A Storybook Finish (12 page)

by the support of the townspeople, shot streams of water into

the air. Lindsay prayed for the right words that might minister

to the confused young woman.

“Jewel, do you recall how I shared about Ron the last time|

we talked?”

103

“Yeah.”

“Well, he came to see me not too long ago.”

“He did? Wow. What did you do? Did you go out?”

“He wanted me to go out. He tried twisting my finger

every which way to make me go. Somehow, I knew it wasn’t

the right thing to do. He had ulterior motives. Selfishness for

one thing.”

Jewel cast her a look. “How did you know that?”

“I could sense it. He really didn’t care about my feelings. He

wanted to put on a show and hoped I would come along for

the ride. I wouldn’t play the game. I think you need to consider

if others might be playing games, too, and at your expense.”

“Yeah, like Troy.”

“Actually I meant Brutus—uh, I mean Robbie. I warned

you about a war that might happen, Jewel.”

“If you mean Troy and Robbie, it isn’t happening. Troy and

I got into a huge fight. He won’t speak to me anyway. So I

don’t see a problem about hanging out with Robbie. Like I said, we

go way back.”

“I know. Ron and I did too. Along the way, people change.

Their attitudes change. Many would rather look out for number

one—themselves. Jewel, I care about you. I don’t want to

see you hurt. And, believe me, you’ll be hurt if you allow

yourself to get too close to guys like Robbie who are only

interested in themselves.”

“I can’t tell Robbie to leave. His mother and mine are practically

best friends. We see each other all the time.”

“There are ways to make your feelings known. I made mine

known to Ron, and he heard the message loud and clear.” That is,

with a little help from Jeff. “I did it so I wouldn’t be

trapped by emotion and have my life ruined. I want to do

104 great things one day. I don’t want to be sidetracked by people

who might hold me back.”

Jewel said nothing for a while but played with a silver

chain around her neck. Finally she said, “You know, I’ve been

thinking about things. I’ve been thinking about that trip we

took to D.C. and how all those people did some great things

for our country. Someday I’d like to do great things too. I

know it sounds weird. I guess I’m just trying to find my way

through this.”

“It’s not weird at all. Deep down inside, we all want to do

great things. We want people to notice us. To tell you the truth,

I found real acceptance in life only when I found God. I don’t

have to go searching for people to like me. God loves me for

who I am. He knows what’s best for me. You remember seeing

those people in the paintings inside the rotunda—like the

Pilgrims and even Pocahontas, who was your age? They decided

to trust God with their lives. They found their acceptance in

Him, and when they did, God used them for great things.

Now they are remembered right in our Capitol this very day.”

“It’s pretty sweet what they did. Like Troy said, though,

that was so long ago.”

“They may have lived in another era, but God is still God.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The same God

who helped them is the same God who lives today. All you

have to do is put your trust in Him.”

Just then, Lindsay heard a whistle. Robbie sauntered up

with one of his burly friends in tow. Jewel immediately rose

and smiled at him. Frustration mounted within Lindsay.

Jewel had been on the verge of accepting the truth, only to

have the flame snuffed out by Brutus himself. Oh, God, if only

we had a few more minutes.

105

Jewel said nothing more to Lindsay but allowed Robbie to

hook his arm around her and escort her down the sidewalk.

Lindsay watched them leave with a heavy heart. So close and

yet so far. God, help Jewel make the right decisions in her life.

Lindsay had just finished mixing up a batch of brownies

when the phone rang. At times, when she felt down, she

would hunt in the cupboard for the ingredients to make the

chocolate squares from scratch, just as her mother did long

ago. To her, there was nothing more comforting than scooping

up a creamy mound of brownie dough and letting it

dribble off the spatula right onto her tongue. Inevitably, after

the brownies were baked, she would end up putting them in a

decorative tin left from a fundraising sale and give them

away to a teacher who needed a lift. Maybe Jeff would be the

recipient of this batch. He could use some cheering up almost

as much as she did.

Jeff’s voice came over the phone. “How did it go with Jewel?”

“Okay, I guess.” Her voice strained as she mixed the thick

batter.

“You don’t sound very good.”

“I’m making brownies. Helps ward off stress.”

“Really. I didn’t know that. I thought watching musicals

helped in that area.”

“Sometimes.” She rested the spoon inside the bowl and

plopped down in a kitchen chair. “I don’t know, Jeff. I was having

a really good conversation with Jewel. I was able to share

God with her. Then Robbie hunted her down and whisked

her away before the words even had a chance to sink in. I’m so

afraid everything I said will become seeds that get picked off

by the birds.”

106 “I know. It gets frustrating. Guess all we can do is trust

God with the fruit.”

“Right now Jewel seems convinced that Troy is the problem

in her life. It’s so strange. She used to think the world of him.

She sat waiting by her phone, hoping he would announce his

love. Now she’s done a complete about-face. I guess she feels

Robbie is fulfilling her expectations in life. It’s sad when

people put value solely in relationships and leave God out of the mix.”

