“Yes? What were you going to say?” Abby studied me as if trying to figure out what my issue was.
“I just want you to know that I really care about you.” Closing my eyes, I swallowed. That was so lame. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I do this? When I opened my eyes, Abby was smiling at me.
“I know you care. You just demonstrated how much, and it means the world to me.” She took my hand and led me in the direction of the Valet. “Let’s go back.”
I stayed with Abby at her place until it was late and time for both of us to turn in. Once I was back home, I still felt wired and knew I wouldn’t fall asleep right away, so I took out my Bible study workbook. The next chapter was titled, “To love is to sacrifice.” The very first verse was Ephesians 5:1-2. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Walk in love as Christ loved. How was I supposed to love like that? It was impossible. No one had ever shown me that kind of love growing up, and on the flip side, I’d never extended it to anyone either. When I’d told Genevieve I loved her, I hadn’t been ready to sacrifice anything for her. She’d mentioned getting married at one point, and me, not wanting to commit, put my own needs ahead of hers. Maybe she’d sensed that, maybe that was part of the reason she’d walked away from me. I was over her—that wasn’t the issue. But the rejection had left me hesitant to put myself in the line of fire again.
Lord, I don’t know how this kind of love is supposed to happen, but I recognize this is what You want me to do.
I went to bed praying that God would give me the words to say to Abby and that He would help me to love as He did.
Chapter 21
Colin
The next few days were hard. It felt like someone dropped a heavy weight on my shoulders, and I couldn’t move forward. I loved Abby…so much it hurt. But that wasn’t enough to force me past my self-protection mode. And yes, I was aware that was the problem. I was too afraid of pain—not the physical kind—but the kind that pulled apart your insides thread-by-thread until you no longer functioned the way you needed to.
On Wednesday morning, Abby sent me a text asking if I would join her during her volunteer time at Northlake Senior Center. She said one of the ladies, in particular, had requested to meet her boyfriend. I’d agreed without hesitation because I would do anything for Abby. I walked into the center and a woman at the front desk greeted me. She asked me to sign-in, gave me a name tag, and then directed me to walk down a hallway and enter the second to last room.
“Thank you,” I said, nodding out of courtesy.
I walked briskly down the hallway, and as I neared the end, I heard a commotion of voices. I stopped short at the doorway and peered in, my eyes sweeping the room. It was a small space with neutral colors and high windows. Bingo cards were laid out on the table, and a group of older adults stood to their feet, clapping.
And then my eyes landed on the reason for their celebration. Off to the side, Nick was down on one knee, holding onto Abby’s hand.
“I love you, Abbs. I think I’ve always loved you, but I wasn’t ready—until now.” He held out a diamond ring.
She looked stunned, her eyes wide, face pale. She didn’t say anything, and her hesitation drove a knife straight through my heart.
Maybe this was why I couldn’t say those three little words. Maybe this was why I’d held back. I’d never asked if she still had feelings for Nick, but, apparently, she did, and now I was being forced to see with my own two eyes exactly how this was going to play out.
I wouldn’t do it. I would not watch them get engaged.
Turning, I fled, my fists clenching, my breathing hindered as I crashed against the double doors at the entrance of the facility and rushed to my car.
Unbelievable. How could this have happened? Regret filled me as I slid into my vehicle, realizing I should have told her how I felt the moment I knew I loved her at the mushroom foray. But even if I had, would it have mattered? I slammed the door shut and covered my face with my hands.
Why, Lord?
I turned on the engine and gripped the steering wheel, but I couldn’t force myself to leave the parking space. They were in there—Abby and Nick. I wanted to go back and slug him in the jaw hard enough that he wouldn’t be able to say another word. He needed to be silenced.
The fact that I actually considered it made me pause. Fighting him wouldn’t accomplish anything, and it would only upset Abby. More importantly, the Lord said to love our enemies. And there it was…that word again. Love.
Losing my temper like that would be wrong. I was shaking so hard I couldn’t drive, so I opened the glove box and rustled through loose paperwork until I found a Bible I kept in there for emergencies. This definitely qualified as an emergency. I would read until I calmed down, and then I would leave.
Opening to Ephesians five, I started with the verses I had read the day Abby and I confronted her father. My eyes lingered on verse two. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
I continued to scan the page until I came to verse twenty-five. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
There was that phrase again: gave Himself up. I thought back to one of the first chapters in the Bible study where Christ was in the garden, sweating drops of blood because of the intense agony He felt. He gave Himself up. And in verse twenty-five, the Apostle Paul said husbands should love their wives in the same way, giving themselves up as Christ did for the church.
Understanding swept through me like a rush of wind. I had read this before, but it was the first time I really got it. I needed to lay aside my tendency to protect myself. The Lord didn’t protect Himself, and He could have. He could have called upon the angels to save Him, but He chose instead to lay down His life. If I wanted to be with Abby for the rest of our lives—if I wanted to marry her—I had to be willing to lay down my life and get over myself. Whatever pain I had to experience, I would take it.
