“I hope so. I don’t know what else we could do to convince him. And I hope you don’t think I get angry like that often. It’s not as if Christianity teaches us to lose control of our tempers.”
“Yes, I remember. Jesus said the Old Testament taught ‘an eye for an eye,’ but He told us to forgive one another.”
A sense of guilt pierced him. “I never would have lost my cool if—” He stared down at his glass of skim milk where it sat on the table.
“If what?”
“If I didn’t have deep feelings for you. Feelings beyond friendship. Maybe, maybe even—” He stopped and looked into Kassia’s eyes.
She smiled. “Maybe even what?”
“Well, uh. . .” Teague hesitated.
“You weren’t afraid of Brad,” Kassia said, smiling. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of, well, of love.”
“No, I’m not afraid of love,” he blurted out finally. “At least I don’t think so. Are you?”
“No. For the first time since I can remember, I’m not.”
Teague reached over and drew her toward him, stroking the back of her head until his fingers became tangled in her curls. She didn’t pull away when he lowered his face to hers and their lips met. The warm tingle shooting up his spine was nothing like he had felt before. Her body tensed for an instant then conformed to his embrace. Perhaps she wanted this, too, maybe as much as he did!
Suddenly Teague felt scared of his feelings. If Kassia returned them, then what did it mean for him—for them? He released her without warning and stepped away.
“I’d better go. It’s getting late. Will you drive me home now?”
“Uh, sure. Don’t you want any more dinner?”
“Not now, even though it was very good. After everything that’s happened in the last half hour, I don’t think I can eat another thing.”
❧
After she returned home from dropping off Teague at his house, Kassia’s feelings churned in a million directions. No wonder he was in a hurry to get away. Who wouldn’t leave, after seeing what a mess she had made of her life?
And she had pushed him by talking about love. She groaned. What had she been thinking? Had she returned to her old ways without meaning to? She prayed that she hadn’t.
Kassia felt a deep, burning desire to pray. Not just a plea for help or a quick petition sent up thanking God for another day, but a yearning to talk to Him as her Father, her Redeemer, her creator.
Remembering how she had always gotten on her knees before the Lord each night at bedtime when she was a child, she wondered how it would feel to return to her childlike ways. A long-forgotten passage from Matthew came to her mind: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
“Okay, Lord. I hear You.”
When she was a child, Kassia waited until she was ready for bed before she knelt to pray. Because of this habit, she thought God somehow required His worshippers to wear pajamas when they prayed. Kassia knelt beside her bed and leaned her elbows on the side of her mattress. Now she knew better. God listened to prayers no matter when they were said or what the person communicating with Him was wearing.
Still donned in her dressy pants, red blouse, and high heels, she lowered herself to her knees and leaned her elbows on the bed. She clasped her hands together and bowed her head until her forehead touched her fingers then closed her eyes.
“Lord, please forgive me for straying from You. Thank You for bringing Teague into my life to show me I need to return to You. I know I don’t deserve him, Lord, and because of that it may not be Your will for Teague and me to have a relationship beyond friendship. But whatever Your plans are for us, I want to come back to You.”
Kassia stayed on her knees for a few moments, drinking in the silence around her that felt permeated with the beauty of the Lord. In her humble act, she was surrendering her will and her own desires so she could be free to wait on the Lord’s will for her life. Even though she didn’t have a clear sense of the Lord’s answer then and there, she felt He accepted her. She felt a leading. That was all she needed.
❧
The following Sunday, Kassia was surprised by a knock on the door. She was thankful she was presentable enough to receive a caller. She had already applied her makeup and slipped on a comfortable long-sleeved turtleneck dress. Feeling sentimental, she had searched her jewelry box and found the simple gold cross Grandma and Grandpa had given her as a high school graduation gift. The cross looked perfect against the solid background.
She slid her feet into her black pumps and hurried to see who would be visiting on a Sunday morning. Surely it wouldn’t be Brad. She doubted he’d be pushy enough or possess enough get-up-and-go to rise early on his day off and drive across town to harass her. He hadn’t dropped by her office at work, either, although she had seen him from a distance in the cafeteria.
