Journal of a Lifetime (Journals of Love) (22 page)

L
INDSEY DIDN’T KNOW
if she should go to Steve, or address her mother first. She thought she might as well get the family confrontation out of the way, so she headed towards her parent’s house.

As she was driving down Main Street, Pete waved to her from oncoming traffic. He turned around and weaved in behind her, flashing his lights. Once she found an open area, she pulled over and stepped out of her car.

“Lindsey, you’re back!” Pete shouted out of his open window as he brought his car to a stop behind hers.

“It’s so good to see you,” Lindsey said, as he ran to her and gave her a hug.

“How was your trip? I’ve been thinking about you” he asked as he released her, keeping his hands on her shoulders.

Lindsey took a deep breath. “It was really good. I learned so much about life, love, my Nana, and the ways God works.”

Pete raised his eyebrows. “That sounds like some trip?” he teased. “Did you save any energy left for us?”

Lindsey didn’t want to waste another minute living without Steve and she knew that the sooner she told those that she loved, the sooner she would be free to be with him. “I met someone,” she admitted. She put one hand to her cross, and tucked a stray hair behind her ear with her free hand.

“On your trip? What kind of someone?” he asked cautiously.

“I fell in love, Pete.”

“That’s incredible!” he cried. “Who is he?”

“His name’s Steve. He was one of the guides on our trip. I can’t explain it all to you now, but you know me. I wouldn’t jump into this feet first without testing the water. He’s a good, Christian man and I know he will treat me right.”

“Does this mean you’ll be leaving us?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I think so.” She closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I know I’ll miss you terribly, but I do believe this is the best thing for me.”

Pete didn’t need to spend more time with her to know that Lindsey had changed over the past few days. She seemed content, and he also knew she would never make a decision without consulting God first. “I’m so happy for you,” he said, and took her into a hug. “I will miss you too, but I can see that this is what you need.”

Lindsey rested a moment in his strong arms. Then she pulled back and said, “Thanks, Pete. Listen, I have to get to my mother’s. I haven’t had a chance to talk with her and Dad yet, so can we skip dinner tonight and talk in a couple of days? I’d really like to spend time with you and hear how your dating is going.”

“That’d be great, Lin. I’m heading over to your parents to pick up Marie. I’ll try and get her out of there quickly so you can have time with your parents, but give me a call tomorrow and we’ll work it out.”

What was Marie doing at her parents
? she wondered.
No time to find out.
“Thanks!” she shouted as she settled back into her car. Lindsey felt less nervous now. It seemed that every time she told her story it got easier. She only hoped her parents would respond with the same courtesy that Pete had.

She took the long way to her parent’s house with Pete close behind her, and tried to come up with a gentle way to explain to them what had happened.

When she got there, she saw Marie’s car in the driveway. She walked up to the front porch and pressed the doorbell waiting for the inevitable.

Marie opened the door. “What are you doing here? We’re meeting at the restaurant.”

“I think I should ask you the same thing. What’s going on?”

“Your mother called to ask me about her new talent for sculpting. She wanted a second opinion on the colors to use, so she called me over.”

Marie’s work as an interior designer suited her well. She had a knack for placing colors together and had created many beautiful rooms in the past.

“Oh. Pete’s here too!” Marie said as she pointed to the driveway.

Pete pulled his car into the driveway behind Lindsey’s. He walked up to the porch and kissed Marie on the cheek. Even from that small gesture, Lindsey could tell he and Marie were serious about each other.

“Hello ladies,” Pete said. “What are we waiting for?” He motioned toward the open door. He had decided on the way that it would probably be better for Lindsey if he and Marie stayed, instead.

“Lord be with me,” Lindsey said under her breath.

“Hey Lindsey,” her dad said to her as he walked up and gave her a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you and Mom about something. Do you have a minute?”

“Always for you, sugar.” He playfully called her the nickname he’d used most of her life. “Your mother’s in the garage. Let me go get her. You three make yourselves comfortable.”

Lindsey, Pete, and Marie went into the living room. The two lovebirds took a seat on the brown loveseat, which left Lindsey alone on the matching couch. She knew she’d feel as if she were on trial when her parents sat across from her in the flower-patterned high backs, .

“Just a minute, honey. I’ll be right there,” her mother shouted from the kitchen.

Lindsey looked around the green living room. The rust colored fireplace really stood out against the deep green walls, and the neutral tan colored furniture made it easy for those visiting to concentrate on each other and not be distracted by overwhelming patterns.

Marie had helped Anne decorate this room, as well as a few others in the house. Lindsey’s parents enjoyed doing the work themselves, but Marie was wonderful for providing little tips.

Her mother dashed in carrying a blue and white checkered kitchen towel and drying off her hands. “What are you doing here, honey?” Her voice was tight and concerned as she crossed the room to hug Lindsey.

“Mom?”

“Are you okay? You’re not here to tell me you have some horrible disease are you?” her voice was shaky. “This trip wasn’t your last big holiday or something, was it?” Her mother put her hands up to her face.

“Mom?” Lindsey said a little louder.

“Oh, Hugh!” Her mother was about to flip out. “What will we do?” She plopped down hard on the chair. “We’ll get her the best care possible! You can move back in with us, we’ll set up a nice room for you and we’ll get you whatever you need.”

Lindsey sat down too. Her mother was talking so fast, she couldn’t get a word in. “Mom!” she shouted. “Please calm down. I’m not dying. I’m not even sick.”

They all saw the relief wash over Ann’s face. Lindsey noticed Marie and Pete were doing their best to hide their smiles. Anne tried to recover her dignity by quietly smoothing her hands over her pants.

