Leap of Faith

by Tanya Stowe

  “Oh, hello.” Her smile faded as she brought the door close to her body.

  “Hi. I assumed this plate’s yours.”

  “Yes. Usually, I bring my own. Salads tend to make the paper plates soggy.” She took the plate from his hand, still hugging the door.

  “Thanks for bringing me dinner...and letting me use your plate. I really appreciated it.”

  ”You’re welcome.”

  “I couldn’t pick a winner, by the way.”

  “A winner?”

  “Yeah, for the rib challenge. Gabe’s going to be disappointed, but I think David’s ribs are as good as his.” He paused and stuck his hands in his back pockets. “Everything, OK? You seem a little down.” Cautious or defensive was closer to the truth but he didn’t say it.

  “I’m fine,” she said and lifted the plate. “Thanks for bringing this back, but I’ve got to get back to work.”

  She didn’t sound fine, and he wasn’t ready to leave. Not yet. “Do you mind if I come in for a little while. I’d like to talk to you.”

  She hesitated then shrugged. “I guess so. But I have to finish something.”

  “Sure, sure. Go ahead.”

  She opened the door wide, and Zack followed her in. Zoe headed for a table in the center of the room, but Zack froze just inside. Positioned on easels in front of every window were large stained glass pictures. Bright sunlight struck the artwork and sent shards of color everywhere.

  Zack whistled in appreciation. “It’s like walking into a kaleidoscope.”

  Zoe laughed. “Well, I’ve never heard it described quite that way.” She slid onto a stool behind the desk and lifted a soldering iron. In seconds, a thin trail of smoke wafted upwards.

  Zack walked to the first piece, a wide garden scene with a waterfall, a lion, and a lamb beside a pool. He didn’t know glass came in so many shades of green.

  The next piece was a beautiful rendering of Jesus on the cross. A woman sat at His feet and her upturned face was tear-stained. Her expression was so sorrowful and real, Zack wanted to reach out and wipe away her tears.

  Beside that work of art rested a tall, framed image of an angel. One wing swept upward, one down and his arms were clasped in front of him. Longish, pure white hair wove around his ears. But his eyes were the remarkable part. They were piercing, as if they could see through things.

  Zack stepped closer. Different shades of gray glass gave the eyes their incredible see-through effect.

  “His name is Resolve,” Zoe said.

  Zack glanced back. “Kind of an unusual name for an angel, isn’t it?”

  “No. I believe angels’ names reflect their duties. This one’s duty is to be resolute, not to give in or to give up on anyone.”

  “I can see that. He seems so firm and yet so compassionate.” He studied him a bit more. “You know, his eyes remind me of Mr. Hart’s.”

  “That’s no surprise. Resolve is Mr. Hart’s guardian angel.”

  Zack laughed. “That doesn’t fit. His name should be something like Grumpy or Codger.”

  Zoe didn’t crack a smile. Without raising her head, she lifted her gaze to his. “Have you ever tried to tell Mr. Hart no?”

  The laughter died on Zack’s lips. “Oh. I get your point.” He turned back to study the image, quite certain Zoe was right. Just like that, they’d crossed over into the realm of the unbelievable and uncomfortable, the place most people refused to go. How did she do it so naturally?

  He turned to study her while she remained intent on her work. She bent over, her long braid trailing down her back. Sunlight from the window opposite him gave her a slight glow from behind, like an exquisite, medieval painting. She took his breath away.

  She seemed out of place in her own time. Certainly not the kind of girl Zack should be interested in. But ever since she’d brought him the plate of ribs, he couldn’t seem to get her out of his head.

  “Zoe,” he said, his voice low. “I’m sorry about what I said the other day, about things being too weird.”

  She paused to lay the soldering iron down. After a moment, she gave a shrug. “It’s all right, Zack. It’s how everybody reacts.”

  Her words hit him hard. He didn’t want to be like everyone else. He wanted to be different, special. “That may be how everyone reacts, but I shouldn’t have. I’ve thought a lot about what you said, and you were right.”

