Faithful (35 page)

Phyllis heard footsteps and saw Hayes standing by the archway to the living room.

When they all looked up, he said, “Breakfast is ready.”

“Can we hear the rest of the story first, Dad?” Sean asked.

Hayes hesitated, glancing at his mother and Ella on the floor. “No problem.”

He stayed in the archway as Evelyn continued. After a couple of pages, Phyllis got up and took his hand, leading him to the sofa. He put his arm around her when they sat.

“‘Nearby, shepherds guarded their flocks by night. An angel appeared and told them the wonderful news. “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”'” Evelyn gaped at the children. “Can you imagine being the one to hear such news!”

Sean made a funny face. “I would have been like,
What?
”

Phyllis laughed as Evelyn continued.

“‘Suddenly, many more angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”'”

As Evelyn went on, that one word stayed with Phyllis.
Peace
. That was what she'd prayed for, and here she was, experiencing it. The last twenty-four hours seemed like a dream, as if God had suddenly entered into their circumstances, as if He were finally taking notice.

Yet there was nothing sudden about it. Years and years of prayer had looked to this, prayers from her and now she knew, from Evelyn. Hayes hadn't professed belief in Christ, but Phyllis was thanking God nonetheless. For the first time, they were celebrating together the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. A beautiful peace was raining down, a peace her home had never known. God was giving her that glimmer again, brighter than she'd ever seen it, and with all her heart she would be faithful to pray. She would pray until the heart of that little boy found its way back into the arms of Jesus.

Twenty-seven

I
T WAS MID
-M
ARCH
, and spring had surprised everyone by showing up a week early. St. Louis had had one of the coldest winters on record, with successive temperatures in the single digits in much of February and only rising as high as the teens in the first part of March. Just this past weekend, the high temperature was thirty-three. But suddenly, in St. Louis's wacky weather way, a new season had burst forth. It was seventy-two.

Cyd strolled across campus to her car, enjoying the feel of the breeze, the warmth of the air. The onset of spring was her favorite time of year, when nature was abuzz with newness and color and fragrance. Her mind filled with things to do to take advantage of the balmy weather—a leisurely walk through the St. Louis Zoo, a bike ride in Forest Park, a stroll through the Garden to view the flowers in bloom, a trip to Maggie Moo's to enjoy an ice cream cone outside on the bench.

But she couldn't enjoy any of it like she wanted to yet, not without Cedric. He had left town Sunday evening on business, when it was still cold, and wouldn't return until Saturday. It was Thursday, only four days since he'd been gone, and they had talked every one of those days, but she missed him terribly. This was the longest they'd gone without seeing one another, and the time apart made her realize how close they'd become.

For the last three months they'd met for coffee first thing in the morning at a café they'd come to love near Cedric's condo. Rain, sleet, or snow, they were there. Prior to that, they'd done early morning phone calls, but it wasn't enough. They needed to get a hug, lay eyes on one another, enjoy the smiles, expressions, and gestures that accompanied their conversation, all of which made it hard to part when it was time for work.

During the course of the day they texted one another, and every evening they talked by phone, meeting at least twice a week for dinner. Those were her days, filled with Cedric, and she couldn't wait until he returned so they could do something fun outdoors—a sort of celebration of their first spring together as a couple. She'd already told him the weather had turned, and he, too, couldn't wait to get back. He suggested they pack a picnic lunch after church and take it to the park.

Cyd hopped into her car and opened the windows and the moon roof for her five-minute ride home. She planned to immerse herself in work this evening. Tomorrow Dana, Phyllis, and Stephanie would be coming over for a Daughters' Fellowship—Stephanie's first. Dana suggested they include her, and it seemed appropriate in this new season of their lives.

As she rode down her street, Cyd waved at several neighbors working in their yards and slowed in front of the house next door, where Ted was pulling weeds near the sidewalk. She stuck her head out the window. “Always nice to see everyone coming out of hibernation, isn't it?”