My hand trembled as I pushed open the door and got out of the car. Lord, give me the strength to do this. I strode back through those double doors, past the woman at the front desk, and down the long hallway that led to the Bingo room. When I got there, everyone had left. Whatever happened, there were no clues, no trace of any decisions.
A woman walked by and peeked in. “Are you Colin?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Jenny.” She stepped in and extended her hand.
I shook it. “I’m looking for Abby Summerhill. She’s a volunteer. Have you seen her?”
“Yes, she’s a friend of mine, and she was expecting you. Last I checked, she was talking to Mrs. Pickerell in the dayroom. Take the elevator to the second floor.”
I nodded and exited the room. She pointed in the direction of the elevators, and I took one up until it beeped and the door slid open. I stepped out into the large room. Abby was sitting on a couch with an older lady near the fireplace.
“Abby.” I strode to her, my heart thrashing against my chest.
She rose from her seat. “Colin. You’re late. What happened?”
I reached for her left hand and lifted it up so I could see it better. She wasn’t wearing a ring. My spirits soared as I put my hands on her face and leaned down to kiss her. I poured every bit of love I had for her into that kiss, and when I released her, she stepped back, blinking. “Wow. What’s gotten into you?”
“I love you.” Smiling, I held both of her hands. “I should have told you before. I’m sorry I waited.”
“I love you too,” she said, beaming. “And I’m so happy you’re here. This is the best thing that’s happened all day.”
I glanced around. “Where’s Nick?”
She frowned. “He went home. How did you know he stopped by?”
“I walked up just as he was proposing to you, and I was afraid you were going to say yes.
I couldn’t watch that, so I returned to my car, only I couldn’t leave.”
“You thought I would say yes?” She looked incredulous.
“When he asked you to marry him, you hesitated.”
“Only because I felt horrible that I was about to shoot him down in front of an audience. He shouldn’t have done that. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
“Abby, I need to know. Do you still have feelings for him?”
She shook her head. “No. He’s my friend, and that’s all he’ll ever be. That’s all I want him to be.”
The older woman cleared her throat. “Are you going to introduce me, young lady?”
“Sorry, Mrs. Pickerell.” Abby smiled and pulled me closer. “This is Colin, the beau I was talking about. Colin, this is Mrs. Pickerell. I often talk with her after game time is over.”
I reached forward and clasped her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She nodded and then glanced at Abby with a twinkle in her eye. “You didn’t tell me he was this handsome.”
Abby snickered. “I’m pretty sure I did.” She placed a hand on my chest, and her eyes lit up as she met my gaze. “What’s more, he has a heart that’s just as beautiful as his face.”
I cleared my throat. “Really, Abby? Beautiful? You’re the only beautiful one here…and Mrs. Pickerell, of course. I’m a guy. Guys aren’t beautiful.”
“Then God made an exception in your case. Just accept it.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed, glancing at Mrs. Pickerell. “Abby and her antics—it’s one of the things I love about her.”
She patted Abby on the arm. “You two make a delightful couple. When did you know he was the one for you?”
Abby winked at me. “Well, you see, there was this mountain, and we were on a hike.”
“Oh, no. Not that story,” I said, laughing. “I was crazy to take you that high. Should have known better.”
“Oh, I have a feeling there’s a story here,” Mrs. Pickerell said, laughing lightly.
I put my arm around Abby’s shoulders. “Yes, and I’m sure we’ll tell our children and grandchildren someday.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “Children? You haven’t asked me to marry you yet.”
I grinned like the cat who ate the canary. “Then I’ll have to take care of that, won’t I?”
Epilogue
Colin
3 months later…
“I have a surprise for you,” I said, “but you’ll need to come with me.”
“Lead the way, Professor.”
Abby gave me her hand, and I took it, holding it close to my heart. I lifted it and kissed her knuckles. “You look exceptionally beautiful today. Have I told you that yet?”
She laughed. “A few times already.”
We were at my house, and I guided her out the front door, heading down the path that led to the look-out point. When we had walked a good distance, I stopped. “I need you to put on a blindfold.”
She covered her smile with her fingers. “Blindfold? What are you up to, Colin?”
“Do you trust me?”
She nodded. “You know I do.”
“Good.” I slipped the blindfold around her eyes and tied it in the back. “Because this is absolutely necessary.”
“All right. Lead the way.”
I put my arm around her waist and guided her down the path. We passed a dense grouping of pine trees and came to the last part of the trail. “We’re almost there.”
Once we reached the look-out point, I turned her so that she faced me and her back was to the view. I took the blindfold off and kissed her gently on the forehead.
“Abby Summerhill, my life hasn’t been the same since I met you.”
Her eyes widened. “This sounds like the beginning of a speech.”
I tapped her on the nose. “Good instincts. Want to hear more?”
She nodded, and her smile broadened.
I reached for both of her hands and held them firmly in my own. “I’ll never forget the first moment I saw you. You were at that restaurant, sitting at a table, and I couldn’t stop staring at you through the window. I think you must have sensed it because you jerked and glanced my way, knocking down your glass of water in the process.”
