Love Finds a Way (3 page)

Evan hung his bicycle on the rack outside his lake-view apartment building and bounded up the steps, feeling rather pleased with himself. He’d enrolled at Bay View Christian College today, taken a leisurely bike ride around Woodland Park, and now was anxious to get home and grab a bite to eat. After supper he’d be going online to check out Cynthia Lyons’s cooking class again. Maybe he’d have better luck with today’s recipe than he had last week. Evan’s peanut butter chocolate chip cookies turned out hard as rocks, and he still hadn’t figured out what he’d done wrong. He thought he’d followed Cynthia’s directions to the letter, but apparently he’d left out some important ingredient. He probably should try making them again.

As soon as Evan entered his apartment, he went straight to the kitchen and pulled a dinner from the freezer, then popped it into the oven.

“If I learn how to cook halfway decent, it might help find me a wife,” he murmured. “Not only that, but it would mean I’d be eating better meals while I wait for that special someone.”

While the frozen dinner heated, Evan went to the living room, where his computer sat on a desk in the corner. He booted it up, then went back to the kitchen to fix a salad. At least that was something he could do fairly well.

“I should have insisted Mom teach me how to cook,” he muttered.

As Evan prepared the green salad, his thoughts turned toward home. He’d grown up in Moscow, Idaho, and that’s where his parents and two older sisters still lived with their families. Since Evan was the youngest child and the only boy in the family, he’d never really needed to cook. His sisters, Margaret and Ellen, had always helped Mom in the kitchen, and they used to say Evan was just in the way if he tried to help out. So when Evan went off to college, he lived on fast food and meals that were served in the school’s cafeteria. When he dropped out of college to join the air force, all of his meals were provided, so again he had no reason to cook.

Now Evan was living in Seattle, attending the Christian college a friend had recommended. He probably could have lived on campus and eaten whatever was available, but he’d chosen to live alone and learn to cook. He’d also decided it was time to settle down and look for a Christian woman.

Evan sliced a tomato and dropped the pieces into the salad bowl. “First order of business—learn to cook. Second order—find a wife!”

Over the last few days, Lorna’s tips from the restaurant had increased, and she figured it might have something to do with the fact that she’d given up telling jokes and was being pleasant and friendly, without any ulterior motives.

“I see it’s raining again,” Chris said as she stepped up beside Lorna.

Lorna grabbed her work apron and shrugged. “What else is new? We’re living in Washington—the Evergreen State, remember?”

Chris lifted her elbow, let it bounce a few times, then connected it gently to Lorna’s rib cage. “You’re not planning to tell that silly joke about the ground talking to the rain again, I hope.”

Lorna shook her head. “I’ve decided to stick to business and leave the humorous stuff to real people like you.”

Chris raised her dark eyebrows, giving Lorna a quizzical look.
“Real
people? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re fun-loving and genuinely witty.” Lorna frowned. “You don’t have to tell stale jokes in order to make people smile. Everyone seems drawn to your pleasant personality.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” Chris said with a nod. “I think you sell yourself short. You’re talented, have gorgeous, curly blond hair, and you’re blessed with a genuine, sweet spirit.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Trouble is, you keep it hidden, like a dark secret you don’t want anyone to discover.”

Lorna moved away, hoping to avoid any more of her friend’s psychoanalyzing, but Chris stepped in front of her, planting both hands on her wide hips. “I’m not done yet.”

Lorna squinted her eyes. “It’s obvious that you’re not going to let me go to work until I hear you out.”

Chris’s smile was a victorious one. “If you would learn to relax and quit taking life so seriously, people would be drawn to you.”

Lorna groaned. “I want to, Chris, but since Ron’s death, life has so little meaning for me.”

“You’re still young and have lots to offer the world. Don’t let your heart stay locked up in a self-made prison.”

“Maybe going back to school will help. Being around kids who are brimming over with enthusiasm and still believe life holds nothing but joy might rub off on me.”

“I think most college kids are smart enough to know life isn’t always fun and games,” Chris said in a serious tone. “I do believe you’re right about one thing though.”

“What’s that?”

“Going back to school will be good for you.”

L
orna settled herself into one of the hard-backed auditorium seats and pulled a notebook and pen from her backpack. Anatomy was her first class of the day. She wanted to be ready for action, since this course had been suggested by one of the advisers. It would help her gain a better understanding of proper breathing and the body positions involved in singing.

She glanced around, noticing about fifty other students in the room. Most of them were also preparing to take notes.

A tall, middle-aged man, who introduced himself as Professor Talcot, announced the topic of the day—”Age-Related Changes.”

Lorna was about to place her backpack on the empty seat next to her when someone sat down. She glanced over and was greeted with a friendly smile.

Oh no! It’s that guy I bumped into the other day during registration
.

