Faith Unseen (17 page)

              Nathan chuckled “Yes, I’m sorry.”

              “Thank you.” She groused “I’m sorry, I didn’t know I was going to upset you. I thought you wanted an honest answer.”

              “I always want an honest answer to a question.” He said taking hold of her hand “Let’s backup a minute…I love you and I love what you just told me. I am happier than I have ever been in my life.”

              “And you’ll understand if I can’t run to the dry cleaners to pick up your suits or I can’t carpool our kids to soccer games or I can’t do a bunch of other things a sighted wife can do?”

              “Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart?”

              “Yes” she answered happily

              “Then I don’t care about the rest. I can pick my own suits up at the cleaners and I can shuttle the kids to soccer games and anything else you think you can’t do. But you know what I really believe?”

              “What?”

              “I believe you would find a way to pick up my suits at the cleaners or shuttle the kids to soccer games.”

              “Well, actually, I know of a dry cleaner that delivers and I can afford to hire a car and driver if necessary that would take us to the soccer game.”

              Nathan burst out laughing “I knew it. See Faith, about the only thing I haven’t seen you accomplish is to tell me if I have matching socks on. And if necessary I’m sure you would devise a way to do that even. You are impressive sweetheart and I believe in you.”

              “Thank you.” She whispered since she was now the one that was overwhelmed. Nathan reached over and caressed her face with his finger. “Hey you, Miss Newham?”

              “Yes, Mr. Lindstrom?” Faith said back to him

              “I love you.” Nathan said still caressing her face

              “And I love you.” Faith responded as she touched his hand that was caressing her face.

              “So what’s this about you being able to afford a car and driver?” Nathan asked after several minutes of quiet.

              “Yeah, well…” Faith stuttered “My grandfather was very well off and has left us all well provided for.”

              “Now there is an amazing coincidence.” Nathan stated

              “Why?” Faith asked

              “My grandfather was very well off too and has left my family well provided for. Do you pay much attention to the church budget?”

              “Some. My father helps me. Why do you ask that?”

              “I draw a salary from the church but then turn around and donate it back to the church anonymously through a trust fund. My house is paid for, my car is paid for and my monthly distribution from my trust funds is more than enough to cover my expenses. I don’t really need to work but I love my job.”

              “This is too funny. Does my father know this?”

              “Yes. As treasurer and chairman of the deacons I told him. Why?”

              “I think we have been set up by my father.”

              “What does that mean?”

              “Remember when I wouldn’t tell you who paid for the shelves at your house?”

              “Yes.”

              “Well, I believe it is safe to tell you now. You could probably guess this but my business paid for those shelves and my business is funded by one of my trust funds. My father suggested very strongly that you really needed those shelves at your house and office. He knows I find joy in helping those who minister and he set me up to help you. I can’t prove it but he may have been trying to get your interest up about who helped you.”

              “Well, that would explain his question today.”

              “Which was?”

              “Did I ever figure out who helped me with the “things” that kept happening to me?”

              “No way. He did set us up.”

              “I believe you are correct. He is crafty, I’ll give him that.”

              “Are you mad at him or me?”

              “No!” he said confidently “He was showing me one of his greatest treasures and how much I needed her in my life.”

              “You didn’t need me to set Leah up to make those shelves.”

              “Maybe not the shelves but I do need you in my life.”

              “I’m very glad about that.” She said happily “So very glad.”

              “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

              “Okay, why the sudden rush?”

              “I’ll tell you in a minute.” He said helping her with her coat and guiding her out of the restaurant. He drove her home silently and as quickly as possible and was very glad to see that Tom’s car was gone. “We are back at your house, Tom’s car is gone.”

              “They were going to a movie or something.” Faith said as he opened her car door and helped her out. “Are you coming in?” she asked as she opened the front door.

              “Yes, for a few minutes.” He answered.

              Faith removed her coat and placed it on the coat tree and Nathan did the same. He led her into the living room and sat her down on the couch. “Now will you tell me why we rushed out of the restaurant?”

              Nathan cupped her face in his hands and said “I’ll show you why” and kissed her gently. “I couldn’t kiss you at the restaurant and I really needed to kiss you.” He said as he hugged her.

              “Oh Nathan” Faith gushed “I love you, thank you for not giving up on me.”

              “I told you, I need you in my life.”

             
Thank you God.
Faith prayer reverently.

             
Amen
Nathan echoed.

              Friday morning, Nathan walked up the driveway of Faith’s house and found Leah in her workshop. He knocked on the door and she motioned him in.

              “Hi Leah”

              “Hi. Faith didn’t tell me you were coming by today.”

              “I’m surprising her.”

              Leah nodded and continued to work.

