by Debby Mayne
After she left, Elizabeth nodded. “We make a good team, don’t we?”
A lump formed in Cindi’s throat as she nodded. “The best.”
The remainder of the day was busy with first appointments, final fittings, and paperwork. About five minutes before closing, Jeremy showed up. “Ready to talk?”
She nodded. “I’ll be right with you. Let me close out of the computer.”
“I’ll stick around and lock up,” Elizabeth said.
“Where do you want to go?” Jeremy asked.
“Let’s just go for a walk.”
“Sounds good.”
Cindi was grateful Jeremy didn’t jump right into negotiations for the shop. She needed to unwind before explaining anything.
“You look nice,” Jeremy said as he looked her up and down. “You were always the prettiest girl I knew.”
Cindi rolled her eyes. “That’s not going to work, Jeremy. I’ve known you a long time.”
He snickered. “It’s true. You really are beautiful, but I understand.”
They chatted for a few minutes. Jeremy started squirming, so Cindi assumed he was eager to discuss the business.
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” she said. “I think you need to let this opportunity go, because I’m not selling to you.”
“Whoa. You sure are blunt.”
“No, just honest.”
“And you think I’m not?”
“I didn’t say that.” Cindi felt her stomach churning. “Look, Jeremy, I don’t know why you came back or why you’re so bent on buying my shop, but I don’t want a confrontation.”
“You still haven’t given me a convincing reason you want to sell Cindi’s Bridal Boutique.”
“I didn’t know I needed to convince you of anything.”
“Touché.”
“Sorry,” she said. “I guess I’m a little touchy right now.”
“You have every right to be. There’s something I should probably tell you—something I was too immature to admit when we were kids.”
“What’s that?”
Cindi watched Jeremy’s expression change as he gathered his thoughts. “Back when we were together, I was happier than I’ve ever been. I loved you, Cindi, but I wasn’t man enough to handle it.”
“You don’t have to do this.” Cindi’s voice cracked, so she cleared her throat.
“But I want to.” She felt an odd sensation as he reached for her hand. “When you got that scholarship, I didn’t want to stand in your way. I let you go so you could follow your dreams.”
His admission sent a shock wave through her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“A lot of time has passed since then. I just figured, well. . .I thought we’d be able to work this out somehow.”
By the time they arrived back at the shop, Cindi had recovered enough to respond. “Look, Jeremy, I understand what you’re doing, but I really don’t think a bridal shop is what you want.”
“Are you sure about that, or is it more a case of something you can’t face?”
“Is that what you think?”
Jeremy closed his eyes for a couple of seconds before turning back to her with a softness in his expression she’d never seen before. “I’m thinking there are some things you’re dealing with that you don’t want to face.”
“It’s not about you, Jeremy.” It annoyed her to no end that he’d gotten so close to the truth, but she wasn’t ready to tell him about her parents.
Jeremy reached out and took her hand, gently stroking the back of it. She felt the chemistry between them again, but she couldn’t deal with it. She stiffened, so he let go.
“If you need to talk, I’m all ears,” he said softly as she stepped away.
If he only knew how close he’d come to her raw nerve.
Four
Jeremy went to his car and stared after her, wondering what to do next. At this very moment he knew exactly what he wanted, and it wasn’t her shop. It was Cindi.
Breaking up with her had been one of the most difficult things he’d ever done, but at the time he’d felt it was best for her. He couldn’t help but wonder how different things would have been if he’d let their relationship take its course.
He’d always known she went to church a lot with her family, and he often wondered about it. She’d invited him, and he’d gone a few times. But he felt so out of place among people who understood the Bible that he found excuses to not return.
It wasn’t until later, when one of his commanding officers in the army had witnessed to him and accepted the fact that Jeremy knew very little about the Bible, that he’d overcome his self-consciousness. Major Sharpe started by sharing short verses with explanations. When Jeremy had questions, the officer patiently answered all the ones he could and then admitted he didn’t have all the answers. The chaplain was open and eager to share the gospel.
Hungry for the Word, Jeremy spent many hours studying his Bible and reading commentaries Major Sharpe and the chaplain recommended. After he got out of the army, he found a church close to where he lived. When he traveled, he chose whatever church was closest to his hotel, which gave him an interesting perspective on different ways to worship. Regardless of whether the services were contemporary or traditional, his favorite part of almost all services was the sermon, during which he never failed to pick up another rich morsel of God’s greatness.
Jeremy had called one of his old high school buddies to find out where Cindi went to church these days. It didn’t take his friend long to get back with him. She seemed surprised to hear he’d be there, and he couldn’t blame her.
He went to his parents’ house and put the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher before heading to his room. As much as the Atlanta area had changed, some things remained the same. Looking around at the posters on the walls, he realized his parents had moved everything from his old room to the condo. Knowing how sentimental his mother was, he figured she did it so he’d feel as though he’d never left. He removed his tie, loosened the top button on his shirt, and took off his shoes before lying on top of the comforter. It had been a long day.
