SHOT IN THE DARK Chapter 10

10



         Dr. Quimby flashed a light in her eyes as he examined her on the examination table.  “I talked to that firm I told you about, and they want to talk to you.”

         “Seriously?”

         He stood back and looked at her a frown on his face.  He pulled a business card from his lab coat.  “Yes.  Here is their card.  You are to give them a call as soon as possible and set up an interview.  Why is it Josiah had to call me in order for you to come see me?  You’re not taking the pain killers are you?”

         “I am.  I carry the bottle in my purse.  The headache on Saturday was sudden.”

         He picked up the bottle and held it in front of her.  “Am I to believe you haven’t had a single headache since you were brought to the emergency room last?  I counted the number of tablets; the only one missing is the one Josiah gave you at your parent’s party.”

         She looked at her shoes, and up at him.  “If I were to bring out that bottle of pills at work, they would think I can’t do my job.  There’s only one answer for that.”

         “So your headaches?”

         “Haven’t been as bad as they were when I found myself in the emergency room a few weeks ago.”

         “And are you keeping your schedule to eight hours?”

         “I have no choice.  It’s part of my permanent record.  They don’t even try to stop me or suggest I stay later at the end of the day, but the animosity is thick enough to cut with a butter knife.”

         “Give that firm a call.  They offer everything you long for.  On another note, I understand congratulations are in order.”

         “Oh?”

         “Josiah told me you agreed to be his girlfriend.”

         “I’m giving it a try.  The problem I see is that he’s there almost every day.  The neighbors are starting to talk.”

         “And that’s a bad thing?”

         “It’s not like I have a man in my life.”

         “You don’t even have a friend in your life.”

         “I have some friends at church.”

         “Did they visit you when you were in the hospital?”

         “No.”

         “Why not?  Don’t you think they’d be interested in knowing your pastor almost had to do your funeral service?”

         Tears started to trickle down her face.  “I just didn’t think they would be interested.”

         “Are you involved at church?”

         “No.  I never thought they would want me.”

         “Have you ever asked?”

         “No.  I’ve been afraid to.”

         “I’m going to see what I can do to set you up in a support group that will help you see you are a woman of worth.”

         “A woman of worth.  There’s a woman on television that keeps saying that.  I’ve heard it from other preachers too.”

         “They’re right.  When are you going to do something about what you hear on television?”

         Her voice was choked as tears streamed down her face.  “I don’t know.” 

         “You can’t call yourself a Christian if you’re not willing to change and not worry about everything around you.”

         “What do you know about it?”

         “I’m a Christian too.  Both my wife and I have been praying for you.”

         “You have?  Why?”

         “Because you need more than a friend.  Josiah wants to be your friend.  He said as much to me.  He’s a good person.  I’ve known him since I moved into this neighborhood and began practicing medicine.  It’s also when I became known as the gang doctor.”

         “I don’t know; it’s a trial basis only.  He doesn’t go to church; he goes to bars, and stays out all night.  If I want to get into a relationship I would want it with a man who at least loves God and goes to church, and if he’s going to be up all night it will be in prayer, not playing cards in a smoky back room.”

         “I’m aware of his lifestyle, believe me he’s come a long way from the first time I met him in the emergency room.  He tends to be a workaholic who is in need of a friend as much as you are.”

         “Can I go now?”

         “Yes.  Just remember to take a painkiller at the first sign of a headache, and call the number on the card.  I told them about you, so they are expecting to hear from you.”

         “Going above and beyond aren’t you Doc?”

         “I knew if I didn’t contact them first, you might never do so.”

         “You know me so well after such a short time?”

         “And go to the support group.  Only good things can come of it.”

         She jumped down from the exam table.  “Am I paying for your interference in my life too?”

         “No, that’s a freebie.”

         “Thank you very much.”

         “I would like to think I’m helping not interfering.”

         “I’ll let you know.”

         Josiah stood to his feet when she emerged from the exam room.  “All set?”

         “Yes,” she said.

         “So what’s the verdict?”

         “The verdict is a support group to give her more confidence, and not push away those who want to be her friends.  I also gave her a business card to call the other architectural firm,” Dr. Quimby said.

         “Good advice,” Josiah said.

         He led her from the clinic to his car.  “Like I told Dr. Quimby, it’s a trial basis only.  Your lifestyle isn’t one I favor.  Staying up all night playing poker or going to bars is not my style.”

