Love Finds a Way (2 page)

When Lorna arrived home from work a few minutes before midnight, she found her mother-in-law in the living room, reading a book.

“You’re up awfully late,” Lorna remarked, taking a seat on the couch beside Ann.

“I was waiting for you,” the older woman answered with a smile. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Is anything wrong?”

“Everything here is fine. It’s you I’m worried about,” Ann said, squinting her pale green eyes. “What do you mean?”

“My son has been dead for over a year, and you’re still grieving.” A look of concern clouded Ann’s face. “You’re working two jobs, but there’s no reason for it anymore. You have a home here for as long as you like, and Ed and I ask nothing in return.” She reached over and gave Lorna’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You shouldn’t be wearing yourself out for nothing. If you keep going this way, you’ll get sick.”

Lorna sank her top teeth into her bottom lip so hard she tasted blood. This was the second lecture she’d had in one evening, and she wasn’t in the mood to hear it. She loved Ron’s parents as if they were her own. She’d chosen to live in their home after his death because she thought it would bring comfort to all three of them. Lorna didn’t want hard feelings to come between them, and she certainly didn’t want to say or do anything that might offend this lovely, gracious woman.

“Ann, I appreciate your concern,” Lorna began, searching for words she hoped wouldn’t sound harsh. “I am dealing with Ron’s death the best way I can, but I’m not like you. I can’t be content to stay home and knit sweaters or crochet lacy tablecloths. I have to keep busy outside the house. It keeps me from getting bored or dwelling on what can’t be changed.”

“Busy is fine, but you’ve become a workaholic, and it’s not healthy—mentally or physically.” Ann adjusted her metal-framed reading glasses so they were sitting correctly on the bridge of her nose. “Ed and I love you, Lorna. We think of you as the daughter we never had. We only want what’s best for you.” Her short, coffee-colored hair was peppered with gray, and she pushed a stray curl behind her ear.

“I love you both, and I know you have my welfare in mind, but I’m a big girl now, so you needn’t worry.” Lorna knew her own parents would probably be just as concerned for her well-being if she were living with them. She was almost thankful Mom and Dad lived in Minnesota, because she didn’t need two sets of doting parents right now.

“Ed and I don’t expect you to give up your whole life for us,” Ann continued, as though Lorna hadn’t spoken on her own behalf. “You moved from your home state to attend college here; then shortly after you and Ron married, you dropped out of school so you could work and pay his way. Then you kept on working after he entered med school, in order to help pay all the bills for his schooling.”

Lorna didn’t need to be reminded of the sacrifices she’d made. She was well aware of what she’d given up for the man she loved. “I’m not giving up my life for anyone now,” she said as she sighed deeply and pushed against the sofa cushion. Ann didn’t understand the way she felt. No one did.

“Have you considered what you might like to do with the rest of your life?” her mother-in-law persisted. “Surely you don’t want to spend it working two jobs and holding your middle-aged in-laws’ hands.”

Lorna blinked back sudden tears that threatened to spill over. She used to think she and Ron would grow old together and have a happy marriage like his parents and hers did. She’d imagined them having children and turning into a real family after he became a physician, but that would never happen now. Lorna had spent the last year worried about helping Ron’s parents deal with their loss, and she’d continued to put her own life on hold.

She swallowed against the lump in her throat. It didn’t matter. Her hopes and dreams died the day Ron’s body was lowered into that cold, dark grave.

She wrapped her arms around her middle and squeezed her eyes shut. Was it time to stop grieving and follow her heart? Could she do it? Did she even want to anymore?

“I’ve been thinking,” Ann said, breaking into Lorna’s troubling thoughts.

“What?”

“When you quit school to help pay our son’s way, you were cheated out of the education you deserved. I think you should go back to college and get that music degree you were working toward.”

Lorna stirred uneasily. First Chris, and now Ann? What was going on? Was she the victim of some kind of conspiracy? She extended her legs and stretched like a cat. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go up to bed.”

Before she stood up, Lorna touched her mother-in-law’s hand. “I appreciate your suggestion, and I promise to sleep on the idea.”

“‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart,’ “Ann quoted from the book of Psalms. “God is always full of surprises.”

Lorna nodded and headed for the stairs. A short time later, she entered her room and flopped onto the canopy bed with a sigh. She lay there a moment, then turned her head to the right so she could study the picture sitting on the dresser across the room. It was taken on her wedding day, and she and Ron were smiling and looking at each other as though they had their whole lives ahead of them. How happy they’d been back then—full of hope and dreams for their future.

A familiar pang of regret clutched Lorna’s heart as she thought about the plans she’d made for her own life. She’d given up her heart’s desire in order to help Ron’s vision come true. Now they were both gone—Ron, as well as Lorna’s plans and dreams.

With the back of her hand, she swiped at an errant tear running down her cheek.
Help me know what to do, Lord. Could You possibly want me to go back to school? Can I really have the desires of my heart? Do You have any pleasant surprises ahead for me?

What
did the ground say to the rain?” Lorna asked an elderly man as she waited on his table.

He glanced out the window at the pouring rain and shrugged. “You got me.”

“If you keep this up, my name will be mud!” Lorna’s laugh sounded forced, but it was the best she could do, considering how hard she’d had to work at telling the dumb joke.

“That was really lame,” Chris moaned as she passed by her table and jabbed Lorna in the ribs.

The customer, however, laughed at Lorna’s corny quip. She smiled.
Could mean another nice tip
.

She moved to the next table, preparing to take an order from a young couple.

“I’ll have one of the greasiest burgers you’ve got, with a side order of artery-clogging french fries.” The man looked up at Lorna and winked.

