Rescuing Vanessa (A Little Bit of Coffee, Flowers, and Romance) (15 page)

Chapter 23

Vanessa stood at the door undecided. He seemed harmless enough. He had roses, beautiful, long stemmed roses. Her fingers tingled for her watercolor pencils. They’d make a wonderful sketch in a vase on the kitchen table.

This was ridiculous. She was being overcautious. Surely, he
only happened to be coming through Chicago and stopped by to say hi. Probably some art buyers’ auction. They happened periodically in the area. When he crossed his arms and tried to rub them still holding the flowers, she felt sorry for him. The temperature must have dropped as the storm moved in. It could pour any second.

She opened the door.

“Denny, what are you doing here?”

“Just
passing through. These are for you.” He held the flowers out to her. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

She didn’t quite feel comfortable, but Daniel would be home soon.
It would be all right. Did he know the vase was back? Maybe she could ask. Surely he’d have heard.

“Of course.
Come in.” She took the flowers and went into the kitchen to get a vase to put them in. He followed her.

She
opened a cabinet and grabbed the first vase she saw. Coming back around, she nearly dropped it. Denny was right behind her. Only, instead of holding roses, he was holding a gun.

“
Denny, what are you doing?”
This is not the Denny she knew and remembered.
She tried to sound calm as she put the roses into the vase. They fit.
He was always a little snivelly, prone to temper tantrums, like a little dog that barked at you when it was behind the fence, but would run away whimpering when face to face.
Where would be the best setting for a painting with these? She set them on the counter and noticed her hands shaking.
It was perfectly understandable. A man had a gun pointed at her.

“Where is my vase?” He
stood there smiling, as if it were perfectly normal for a man to brandish a gun.

His expression was so dark.
Serious. Changed. Was he on drugs? And what would he want with her parents’ vase? It never occurred to Vanessa that he’d be the one trying to steal it. What for? Maybe he was in some kind of trouble. Had he cut her brake lines? Vanessa started to realize the gravity of the situation.

“What vase?” Maybe if she
acted dumb she could figure out a way out of this.

“Don’t play stupid. I want my vase.” He wasn’t smiling anymore.

She swallowed. “I don’t have your vase.” Perhaps if she was honest, he would go away.

He raised the gun and pressed it against
her temple. It felt cold and she flinched, hoping the sudden movement wouldn’t set him off.

“I. Want.
My. Vase.” He didn’t yell, but his quiet menace was infinitely worse.

“I don’t have it
, Denny.”

He cocked the gun.
The sound made her body start to twitch. She felt her knees going weak as she began to shake all over. He smiled again. “Vanessa, it would go so much easier if you simply gave me the vase and then I’ll leave.”

In spite of herself, a tear rolled down her cheek. “
Denny, I found the vase in one of my boxes.” Should she tell him she gave it to the police? Or should she play for time?
Lord, help!

“That’s better.”
He grabbed her face with his other hand, his grip like iron, squeezing her cheekbones. She never thought of him as that strong, but the pain from it made her gasp for air. “Where is it?”

“Uh…”

“Vanessa…” His voice was almost a whisper. Then, “WHERE IS IT?!”

She felt like she was going to pass out. If she fainted, would that be a good thing? Would he kill her and search the house for the vase? What if someone came home and he shot them? She would never forgive herself if something happened to
Daniel or Grandma or Grandpa.

Lord, I don’t know what to do. Please help me. Oh, Jesus, please,
don’t let anyone get hurt. Please give me words.

Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. A strange, sweet peace filled her. Even in this, she wasn’t alone. Whatever happened, she would tell the truth and do what she could to protect the people she loved. She would even, somehow, try to show love to
Denny. There was still redemption available, even for him.

“
Denny, I don’t have the vase. You won’t find it here.”

His mouth slackened
by the sudden confidence in her voice. And so did his grip. “So, where is it?”

“I gave it to the police. It’s probably on its way back to LA by now. I’m sure your parents will be very happy to have it back. If I had known it was
in there, I would have returned it sooner.”

His face
went white, then red, then purple. “You WHAT?!” Both of his hands went out to his sides at angles in disbelief, including the one that was holding the gun.

“The police came to my house several days ago and took me in for questioning. I
didn’t even know I was a suspect. My stuff hadn’t arrived yet. After lots of questions, they let me go. When I found it, I certainly didn’t want to go to jail, so I called them and gave it to them. Naturally, they wanted me in for more questioning, but it wasn’t as bad as the first time.” It had its trying moments, but that was unimportant now.

