Hometown Proposal

by Merrillee Whren

  “They’re on their way to Cincinnati to the zoo with a group from the rec center. So it’s just you and me.”

  Still trying to calm her nerves, Elise fumbled with her seat belt. “Sounds like fun.”

  “I know you were looking forward to a day on the lake, but I thought we could go on a picnic up in the Hocking Hills instead. Someone at work told me about it. It takes about two hours to get there.”

  “I know. I’ve been there lots of times.” Elise thought she heard a hopeful tone in his voice. He wanted her to agree to his suggestion. “I’d love to go.”

  “Great!”

  As Seth drove out of town, Elise closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. This was it—extended time for Seth and her to be alone together. She couldn’t back out now. She had to take this chance to test her feelings.

  “I looked up stuff online. The Ash Cave area looked interesting.”

  “It is. The whole area is fascinating. Perfect for all kinds of recreation.”

  “I figured we could eat lunch at the picnic area, then do a little hiking on the trails.”

  Elise jerked her head in his direction. “You obviously have no idea how hazardous parts of the trail are. How do you expect to hike with a cane?”

  “Very slowly. Besides, I thought if I lost my balance, you’d be there to keep me from falling.”

  Elise released a harsh breath. “Will you quit kidding?”

  “Who’s kidding?” He grinned. “There are some easy trails there, too.”

  “Yeah, but you’ll probably insist on doing the difficult part.” Shaking her head, Elise narrowed her gaze as she looked at him.

  “We’ll see.”

  For several minutes they fell silent while Seth drove down the highway. Elise took in the rolling farmland on either side of the road. With the hum of the engine being the only thing that broke the silence, Elise worried that they had nothing to say to each other. Had they said everything that needed to be said?

  The quiet didn’t seem to bother Seth, but it made Elise worry that he wasn’t enjoying their time together. Her worry just proved that she really did care about what he thought. She wanted to make things right between them. Did that mean she was falling in love with him again?

  Maybe he didn’t like to talk while he drove. He hadn’t been very talkative during their ride out to the lake the other night. But this quiet Seth wasn’t the Seth she used to know. He’d always been laughing and talking—the life of every party. Every once in a while these days she’d see that side of him, but rarely. Maybe everything he’d been through made him more serious.

  “Have you heard from Juliane and Lukas?” Seth’s question brought her thoughts to an abrupt halt.

  “Juliane sent me an e-mail. They’re having a marvelous time on their cruise. They’re coming home tomorrow night. Since it’s Father’s Day, we’re all going with Lukas’s dad and grandfather to pick them up at the airport.”

  “Sounds like your family has a busy day planned to morrow.”

  “Dad still insisted he have his usual lunch at the café for Father’s Day, which always includes a big piece of German chocolate cake.” She smiled at Seth. “And I’m glad he did, since you get to share it with us.”

  “I’m glad, too.”

  As the road began to wind through a forested area, Seth grew silent again. He turned on the CD player, and once again, the familiar guitar music floated through the air. For the rest of the drive, Elise enjoyed the scenery and tried to get used to the quiet companionship of the man who was ever so slowly winning her heart again.

  Finally, they reached the turn off for Ash Cave. Seth pulled his pickup into a space in the parking lot, which was nearly full. He reached into the backseat and brought out a picnic basket. “Mom made us a picnic last night. We have way more food than we need because she thought we’d be having it on the boat with Nathan.”

  “That was so nice of her.”

  “She likes to pamper me, but she’s been feeding me too much.” Seth patted his stomach as he put the picnic basket on an empty table sitting among the trees. “She’s always trying to fatten me up.”

  “You look fine to me.”

  Surprise showed in Seth’s eyes as he laughed halfheartedly. “Thanks, but you haven’t seen this leg, have you?”

  “Well, no, and it seems from your description that I don’t want to see it.”

  Seth laughed out loud as he took the food from the basket. “True.”

