. . .not on himself or his problems, but on the Lord.
eighteen
Nathan picked up a small moving van in Brenham on Friday night. With Kellie following along behind him in her car, he traveled the now-familiar road toward Greenvine. All the way there, his thoughts tumbled round in his head. He contemplated not the move, but the meeting he’d just called at the Civic Center.
He glanced at his watch. 6:48. In twelve minutes city leaders, his father-in-law included, would converge upon the tiny Civic Center for an informative gathering Nathan had initiated after a near-sleepless night. Once there, he would lay out the financial plan that hadn’t given him a moment’s rest.
A plan to save the city of Greenvine.
Nathan turned off onto the country road that led to the center of town. The moving van jutted up and down with each pothole. His nerves, once jumbled and on edge, settled down a bit, in spite of the bumpy road. Now that a plan had formulated, his body seemed more relaxed.
He glanced in the side mirror to catch a glimpse of Kellie’s vehicle. Her sports car seemed tiny in comparison to this monstrous van. But still, she looked regal, sitting behind the wheel.
He loved to see her like that, in a seat of honor. She deserved it. No one worked harder than Kellie, or had loftier plans. She was truly a queen—and not just the “Queen of Quick” as she always called herself. She sat like royalty upon his heart.
He squinted against the setting sun to see her face more clearly. Immediately concerned registered. Were those tears? He rolled down the window and twisted the mirror a bit, trying to get a better look. Why in the world would she be crying?
His heart twisted as the truth prevailed. She was sad about leaving Greenvine. Of course, he knew that. He’d always known this transition back to Houston would be tough on her, but. . . tears? Kellie wasn’t a crier, by any stretch.
He looked in the mirror again—and nearly drove his car off the road in the process. “Stay focused, man.” He gripped the steering wheel, unable to remember where he was headed. Kellie’s emotions now consumed his thoughts.
She was clearly keeping her tears hidden from him. She was going along with his plans and not saying a word. But why? Was she scared to tell him how she was really felt?
Nathan drew in a deep breath as he turned down the road toward the Civic Center. As he bounced up and down in the cab of the moving van, reality hit. He’d made so many decisions, but had he somehow shifted onto a road of his own, one that had left Kellie out? Maybe even left the Lord out? His thoughts drifted back to that day when he’d accused her of the very same thing. She’d left him out of the equation initially, but who was to blame now?
He looked in the mirror once again and caught a glimpse of Kellie drying her eyes with rushed fingertips. She doesn’t want me to know she’s unhappy.
His words with the Almighty now flowed from a place of truth—of open honesty.
“Lord, show me Your will. I’ve made so many plans, and I’ve asked You to come onboard after the fact. But I guess I’ve never really just sat still and listened to what Your plans might be. If they’re different from mine. . .”
His heart quickened. If the Lord’s plans were different, could he live with that? Immediately, common sense kicked in. Of course the Lord wanted them in the city. He’d given them a clear-cut plan for their future.
Future.
The word hit hard as he glanced in the mirror once again. The future was. . . tomorrow. It wasn’t the here and now. And what good was a happy tomorrow if you had a miserable today?
The revelation slammed against his seared conscience. He’d been living for the future, and spending far too much time worrying about the outcome of life’s situations.
The Lord, it turned out, was apparently more interested in the journey.
***
Kellie took a seat near the front of the room. She reached over to grip her Daddy’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “How are you feeling?” she whispered.
“Better.” He gave her a wink and her heart almost sang.
Almost. Another thought immediately put a damper on things. We’re leaving. Tomorrow. This is my last night with my family, for a while anyway.
Kelly sat with her father’s hand in her own as Nathan stood before the people. The crowd grew quiet as he began to speak. She listened with great joy as he outlined a detailed plan to get the city back up on its feet. All the while, she wondered how the citizens of Greenvine would take the news that they must begin again.
Begin again.
Hmm. She tried to still her trembling hands by placing them across her belly. Inside, life truly was beginning. A piece of her. A piece of Nathan. She would tell him soon. This news couldn’t wait much longer.
As Nathan wrapped up his speech, the place came alive with questions. One by one, the good folks of Greenvine poured out their questions, sought his counsel. He responded to each question thoughtfully and clearly with their best interests at heart. Kellie’s heart swelled with pride as he took the time to genuinely think through his answers and voice them in love.