         He unlocked the car door and saw her buckled, and got in the driver’s seat.  He turned to her before he turned the ignition.  “I may not go to church, but I had a grandmother who did.  She gave me a Bible for my high school graduation.  She hoped I would read it someday.  Since I’ve met you, I started to read it.  I wanted to know what you saw in it.”

         He turned the ignition and pulled out into traffic.  “You read it because of me?”

         “Part of my being able to write about what I do in order to help the kids, is to be able to understand where they come from.  I can help the gang members because at one time I was a part of a gang.  I got out before I got killed.  I realized that I wanted more out of my life than what they had to offer.  The end of their lives for the most part is death or prison.  I had no intention to see either of those courses.  I changed.  I started to go to school, and I started to do what my parents told me to do.  It took a long time.  I had to relearn a lot of attitudes in my life.

         “You’re different.  You aren’t a gang member.  You don’t fit into their mold.  I didn’t know why you had been in the middle of that gang dispute that night, nor did I understand it.  Why would someone go walking at night in the most dangerous part of town?”

         “I’ve walked in that park on my way home from work ever since I moved in there three years ago.  I’ve never been hurt before.”

         “And you thought you never would, I suppose.”

         “I just didn’t think it would happen to me.”

         “I think subconsciously you hoped it would.  You have no friends.  From the party last Saturday, I saw many mixed signals between you and your parents, and your cousin Tina, was definitely not what I expected.  You have become a loner, hoping God would take you out of this life so you wouldn’t have to keep doing the same thing every day.  You found a job that fits the way your life has been going.  You weren’t accepted at home, you had no friends, and your work environment was such that anyone who missed work was fired.  You lived in the fear and hope that that would happen to you.  It would be one more thing to add to the other failures in your life.”

         He pulled into her driveway.  “I’m not a failure!”

         He turned off the car and looked across at her.  “You’re not?”

         “No.  I graduated with high honors from high school and college.  I went on to get my architectural license.  I’m a fully accredited licensed architect.  I love my work.”

         “I believe you do, but on the flip side are all those things I mentioned.  You’re afraid of being accepted.  You’re afraid of being liked.  The fact is you are very likeable.  I believe God let you live to help you realize how valuable you are to yourself.  Your dog Sophie loves you very much.  You have a green thumb with all the plants you have in your house and surrounding the outside as well.  The only thing you have you don’t think needs you are your fish, but you don’t realize that if you don’t feed them they’ll die.  The same is true for you.  You need to be fed also.  Not food, in this instance but fed with the knowledge that you are valuable.  Dr. Quimby gave you an opportunity to change your circumstances with that job possibility.  How you handle it is completely up to you.”

         Sarah found it hard to stem the flow of tears, and she certainly had no rebuttal for what he said.  She knew it was the truth.

         “You need to get out of the self-depression you have been in all your life.”

         She looked out at the house where she lived, the flowers that surrounded her home, and thought about what he said.  “You make it sound like I’m my own worst enemy.”

         “We often are.  We’re harder on ourselves than others are on us, and we tend to turn away from the people who want to help us the most.”

         “Was it the same for you?”

         “Yes, very much so, ready to go in?  I’m sure Sophie is waiting to see who pulled into the driveway.”

         She got out of the car and led the way up the porch steps.  “You’re scary Mr. Christopherson.  You are getting to know me more than anybody in my life up to now. I promise I’ll make the call.”

         “You never let anyone get close.  You could have many friends if you just open up.  Put a smile on your face and put into practice what you hear on television,” Josiah said.

         “You’re asking a lot of me.”

         “Not more than I had to do for myself at one time.  I had to change everything about me when I got out of the gangs.  It’ll be the same for you.  Better start calling me Josiah, because I’m not going away.”          

         “And you would call me Sarah instead of Sarah Whitaker?”

         “Does that bother you?”

         “I’ll think about it.”

         “Do you know what Sarah means?”

         “Yes.  Princess.”

         “Start thinking about yourself as one and you’ll be on the first road to accepting yourself.”

         “A princess is unreachable.”

         “That certainly describes how you’ve looked at yourself.  It also means she’s a person of worth, somebody.  So are you.  Live in that, and you will come through the changes in your life just fine.”

         “Is the firm open on Saturday?”