  Sitting next to him, Elise surveyed the sandwiches, potato salad, fruit salad and little cakes. “You’re right. This is a lot of food.”

  As Seth settled beside her, he reached for her hand. “Let’s pray.”

  Without saying anything, Elise put her hand in his and bowed her head. Instead of the prayer, all she could think of was how right she felt holding Seth’s hand.

  After the short prayer, he looked over at her. “Let’s eat.”

  They ate in silence for a while, but Elise was getting used to Seth’s new quiet way. While they ate, dozens of people laughed and talked as they walked through the area on their way to the trails.

  Elise finished the last bite of her sandwich. “That was good. I’ll have to write your mom and thank her.”

  “You can tell her in person tomorrow.”

  “I’ll do that and send a note.”

  “If that’s what you want to do.” Seth shrugged.

  “I do. Your mom deserves a lot of thanks for all she’s done.”

  “That’s for sure. She was such a big help with Olivia while I was on those crutches.” Seth started putting the leftovers back into the basket. “I have her to thank for my faith, too. And that reminds me that we never finished that conversation we started about faith when we were at the Dairy Barn.”

  Elise nodded, wondering whether that was the thing Seth had been thinking about during the silence in the truck. “I remember. What about it?”

  “You said something about God using even the bad stuff to do good.”

  “I believe He can do that.”

  “When you were talking about your family’s Father’s Day celebration, you got me to thinking about my dad.”

  Elise’s heart sank. She hadn’t been thinking, or she wouldn’t have gone on and on about Father’s Day. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t very sensitive to the fact that you’ve lost your dad.”

  He gave her a wry smile. “Actually, I was thinking how his death and the heartbreaking circumstance made me examine my life.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. For years I tuned God out.” She bit her lower lip. How could she tell Seth that breaking up with him had brought her back to God? She couldn’t. “I’ve made so many mistakes, but I have to remember that nothing’s impossible with God.”

  Seth smiled. “Thanks for reminding me, too.”

  “I think when we’re going through stuff, we can’t see how God could possibly use it for good. It’s when we look back that we can see the good.”

  “Yeah, God sees the big picture that we can’t see.” Seth hopped up from the table. “Let’s take the basket back to the pickup, then go for that hike.”

  By going very slowly, Seth managed to maneuver the trail circling the rim of the cave. Following close behind him, Elise watched every step to make sure he didn’t fall. As they came down a long staircase near the end of the circle trail, Seth turned to Elise and grinned. “See? I told you I could go hiking.”

  Shaking her head, Elise smiled. “And I didn’t even have to keep you from falling. So you proved me wrong. Let’s go down the trail to the cave.”

  They walked through the narrow, quarter-mile gorge lined with hemlock and beech trees that gave way to the gigantic overhang of the recess cave formed from the erosion of the sandstone.

  “Wow! You don’t get the full picture until you see it for real.” Seth put an arm around Elise’s shoulders and drew her close.

  “I always loved coming here when I was a kid. My parents, aunts, uncles and co
usins used to come up here for weekend campouts.” The pitter-patter of Elise’s heart matched the sound of the water falling into the pool at the bottom of the cliff.

  They watched the ribbons of water falling over the rim of the cliff where they’d walked earlier. Despite her accelerated heartbeat, somehow being with Seth today didn’t set her emotions on edge. Instead, a contented feeling filtered through Elise’s mind like the sunlight filtering through the trees to the floor of the cave. Looking up at him, she snuggled closer, and he smiled.

  On the way back through the gorge, they walked arm-in-arm. They didn’t talk, as if speaking would somehow ruin everything. Just before they reached the parking lot, a bridal party emerged from the picnic shelter and started making its way toward the path.

  “A wedding.” Elise placed a hand over her heart.

  “You mean, they get married with hikers milling around?”

  Elise nodded. “What are a few spectators when you can get married in a gorgeous setting like this?”