  For the first time since he’d arrived, a genuine smile lit her lips. If possible, it seemed like the whole room brightened. “I usually am, so I’m glad you took the advice.”

  He nodded. “So, is it a psychic thing you have?”

  “No,” she said with a firm shake of her head. “It’s a God thing.”

  A small laugh broke out before Zack could stop it.

  “Why are you laughing?” A touch of anger tinged her tone. “Why is it easier for everyone to believe that I have some great mental power that allows me to know everything, even the future, but they can’t believe in a loving God who answers their prayers?”

  Surprised by her outburst, Zack shook his head. “I guess the problem is, I’d have to pray for Him to answer me, and I haven’t prayed in a long, long time.”

  The defensiveness left Zoe’s posture, and she smiled again. “Just because you’ve forgotten Him, doesn’t mean He’s forgotten you, Zack.”

  Her words settled over him. It would be comforting to believe that some greater power was in charge. That someone who cared about him guided his future. It certainly would take the pressure off.

  “Are you sure?” he said somewhat wryly. “It’s been a very long time since I talked to Him. I’m thinking since Sunday school.”

  She slid off the stool and pulled the heavy apron over her head. “I’ll bet you lunch it hasn’t been that long.”

  Anxious to spend more time with her, Zack easily agreed.

  “We pray all the time,” Zoe said as she pushed the stool under the desk. “We just don’t realize it. How many times have you said, ‘OK, here we go’? Who are you talking to?”

  “No one. It’s just an expression.”

  “Then why do we say it out loud?”

  “You got me. Why do we say it aloud?”

  “Because subconsciously, we all sense Him out there. We know He’s watching us.”

  Zack smiled. “Something tells me you’d have a hard time convincing most people that’s the reason. Besides, we talk to ourselves all the time. How many times a day do you tell yourself ‘that was dumb’ or ‘why did I do that’?”

  “Those don’t count. You’re definitely talking to yourself. Or rather, talking down to yourself. God wouldn’t talk to us that way, and we know it.”

  “You seem pretty convinced,” Zack laughed. “But I’m not so sure the rest of us are.”

  “OK. I’ll prove it. What were you doing just before I came to your door the other day?”

  He folded his arms and tried to remember. “I was sitting at my computer, trying to make myself hit the reply button.”

  Zoe came closer. “And what were you saying to yourself?”

  He had a hard time recalling anything besides the flecks of yellow in her eyes now that she stood so close. “I was wondering why I couldn’t press the reply button.”

  “But what did you say to yourself?”

  His words came to him with a flash of clarity. “I said, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ I even said it out loud.”

  Zoe beamed. “See. You were talking to God, even though you didn’t realize it.”

  Zack opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. He only knew he’d lost the bet, and he was more than eager to concede. “OK. I lose. Where would you like to go for lunch?”

  “I’m sorry,” Zoe said with a frown. “I can’t go right now. I have to go across town to deliver that window.” She gestured to the work desk.

  “How about I go with you to drop it off and then we can stop and grab a bite?”

  Zoe tilted her head. “Are you sure you want to do that?
”

  “I’m sure,” Zack said with conviction. “There’s nothing I’d rather do more.”

  5

  “It’s perfect!” Vivian Mallory, Angel Falls’ leading interior designer and a special friend to Mr. Hart, studied the picture Zoe had delivered. Zoe watched, relieved to see the admiration in the woman’s bright gaze. “I knew if I asked you to do this, Zoe, it would be wonderful.”

  Vivian turned to Zack as they stood just inside the living room of her small cottage. “Some friends of mine are celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. They’re building their dream home on the beach in Galveston. Trouble has plagued the project, and I wanted to remind them of their reasons for starting it. So I asked Zoe to do this small piece based on a picture they took on their honeymoon.”

  Zack turned his brown-eyed gaze on Zoe. His eyes held warmth and admiration. He made her feel talented. Unique. Beautiful. She was dangerously close to melting into a puddle of gooey emotions and that was not acceptable. She looked away.