         “Yes, they will be expecting to hear from you.  The rest is up to you.”

         “The rest is up to me.  That’s scary.  I don’t know if I’m ready.”

         “You’ll never know until you step into the unknown.  I suggest you give the company a call as soon as possible.  I know for a fact that not only will it give you something you want in the kind of work they do, but the pay and benefits are good as well.”

         “How do you know so much about it?”

         “I know the owner and his son.  We were in school together growing up.”

         She opened the door and Sophie met them, tail wagging, and a lick in the face as she jumped up at her.  “Hey girl, I wasn’t gone that long.”  She gave her a special treat, which she took to her favorite spot under the table.

         “She’s happy.”

         “What does your name mean?”

         “Look it up.”

         “I will.”  She went to look up his name in a Bible name book she had.  “The Lord supports, or the fire of the Lord, well, it certainly fits, at least the first part.”  She went to her cupboards and refrigerator to find something to eat.  “Will you stay?”

         “Is that an invitation?”

         “You are my boyfriend.  I know the neighbors will talk.”

         “Let them.  Yes, I’ll stay.”

         While lunch was cooking, she turned on her television and found a music program, interspersed with short teachings.  She found tears running down her cheeks at what was said.  She was a person of worth, she had to recognize it, and she had to reach out to those who cared.

         “There’s some good teaching on those programs you listen to.”

         She looked at him for a moment.  “I always thought so, but I never felt I was a woman of worth.”

         “Why, because of your cousin, and other family members?”

         “Mostly, the kids at school were no better.”

         “It’s still early.  How about calling that firm, before you chicken out.”

         “I won’t chicken out.”  She took out the business card Dr. Quimby gave her, and saw the phone number on the back.  Nervously she dialed the number and waited only through the first ring.

         “Quality Custom Built Log Homes.  How may I direct your call?”

         “My name is Sarah Whitaker, is Mr. Johannson in please?”

         “He’s on another line, would you like to hold or call back?”

         “I’ll hold please.”  She had gotten that far.  If she had to call back, she doubted she would get up the nerve to do so again.

         “Thank you.  When he is free, what can I tell him this call is about?”

         “A job interview.”

         “One moment.”  The woman had a pleasant voice, and the music wasn’t bad either.  She only had to wait a couple moments before a strong male voice answered.

         “This is Mr. Johannson.  How can I help you?”

         “Mr. Johannson.  My name is Sarah Whitaker.  Dr. Quimby gave me your name and number and told me to call you.”

         “Yes.  Miss Whitaker.  He called us just this morning.  He said you’re an architect looking to do more than you do at Willard.”

         “That’s right.”  Sarah was nervous.  She didn’t know if she wanted to go through with it, but she was already too far committed to turn back.

         “Would you like to come in for an interview yet today?”

         “I would like that.  Could you please give me the directions?”

         “Do you have a car or other transportation?  Dr. Quimby said something about your walking to work presently.”

         “I walk yes, but I can easily take the bus if I need to.”

         “Are you familiar with old highway thirty-one?”

         “I know it, yes.”

         “We are located in the Industrial Park.  I don’t know if a bus comes this far out, but we are located on Commerce Lane.  All the way at the end.  When you enter the industrial park, you take the first left.”

         “I’ll find it.  I’ll be there shortly?”

         “I’ll be expecting you.”

         “Do you want me to bring anything with me?”

         “No.  We’ll show you what we want when you get here.  Is there anything else?”

         “No.  Thank you.  I’ll be there soon.  Goodbye.”

         “Goodbye.”  The line went dead, and Sarah returned the receiver to its holder.  If she was nervous before the call, she was even more so after.

         “Get changed, I’ll take care of this.”  Josiah turned off the stove, and the television as she went into her bedroom.

         “I’m nervous.”

         “That’s because you’re doing something for yourself.  You’re stepping outside your comfort zone.”

         She disappeared into her bedroom and hunted through her closet for the right outfit to wear to an interview.  She found a gray suit and a red blouse under the jacket.  A pair of hose and her gray pumps would complete the outfit.  Did she need jewelry?  She went to her jewelry box.  She found a necklace she had worn rarely but felt it would be perfect with what she wore.  It was a gold chain that came down with an open twist at her throat.  In the center of the twisted chain were pearl and ruby stones.  She considered her reflection in the full-length mirror, then went out to the living room.  “I’m not overdressed for an interview, do you think?”

