6

 

John opened the door and went into the hall. Still buoyed from the blessing he’d received in church, he stood to one side and let Dorrie, her husband and the kids in. His parents followed them, and he shut the door against the cold. Minus five and only lunchtime. He didn’t hold out much hope for the temperature getting above freezing all day. He busied himself with hanging up his thick overcoat and then took the kids coats from his sister.

In the corner of his eye, he saw the answerphone was flashing. That reminded him. His mobile phone was by his bed and switched off. He headed towards the stairs to retrieve it and change out of his suit as his mum pushed the button on the answerphone.

“You have one new message,” the phone intoned.

“John. Ring me as soon as you get in.”

He stood stock still. She must have gotten his letter. What had he done? He should never have sent it. But he had and besides this was what he’d been waiting for, right? He’d know one way or the other. It was time to man up and hear her answer. Before he could chivvy everyone out of the hall, they all began to chip in with advice.

“Call her,” Mum said. “You’ve got time before dinner.”

He looked at his watch. He wasn’t putting it off, but he didn’t want an audience. Not even one behind closed doors. “She’ll be going to bed about now.”

Dorrie looked at him. “She said to call her as soon as you arrived home. If it’s that important, she’ll stay up. I know I would.” She shooed everyone into the kitchen and lounge and winked at him. “Go on, John. Do what the woman says. Ring. Now. I’ll even go and put loud music on Dad’s stereo so we can’t overhear you.”

He poked his tongue out at her and picked up the phone. He looked at the keypad, his stomach churning so hard he put the phone down.

Then taking a deep breath, he picked up the receiver and dialed.

Jo answered on the second ring. “Hello.” Despite the late hour she didn’t sound at all tired. She didn’t sound upset or strained either.

“Hi, it’s John. You…you asked me to ring.” He braced himself for the no he was sure to hear. Just like every other time he’d asked a girl out. But Jo was so much more than ‘some girl’. She was the One—wasn’t she?

“Yeah, I did.” Her bubbly voice confused him. “How are you?”

“I’m OK. We’ve just got back from church. How are you?”

“Really good. I got your letter. It came on Friday, but I was out of town, so I didn’t get it until I got home this evening.”

“Oh, I see.” Now the moment was here he felt physically sick. His palms were damp and he tucked the phone under his chin, wiping his hands on his suit trousers. He undid his suit jacket and loosened the tie that was threatening to choke him.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry?” He rubbed his chin, almost dropping the phone in the process. He caught it just in time, gripping it tightly in his fist. She’d lost him completely.

“The answer to your question is yes. I would love to start a long distance relationship with you.”

John wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. “You—you would?”

“Yes, I would.”

“Say it again.” Surely he hadn’t heard right? His breath caught in his throat and his tie once again felt too tight. He pulled it off and unbuttoned his collar.

“I would love to start a long distance relationship with you.”

His heart leapt into his throat making speech almost impossible. He hadn’t expected that answer. “That’s great.”

“John, are you all right?” She paused. “John?”

“I’m fine.” He coughed.

“Are you sure? Or would you like me to say it for a fifth time?”

“Yeah. No…Yes, I’m fine. No, you don’t need to say it again. Unless you want to.”

“Yes, I want to go out with you.” Her smile was audible.

He sat there, the scientist in him trying to analyze how he felt. Heart pounding, pulse racing, temples throbbing. His stomach felt like a million birds had taken flight. The nausea replaced with a light-headedness and… He stopped. There were no words to describe the joy flooding him. She said yes. Thank You, God, she said yes. She said yes!

“John? Are you still there?”

Her voice dragged his attention back. “I honestly thought you were calling to say no.”

Jo laughed, and the sound was like a peal of silver bells straight from heaven. “No, nothing like that. But I can if you want.”

He laughed with her. “No, please don’t change your mind. You didn’t come to see me off when I left. I wasn’t sure how you felt about me. I thought perhaps I’d scared you off completely when I wrote and wondered if I got it all wrong. That I imagined you felt the way I did.”

“No. Mail just takes weeks to get here sometimes.” She took a deep breath. “My turn to be honest. I didn’t come to see you off, because I was going to church to complain to God.”

“Seriously? I thought you were going to the mission.”

“Very seriously. The mission was just the reason to go. I was mad at God for raising my hopes and then smashing them. And I mean really angry. God finally gives me a bloke who wants to date me, more than once, and he lives twelve thousand miles away. I did nothing but whine to Him for days. Then I remembered that naughty step conversation we had. Figured God was giving me time out to calm down. It took me a while to work that out.” She paused. “It’s been a really long two weeks not hearing from you.”

“I’m sorry and I did write, even if it did take two weeks to get there. But it was your turn to e-mail…” He paused. “That was a rubbish excuse.”

She giggled. “Yep, but yeah, it was my turn. I promise to do better on the email front. As long as you promise to reply.”