  “Speaking of the picture.” She handed it to Mrs. Mallory. “I’m glad you like it. I don’t usually do pieces on commission like this, so I wasn’t sure I could do it. I had a hard time getting the look of the waves.”

  Mrs. Mallory held up the window. “I don’t know how you did it, but it’s beautiful.”

  “It’s multiple tiny pieces of white glass,” Zack said, admiration deep in his tone. “Look how intricately she placed them. The pattern makes them look like they’re moving.”

  Zack surprised Zoe. People didn’t usually notice the details of her work. The fact that Zack did, made his attention seem a little less like fawning and more real.

  She’d been uncomfortable with his crazy attraction from the beginning. Not because it wasn’t wonderful. Zack was polite, fun, gorgeous, and smart. Being the object of his charming attention would be any girl’s dream. But Zoe knew the truth.

  She’d felt the flutter of the angel’s wings the first time she’d entered his apartment. She could still feel their presence around them. She was certain they had a purpose in bringing her and Zack together. She was just part of the plan. She wasn’t sure of the purpose and hoped she wasn’t too big a part of the plan, because it was dangerous being close to the way-too-handsome Zack Manning.

  The only thing she knew for certain was that her future was set, and it didn’t include a Manhattan computer programmer headed for the top.

  Mrs. Mallory—Zoe couldn’t get used to calling her Viv even though she’d insisted multiple times—handed her a check. As soon as Zoe saw the figure written in the corner, she tried to hand it back.

  “Oh, no. This is way too much.”

  Viv pushed Zoe’s hand away. “As far as I’m concerned, young lady, it’s not enough.”

  Zoe ducked her head. Some of it would have to go toward monthly bills but a good portion of it would help her reach her savings goal. She took a deep breath. “Thanks, Mrs.—Viv. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  The older woman nodded. “I know more than you think.”

  Zoe’s lips parted in surprise then she remembered that Viv and Mr. Hart were very close.

  “Now,” Viv continued, “I’m going to let you two get on with your afternoon while I get back to the mess on my computer.”

  “Mess?” Zack asked.

  Viv turned back. “Oh, no. That wasn’t a subtle plea for help, Zack. I forgot for a moment that you work on computers. You two go on and enjoy yourselves.”

  “I know you wouldn’t ask for my help. That’s why I’m offering. It won’t take a minute to see if I can do anything. If it’s too complicated, we’ll be on our way. You don’t mind do you, Zoe?”

  She shook her head. “Of course not.”

  “Well, I could use your advice on something. Let’s go to my office.”

  She led the way to French doors off the main living room. Zoe knew that after the death of Vivian’s husband, the woman had down-sized and bought this lovely little cottage complete with a picket fence and a wrap-around porch. Zoe hadn’t been surprised to see the interior done in French country style with lots of white furniture and material with huge cabbage roses in pinks, lavenders, and mauves. But when Viv opened the French doors onto a large sunroom that looked out onto a tiny garden, Zoe couldn’t stop the small gasp that slipped out.

  “Yes, it is lovely isn’t it?” Viv said. “It’s the warmest room in the house in winter so I decided to make it my office. The garden is a bonus, even in the cold weather.”

  To Zoe’s left was a small white wicker sitting area with a love seat, two chairs, and a small table. The cushions had the same cabbage rose pattern from the living room. In the middle of the sunroom was a large white desk with gold edging. It looked antique and was littered with papers and a laptop computer.

  Zack and Viv immediately started to talk about the program Viv used. Zoe walked to the French doors, leading into the garden.

  “Please,” Viv said from the desk. “Feel free to go outside.”

  Zoe murmured her thanks and stepped out. Letting the doors shut behind her, she closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of plants and damp earth. She heard the tinkle of a fountain and spied it nestled beside her in the corner. In the opposite corner was a white arch, covered in twisted wisteria vines and beneath, a white park bench.

  Zoe headed down the slag stone path to the bench. Almost every part of the garden, including the high block fence, was covered in ivy or creeping fig. On each side of the path, dark brown mulch covered a two-foot wide bed of moist ground. Purple crocuses already peeked out, and Zoe was certain that during spring and summer, the beds would bloom with wild flowers, probably in pinks and purples.