When a knock came, he instantly sat up. “Mom?”
She opened the door a couple of inches. “You okay, Jeremy?”
“Sure,” he replied as he stood, rolled up his shirtsleeves, and slid his feet into some loafers. “Need help setting the table?”
“No thanks, honey. Dinner is already on the table. You looked so tired, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
As he sat down with his parents to eat, he bowed his head and thanked the Lord for the meal. When he glanced up, he noticed his father looking at him curiously. Right when he started to witness, his mother asked him to pass the basket of biscuits; then his dad started talking about his day at work. He made a mental note to seize the next opportunity to talk about his faith as soon as he had an opening.
That night after dinner, his mother asked what his plans were for the weekend. “You’ve been so busy all week, I’d like to see you take it easy,” she said.
“I plan to go to church.” He paused as he watched for a reaction. “Wanna go with me?”
She crinkled her forehead and let out a nervous laugh. “Me in church? It’s been so long, I’m not sure God would know who I am.”
Jeremy chewed on his bottom lip as he searched for the right words. His mother studied him expectantly, so he reached out and touched her cheek. “Trust me, God knows who you are. He loves you.”
She shook her head and looked away. “I don’t know, Jeremy. It’s been almost thirty years since I’ve stepped foot inside a church.”
His heart ached at her admission, but he tried not to show how he felt. “Mom, I don’t want to force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, but I’d love for you to go with me.”
“I’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”
“No, you won’t,” he assured her. “I’ve been going to church ever since my last year in the army, and I’ve se
en new people come in many times. It would make me happy to have you and Dad with me.”
“I don’t know about your father. You know how stubborn he can be.”
Jeremy laughed. “I’m the most stubborn person I know, and I went.”
Finally, she offered a slight smile. “Okay, you ask him.”
“Then you’ll go with me?”
She paused then nodded. “Yes, if your father agrees to go, but I have to go shopping for something nice to wear.”
Jeremy’s heart sang. He hadn’t expected his mother to agree so quickly. Now all he had to do was talk to his father.
After she left, he approached his father, who’d settled into his recliner with the remote control in his hand. “Dad, can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure, son.” He put the TV on mute then turned to Jeremy. “Whatcha got on your mind?”
“I’m going to church on Sunday, and I’d like for you and Mom to go with me.”
“I’ve never been much of a churchgoer,” his dad said.
“I wasn’t, either, but now I am.”
“Yeah, but that’s different. You’re much younger than me. It’s easier for you to adapt.” He turned back to stare at the silent TV.
Jeremy didn’t want to jump on any argument, so he let a little bit of time elapse before making his case. “It wasn’t easy the first time I went. In fact, I was scared to death that either I’d be rejected by God or someone from the church would point their finger at me and let everyone know I didn’t belong there.”
His dad pursed his lips then turned to face him. “I’d feel like a foreigner in church. I wouldn’t know what to do or how to act.”
Rather than argue that no one had to act, Jeremy chose to take a different approach. “I’ll be there. If you need to know something, I’ll tell you.”
He saw how difficult it was for his dad to talk about church, but that was okay. Sometimes things were better if they weren’t easy.
“Can I let you know tomorrow? I need to think about it.”
“Sure.” Jeremy stood and took a few steps before turning back to face his dad, who still had the TV on mute. “By the way, Mom said she’ll go if you do.”
Jeremy knew that would get him, even if not immediately. He smiled, offered a clipped nod, and turned toward the guest room. “I think I’ll head to my room now. I’d like to study some business figures and then read my Bible.”
As soon as Jeremy got to his room, he closed the door and leaned against it. His love for Christ had become his driving force, which was the reason he wanted to unload some of his businesses and settle near his parents. With so many things pulling him in so many different directions, he felt the distractions weren’t healthy for him spiritually. He needed the calm serenity of home—a place where he could hoist an anchor and feel the love of friends from church and be near family.
He understood his parents’ reluctance to go with him, but he wasn’t going to give up on his call to share his faith. When he’d first thought about it, he imagined his father being more resistant than he was. He was surprised he hadn’t gotten a resounding no.
The Lord had gently nudged Jeremy back to Marietta. Shortly after he’d decided it was time to settle down, he’d spoken to his mother, who assumed he meant he was coming home. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he hadn’t decided exactly where he wanted to settle, and since the Atlanta area had been his home for the first nineteen years of his life, he figured why not go back? And here he was.
❧
Sunday morning Cindi stood in front of her full-length mirror and turned to the side. She’d put a couple of pounds on lately, so the skirt didn’t hang right. With a sigh of frustration, she changed into a dress that hid her midriff bulges. She was still petite, but she wouldn’t be for long if she wasn’t careful. How did Elizabeth get away with not putting on an ounce after eating nonstop cake, ice cream, brownies, and anything else she wanted, while one fattening meal was all it took for Cindi’s silhouette to change completely? She’d had this problem all her life. Her mother once told her it was genetic—that she was supposed to have a little extra meat on her bones.