“Instantly. Well, as soon as I log on and find one from you.” His heart overflowed with happiness. Was it spilling onto his voice? He glanced across the hall, seeing his reflection in the mirror. He had a goofy grin on his face and figured it would just stay there the rest of the day. Or month. Or year.

“I’ll send one in the morning.” She yawned. “I’m sorry.”

“Am I boring you?” he teased.

“All the time,” she giggled, yawning again. “It was a long trip back and a very busy weekend.”

“I’ll let you go to bed. When will I speak to you again?”

“Soon as possible.”

“I’ll e-mail every day, ring you on the weekends.”

“Sounds good. We could alternate ringing each other. Save on the phone bills.” She yawned again.

“Sounds like a good plan. Go to bed. Ni Night.”

“Ni Night.”

John hung up and just sat there. Thank You, Lord. Show us where to go from here. Guide our every step that we may follow in the path You are laying out before us.

A huge grin covered his face, and he couldn’t lose it. Nor did he want to. He stood and went into the lounge where everyone sat around the table eating. The whole family went quiet and looked at him.

Had they been listening? Did they know? Oh, who cares, I want to shout it from the rooftops.

“She said yes. We’re officially in a long distance relationship.”

Dorrie grinned and ran around the table to hug him. “See, I told you Miss Right lived in Australia.”

 

****

 

The next week passed faster than any John had ever known. He e-mailed Jo daily and got several replies. He’d also written daily letters, finding the blue airmail letters not long enough, even if all he were doing was describing what he did each day. He talked about the way the frost decorated the few remaining leaves on the trees, the threat of further snow, and the Christmas decorations that he’d put up at work.

Sunday came again and he phoned as soon as he got in from church. Jo answered on the second ring. “Hey.” He smiled. “Were you sitting on the phone?”

“I took it into my room, so it wouldn’t wake Pip. She’s on the early shift this week.”

“Good idea.” He broke off as Taylor appeared holding out a book. “What’s this?”

“It’s bedtime in Australia, Ki John, so she needs a story. You can read her this one. It’s my favorite.”

John took the book and grinned. Taylor’s speech was pretty good, although he still struggled with the odd word or two. Uncle being one of them—it always came out as Ki. “Thank you. I like this one, too. Jo, I’ve been given a story to read you, as it’s bed time where you are,” he explained. “Angus the Airship.”

“Oh, that’s sweet. I love that story.” She giggled. “Who did that?”

“Taylor, he’s four. So, are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. Angus the Airship spends his days flying high over the Highlands of Scotland, with his pilot, Hamish McTavish. Each morning Hamish fills Angus with helium.” He read the story.

When he finished, her smile was virtually audible. “Thank you. Oh, you know Pip is coming to the UK soon?”

“Yeah.”

“She was hoping to take in Windsor but her place to stay fell through and now she doesn’t have anywhere to stay in that area—the friend she was staying with has had to go to Wales to look after a sick relative. Now, we happen to know this Christian bloke who lives a short distance from Windsor, and I was wondering, if I asked him very nicely, whether Pip could crash at his for a few nights.”

John laughed. “Of course. I rent the room over my parents’ garage, remember. It’s one big room so I can’t ask her to share, but my parents do have extra bedrooms.”

Jo shrieked with laughter. “Oh, that was the sermon this morning. In my Father’s house there are many rooms.”

He laughed with her. “Tell me when she arrives, and I’ll go check with Mum and Dad, but I know they’ll say yes.”

“Her plane lands at Heathrow on the fifteenth, and she’s there until the eighteenth when she goes to Bath.” He opened the door and relayed the message to his parents. Having got the thumbs up, he shut the door. “Tell her yes. So, do you want this story again or another one?”

“How about a Bible story?”

John beamed. “Sure.” He picked up his Bible from where he’d left it ready for the evening service, and opened it at random. “Psalm one hundred and nineteen. Figure we read alternate sections? I’ll start. Blessed are those whose ways are blameless…”

 

****

 

Jo hung up and looked up at the ceiling. They had spent the last forty minutes reading and praying together and it was awesome. She wanted to see him again, so very much. And the last thing she wanted was to be alone over Christmas. But Christmas was for families, and she didn’t want to impose on his. Or not see hers, even if that would only be for a few short hours because she was dividing the day between two houses.

But... Could she do this? Would they mind? The irony wasn’t lost on her. It was the situation in reverse. She’d look at flights, and if she managed to get one, then would be the time to ask.

She pulled over the laptop and searched flights to the UK. Her first search came up trumps. There was one seat left on the same flight as Pip. She could hardly believe it. A little more than she’d imagined, price wise, but she had enough saved up and some for spending too. Deciding on the spur of the moment that God was telling her to do this, otherwise there would be no spare seats on the plane, she booked it.

Now all she had to do was find somewhere to stay. And it just so happened she knew this Christian bloke through a friend of a friend of a friend…

 

****

 

“You are mad, you know that.” Pip’s voice echoed in her ear, along with her loud laugh. “Absolutely certifiable.”

