A Storybook Finish (14 page)

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together, Lindsay felt her feelings for him magnified. She

could already envision them spending a lifetime together,

scouting out every place of history, listening all day to his

explanations, and sharing in fun such as this.

Lindsay also knew relationships were filled with not only

good times, but trying times as well. For as long as she had

been a Christian, she knew trials shaped one’s character. She

grimaced at the thought of another trial coming their way.

Would it be the trial of Jewel and Troy? Or would it be something

else totally unexpected, raising its ugly head and

announcing itself in some unpredictable fashion?

“Okay, now a penny for your thoughts.”

“You don’t want to know,” she blurted out. She saw his

hands tense and lines of concern form around his mouth.

“No, it’s not what you think. I had a great time today. I know

the good times can’t last, though—that we have to get back to

the nitty-gritty of life.”

“I know. I have a dead car waiting for me and students who

would rather play with their Play Stations than learn history.

But I’m not going to think about that now. I want to think

about today for as long as I can.”

Lindsay agreed. When she returned home, she would have

fundraising starts to prepare for in the coming weeks, calls to

make, and appointments to keep.

The trip came to an end when Jeff drove into his duplex

and the empty space where his car once stood. “Guess the

towing company picked it up,” he noted. Lindsay got out of

the seat to help take out the picnic basket. “You want to come

in?” he asked.

Lindsay nearly jumped at the chance of spending more

time with him, especially after today. In the twilight, with the

warmth of his presence so very tangible, the temptation

129 might be there to throw caution to the wind. Knowing how fresh her

feelings were, she didn’t want to risk the emotions

overpowering God’s desire for purity and trust.

She shook her head. “I’d better not. It’s getting late.”

To her relief, he agreed. “Sure. Thanks for being an excellent

scouting buddy. I’ll look you up again if I need more help.”

He cracked a smile that ignited one on her face. Smiling

came easy for her now, with these newfound feelings circulating

within. He took a step forward. Would he kiss her

good night?

“Good night, Lindsay.”

He turned away without giving her a kiss. Lindsay was not

disappointed but found his gentlemanly way of parting an

added revelation of his character. It was a perfect ending to a

perfect day.

When she arrived home, however, her next-door neighbor

came to meet her, holding a long white box in her arms.

“This came for you today. The deliveryman left it with me.”

Lindsay thanked her and took the box. She fumbled with a

nervous hand to open the door to her apartment. Once inside,

she untied the large red ribbon and lifted the cover to reveal

long-stemmed red roses in a blanket of white tissue paper. A

handwritten card lay on top.

Sorry I made you so uncomfortable, Lindsay. I hope you will

forgive me. Ron

“Oh, no!” She shook her head, trying to squelch the rising

tide of bewilderment and discomfort. Don’t read into it. He’s

back in California anyway. It’s just an apology.

Deep down inside, she knew it was much more than that.

130 “Mrs. Coates, we made five thousand dollars in the fund

raising sale,” Jeff announced proudly to the small lady standing

in the doorway of his classroom.

He was in an excellent mood today. Across the back wall,

Jeff had strung up a huge American flag and, next to that, a

poster of the words to the “Star-Spangled Banner.” It made

his heart tingle to read the words that had come forth in song

from Lindsay’s lips at Fort McHenry, the same lips he was

fortunate enough to kiss. Since that day, their lives had taken

a sharp turn. Jeff invited her out to dinner Friday night. The

meal had been pleasant, filled with conversation concerning

their trips, musicals that tickled Lindsay’s fancy, and even

their favorite foods. Through it all, he was learning more

about her and enjoying every moment of the discovery.

A week after Baltimore, Jeff found the fundraising order

waiting for him in multiple boxes left by the janitor on duty.

He had just finished stacking the boxes of merchandise in

alphabetical order, with packing slips scattered across his

desk, when Mrs. Coates came to inform him of the faculty

meeting scheduled for the end of the week. He swelled with

pride at the amount of goods the classes had sold, certain it

would impress the elderly English teacher who was an outspoken

critic at the faculty staff meetings. If the students

delivered the products to the customers on time, he would

hold five thousand dollars profit in his hand by the end of the

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week, right in time for the faculty meeting. And he would relish

the victory like an Olympic athlete who had just won the

gold medal.

“That’s wonderful, Jeff,” Mrs. Coates said. “The students

worked very hard. I must say, I’m surprised how well it went.

I suppose I underestimated the success of this project.”

You and about two-thirds of the faculty in this place, Jeff

thought. “I’m glad the program worked out. Lindsay—er,

Miss Thomas–does a wonderful job. I think we should talk

up the success of the junior class fundraiser throughout the

school. Maybe other classes will sign up to do their projects

through her company.”

“I’ll spread the word.” Mrs. Coates nodded and turned to

proceed back to her classroom.

Jeff smiled at the thought of helping Lindsay. He looked

forward to the reaction on her face when he told her of the

additional fundraising projects he hoped to secure by singing

her praises. A merry tune teased his vocal chords at that

moment—a song of triumph he wanted to shout down the

halls of this school. The trip to Baltimore had been a cleansing

balm in his soul. Jeff never felt more confident than he

did right now, and he owed it all to Lindsay. Lindsay was his

dream, his miracle. He wanted to fill her mailbox with cards

and her front doorstep with flowers. He would do none of

that, however, until he knew how she felt about him. He

would hold back until the time was right.