Kassia peered through the peephole and saw Teague. “Thank You, Lord,” she whispered then opened the door.
Immediately she noticed he wasn’t using crutches and the cast was missing. Unable to contain herself, she jumped up and down like a little girl and clapped her hands. “Teague! You got the cast taken off!”
“I sure did.” He beamed. “I think you’re almost as happy as I am.”
“I know what a long, hard road it’s been for you.”
“You’re right. This is the first time I’ve felt normal in quite awhile.”
“I know you didn’t come all this way on a Sunday morning to show me your cast—or, should I say, lack thereof.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Weren’t you expecting me?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m glad you stopped by.”
“I’m here to take you to church. Remember? You promised me you’d let me tag along with you to see what your new church is like.”
“Oh, I did promise to, didn’t I? I guess I didn’t know we’d decided when. But today is perfect. Come on in.” She stepped aside for him to enter. “Won’t they miss you at your church?”
“I’ve already been to the eight-thirty service.”
“Oh! My, you’re ambitious.”
He chuckled. “No, I wouldn’t say that.”
“Well, for being such a good missionary and making sure I don’t miss church, the least I can do is treat you to a home-cooked meal after the service,” Kassia offered. “You’ll let me do that, won’t you? I have a Cornish game hen that won’t take long to roast.”
“Sounds good. Only I beat you to it. I put together a lasagna last night—my first ever. It’s my mom’s recipe, so it should be safe. Come over to my place for lunch after church, and we can talk while it bakes.”
“You can cook? This I have to see!”
He cooked for me!
She laughed nervously. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it must be important.
❧
To Kassia’s delight, the worship service proved to be as energetic and uplifting as usual. She could see in his eager attentiveness that Teague was impressed by the contemporary music and the sermon about believing without seeing, Jesus’ lesson for His disciple Thomas. His unspoken approval made Kassia feel good.
Later the two of them sat at his dining room table as the enticing aroma of lasagna baking filled the home. Kassia sipped a cup of hot tea while she waited for dinner, realizing she felt comfortable as she did whenever she was with Teague. Seeing him working in the kitchen earlier left her feeling gratified that she had helped him through a difficult time. Visions of living that way for the rest of her life danced through her head.
“I have some good news on the job front,” he said. “My boss called me this week and begged me to come back.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened, and a big smile spread over her face. “So you got the contract reinstated?”
“No, but they did make a successful bid with another compa
ny. He was so grateful when I agreed to return that he promised me a raise in pay and even a signing bonus.” Teague smiled.
“A signing bonus? Even if you’re not new?”
“Yes, and I’m glad for it. Now I can get completely caught up on my bills.”
“That’s wonderful!” Kassia exclaimed. “I’d say you have a happy ending after all. I’m so glad to hear it.”
“I can’t help but think the whole thing was the Lord’s timing,” Teague observed. “He had other things for me to do.”
“And I’ll bet you appreciate your work now more than ever, since you’ve been bored at home for so long,” Kassia added jokingly.
“And while we’re on that subject, can you forgive me?”
“Forgive you? For what?”
“For doubting you.”
“You had doubts about me?” Her voice was teasing, but then she spoke quietly. “I think it’s only natural for two people to have doubts about each other at first. If you want to know the truth, I was a little scared of you when we first met, too.”
“You were?”
She nodded. “I could see how close you were to God, and I wasn’t ready to go back to Him. But you led me back.”
“Kassia, you sought Him out on your own, and now you glow in the light of His love.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yes, it is. When I first saw you at Theo’s wedding, I couldn’t believe how beautiful you were. I never thought you could be more beautiful than you were then. But today you’re lovelier than any woman I’ve ever seen.” He reached over and took her hands in his. “The Lord answered my prayers. He sent the perfect woman for me. I love you, Kassia. I don’t want to lose you. Ever.”
“I love you, too, Teague.” Kassia became aware of her pounding heart. “Your love is the answer to my prayer, too. I know now that if I ask Him, and not myself, what to do in life, He will lead me. The Lord knows where we are at all times. We just have to ask Him into our hearts to find our way home.”