         “Not at all.  Ready?”

         “Yes.”  Sarah preceded him out the door and they were soon on their way.

         Josiah found a parking spot close to the door a short while later.  Sarah sat undecided about the interview.  “You’ll be just fine.  Come on.  I’ll go in with you.”

         “Do you think you should?”

         “I don’t see why not.  You’ll do just fine.”  He went around and helped her out of the car, and together they went into the building.  The building was a log structure, which emphasized the type of home they designed.

         Inside she felt a homey atmosphere, very unlike her other job.  Josiah took a seat and picked up a magazine while Sarah went over to the reception desk.

         “May I help you?” the receptionist said.

         Sarah thought she looked as pleasant in person as she had on the phone.  “Yes.  My name is Sarah Whitaker.  I have an interview with Mr. Johannson.”

         “Yes.  He’s expecting you.  I’ll let him know you are here.”

         Sarah watched as she disappeared down a short hallway, and came back with Mr. Johannson.

         “Miss Whitaker?”  Mr. Johannson held out his hand, and went over to greet Josiah as well.  “Josiah.  What a pleasant surprise.”

         “I thought I’d give her a lift.”

         “We’ll be a while.  Have a look around, there’s coffee.”

         “I’ll do that.”

         “This way Miss Whitaker.”  Mr. Johannson led the way to his office.  “Tell me about yourself.”

         Sarah’s mind went through all the rules of interviewing she had learned.  “I studied at a local technical college before going on to a school of engineering where I got my masters degree and my license.  Presently I’m employed by Willard Architecture.”

         He made notes.  “Do you like your job?”

         “Very much.”

         “Tell me about your work with Willard.”

         They talked for about an hour before Mr. Johannson closed the interview.

         “I’d like to see what you can do.  I have a client that should be here about now.  They have their home site, and are ready to build.  I want you to interview them and find out what they are looking for in a home, and sketch up a home for them while you are talking with them.  Can you do that?”

         “Yes, sir.”  Excitement coursed through Sarah.  She followed Mr. Johannson out to the lobby where she found a couple in their mid-twenties to early thirties.  They had a little girl with them.

         “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, good to see you again, and this must be Angela.  How are you?”  Mr. Johannson got down on the same level as the child.

         “I got hurt.”  Angela held up her finger for him to see.

         “So you did.  How did you do that?”  He looked at the bandaged finger and into her little face.

         “I was helping mommy work in the garden and got it caught on a thorn from the rose bush.”

         Sarah watched in amusement.  She liked the way he put the family at ease.

         “Do you like helping your mom in the garden?”

         The little girl nodded her head up and down.  “Um hum.”

         “Does your mommy want a new garden at your new home?”

         She nodded her head up and down.  “She wants to have flowers all over.”

         “Well we’ll see what we can do for you.  Is there anything you want in your new home?”

         “A swing set.  Daddy says he’s going to build it.”

         “That sounds fine.  Do you mind if I take your mommy and daddy in and talk to them?  We have some coloring books and other toys over here you can play with while I talk to your mommy and daddy about a new home for you.”

         “I’m going to have a room all done in pink.”

         “I think that’s the perfect color for you.  We’re going to talk all about what you want for your house.  Would you like a dollhouse of what it’s going to look like when it’s all done?”

         “My own house?”  Angela was excited about a new dollhouse.  Sarah could see lights dance in her eyes.

         “Your own house.  Miss Whitaker and I will talk to your mommy and daddy and find out just what you all want.”

         “We’re going to need a room for my baby brother or sister.  We don’t know yet what it will be.”

         “Is that so?  Well we’ll certainly have to talk about that.  It will have to be a special room just for him or her.”

         “When will it be finished?”

         “Not for a while yet.  First we have to draw up the plans, and then it has to be built.”

         Mr. Johannson led Angela to a corner where a table waited just big enough for her to sit at and color.  A floor to ceiling shelf of books stood behind the table on the two walls of the corner with a box of toys beside it under the window that looked out on a beautiful landscaped garden scene.  He watched as she settled herself at the table.  The receptionist came over to watch the little girl and play with her as necessary.

