by Cliff Ball
Chapter 22
The next Sunday, the whole family went to church at the Delaney Independent Baptist Church. Mary Anne asked Brian to wear his Air Force uniform even though he was no longer in the Air Force and wasn’t exactly allowed to wear it now, but she insisted. Pastor Justin Hammond was glad to see Brian, “Welcome home, Brian, I’m glad you could make it to church this morning,”
“Thanks, Pastor. I’m glad to be back. I look forward to seeing everyone and hearing your sermon.”
As Brian sat down, he saw the Delaney’s come in, including Lynda. He hadn’t seen Lynda since he left for the Air Force, which was over four years ago. As he looked at her, he became instantly attracted to her, and he realized he never thought about her as anything but a good friend before, but now he started wondering if he should ask her out on a date. When she saw him as she was about to sit down, she smiled, and said, “Hey, Brian, long time no see,”
“Yeah, no kidding, it’s nice to see you too. We should catch up sometime. When you have time, that is,” Brian shyly replied.
“I’d like that, Brian,” Lynda replied, as she brushed her brown hair away from her right ear.
Before Brian could reply, the music director began the service and the congregation began to sing. Brian kept glancing at Lynda, wondering if he should ask her out after church, and kind of wondered if there was such a thing as love at first sight. Two hours later, as everyone was leaving, and Brian was still debating to himself whether or not he should ask Lynda out, she approached him, and said, “Hi Brian, how have you been? Are you still in the Air Force?”
Brian, who had forgotten he was wearing his uniform until this very moment, said, “I’m great. No, I’m not in the Air Force anymore, Mom just wanted me to wear the uniform today. Actually, I’m in the process of applying to the FBI to work for them. Someday, I hope to be the FBI Chief in charge of the region. How are you and how’s school?”
“Working for the FBI sounds like a wonderful opportunity. I’m good and Pensacola’s great. It’s awesome being around other Christians who want to serve the Lord. Did you know that I want to teach in Christian schools?”
“I don’t think I’ve heard that. From what I remember about you, I think you’d be a great teacher. When do you graduate?”
“Next year.”
“Great,” then the two were silent for what seemed to them like an eternity. Brian really wanted to ask her out, so he asked, “Are you seeing anyone?”
Lynda’s whole face lit up when Brian asked. At first, because of her reaction, Brian started to think she was seeing someone, so he started to prepare himself for the inevitable rejection he thought he was about to get.
“If you’re about to ask me out, I accept,” she finally said.
“Uh, what?”
“You were about to ask me out, right?”
“Yeah, I just wasn’t prepared for you to accept it first before I even asked. Um, now what?”
She laughed at that question, while Brian really hadn’t thought that far ahead, since he didn’t think she’d go out with him to begin with. “Now you ask me if I’d like to go to the Delaney Soda Fountain for lunch and ice cream, silly,”
“Ok. Lynda, would you like to have lunch with me after church?”
“Of course I would. Where are we going?”
“How about the Delaney Soda Fountain? I hear they have great burgers and the ice cream is delicious. Would that be all right?”
“Sounds awesome. I love that place. I’ll go tell my mom that I have other plans. I’ll meet you at your car.” then she went to find her mom.
Lynda told Elizabeth where she was going, “Hey, Mom, Brian and I are going to the Delaney Soda Fountain for lunch. I’ll see you later, ‘k?
“Ok, see you later.” when Lynda disappeared out of sight, Elizabeth went over to Mary Anne, and said, “Looks like our kids are going to get together. When do you think Brian will ask her to marry him?”
“Oh, probably before she has to go back to school. Do you think those two ever thought about being married to each other?”
“I know Lynda casually mentioned it a couple of times when she was younger, but I don’t think she really thought they’d ever be more than friends. I think it’s cool that there might be a possibility of two life-long friends of the opposite sex eventually getting married. I just hope those two don’t get all tangled up in each other and forget the rest of the world,” replied Elizabeth.
“At least you know they won’t get into trouble with sex, since both of them are committed to waiting until marriage. But, yeah, I hope they don’t forget the outside world and their responsibilities while they’re courting.”
At the Delaney Soda Fountain, Brian and Lynda sat down to eat and also began a conversation that would last them longer than they anticipated. Brian told her about his adventures in the Air Force as a military policeman and dealing with drunken Airmen, fights among civilians and the Airmen at bars, the occasional case of someone going AWOL, and the various random security threats. “I really enjoyed my work, which is why I applied for a job to the FBI the other day. I really hope they at least give me an interview,”
“I think they will, God willing. You have a really strong resume and work ethic, so they would be stupid to pass you over,”
“I’m glad you’re confident that they’d hire me, because I’m not. Anyway, so what do you plan on doing with your degree after you graduate?”
