Coming Home (9 page)

“Yes, Nana, I’m fine. But I won’t be able to take you to
church today.”

“I understand, dear. Maybe next week will work out better.”

Susan made a face, “Okay,” she said thinking there was
something else she was supposed to be doing. Then it hit her. Craig had said he
would be bringing his general contractor friend to the restaurant at eleven to
see about fixing the damage.

"Shoot! Nana I need to go. I was supposes to meet
someone at the bakery at eleven."

“Okay dear. Call me later. I love you.”

“I love you too, Nana.” She said as she hurriedly got
dressed and slapped on some make-up hoping the man would still be there. As she
ran out the door she stopped dead in her tracks. Her car was sitting on the
street in front of her house. She looked up and down the street looking for a
clue as to how it got there. She slowly closed her door and walked up to the
car.  There was a note on the windshield.

Susan I hope you had a good rest. I'll see you at the
restaurant. Craig

Susan felt like crying whether from relief, stress or
something else, she really didn't know. This was all a little too much for her
to deal with.

She drove slowly to the restaurant and pulled into the
parking lot behind the building. She sat there for a moment just looking at her
restaurant. From the outside it didn't look that much different, but she knew
what she would see when she went inside, and that made her want to cry which
made her angry because she wasn't really the weepy kind of person. She took a
deep bracing breath and climbed out of her car.

As she walked into the restaurant she wondered how long it
would take to fix everything and on the heels of that thought came the question
of how much it would cost to fix it. She almost groaned out loud.

She walked into the front of the restaurant to find Craig
and Jean sitting in a booth drinking mugs of coffee. Susan looked around.
"Where is he?" She asked wondering where Craig’s general contractor
friend was as she headed toward the kitchen, "Is he looking at the damage?"
She asked, kind of miffed if he was looking at the damage without her, but
thinking that that would be better than if he had left because she was late.
"He didn't leave, did he?" She asked turning back toward Craig and
Jean.

"I think I'm going to go." Jean said scooting out
of the booth and heading toward the door. "I'll talk to you soon, Susan.
Nice chatting with you, Craig."

"Same here." Craig said with a smile.

Susan watched Jean leave then looked back at Craig who was
getting up from the booth. "Did he leave?" She asked again.

Craig shook his head. “No he's right here."

She tilted her head and looked at him quizzically,
"He's right here? You're the general contractor?" She asked in
surprise.

"Yes, I am."

She sat down in a nearby chair, surprised that she hadn’t
realized he had been talking about himself. "You found my car," she
said looking up at him.

He smiled at her, "Yes, it was hiding at an impound
lot."

She smiled at his attempt at a joke, "Thank you."

He pulled up a chair and sat down close to her,
"You're welcome." He looked at her a moment, "How are you
doing?"

She shrugged, "As well as can be expected, I
guess."

"I'll do everything I can to help you get everything
back to working order."

He took her hand and Susan felt her eyes fill with tears
again. She swiped at them with her free hand, "I'm sorry I'm not usually
such a watering pot."

He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. "I
know you’re not, but you've had a very stressful day. You are entitled to shed
a few tears."

Susan watched his thumb make gentle circles on the back of
her hand, almost mesmerized by the motion of it. "I remember you saying
you were in construction but I didn’t know you were a general contractor. How
did that come about?" She asked, trying to keep her mind off the feelings
that were swirling from her hand up to the vicinity of her heart.

"Well, I’ve been in construction for about ten years
and about three years ago I started my own company."

"And you like it?" She asked looking up at his
face and thinking it was probably safer to just look at their hands because he
looked up at the same time and their eyes locked. She wondered what he was
thinking because his look was unreadable to her. Or maybe she just didn't want
to read it.

Craig gazed into Susan's eyes and fought the urge to lean
forward and kiss her. He bit his lip and leaned back a little. She had been
through too much. If he kissed her now, he would feel like he was taking
advantage of her.

He released her hand, "Are you ready to see what needs
to be done?"

"Don’t I need to contact my insurance carrier
first?"

Craig nodded his head, "Yes that is top priority. Why
don't you go ahead and call and I will get my notebook from my car."

