Faith Unseen

by Norwell, Leona

  “And she exaggerates, I already knew that.”

  “I do not.” Leah exclaimed as she heard Nathan’s comment.

  “My goodness, two beautiful women in this room.” Max stated as Nathan introduced Tom and Leah. “How did you two get these two exceptional looking females?”

  “Max King, you are causing trouble again.” Polly said as she came into the room. “Nathan and Tom are bigger than you and will drag you through the snow when they capture you.”

  “What did I do?” he teased kissing his wife’s cheek. “All I did was ask how Nathan ended up with this beautiful woman” he said pointing at Faith

  “Don’t pay any attention to him Nathan, he has missed giving you a hard time.”

  “I know.” Nathan said laughing at him. “I missed him too. But stay away from my girl. She might find out some of my secrets.”

  “Like the fact that I can beat you in a sled race down the hill outside.”

  “One time, you beat me. One time. I challenge you to a race.”

  “Let’s go. The sleds are all ready for you all.”

  “You are on.” Nathan said. “Do you want to go outside with us?” he asked Faith

  “No” she laughed “I’ll stay inside where it is warm. And besides, if he wins then you won’t feel bad that I was outside and heard the whole thing.”

  “I’ll beat him.” Nathan laughed “Tom? Leah? Are you coming?”

  “No, I’ll stay with Faith” Leah said

  “I’ll go referee” Tom agreed

  “Good plan.” Polly stated shaking her finger at Max. “Play nice”

  “Yes, dear.” He said kissing her again. He led Tom and Nathan outside to the shed and picked up the sleds. Tom stayed near the bottom of the hill while Nathan and Max climbed up. Nathan and Max climbed on the respective sleds and the race began.

  Inside the cabin, Polly served Faith and Leah some hot chocolate as they waited for the men to return.

  “How was your walk? What is the town like?”

  “We had a good time. It is a nice little town. There were some cute shops and we checked out some ski equipment and will probably go skiing tomorrow if you don’t mind.”

  “Why would I mind? Go, have a great time.”

  “We will then. I really enjoy being with Tom.”

  “I can tell.” Faith said smiling “You seem much happier and I didn’t really know you weren’t happy before.”

  “I wasn’t unhappy before. I didn’t think about it very much because I didn’t want to take the risk of showing my interest and having it be rejected. I was just living my life and praying that if something was to happen, then I’d be ready for it.”

  “At least you were ready for it. I wasn’t and maybe that’s why it scared me so much. I wasn’t going to date or get married, I was going to run my business and help out that way.”

  “But aren’t you glad that changed?”

  “Yes, very much so. I love him.”

  “I can tell. Did you tell him?”

  “Yes, while you were gone earlier. Thanks for going for a walk, I know you read me and knew I needed a moment alone with him.”

  “It’s a twin thing. I knew his comment got to you.”

  “I have so much to make up to him. He kept believing in us when I couldn’t.”

  “I don’t think you should look at like you have so “much to make up to him”. Nathan reminded me that God’s timing is perfect and maybe the reason and how you went away wasn’t right, but God’s timing is perfect.”

  “Thanks, I needed that reminder too. Thanks for always being there for me Leah.”

  “Thank you right back, Faith” Leah said hugging her sister. “Can you believe this cabin?” Leah said a few moments later. “It is huge. And his father being a senator? That caught me by surprise.”

  “Me too. He told me last week that they were looking forward to meeting me. Will you go shopping with me when we get home? I don’t have the right clothes to wear for meeting his parents or for the big dinner he is planning.”

  “Sure, sounds like I need something to wear also.” Leah stated “Have you told mom and dad and our brothers yet?”

  “No, I don’t know when he is planning this yet. I want him to ask them anyway, I think he would prefer to.”

  “Probably.” Leah agreed. As Faith and Leah sat and enjoyed the fire crackling in the fireplace, the men came back in from sledding. After shedding their coats, the huddled around the fire place to get warm. “Who won?” Leah asked

  “I did.” Nathan stated proudly then pointed at Max “Tom even beat Max.”