         Sarah felt comfortable in that atmosphere.  People didn’t bring their children to Willard.  She realized just how sterile an atmosphere it was that she worked in.  She followed Mr. Johannson and the Sterling’s to a larger conference room.

         They sat at the table and Mr. Sterling showed them a book of plans, which he had opened to one in particular.  Sarah sat next to them and looked at the book.  It was a lovely home, with three bedrooms and two full baths.  She reached for a pad of paper that was on the table and within an hour, she had sketched the home of their dreams.  She knew what the intended use was for each room as well as what its future use might be.  When she was finished, the plans didn’t resemble the one in the book.  She had taken their ideas for what they wanted in a home and expanded it to fit their needs.  She had also put in a landscape design around the home.  They had brought pictures of the land, and together they sketched a home and yard that would be pleasant for them.

         The land had many trees with a brook that ran through the property.  She sketched the site noting the many trees, and with a pencil took out some trees for their home and made use of the brook in the landscaping.  She didn’t forget the swing set Angela wanted.

         Mr. Johannson sat back, watched, and listened.  When they were finished, she had a complete color scheme for the home and the landscape as well.

         “If you come back in a couple weeks, I can have the preliminary drawings ready for your approval,” Sarah said.

         Mr. Sterling looked at his wife and nodded his head.  “We’ll be here.  Just let us know when.”

         “I’ll do that,” Sarah said.

         A short while later they were back in his office.  They had seen the Sterling’s leave.  Had seen the pictures Angela had drawn and saw the excitement again over the dollhouse she would get when the plans were finished.  “You start on Monday.  Though you will also be paid for the time you spent with the Sterling’s.”

         “I haven’t given notice with Willard yet.  It wouldn’t be fair to just quit.”

         “What are your hours with them?”

         “Seven to three-thirty.”

         “Can you be here by five and work until seven for the next two weeks and all day Saturday?”

         Sarah thought about it and knew it would be a relief to be there at the end of her day at Willard.  “Yes, I can do that.”

         “I’ll see you then.  We’ll discuss your pay and benefits when you get here on Monday.”

         Sarah went out to the lobby a smile on her face and lightness in her step.  She had done just what she always wanted to do.  She provided a family with home plans of their dreams.

         Josiah stood as she came to him.  “Congratulations.  Are you open to celebrating?”

         She preceded him out of the building.  “What did you have in mind?”

         He opened the car door for her. “I thought we would go to The Gardens.”

         A smile spread across her face.  “I’d like that, but what about what I left on the stove?”

         “Have it for later.”

         They left the parking lot and Josiah made his way across town to the restaurant.  They found a parking space a little way from the door.  Sarah was surprised to see so many people at that time of the day.

         A waitress met them at the entrance to the seating area.  “Two?”

         “Yes.”  Josiah had a hand to her back, as they made ready to follow her.

         “Inside or out in the garden?”

         “The garden,” Josiah said.

         They followed her out to a table.  “Did you want to select from our menu or take from the food bar?”

         “We’ll make our own selections,” Josiah said.

         “Something to drink?”

         “Iced tea,” Sarah said.

         “I’ll have the same.”

         “The food bar is inside.”

         “Thank you.”  Josiah held her chair as they went to the food bar.

         There was so much, Sarah had a hard time making her selection.  In the end, she chose a salad and a fruit bowl.  She looked at what Josiah had chosen and was amazed at how much was on his plate.  “You’re going to eat all that?”

         “That really isn’t all that much.  You’re just not used to eating very much.”  He paid for their selections and led her back to their table.

         “I want to thank you for talking me into making that phone call.”

         “Tell me about the interview.”

         Animated, Sarah described the interview with both Mr. Johannson and the Sterling’s.  “It was everything I always wanted to do.

         “So when do you start?”  He was already half finished with his lunch while she hadn’t touched hers yet.

         “I start Monday at five.  I told him I would need to give Willard notice.  It’s only for two hours a day for the first two weeks, and all day on Saturday.  I can tell you after what I experienced, I will look forward to the time I’ll be there after a day in the sterile atmosphere of Willard Architecture.”

         “I’m happy for you.”