Susan nodded her head and started walking to the back of
the building toward her office. Craig watched her and prayed that God would use
this situation to bring Susan closer to Him. He got the notebook and was making
a list of things that needed to be done when Susan came out of her office and
joined him in the kitchen area. He watched as she looked around. "It’s not
as bad as it looks," he said bracingly.

"I'm sure you've seen worse," she said walking
around slowly, "but this is my life. This is who I am." She picked up
a charred bun pan.

"Susan, this is your place of work, it doesn't define
who you are."

"It did up until today," she said looking around
sadly.

He was silent a moment praying for wisdom. "When will
the insurance adjuster be here?" He asked, not sure what to say to her.

"Later today or maybe tomorrow morning. I think Luke
said the fire inspector is supposed to come by sometime today." She said a
little listlessly.

"Luke?" Craig asked trying to keep the pain of
jealousy from digging too deep into his heart.

"The fireman who was in charge, at least I think he
was in charge," she said with a little shrug of her shoulders.

"Oh…“ Craig said as he felt a little flush crept up
his neck and into his face. He sincerely hoped she didn't notice as he turned
abruptly and started looking intently at a part of the wall that was severely
burned. "This wall may need to be completely replaced, he said as normally
as possible while making some notes on his notepad.

"Oh wow," she said coming to stand next to him
and looking at the wall he had indicated.

He breathed deeply and could smell the shampoo she had
used. He closed his eyes as memories assailed him.

"How much do you think it will cost for all the
repairs?" She asked.

He was sure she had no clue of the effect that she had on
him. "Well, I'll give you an estimate after I've looked everything over
and after the fire inspector and insurance adjustor have been here. Your
insurance should cover most if not all of the repair costs."

Susan nodded her head but he could see that she was worried
about something. He brushed a stray piece of hair out of her eyes, "What
is it, Susie?"

She looked at him with concern in her blue-green eyes.
"Do you think they really think it was arson?"

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry
about it, Susie. It is just protocol for them to do an investigation. I'm sure
they will determine that it wasn't arson."

She nodded her head and walked away from him causing his
hand to fall to his side.

A few hours later Susan was nervously watching the
insurance inspector look over the fire report.

"So they think it was a faulty fuse that started the
fire?"

Susan looked at him in surprise, "I don't know. They
are sending an investigator out to look at it."

"Well, I can't make my final decision until I know for
sure that it wasn't arson."

"I didn't try to burn down my business."

"I'm not saying you did, ma'am, I just need the
official report."

Susan nodded her head, wishing that Craig was still here.
He had had to go see to another project he had going on and was going to stop
by later. She didn't know why that made her feel so good, but it did.

The man handed her a business card. "I will be in
touch with you, Ms. Johnson. Let me know when they are done the inspection. I
will need a copy of the report."

Susan nodded her head as she took the business card from
him, "I will call you as soon as I know anything."

The insurance adjuster hadn't been gone ten minutes before
she heard someone knocking at the back door. She felt her heart flip at the
thought that it might be Craig.  She hurried to the door and opened it and was
surprised to see two men standing there.

"I don't know if you remember me,” one of them said.
“I'm Luke Jones, and this is Tyler Macy, the fire inspector."

"Oh, of course,” Susan acknowledged as she opened the
door wider to allow the two men to come in.

She watched as Tyler went straight to work then looked at
Luke who had stayed next to her. "I didn't recognize you without the
yellow suit and all the soot all over your face," she said with a smile.
Not really knowing what else to say to him.

He smiled at her, "I get that a lot."

She chuckled, "A hero with a sense of humor.
Nice."

He smiled at her for a moment, "How are you
doing?" He finally asked.

"I'm doing okay. I guess. This just definitely isn't
the way I had planned on spending my day today."

Luke looked around then back at her. "Fire does have a
way of changing things."

She nodded her head, once again not knowing what to say.
"Would you like a cup of coffee or something?" She finally offered
after a couple minutes of silence.

He nodded his head, "I'd appreciate that." He
followed her down the hallway to her office.

