Miracles in Disguise (The Trampled Rose Series) (5 page)

Knowing his older brother would be relentless in his pursuit of the truth, he reluctantly shared what happened.

Mike chuckled, and asked, “So Nate finally found a woman who intrigues him?”

“I barely know her.”

“But you want to.”

“Not beyond friendly terms. She’s jumpy and frightened…”

“And beautiful?” Mike interrupted.

“Sure, but I’m not even sure she’s a Christian. I invited her to church. You could tell she really didn’t want to come, but she accepted anyway. I’d be surprised if I even saw her there.”

“And if she isn’t? Why do you doubt God’s ability to use you? You have gifts and talents you aren’t using.” Nathan knew by the look on his brother’s face where this was heading.

“Now don’t use this as an excuse to badger me about taking the position.” Nathan said gruffly, “I told you I don’t think I’m called to be a pastor.”

“If God is calling you, you’d never hear Him because you are too busy shouting to everyone why you are not fit to be the pastor.”

“Look how bad I bungled a simple invitation to church.”

Mike held up his hand and said, “Save it, little brother. I don’t want to hear about what you can’t do. That's not the point; it is what God can do through you. Just think about it.”

Walking back to the shop, he added. “I’m going to close up, and then you can come over and play with your niece and nephew.”

Nathan just grunted under his breath and got in the truck, thinking about what Mike said while he waited for him.

His brother had this way of dropping a bomb on you, and then leaving you to mull it over yourself. The church wanted him to take over his dad’s position as pastor, but Nathan knew he wasn’t cut out for that position. Besides, his family didn't know how miserably he failed to minister to his own roommate in Seminary. How was he supposed to care for an entire congregation if he couldn’t even save his best friend?

Sighing in frustration, he started the truck and followed his brother back to the house. After today, playing with Mike’s kids was just what he needed. He loved those kids, and they had a way of taking the burdens off your heart with their sweet smiles and endearing comments. Within moments of entering the house, the troubles of the day were crumbling away. As he lifted both Rick and Karen in his arms, all thoughts of his failures, the pastoral position, and Kristina were far from his mind.

After dinner, the kids settled in the crook of each of his arms. He inhaled the sweet scent of their freshly-washed hair, and delighted in their giggles as he read them their favorite bedtime stories. When he kissed them each on top of their heads, his heart longed for the day when his own children would snuggle next to him for their bedtime stories. The sound of tiny bare feet running across his floor was a beautiful symphony he couldn't wait to hear. Unfortunately, he thought with a sad chuckle, Hamilton wasn’t filled with many eligible ladies. And if things stayed the way they were, it would take a miracle for him to find someone to warm his heart and side.

Chapter Five

As Nathan enjoyed the evening with his family, Kristina was not having such an easy time relaxing. She returned home and tried to look over Mrs. Rose’s notes, but she couldn’t shake Nathan from her mind. She was here in Hamilton to get a fresh start, away from David and everything associated with him. But Nathan threatened to take all that away from her. His presence alone caused her to be nervous. On top of that, he wouldn’t relent with his probing questions, teasing, and frustrating invitations.

And she was sure he had overheard her conversation with Mr. Shirley. Or had he? She nibbled on her fingernail as she wondered. Would he repeat it?

She thought about all of the pepper spray comments that had been thrown their way today. She could imagine how fast the tidbits of her past would spread through this town.

She’d come this far, she was finally free, but she felt more enslaved than ever. Her fears and her past were like heavy shackles around her arms, holding her down. Without David around, she thought that she would be free from constantly disguising her thoughts and emotions, but that’s exactly how she had spent her first day in Hamilton.

You should have never left me.
David’s voice echoed in her mind.
We are one. No one can separate what God put together.
David had told her that after she tried to leave him the first time. The pain and degradation she suffered that night were forever burned into her mind. After he was done abusing her, he forced her to spend the night “proving” how much she loved him, and how sorry she was.

Wrapping her arms around her legs, she buried her face. David had often told the congregation that Jesus could wash you clean. “I wish You
could
wash my mind clean,” she said to the empty room.

She picked up the notebook and tried to concentrate. But after a few moments of staring at Mrs. Rose’s scrawl, she threw the notebook aside. Instead, she put on some music and set about putting the day out of her mind.

She had been so tired last night that she left everything packed, and this morning, she rushed out before getting around to it. Now she began unpacking her things. Several suitcases and an overnight bag were the extent of her belongings now.
No, I have much more than that. I have freedom from five years of constant nightmares. I have a chance at a fresh start, a chance to heal.

As she put away her toiletries, she ran across her wedding ring. Turning the ring on the tip of her finger, she thought of when she and David first married. He was so charming. She remembered the laughter and love they shared in those earlier days. He would always say she was his angel, sent down from heaven, and he couldn‘t believe that a woman as beautiful as her would love a man like him.

Her family and friends loved him, except Lisa. Lisa always believed he was too obsessed with her. “I mean, you are a wonderful woman, don’t get me wrong.” Lisa would explain, “But he’s got you on a pedestal; you’re his angel, his princess . . . you’re perfect! And what happens if you fall off that pedestal?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and Kristina threw the ring in the back of the bathroom drawer.
I found out that answer
, she recalled with anger and bitterness choking her throat.

Shaking off the haunting memories, she dried her face and finished putting away her things, her chin quivering from time to time. Looking at her tear-stained face in the mirror, she admonished her reflection. “Stop! You are starting over, and this time nothing, and no one, is going to hurt you."

