Christine looked at Will’s startled expression, and it broke her heart. He could deny it all he wanted, but she could tell he hadn’t realized exactly how old she was.
“You’re being dramatic,” he said. “A few years means nothing to me.”
She slipped from his lap and headed toward the kitchenette for water. “I’m just making a point.”
“I know, and I’m ignoring it. I don’t care if you’re fifty. I care about you, and that’s all that matters.”
With a glass in her hand, she turned and studied him, wondering if the expression she’d seen had been only her imagination. “You were shocked when I told you my age. Admit it.”
“What shocked me was the thought of your being my mother. I would have been very disappointed.”
“Disappointed? Why?”
“Because then I would never have known you as I do.”
Christine swung back to the faucet and ran the tap as she weighed his words, facing his determination but pondering the wisdom.
She took a long drink, then glanced at her watch. “We’d better get to the airport. Ellene will be waiting.”
Will rose and grabbed his jacket from the back of a kitchen chair. “I’d like you to think about what I’ve said, Christine. This conversation isn’t over.”
She shook her head. “Will, let’s just drop it. I have so much going in my life that I don’t know which end is up. I like you. You know that.”
He reached for her arm and stared into her eyes, his question obvious.
“Okay, so it’s more than like. I really care about you, and I wish things were different, but they’re not. I can’t answer the questions I know you have. I want to enjoy what we have. Can we do that?”
Will was silent as he zipped his jacket.
“Please,” she said.
“For now. Enjoy your friend’s visit for the weekend, but we can’t stop, Christine. My heart’s on the line, and—”
Christine pressed her finger against his lips. “Mine is, too, Will.”
His gaze captured hers, and she felt drawn like a hummingbird to nectar. She leaned closer and brushed a kiss on his lips.
They stood a moment without speaking, then he pressed his palm to her cheek. “We’d better go. Dress warm.”
She slipped into her boots and jacket, wrapped the red scarf around her neck and covered her ears with a new pair of red earmuffs.
As they strode outside, she pulled her gloves from her pocket. They’d agreed to her driving her grandmother’s snowmobile so Ellene could ride with Will. She’d warned Ellene to dress warm, and she hoped her friend knew what that meant.
The sun’s warmth hadn’t penetrated the nippy breeze, and Christine shivered, but once settled on the sled, the heat of excitement embraced her as she started the engine and waited for it to warm. Will gave a wave, and she followed him, opening the throttle and gliding to the street, then zooming toward the airport.
Will headed left to Hoban Road, slowed near Annex and made another left. She could see the airport driveway to her right, and her excitement grew as she anticipated seeing Ellene. She needed a friend. She needed an honest appraisal of the crazy thoughts leading her into an unknown way of life. She needed common sense, and she’d find that in her friend.
When they pulled up to the terminal building, she turned off the engine and hurried up the walk. Will trailed behind her, giving her a chance to greet Ellene alone, she guessed.
Ellene appeared at the doorway, her wild dark hair held bound by a knitted cap. “I’m ready,” she said, opening her arms to Christine, who ran into them with the speed of light.
“Thanks for coming.” Christine looked at her and noticed her attention had shifted beyond her shoulder. Christine turned around to see Will’s smiling face.
“Ellene, this is Will Lambert. Will, Ellene Farraday.”
They moved closer and shook hands, each eyeing the other.
“Will’s going to be your taxi.”
“Really,” she said. “That sounds interesting.”
“My sled will be,” he said, understanding her humor. “Do you have luggage?”
“Just this case.” She extended her carry-on bag. “I’m only here for a weekend.”
Will chuckled. “Christine said she was only here for a week and look what happened.”
“My husband would never forgive me,” she said with a smile.
“Ready to face the elements?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Ellene said, linking arms with Christine as they headed toward the sleds.
An icy shiver charged down Christine’s back, and she feared it wasn’t the wind but the outcome of Ellene’s visit. What did she expect from her friend? She wanted Ellene to like Will, and yet she feared she would. The paradox made no sense, but the worry felt real.
Now that she’d asked for help, perhaps she’d sought the wrong person. She thought of what Will had said earlier. Jesus walked beside him every minute. Why couldn’t she let the Lord handle her confusion and not drag Ellene into the quandary?
“I’ve never liked Scrabble,” Will said as Christine added up her twenty-three-letter word. “She makes everyone else look like they’re ignorant.”
She couldn’t help but grin at his upset. “No I don’t. I have a strategic eye.”
Ella concentrated on the game, gathered her letters together and placed her word on the board.
“You can’t use saith,” Christine said. “The rules say no foreign words.” She knew the word but loved teasing her grandmother.
Everyone laughed. “It’s in the Bible, Christine,” Ella said. “And God’s Word can’t be wrong.”
“She got you,” Will said, studying his letters for his turn. “It’s getting late.” He looked around the table and ended with Christine. “Is this about over?”
“You want to give up and let me win?” Christine wrinkled her nose at him.
“Sounds good to me. You’re going to win anyway.”
“For someone who’s known you only a few weeks,” Ellene said, “this man has your number.”