Teague rose from his seat, and Kassia stood beside him. “I think we have both listened to the leading of the Lord. Now we can’t argue with His will, can we?”
“Of course not!”
He took her in his arms with a gentle yet firm motion. Each became conscious of the other’s warmth, of their beating hearts, as they drew together, forming a perfect fit. Kassia felt as though she had spent years wandering in a spiritual desert; only after surrendering her will to the Lord had she found her way home to Him and to the man He had planned for her to walk with on the earth. Teague brought his lips to hers, touching them softly and then with strength, much as their love had strengthened. She knew she would feel the shelter of his love forever.
Epilogue
Three Years Later
Kassia sat on the brown leather sofa in the family room of their new house near the city. She laid her hand on her expanding belly and felt it jump. The baby inside her—Teague Junior or little Kathy—kicked with gusto, reminding Kassia she would soon be a mother.
So much had changed since she and Teague wed the previous year. Over time her family had seen that Kassia’s transformation was genuine. Even Deidre had softened, visiting as often as she could and presenting Kassia with gifts for the new baby. Mona had since become engaged to her college sweetheart and asked Kassia to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. To Kassia’s surprise and delight, Mona had involved her in the dress-selection process.
Instead of dreading her mother’s phone calls, Kassia found she looked forward to the time when Mother would be with the new family for a week or so to help them after the baby’s birth in June. And when Father saw Teague’s new computer game in action, he couldn’t deny his son-in-law’s talent.
Teague came into the room carrying two glasses of freshly squeezed lemonade. “This should satisfy that craving for something tart.” He handed her a glass and sat beside her.
“Thanks. You’re too good to me, Teague.”
“I haven’t forgotten how I was laid up with my ankle. Now it’s my turn.” He placed his hand on her belly. “And this little one deserves his—or her—mother to receive the best treatment she can.” Teague kissed her on the lips. Only his briefest touch left her feeling even better than the first time they kissed—a sensation of love she never thought she could top.
She took a sip of lemonade. “This is great! You make the best lemonade.” She smiled, looking into his eyes. “Ouch!”
Teague started right along with her. “Ouch? That sure was a change of mood.”
“Sorry. The baby kicked.”
“I can see by the way your stomach’s moving.” He leaned down and spoke into one of the gold buttons on her red maternity dress as though it were a microphone. “Hey! You in there! You can play soccer when you get out. It won’t be much longer.”
Kassia laughed. “Who says we have a soccer player? Maybe we have a dancer.”
“Hey!” Teague said to the baby. “Are you a dancer or a soccer player?” Grinning, he sat back up but kept his hand on her tummy. Within seconds, the baby kicked twice.
“Uh-oh,” Kassia said. “We’re going to be busy with soccer and dance lessons. I think whoever it is wants to be both.”
“Soccer, dance, or both,” Teague said. “I love whoever God wants this person to be. And his or her mother.”
Kassia felt her eyes mist. “And I love this baby’s father, too. And I always will.”
Kassia’s Creamed Potatoes
5 pounds of russet or red bliss potatoes
8 ounces plain sour cream
1 stick butter
salt and pepper to taste
paprika as optional garnish
Peel potatoes and cut them into quarters. Boil in a heavy pan of water until potatoes are soft. Drain water. Add sour cream and butter that has been sliced to hasten melting. Mash with a potato masher. Whip with electric beaters until lumps disappear. Add salt and pepper. If serving family style in a bowl, top with a sprinkle of paprika for a festive look.
About the Author
Tamela Hancock Murray is the award-winning, bestselling author of eight titles for Heartsong Presents, many novellas, and seven Bible trivia books. She shares her home in Virginia with her godly husband and their two beautiful daughters. They stay busy with church, school, cheerleading, Scouting, and work. Tamela hopes that her stories of God-centered romance edify and entertain her sisters in Christ. Contact Tamela by e-mailing her at [email protected]
Dedication
To my Momma, Ann Hancock
A Proverbs 31 Woman
The circle will never be broken.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Tamela Hancock Murray
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
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