After unpacking, she set about preparing for her first day at school. Throwing herself into her work, she lost track of time. Before she knew it, it was midnight.

The next two days were filled with much of the same. She spent her time alternating between working on her classes and getting herself settled into her new home. There was plenty of occasion for breaks as a constant barrage of visitors came knocking at her door. She was delighted that none of her visitors included the high and mighty Nathan McKinley. May came by Friday morning to invite her to dinner at their house that night, and she was invited to church on Sunday by April, who stopped by Saturday night to bring her a pie.

“Yes, Nathan invited me too. I’ll be there.”

April chortled, “I can see that boy hasn’t lost his charm.”

“Oh no, it’s not like that. He just said it would a great way for me to get to know everyone at the dinner afterward…” she let her words trail off as she saw April's knowing smile was not relenting.

“Do I need to bring anything for the dinner?”

“Heavens, no darling. You are a guest…for now.”

Kristina managed a weak smile. April rubbed her arm, and said, “Well honey, I know you must be tired. I’ll be letting you get some rest.”

At the door, April hugged her and said, “Don’t let Nathan’s charm fool you either. He is much more than just a dashing smile. That man is one of the sweetest and compassionate men I have ever known, and godly too. Any woman would be lucky to have a man like him.”

Kristina’s face paled; she’d had enough “godly” men in her life…she would consider herself lucky to never have to deal with one again.

The phone rang just as she closed the door, and she was relieved to hear Lisa’s voice. She was exhausted from plastering a smile on her face.

“Your students keep coming by and asking how you are doing.” Lisa said casually, though concern tinged her voice. “What should I tell them?"

“Tell them I’m doing great.” Kristina proceeded to tell Lisa about her encounter with Mrs. Rose, the steady stream of visitors and the invitations she had already received.

“Well,” Lisa admonished, “You better take the one to church.” At Kristina’s silence, she added, “I know how you feel. Don’t let what happened keep you from church. God’s the only one who can heal you.”

Silenced stretched across the line.

“So, I didn’t just call to chit-chat. David’s lawyer came by the school this week.”

“What did he want?” Kristina’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Your address, he has some papers that need your signature. I told him I would be willing to forward anything to you, but you wished your location to remain private.”

“Good, did he leave it with you?”

“No, he said he needed to deliver it in person. I told him I would convey the message.”

“Don’t give him my address!”

“Kristina, I didn’t. But you need to get past this now. David’s dead, you don’t have to hide from him.”

“I know, it’s just…I don’t feel safe yet. I know that sounds ridiculous to you, but I still want to remain hidden.”

Lisa was silent for a moment, before she said, “Okay, but just as long as it isn’t because you are hiding from dealing with your past.”

“I’m fine,” Kristina said, with more conviction than she actually felt.

Chapter Six

Sunday dawned like an overzealous and unwanted lover, the air smothering her with warm wet kisses and breathing its hot humid breath down her neck. Or maybe she felt smothered as she debated whether to go to church.

As stood before her closet, she pictured David eying her in the mirror on Sundays. No matter how modest she thought her choice, David was always near with a critical comment. “Are you trying to attract every wayward man in the church? Proverbs 9 talks about such immoral women:
‘She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. "Come in with me," she urges the simple.’”

Pushing aside the memories, she yanked out a light and airy yellow short-sleeve dress with matching sling-back sandals. Gathering up her purse and her Bible, she headed out the door, brushing away an errant tear,
I am not an immoral woman
.

Arriving at the church, Kristina slipped into one of the back pews and laid her Bible and purse beside her. As she waited for the service to start, several members of the community came up and greeted her. Soon everyone seated themselves as the choir filed into their places. She had to restrain herself from gaping as Nathan walked out from one of the back stage doors and took a seat at the piano. The congregation stood and as Nathan's nimble fingers flew across the piano, the choir lifted their voices in a beautiful hymn. It was a few moments before Kristina remembered herself and began following along.

Apparently, he is not only a carpenter, my assigned escort and official interrogator
, she thought,
but he also plays the piano and leads the church choir. What does this guy not do?
Later in the service, she would get her answer, as Nathan stood and faced the congregation. The children of the church were gathering up near the front, seating themselves before him. He smiled and asked, “How are you guys doing this morning?” There was a weak reply and he said, “I thought I was going to get a thundering response. What is wrong?”

One boy of about nine said, “It’s gonna rain, and I wanted to go fishing today!”

“Jeremy, I’m glad you said that.” Nathan said, sitting down on the steps in front of them. “What do you think would happen to the pond if God never sent a little rain our way?”

Jeremy shrugged his shoulders, and said matter-of-factly, “We’d get to fish a whole lot more?”

Nathan’s rich laughter rumbled out, reaching out to her where she sat in the back pew, and a soft smile touched her lips as she watched him with the children. “Well, yeah,” Nathan said, “for a while. But then eventually the pond is going to dry up.”

“Then we could just pick the fish up off the ground!” a little girl of about six said, her dark curly hair bouncing with her excitement.

The church laughed, and a blushed stained the little girl’s cheeks as she sensed that she had triggered the laughter, but not understanding why. Nathan continued, “Good point, Alyssa, but I was thinking more along the lines of how God blesses us with things that don’t always seem like blessings. Rain, for instance, seems like a hindrance when we want to play outside or go fishing. See, Jeremy, God knows you love to fish, and He sends rain to keep your mama’s freezer full of fish."