Lindsey swallowed. “Mom, really, I’m fine. I didn’t mean to upset you. The trip was great. In fact, it was better than great.” She paused for a split second, then let it out. “I met a man, Mom. His name is Steve. I fell in love with him.”

There was silence. Her mother just stared at her with her big, green eyes.

“So . . . ” Lindsey continued. Once she started to say it out loud, it was easier for her. “He came here and asked me to marry him. I wanted to talk with all of you first, so I’m glad you’re all together and I only have to do this once. But, I am ready to say yes.”

Ann looked at Hugh. “What does this mean?”

Lindsey was shocked by the look on her father’s face. No one said a word. The sounds from the ticking of the grandfather clock seemed loud to her ears. Hugh was completely still for a few moments, and then suddenly exploded.

“What are you thinking?” he shouted loud enough to make Lindsey jump. “What is he thinking?” He stood up and began to pace around the room. “Who is this person, and why in the world do you think I’m going to agree to this? I haven’t waited this long to see you married to someone we don’t even know. If you think I’m paying for this mistake, you are wrong!” He finished and stomped out of the room. They heard the door to the garage slam shut.

Lindsey was frozen in place for a full minute before she could move. She’d never heard her father raise his voice to her before. She reached for her cross, and sat there for a moment, Ann, Marie and Pete staring at each other in silence.

Finally, Lindsey summoned her courage, and followed him out into the garage.

“Dad?”

“Hmm?” he muttered from in front of her mother’s new clay wheel.

Lindsey slowly crossed the garage to stand in front of him. “I know this is sudden,” she started.

Hugh turned his back on her and crossed his arms over his chest.

Lindsey continued anyway. “Steve is an incredible person, Dad. He is all I could ever ask for. But, what I didn’t get a chance to tell you is that Steve’s grandfather and Nana had a relationship.”

Hugh said nothing for a moment, then turned back toward his daughter. “How is that possible?”

“When Nana went to Calgary, she met Steve senior and they fell in love. I know it’s hard to believe, but I can show you the letters from him that Nana saved.” She paused and looked directly into his blue eyes. “This is much bigger than us, Dad,” she told him. “This love is truly from God, and I know that He wants me to spend my life with Steve.”

Hugh looked at her, and sighed. “I know you’re telling me the truth, Lin, but I have my reservations . . . ” He shook his head and took a deep breath. “I apologize for raising my voice at you, Sugar. I will try to give him, Steve, an open mind when I meet him.”

“I can bring him over tomorrow. I think he’s going to hang around here for a little while,” Lindsey said, thankful for any attempt on her father’s part.

They walked back into the house and were met by congratulations from Marie and Pete. The three huddled together and talked about the wedding plans, until Lindsey noticed her mother hadn’t moved from her seat.

“Mom?” She knelt down beside her chair. “This is good thing, Mom. I’m happy, and he’s a wonderful man.”

Ann began to cry. “You’re moving away aren’t you?”

Lindsey nodded and her own eyes began to well up with tears. “I think so. Steve’s life is there and I can envision mine there too. It’s not that far away, and you and Dad can visit any time you want.”

Ann sniffed. “I know, but what about grandbabies?” She used the towel to wipe off her cheeks. “I’ve been waiting so long.”

Lindsey smiled. “Where I live won’t change the fact that when I have children, they’ll be your grandbabies. They will know all about you and we’ll visit here too. It’s going to be okay, Mom.” Lindsey was trying to convince herself as well, she knew.

She felt her father’s hands on her shoulders. “We knew this might happen, Ann,” he said over the top of Lindsey’s head. “But, we also know that Lindsey makes good decisions. If this is what she’s decided, we need to support her.”

Lindsey watched as her mother composed herself, at least for the moment.

“I’d like to meet him. Steve,” Anne finally said. “I’ll put together an engagement party for tomorrow night. Let’s say around six?”

Her mother’s way of dealing with things was to stay busy. That was fine with her.

“Thanks, Mom.” She smiled and stood up to hug her. “I guess now, the only thing left to do is to tell the groom!” she exclaimed.

“You haven’t accepted yet?” Marie asked her.

“I was still upset over the way things were left, but it had all been a huge lie. Steve’s friend Don lied to both of us in an attempt to break us up. It worked, but fortunately, the truth finally came out. Steve flew all the way here to ask me to marry him, and I didn’t give him an answer yet.”

It suddenly occurred to her that he must be feeling very anxious and upset right now. “I have to go,” she said as she grabbed her keys off the coffee table. “I’ll see you all tomorrow night!”

L
INDSEY RETURNED HOME
to retrieve the paper with Steve’s hotel information on it. She was ninety-nine percent sure that the decision she was making was the right one. She had only one more thing to do to change that to a perfect one-hundred.

She grabbed her laptop out of her briefcase, set it on the kitchen table and quickly pulled up the information she had found on Don’s sister Julie. The nagging questions about Julie were still rumbling around in her mind, and she didn’t want to be with Steve and have doubts about him.

“May I speak with Julie, please,” she said to the gentleman who answered the phone.

“Sure. Hold on a sec.” He set down the phone. “Jules! Phone!” he yelled.

Lindsey heard feet running down the stairs in the background, and continued to wait. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hear a word of what Julie was going to say.

“Hello?”

“Is this Julie Freedmont?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

Lindsey swallowed in an attempt to gain her composure. “I don’t know if you’ll know who this is. Maybe you will? But, this is Lindsey Waters,” she paused waiting for some acknowledgement of recognition. When Julie didn’t say anything she continued. “I live in Michigan, but was on the tour last week with Steve and Don.” And again she waited for a response. Still nothing.

“Well, Steve and I started spending time together and we really hit it off.”

Julie finally responded. “That’s great ma’am, but . . . like . . . I don’t really understand why you’re telling me this.”