              “Are you still not speaking to me?” Nathan teased

              “That depends…are you going to tease me about how stupid I was the other day?”

              “Never. Leah, every relationship has those kind of days. Did you really think Tom would stop seeing you?”

              “I hoped not but we didn’t know what Jeremy said to you guys. Or what our father said to you?”

              “Both of those men love you and Faith very much and their conversations with us were expected and very nice.”

              “I know. We cornered them last night at dinner and they told us.”

              “Both of them?”

              “Yes”

              “Good. Now you can relax and enjoy your time with Tom?” he asked

              “Yes” she said a little embarrassed “He still wants to marry me.”

              “Somehow I thought he would.” Nathan smirked “Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to go see the woman I want to marry.”

              “Hey wait.” She said as he opened the door to leave “Your shelves for your office are ready, when do you want me to install them?”

              “Just let me know your schedule and I’ll work mine around it.”

              “Monday morning?”

              “Perfect” he agreed waving goodbye to her

              Nathan walked into the kitchen and heard music coming from the living room. He thought Faith must be upstairs listening to music instead of working. He wandered into the living room and stopped dead in his tracks. He had seen the piano in the corner of the living room on his first visit to the house but had never seen anymore play it, now he was surprised at who was playing it.

              “Hi Nathan” Faith said as the song ended

              “
Uh…
Hi.” He said coming closer to the piano.

              “This is a surprise.” She said about his visit

              “That is an understatement.”

              Faith chuckled at him “I meant your visit.”

              “Oh, yeah.” he said as he sat down next to her on the piano bench “I think you need to explain this to me.”

              “I had piano lessons as a kid and played fairly well for a teenager. After I lost my sight, I went away for about a year to learn Braille and how to function without sight. At the school, I was taught the Braille Music Code. It came easy for me and so I kept playing. I play a great deal of songs from memory, especially the old hymns that my mother made me play over and over again for my grandmother. I have some music written in the Braille Music Code and I love to play.”

              “You didn’t tell me you played.”

              “There are probably lots of things we haven’t discovered about each other; the piano is just one of them. Is it a big deal?”

              “No, it isn’t. You play really well. Play something else.”

              “Thank you.” She said shyly “What do you want to hear?”

              “Surprise me”

              Faith nodded and then thought for moment about what to play. She wasn’t used to someone watching her play. She decided on playing her grandmother’s favorite hymn. As she played the memory of her grandmother also played in her mind until she forgot to be nervous with Nathan watching her. As she finished, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “That was beautiful.”

              “Thanks.
Amazing Grace
was my grandmother’s favorite. I remember her love for God and the grace that she said she couldn’t do without every day. I didn’t understand that as a kid but I do now.”

              “The Lord told that to Paul about his “thorn in the flesh”.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
” Nathan quoted.

              “Anyway, I’m glad you are here but why are you here?”

              “Because you are here.”

              “That’s a nice thing to say.”

              “I just wanted to come see you. And I’m even more glad I did now, I learned more about you.”

              “Let’s go sit on the couch.” Faith suggested “Okay, it’s my turn now. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.” Faith urged as they got comfortable.

              “I have a beautiful woman that I am in love with and want to marry.”

              “Another one? Because I already knew of one so it doesn’t count as something I don’t know about you.”

              Nathan wrapped her in a headlock and gave her another nuggie then kissed the top of her head.

              “Hey, I did not apologize unnecessarily; you can’t give me a nuggie.” She joked

              “You still deserved it.” He growled back and Faith laughed “Okay, let me think… something you don’t know about me.” Nathan paused while he thought “Along with being a preacher, I wanted to have the opportunity to help underprivileged kids.

              “How would you like to do that?”

              “After school tutoring programs, sports programs, a safe wholesome place for them to gather after school.”

              “That is a great idea. Have you started planning?”

              “Sort of. I have looked at couple of warehouses that could be converted into a multiple use facility. But that is as far as I have gotten.”

              “Are you going to run this place yourself and give up preaching?”

              “No, I’ll hire someone to run it. I love to preach.”

              “It shows too.”

              “Thanks, I didn’t know that.” He said kissing her hair

              “Yes, I can hear it in your voice each Sunday. There is a passion in the words you want to convey to us, the message God wants you to tell us.”

              “You could possibly be a slight bit biased sweetheart.” He said slightly embarrassed at her comment.

              “I am a lot biased but what I said is still true.” She grumbled at him “Now tell me more about this project.”

              Nathan chuckled at her and then went on to discuss his plans. He had thought these plans out pretty thoroughly but just hadn’t had the time to implement them. Faith asked questions and gave him her unconditional support and help if he needed it.

              “Are you ready for more questions?” Leah asked Faith as they arrived at church Sunday morning.