat trying not to
wonder who Kate was.

Craig came back into the dining room and smiled at her,
"Sorry about that."

Susan shrugged, "It's okay." She thought about
telling him about her decision, but it just seemed awkward now. So instead she
asked about his work. She listened as he talked animatedly about the project he
was currently working on and she was happy for him. Happy that he had found a
profession that he was not only successful in, but happy doing it.

She helped him clean up the dinner dishes then made her way
to where she had set down her purse. "Thank you for dinner," she said
as she picked it up.

"You're welcome. Thank you for coming to my rescue
today."

She smiled, "I don't know that I really came to your
rescue, but you are welcome just the same."

"Are you taking Nana to church tomorrow?"

Susan looked down at her purse to hide her excitement about
going to church in the morning. "Yes, that's the plan," she said as
she turned to open the front door.

"Maybe I will see you there."

She just nodded her head and stopped dead in her tracks.

"What's wrong?" He asked confused.

"I need a ride home." She said looking out at the
driveway that only had his car in it.

"Oh, let me get my keys," he said turning to go
back into the house.

"Are you sure you should be driving?" She asked
as he opened the passenger door for her.

"I'm fine. Besides, how else will you get home?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know."

"Exactly. Relax, I'm fine." He got in a little
awkwardly behind the wheel and smiled at her, "I'm just really glad I
don't drive a stick shift." He turned the ignition with his left hand.

"I could call someone to pick me up." She
offered.

"It's okay. I'll get the hang of it," he said as
he carefully maneuvered the car out of the driveway.

When they arrived at her home Susan looked at him,
"Don't you dare get out of the car to open my door. You be careful driving
home."

He smiled at her, "I will. Thanks again for keeping me
company this afternoon."

She lifted her shoulders, "You're welcome. It was
actually nice to do something different for a change."

"You mean you don't hang out at the emergency room
every Saturday afternoon."

She shook her head, "I try to not make a habit of
that."

"Yeah, me, too," he said wryly.

"Good-bye, Craig," she said as she leaned over
and kissed his cheek. She pulled away a little and they stared at each other
for a moment. She could feel her heart skittering around in her chest like a
wild colt.

"Bye Susan," he said softly.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded her
head as she opened the car door and got out.

Sunday rolled around and Susan could hardly wait for
service to start. She got dressed, ate a quick breakfast then grabbed her keys
and purse which had the Bible Amy had given her in it. She drove to Nana's
house and laughed at the excitement her Nana had expressed when Susan had told
her about her decision to follow Christ. Susan kind of wished she had waited to
tell her in person, but she had called her from the park bench after Amy left.

She parked her car in the driveway and Nana was coming out
of the house with outstretched arms before Susan got out.  Susan was surprised
at the strength of Nana's hug. 

"My Dear, Susan. I could not wait to wrap my arms
around you!" Nana exclaimed. "I cannot tell you how thrilled I am
that you have decided to give your life to Jesus."

Susan gently hugged her back, "Thank you, Nana."

Nana pulled away and put a hand on either side of Susan's
face. "I am so blessed."

Susan smiled at her, "I think I am, too, Nana."

"Have you told your Craig, yet?" Nana asked as
they drove toward the church.

Susan shook her head, "No, I didn't want to tell him
over the phone and there didn't seem to ever be a right time yesterday. I will
probably tell him Tuesday night."

"What was going on yesterday?" Nana asked with
interest.

Susan told her about the whole day, leaving out the part
about her taking Craig home and all that. It was something special that she
just wanted to keep to herself.

Nana expressed concern over Craig's arm, but Susan assured
her that he would be okay.

They made small talk the rest of the way to church and as
they entered the sanctuary Susan felt a sense of anticipation. The worship was
beautiful and Susan couldn't help but raise her hands as she sang along with
the songs that now made more sense to her. The pastor talked about the importance
of daily Bible reading and Susan nodded her head, she was so glad that Amy had
given her the devotional and small Bible. She felt as though she was a dry
sponge soaking in everything. The service ended and Susan felt as though she
had been renewed. It was such an odd feeling that she just sat there a moment
after the final prayer and soaked it in. She felt Nana looking at her so she
glanced her way.

"Wonderful feeling isn't it?" Nana asked.

Susan nodded her head, "I had no idea what I was
missing all these years."

Nana patted her arm, "I understand."

"Susan!"

They were leaving the church when Susan heard him call her
name. She couldn't help the silly smile that curved her lips any more than she
could help the crazy way her heart began to beat just at the sound of his
voice. She didn't think she would see him again so soon, but she really wanted
to share the news of her conversion with him. She and Nana turned at the same
time to see him coming their way.