She forced a return smile, then quickly averted her attention back to the professor.

“I’m late. Did I miss much?” the man whispered as he leaned toward Lorna.

“He just started.” She kept her gaze straight ahead.

“Okay, thanks.”

Lorna was grateful he didn’t say anything more. She was here to learn, not to be distracted by some big kid who should have been on time for his first class of the day.

“Everyone, take a good look at the seat you’re in,” Professor Talcot said. “That’s where you will sit for the remainder of the semester. My assistant will be around shortly to get your names and fill out the seating chart.”

Lorna groaned inwardly. If she’d known she would have to stay in this particular seat all semester, she might have been a bit more selective. Of course, she had no way of knowing an attractive guy with gorgeous blue eyes and a winning smile was going to flop into the seat beside her.

I can handle this. After all, it’s only one hour a day. I don’t even have to talk to him if I don’t want to
.

“Name, please?”

Lorna was jolted from her thoughts when a studious-looking man wearing metal-framed glasses tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned her head and realized he was standing in the row behind, leaning slightly over the back of her seat, holding a clipboard in one hand.

“Lorna Patterson,” she whispered.

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

The man sitting next to Lorna turned around. “She said her name is Lorna Patterson. Mine’s Evan Bailey.”

“Gotcha!” the aide replied.

Lorna felt the heat of embarrassment rush to her cheeks.

Great! He not only saw how clumsy I was the other day; now he thinks I can’t even speak for myself. I must appear to be pretty stupid
.

As she turned her attention back to the class, Lorna caught the tail end of something the professor had said. Something about a group of five.
That’s what I get for thinking when I should be listening. Maybe I wasn’t ready to come back to college after all
. She turned to Evan and reluctantly asked, “What did the professor say?”

“He said he’s about to give us our first assignment, and we’re supposed to form into groups of five.” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Would you like to be in my group?”

Lorna shrugged. She didn’t know anyone else in the class. Not that she knew Evan. She’d only met him once, and that wasn’t under the best of circumstances.

Evan Bailey was obviously more outgoing than she, for he was already rounding up three other people to join their group—two young men and one woman, all sitting in the row ahead of them.

“The first part of this assignment will be to get to know each other,” Professor Talcot told the class. “Tell everyone in your group your name, age, and major.”

Lorna felt a sense of dread roll over her, like turbulent breakers lapping against the shore.

It’s bad enough that I’m older than most of these college kids. Is it really necessary for me to reveal my age?

Introductions were quickly made, and Lorna soon learned the others in the group were Jared, Tim, and Vanessa. All but Evan and Lorna had given some information about themselves.

“You want to go first?” Evan asked, looking at Lorna.

“I—uh—am in my junior year, and I’m majoring in music ed. I hope to become an elementary school music teacher when I graduate.”

“Sounds good. How about you, Evan?” Tim, the studious-looking one, asked.

Evan wiggled his eyebrows and gave Lorna a silly grin. “I’m lookin’ for a mother for my children.”

“You have kids?” The question came from Vanessa, who had long red hair and dark brown eyes, which she’d kept focused on Evan ever since they’d formed their group.

He shook his head. “Nope, not yet. I’m still searching for the right woman to be my wife. I need someone who loves the Lord as much as I do.” Evan’s eyebrows drew together. “Oh yeah—it might be good if she knows how to cook. I’m in the process of learning, but so far all my recipes have flopped.”

Vanessa leaned forward and studied Evan more intently. “Are you majoring in home economics?”

Evan chuckled. “Not even close. My major is psychology, but I’ve recently signed up for an online cooking class.” He smiled and nodded at Lorna instead of Vanessa. “You married?”

Lorna shook her head. “I’m not married now.” She hesitated then looked away. “My husband died.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Evan said in a sincere tone.

“Yeah, it’s a shame about your husband,” Jared agreed.

There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence; then Evan said, “I thought I might bring some sweet treats to class one of these days and share them with anyone willing to be my guinea pig.”

Vanessa smacked her lips and touched the edge of Evan’s shirtsleeve. “I’ll be looking forward to that.”

“It’s time to tell our ages. I’m twenty-one,” Tim said.

Vanessa smiled and said she was also twenty-one.

Jared informed the group that he was twenty-four.

“Guess that makes me the old man of our little assemblage. I’m heading downhill at the ripe old age of twenty-eight,” Evan said with a wink in Lorna’s direction.

With the exception of Evan, they’re all just kids
, she thought.
And even he’s four years younger than me
.

Vanessa nudged Lorna’s arm with the eraser end of her pencil. “Now it’s your turn.”

Lorna stared at the floor and mumbled, “I’m thirty-two.”

Jared let out a low whistle. “Wow, you’re a lot older than the rest of us.”

Lorna slid a little lower in her chair.
As if I needed to be reminded
.