THE FISHERPEOPLE of Bethel College pooled their catch and entered it in the Deep Haven contest. Sojourners and New Lifers, together on one entry. As Pastor Dan weighed their entry, Ross knew.
They’d won. Not only the trophy, but a new beginning. The Sojourners would enrich the New Lifers’ ranks, fortifying their passion for relationships with a knowledge of Scripture. New Sojourners would reach beyond the borders of their campus and out into the world.
Even if Ross would never be a part of this new blaze, he’d know he’d been among the first sparks.
Fanning to flame the work Scotty began. Perhaps God intended that all along.
Abby hoisted the trophy and the crowd cheered. Her gaze landed on him, and he nodded, hoping she could see love in his expression.
If only he were smarter. He longed to believe her when she said she never loved Scotty. But Scotty hadn’t flunked out of his senior year. Scotty went on to seminary and right now would have been taking a pastorate and doing great things for God.
Ross hadn’t been thinking with a clear head when he’d taken her into his arms last night. He couldn’t bring her home, away from the dreams for which she’d sacrificed so many years of study. He couldn’t give her a rich ministry life, a setting where her gifts and skills could flourish.
So he hadn’t revealed his dismal future.
Dread tightened in his stomach as she descended the stairs and threaded through the crowd and into his arms.
“Well done, Abs.” He held her tight, unable to let go. Burying his face in her soft hair, he drank in her smell, something floral and clean, thanks to the shower she’d taken at the municipal pool. “You won it for us.”
Her beautiful blue eyes held such sweetness that it made him want to cry.
“Are you headed back to Minneapolis today?” He sounded like he had a cold.
She nodded. “Wanna meet me at the cafeteria for a burger tonight?”
He looked over the top of her head at Melinda and Bucko, who had veered off from the group and were walking hand in hand down the boardwalk. “I’m headed home.”
“Oh, well. Okay. I guess you gotta pack for New York, huh?”
He smiled, pushing her hair behind her ear, loving the feel of it in his fingers. “You’re a great fisherperson, Babe. God has gifted you in so many ways. I’m so proud of you. I just know you’ll do great at Bethel.” He smiled, a flimsy barricade between his words and a breakdown in the middle of the street. “I’ll see ya round.”
“Oh.” The look on her face tore right thought his chest. “I see. Okay.”
She turned away, and he nearly ran after her. I’ll try again! I’ll be more than I am! But he’d decided last night at the campfire that if God wanted him to drive a meat truck, he’d do it faithfully, casting his nets along the way.
He watched Abby join Laurie and the rest of her Sojourners. When she looked back in his direction, he stalked toward his car and out of her life.
The drive to Minneapolis had to be the longest of Abby’s entire life. She watched the landscape whoosh by, the pine and birch forest turning to meadow south of Duluth, then to suburbs as they trekked into the Twin Cities. By the time Laurie pulled up to their tiny off-campus apartment, Abby knew she couldn’t hold in the tears one minute longer.
Ross didn’t want her. She’d unlocked her heart, let him take a good look, and he’d walked away. Obviously her love wasn’t enough for him. Her love, her smile, her personality. Dull. Uninspiring. Then why had he told her he loved her?
She dragged her luggage, the trophy, her sleeping bag, and tackle into the apartment. Piling it in the middle of the room, she flopped down on the sofa and flung her arm over her eyes.
Laurie closed the door behind her. Abby heard the footfalls across the carpet, knowing she’d been less than fair in giving her friend one-word answers for two hundred and fifty miles, but she didn’t want to uncover her heart for Esther’s prying eyes.
Feeling Laurie touch her legs, Abby gave a peek. Laurie sat at the end of the sofa, face pinched. “Okay, now it’s just us. Tell me what happened.”
Abby closed her eyes, gulped a deep breath, and spilled out the wretched story. “And then he just walked away.” She shook her head. “What’s with that?”
A slight smile played on Laurie’s face. “Girlfriend, for a straight-A valedictorian, you need to beef up on your male savvy. The guy failed his senior year.”
“So?” Abby frowned.
Laurie gave a great Ricky Ricardo look of incredulity. “Work with me. He didn’t get his New York gig. He’s going home to deliver meat.”
Abby frowned. “Then why did he walk out on me?”
Laurie grabbed her by the shoulders, looking exasperated. “Pay attention! How’s he supposed to keep up with Doctor of Greek Abigail Cushman?”
“Oh, as if my degree matters.”
“Again, you need to enroll in Men 101. They don’t like to look like failures in front of the women they love. He did say he loved you, right?”
Abby slowly nodded. “I feel sick.”
“Yeah, well, I have a solution.” Laurie stood and walked over to the counter, picked up an envelope. “I love weddings, don’t you?”