He grunted in his amusing way. “I guess. Wish spring didn't mean having to do
this
, though.” He held up a clump, then threw it to the pile.

Cyd parked in the driveway and surveyed her own yard on the way to the front door. Time to call the guy who cut her lawn to make sure she was on the schedule.

She put her key in the front door and opened it. And froze.

Three petals—a lavender one, a white one, and a yellow one— lay by the door. And as she let her eyes travel forward, she saw a trail of them, all lavender, white, and yellow. Her heart was beating fast. Cedric's name was all over this, but how was it possible? And what was he doing back from Cincinnati already?

She let the screen door close behind her as she stared downward, taking tentative steps inside. She tossed her purse and tote bag on the sofa and came back to the trail. Petals were everywhere, as far as she could see on the hardwood floor that led into the kitchen, spring welcoming her indoors as well as out.

She picked up her steps along the trail, hastening to the kitchen, trying to step around the gorgeous petals, but there were so many it was impossible. The moment she stepped inside the kitchen, she gasped and froze again.

Red roses dominated the landscape. Bouquets of them in stunning crystal vases on several areas of the counter, on two windowsills, and on the kitchen table. Overwhelmed, she covered her face with her hands, but before she could ponder it further, Cedric emerged from the shadows and embraced her from behind.

She turned, and her head fell into his chest. That he was here with her was even more thrilling than the roses.

He held her for a few seconds, then leaned back. “Hi.”

She laughed through her tears. “What are you doing here?”

He made a sweeping gesture with his hand as he looked around. “This.”

“But . . .” She wiped a tear and took a breath. “What
is
this? How did you get in? And you're supposed to be in meetings all week in Cincinnati.”

He put a finger to her lips. “Shh.” He walked to the windowsill and lifted a single red rose from the vase.

She noticed he had on the gray suit she'd helped him pick out and the red striped tie she'd recommended. The suit hung just right on his body as he turned back to her, smiling.

“I don't have to tell you what red is for, do I?”

Her tears came harder. He'd never said it.

“You've shown me life as I've never known it.” He bent his head down so she'd look at him again. “Because of you,” he continued, “I wake up in the morning with purpose and joy. I didn't need spring to make everything brand new. You'd already done that by introducing me to Jesus.” He paused, sighing. “This sounds feeble after all you've done for me, but I wanted to tell you in a very tangible way: I love you.”

Cyd took the rose he handed to her and gazed into his eyes. Her heart had been hammering this truth for some time, and finally she would tell Cedric. The butterflies swirled as she said it. “I love you too.”

He only stared at her and took a step back. “Enough to be my wife?”

Cyd's heart was in her throat.

Cedric reached inside his jacket and produced a small box. He opened it, took out a velvet case, and set the box and her rose on the counter. Bending on one knee, he took her shaking hand.

“Cyd Sanders, will you marry me?” He opened the velvet case.

It only vaguely registered that this was the most beautiful diamond she had ever seen. Her eyes were on him, every handsome, wonderful, romantic aspect of him. How had the two of them gotten here? How could Cedric London have become the man of her dreams?

A thought flickered that they should give it more time. They'd only been dating for a little over four months. Didn't she need at least a year to be sure about such a big step?

Cedric was giving her a funny look with his eyes. “I'm
dying
here.”

She smiled down at him. “Yes, I'll marry you. A thousand times yes!”

He slipped the ring on her finger and stood, holding her close. “You just don't know,” he whispered in her ear. “You've made me the happiest man in the world.” He kissed her forehead and ran a finger down her cheek. Then he backed up, wagging his finger. “I knew this would be hard. I want to kiss you so badly.”

Cyd wanted the same. “There's nothing wrong with kissing, Cedric.”

“I know. It's just . . . a thing between me and God. This whole time we've been dating has been awesome for me, watching how God has changed my desires. I didn't think it was possible.” He took both her hands. “I want to wait. I want to hear, ‘You may now kiss your bride.' I want that moment. You know?”

