Faith Unseen (12 page)

              “And if I’m still worried?”

              “Confess it for the sin that it is and ask for help in clearing up your concerns.”

              “Why do you want to bother with me?” she asked sadly

              “Faith, will you do me a huge favor?”

              “I’ll try.” She answered

              “Lose the words “bother” and “burden” from your vocabulary.”

              “Why?”

              “Because those words are hard on your self-esteem and they do not apply to you. You do not have the personality of someone who is a bother or a burden, so please stop thinking about yourself like that.”

              “I’ll work on that.” She agreed

              “Good. Now on to the next subject…”

              “Which is?”

              “You and me. Honest answer, do you really think the Lord has closed the door on us?”

              “No and I’m sorry I listened to those ladies’ comments. It just seemed that they voiced all my fears in one conversation and it scared me. Instead of trusting in you and in prayer, I jumped to a big conclusion. I’m very sorry. Will you forgive me?”

              “Yes, I will. I’m sorry if my getting along with Leah made you feel insecure. I should have been more sensitive.”

              “And I should have been less sensitive. I have some fears to confess to the Lord and work to resolve. I’ll make that a top priority.”

              “Talk to me if those fears start to get the better of you again. Leaving was not a good solution, I missed you and your family missed you.”

              “I missed you too. And of course my family, but I
missed
you.” She said with emphasis.

              “My prayer life was fabulous the last six weeks is the only thing good I can say about your absence. Now are we on the same thought wave, we continue to get to know each other until the Lord really tells us He has closed this door?”

              “Yes, I’d like that.”

              “Me too.” He said squeezing her hand again. “How are you feeling?”

              “I am still sore and my head hurts some.”

              Nathan stood up from his seat. “I’m going to go talk to Leah for a couple of minutes while you rest. I also have a surprise for you in my car. I’ll be right back.”

              “Get the story on Tom Green for me.”

              “That is going to be our topic of discussion, he has asked me to speak to her on his behalf.”

              “Really?”

              “Yes, do you want me to drag her in here so you can hear the discussion?”

              “No, that isn’t fair to Tom.”

              “No, it isn’t. I’ll be right back.” He said squeezing her hand. “Close your eyes and rest for a while.”

              Faith nodded and moved to get comfortable on the couch. Nathan went out to Leah’s shop. “Hi” he stated as he opened the door

              “Is she okay? Are you all okay?”

              “Yes, she is resting for a few minutes and we are back on track together.”

              “Did she explain why she did all of this?”

              “You know why, she was scared. But that isn’t why I came out here.”

              “Don’t embarrass me.” she said firmly as she assumed what the topic of conversation was going to be

              “I’m not trying to do that. I have been asked to speak to you on someone’s behalf.”

              “What exactly does that mean?”

              “I’m going to assume you know it was Tom Green.”

              “Yeah, I assumed that too from your comment in the house.”

              “He has casually mentioned you to me several times in the conversations we have had since I moved here. However, he met with me last week and made it a little more specific.”

              “I have known him for several years, why didn’t he just come to me?”

              “He and I have become pretty good friends and he is fairly shy and a little old fashioned on his dating habits. And I’m not trying to be “high school” he wants to know what you think of him kind of a thing, I’m just mentioning him to you. But maybe I didn’t need too?” Nathan asked

              “No, not really.” She replied embarrassed. “What now?”

              “I step out of the middle and you two take it from here. If either of you needs me, you know how to contact me.”

              “What are you going to tell him?”

              “That he didn’t need my help.”

              “That’s a little obvious don’t you think?”

              “No reason not to be, is there?”

              “Only complete embarrassment.” Leah answered hiding her face

              “From a guy’s perspective, he is going to be relieved that he doesn’t need to be as nervous as I was trying to get Faith to be interested in me. Asking someone out when you have no knowledge of their interest level is a little daunting and I’m not sure Tom would ever do it.”

              “Probably not.” She smiled shyly “When are you going to tell him?”

              Nathan reached for his cell phone and dialed Tom’s number. As he heard the ringing, he handed the phone to Leah, “Personally, I’d rather you do it yourself.” Nathan left the shop and headed for the house.

              “Hi Nathan” Tom answered

              “Actually, it is Leah Newham”

              “Hi. Why do you have Nathan’s phone?”

              “Can’t you guess?”

              “Afraid to hope is probably more accurate. Did he talk to you?”