Denny
sucked in a quick breath and sat down in one of the chairs at the table. He put his head in his hands and groaned.

While he was distracted Vanessa tried to
back her way out of the kitchen. She bumped the vase full of roses and sent it crashing to the floor.

He jumped up and pointed the gun at her
again. “Vanessa, we’re going to take a little ride.”

“Can I leave a note for my grandparents?”

He laughed. “Yeah, right. Honestly, you are the strangest woman I’ve ever known. Sorry, I don’t want you rummaging in a drawer and try something stupid. Let’s go.”

He
grabbed her arm and forced her toward the front door. “This house probably isn’t worth much, but I bet with a second mortgage, I could get $100 Grand. Maybe $150.” He stopped and appraised her. “I’m sure you’re worth it to them.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened. He meant to kidnap her and hold her ransom. There was nothing she could do about it right now. She still had her cell phone in her pocket. She had read a mystery book once where the police were able to locate someone by their cell phone.

Steadying herself, she took a deep breath. She could do nothing by herself. Instead, she would trust her Lord. That amazing peace still enveloped her. Somehow, some way, she knew everything would work out.

She was at the front door now. He put the gun in his
jacket pocket, but wedged the point of it into her back. He held her by the elbow close to him as he led her to his car.

As she opened the
passenger-side door, she saw Daniel pull into the cul-de-sac. Quickly, she focused back down at the door. She didn’t want Denny to know she had seen someone she knew. Opening the door, she hoped Daniel grasped what was happening. Denny pushed her in and made her slide over into the driver’s seat, keeping the gun on her the whole time.

“You’ll drive
to my hotel. I assure you, the room has very nice accommodations. If your family is quick, your stay should be nice and short. Either way, I’m going to get my money.”

***

Daniel knew Vanessa had seen him. Why hadn’t she stopped? Or at least waved. The man she was with stood too close to her. He pushed down a spurt of jealousy. Something was wrong. As he pulled around the bottom of the cul-de-sac, he saw the glint of a gun hilt that extended slightly out of his pocket as the man followed Vanessa into the car.

Rather than
pulling into a parking spot, he kept on going all the way around the cul-de-sac. Noting the license plate on the other car, he put his cell on speaker and punched in 9-1-1.

“I’d like to report a kidnapping. The license plate is HG4957. It’s a lime gr
een station wagon. I’m following now. They’re driving down Meacham, toward Algonquin. They’ve turned left onto Algonquin.”

“Sir,
keep following, but do not engage.”

“Yes.” Daniel
gripped the steering wheel and tried to stay calm.
Lord, keep her safe.

***

Denny directed Vanessa to a Holiday Inn. He had her park on the side of the building. As they got out, he nodded at his gun and shook it towards her.

Before they could go inside, a car
careened up to the building and screeched to a stop.

Daniel got out and slammed the door.
“Vanessa, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Daniel.
” She knew she sounded angry, but what if Denny shot him?

Denny
frowned, but kept the gun hidden.

“So, who’s your friend?” Daniel asked.

Help, Lord! Keep Daniel safe!
“Daniel, this is Denny, a friend from LA.”

Daniel
approached his hand outstretched to shake. Vanessa stiffened. If anything happened to Daniel, she didn’t know what she would do.

Denny
stared at Daniel’s hand. He didn’t move at all to accept it. “If you will excuse us. The lady and I have some things we need to discuss.” He turned back to Vanessa. “Come on, Babe.” Still keeping one hand in his pocket, he pushed her toward the door.

“Wait!”

Denny glared at Daniel. “Can’t you take a hint? She doesn’t want you. Beat it!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Daniel stood close enough to touch the door. He put his hand on it, effectively barring their way.

“Well, if that’s what you really want.” Denny pulled the gun out of his pocket and pointed it at Daniel.

“No!” Vanessa screamed.

“Shut up!” Denny pointed the gun back at Vanessa. “Both of you, inside, now!”

“No,” said Daniel.

“No??” said Vanessa and Denny together.

“Do you want to die?” asked
Denny.

“Do you
honestly want to shoot me out here? It would be rather noisy and what if someone sees you? There is a lot of traffic, don’t you think?” Daniel replied.

“You’re insane,” said
Denny.