Susan grabbed a paper cup and poured some coffee into it
then handed it to Luke and gestured for him to have a seat. He took the coffee
and stirred in some cream and sugar before he sat down. He looked at her and
Susan smiled.

He smiled back and cleared his throat, “I don't usually
come back with the investigator."

Susan raised her eyebrows, "Oh really?"

He shook his head, "No, but I wanted to make sure you
were okay."

She tilted her head, "Which you probably don't usually
do either."

He shook his head. "No, never, actually."

"Okay, so why today? Setting a new protocol?" She
asked with a smile trying to lighten the atmosphere in the room.

He shook his head, "No, actually I wanted to ask if you
would like to have dinner with me sometime?"

Susan was extremely glad she was sitting or she may have
fallen over. That was the last thing she had expected him to say.

"I can see that I've shocked you."

Susan nodded her head. "Yes, a little bit."

"You don't have to answer right now. You can think
about it." He reached for a pen and notebook which were in his front
pocket. Flipping the notebook open to a blank page he scrawled something on it.
Then he ripped it out of the notebook and handed it to Susan, "Here is my
number. You can call me if you decide you would like to."

Susan looked at the piece of paper with Luke's name and
number on it and sighed before looking back up at him. "Luke, I really
appreciate the offer. But my situation is really complicated right now,"
she said, thinking of Craig and how he had suddenly come back into her life.

"I know fires and disasters like this take a toll on a
person, believe me. But you still need to eat."

Susan smiled at him, "That's true, but it is more than
just the fire that is complicated right now."

Luke nodded his head like he understood what she wasn't
saying. "Well, if your situation ever gets uncomplicated, give me a call.
The invitation stands."

Susan stood up as he stood and smiled with a nod of her
head, "Thank you." She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye
and turned to see Craig standing in the doorway to her office.

“Am I interrupting something?” Craig asked with a pointed
look at Luke.

“No. Craig, this is Luke, the fireman from earlier.” Susan
said, wondering just how much of their conversation Craig had overheard. Not
that she was hiding anything.

“I see I’m complicating things,” Luke said with a smile at
Susan. “I’ll go check to see how Tyler is doing.”

Susan nodded her head and looked at Craig, wondering what
he was thinking.

“So the fire inspector is here?” He asked glancing at the
piece of paper in Susan’s hand.

Susan nodded her head as she looked down at the phone
number she was still holding. She quickly folded it and stuck it in the back
pocket of her jeans. She looked back up at Craig and caught a look on his face
that she couldn’t decipher. An awkward silence enveloped them as Susan racked
her brain for something to say.

“Why don’t we go see if he’s done?” Craig said as he turned
and walked out of the room.

Susan heaved a sigh as she followed Craig. Some things were
just too convoluted to figure out.

The week flew by for Susan. She hated having to be closed
during the remodel, but there was really nothing she could do about it. Craig
came by every morning to go over with her what she wanted done and then once
the insurance came through the workers came to make their plans a reality. She
also hated the way she and Craig had lost their camaraderie of Saturday, but
she wasn’t sure what to do about it. Their stilted conversations were becoming
almost painful and she hated to admit it, but she dreaded them almost as much
as she was dreading going to church on Sunday.

By the time Sunday morning rolled around she felt like she
was going to be sick. She really didn't want to go to church.

"I'm so glad you wanted to come with me, Susan,"
Nana said as they walked toward the front of the warehouse turned church. There
were quite a few people entering the building that boasted the name Cornerstone
Church. They were greeted by a young man, "Welcome to Cornerstone. Enjoy
the service."

"Thank you," Nana said. "What a pleasant
young man," she whispered to Susan.

Susan just nodded. She was so far out of her comfort zone
right now she wouldn't be surprised if Rod Sterling appeared announcing she had
just entered the Twilight Zone. That thought made her smile and she glanced at
Nana.

Nana smiled back at her with twinkling eyes, "Do you
know how long it's been since I've darkened the door of a church?"

Susan shook her head, she couldn't even remember the last
time she had darkened the door way of a church.

"I believe it was for your Grandpa's funeral."

Susan felt Nana's hand squeeze her arm. She didn't know
what to say so she just patted Nana's hand in an effort to let her know it was
okay.

