Just like Kellie had
suggested months ago.
To cap things off,
they would drive into Austria and Switzerland to look at the mountains. Nathan
practically beamed with excitement. Kellie would be so proud of him for taking
matters into his own hands and planning this trip. Sure, this might put a bit
of a damper on his savings plans for this summer, but who cared?
Nathan felt like a man released from
prison.
“Thank You, Lord—for freeing me from the idea that I
have to store up treasures for myself. Kellie is my
treasure.
. .
You
are my treasure.”
These lessons had come
from the past six weeks in
Greenvine
, to be sure.
They Lord had been teaching and Nathan had certainly been on a learning curve.
All of his well-laid plans for the future now paled in comparison to what he
had in front of him at this very moment.
Kellie. Nathan
couldn’t help but smile. The past few nights, in particular, she’d shown her
love more passionately than in years past. “Must be something in the water,” he
reasoned. Whatever it was, he hoped it lasted.
No. No complaints in
that area. And he could find little to complain about in other areas either,
now that he thought about it. Their life together seemed more simplistic,
quieter and certainly more intimate. Even their conversations were better
directed, more heartfelt.
And his sweet Kellie—always the last one to arrive at
every function—seemed to be showing up every place on time these days.
The frenzied look had left her eye. She was a well-rested version of her
earlier self and he liked what he saw.
Now, if only all of
that bliss would follow them back to Houston, he would truly be a happy man.
Houston. Nathan
thought about the city with a smile. Kellie would soon be back in the
condominium, fussing over her latest purchase or complaining about the parking
situation. She would buzz around the place, preparing for the workday ahead.
She would settle back into the routine quickly.
I know her. She loves to
work. She loves what she does.
Moving back to Houston
seemed logical. Still, something bugged him, something he couldn’t quite put
his finger on. He tapped his fingertip on the steering wheel.
What is it,
Lord?
Why do I have this nagging
thought something remains undone?
Ah ha. There was still that one unanswered question about
the financial trouble in
Greenvine
. But it wasn’t his
problem to solve. He didn’t live in
Greenvine
. Not
really. Of course, it probably wouldn’t hurt him to make a few calls, check on
a couple of things. And maybe, now that Kenton was home from the hospital, he
might feel well enough to share his take on things, offer some clarity.
These things often turned out to be a simple
misunderstanding. Perhaps he could take a little time to help the fine people
of
Greenvine
sort things out. After all, they had
been mighty good to him.
Nathan reflected on
his new friendships for the rest of the trip. He smiled as he thought about Hal
pulling that catfish from the river. The loving older man had measured the
monstrous fish, bragged a bit about its size,
then
tossed it back into the water with a cockeyed grin. And that comment about the
punch had thrown him for a loop. Who would’ve thought the fellow didn’t care
for his wife’s prized punch recipe?
And
Frankie—Nathan couldn’t help but marvel at his new friend. Though worlds
apart in so many ways, they shared a kindred spirit, of sorts. Nathan certainly
admired Frankie’s work ethic—how he’d taken that little garage and turned
it into a profitable shop. Still, in spite of his business, Frankie’s world
seemed fairly simplistic. In fact, he and Julia seemed to live the most
carefree life Nathan had ever witnessed.
A simple home,
beautiful little girl and another child on the way.
Child
on the way.
Now there was
something else he’d left undone. Nathan knew that Kellie longed to talk about
the possibility of children. Now that they were headed back home, he finally
felt released to start thinking that direction.
Perhaps in
Europe.
. .
he pondered the thought. What better idea
than to conceive a child in some wonderful, foreign place?
Yes, that trip would certainly be the
start of something new—in many ways.
As he pulled the car into the driveway, Nathan looked at the
house. He had to smile, remembering what it had looked like that first day.
Kellie had since painted the shutters and replaced the front door. Even the
yard looked better, now that Jerry Chandler had invested some time and elbow
grease. She had even talked the young man into putting in some new springtime
flowers just last Saturday.
Nathan rubbed at his chin, deep in thought. Yes, the home
had surely made progress.
Then again, so had he.
Kellie sighed as she looked around
the cluttered kitchen. She stretched to grab something from the top cupboard,
but couldn’t quite reach. “Nathan, can you come and help me with this?”
He
entered the room and she couldn’t help but laugh at his appearance. His ragged
t-shirt and faded jeans certainly looked a little out of place on him. And the
tennis shoes, once white, were now covered in splotches of paint. In fact,
Nathan even had paint in his hair.
“Wow.
That’s quite a fashion statement.” She couldn’t help but giggle.
He
shrugged. “No point in getting all dressed up just to work on the house. I want
to get that back bedroom finished before Mr. Henderson gets here.”
Kellie
drew in a sigh. Yes, Chuck Henderson was due to arrive in a couple of hours.
She wondered how he would take the news that they were moving out of the house
earlier than planned. Perhaps he missed the place and was ready to return home.
That would certainly make things easier.
Then
again.
. . she looked around with a smile. This was
hardly the same home he’d left behind two months ago. The home had been
transformed. Literally. Would he feel a stranger in his own house?
Nathan
interrupted her thoughts. “Did you need me for something?”
“Oh.”
She startled to attention. “Yes. I’m trying to get those plastic storage
containers.” She pointed to the top cupboard. “But I can’t reach.”
“Not
a problem.” He began to pull the containers down, one by one. “What do you want
me to do with them?”
She
sighed again. “I guess just leave them on the counter for now. I’m almost out
of boxes.” She looked around the kitchen at the five large boxes she’d already
taped up. “Which reminds me—would you mind carrying these out to the
garage?”