“Daniel, please. I
can’t lose you.” Tears glistened in Vanessa’s eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you too and I’m not going to let this man take you away.”
How could someone love her so
much?
Yet, isn’t this the way Jesus loved her? Didn’t He give His life for her? If God thought she was worth dying for, why was it so hard for her to accept Daniel’s love? Jesus knew all her mistakes and failures and faults, but He loved her anyway. It wasn’t about never making mistakes, it was about admitting your mistakes and being willing to change. God’s idea of perfection wasn’t always saying and doing everything exactly right. It was submitting herself to Him and letting Him complete her, doing things His way, seeking after His will and His heart. It was all about trusting.

Suddenly, she fell to her knees and
shouted praise to God with everything she had. Her hands stretched upward and tears fell down her cheeks, but she rejoiced. She didn’t even feel the hard concrete beneath her jean skirt. The world fell away and it was her and Jesus. The words she spoke weren’t any that she understood. All she knew was praise. There was an army of angels surrounding her. Nothing could hurt her or Daniel.

“What are you doing?!”
Denny shrieked.

Daniel fell to his knees as well
, feeling the heavy anointing and unction flowing from the realm of the supernatural. It was as if glory and power were being poured out from the very throne room of God. One of his hands met hers as he stretched both of his in praise heavenward. Tears fell from his eyes as he began to speak in the tongues of angels in the name of his Lord, Jesus, standing there to meet them, King of kings and Lord of lords.

“You two are
crazy! WHAT is GOING ON???”

It was Acts 2:1-12 all over again, but in an entirely different context.

Chapter 24

Two police cars
screamed to a stop. Seeing the gun in Denny’s hands, four doors opened and four guns trained on him.

“Drop the gun and put your hands in the air!” one of officers
shouted.

Denny
carefully set the gun on the ground and put his hands up.

O
ne of the officers turned Denny around, spread-eagled against the side of the building, read him his rights, and searched him thoroughly. He pulled his wallet out of one pocket and a room key from another.

“Well,
Denny Delaney,” he said reading his driver’s license, “you’ve been a bad boy. We’re bringing you in for attempted kidnapping and illegal possession of a firearm. Your gun license is bogus. I wonder if there’s more to find in your room?”

“Hey, I know my rights. You can’t
go into my room without a search warrant,” Denny said indignantly.

“Ah, now, don’t you worry your ugly mug about that. We won’t have a problem getting a search warrant. In fact, I bet we’ve already got one.”

This was confirmed a few seconds later by another officer putting away his cell phone. He cocked an eyebrow at Vanessa and Daniel still on their knees crying and grinning at each other.

As
Denny was led away in handcuffs to one of the squad cars, the first officer said, “Oh Denny, one of my officers found drugs in your room. You’re going to spend a very long time in jail.”

Denny
groaned.

Daniel and Vanessa stood and watched him go.

“We’ll need to get a statement from you both.”
Vanessa squeaked in surprise. It was Officer Martin from before.

D
aniel shook his head, remembering his ‘pajama-jam’ session with the Bennetts and the impression he must have left on the poor officer, not to mention the rest of the station. “Can we do it here or do we need to follow you in?”

The officer shrugged his shoulders. “It would be best at the station
.” He made it sound like an apology.

“We’ll be right behind you,” Daniel replied, sighing.
He hoped the staff wouldn’t recognize him. At least he wasn’t wearing flannel.

“Do you have a church card?” asked Vanessa. “I think we should invite him.”

Daniel blinked, then grinned. “I think I do. Let’s give it to him at the station.”

***

Several hours later… 

“I am so glad this is truly over,” said Vanessa putting both feet onto an ottoman and leaning back into the soft family room loveseat.

“Not completely. We still have to testify,” Daniel reminded her. He sat
across from her on the larger couch, his feet also up.

She
shrugged her shoulders as if to say ‘oh well’.

“I’m glad that awful man is going to jail,” said Mrs. Bennett as she handed first Daniel, then Vanessa,
a cup of tea before sitting next to her granddaughter.

“The good news is the vase is back where it belongs and
Denny can’t bother you anymore,” said Grandpa.

“Mom and Dad
won’t be happy about all this.”

“They’ll be glad you’re safe,” said
Grandma.

“Well,” said
Grandpa folding his newspaper and putting it on the coffee table, “I’m exhausted. It’s been a long day and I’m going to bed.” He stood up.

Her grandmother
joined him. “I’m tired too. Good night, you two.”