As they entered the room where the service was to be held a
woman handed each of them a bulletin and welcomed them to the service.  Susan
just smiled at her. They found a couple of seats toward the middle of the
room.  Susan had tried to get Nana to sit on the aisle in the back, but Nana
was insistent on sitting more toward the front and smack in the middle of the
row. There would be no easy way to escape now. She figured that was probably
part of Nana's reason for sitting in such a spot.

Susan perused the bulletin as they waited for the service
to start. From the looks of the bulletin this church had a lot of things going
on outside of the normal Sunday service. It looked like there was something
going on just about every night of the week for all different kinds of things.
It was rather astonishing to Susan. She could never see herself doing more than
church on Sunday. Actually, before today she couldn't even see herself doing
that. She set the bulletin on her lap and resigned herself to an hour or more
of pure boredom.

"Remember you promised to pay attention, Susan,"
Nana said as some people came onto the stage.

"I will, Nana.  But I don't have to like it."

"Of course you don't, dear. But it will go faster for
you if you at least try to."

Everyone around them stood as the people on stage started
playing a song. Susan looked around like they were crazy then she saw her Nana
stand up with them and she wondered why they were all standing. Nana motioned
for her to stand and Susan slowly stood to her feet. The words to the song were
projected onto a screen at the front of the church and Susan followed along
silently. Looking around she saw some people clapping, some raising their hands
and some were almost dancing. It made her very uncomfortable. She tried to just
focus on the words at the front of the church and her Nana's sweet voice
following along with the song. The words were different from any she usually heard
in songs. Words of love, peace, rest and eternal life but it was the last song
they played that sent chills down her spine in spite of herself. It was a song
about how holy God was, Him being the King of kings and Him being everything.
When it was over she looked at her Nana and saw tears rolling down her softly
wrinkled cheeks. She leaned over to whisper, "Are you okay, Nana?"

Nana looked at her with a blinding smile, "Oh, I'm
better than okay. That was the most beautiful song I have ever heard." 

Susan nodded.

A man came onto the stage and shared some announcements
about things going on in the church and then he said it was time for offering
and the congregation clapped. Susan looked around and rolled her eyes thinking
that these people were surely brain washed. Who would be happy about giving
away their money for Pete's sake? They always wanted money. “They” being
Christians. But the man said something that piqued Susan's interest. He said
that they clapped because God loves cheerful givers, which just made Susan roll
her eyes again. But then he said that the offering was for the people who
called Cornerstone church their home, and if someone was visiting, they did not
need to feel obligated to give.  Susan heard some rustling next to her and
glanced over to see Nana digging in her purse.

"Nana, what are you doing?"

"I want to give something."

"But he said it was for people who call this church
home, whatever that means," she hissed.

"I would be proud to call this church home, from what
I've seen. I can't wait to hear the sermon."

Susan huffed and sat back in her chair wondering what other
surprises were in store for her. This was crazy.

The song during offering sounded a little familiar to
Susan, but she wasn't really sure.  Something about amazing grace.

The preacher came up then and he was a lot younger than
Susan expected a preacher to be.  He couldn't have been over forty.

Susan wasn't sure a man that young would have any pearls of
wisdom to share with her, but then she thought of Craig and thought if he were
up there she would probably listen to him. So she tried to let go of her
misgivings and settled back to listen to what he had to say.

"That was the best message I have heard in a long
time." Nana said as Susan drove her home after church. 

Susan cast a cursory glance her way, "It's the only
message you've heard in a long time."

Nana chuckled, "I know, thank you so very much for
taking me. It made my week."

Susan smiled at her, "I'm glad. You deserve to be
happy."

"Well, now, I'm not too sure about that, but I am
happy just the same."

"Why do you think you don't deserve to be happy,
Nana?"

"God never promises us happiness, child, He promises
to hold us."

"I don't understand," Susan said with a shake of
her head.

"Of course you don't, but I am praying that one day
you will."