Offering him what she hoped was a pleasant smile, Lorna wrote down his order. Then she turned to the woman and asked, “What would you like?”

“I’m trying to watch my weight,” the slender young woman said. “What have you got that tastes good and isn’t full of fat or too many calories?”

“You don’t look like you need to worry about your weight at all.” Lorna grinned. “Why, did you know that diets are for people who are thick and tired of it all?”

The woman giggled. “I think I’ll settle for a dinner salad and a glass of unsweetened iced tea.”

When Lorna turned in her order, she bumped into Chris, who was doing the same.

“What’s with you tonight?” her friend asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never seen you so friendly to the customers before. And those jokes, Lorna. Where did you dig them up?”

Lorna shrugged. “You’re not the only one who can make people laugh, you know. I’ll bet my tips will be better than ever tonight.”

“Tips? Is that what you’re trying to do—get more tips?”

“Not necessarily more. Just bigger ones.” As she spoke the words, Lorna felt a pang of guilt. She knew it wasn’t right to try to wangle better tips. The motto at Farmen’s was to be friendly and courteous to all customers. Besides, it was the Christian way, and Lorna knew better than to do anything other than that. She’d gotten carried away with the need to make more money in less time.
Forgive me, Father
, she prayed.

Chris moved closer to Lorna. “Let me see if I understand this right. You’re single, living rent free with your in-laws, working two jobs, and you need more money? What gives?”

“I’ve given my notice at the Mini-Mart,” Lorna answered. “Next Friday will be my last day.”

Chris’s mouth dropped open, and she sucked in her breath. “You’re kidding!”

“I’m totally serious. I’ll only be working at this job from now on.”

“You don’t even like waiting tables,” Chris reminded. “Why would you give up your day job to come here every evening and put up with a cranky boss and complaining customers? If you want to quit a job, why not this one?”

“I decided to take your advice,” Lorna replied.

“My advice? Now that’s a first. What, might I ask, are you taking my advice on?”

“One week from Monday I’ll be registering for the fall semester at Bay View Christian College.”

Chris’s eyes grew large, and Lorna gave her friend’s red and blue apron a little tug. “Please don’t stand there gaping at me—say something.”

Chris blinked as though she were coming out of a trance. “I’m in shock. I can’t believe you’re actually going back to college, much less doing it at my suggestion.”

Lorna wrinkled her nose. “It wasn’t solely because of your prompting.”

“Oh?”

“Ann suggested it the other night, too, and I’ve been praying about it ever since. I feel it’s something I should do.”

Chris grabbed Lorna in a bear hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks.” Lorna nodded toward their boss, Gary Farmen, who had just walked by. “Guess we should get back to work.”

“Right.” Chris giggled. “We wouldn’t want to be accused of having any fun on the job, now, would we?”

Lorna started toward the dining room.

“One more thing,” Chris called after her.

“What’s that?” Lorna asked over her shoulder.

“I’d find some better jokes if I were you.”

The distinctive, crisp scent of autumn was in the air. Lorna inhaled deeply as she shuffled through a pile of freshly fallen leaves scattered around the campus of Bay View Christian College.

Today she would register for the fall semester, bringing her one step closer to realizing her dream of teaching music. The decision to return to school had been a difficult one. Certainly she was mature enough to handle the pressures that would come with being a full-time student, but she worried about being too mature to study with a bunch of kids who probably didn’t have a clue what life was all about.

By the time Lorna reached the front door of the admissions office, her heart was pounding so hard she was sure everyone within earshot could hear it. Her knees felt weak and shaky, and she wondered if she would be able to hold up long enough to get through this process.

She’d already filled out the necessary paperwork for preadmission and had even met with her adviser the previous week. Today was just a formality. Still, the long line forming behind the desk where she was to pick up her course package made her feel ill at ease.

Lorna fidgeted with the strap of her purse and felt relief wash over her when it was finally her turn.

“Name?” asked the dark-haired, middle-aged woman who was handing out the packets.

“Lorna Patterson. My major is music education.”

The woman thumbed through the alphabetized bundles. A few seconds later, she handed one to Lorna. “This is yours.”

“Thanks,” Lorna mumbled. She turned and began looking through the packet, relieved when she saw that the contents confirmed her schedule for this semester.

Intent on reading the program for her anatomy class, Lorna wasn’t watching where she was going. With a sudden jolt, she bumped into someone’s arm, and the entire bundle flew out of her hands. Feeling a rush of heat creep up the back of her neck, Lorna dropped to her knees to retrieve the scattered papers.

“Sorry. Guess my big bony elbow must have gotten in your way. Here, let me help you with those.”

Lorna looked up. A pair of clear blue eyes seemed to be smiling at her. The man those mesmerizing eyes belonged to must be the owner of the deep voice offering help. She fumbled with the uncooperative papers, willing her fingers to stop shaking.
What is wrong with me? I’m acting like a clumsy fool this morning
. “Thanks, but I can manage,” she squeaked.

The young man nodded as he got to his feet, and her cheeks burned hot under his scrutiny.

Lorna quickly gathered up the remaining papers and stood.
He probably thinks I’m a real klutz. So much for starting out the day on the right foot
.

The man opened his mouth as if to say something, but Lorna hurried away. She still had to go to the business office and take care of some financial matters. Then she needed to find the bookstore and locate whatever she’d be needing, and finally the student identification desk to get her ID card. There would probably be long lines everywhere.

Lorna made her way down the crowded hall, wondering how many more stupid blunders she might make before the day was over. She’d been away from college so long; it was obvious she no longer knew how to function. Especially in the presence of a good-looking man.