Will chuckled and banged the table. The board loped upward as words divided and skidded across its face.
“I suppose we have to quit now.” Christine shook her head. “You did that on purpose.”
“I really didn’t, but I think it was providence.”
They slid their letters into the box, and Christine folded the board while Ellene gathered the letter stands, putting everything inside the game box.
Will stood. “Now, I think it’s time for me to say good-night.” He leaned over and grasped Ellene’s hand. “It’s nice to get to know one of Christine’s friends. Your husband sounds like a man I’d like to meet.”
“Maybe you will,” she said, giving a telling glance toward Christine, then back to him.
Christine cringed with her obvious meaning. They hadn’t talked yet. She’d avoided saying anything to Ellene, because she wanted her to get to know Will without her influence.
Will tipped his imaginary hat and slipped into the foyer.
Christine heard the back door close, and she looked at Ellene, wanting so badly to talk but not with her grandmother present.
When she turned toward her grandmother, Ella gave a wide yawn. “I think I’ll get cozy in bed and read my Bible for a while before I go to sleep. You girls need time to talk.”
“Don’t rush off because of me,” Ellene said.
“No, dear, not at all. Shuffling around with one leg still not cooperating is very tiring. And you saw the workout Christine gave me with my therapy.”
“She is a taskmaster,” Ellene said.
“Anyway,” she continued, “I love to read God’s Word all snuggled up in bed.”
“Let me help, Grandma,” Christine said, rising and handing her the footed cane they’d moved out of the way.
She took her grandmother’s arm to steady her and they made their way to the door. “I’ll be right back,” Christine said over her shoulder.
Christine’s heart had lifted as she watched her grandmother’s improvement. Her left hand had more strength, and though her fingers needed still greater coordination, she had some use of them.
When her grandmother had undressed, Christine hung up her clothing or dropped items in the hamper, then helped her with the buttons on her flannel gown. Christine shifted her grandmother’s Bible closer on her nightstand, then leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Good night, Grandma.”
“Good night, Christine. I hope you and Ellene have a good talk. I think she likes Will.”
Christine bit her cheek. She should be happy, but her emotions headed off to dark corners. “I think she does, too.”
“But I want you to remember one thing.” Her grandmother lifted the Bible with her right hand and rested it on the blanket. “Proverbs says, ‘There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.’”
Christine stood a moment, trying to decipher what her grandmother meant.
“You don’t understand?”
“I—”
“I know you invited Ellene here because you’re concerned about Will.”
Christine thought a moment. “No, not Will. I’m concerned about me.”
“It’s one and the same, dear. You see Will in your future, and it frightens you. You want your friend’s advice. Just remember that all the advice in the world cannot shake the Lord’s path for you.”
“I know, Grandma, it’s just—” She paused, trying to decide if she wanted to say it or not. “Do you realize how old Will is? Do you know how old I am?”
Her grandmother chuckled. “I’ve never seen anything in the Bible that states who has to be older or younger, but remember what I’ve told you before—a person plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
Christine drew back. How many times had she been reminded that she could plan until she turned purple but the Lord guided her steps?
“Will may be younger than you, Christine, but he is a God-fearing Christian man who thinks the world of you. I’ve seen it. What is more important, that a man be older than a woman or that a man treats the woman as if she is a gift from heaven?”
A ragged breath shivered from Christine. She touched her grandmother’s hand. “Thanks, Grandma. I’ll heed your words.”
“That’s all we want, dear.”
“We?”
“The Lord and me.”
A faint grin found Christine as she placed the table lamp remote button closer to her grandmother. “I love you,” she whispered as she closed the door and headed down the hallway, realizing she couldn’t sneak anything past her grandmother.
“That didn’t take too long,” Christine said, walking into the living room.
Ellene had turned on the television but snapped it off and laid the remote onto the lamp table. “Tell me. I’m curious.”
Christine faltered. “Curious? About what?”
“What’s your problem?”
“You mean with Will?”
“Yes. You told me you were so different. I understand he lives here and you live in Royal Oak. That’s different, but personality-wise, the two of you fit like gloves. I love his humor, and you play off it like a fine-tuned instrument.” She paused and leaned forward, sincerity filling her face. “Christine, the man’s a gem.”
Christine fell back against the sofa cushion. “I know. I know.”
Ellene rose and shifted to her side. “So what is it? The island versus the big city?”
“Yes, part of it. That is a problem. My work. His work. He doesn’t want to leave the island. I can’t work here.”
Ellene took her hands. “How important is that, Christine? Does your career mean everything in the world to you?”
“Certainly it does.” She lowered her head. “It always has until—”
“Until what?”
Christine struggled with her thoughts. What was the real problem? She knew Will had strong feelings for her, but could she trust him? She wanted to say yes, but she feared being wrong. She’d been wrong before. And then the age issue. Ellene hadn’t mentioned their ages.
Ellene waited, then asked again.
“Part of it is reality. You remember what happened with Chet. Do I keep my head when my heart’s involved?”
“But Will isn’t Chet. He’s as far from being Chet as I am from being the Queen of England.”