              “Yes, but you didn’t need his help. You had my attention already.”

              “Have I been that clueless?”

              “No. I have kept it to myself too. And ever since Faith disappeared, I have been a lot preoccupied.”

              “I guess I am surprised and embarrassed.”

              “Me too. But let’s not be embarrassed, let’s go on from here.”

              “When Faith gets back on her feet, will you go out to dinner with me?”

              “Yes, but we don’t need to base the timing on Faith. We can go anytime it fits into our schedules. I have any number of people who can help Faith while I am gone.”

              “Are you comfortable with that?”

              “Tom, have long have we known each other?”

              “Three or so years.”

              “Were we ever this nervous before?”

              “Yes, I was.”

              “I need to give Nathan back his phone so call me on my house phone or come pick me up for a coffee date.”

              “I’ll be there in an hour.”

              “Bye.”

              Leah walked back into the house to find Faith holding a huge stuffed puppy. “Wow” she said handing Nathan his phone. “Where did you get that?”

              “Nathan said I needed some company while I lay here on the couch. Is he cute?”

              “Yes, he is and he looks to be good company. Nathan, can I ask you a question?”

              “Sure.”

              “Can you hang around with Faith for a while?”

              “I was planning too. Actually I took the rest of the week off.”

              “Good. Faith, you okay with that?”

              “Yes. We are going to watch a movie.”

              “Okay” she mumbled. “I’ll have my cell phone if you need me.”

              “Got it.” Faith replied “I’m assuming we are about to have more company.”

              “I figured Nathan already told you.”

              “No, that is your business.” Nathan answered

              “Thanks. Yes, Tom is coming and we are going for coffee.”

              “Have fun.” Faith smiled

              “Thanks. Martha sent me a text message that she was coming with dinner tonight. We should be back by then.”

              “Invite Tom for dinner if you feel comfortable with that.” Faith commented

              “We’ll see.” Leah said turning to leave the room.

              Leah went to change her clothes and returned to the living room a few minutes before Tom rang the doorbell. Leah went to let him in and led him to the living room.

              Tom said “How are you feeling, Faith?”

              “I’m sore but I’ll heal. How are you?”

              “Nervous” he whispered

              “I know the feeling.” Faith whispered back

              “I’m ready to go if you are Tom.” Leah interrupted and Tom moved to leave the room. Leah reminded Faith that she had her phone with her and they left the house. Tom handed Leah into his car and then walked around to the driver’s side. As they drove away he asked “Why was Nathan there with Faith?”

              “Well, it isn’t a big secret but it isn’t widely known either, but they have been working on a relationship for a while now.” Leah answered

              “That would be great to see them together at church. Your sister is as wonderful as you are.”

              “Thank you and can you tell her that about fifty times every time you see her? She won’t see that about herself.”

              “That’s why she hasn’t been around in a while isn’t it? I thought something was wrong with Nathan but he was quiet on the reason.”

              “Yeah, that’s a long story for another time if she wants to tell you.”

              “It isn’t my business anyway.” Tom agreed as they reached the coffee shop.

Chapter 7

              Nathan was watching Faith sleep. She still had numerous bruises and cuts on her face and arms but he was just glad she was here with him.
Thank you again Lord they we are moving forward with our relationship. Help me to show her that the things she is worrying over are not an issue. Amen.

              Nathan was still praying and reading when he heard the back door open, he saw that it hadn’t disturbed Faith but he went to investigate. “Hi Martha” he said quietly as he entered the kitchen

              “Hi Pastor Lindstrom.” She replied surprised “Where’s Leah?”

              “She went somewhere and I’m helping Faith.”

              “How is she?”

              “Sleeping finally.” He answered “I put her to sleep watching a movie.”

              “Good, she will heal faster with rest. Isn’t it great to have her back? I missed her so much.”

              “Me too.” He agreed enthusiastically

              “I heard something about that.” Martha teased him “Personally, I think you make a fabulous couple.”

              “Thank you, so do I. Now I have to convince her.” He said pointing over his shoulder

              “I don’t think that is the issue as much as it is how to convince her she isn’t bothering anyone.”

              “I better not hear that word out of her mouth ever again.” He growled and Martha chuckled “That’s my Faith.”

              “Leah, are you here?” Faith called from the living room

              “She is not back yet.” Nathan answered coming into the living room “What do you need?”

              “Well, to know if you were still here first of all and if you could help me up?”