“Good night,” said
Daniel and Vanessa together.

Vanessa watched them leave the room and Daniel watched Vanessa.

“Tell me something,” he said. “What made you fall to your knees and worship at exactly that moment?

She smiled
and took a sip of tea. “I thought about how much Jesus loved me, even though I had messed up so much. He refused to let me go. He wouldn’t take the easy way and do nothing. Instead He gave up everything, His life and His Spirit. Even now, He won’t give me up. And, you showed me how much you love me by doing the same thing.”

Daniel
’s hand jerked in surprise, nearly spilling the tea cup he was holding.

“Y
ou showed your love by refusing to take yourself out of danger. For the first time, I realized I didn’t have to do anything to earn love. It was there, almost tangible, like a tree or a mountain. All I had to do was receive it. I understood the love of God and the love of the man I love in an overwhelming way, all in the same instant. I couldn’t help but worship. I hope that makes sense.”

Daniel blinked.
He smiled and nodded.
Was she going to do that woman thing again, and disappear, flit away, go help her grandmother with the dishes, start crying then change back and shake his hand and say it was nice being mates? Or was that a Vanessa thing? Or both?

Daniel glanced over at the kitchen, reassured that the dishes were done and put away and Mrs. Bennett had retired for the evening and there was nothing left to be done. He decided he was safe.
For now. “When you did that, I felt the power of God so strongly I had to worship too.
”
Then, he remembered Denny’s gun. “Frankly, it’s amazing we’re both still alive. The Lord spared us.”

“
I know.” She put her feet down and leaned toward him. Taking a breath, she said, “Daniel, if your feelings have changed…I mean, if you only want to be friends…I mean, that’s okay.”

Oh great, here it comes.
Daniel wasn’t sure how to take her words. Did she want to be merely friends? Or more? “What do you want?” His eyes met hers in a long exchange.

She shifted in her chair
as a flush crept up her cheeks. Then, she raised her chin back up, a determined glint in her eyes. “What I’m trying to say, is if you still want to see if we could be, um, more than friends, I am willing to see too.”

He grinned as she blushed furiously. “Well, I might be willing to consider it.” He couldn’t resist teasing her a little. “I mean, if you are.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened a little getting ready to tease him back. She really was quite adorable when she bantered, the curve of her upturned nose, the slight shake of her cinnamon locks catching a copper glint in the evening light, that constant spark in her vibrant, chestnut eyes.

Daniel didn’t let her stew any longer. “Vanessa, I know the Lord is working out something special with us.
Nonetheless, that needs to be confirmed to you. In fact, I owe you an apology. I handled this all wrong. I should have spoken to your grandparents and parents and asked permission to court you, all before talking to you. I should have waited until you got to know me better. I’ve been praying for you for the last two years. I already felt as if I knew you. When the Lord opened my eyes to the possibility of a relationship with you, it was as if my heart had been waiting for you, alone. Unfortunately, that was entirely too fast. Please forgive me.”

Vanessa felt as if all the pressure were suddenly released. She did love him. She realized that now, but she also knew that she needed time to get to know him.

“I forgive you,” she said
warmly. “You know, I’ve only been here for what, two weeks, three? So much has happened in so short a time. It would be great to slow down and get to know you when our lives aren’t so crazy. It’s the sometimes more boring, every day stuff that makes a relationship, not the action and adventure of the past few weeks. You have yet to prove to me that you aren’t James Bond and Indiana Jones all wrapped up into one man, Dr. Professor Daniel Greyson!”

Daniel laughed. “You are exactly right. Thank you.” Although if it were left up to him, he would marry her tomorrow. “You are very wise.”

“I have a lot to learn, but it is so good to be in a place, not
only physically, but spiritually as well, that I can. I can’t wait to see what our Lord has for us.”

His heart
leaped a bit when she said ‘us’. He sternly rebuked it and ordered it to be patient. Then, he had an idea. “Vanessa?”

“Yes?”

“Would you do me the honor of playing a game of chess with me tomorrow evening?” What better way to work on his patience than that particular game?

“I’d be glad to enter into that engagement.
” Her mock British accent was getting better. Perhaps he was rubbing off on her. And his heart got a bit excited when she spoke the word ‘engagement,’ which he promptly had to deal with as well. What a wonderful time this will be. He looked forward to taking it slowly, to savoring every moment, of learning everything he could about her.

Over the next several months, they spent many enjoyable evenings playing chess.