She tackled the brownie batter again. “Did classes go any better

today?”

“No one seemed interested in learning. Half of them were

looking out the window, watching a physical education class.

It’s like spring fever has hit in October.”

“Maybe we’re trying too hard, Jeff. We want to make things

work out, but we’re trying in our own strength. We do what we

can, then we have to leave it to God to do the rest, don’t we?”

“Sounds like you’re trying,” he said with a chuckle.

She spread the batter into the pan. “I’m trying to understand

why things don’t work out. The words I shared with

Jewel can be like rain, I suppose, watering where it’s needed.

And if Jewel lets other things or other people dry it up, then

there’s nothing I can do.” She heard a pause in the conversation

and imagined Jeff, with his blue eyes staring into space,

mulling over what she had said. “Anyway, when is this trip

you’re planning to Baltimore?”

“A week from Saturday. You still game?”

“Of course. Gives me something to look forward to.”

“Great. By the way, I didn’t tell you this, but I saw the rest

of the Sound of Music. You stopped it right at a good part.”

I’ll bet the part where the German soldiers were ready to

escort the Baron von Trapp to his place in the German Navy.

107

Just right for a history fan.”

Actually it was the part when Maria and the Baron confess

their love in the moonlight.”

A tremor shot through her. Was he trying to hint? He

couldn’t be. This was JeffWheeler, the toad that used to croak

on his lily pad. But in recent days he seemed to have developed

a princely air about him. She thought back to the grand

staircase inside the Library of Congress. All at once she was a

princess in a beautiful gown, climbing each step in high heels,

her gloved hand carefully lifting the corner of her dress in

regal fashion. And there on the landing, clothed in royal

attire, stood Prince Jeffrey Wheeler. His hand would reach

out to her. When their fingers touched, electricity would zip

through her. His blue eyes that so captivated her from the

moment they met would scan her from head to foot. He

would then escort her into the great hall with long shelves

containing volumes of history texts and perhaps a bouquet of

roses on a center table to break up the monotony.

“Hello? Are you there?”

“Sorry. I was thinking, uh, about books. Anyway, I have to

go. I want to put the brownies in the oven; then I have to

make some calls.”

Okay. Talk to you later.”

She discerned a bit of disappointment in his voice, or maybe

it was her imagination. Sliding the brownies into the oven, she

continued reminiscing about a fairy-tale wedding within the

Library of Congress. She could see a huge orchestra strike up

a patriotic tune. A procession would lead right through the

halls of the building, and there she would be in the middle of

it, clothed in a flowing white gown and veil that masked her

face. Jeff would be waiting patiently beside the pastor of her

church. The pastor’s face would be all smiles, ready to induct

her and Jeff into the bonds of matrimony. And above them,

hanging on the wall, watching the festivities unfold, would be

the signers of the Declaration of Independence in the famous

painting by John Trumbull. Lindsay couldn’t help but chuckle

at the dream. She was glad no one but the Lord knew what

circulated in her head, and He was most understanding.

Yet, as she went to her office, she wondered if her dream

was that far-fetched. After all, Jeff was the one who brought

up the love scene in the Sound of Music. His voice sounded

wistful in the way he described it. Lindsay entered her office

and checked the answering machine. Listening to the messages

one by one, she recalled the old days with Jeff and the

tense phone messages they once shared. Now everything

seemed different. An attraction had begun to build between

them. They seemed more like a team instead of adversaries,

each of them plotting and planning how to deal with the

Western High triangle, while confessing to each other their

likes and dislikes. Could it one day lead to marriage?

Get a hold of yourself, Lindsay Thomas. He hasn’t proposed, you

know. Besides the fact, do you really want to marry a history

teacher? Do you want intimate dinner conversations to be muddled

in Civil War facts or the sinking of the Lusitania? There is so

much more to life, and you’ve only just begun to see what it has

in store.

Lindsay closed her eyes. God, if my life is meant to include

Jeff, then I’ll trust You to bring it forth in Your time. You know

what’s best for me. I never thought in a million years it would be

him;yet it’s so like You to bring about the impossible. She inhaled

a deep breath. Oh, God, help me get ready for whatever lies

ahead.

109 Jeff eagerly anticipated the day when he and Lindsay would

be alone to marvel at history and each other. He marked off

the days until Saturday when he would whisk her away to

Baltimore. He promised not to go overboard with the historical

aspects of the journey. He would do his time at Fort

McHenry, observing the sights, then suggest they investigate

the Inner Harbor with its shops and eateries, or take a lazy

walk along the shore of the river.

At times he considered the scene in the Sound of Music, wondering

what it would be like to propose to Lindsay and

kiss her in the moonlight. He shuddered at the thought. Who

would want to marry a roving historical textbook? And what

did he know about her, after all? Very little, except that she

had a heart for the Lord as he did, as well as a heart for the

students.

