“Kavan, I don’t know why, but I believe with all my heart, you and your girl are the couple for this ring.”
“You must be joking. That ring must be worth—”
“Nothing without the right owner.” She winked. “Otherwise, it’s coal and metal.”
“Cindy Mae, I–I don’t know. . . I can’t—”
“What’s your girl’s name? I’m drawing a blank.”
“She’s not my girl. We’re good friends, but I don’t think you could say she’s my girl.”
“What’s her name?” Cindy Mae repeated.
Kavan stopped and stared at her. Gently he said, “Elizabeth. Elizabeth Lambert.”
Cindy clapped her hands, tossed back her head, and laughed from the core of her belly. “Of course! Now I know this ring belongs to you! The woman my uncle bought the ring for was one Miss Elizabeth Clarke. This ring was purchased for an Elizabeth. Only a century too soon.”
Kavan gripped the box. It felt hot in his hand. “Cindy Mae, I don’t even know if I’m going to marry her. I mean, I’ve asked the Lord about it—”
“Well, there you go. The Lord your God knows.” Cindy motioned toward the ceiling with her index finger.
“I can’t take this,” Kavan said with force and conviction. “Not if I don’t know if I’ll ever marry her!”
Cindy Mae walked around the shop, shutting off lights and covering her art with dustcovers. “Kavan, it’s yours. You and God work out the rest.”
In a few minutes, they were out of the shop, and Cindy Mae hugged him good-bye.
Dazed, Kavan walked into the diner, his appetite completely diminished. He picked a quiet corner and slid into the booth.
In his breast pocket, the weight of the little blue box burned against his heart.
❧
Friday night, Elizabeth sat in the cozy living room, surrounded by Lamberts trying to decide which movie to watch.
“I brought a romantic comedy.” Julie held up her DVD.
“Oh no,” Will lamented. “Ethan, do something about your wife.”
Ethan laughed and held up his movie. “I brought suspense.”
A chorus of female voices erupted. “We watched suspense last time,” Ella reminded the men.
Elizabeth turned around to see her cousin Bobby’s wife. She’d always loved Ella, so elegant and sophisticated.
Twins Bobby and Will debated over watching an action movie or classic drama. Elizabeth smiled to herself. How could two people who looked exactly alike be so different?
For the first time since she came to White Birch and her grandparents’ house, she felt at home and at peace. She didn’t mind being an intricate part of the Lambert clan, answering their questions about her life and grad school. In fact, it made her feel treasured and special.
“I’m so excited for you.” Julie flopped down on the couch next to her, cozying up to her like intimate sisters.
“Amazing, isn’t it.” Elizabeth leaned in close to Julie. “I never paid for the transcripts to be sent.”
Ethan stooped down and said, “It’s almost as if you didn’t want them to be sent.”
“Ethan!” Elizabeth said, incredulous.
“Hush, you.” Julie said, giving his arm a loving tap.
“Get your snacks and drinks. I’m pushing play in two minutes,” Grandpa announced.
Everyone made a mad scramble to the kitchen and the bathroom.
Elizabeth remained put, Ethan’s comment replaying through her head. Did I subconsciously not want the transcripts to be sent? She shifted her position on the couch and chewed her bottom lip.
“Ready, ladies and gentlemen?” Grandpa asked in his lighthearted master of ceremonies tone.
“Hit play,” Elizabeth said, grinning at him.
“Where’s Kavan?” Grandpa asked.
“Home, I guess.”
“Don’t you want to invite him? I’ll wait.”
Elizabeth shook her head. She hadn’t seen Kavan much this week, between his schedule and hers. She pictured his handsome face, alive with expressive eyes and his white, hooked smile.
Suddenly she missed him.
Grandpa started the movie. Elizabeth gave her seat to Ethan. “Sit by your wife.”
“Where you going?” Julie asked, cuddling up next to Ethan.
“I’ll sit by Grandma,” Elizabeth answered.
Instead, she stood by the door and waited until the family became engrossed in the movie, a classic drama. She slipped out the front door and followed the silvery light of the moon to the covered bridge.