“I want to teach in Christian schools, probably elementary level,”
“That’s great. I know you like kids, so you’d be a really good teacher. Where do you want to teach? I know Delaney only has public schools, so you’d have to move somewhere else that has a Christian school,”
“I’d like to stay in Nebraska, so hopefully there’ll be an opening in Omaha or Lincoln or Sioux City. If I have to, I’ll apply for a job in Des Moines or Kansas City, but I really don’t want to since I prefer to stay close to my family. How do you feel about staying in Nebraska?”
“I’m for it, but the type of job I want might take me all over the place, but if I were asked about it, I’d tell them I’d like to stay here.”
For the next couple of hours, which seemed like minutes to them, Brian and Lynda talked about what they enjoyed doing in their spare time, what books or movies they enjoyed recently, and even politics, which both of them had similar attitudes towards. Neither noticed that it had turned dark outside and nobody in the Soda Fountain told them to get moving because they had stayed there for far too long. Only when their parents showed up did they realize just how long they’d been sitting at the table they were at and talking.
“We’ve been wondering where you two were. Have you been here the entire time?” asked a concerned Aaron.
“Sorry, we got to talking and the time got away from us,” replied Brian.
“Don’t worry about it, Son, your father and I totally understand. We remember what it’s like to be young and in love,” responded Mary Anne.
Brian and Lynda blushed, while Elizabeth was more than irritated, “I wish one of you had called us to let you know that you’d be missing church. I know Brian isn’t irresponsible, but I was starting to think you whisked her off somewhere to God knows where, especially since he’s a single man with raging hormones. I’m relieved that you two have been here to whole time though. Next time though, you have cell phones, use them!”
“I have honorable intentions, Mrs. Delaney, I would never ever harm Lynda.”
“I know you wouldn’t, but you’re not a parent yet, so you probably don’t understand exactly. Brian, I do trust you, so don’t mind me.”
“You could’ve called us too, you know. I know mine is still charged,” replied Lynda sarcastically as she picked up her cell and touched the screen to light it up.
Aaron, Mary Anne, and Brian couldn’t help but to chuckle, while Elizabeth still looked concerned, but not as upset as she was when she came into the Soda Fountain. The five left, while Brian told Ly
nda he’d call her in a day or two so they could go out somewhere else, like on a picnic or bike ride. For the next three months, until the middle of August, the two saw each other every day. At the same time, the FBI called him and interviewed him a week after his first date with Lynda. Two weeks later, he was offered a job working in the Omaha office, and they asked him to report for training in four weeks. While Brian and his parents thought the timing was odd, they really didn’t think much of it. Getting the job was the incentive Brian needed, because there was something he wanted to ask Lynda before she went back to school. First, he had to go talk to Elizabeth.
“Mrs. Delaney, I need to talk to you,”
“Yes?”
“I came over to ask you for permission to marry your daughter. While I know she’s still in school, we can wait until she’s graduated. I love her with all my heart and want to spend the rest of my life with her,”
“I know you do, and I’m glad you want to wait until she has graduated. Before I approve, I have a couple of questions. How do you plan on supporting her?”
“I had an interview with the FBI three weeks ago, and they want me to come in for training next week. I want to have a career working for them,”
“Good to hear. The other question I had is: Have you two been chaste and kept your vow to remain pure until you’re married? From my experience of knowing a lot of people who didn’t, most of them were divorced within three years,”
“Yes, ma’am. We haven’t even kissed, since we didn’t want to let it lead us onto that path, and then ruin our happiness later. We made sure to practice self control. I don’t need to be physical with her to know that I love her with all my heart and soul. I think we’re meant to be together, which is why I want to marry her, ma’am.”
“Well then, Brian, I give you permission to marry my daughter. I know she will say yes and I hope you two have a happy and long marriage.”
Luckily for Brian, Lynda was not high maintenance and didn’t require a guy to make a big production out of anything, including a marriage proposal. Brian bought an engagement ring in Rapid City, since Delaney was small enough for everyone in town to know before he ever had a chance to ask Lynda, and he didn’t want her knowing beforehand. He took her on a picnic and after they ate, he got down on one knee, and asked her, “Lynda, will you marry me?”
Brian could tell she didn’t know whether to jump up and down, give him a hug, start crying, or faint. After a minute or so, as she attempted to get her emotions in check, she replied, “Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!” Lynda then hugged him and they kissed for the first time, but quickly separated, since they didn’t want to spoil their first time together.