  “So is this where you intend to do that eloping you were talking about at Juliane’s wedding?”

  For a moment, a picture of Seth and her holding hands and repeating vows while they stood in the cave near the waterfall flitted through her mind. Her pulse skittered. She didn’t know how to answer. “I haven’t thought about it.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  “Maybe.” What did he mean by that? Was he implying that she should get prepared to elope, or did he just mean she should consider this particular spot? At one time, she had very much wanted to marry Seth. Was she confusing the past with the present?

  She was definitely testing her feelings today, but rather than answers, more questions emerged.

  Could she trust herself to love him again? Would they be good for each other? Was this what God wanted for them? How was she supposed to find the answers for these questions? When would she have a clear understanding?

  On Father’s Day, as soon as church was over, Seth couldn’t hold Olivia back. She darted out of the pew before he could stop her. He glanced up to see Elise coming their way. He knew trying to catch his daughter was a lost cause.

  Watching Olivia race toward Elise, he could almost see himself doing the same thing, if it weren’t for the cane. He was as eager as Olivia to see Elise. Yesterday had been a taste of everything he wanted for the future. He wanted to make the most of the time he would spend with her today.

  Olivia raced up to greet Elise. “Hi, ’Lise.”

  Smiling at him over the top of Olivia’s head, Elise reached down and picked Olivia up. “Did you give your daddy a big kiss and hug for Father’s Day?”

  Olivia’s curls bobbed as she nodded her head and shoved a folded-up paper at Elise. “I bringed you this.”

  “Thank you. I’m getting a very nice collection on my refrigerator, but I’m running out of room. I think we’ll have to start a scrapbook for all of your pictures.” Still holding Olivia, Elise carefully unfolded the paper with one hand and revealed Olivia’s Sunday school paper, showing a picture of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Elise set Olivia on the floor and refolded the paper before putting it in her purse. “Are you ready for lunch?”

  “Yes.” Olivia jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Chicken finners.”

  “I like those, too.” Elise laughed, then looked at Seth. “What about you?”

  Just watching my two favorite females. He wanted to say that, but he wasn’t sure how Elise would take the comment, even after the things they’d shared yesterday. “I’m not sure what I’m going to eat.”

  “Chicken finners, Daddy.”

  Seth ruffled Olivia’s curls. “Will you give me a taste of yours?”

  “I give you lots.” Nodding, Olivia took his hand.

  His daughter’s tiny hand resting in his filled his heart to overflowing with love. God had allowed him to have this child. He was so thankful he’d come to find the faith and forgiveness that had sent him in search of Olivia. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. Father’s Day made him that much more aware of his blessings.

  He turned to Elise. He couldn’t imagine his life without her, either. “Would you like to ride with us?”

  Elise slipped her arm through his. “Okay.”

  With a beautiful and talented woman on one arm and his daughter’s hand in his, he felt like the luckiest man in the world. Everything in his life was looking good.

  On this Father’s Day—his first one with Olivia—he realized he’d almost missed knowing his daughter. The thought made him more grateful than ever that finding faith in God had changed his life. The thought that he may never have known Olivia made him heartsick. But, thanks to God, she made his life wonderful.

  When they got to the car, Seth buckled Olivia into her car seat. Maggie hopped into the back, leaving Elise to sit up front with him. He wondered whether his mother had sat in the back because she wanted to be with Olivia or because she was trying to make sure Elise would sit in front with him.

  Olivia’s sweet little voice, jabbering in toddler talk, sounded through the cab of Seth’s pickup truck. Elise caught his eye and smiled. With a slight nod, he acknowledged her smile. Things were falling into place with Elise, but he still had to remind himself against looking too far into the future. He should enjoy the day and leave the future in God’s hands.

  When they arrived at the café, Elise’s parents met them at the door. As they entered, the café hummed with after-church diners. The hostess showed their group to a booth. Seth didn’t miss the way Elise’s parents and his mother did little to disguise their intent to have him and Elise sitting together. He had to stifle a laugh when Olivia thwarted their plans by sitting in between Elise and him.