Once the transcript situation was straightened out, she’d finally felt relieved. She’d taken command and put her life into gear again.
Now she wondered. A subtle but sure uneasiness floated through her consciousness when she thought about leaving White Birch—when she thought about leaving Kavan.
The bubbling, excited feelings she felt a week ago for Kavan had settled into something solid at the core of her heart.
“Lord,” she prayed, “grad school? How can I not go? I have to go.”
For the first time since her talk with Grandpa, the verse he quoted out of 1 Peter came to mind. “ ‘Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ’ ”
“Lord, give me grace.” Elizabeth continued to pour out her heart, believing her Lord and Friend would direct her path.
Eighteen
The ring sat on the kitchen counter. It seemed to Kavan that every fiber of his being was drawn to that velvet box every time he passed by, even in the dark of night.
Cindy Mae’s gift still amazed him. “Lord, how did You move her to give so extravagantly?” he asked one night, sitting on the back porch, a cold soda bottle in his hand.
He sensed the Lord respond, Because of My extravagant love for you.
Kavan smiled at the remarkable working of his Lord, so kind and generous. Yet, he still did not know his next move. In his estimation, he had a ring, but no girl. Elizabeth never even remotely hinted that she would consent to marry him if he asked.
Kavan took a swig of his soda. How to win Elizabeth’s heart remained a mystery to him.
He’d stopped by Sinclair’s on his way home one evening after spotting her car in the parking lot. Her blue eyes twinkled with merriment when she saw him strolling across the front of the store.
“Hi ya, Gorgeous.” He leaned on the front counter.
“Hi ya.” She grabbed his hands. “Guess what?”
Her enthusiasm engaged his heart. “Joann gave you a raise,” he teased.
Joann stood within earshot. “Ha! Don’t we all wish.”
Elizabeth glanced at Joann. “Thank you, how kind.” Then she aimed her sparkling smile at him. “MIT sent me an E-mail confirming that my transcripts have been sent.”
Kavan stiffened, squeezing her hand a little. “Oh, really?”
“Did I tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“That the reason they were never sent is because I never paid for them to be sent.”
“Doesn’t sound like you.” Kavan’s mouth felt as dry as a cotton ball.
“I guess with the pressure of finals and filing applications, I forgot.”
“Are you sure it’s not too late for admittance?” Kavan thought his tone sounded a little too hopeful.
She shook her head. “No, I checked, and I’m squeaking in under the deadline.”
“Well, you’ll be on your way soon.” Kavan fought the desire to beg her to stay.
Elizabeth’s eyes peered steadily into his. “Yep, on my way.”
❧
Sitting on his porch now, recalling that night, Kavan wondered about the tone in her voice. Did he hear an echo of doubt?
He stood and paced the length of the porch. Maybe he just imagined her doubt because that is what he wanted. And the whole ring thing. . . He sighed and pro
pped himself against the porch rail. Fred whined and curled up by Kavan’s feet.
None of it made sense to him. Lord, why would You give me this ring? You’ve worked it out for Elizabeth to go to graduate school.
The idea hit him that maybe the ring was for Elizabeth, just not now. Perhaps after she graduated.
He moaned. That would mean two more years. He’d only known her two months, but it felt like a lifetime. She fit with him. They belonged together.
Tell her.
The simple instruction sliced through his anxious thoughts.
Tell her what? Marry me? Don’t follow your dreams? I can’t do that. I love her too much.
Kavan didn’t want to argue with the Lord, but he lacked courage. Fighting a fire up on the ridge paled in comparison to telling a beautiful, curly-haired brunette he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. That idea terrified him.
What if she said no? How would he recover and keep their friendship?
“O Lord,” he said with a quivering laugh, “I used to consider myself a man of faith, but this is a whole new terrain for me.”
No tangible answer came from heaven except a sense of peace and the pleasure of God.
The sound of the phone’s ring jolted him out of his deep thought and prayer.