"Oh, your Craig is here, dear. You can tell him now,"
Nana whispered.

Susan just nodded her head, thinking she wished he was her
Craig.

"Susan," he said again as he drew closer to them
smiling. He looked at Nana, "Good morning, Nana. How are you two ladies
today?"

"Oh, we are just fine, Craig," Nana answered.
"How is your poor arm?" She asked pointing to the arm that was in a
cast to the elbow.

"Oh, it's fine," he said, but he didn't look at
her, he only looked at Susan.

Susan swallowed, wondering if now was a good time to tell
him about her decision. Then she realized that there was someone next to Craig.
She focused her gaze on the petite blonde woman who was holding Craig's arm
possessively. Susan felt her smile become slightly strained.

"As a matter-of-fact, Susan has something..."
Nana's words died off at Susan's restraining hand on her arm.

Susan shook her head slightly when Nana looked at her.

Nana's brows came together in confusion.

Susan cleared her throat, "Good morning, Craig,
and...?"

Craig looked a little startled, "Oh, Susan and Nana,
this is Kate, Kate, this is Susan and...well...Nana."

Kate smiled at Susan and Nana, not releasing her grip on
Craig's arm. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

Susan nodded her head, "Kate." So this was who
Craig was talking to last night when the phone rang. "It's nice to meet
you, too," she said looking from Craig to this very pretty woman who
obviously had a claim on him. She wondered how he could have not said anything
to her about Kate, especially after she had called last night while they were
eating.

"We would like to invite you over for lunch, Craig.
Susan has something she would like to tell you," Nana said apparently
oblivious to the dynamics of the situation.

Susan wished the floor would swallow her up as she glanced
quickly at Craig whose face looked a little flushed with embarrassment and then
at Kate who had the look of a Cheshire cat, "Oh, we're sorry we can't make
it, we already have plans this afternoon," Kate said with an adoring look
at Craig.

Susan glanced at her,
You weren't invited
, she
thought, but managed to hold her tongue with supreme effort.

"Oh," Nana said with a look of disappointment on
her sweet face.

Susan smiled at Craig and Kate, "It was nice seeing
you, Craig, and meeting you Kate. Have a nice afternoon," she said as
normally as she could as she forced Nana to turn around with her and walk out
of the church.

Susan felt Nana casting glances her way as they drove back
to her house. "What, Nana?" She finally asked not able to take it any
longer.

"I didn't know he had a girlfriend."

You and me both
.
Susan thought to herself. "I kept telling you he wasn't 'my Craig'."
Which hurt now more than ever.

"Oh, I know, but I thought..."

"I know." Susan said thinking she had wished the
same thing a number of times, especially since she had made her decision. And
after last night. Her sleep had been filled with dreams about so many other
such days spent with him.  She had hoped that… What?  She had hoped that since
she now shared his faith that he would be willing to get back together again.
Then a thought flooded into her mind that made her face turn a bright red. What
if he thought she had become a Christian just to get back together with him?
That her decision wasn't a real one, but a scheme to get him back? Oooooh, if
he ever thought that about her that would be more embarrassing than anything
she could imagine.

"I bet if you tell him you are a Christian that he would
drop that woman like a hot potato," Nana said brightly.

Susan shook her head, "I'm not going to tell him,
Nana."

"But..."

"And neither are you."

"But, why?"

"We just aren't," Susan said firmly and clamped
her lips together trying to keep them from quivering. The embarrassment would
be too great.

Craig watched Susan and Nana leave the church feeling that
something had just gone terribly wrong. He thought that he and Susan had left
on good terms the night before, but now he wasn't so sure. He looked down at
Kate who was watching Susan and Nana with a satisfied smile on her pink lips.
Just then she turned toward him with a brilliant smile.

"Are we ready to go?" She asked.

He gently yet firmly pulled his arm from her grasp.
"Where is Tim?" He asked looking around for any sign of her thirteen
year old son.

"Oh," she fluttered her hands around. "He
asked if he could go home with Alex so I let him."

Craig looked at her questioningly, "I thought I was
coming over to mentor him."

"He'll be home shortly after lunch. It wouldn't hurt
for us to eat lunch before you do your manly thing with him would it?" She
smiled coyly up at him.

Craig frowned, not happy with the way Kate was trying to
manipulate him, but wanting to be able to mentor her son, Tim
. Lord, what do
I do
? He didn't get an immediate answer and was at a loss.