They were quiet the rest of the way to Nana's home, partly
because Susan wasn't sure what to say to Nana. This talk of God and Nana's
re-found faith was really messing with Susan’s brain. Her world was tilting off
its normal axis and she wasn't sure how to get it upright again.

"Are you going to see your Craig again this
week?" Nana asked before she opened the door to her home.  Susan had
helped her out of the car and up to her front door.

"He isn't my Craig, Nana."

"Does he have another girlfriend?"

Susan crinkled her forehead in confusion. "I don't
know. I don't think he has a girlfriend, but that doesn't make me his
girlfriend."

"Don’t you want to be his girlfriend?"

"I don't think that is a relevant question. We differ
on too many important things."

Nana walked into her home, "Like Christianity."

"Yes, that is one thing." One very big thing.

"You could change that. What else?” She asked before
Susan could respond to her statement.

"I don't know. I'd rather not talk about it right
now."

"Fine." Nana said surprising Susan at her easy
capitulation.

Susan helped Nana prepare a simple lunch of grilled cheese
sandwiches and creamy tomato soup. They sat down to eat and Susan quickly set
down her sandwich as she realized Nana had bowed her head and started to pray.

Nana said "Amen," then looked up at Susan.
"Do you think your Craig would know how I could get that song that we sang
in church today?"

Susan ignored the reference to "her Craig" and
instead asked which song Nana was referring to.

"You know, the one about the lamb being slain."

Susan grimaced, "I don't remember anything about
singing about killing a lamb, that doesn't seem like a very Christian thing to
sing about."

Nana chuckled, "Jesus is the lamb who was slain,
Susan. That is who we were singing about. You know the song, I was crying when
it ended and I thought you were going to drag me out of the service."

Susan blushed, "Oh, that song." She really didn't
remember it saying anything about a lamb.

"I would love to be able to listen to that song
again."

"Well, if you had a computer, I'm sure that I could
look it up on the Internet."

"Computers are for young folks, like yourself. When
you get home could you try to find it? Or ask Craig? I'm sure he would know how
to get it."

Susan looked at her Nana suspiciously, "Yes, I'm sure
he would."

"So you'll ask him?"

"If I see him, I'll ask him. Does that make you
happy?"

Nana grinned at her, "Of course it does."

Craig looked over the blueprint that the architect had just
dropped off. He was actually surprised that the developers had chosen him to be
their general contractor. This was the biggest project he had ever done. Not
that he didn't think he could handle it, he was sure he could and he could sure
use the income. Gazing out the window, he wondered how Susan was doing. They
hadn’t seen each other since Friday. He had wanted to stop by and see her
today, but their conversations were so stilted. He blew out a breath.
Lord,
please help me know what to do.
He prayed silently.

"Mr. Ryder, you have a call on line three."

"Thanks, Maggie," he said as he set the blueprint
down and picked up the phone. "Craig Ryder,"

"Wow, you sound so professional."

Craig felt his heart speed up at the sound of the voice on
the other end of the line, "Susan?"

Her chuckle sounded a little nervous, "Yep."

"Is everything okay?" He probed, wondering what
would make her call him at work.

"Yeah, everything is fine."

They were silent for a moment. "Susan?" He asked,
wondering if she had hung up the line had grown so quiet.

"I'm still here, but I'm thinking I probably shouldn't
have called you. Especially at work."

"Susan, you can call me whenever you need to. I don't
mind."

He heard her sigh on the other end of the line and he hoped
it as a sigh of relief and not of frustration. "Is there something you
wanted to tell me?"

"Actually I needed to ask you something."

"Shoot," he said leaning back in his chair,
relishing the sound of her voice next to his ear.

"I took Nana to church yesterday."

Craig sat up a little straighter, "You did?"

"Shocking I know, but I would do anything for
her."

"She wanted to go to church?"

"Yeah, it's kind of a long story. Anyway, she really
liked one of the songs and she wants to be able to hear it again, but I can't
seem to find it anywhere on the Internet."

"Do you know any of the words?"

"This is going to sound weird, but she only remembered
it being about a lamb that was slain."

 He loved the way she sounded so self-conscious saying
that. "You know it's not about a little fuzzy lamb, right?"

"Nana explained that to me."