         She watched families walk through the gardens as she finished her iced tea.  Couples held each other’s hands or held them around the waist.  She had never seen her parents hold hands.  Kids ran around the garden and no one yelled at them.  A little girl stooped and cupped her hand in awe around a flower and beckoned her mother to have a look, and her mother stooped to have a look.  The little girl looked up at her with a smile on her face, before she stood to her feet and took her mother’s hand as she skipped by her side out of sight.  “I’d like to have a family one day.  I’d love each child God gave me.  I’ve seen some great families at church.  I envy them.  They are so close.  They all care about each other.  It always amazes me.  I’d like that someday.”

         “Come on.  Let’s walk through the garden.”

         She looked up at him, as if she had forgotten he was with her, so intent was she in what she watched.  She wanted to be a part of it.  “I’d like that.”

         He held her chair for her, and took her hand as they started to walk through the garden.

         “You’re going to need a way to work.  I’ll pick you up and give you a ride each day.”

         She looked up at him in surprise.  “But you have your own work.  You told me yourself that you work nine to five.  I have to be here at five.  I’ll take a cab.  You needn’t worry about me.  I got the job and I have to make sure that I get there.”

         “Tell you what.  I’ll have a cab pick you up at Willard and take you home to get ready for the job at Quality, and I’ll give the cabbie orders to take you home and wait for you to have a bite to eat before taking you to your job at Quality.”

         “I can’t let you do that.  It’ll cost you a fortune.  That cabbie will be marking up the money while I’m getting ready for the next job.  No.  Out of the question.  I’ll take the cab myself.  I’ll call for it to pick me up every day at 4:30.  That way it won’t be wasting yours or my money while it waits in my driveway.  Besides, what if the cabbie wasn’t a respectable person and took advantage of me.  No I won’t let that happen.”

         “Okay.  I’ll abide by your wishes, but that won’t stop me from being concerned about you.  Do you have a drivers’ license?”

         “I’ve got one, but I’ve never been able to get a car.  I had a beater while I was in college downstate, but when I returned home, I found I was close enough to work that I could walk, and got rid of it.”

         “I could let you use mine.”

         “Yours?  You’re kidding aren’t you?  You will need it yourself.  No.  I can’t accept.”

         “Are you sure you still have your license?  If I remember correctly it was with the rest of your things in your purse that disappeared at the time you were shot.”

         “Yes.  I got a duplicate shortly after my return to work.”

         “Are you going to go to that support group Dr. Quimby told you about?”

         “How long have you known Dr. Quimby?”

         “He patched me up a couple times while I was still in the gangs.  It was awhile before we became friends.  He was one of the reasons why I got out of the gangs.  Now we work with each other.  Our goal is the same.  He patches up the body, I try to patch up their lives.  Show them there is a better way than the one they chose.”

         “And now he patched up mine.  I don’t know.  I’ve been thinking about it, but I haven’t decided yet.”

         “You should, it would really help.”

         “Have you been to any group when you got out of the gangs?”

         “Eventually.  I fought against it, but dad made it a concession for moving back home.”

         “Tell me about it.”

         He shook his head.  “Not today.  This is a celebration for you.”

         “Have you been here often?”  She looked up at him, and suddenly it was important to her whether he had been or not.

         “Not often, but I’ve been here on occasion.”

         “Who did you come with?”

         “Is that important to you?”

         She looked up at him and thought she had gone too far.  “No.  I guess not.”

         “Well for your information I’ve come here with my mother.  It’s also her favorite place to come and eat.  She loves the gardens here.  She would love to be able to get some of these to grow at home.”

         “It’s not all that hard really.  You just have to know the personality of each plant.”

         He looked at her with a strange smile on his face.  “I wasn’t aware plants had personalities.”

         “When you read the backs of the plant packets what does it say?”

         “It tells when it’s the best time to plant and where.”

         “It also tells whether it’s good for sun or shade, whether it needs lots of water, little water or if it’s a desert plant and doesn’t need much water.  You look at where you want to plant and you can determine the plants that will grow well there.  Simple.”

         “Yeah, simple, for someone who understands plants.”

         She laughed.  They walked through the gardens and Sarah gave him a lesson on the plants that grew there and why they put various plants together.

         Josiah led her back to their table.  “We’ve been here a long time.  Would you like some dessert before we leave?”

         “I could use some ice cream.  Maybe a hot fudge sundae.  My one weakness.”

         “Then let’s indulge in your weakness.”  He motioned for the waitress to come to their table and he ordered two large hot fudge sundae’s.

         Her eyes got huge when she saw the size of the sundae when it was brought to their table.  “I don’t know if I can eat all that.”