  “I let you win.” Max teased “I didn’t want you to look bad in front of your ladies.” Nathan and Tom laughed at his teasing and then went to sit by their women.

  “Hi” Nathan said taking hold of Faith’s hand

  “Whoa, Nathan, that hand is cold” she said trying to shake his hand off

  “So? I want to hold nice warm hand.” He said teasing her

  “Yeah, right.” She laughed “I get the feeling this sudden urge to hold my hand is not purely motivated.”

  “Would I do that?” he asked teasingly

  “In a heartbeat.” she answered laughing at him “I’ll let it go this time.” She said quietly “Since I like holding your hand too”

  “Even when it is cold?”

  “Yes, even then.” She agreed. Nathan kept hold of her hand but switched to talk to Tom and Leah.

  “Tom tells me you all are going skiing tomorrow?” he asked to Leah

  “Yes, we need to go back into town now and get the equipment.”

  “You are going too aren’t you Nathan?” Faith asked

  “No” he answered surprised

  “Why not? Isn’t that why we came here?”

  “Not the only reason we came here, we came for lots of reasons. I hadn’t planned to go skiing this time though.”

  “Please go if you want too.” Faith urged

  “But you would be here all alone.”

  “No I wouldn’t. Polly would be here. I spend lots of my time alone. I can read or study.”

  “I’m not going to go this time.”

  “Okay, but don’t not go on my account. Make it your choice.”

  “It is my choice.”

  “Leah, are you ready to go?” Tom asked

  “Yes, let me get my coat.” She said moving to the door. “Do you want to go with us to wander around the town?”

  “I would love too. Nathan, will you wander around with me?”

  “It would be my pleasure to wander around with you.” He said helping her up from the couch.

  Tom drove them to the ski rental store. He helped Leah down from the truck and led her inside leaving Nathan and Faith at the sidewalk. “Nathan, please go skiing with them. I will be fine on my own.”

  “I don’t want to go. I want to spend my day with you. And I need to work on my sermon for Sunday a little more.”

  “Are you really sure?” she asked one more time.

  “Yes, sweetheart, I’m very sure.” He said squeezing her hand with emphasis. “I know you would be fine on your own, but I don’t want you to be on your own. I want to be where you are not out skiing. Sometimes when we come here, I’ll ski; but not this time.”

  “Okay” she agreed “Now, will you walk me around? What kind of stores are here?” Nathan began to quickly describe the stores that were around. He told her of the craft stores, the mom and pop bakery, the antiques shops, the bookstore.

  “Let’s start at the bookstore.”

  “Somehow I thought you might choose that.” He said placing her hand on his arm “You love to read.”

  “Yes, and listen to recorded books. How did you know that?”

  “Every time I talk to you or see you, you have been reading or studying something.”

  “I guess that is right. I didn’t even think about it.”

  Nathan led her to the bookstore and helped her look around. He read off titles of the r
ecorded books and helped her make a choice of which one she wanted. Nathan picked up a couple of books that he had been wanting to read but hadn’t had the opportunity to go shopping yet. They paid for their purchases and wandered back to find Leah and Tom. Nathan saw they coming out of the bakery and led Faith over there. The two couples headed back to the car and returned to the cabin. After dinner, they talked with Polly and Max until everyone agreed it was time for sleeping. Nathan and Tom wished Faith and Leah a good night and headed for their rooms. Leah escorted Faith to her room and helped her around in the unfamiliar room.

  “Good night.” Faith said after thanking Leah

  “Sleep tight, Sweet dreams” Leah said as she shut the door.

  The next day, Nathan told Tom how to get to the ski area and then wished them a good day. Faith and Nathan spent the day talking or napping or reading. Faith was studying her Bible but could tell Nathan was watching her. “What?” she asked after a couple of minutes

  “I was just watching you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you are beautiful and I am enjoying looking at you.”

