Texas Weddings 3 & 4 (20 page)

***

The hefty PC very nearly slipped through Shauna’s hands as
she stared through the glass at Kent Chapman. The shock of finding him here so
unexpectedly sent her heart reeling and her hands trembling. She looked again,
just to make sure.
Yep. It’s him.

For the last twenty-four hours she had tried to work up the
courage to call Kent, tried to pray about her growing feelings. And for two
days the Lord had been silent.

Is this
Your
answer, Father?

For a moment, neither of them moved. It was as if they were
both frozen in time and space.

Finally Kent flew into action. He sprinted to the door and
pushed it open. “You’re here.” He took the computer out of her arms.

“
You’re
here.”
Shauna stared in silence at Kent, unable to formulate even one sensible word
beyond that opening statement.

He gave her a wink as he spoke. “We’ve got to stop meeting
like this.”

The smile that lit his face sent her heart soaring. “Doesn’t
look like
we
have anything to do with
it.”
Lord, this is
You
.
You’ve arranged this, just like you
arranged our meeting that very first time.

“I don’t believe in coincidence.” Kent’s green eyes
narrowed
as he grew more serious. “I believe there are
God-incidents, and this certainly ranks up there with some of the best I’ve
been privileged to witness first-hand.”

“Me, too.” She couldn’t seem to control her smile.

Bill Conner approached from the back of the store. He looked
surprised to see her. “
Why.
. .hello there. It’s Ms.
Alexander, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Let me guess.” He stared at her computer then shook his
head in disbelief. “I don’t know what to make of the two of you. Are you sure
you’re not doing this on purpose?” Just about the time she opened her mouth to
deny such a humorous accusation, Mr. Conner turned his attentions to Ken. “I
looked everywhere for a phone book but couldn’t find one. You’re welcome to
call information.”

“Thanks, but I think my problem’s just been solved.” Kent
nodded in Shauna’s direction, and she had to wonder what he meant. “At least, I
hope so. Could you give me a ride up to the day care? I need to pick up
Charity.”

He explained his predicament with the car, and she had to
chuckle. “Sounds like my day.” She handed off her computer to a
somewhat-frustrated store manager, and they were on their way across the
parking lot.

As they settled into the front seat of her car, Kent blurted
out, “I gave you a virus.”

“What?” She paused to absorb his words. “Are you
talking about my computer, or is there something else I should be concerned
about?”

“Your computer.” He stared at her intently, and her cheeks
warmed. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

She put the key in the ignition and turned on the car. “So
what happened? Was it just a fluke?”

“Yes. I meant to give you something else.”

Now his cheeks reddened, and Shauna had to wonder at the
merriment in his eyes. He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

“What in the world?” She
watched
as
he grew more nervous by the minute.

He pressed the crumpled sheet of paper into her palm, and
she slowly unfolded it. “Cryptic message.” She looked up into his eyes, not
understanding. “I’m confused.”

“I was, too.” He flashed a broad smile. “But I’m better now.
I printed this up on Christmas Eve. It’s the only copy I have. The original was
responsible for destroying your computer.”

“Wow.” Her eyes widened. “Must be pretty potent. So what is
it?”

“Take a look.”

She scanned the words, startled to find a poem, clearly
penned by Kent, himself. “Oh, my goodness.” She tried to make sense of the
words, tried to imagine that he really meant them in the way she now wanted to
take them. Truly, there was no other way to read it. He cared for her and had
been afraid to tell her.

Shauna looked into his eyes and tapped her fingers on her
lips. “You wrote this for me?”

“Yes.” His gaze shifted downward, and she sensed his
embarrassment.

“On Christmas Eve?”

“Yes.” He leaned a bit closer, and she could feel her pulse
in her ears.

“
I.
. .I…”

“I’ve wanted to talk to you for days, but I was so scared,”
he explained. “The poem
was.
. .my goofy attempt to
get your attention.”

“No,” she argued, fighting the urge to kiss him right there,
on the spot. “It’s not goofy. And you’ve certainly got my attention now.”

“I wanted to come up with something really amazing to tell
you how I feel—how I’ve felt for a while now.” He paused to give her a
winsome look. “But remember, I’ve never been very good with putting things on
paper.”

“You did say that.” Shauna couldn’t help but smile. “In this
very parking lot, if memory serves me correctly.”

He nodded. “That’s right. We were here, weren’t we?”

“It seems a lot of firsts have taken place in this parking
lot.” Shauna’s heart overflowed with joy as she looked into his eyes. “The
first time we met.
The first computer fiasco.
The
first time we talked about church things. The first time you told me you were a
‘Twenty-first Century Pastor.’ ” She paused for a moment, praying he would read
her heart.

“Ah.”

“The first time we talked about our personal computer
files,” she continued on. “The first time we talked about the weather.”

“I remember.” Kent stared intently into her eyes and then
gently leaned forward as if he had some great secret to tell. “But you missed
one,” he whispered.

“Did I?” She spoke softly as she felt his breath warm
against her cheek.

“You did.” With the tip of his index finger, he traced her
cheek. And then, just as she prayed it would happen, their lips met in the
sweetest kiss she had ever known.

twenty
-two

Three weeks after Christmas, Shauna joined Kent’s family at
a local pizza parlor to celebrate Charity’s third birthday. The room came alive
with activity as nearly a dozen of her students from the day care filled the
place. Their parents joined the fray, making for a chaotic scene, but certainly
nothing she hadn’t grown used to in her months at the school.