              “Sure. Martha’s here too.” Nathan said helping her to stand and get her balance as he handed her the crutches.

              “Hi sweetie” Martha said going to Faith’s other side. “Can I help you?”

              Faith told her what help she needed as she headed towards to restroom to freshen up. They returned a few minutes later and Faith’s hair was combed. “It is good to be up for a minute” She said entering the room “but these crutches are brutal. Two weeks of these things is going to seem like an eternity.”

              “You are tough enough to handle it.” Nathan joked with her as he helped her to settle back on the couch. “I have faith in you.” He spoke quietly as Martha left the room with a smile at him.

              “Thanks” Faith replied shyly “Sorry I crashed during your movie.”

              Nathan wrapped her in a head lock and gave her a nuggie before she finished the apology. Faith grabbed a pillow and started beating him with it. “Hey, I’m injured here, I get special treatment.” She laughed

              “Maybe, but what you don’t get to do is apologize unnecessarily.” He growled playfully at her. “I don’t care if you fell asleep during the movie. I just don’t care about those things.”

              “What do you care about? What makes you the most angry?”

              “Good question.” He said then thought about his answer “Petty squabbles in the church probably. Injustice to a child, like child abuse. A man not being the head of his family and properly taking care of them. Those are probably the biggest for me. What about you, what makes you the most angry?”

              “Child abuse is a biggie for me too. I’m not sure how I’ll be if I become a mother, but abusing them is abhorrent behavior.”

              “Let’s talk about you becoming a mother.” Nathan stated “Do you want to be a mother? And why are you unsure?”

              “I want to be a mother if the father is able to take up some of the responsibilities that I won’t be able to do.”

              “Like what?”

              “Reading to them, helping them learn to ride a bike, stuff like that. Do you want to be a father some day?”

              “Sure, if I have a mother for them that will teach them to be as strong and independent as she is and will love them more than they can imagine. And if she teaches them to read Braille.”

              Faith was surprised for moment “Isn’t that jumping ahead a few stages?”

              “Yes” Nathan answered “Isn’t that our end goal though? Are we working towards that until the Lord shows us differently?”

              “I think so, I just was unsure of how much we wanted to talk about a possible marriage.”

              “I want to talk seriously about it. It will help to sort out our feelings, whether or not we are thinking in the same direction, and it will help us to know if it is a step we want to take together. We need to learn things about each other that you won’t learn if you just date. Do you agree?”

              “Yes, I think it will help me be more confident in you. I don’t want to be insecure about you.”

              “I don’t want that either. You are strong and independent about everything but me and that concerns me greatly so I am going to be upfront with you about what I feel. Are you ready?”

              “Uh yes, I think so.”

              “Okay, sit up for a moment” he said lifting her head. He sat down on the couch and helped her to lie facing him with her head resting on his arm. Nathan gently took hold of her hand and kissed it then placed over his heart. “You know I would never lie to you and tell you half truths right?”

              “Yes”

              “So you will trust and believe what I am about to tell you?”

              “Yes” she answered

              “And this is not a discussion or an argument. I’m telling you from my heart what I feel. Understand?”

              “I understand.”

              Nathan leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead “I care very much for you Faith Allison Newham. I have spent much time in prayer over the last weeks and I don’t have any doubts that we are heading towards a marriage. I don’t really believe you have doubts about that either and I think that scares you. But anyway, at first when you ran away I was hurt and upset and angry. I gave the situation to the Lord though and I trusted in His timing. I had to because I didn’t understand why you ran away. I didn’t understand why you ran without talking to me but now I think I do. You were scared.”

              Faith nodded. Nathan continued “I don’t have a picture of an ideal wife in my head, I never have. I have qualities I want in a wife and values I want a wife to have and you exceed those. We have time to learn about each other and grow more comfortable together and put God first in our relationship.” Nathan took her hand in his again and kissed it. “I love you.”

              “Oh Nathan” Faith was crying as she reached her arm up around his neck and he pulled her close for a hug. Faith eased back from their hug a moment later “I’m sorry I hurt you. I believed at the time it was best for you if I wasn’t around.”

              “I know.” He answered solemnly “But I don’t want you to ever think that again or act on it. If we need to end our relationship, then we talk about it and decide that as adults. But even still, we part as friends.”

              “I promise.” Faith pledged

              “I promise too.” Nathan pledged also.