         “I’ve got a feeling you’ll do justice to it.  Indulge.”  He lifted his spoon in salute and put the ice cream laden with hot fudge in his mouth.

         She followed suit and before they were finished, she was laughing over the small pleasure.  He wiped fudge off her mouth and she did likewise.  All too soon it was time for them to leave.

         “So tell me.  You said you like your home, I take it it’s because of the plants around the house.  Why weren’t you worried about the house while you were in the hospital if it’s a fire hazard?”

         “Technically it wasn’t being lived in.  It’s only when I’m there using all the various appliances on a continuous basis that I worry.  I can’t put more than one plug into an outlet; it shorts out the electricity.  The first time it happened, I found the electrical box was hot to the touch.  I had to wear gloves to change the fuse.  When I’m not home, the only thing that is working all the time is the refrigerator and the fish tank.  I don’t have the lights on, the TV, or anything else.”

         “I see.  Low maintenance, and now that you’re home everything’s changed.”

         “Yes.  I’ve called him at least once a month to let him know something needs to be done about the wiring.  He’s just so unconcerned.  Like I said, I would move if I could, but I really can’t afford it.”

         “What if I helped you move?”

         “I couldn’t do that!”  She looked at him with surprise.  “No.  I’ll just have to trust God that my new job will pay enough to help me to move.”

         “And if the house does burn down before then?”

         “Then we’ll be on the streets.  I don’t know where I would go.”

         “Tell you what, why don’t I take you house shopping this afternoon?”

         “I don’t know.”

         “It would make me feel better knowing you weren’t living in a fire trap.”

         “I just can’t.  Thanks anyway.”

         “We can look.”

         “Oh all right, but if we are going to be gone all afternoon would you mind if we brought Sophie along?  I don’t like leaving her any longer than I have to.”

         “Sure why not.  We’ve gotten to be good friends.”

         A short while later Sophie was in the back seat of the car while Josiah had the paper and his cell phone in hand and began to call and make immediate appointments to look at houses that would allow a dog and fish.

         Sarah had to admit she enjoyed the various houses.  Some had potential, some definitely didn’t.  She looked at a cute one with flowers all around the house, similar to hers but it wasn’t close to the park.

         “It’s nice, and the neighborhood is nice, but it’s not even close to any parks,” she said.

         Josiah laughed at her.  “You are far too picky.  Every house we’ve looked at has had something wrong with it.  If your home burned down today, you wouldn’t have a place to live.”

         “Show me a house near the park, or any park for that matter, and I’ll consider it.”

         “I won’t give up.  I know there is the right home for you out there somewhere.”

         “Yes somewhere.  It’s just not any of the ones we looked at today.”

         He turned to look at her as he took her home.  “What are you doing tomorrow?”

         “I’m going to church.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.  It’ll be good to get back.  I’ve missed it.”

         “How do you get there, or do you live close enough to walk there also?”

         “No.  I get a ride.  I have to give them a call ahead of time so they’ll pick me up.”

         “May I join you?”

         “You want to go with me?”

         “I’ve been reading the Bible.  I want to hear more.”

         “Well, sure, I guess.”

         “What time does church start?”

         “Nine-thirty.”

         “I’ll pick you up at nine.”

         She was more than surprised.  “All right.”

         He turned into her driveway, and she found she was reluctant to have the day end.  She had had fun.  The prospect of the interview had terrified her, but she had been herself, and she had gotten the job.  The Gardens Restaurant had been perfect, and they had looked at quite a number of homes.  She looked at him as the car idled in her driveway.  “Would you like to come in?”

         He followed her up the steps.  She looked at him and knew even before his head came down to meet hers in a deep kiss that left her with thoughts of a different nature.

         She looked into his eyes, and found herself wrapped in his arms again as she wound her hands around the back of his neck.  His hair curled at the nape of his neck.  Her fingers played with the curls while his lips and tongue played with hers, and sent up tingles of awareness along every nerve in her body.

         He looked down at her.  “I better go before your neighbors have more to talk about.  I’ll pick you up for church tomorrow.”

         “I’ll be ready.”

         “I could come over early enough to have breakfast with you.”

         He looked at her, and she him.  There was passion in his look.  “I’d like that.”

         He kissed her again with just as much passion as before.  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”