Jeff grinned when the second period class marched in, their

eyes widening when they saw the boxes stacked in front of the

classroom. The students in his classes had warmed to him since

he’d put the flag in the classroom. They stirred to life at the

lessons about Fort McHenry in which he touted the bravery of

131 men able to withstand the pounding of a British fleet. He played

the national anthem for them, explaining how each part

of the song illustrated what the author, Francis Scott Key,

observed that fateful day back in 1814. The students responded

favorably to the discussion. Troy even perked up and asked a

question after class. The enthusiasm Jeff had experienced in

Baltimore seemed to be rubbing off on the classes. Jewel and

Robbie still remained aloof, but Jeff hoped things would get

better, especially now with the success of the junior class

fundraising project.

“What’s all this?” several students inquired, pointing at

the boxes.

“Why, it’s the tests I’ve been promising to spring on you,”

Jeff said with a wink, quoting a line from Lindsay’s fundraising

presentation.

The students stared in bewilderment. They circled his desk

and the boxes, pressing close, trying to determine what might

be in them.

When he had their full attention, he said, “So you really

want to know what’s in them?”

“Of course!”

Jeff waved the students to their seats. “These boxes are your

tickets to the junior prom. They contain the products you all

sold several weeks back. Now we need to give out the merchandise

and collect the money. In a minute I’ll call out your names, and

you can come and pick up your box. When you

deliver the items, you are to receive the money for the exact

amount of the purchase. Checks can be made out to the

school. The money needs to be turned in no later than next

Monday. Those who have earned prizes will get them after all

the money is in and the products are accounted for. It’s

132 important you get the money in, guys, so you’ll have what you

need for the prom.”

Jeff turned to the list and began calling out the names. Troy

came and took his two boxes without a word. When Jeff called

Jewel’s name, she came forward to pick up four full boxes of

products.

“I am also pleased to announce that Jewel sold the most

items for this class period,” Jeff said.

Jewel’s eyes widened at this announcement, before dropping

her head and smiling. She made two trips for the boxes

and stacked them on her desk. Robbie sat nearby, his desk the

only one absent of any boxes. “Didn’t you sell anything?” Jeff

overheard Jewel ask Robbie.

“No. I lost my brochure and all. Anyway I didn’t have time.”

Jewel flung back her hair in a huff. “Great. Then how do

you expect to go to the junior prom if you haven’t contributed?”

A flush filled his face. Others began staring at Robbie and

muttering among themselves. Jeff glanced at the scene

unfolding before him. Perhaps the classmates’ disapproval for

Robbie’s lack of participation might be the best tonic in curing

the young man.

After class, Jewel went up to Troy. The two began comparing

the items they had sold to customers. Troy offered to help

Jewel carry her boxes after school let out, which Jewel

accepted with a smile. When they left, still talking to one

another, Jeff could hardly wait to snatch up his cell phone and

tell Lindsay the news.

“You did it,” he announced.

“Did what?” Lindsay said in bewilderment. “I’m innocent. I

didn’t do anything.”

133 “You are quite innocent and very beautiful, too.” He wished

he could give her a kiss to express the love flowing through

him. “I’m talking about that fundraising ability of yours. I

received the order today. Everything’s here. And Troy and

Jewel are talking again. When Jewel found out that Robbie

did absolutely nothing to help with the fundraiser, she began

setting her sights on Troy once more. Troy even offered to

carry her boxes home.”

“My only concern is, with this newfound interest, do you

think Robbie could stir up more trouble?” Lindsay asked.

“I don’t think he can. The students aren’t happy with him

for neglecting his responsibility as a member of the class.

There’s nothing like the dissatisfaction from a peer group to

set a wandering student straight. I think this might be an

opportunity for Robbie to come around. Maybe he will even

open up to some help in his life.”

“I hope so. We don’t want them pitting themselves against

each other. Maybe you should think about starting up that history

club you talked about. Get the young people together, and

maybe through it you can do some extra work with them.”

“Lindsay, you’re a wonder.” A real history club, as he’d envisioned

when he first walked into this school. Maybe it would

lead to other things too. When he hung up the phone, he set

to work drawing up plans for the club, what they would do,

trips they could take, perhaps even forming a type of quiz

bowl team that could compete on public television stations or

in national competitions. The possibilities seemed endless.

A janitor began sweeping the halls when Jeff finished up a

rough draft of the proposal to present at the faculty meeting

on Friday. Everything was finally falling into place. If only he had

been more patient and waited on God to fit the pieces of this

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huge jigsaw puzzle together. God didn’t require a helping hand.

All He asked was for Jeff to walk by faith and not by sight.

Jeff went home that night to call his sister about his triumphs

in love and life. For once he had good news to share.

Candy was not her usual perky self, having just come out of an

argument with her new boyfriend. Despite this, she seemed

interested in hearing about the new things happening in his

life. Jeff used the opportunity to share about his belief in God

and how he prayed that God would help him.

“I didn’t think God was much into the matchmaking role,”

she said. “I thought He only liked those fancy church buildings

and gold-plated seats. The money in all that decoration

could feed a small country.”

“God isn’t for or against gold-plated seats,” Jeff told her. “I

know for a fact, though, that He’s for us. I’ve seen Him work

out things in my life. I’m living proof.”

“I wish things would work out in mine,” she said with a

sniff. “Everything is falling apart. You might as well know.

Sam and I broke up. It was awful.”

“Have you ever considered—has it crossed your mind to

call Anson?” He expected her to shriek over the phone, and

tell him what a louse he was for bringing up the subject of her

ex-husband.

Instead, there was silence. The reaction shocked him.

Candy usually had an opinion about everything, especially

about something as sensitive as this. Finally, her feeble voice

answered, “Anson has a girlfriend.”

“How do you know?”

“I’m sure he does. I think I heard it somewhere.”

“You don’t know that for a fact. Look—I’ll give you back

your own advice. Until you know what’s going on, why don’t