Jo grinned. “Probably.” She picked up the phone and dialed.

“Hello?”

Jo didn’t recognize the voice, but put two and two together. “Mrs. Connington?”

“Yes. Who’s speaking?”

“It’s Jo, from Australia. John’s friend.”

“Hello, dear. John’s at work right now, I’m afraid.”

“I hoped he would be. I wanted to speak to you. It’s kind of awkward, actually. You know my housemate, Pip, is coming to stay next week?”

“Yes.”

A sudden wave of nerves assailed her. What if she said no? “I’ve managed to get a seat on the same flight, and I was wondering if I could stay with you as well. Without John knowing. I want to surprise him.”

“Of course, you can stay here. You’re both welcome to stay for as long as you like.”

Jo smiled and gave Pip a thumbs-up. Her smile turned into a grin at the small jump of joy that Pip did. “Thank you. The flight lands on the fifteenth at eleven in the morning.”

“John will be there. He was collecting Pip. When do you fly home?”

“January third. I hope it won’t be a problem...”

“Nonsense. You’re more than welcome to stay.” The joy in her voice echoed down the phone.

Jo’s heart sang. “Thank you so much. And please, don’t say anything to John.”

“I won’t.”

 

****

 

For the next week, John raced home from work to check his e-mail, eager to read what Jo had planned for the day. In the mornings when he woke, there was one telling him what she’d done and whether things had gone as she’d planned. She detailed Pip packing and making the final preparations for her trip.

The morning of the flight, her e-mail sounded quiet and depressed. Knowing he had a few minutes to spare before he had to leave for work, John rang. Hopefully he would catch her before she left for the airport.

“Hello?” Pip’s bubbly voice sang down the phone.

“Hi, Pip, it’s John. Is Jo there?”

“She sure is.” Her voice increased in volume. “Hey, Jo, the phone’s for you.”

Clattering footsteps echoed in the background, and then Jo’s breathless voice followed. “Hello.”

“Hey, beautiful, it’s John. You sounded kind of down in your e-mail. So I thought I’d give you a quick ring, and make sure you’re OK.”

“Yeah. Rushing around packing the car. Missing Pip already, and she hasn’t gone yet. How are you?”

“I’m OK. About ready to leave for work. Another fun day of testing samples when I’d far rather be talking to you. Oh, I’m going to pick up a webcam for the computer at lunch time. Finally convinced Dad they only transmit images when you physically turn it on, so we can chat via the internet tonight. And I can finally see that wonderful smile of yours again.”

“OK. That would be awesome as I’d get to see your smile too. Just angle the camera so the lights don’t reflect of your glasses.”

“Webcams don’t have lights.” He laughed. “I am not falling for that one.”

She giggled. “OK. And no take out at lunch time either. Or if you do, don’t get chicken. Else you won’t be able to afford a webcam ‘cause you’ll need a new tire.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have told you about that one. Guess what arrived yesterday?”

“More snow?”

“Other than that. My suitcase. It’s a little worse for wear.”

“Wow. Where’d it go?”

“Canada.”

“I’m sorry? It went to Canada?”

“Sydney, Nova Scotia, rather than Sydney, New South Wales.” He laughed. “Right city, wrong continent. Anyway, it found its way home eventually.” There was silence for a bit. “I should go or I’ll be late for work. I’ll ring tonight when I get in.”

“I’ll be out then. I’m going to see a friend.”

“OK, cool. Have fun.”

“I will. I’ll speak to you tomorrow. I should be around at the usual time unless I end up seeing this friend again.”

“Should I be jealous?” he teased.

“Not at all. Now go to work or you’ll be late. Speak soon. Take care.”

“You, too. Bye.”

 

****

 

Despite what Jo had said, John rang when he got home, but there was no answer. He tried again before he went to bed and again when he got up in the morning. Still nothing. Worry gnawed at him.

What if she’d had an accident on her way home from the airport or from her friend’s house? Her parents didn’t have his number. They’d have no way to contact him. And he didn’t have numbers for Rob or anyone else out there. He’d get Pip to ring Rob later. Maybe he’d go around to the house and make sure Jo was all right.

He set off for the hour long drive to the airport, praying all the while that Jo was safe. That she had merely gone to her parents for the weekend on the spur of the moment, and she wasn’t lying dead in a ditch somewhere. He shook his head. Now he was being morbid. Nothing would happen. Most likely she’d gone to church or something.

He parked and headed in to the arrivals terminal. Part of him wished it were Jo he were picking up, not Pip, but seeing her would at least give him a connection to Jo.

Fifteen minutes later, he finally saw Pip make her way through the doors. He waved and smiled as she made her way over to him. “Hello, Pip. How was the flight?”

“Long, but OK.”

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. A cheery Australian voice said, “Hello, handsome.”

John froze. It couldn’t be. It sounded like…

He spun around to see Jo. Her eyes sparkled and a huge grin covered her face. “Surprise.”