“I know. He’s a wonderful Christian. I’m working on being a better one myself.” A deep sigh escaped her. “It’s my career, too. Who would I be without it?”
“A wife who supports her husband’s work. A mother someday.”
“A mother?” The age factor shook her again. “I’m nearly forty. That’s another issue.”
“If you are in love and you marry, you still have time. I know the clock is ticking, but lots of women make the decision later in life.”
“This is stupid,” Christine said, realizing how far astray the conversation had gone. “He hasn’t asked me to marry him.”
“Not yet, but I can see it coming.”
The comment smacked her between the eyes. “You mean you really see that?”
“I’d be blind if I didn’t.”
The news made her reel. She knew Will cared. She cared, but—“Okay, but do you see nothing else about age? You don’t see any problems?”
Ellene frowned. “Are we playing guessing games?” She shook her head. “Is he younger than you?”
Christine veered back. “You have to ask?”
“Yes, I guess I do. Both of you have a youthful spirit—especially here, Christine. I’ve never seen you so lighthearted. When I saw you on the snowmobile, laughing and later playing Scrabble—You two are like kids.”
“That’s because he is a kid.”
Ellene froze, then recovered. “He might be younger, but he’s a man. Either that, or I’m deluded.”
“He’s twenty-eight. Twenty-nine in January. I’m eleven years older than he is.”
“Ten after his birthday,” she said, a light tone in her voice. She wrapped her arms around Christine’s shoulders. “My dear friend, don’t hold back a chance at pure happiness because of a few years, an island life and a career. I want to tell you my life is tremendous since I fell in love again with Connor.”
“You do look wonderful,” Christine said, noticing the bloom in her cheeks. “You look as if life has been good.”
“It’s been more than that, and I’ll tell you in a minute, but let’s finish this. So the man is younger. If it’s not important to him, then it shouldn’t be to you. If he’s as strong a Christian as you say, he won’t play lightly with marriage. Christians believe their vows—until death parts them. I can’t envision him playing games with marriage.”
Christine knotted her hands and dropped them to her lap. “But does he know his mind?”
Ellene lowered her arms and drew back. “Here’s the truth. I think Will is a catch. I think he could make a wonderful husband and a great father. I think he’s as honest as he is sincere, but I have doubts.”
“You do?” Christine felt her heart tug. She wanted to know those doubts, but she wanted Will more. Her mind tossed like a tree in a hurricane.
“If you’re this unsure, then I think you should be cautious. You want a career and the big city. You can’t have that here. You can manipulate him to move—then you can have both—but should you? I think not. If the love isn’t strong enough to stand the test, then it won’t hold up under marriage.”
Christine rose and paced the floor. She’d said the same to Will’s father. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Fear charged through her thoughts and nailed her to the floor. “You said your marriage was wonderful. You were happy. So why the change of heart?”
“I am happy. I’m ecstatic. Marriage is wonderful and blessed, but it’s not perfect and it’s not easy.”
“There isn’t much that is.” Christine pressed her fingertips against her temple to quell the pounding.
“No, but all of the problems are minor to the joy. That’s why love can see you through it all, but the love must be sure and strong.”
Christine’s mind glided back to her talks with Will, the sled rides, watching him work in the studio, seeing his tenderness with her grandmother, his loving kisses. How could she push that away because of fear? “I need to think, Ellene. I thought it was the age that bothered me, and it does. But you’re right—what’s age? My grandmother reminded me—more than once—that I can plan my life down to the nth degree, but it’s God in charge.”
“Your grandmother’s right.”
Christine returned and sank to the sofa. She pushed the palms of her hands into her eyes, willing the headache to vanish. While she thought, Ellene remained quiet like the good friend that she was.
“Thanks,” Christine said finally. “Those were things I needed to hear, and it will give me food for thought.”
“I’m glad.”
Ellene’s smile radiated, and Christine looked at her sitting beside her like a woman who had a secret bursting to be released. Her mind shot back to Ellene’s earlier comment. “When I said you looked as if life has been good, you said it’s been more than that. So what does that mean?”
“Can’t you guess?”
Christine eyed her again as the truth fell into her mind. “Really?” She glanced at her belly and noticed the faint roundness. “You’re pregnant.”
“I am. We’re so excited and so is Caitlin.”
Christine threw her arms around Ellene’s neck. “Do you know what the baby is?”
“No, but I’d love a boy for Connor. Still I adore Caitlin as if she were my own and would be thrilled with a little girl. Whatever the Lord blesses us with is fine with me.”
“I’m so happy for you. A baby. It’s wonderful.”
“You can’t believe how wonderful. My career has taken a back step now. I don’t care about proving anything like I did a year ago. I wanted my dad to be proud of me—a woman contractor. Dad is, I know, but he’s even more thrilled to be a grandfather.”
“Our values change, I guess.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you, my friend. Weigh what’s important in your life. Love and family. Career and success. Sometimes a little of both, but God’s will be done.”
“I’ll say amen to that.” Christine closed her eyes and gave Ellene another hug. Warmth spread through her, knowing God had the solution, and she needed a clear answer from the Lord.