              Martha came to tell Nathan how much longer dinner needed to cook and then she kissed Faith goodbye and left. Nathan went to check on dinner and was in the kitchen when Tom and Leah came through the back door.

              “Hi” Leah said as they entered “How’s Faith?”

              “She is fine. I put her to sleep with my choice of movie and she slept for a while.”

              “I’m going to go check on her then I’ll be right back to put dinner on. Tom you can come with me or stay with Nathan.”

              “Tom and I can handle dinner; we will call you when we are ready.” Nathan volunteered

              “Okay.” Leah smiled as she left the kitchen.

              In the living room, Faith was lying quietly but not reading. Leah was unsure if she was sleeping. “I’m awake.” Faith stated as she heard someone approach.

              “Hi”

              “Hi yourself. How are you?”

              Leah sat down close to Faith and whispered “Am I dreaming?”

              “Not unless I am too.” Faith whispered back “Did you get along?”

              “Really well, he is staying for dinner.”

              “That’s great. How long have you felt this way about him and why didn’t you ever tell me?”

              “I wish I had then maybe you wouldn’t have disappeared on me.”

              “You didn’t answer my questions.”

              “A long time and I was not sure anything would ever come from it.”

              “And now how do you feel?”

              “Stunned. You are sure I’m awake.” Leah chuckled

              “Yes. And I am happy for you.”

              In the kitchen, Nathan was talking to Tom on the same subject. “How did it go?” Nathan asked

              “Very well. We had plenty to talk about and the time went too fast.”

              “And what’s next?”

              Tom chuckled at the question “We get to know each other as something besides music minister and choir member.”

              “I’m glad for you.” Nathan smiled at him

              “And I guess I should say the same for you. You have been quiet about you and Faith.”

              “Well, it was pretty new still when she disappeared and then while she was gone, I wasn’t sure where I stood anymore.”

              “And now?”

              “We are good again.”

              “Congratulations” Tom stated

              “To you too” Nathan returned. Nathan called them to dinner as Leah asked how she was feeling. Leah and Nathan helped Faith to stand and get to the table. Nathan volunteered to pray
Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for your answers to prayer. Please help us to put you first in our lives so that our priorities are your priorities. Nourish us with this food. In Jesus Name, Amen.

              The four were sort of quiet as they began to eat. After dinner Leah moved to clear the table. Faith was getting tired so Nathan helped her back to the couch. “Can I get you anything, sweetheart?” he asked concerned “you look really pale.”

              “I hurt, I should have some pain pills around here somewhere.”

              “I’ll find them.” He said going to the kitchen to see Leah. “She needs a pain pill, do you know where they are?”

              “Right here.” She said handing him the bottle from the countertop. “Is she okay?”

              “She is really pale, hopefully this will help.” He said returning to the living room. “Here it is.” He said handing Faith the bottle.

              “Just relax for a while until it starts to work.” He said smoothing her hair off her face. “Tell me what to do to make you feel better.”

              “You are doing it.” She said smiling. Faith laid her head against his shoulder and thought about how good he was to her. Nathan continued to caress her face gently until the medicine began to work and her pain decreased. Faith was getting sleepy and Nathan decided to head home.

              “Can I come see you tomorrow?” he asked her

              “Well, my schedule is pretty full with lying here on the couch all day, but I can squeeze you in?” she joked

              “Then pencil me in for afternoon and beyond.” He retorted

              “With pleasure.” She smiled at him. He kissed her forehead and stood to leave. “I’m going to go say good night to Tom and Leah then head out the kitchen door. Sleep well, sweetheart.”

              “You too.” She said snuggling the stuffed animal he had given her.

              As Leah and Faith were finishing their lunch the next day, there was a knock at the back door. Leah went to look out the window and saw Nathan and Tom standing there.

              “Hi” she said opening the door

              “We checked the shop first in case you were in there, we didn’t want to make Faith get up to answer the intercom.” Nathan stated to Leah. “Hi sweetheart” he said kissing the top of Faith’s head. “Hi” she smiled at him

              “Hi Tom” Leah said shyly but smiling brightly

              “I know I wasn’t expected. I just wanted to drop these plans off.” He said nervously

              “And I refused to bring them so he had too.” Nathan gloated

              “You don’t have to play matchmaker now Nathan.” Leah groaned

              Nathan continued to smile knowingly at her. “Come on in Tom” Leah said laughing “And unexpected or not, I’m glad to see you.” Tom entered and came to see Faith