“When do you want to get married?” asked Brian.
“How about sometime next summer, after I graduate?”
“I’d be ok with that. Probably June or July, right?
“I think it ought to be June, not so hot yet,” replied Lynda.
“Lynda, whatever you want. If you want to get married in the Arctic, I’d be cool with that too,”
“Freezing to death over being melted by the heat. Hmm.... tough choice. I think I’ll go with a summer wedding without all the freezing cold and ice. Let’s go tell everyone.”
After they told everyone, they were given an engagement party the day before Lynda had to go back to school. Lynda returned to school and Brian began to work for the FBI, but they made sure to e-mail or text each other every day, and occasionally video chatted with each other when they had the chance.
A year later, three weeks after Lynda finally graduated from college, on a June day that was sunny and 80 degrees, the wedding took place. It was held outside in a park next to their church with Pastor Hammond officiating. Lynda’s Bridesmaids consisted of Brian’s sister, Melissa, and Lynda’s sister, Heather. For the Best Men, Brian had his brother, Frank, and Lynda’s brother, Mike, do those honors. While he was getting ready, Brian said to Frank, “Boy, am I nervous,”
“That’s only natural, Brian. I was nervous when I married my wife. You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”
“No, and I’m way too in love with Lynda to want to run away. This is just a really big life-altering decision and it makes me nervous, but I’ll get over it. I guess it’s now time for the wedding to begin. Let’s go.”
Brian stood at the front, with Pastor Hammond, the Bridesmaids, and his Best Men, waiting for his bride-to-be. The wedding music started, and a minute or so later, Lynda walked out and was escorted by her brother, Paul, since their father had died those many years ago in Iraq. Lynda had on a beautiful white wedding dress that Elizabeth had worn when she got married and both Lynda and Brian’s hearts raced the closer Lynda came to him. When Lynda was finally by Brian’s side, Pastor Hammond began, “We’re gathered here together on this happy and joyous occasion, to witness the joining of these two young people, Brian Atwood and Lynda Delaney. As two dedicated Christians, they wanted to let everyone publicly hear their testimonies of how they came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior first before they tie the knot. They feel this will strengthen their marriage, and I’m inclined to agree. Brian, will you like to go first?”
“I’d be honored to, Pastor. Well, I was led to the Lord when I was seven. One day, in Sunday School, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, so I asked my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Ferguson, about how I could ask Jesus into my heart. She helped me pray the prayer, and then I felt the presence of the Lord surrounding and embracing me. Ever since, I’ve wanted to do all things through Christ, because He strengthens me in everything I do. Without Him, I doubt I’d be a good enough man to marry Lynda.”
When Lynda saw that Brian was through, she began, “I was saved when I was ten. After church one Sunday, I asked Mom how I can get saved, since I was kind of too afraid to go up front at church during the invitation to ask. She led me in the prayer and I too felt God’s presence in my life. Like Brian said, if it wasn’t for Christ, I don’t think I’d be a woman who was good enough to marry a man like Brian.”
“Thank you, Brian and Lynda, for sharing. Now, marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one’s self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another. This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you,
“Will you, Brian Atwood, have Lynda Delaney to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort and keep her, forsake all others, and remain true to her as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,”
“Will you, Lynda Delaney, have Brian Atwood to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort and keep him, forsake all others, and remain true to him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,”
“Then repeat after me: I, Brian Atwood, take thee Lynda Delaney, to be my wife, and before God and these witnesses, I promise to be a faithful and true husband,”
Brian repeated the words, then Pastor Hammond spoke to Lynda the same words, and she repeated the words. “Brian, will you put the ring on her finger, and then repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, ‘til death do us part,”
Brian repeated the words to Lynda. Then Lynda was given the ring she was to slip onto Brian’s finger, and then she repeated the words that Hammond told her to say. Once that was done, Hammond said, “In accordance with the laws in the sovereign state of Nebraska and of God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Brian, you can now kiss the bride.”
Brian and Lynda kissed and the kiss was long enough to start getting some hoots and hollers from their friends and relatives, which embarrassed the two, but they laughed about it afterward. Everyone went to the reception for cake, ice cream, a little bit of Country Gospel music, and fellowship. Three hours later, Brian and Lynda went on their honeymoon, to Niagara Falls
. After their honeymoon, Lynda moved into Brian’s apartment, Lynda got a job as a Christian elementary school teacher, and Brian began saving money up for a house they could live in when their family started to expand.
******