  Faith blushed and said a quiet thank you. “I can’t read with you watching me.”

  “Too bad. I guess you will have to learn. It isn’t something I am going to stop doing.”

  “Oh really? Why not?”

  “Didn’t I just tell you? Because you are beautiful.” He said hugging her

  Faith shook her head at him but didn’t argue anymore. “I give up with you.” She stated then Nathan laughed and kissed her forehead. “You can’t win against my arguments can you?” Nathan joked

  “I could but I’m not going to even try.” Faith answered laughing “If you want to believe I’m beautiful, I am not going to tell you any different.”

  “Finally” he whispered

  “Finally what?” she asked

  “It is just another block down from the wall surrounding you. A wall that needs to breakdown so we can move forward in our relationship. And you not arguing with me on how beautiful you are is a big block down. Thank you.”

  “I don’t want that wall there either, Nathan. I built it over time to protect myself from hurts. Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Harper are not the first people to ever mention that I couldn’t or wouldn’t get married. I’m trying Nathan, do you believe that? Will you give me that time to remove that wall?” she asked almost pleading with him

  “Hey, hey” he said taking her hand in his “Relax sweetheart, we have all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere and I’m not going to rush you. I know you have things you need to work through, I want to help you if I can. But God is your biggest help and I know you are praying about those things in the wall. I am too.”

  “I am praying about them and trusting in God’s guidance.”

  Nathan gathered her in his arms and held her close. “I love you Faith.”

  “I love you Nathan.” Faith responded

  Nathan released her and then took hold of her hand. Faith leaned her head on his shoulder and enjoyed his strength. “Nathan, what are we going to do about church when I am able to return?”

  “Are you asking about how we should be around each other or something else?” He asked clarifying her question.

  “Should we act like a couple or still keep it between us?”

  Nathan responded “I’m ready for it to be public knowledge. And I don’t mean an announcement, just if people see us together and ask then we will tell them. I don’t want anyone else talking about us like Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Harper did. And what would you like to have happen?”

  “Not an announcement but not a secret either, just let things happen however they happen.”

  “There will be some people who will tease us, can you handle that?”

  “Yes, I’ll be embarrassed probably but it will be okay. I won’t run away again, never again.”

  “Good, we can handle anything if we talk about it.”

  Nathan was watching a movie while Faith was sleeping with her head on a pillow in his lap as Tom and Leah returned. “You two look frozen solid.” He teased as they settled in the living room close to the fire.

  “It was so cold up there.” Tom stated “but we had a great time.”

  “Yes we did. He is a great skier.” Leah said smiling at Tom “I was left in the powder so to speak. I am an average skier.”

  “I really didn’t mean to do that. I sort of got carried away once I reached the top of the lift. I’ m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. I didn’t care if you skied ahead of me.”

  “Next time we go, I promise to stick closer to you.” Tom said solemnly.

  “That is a nice thought, Tom, but it isn’t necessary. If you ski at my speed, you won’t have as much fun. I was just fine and I was impressed watching you ski.”

  Nathan interrupted their discussion. “I think you better give this one up Tom” he chuckled.

  “Apparently” Tom agreed moving to the other couch to sit down. “She looks so nice and calm but she is a bit hard headed.”

  “Sounds familiar” Nathan agreed pointing at Faith.

  “I’m awake and I know you are talking about me.” Faith interjected

  “Hey Faith” Leah said as she moved to sit next to Tom

  “Hi Leah.” Faith said sitting up

  “What did you two do all day?”

  “I worked on my sermon” Nathan answered

  “And I read and slept and tried not to interfere with his sermon preparations.”

  “What?” Nathan exclaimed “You could never interfere, Rach. If you need me for something, never think that my sermon is more important than you. Yes, I need to be prepared when I step up to deliver God’s message, but you will be my wife and that is a priority too.”