After she finally found an outfit that didn’t make her look as though she’d been stuffing herself with marshmallows, she left for church. Elizabeth always saved her a seat near the front on the right-hand side.
She arrived just a few minutes before the service was due to start, so she quickly parked her car, hopped out, and ran up the church steps. She was focused on getting to her seat. When she heard her name, she turned to see who was calling her.
There was Jeremy, standing between two people. She would have recognized his mother, but his dad was shorter and thinner than she remembered.
“Why, Cindi Clark, you sure have grown into quite a young woman,” Mrs. Hayden said. “Isn’t she lovely, Jeremy?”
Jeremy grinned at her. “Yes, very lovely.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to see y’all.” Cindi was at a loss for words, but she didn’t want to be rude.
Mr. Hayden looked uncomfortable in his dark suit and tie. “Nice to see you, too,” he said as he shifted from one foot to the other.
Cindi glanced around as people filed past her. “Why don’t you come on in and find a good seat? I’m supposed to meet Elizabeth in our regular place. We always sit together since her husband is in the choir. Maybe there are a few extra seats nearby.”
“Oh, go on, then,” Mrs. Hayden said as she waved her away. “We’ll be fine.”
Jeremy nodded. “Thanks anyway. See you tomorrow.”
“Um. . .okay.” Cindi turned and scurried into the church toward Elizabeth, who had turned completely around to watch.
“Was that Jeremy I saw you talking to?” Elizabeth asked as soon as Cindi plopped down on the seat next to her.
“Yep.”
“Who are the people with him?”
“His parents.”
“Did you expect to see them here?” Elizabeth asked.
“Jeremy wasn’t that much of a surprise, but I’ve come to expect the unexpected with him. However, I never thought I’d see his parents in a church. They never went when he was growing up.”
Elizabeth smiled at her. “The Lord is amazing, isn’t He?”
Throughout the service, Cindi couldn’t get her mind off the fact that Jeremy was somewhere in the building. At first she marveled at the miracle of his parents being there. Then she wondered why he’d chosen this particular church to bring them to. She even thought perhaps he was using church for business purposes. By the time the service was over, anger had swelled inside her at the notion that he might be using church to get her to sell him the bridal shop.
As soon as the last worship song was sung, Elizabeth stood and turned around. “I see them.”
“Who?” Cindi asked.
“Jeremy and his folks. They’re over by the exit.”
❧
Jeremy glanced at his parents, who remained seated next to him. They didn’t seem so uncomfortable now.
“Well, son, would you like to go out for lunch?” his dad asked as people filed past them.
His mother laughed. “Just like you to always be thinking about your next meal.”
“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Leave church and pack the restaurants?” Jeremy laughed at his dad’s deadpan tone.
“Why don’t we head over to the Old Hickory House?” Jeremy said as he stood and gestured for his parents to do the same. “I’m in the mood for some biscuits and country ham.”
He glanced over his shoulder in time to see Elizabeth looking directly at him. When their gazes met, she flashed a wide smile and waved. He waved back then turned to leave.
As he ushered his folks out the door, he thought about how Cindi had acted toward him. He decided to work harder at getting to know her again.
He helped his parents into his dad’s car then went around and got behind the wheel. “My treat.”
His dad nodded. “Sounds good.”
Old Hickory House was crowded, but the host seated them within half an hour. Once the waitress took their order, his mother turned to him. “Church was very nice.”
Jeremy looked at his dad. “Did you enjoy it, too?”
His dad lifted a hand to his mouth and coughed. “It was okay.”
That was as good as he expected. “Since I’m moving back to the Atlanta area, I need to find a church home. I figured we’d start there and go to different places each Sunday.”
“Why look at other churches when that one is just fine?” his dad asked.
That caught Jeremy by surprise. “So you actually liked it?”
“Like I said, it was okay. . .for church.”
Jeremy couldn’t resist probing deeper. “What, exactly, do you mean by that?”
“The sermon was interesting, and the music sounded good.”
His mother tapped her finger on the side of her chin. “Did you know Cindi would be there?”
Leave it to her to be so direct. He wasn’t about to lie.
“Yes.”
She narrowed her eyes and studied him. “I still think there’s something between you two—besides you trying to buy her shop. I saw how the two of you looked at each other.”
Jeremy looked down at the table as he hesitated, then figured he might as well level with his parents. “There’s some unfinished business between us.”
“I thought so,” his mom said. “It’s been a long time, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“Trust me. I’ve dealt with disappointment many times. I can handle it.”
Their food arrived, so their conversation turned to how much he’d missed the Old Hickory House biscuits. His mother kept giving him a look that let him know she was concerned about him. He wasn’t sure if hinting at his feelings toward Cindi had been a good idea, but it was too late to worry about that now.
They were almost finished with their meal when his mother looked him squarely in the eye. “Jeremy, rather than let her think all you care about is her business, why don’t you just level with her? I think it would be easier to start your own business from scratch—something more suitable for a young man than a bridal shop—than to chase after hers if what you really want is her.”