"Come on. I have a roast in the Crock-pot," Kate
said persuasively.

Craig heaved a sigh glancing one last time out the door
where Susan had disappeared. His breath had caught in his throat when she had
turned around with such a sweet smile on her face. When she left, the smile
hadn't been there any longer. He glanced at the woman next to him who had taken
hold of his arm again. He was pretty sure that Susan thought there was
something going on between him and Kate. She was so very mistaken. But he
couldn't very well chase after her right now to tell her so. He prayed that God
would give him an opportunity to explain to Susan.

"Okay, I'll be at your place in about half an
hour."

Kate leaned toward him, "Okay, don't be late."

He pulled back a little, feeling uncomfortable by her
proximity. "I'll do my best," he said as he turned around and walked
away from her feeling as though he had just walked into a trap.

Two and a half hours later Craig was about to blow a
gasket. Or at least he felt as though he could. Tim had still not returned from
his friend's house and Kate was driving him crazy with her incessant talking.
He realized too late his error in coming here.

She had talked about how hard it is to find a good man
these days and giggled at her own not so funny puns and jokes. He sighed as he
wondered if he could leave now without offending Tim. Tim was supposed to have
been there an hour ago. Craig stood up abruptly, "I'm sorry, Kate, I
really have to go. I had other plans this afternoon."

She looked around, "But what about Tim?"

Craig lifted his shoulders, "He was supposed to be
here an hour ago and I was going to spend an hour with him. I really need to
leave. I will try to call Tim later." He saw her look of hope, "I am
only here to mentor your son."

"But...I thought...maybe...we..." Kate sputtered
then stopped as a little flush suffused her face.

"I'm sorry, Kate," he said and watched as her
shoulders sagged in defeat.

"I came on too strong, didn't I?" She asked
quietly.

He wasn't sure how to answer that without being offensive
so he just remained silent.

"Your silence speaks volumes," she said as she
led the way to the door.

"Kate, I'm sorry if I ever did or said anything that
made you think I had intentions other than mentoring your son."

She shook her head and gave him a sad smile her eyes
suspiciously moist, "You smiled at me."

Craig blinked, he hadn't expected that explanation. They
were silent a moment. "Well, thank you for lunch," he finally said
not knowing what else to say to this lonely woman.

She just nodded her head as she opened the door for him to
leave.

Craig walked to his car, got in and drove away, almost
afraid to look back at the house and wondered if it was a wise idea for him to
mentor her son. "Lord, if I did anything at all to encourage Kate other
than smile at her, I ask your forgiveness. I really didn't try to."

Tuesday evening Craig got to the beach earlier than normal.
He wasn't sure why, other than the fact that he couldn't wait to see Susan. He
had thought about calling her, but thought it would be better to talk to her in
person. He waited for her in vain. All evening long, through the roasting of
hot dogs, games, worship, the Bible lesson, all of it, he kept watching for
her. Sure that at any moment she would come. Come with a smile like she had had
on her face Sunday morning. Craig closed his eyes and wished he could reverse
time. He wished he could go back to Sunday morning and change the way things
had happened.

"Bye, Craig. See you Sunday."

Craig turned to wave at the boys who were leaving. He
heaved a sigh and looked down at his once white cast but which was now covered
in a rainbow of colored names. He hadn't planned on letting people sign his
cast, but someone had brought a pack of permanent markers and there was no
stopping them once they set their minds to do something. He looked out over the
ocean and a feeling of sadness settled over him. He needed to talk to Susan. He
finished cleaning up the area around the fire pit then made his way home.

He opened the door and Prince, his black lab, met him at
the door with an exuberance that Craig was far from feeling. "You want to
go for a walk, buddy?"

Prince barked joyfully in response to the question. Craig
changed into his running clothes then took Prince out for a run. When they got
back, Craig looked at the clock and wondered if he dare try to call Susan. It
was fifteen minutes after nine. He rolled his eyes. It was probably too late.
He would try her first thing in the morning.

Craig clicked his cell phone off in frustration. Either her
phone was off, she had lost it, or she was avoiding him. He had a bad feeling
that it was the last of those reasons. It was Friday afternoon and he had tried
to call Susan at least three times each day. He had tried four today, but still
she didn't answer. He had even called the restaurant a couple of times, but
they told him she wasn't in. Now he wondered if she had just told them to tell
him that she wasn't in. He thought about going to the restaurant but he really
needed to do some work at the office. Lord, why won't she answer her phone?