  “Wife?” Tom asked surprised “Did I miss something?”

  “No” Nathan answered “You didn’t. We have talked about marriage and are working towards that.”

  “That is great news” Tom exclaimed

  “Wait a minute, Tom” Faith stopped him “Don’t jump the gun on us. This conversation stays between us for now. The church needs to become more familiar with Nathan and I as a couple before we jump into talking about marriage in a public sense. If they can’t accept us, then we may have some decisions to make.”

  “Why wouldn’t they accept you as a couple, Faith?”

  “Didn’t Leah tell you why I ran away from home?”

  “No, I didn’t Faith” Leah answered

  “Before we tell you that story Tom, I need to clarify Faith’s earlier comment.” Nathan interjected “I will leave the church and go somewhere else if the church doesn’t accept Faith as my wife. That is the decision we would need to make. The decision won’t be to not get married.”

  “I agree and I said that wrong a moment ago. It will make more sense when you hear the story Tom.”

  “Good, because right now I’m a little confused.” Tom stated

  “Faith, are you telling this story?” Leah asked

  “Yes, it is my story to tell.” Faith agreed “Tom, do you remember the movie night just before Thanksgiving?”

  “Yes”

  Faith began telling the story of what happened with the ladies from church and how that caused her to run away. “I felt that they were telling me what the church’s perspective was and I ran away and would probably still be gone if not for the accident. I still pushed Nathan away even after I came home. I felt that he and Leah should be the ones dating not he and I. Of course that was prior to my having any knowledge of her interest in you.”

  “Yes, I set her straight real quick when I found that out.” Leah interjected “I didn’t want anything getting back to you about this. Actually, it was the same day as our first coffee date.”

  “Can I tell you something, Faith?” Tom started

  “Yes”

  “As Leah and I were leaving that day, I asked why Nathan was there with you. Leah told me and my response was that you were as wond
erful as she is and I hoped to see you and Nathan together at church. I haven’t changed that opinion. In fact, it is even stronger now.”

  “Thank you Tom, but are the church members going to feel the same way? I know I have friends there but friendship is different than being the pastor’s wife. Will they accept that I can’t be a typical preacher’s wife?”

  “What is a typical preacher’s wife?” Tom asked Nathan and Leah

  “Beats me.” Leah answered “Nathan?”

  “Her definition” Nathan pointed to Faith “is that she couldn’t be a “perfect, superhuman, I can fill every open position at church” because I’m blind. My definition is that she can only do what God directs her to do.”

  “Faith, Nathan is right. If you don’t change your definition, you will never measure up even if you had sight. It isn’t possible to please others, you have to put your priorities on God and He will direct you. I believe though that the majority of our church members will be glad to see you and Nathan as pastor and wife of our church. The funny thing may be when two single staff members marry twin sisters and the four of us lead our church. Now, that is quite a story.”

  “Uh Tom?” Nathan pointed to Leah “I think maybe you need to …”

  “Leah, what’s wrong?” Tom asked suddenly at her pale face

  “Tom, you said “when” we get married.”

  “Yes, I know I did.”

  “Are you thinking that far ahead too?”

  “Yes” Tom answered then realized what she said “Too?” he questioned

  “That is what I said.” Leah said happily “Too.”

  “Uh…” Tom stuttered “I may actually be speechless.”

  “Why?” asked Leah, Faith and Nathan asked in unison

  “Why?” Tom asked incredulously “I knew I was jumping ahead in thinking about marriage, but I didn’t know you were too.”

  “I’m not suggesting we get married tomorrow Tom.” Leah argued

  “No, I’m not either and neither is Faith.” Nathan commented “All four of us need to seek wise counsel on marriage but I believe we need to talk as couples with that goal in mind. If you are just “dating”, it is too superficial and important issues don’t get discussed.”

  “I agree.” Tom said “I just don’t want Leah to believe I was rushing her to the altar.”