She snickered. “I was full of nerves that day—”
“And then you jumped up from your seat and did a little dance as you stepped out of the way. You threw your head back and laughed, and that was the moment. That was the exact second I was taken with you.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yep, you had a carefree way about you that I admired. Anyway, you started talking with that waiter, and he was flirting shamelessly with you. I hadn’t even met you yet, but I was wildly jealous.”
“You didn’t need to worry. He wasn’t my type.”
“And then we met and your beautiful blue eyes sucked me in.”
The wind blew against our faces, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. Abby pulled her hair back and tucked it underneath her collar so it wouldn’t fly all around. “My very first impression was that you were sweet. Don’t forget, you warmed up my hand, and you were by far, the best-looking man I’d ever come across.”
“Those were the good moments.” I chuckled, glancing at the ground. “After that, I accidentally sent that stupid text and bumbled my way through the rest of the date. I said a lot of stupid things—the word ‘mushroom’ was thrown around quite a bit.”
She giggled. “You were a little over the top with that.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t my best moment, but I’m grateful God gave us a second chance.”
Her eyes teared up. “Me too.” She looked as if she was trying not to cry. “I was too quick to write you off. I didn’t take the time…” She was so choked up it was hard for her to speak.
“It’s okay. God worked it out, didn’t He?”
She nodded and put a hand on the side of my face, looking at me so intently with those blue eyes of hers that my pulse picked up.
“Since that time, I’ve grown to love you so much it hurts right here.” I lifted one of her hands and placed it over my heart. “Because every time we’re apart, I feel like the best part of me is slipping away.”
She pressed her lips together as if struggling not to cry again. “I’m not going anywhere, Colin.”
“That’s good because I don’t know if I could stand…” I trailed off and then shook my head, clearing it. “Anyway, I know I have money, but when it comes down to it, I’m just a simple man. I love God, and I love you. That’s where my heart is.”
Tears had begun to roll down her cheeks, and I wiped them away with my thumbs. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy.”
I leaned in closer and pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
She smiled, and her eyes were so full of emotion I wanted to take her in my arms that second, but I waited to hear her answer.
“Yes. You’re the only man I want to be with for the rest of my life, and I love you with all my heart.”
I pulled a ring out of my pocket and placed it on her left ring finger. It had tiny white diamonds all along the band, and more white diamonds circling a larger blue diamond.
She gasped. “It’s so beautiful, Colin. I love the blue one.”
“It reminds me of blue hydrangeas,” I said. “The color of your eyes.” I turned her around to face the view, and she drew in a breath.
I’d hired a pilot to do some skywriting for me. Splashed across the sky was a large heart, and inside, it said Colin loves Abby.
“You are so adorable,” she said. Turning to face me, she gave me a hug. “And so very sweet. I love it.” She took her phone out of her pocket and snapped a picture. “I want to remember this moment.”
“I think we should blow that picture up and put in the living room once we get married so everyone can see: Colin loves Abby.”
She laughed. “We can put it
right next to my newest mushroom painting. Who would have thought I’d be painting mushrooms? But it seems to be my forte now.”
“It sure is. After you sold the first one, you’ve developed quite a following.”
We walked back to the house, arm-in-arm, enjoying the moment. “I have another surprise for you,” I said.
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “More?”
I nodded and brought her around to the garage. “Yes, but don’t get too excited. This is more of a practical present.”
“Useful presents are the best kind.”
“Glad you see it that way.” I took her by the hand and led her inside where I’d parked a brand-new red Acura NSX. I’d seen her looking at it online more than once and decided to get it for her as a gift.
Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. “You got a new car.”
“Yep.” I could feel the grin spread across my face as I handed her the keys. “It belongs to you now, and it’s time to retire the clunker.”
Excitement flickered in her eyes, and she threw herself into my arms, giving me a tight hug. “This is amazing. You didn’t have to do this.”
“We never have to do anything, do we? I want to do this because I love you.” It had been hard for me to say the first time, but now I couldn’t say it enough.
We stood like that for the longest time, and then we went on a drive and tested out the new car. Who would have thought that a disastrous date would end this way? But God had a way of blessing beyond what I could hope or imagine. The memory of our engagement would forever be sealed in my mind as a miracle straight from Him.
Abby
2 weeks later…
My life was so full that it felt like nothing more could add to the joy and happiness, but there was still one thing that hovered over me like a cloud, brought tears to my eyes and made my heart heavy. My dad.
We hadn’t communicated since the day Colin and I found him at Rodolfo’s, and I’d come to realize it was time to let him go. You couldn’t force someone to have a relationship with you, and though it had been hard to come to terms with that fact, I had to accept it. I still planned on sending him a card now and then, but I knew in my gut he had to make the next step. I was afraid to invite him to the wedding because if he didn’t come, the pain might overshadow the wonder of that day.
Blind Date with a Billionaire Professor (Blind Date Disasters) Page 20