  She sat beneath the arch and looked back. To the right of the French doors was a large potted bougainvillea, covered now to protect it against the cold. To the left, sat a large area with dormant, cut-back rose bushes. When all of the roses bloomed, they would be white. She was certain Viv had coordinated her garden to match the color theme of her home.

  As Zoe looked around, she could almost see it, and it would make the most lovely stained glass scene. The work would take time and would require extremely detailed pieces, but it would be stunning.

  She closed her eyes, visualizing the colors and drinking in the peace.

  Thank You, Lord, for bringing me here. No matter what You have planned for me and Zack, I know this is Your special gift to me. I will try very hard to continue to be obedient.

  Calmness filled her and she smiled. After a while, the weak winter sun went behind a cloud. A chill dropped over the little garden, and Zoe headed inside.

  “It’s a much better program.” She heard Zack say as she opened the door. “I can order it at a discount, then we can set up a time when I can install it and give you and your assistant some training.”

  “You’re certain we’ll soon be able to coordinate our schedules? My assistant’s biggest complaint is that she can’t keep track of me,” Viv said with a slight laugh.

  “I guarantee the technology is right around the corner.”

  As soon as he said the words, Zoe felt a premonition. That’s what Zack will work on in his new job.

  She could feel it. She could also hear barely contained excitement and enthusiasm behind his calm tone. He loved what he did.

  “I can’t ask you to take more time to train us, Zack,” Viv said. “You’ve already done so much.”

  He shook his head. “I will be happy to do it.”

  As he said the words, the sun came out from behind the clouds again. A sunbeam hit Zack’s face. Zoe saw his chiseled nose, slightly-full, smiling lips and his warm sherry-colored eyes. She also saw earnest joy in every feature.

  He has a servant’s heart, Lord. He loves to give.

  So how did he end up on this path? Is that why You brought us together, so he could find his way back to You and his true calling?

  There was no answer to her question. Not even the flutter of angel’s
wings.

  Zack turned to her. His smile grew warm and lit every corner of Zoe’s being. This time, she did melt, and she knew without a doubt that the love of this man would be like the time she’d just spent in the garden…a sweet gift from God.

  6

  Zack watched Zoe spread ketchup over the biggest hamburger he’d ever seen. Then she put on a tomato, onions, and the lettuce before she smashed the bun on top. “For some reason, I pictured you as a vegetarian.”

  Zoe grinned. “I was for most of my life. That’s why I now eat beef as much as I can. But only the best!” With that, she took a huge bite out of the hamburger.

  Zack laughed at the sheer enthusiasm. “Do I detect a trace of rebellion in your tone?”

  She paused over her hamburger, thinking carefully. “Maybe a little, but mostly I’m just sorry for things not said. I lost my parents two years ago in an accident.”

  “I’m sorry, Zoe. I didn’t mean to dredge up bad memories.”

  “You didn’t dredge them up.” She hesitated, as if she wanted to say more but with a little shake of her head, she went on. “For the most part, I had a good life. My parents were very loving. They were just free spirits. My dad hated rules of any kind. He was obsessed with freedom. He never saw that true freedom lies in complete obedience.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She finished chewing her most recent bite before she answered. “Putting your life in God’s hands allows you to be your true self.”

  Zack frowned. “Be in someone else’s control so you can do what you want. I’m not sure I see how that’s possible.”

  “Neither could my dad. That’s why he spent his life chasing something he never found.”

  Her words struck Zack hard. Was that what he was feeling? Did he know in his heart he was chasing something that would never give him true contentment?

  “Why didn’t he do it? Why couldn’t he just put himself in God’s hands?”

  She squeezed a pile of ketchup by her french fries. “Well, first you have to have a relationship with God. You have to know Him and His words. You have to talk to Him and most importantly, you have to learn to listen. My dad was usually pretty busy telling everyone else how things should be.”