“Sure.”
Nathan reached to pick up one. “But remember, you don’t have to get all of this
done today. We don’t have to be back home for another week or so. And we could
always come back and get the rest later.”
“I
know. But my weekdays are already taken up with work and several last-minute
things for my parents.” She brushed aside the mist of tears that mounted her
lashes.
“And I want to spend every
minute I can with them while we’re still here.”
“I
understand.” Nathan gave her a gentle peck on the cheek. “But Rome wasn’t built
in a day, and you sure don’t have to get everything packed up right away.”
He
looked around the kitchen, lips pursed. “What are we going to do with all this
stuff back in Houston, anyway?”
“I’ll
leave a lot of it here,” she explained. “I’m sure Mr. Henderson would like to
have it. It’s certainly newer—nicer—than what he had.”
“True.”
Nathan headed out to the garage and Kellie threw herself back into her work.
After just a few minutes, however, she had to take a break. For some reason,
the day’s activities had completely worn her out.
Nathan
finished with the rest of the boxes then plopped down onto the sofa next to
her. “Ready for some lunch? I’m starving.”
“
Mmm
.” Her stomach growled, but the idea of food didn’t
sound terribly appealing. Not yet, anyway. “I guess. What did you have in
mind?”
“Let’s
see what we have in here.” He opened the refrigerator and pulled all sorts
things out. “Turkey. Ham. Lettuce. Mayo. Cheese.
Two kinds of
cheese, actually—Monterey Jack and Swiss.
And we’ve still got
plenty of that homemade oat bread Julia sent over.”
“
Mmm
.”
“Want me to make a couple of
sandwiches?
You look beat.”
“I
am.” She leaned back against the sofa. “I guess you were right. I’ve been
trying to do too much too fast.”
“Told
you.” He began to slap sandwiches together. “But just rest for now. I’m on it.”
A
few minutes later he entered the living room with two plates in hand.
“Sandwiches, chips and a soda for my lady.” He extended a plate in her
direction and she took it willingly.
“Thanks.
I think I am hungry, after all. Starving, actually.” She took the plate and set
it on the coffee table, smiling as she noticed he’d garnished the sandwich with
a pickle.
“It’s
my cooking,” he bragged. “You can’t turn it down.”
Kellie
wasn’t sure when she’d ever seen him look so proud.
Or so
adorable.
“Right, right.” She smiled and bit
into the sandwich. “
Mmm
. Not bad.”
“Not
bad?” His lips curled down. “Come on and admit it. That’s the best sandwich
you’ve ever eaten.”
She put on her most serious face.
“It’s okay.”
“Okay?”
Kellie chuckled. “It’s
mah-velous
,
Dahling
. Simply
mah-velous
!”
A look of relief swept across
Nathan’s face. “That’s more like it.”
They chatted as they ate. Kellie
tried to force a smile as he talked about their plans for the future,
especially the part about going to Europe.
Funny, though.
Right now, even Europe didn’t sound that
appealing.
Lord, help me get beyond what I’m thinking and feeling. I need to
be with my husband—not just physically, but psychologically and
emotionally.
They
talked of Europe and other things as they finished their lunch. Afterwards,
Kellie returned to her work in the kitchen. She smiled as she looked at the new
appliances. Mr. Henderson would be tickled pink at the changes.
She only hoped he didn’t mind the house sitting empty until he
could return.
She and Nathan would continue to pay rent until the agreed
time, at any rate.
At
2:30 a knock on the door interrupted her work. She pulled the door open to find
a much thinner Chuck Henderson standing on the other side.
He still maintained the same mischievous
eyes. A young woman stood next to him, her arm linked through his.
“Mr.
Henderson.” Kellie extended her hand. “Welcome home.”
“Thank
you.”
“He gave her hand a light shake
and she couldn’t help but notice that he was clearly a bit weaker than the last
time she’d seen him.
“How have you been?” She asked the
question tentatively.
He flashed a cockeyed grin and a
glimpse of his former personality emerged. “
Fitter’n
a fiddle.”
He turned his attentions
to the nice-looking young woman who stood at his side. “This is my daughter,
Linda.”
Kellie
extended her hand toward the young woman, who looked to be not much older than
herself
. “It’s so nice to meet you. Thanks for coming out on
such short notice. Please have a seat.” She gestured toward the sofa.
Linda
nodded. “Look what they’ve done with the place, Daddy,” Linda said with an
admiring smile. “It’s beautiful. It hardly looks like the little house I grew
up in.” She smiled as she looked at Kellie. “Not that that’s a bad thing. It
looks great.”
“Thank you. I’ll just get my
husband and we’ll be right with you.” Kellie headed down the hallway to fetch
Nathan.
As
he entered the living room, Nathan extended his hand. “Good to see you again,
Mr. Henderson.”
“None of this Mr. Henderson
stuff,” the older man said with the wave of a hand. “Call me Chuck.”
“Chuck.” Nathan nodded and sat on
the couch next to Kellie. She gestured for Chuck and his daughter to sit across
from them.
“Nice
to see you too.
I.
. .” Chuck hesitated and looked at
his daughter, who gave him a reassuring nod. “I’ve been meaning to get by to
talk to the two of you, anyway.”
Ah.
He’s wanting
to come home sooner than expected. That
will make things so much easier.
“You
have?” Nathan asked.
Mr.
Henderson looked down at his hands. “I have. And now that I’m here, I feel more
confident than ever.” He looked around the room with an admiring expression on
his face. “You have done wonders with the place, just like Linda said.”