  But even Olivia’s innocent wish to sit by Elise had Seth thinking about the three of them as a family. He could imagine sharing meals like this all of the time, not only with Elise and Olivia but with Ray and Barbara, as well. They talked about the upcoming Fourth of July festivities and about Juliane and Lukas’s expected return from their honeymoon.

  When they’d finished eating, Seth turned to Maggie. “Elise and I are going to take Olivia over to the park. We’ll walk home afterward. So you can drive home. We’ll walk home, or Elise will give us a ride.”

  Maggie narrowed her gaze. “Are you sure you should be walking home on that leg?”

  “Absolutely. I need the exercise, especially after the meal we just ate. Walking will help strengthen my leg.”

  “Okay, if you say so.” Maggie shrugged.

  When they left the café, Seth and Elise bid goodbye to their parents and set off for the park a few blocks away. For a couple of blocks, they walked without saying much. Olivia walked between Seth and Elise as they each held one of her hands. They looked like a family. They felt like a family. Could they be a family?

  Seth cautioned himself to be patient once again. Elise’s willingness to have him as an escort to the wedding, today’s invitation for lunch and their outing yesterday all spelled good things for the future. But he had to remind himself not to rush things.

  “I’m so excited Juliane and Lukas are coming home tonight. I’m so glad their wedding and reception were everything she had planned. I thought the way they set up Dot and his grandfather to catch the bouquet and the garter was so cute.” Elise’s statement brought him back to reality.

  “Isn’t the maid of honor supposed to catch the bouquet?”

  “That’s only if the maid of honor is looking to be the next bride.”

  “Is that so?” That probably meant Elise wasn’t looking to be the next bride. He should have guessed that from her blasé reaction to his suggestion that she elope and have a wedding at Ash Cave. Her statement ought to put his overactive thoughts in check.

  “Dot and Ferd are adorable together. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get married soon.”

  “I enjoyed getting to know them better. I had no idea Lukas’s parents and grandfather had escaped from East Germany.”
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br />   “Yes, that was quite a story.” Elise sighed. “I’m so glad Lukas came into Juliane’s life. If it hadn’t been for Lukas, my dad may never have gotten the help he needs. Dad and Lukas are very committed to their addiction recovery group.”

  Seth wondered whether Elise was glad he’d come into her life again. Did she finally see him as an asset? He was afraid she might still see him as a liability. So far she seemed to have done all the giving, and he’d done all the taking. He wanted to make her life better. How could he do that? “They have a wonderful ministry.”

  “I know.” Unshed tears sparkled in Elise’s eyes. Blinking them away, she cleared her throat. “How long is your mom going to stay?”

  “At least through the Fourth of July.” Seth lifted his cane. “I think as soon as the doc says I can quit using this, she’ll feel like she can leave. She could hardly wait until school was done so she could come back and take care of us.”

  “Olivia will miss her.”

  “I know. I wish I could talk her into moving here. She could retire if she wanted to, but she tells me she doesn’t want to leave her friends and family in Pittsburgh.”

  “Change can be difficult.”

  Is that why you’re not quite convinced of the changes I’ve tried to make? Seth wished he could ask that question. He still sensed a barrier between them. One he couldn’t break through. He wasn’t sure what to say. They weren’t talking about him, anyway. They were talking about his mother, so he should keep the focus on her. “We’ll see whether she changes her mind.”

  “Swings, Daddy.” Letting go of their hands, Olivia pointed, then raced ahead to the playground.

  Accompanied by watchful adults, a dozen other children played on the swings, slide and jungle gym. Shrieks of laughter filled the air.

  Waving his cane in the air, Seth looked over at Elise. “This thing is slowing me down. Will you catch her before she tries to get in a swing by herself and falls down?”