Kavan dashed through the screen door, the sound of its slam following him into the kitchen.
The blue velvet box caught his attention once again.
“Kavan, Travis Knight here.”
“Evening, Travis.”
“I just came from a meeting down in Manchester. Your name’s cleared. The division is investigating the embezzlement.”
“Any clues so far?”
“Yes, but they aren’t saying much. Possibility that it involves some higher-ups. Apparently, these things are dealt with quietly, and the person is dismissed without prosecution.”
Kavan blew a shrill whistle. “Well, I’m glad I’m in the clear. I don’t want to know what happens to the other guy.”
“Well, you probably will eventually anyway. But, yep, you are in the clear, Son. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“No problem, Travis.”
“Have a good weekend.”
“You, too.” Kavan pressed the button to disconnect. He moved to place the cordless phone on its base, then paused. He had an idea.
He pressed talk and dialed. Before the first ring, he hung up. He took a deep breath, pressed redial, and set the phone to his ear. It rang once before he hung up again.
He laughed at himself. “This is worse than high school,” he said to Fred, who peered at him through the screen door. The dog answered with one deep bark.
“Go for it? Is that what you’re saying, Boy? Be like you? Bold?”
Here goes. He sat on a stool at the kitchen counter, shoving the ring box out of sight.
He pressed redial. She answered on the second ring.
“Elizabeth? Hi, it’s Kavan.”
❧
The chime of Elizabeth’s cell phone reverberated under the bridge’s cover. The display flashed Kavan’s home number. She finished the last of her prayer and answered.
“Hi,” she said, a little too softly, a little too intimately. The sound of her own voice caused her to stand at attention. What is it about girls that they turn to mush when a boy calls? She steadied herself and lowered her tone. “How are you?”
“Doing well. Travis just called. I’m all cleared. Appears that some higher-ups in the division might be the source of the embezzlement.”
“Really?” Excitement spiked her voice. “But your name is completely cleared.”
“According to Travis.”
“Well, you know how well you can trust him.”
“Elizabeth!” Kavan said, both shock and humor in his tone.
“Sorry, I just don’t like when people I love. . .” She stopped, unable to believe the words that just flowed out of her mouth. “Well, when people I care about, you know, my friends and family, are falsely accused.”
Kavan remained silent for a moment too long.
Why did I say that?
“That’s understandable, Elizabeth. Anyway, that’s not the main reason I called.”
Her insides fluttered. “What’s up?”
“I wondered if you, um, well, would you like to go to dinner?”
She wondered at his nervousness, all the while amused by her own jitters. The hand that held her cell phone to her ear trembled slightly. “You know I love Giuseppe’s.”
“Right, well, not Giuseppe’s.”
“Then where?”
“Italian Hills.”
“That fancy restaurant up on the hill?” The romantic atmosphere of Italian Hills was legendary in the New England area.
“Yes, the fancy place on the hill.”
The tone of his voice, the decisive way he spoke, told Elizabeth this was no ordinary dinner. She panicked. “Kavan, I’m going to school. In about a month.”
“So I’ve heard. All the more reason to enjoy the days that are left.”
“With romantic dinners?”
“Who said anything about romantic dinners?” Kavan’s voice rose sharply. He sounded flustered.
Elizabeth walked out from under the bridge, into the light of the moon. “Italian Hills is synonymous with romance.”
“I like their fettuccine. If you don’t want to go, I’ll go by myself.”
“Oh now, that’s ridiculous. When do you want to go?” She climbed the hill to the house.
“Tomorrow night. Saturday.”
“What time?”
“Six.”
“Six-thirty.”
His mellow chuckle tingled in her ear. “See you then.”
“See you then.”
❧
Elizabeth was grateful for a day at Sinclair’s. It kept her mind off her date with Kavan, or so she thought.
“Elizabeth,” Joann called, coming out of the back office. “I recounted the cashiers’ money bags and not one of them has the right starting bundle.”
“What?” Elizabeth turned with a jerky motion. “How can that be? I counted those bags myself.” She started for the back office. Joann followed.