Abby dived into Laurie’s idea, hoping that she wasn’t casting her heart at Ross’s feet only to see it trampled. She even sucked in her pride and agreed to be her sister’s personal attendant.
Perhaps this day could mend more than one bridge.
Two weeks later, on a cloudless June day, Abby helped Alyssa into her gown. With her long blonde hair piled atop her head and her flowing white dress, Alyssa had the power to stop hearts.
“I’m so happy for you,” Abby whispered into Alyssa’s ear as she hugged her and discovered that she meant it. So she wasn’t the bride. She could be a superb personal attendant and wrap Alyssa up in her love.
“Thanks, Abby,” Alyssa said, her eyes filling.
Abby smiled and grabbed a tissue. “Don’t cry. You’ll smudge.” Even if Ross wasn’t here with the Springers, Abby could enjoy the day congratulating her sister and applying everything God had taught her over the fishing weekend.
She’d decided she was Andrew, Peter’s quiet, wise brother, helping people one by one find the Savior. She didn’t have Ross’s charisma, but she had a rock-solid knowledge of the Scriptures. And God expected her to use the brainpower He’d given her. Even if the Sojourners had folded, God would use the new group, with their combined strengths, to build His Kingdom. He’d use her to build His Kingdom.
Ross’s words from Psalm 25 returned to her. “He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.” The Lord had led her and taught her through college, then grad school. And then He’d helped her not only land a prize-winning muskie but attract the attention of the campus catch.
Now she just had to set the hook and reel him in.
Buoyed by her sister’s bridal glow, Abby escaped to find Laurie. The organ music swelled from the sanctuary as she exited the vestibule. She spied Laurie squeezing into a parking spot near the back.
“Your sister’s a popular gal,” Laurie commented as she approached.
“That’s the understatement of the year.”
Laurie made a face that reflected mock pain. “You two don’t have any issues, do you?”
“No, we’re good.” Abby took her arm and marched them up to the church, scraping up her courage. Had Ross and his parents already arrived? Or would he run from this event like he’d run from their future? Her confidence took a diving leap . . . and skidded into cold fear when she located him standing next to the gift table.
He looked devastatingly handsome in blue dress pants, a royal-blue shirt, and a yellow tie. The combination had the power to turn her around and send her running. Until she saw his footgear —a pair of flip-flops.
Oh, so Ross. She couldn’t help but giggle.
Then he turned and the laughter stopped.
His mouth opened, and she saw his reaction in his beautiful eyes before she heard it. “Wow.”
So Laurie had been right to dress her to the nines. “Hi.”
He gave Laurie a cursory nod, then fixed his gaze, 120 percent full wattage, on Abby. “You look . . .”
“Wow works for me.”
He took her hand, swallowed. “I missed you.”
Oh, good. “Me too.” She took a breath. Fish hooked. Now reel. Music swelled through the church, and Alyssa emerged from the nursery. She caught Abby’s eye and reached out with a smile. Abby smiled back and kicked her courage into high gear. “Listen, Ross, I know you failed college.”
She would have done less damage if she’d kicked him in the shins. He gulped, turned a painful color. She squeezed his hand. “But I. Don’t. Care.”
He closed his eyes as if her words hurt.
“I asked you who you were. Now I know. You’re just a great guy who’s trying to do his best for Jesus. A guy I love. Who cares about Greek, anyway?” Had she really spoken those words?
Now came the tricky part. She added a breeze to her voice. “Hey, if you really want to learn it, I happen to know a great tutor.”
He frowned.
She nodded. “Free.”
“I don’t know, Abs. I . . . Maybe I’m not cut out for ministry.”
“Are you kidding?” Now this she hadn’t expected. “You’re a natural. Didn’t you listen to the fishing expert? Just use your gifts. I’ll help you with Greek. And you build relationships, find the empty spots, and fill them with truth.” She took his other hand. “You have a way of getting under a person’s skin and making them rethink their life.”
“And do crazy things like enter a fishing contest?”
She shook her head. “Like win a fishing contest.”
He laughed, and the sound of it released the knot in her chest. “Babe, you not only landed the muskie of the year, but —” his voice lowered as he reached up and wove his fingers into her hair —“you reeled in my heart. Hook, line, and sinker. I love you so much, home-run gal. And if you’re really serious, I’ll take that tutoring offer.” He touched his forehead to hers. “On one condition.”
He was so close she could smell his cologne —Polo? The guy hadn’t changed much in a year. Or, wait. Yes, he had. He’d grown from campus hotshot to campus hero. To the hero of her heart.
“If I pass, you’ll marry me.”
She smiled as her sister walked down the aisle to her groom. “Make me a promise?”
“Anything.” He held her face in his incredible hands, shooting warmth through her entire body.
“I don’t want to go fishing on our honeymoon.”
He laughed. And then he kissed her. Strong and full of honesty, and she knew.
This one was a keeper.