Cyd nodded, her heart swelling all the more.

“So that's why I had a plan coming into this thing,” he said.

“We're not lingering here. We're going to your parents' house.”

“For what?”

Cedric rubbed her ring finger. “For our engagement party.”

“They know?”

Cedric smiled. “I asked your father for your hand last night. Had dinner and everything.”

“You were in town last night? But I talked to you.”

He had that mischievous look in his eyes that she hadn't seen in a long while. “On my cell phone.”

She gave him a smirk. “What if I had said no?”

Cedric shrugged. “I guess I would've called over there and told the caterers and everybody else to go home.”

Cyd shook her head, overwhelmed again. “Who's there?”

“Let's see,” Cedric said. “Hayes and Phyllis went over there after they let me in and helped me get set up. Oh, and they took Reese to their house so the kids and the babysitter could play with her.”

Cyd looked around suddenly, just now realizing Reese was gone.

“Stephanie and Lindell, Dana and Scott . . . Dana took over the guest list. Her sister's coming, that wedding coordinator, whole bunch of people. She said everybody would want to be there to celebrate with you.”

Cyd wrapped her arms around him again. “I can't believe it. You're amazing, you know that?”

“Um, yeah, I kinda knew that.”

She pushed him and headed for the stairs, gazing at her ring, walking on a bed of petals. “I need to get changed, but I won't be long,” she called, then paused on the second stair. “Ced?”

“Yeah, babe.” He walked over and looked up.

“Do you think we'll live here or in your condo?”

“I think it should definitely be here,” he said. “I can sell my place, and we can do all the upgrades you've been wanting to do to this house.”

Cyd beamed. “Seriously?”

He reached for her hand across the railing. “And we can walk our little one up the street on the first day of kindergarten.”

She contemplated that. “You don't think we're too old to get started on a family?”

“Oh no.” He gave her the eye. “We'll be getting started on those activities right away.”

She gave him her own mischievous glance as she continued up the stairs, basking in a delirious giddiness from head to toe. She couldn't wait to be Cyd London.

Twenty-eight

A
LL CYD COULD
think when her eyes popped open on June 22— her wedding day—was that she had to have lost her mind. She'd given control of her pre-wedding hours to Stephanie—which was enough to upend her mood for the entire day. She had agreed in a weak moment, caught off guard by a surprise visit from Stephanie and, even more surprising, an apology.

“You were there for me through all my wedding plans,” Stephanie said, “but I might not have been as appreciative as I could've been.”

“You think?” Cyd laughed. “Long forgotten, Steph. No big deal.”

“Well, still . . . you did so much for me, and I'd like to return the favor. I want to plan your wedding morning for you. I've got some ideas.”

“Such as . . .” Cyd thought she'd wait a couple of seconds before blurting no.

“That's the thing,” Stephanie said. “I want it to be a surprise . . . so you'd kind of have to trust me.” Stephanie saw Cyd's expression. “Nothing
way out
or anything. It'll be fun. Memorable. Don't you think?”

Cyd had blurted it then. “No. It'd be ridiculous. I can't imagine waking up on my wedding day not knowing what to expect. It'll be stressful enough as it is.” She shook her head in incredulity. “Besides, Cassandra's already helping to coordinate things.”

“But I just wanted to coordinate a few hours.” Stephanie looked dejected. “I thought it would be a great way to bless you. But I understand . . .”

Great
. Cyd had sighed heavily. “Okay . . . fine. But nothing crazy, Steph. Basic stuff like go get hair done, come home.”

Stephanie had flung her arms around Cyd's neck. “Oh, good! I'm so excited!”

That was a month ago, and every week since, Cyd had regretted it and tried to get a hint of the plans—to no avail. Now she was wide awake in bed at 6:00 a.m., wondering what possessed her to cede control of precious hours to her impetuous, often flighty sister.