In fact, she had to admit, growing to love and understand a
room full of two-year-olds had certainly opened her eyes to a whole new world
of possibilities. And coincidentally, most of the children seemed to be
changing right before her eyes. Many had already outgrown the terrible twos and
appeared to be moving into a new phase—one she liked to call the
inquisitive threes.

In particular, she couldn’t help but notice how much Charity
had changed over the past few months.
Lord,
has she changed, or am I the one? Have I softened in my attitude toward her?
The
idea wouldn’t leave her mind.

Shauna looked out across the room and tried to keep an eye
on all of them at once.

“You can relax.” Kent gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
“No need to play teacher today. You’re not at school. And besides, their
parents are all here.”

“Just habit, I guess.” Shauna shrugged and turned her
attentions to Kent. She leaned her head on his shoulder and thanked God for all
He had done in her life in such a short time.
You knew what
You
were up to, Father. And I’m
so grateful.

After a quick head count, she and Kent ordered enough pizza
to feed an army, then sent the kids off to play. She leaned against him, and he
slipped his arm around her shoulder.

“Having fun?” he asked.

She nodded, happier that she had been in ages.

“Looks like our parents are getting along.” She pointed to
the table where the two older couples sat chatting like lifelong friends.

“It’s great, isn’t it?” He ran his fingertips down her arm and
reached to plant a soft kiss in her hair. “Our families are coming together.”

Her heart swelled, and she thought for a moment she might
cry. Instead, she forced herself to stay focused on the children. “I’m so
glad.” They really were one happy family. And she could see her life like this.
Forever. She forced down the lump in her throat as the idea magnified itself.

She and Kent joined their parents at the table, keeping a
close eye on the children from their seats. She marveled at the joy in Kent’s
eyes and wondered if she looked as deliriously happy.

“Hey, you two.” Her mother looked up with a smile. “Have a
seat.”

They sat and visited with their parents. Her father dove
into an old story about life in the military, and Kent’s parents listened
intently. Kent’s mom shared a little bit about her rocky journey in the years
following her husband’s untimely death, and they concluded that the Lord had,
indeed, managed to bring joy into a sorrowful situation.

All the while, the children played. Charity’s squeals of joy
could be heard above the others, but at least they were happy squeals. At one
point, little Dinah ran over to let them know that Clay was lost. Shauna sprang
from her chair and raced to the child’s mother, who had just discovered him
hiding in the balls. He dove in again squealing with laughter.

The pizza arrived, and
all of the women worked together to get the children settled down. Charity sat
at the head of the table, chattering merrily with her friends as she ate.
Shauna took it all in with a smile. She watched Charity from a distance, noting
how social she seemed, and how quiet, in comparison to the child she knew just
a few short months ago.

After the pizza, Kent
stood and addressed the room. “Let’s all sing.” He started a rousing chorus of
“Happy Birthday,” and Charity’s cheeks blazed with excitement.

“Cake, Daddy!” She
bounced up and down in her chair. “I eat my princess cake.”

Kent’s mother pulled a
beautiful cake out of the box, and all of the children hollered with delight.

“Pretty, pretty!”
Abigail squealed.

Bobby reached out to
stick his fingers in the frosting, but his mother quickly pulled his hand away.
Pieces of cake were cut and handed out, and Shauna chuckled as she watched the
children dive into the frosting, most ignoring the cake altogether. She leaned
back in her chair and smiled as the scene continued to unfold. With her
parents, her students, and the man she loved all together in one room, she
truly felt she could face the
new year
with renewed
hope and excitement.

***

Kent stood and surveyed the group, his heart full of joy.
Has many years has it been since I’ve felt
like this, Lord? How many?
Truly God had restored his heart and his hope
for a future—a really good thing, considering all the work that lay ahead
in raising his daughter.

But at least, Lord
willing, he wouldn’t have to do it alone. Kent glanced down at Shauna. Her
face, almost as cherub-like and innocent as the children’s, shone like a star
in this sky—a star in his sky, anyway. He didn’t know if he could put
into words the feelings that swept across his heart as he watched her now,
though he had gotten a little better at putting words on paper in the past few
weeks. With his new full-time position as pastor at Grace Community Church,
there would be many more sermons in the future, many more times to share his
heart.

Your blessings are without end, Father. How can
I begin to thank
You
? You are truly a God of new
beginnings.

His heart pounded in
anticipation as he remembered the task ahead. If he ever needed the Lord’s
help, this would be the time.

“Now comes the fun
part.” Kent leaned down to whisper in Shauna’s ear. He turned his attention to
the group and announced, “It’s time for presents!”

The squealing began in
earnest now. Parents held their children tightly, trying to bring a sense of
order.

“My birthday!” Danny
hollered. “My birthday.”

His mother shushed him
right away.

Charity clapped her
hands in excitement. “My birthday. I three years old!” She held up three chubby
fingers with dedicated zeal.

Yes, you are three years old, and I can hardly believe it. It seems
just yesterday you were born; just yesterday you took your first little steps.
And
now.
. .

Kent
shook his head in disbelief as he stared at the little girl in front of him. No
longer a baby, she had truly grown into a lovely child. Her blond curls had
grown quite long, and her eyes sparkled with joy as she reached for her first
present.

Kent tried to keep his
wits about him.
Don’t forget what you’re
doing.

One-by-one, the presents
were opened. Charity squealed with glee as she opened a box with a princess
crown and slippers inside. “I a princess!”