“I think they’re off ’cause your head is someplace else.”
Elizabeth gaped at her boss while rubbing her hand along the top of her head. “Nope, my head is right here where I always keep it.” She reached for one of the cashiers’ bags and removed the cash bundle.
Joann gave her a sly smile. “Better check the clouds, Girlfriend. I think your head is floating out there. You want to tell me what’s going on?”
Elizabeth sighed and dropped the cash bag on the counter. “I’m going to dinner with Kavan. Italian Hills.” She spilled her fears, confessing that she had feelings for him, but the timing couldn’t be more wrong. The invitation to dinner at Italian Hills emanated with his desire for a deeper relationship—she just knew it.
Joann listened, her head bobbing in contemplation. When Elizabeth finished, Joann said, “When are you going to let go and let love?”
“Later. After grad school, you know that.”
“But love is at your door now.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “Joann, I’m not throwing away my future because a cute guy looks my way.”
With chagrin, Joann retorted, “Lovely. You just let that pride of yours keep you from the best thing that ever happened to you.” She stepped forward and grabbed Elizabeth gently by the shoulders. “Surrender, Girl, surrender.”
Joann’s comments smarted. Only last night she’d cried out to the Lord for His grace in her life. But today, the same old feelings of control emerged. She looked at her boss.
“I’ll admit,” Elizabeth said, raising one hand, “that I’ve come to enjoy Kavan’s attention and the schoolgirl feelings, but I won’t let them govern me. I won’t surrender.”
“Fine, have it your way. But hear me now,” Joann paused, wagging her finger under Elizabeth’s nose. “Before this t
ime next year, I’ll be dancing at your wedding.”
❧
Waiting for Kavan to pick her up, Elizabeth paced the living room. Grandpa looked up at her from his chair where he sat reading. “Sit down, Beth. You’re making me nervous.”
Grandma set aside the book she was reading. “You are making more of this than you need to, Beth.” She offered a simple, sincere prayer. “Father, give Beth grace and peace. Reveal Your will to her.”
“Thank you, Grandma,” Elizabeth said, bending to kiss her grandma’s cheek. “How do you always know what I need and how to pray?”
❧
Kavan glanced at the clock. Six-fifteen! Where did the time go? He reached for his black leather belt hanging on a hook in his closet. He slipped it through the loops of his dark gray slacks, while yanking a white mock turtleneck from a hanger. He pulled it over his head and quickly finished dressing.
Shoes, where are my shoes? He hunted around the closet floor and under the bed. Where are my dress shoes?
In stocking feet, he skidded along the polished wood floor of the living room, looking for his shoes under the sofa and chairs.
Aha. He spotted them in the corner by the bookshelf.
Finally ready, he raced out the door.
My keys!
He dashed back inside. Where were his keys? He looked under the papers on the kitchen counter. The blue velvet box still sat where he’d shoved it yesterday. In the bedroom, he checked his dresser and nightstand.
Of all the times to lose my keys. . . I never lose my keys.
He ducked into the laundry room and rummaged through the basket of dirty laundry. He heard a jingling sound coming from the previous day’s work pants. He found his keys in the right front pocket.
Laughing at himself, he dashed for his truck. At 6:35 he pulled into the Lamberts’ driveway.
Elizabeth opened the door and greeted him with a smile. “Come in; say hi to Grandpa and Grandma.”
Kavan entered. He stooped to Elizabeth’s ear as he passed her. “You look incredible.”
A pink hue painted her cheeks. “Thank you. You’re looking mighty dapper yourself.”
He greeted the elder Lamberts, trying to appear relaxed, at ease, but he was sure they could hear the pounding of his heart.
❧
The Italian Hills restaurant sat outside White Birch in the foothills of the White Mountains. As Elizabeth entered the elegant establishment, she felt like a queen on Kavan’s arm. With confidence, he gave his name to the maître d’ and gently guided her through the candlelit tables to a cozy window table in the corner of the restaurant.
Lambert's Pride Page 14