The week leading up to the trip had been a rough one. The

students were loud and inattentive. Troy skipped class for several

days. Jewel scored a D on her exam. When she came to

argue an answer on the test that Jeff had marked wrong, he

could clearly see the hurt on her face. She then asked him outright

if Troy had scored the only A in the class. Jeff calmly told

her it was none of her business and that she would do better to

consider her own work rather than concentrating on Troy’s.

She left in a huff, no doubt to find consolation with Robbie.

At times Jeff felt the dark eyes of Robbie burrowing into

110 his back like some power drill, especially when he was writing

on the chalkboard or adjusting the television monitor for a

movie presentation. Jeff refused to entertain the thought that

Robbie or others might be out to get him. The mere notion

brewed fear, especially after hearing the countless news stories

of kids bringing guns to school to seek revenge on their

teachers. Jeff monitored his surroundings closely, including

his desk, car, and even his home where he installed safety

locks as a precaution. He didn’t want to be a casualty of some

student’s anger.

During these stressful times, he found consolation in long

talks with Lindsay who listened with patience to his anxieties.

She also had a rough week, with teachers lashing out at her

over late shipments of orders or orders getting lost in the

hustle and bustle of her company. Jeff liked to think they

could use each other’s shoulder to cry on. He would love one

day to feel her tender cheek rest on his shoulder. He would do

what he could to soothe her misery, if she would let him.

The night before the scheduled trip to Baltimore, Jeff

decided to do something extra special for Lindsay. He went to

a store and purchased a picnic basket, complete with plates,

silverware and two crystal goblets. He then headed to a specialty

shop and loaded the basket with all kinds of food,

topped off by a thick fudge brownie smothered in frosting and

a bottle of sparkling cider to drink in the goblets. They would

have a picnic by the shores of the harbor with sea gulls flying

overhead. The sound of water lapping against the shore would

serenade the moment when they gazed into each other’s eyes.

A gentle breeze would carry the fragrance of love.

After the purchases, Jeff informed his sister of the plan.

Candy was all for it, recommending he bring along a checkered

111 tablecloth to spread on the grass and some pillows. The tablecloth

was fine, but Jeff’s face warmed at the thought of their

lounging on pillows. He thanked her, drove to buy a tablecloth

and returned with the package to top off the inventory. A quick

scan of the basket’s contents showed everything neat and

orderly, ready for a feast in the great outdoors. Inside the fridge

the cider chilled, along with the cheese, ham and fruit. They

would have crackers, some good multi-grain bread and, of

course, the brownie. He fingered the rim of one goblet and

then the edging of a real plate, imagining their sitting in a

grassy area near the water’s edge. His hand would then reach

for her, drawing her close, feeling the warmth of her breath

fanning his cheek, their lips barely brushing. …

Jeff jumped. I never thought I would care about anyone

the way I care about Lindsay. God, please show me how to act

tomorrow. Help us have a good time.

The next morning, Jeff awoke early to spruce up the inside

of the car with a good vacuuming and a little interior polish.

With that done and the picnic basket loaded in the back, he

heaved a sigh and turned the key in the ignition. The engine

sputtered and groaned as if unwilling to awaken for any drive,

let alone an excursion to Baltimore. He tried again, only to

find a puffof smoke coming from beneath the hood. He leapt

out of the driver’s seat and backed away from the car.

Robbie did it. I knew it. My worst fear has come true. He

thought of the precious picnic basket and heroically grabbed

it out of the back seat before dashing to the duplex. Get a hold

of yourself, Wheeler. It’s not like he planted an explosive or

something.

Yeah, but that car was working perfectly fine yesterday. And

it only has thirty thousand miles on it.

112 Jeff allowed the engine to cool before raising the hood. To

him, the engine of a car appeared as complicated as a person’s

thoughts and reactions. He sighed and went to the phone to

inform Lindsay he would not be picking her up.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s my car. It was working fine yesterday, but now it’s

smoking. I just hope it’s not–” He stopped. Lindsay would

think him crazy if he verbalized his thoughts—that Robbie or

someone else had damaged his car out of spite. I’ll call a tow

truck. Do you mind if we take your car?”

“Sure, no problem. I’ll meet you at your house. I’ll need

directions.”

Jeff supplied them before hanging up the phone. If this

were any indication of what the day had to offer, perhaps he

should cancel it altogether. The mere thought that Lindsay

had to bail him out of a trip he’d been planning for two weeks

irritated him. He sat in the living room, tapping the armrest

of the chair, his pride wounded. This wasn’t the way he had

envisioned the trip.

When he heard the sound of her car in the driveway, he

rose reluctantly to his feet to answer the doorbell. Lindsay

wore a smile like a heroine on a rescue mission. He muttered

a quick greeting and picked up the basket.

“Wow! What’s that?” she exclaimed, pointing to the basket.

“Nothing much. Just lunch.”

“What a beautiful picnic basket! Where did you get it?”

“A flea market,” he said with a grin.

“You did not. You left the price tag on the handle. Fifty

five dollars! Mr. Wheeler, no wonder you need a fundraising

project. This basket must have been woven out of gold straw.”

She bowed. “Oh, great Rumpelstiltskin.”