“Th. . .that’s quite a guy you’ve g. . .got there.” Her father whispered the words into her ear and she nodded with a lump in her throat.
“I know.”
As the meeting convened, Kellie joined the other women in the kitchen, preparing snacks for the crowd. They set out platters of fresh-cut vegetables and tempting fruit, and she entered into conversation with several of the ladies as they worked alongside one another.
“Nathan is so great,” Julia observed. “I mean. . .” she looked at him admiringly, “I’ve always known he was a great accountant. I guess I just didn’t realize he was so good at the people part. He’s a good communicator, and he really seems to care about all of us.”
“He does.” Kellie nodded. “I know, because he’s lost a lot of sleep over all of this.” She didn’t add that he’d called her three times in the night to ask her opinion on his ideas, particularly those related to investments. Clearly, he cared about her expertise, as well, and had wanted to get her take on his plan. And she was happy to link arms with him on this project. In fact, she didn’t know when she’d ever felt so good about anything.
Julia shrugged. “I guess it’s pretty rare to find someone with a head for numbers and. . .”
Kellie finished for her with words that seemed to leap from her throat. “A heart for the people.”
Why does that sound so familiar? Ah, yes. They were Mr. Abernathy’s words as he’d introduced Nathan just a few short months ago.
She looked across the room at Nathan, who spoke with his hands to a group of men. They hung on his every word, nodding and patting him on the back. Nathan was brilliant, to be sure. But his love for people far exceeded any academic gifting. Now, with the people behind him, he seemed to spring from his shell, energized by their enthusiasm.
Kellie turned back to her mother and Julia to wrap up her thoughts on the matter. “He wants to do what he can to make things better for you guys.”
Her mother leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek. “He let you spend these last few weeks with us,” she whispered. “That’s definitely made things better for all of us. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Kellie reached up to give her mother a warm hug. “I’m going to miss you. But I really need to be with Nathan, and he wants to be. . .” her voice choked over. “Back in Houston.” She brushed at damp eyelashes.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way, Hon. You two need to be together.”
Kellie looked to the front of the room, where Nathan and her father stood in concentrated dialogue. The spark in her husband’s eye intrigued her. She hadn’t seen this kind of enthusiasm in him for a long time. In fact, she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him this excited, hopeful. She liked the new Nathan and hoped it translated over into their new life in Houston.
New life.
How could she possibly begin a new life when she still harbor
ed old feelings? Lord, if You’re wanting to renew my heart, to clean out all of the fear and the anxiety, then do it. Have Your way, Father. I want to be in the center of Your will—no place else. And if that means Houston. . .
. . .then I’m fine with that.
Kellie settled the issue once and for all in her heart. She would, as the scripture so aptly said, learn to be content in whatever state she found herself in—genuinely, peacefully content.
She crossed the room to where Nathan now stood alone. She slipped her arm in his and gave him an adoring gaze.
He glanced down with a look of concern. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” She smiled up at him. “Why?”
“Oh, nothing.” He brushed a stray hair out of her eye. “I just want you to be happy.”
Kellie’s heart twisted. “I. . . I am happy, Honey.”
“Really?” His brow furrowed a bit and she wondered if he’d been listening to her earlier thoughts.
Kellie’s gaze shifted to the ground and she fought back the tears. “I. . . I’ve loved every minute of being here,” she said finally. “But I know that we’ve got to be where God wants us to be. And wherever that is, I’m okay.”
He nodded but said nothing.
“I figure,” Kellie continued with enthusiasm mounting, “that as long as we’re in the center of God’s will, we’re in the safest place on earth, regardless of where we live. Right?”
He nodded again, but said nothing.
“Where we are physically isn’t half as important as where we are with Him.” Kellie beamed now. “So wherever He calls us to go. . . I’m going. As long as you’re going too.”
Nathan drew in a deep breath and pulled her close. He planted kisses in her hair and then whispered, “You’re the smartest woman I know.”
Kellie couldn’t help but giggle. “Then you don’t know many women; that’s all I’ve got to say.”
nineteen
Nathan awoke early on Saturday morning. He lay silent in the bed for a while, listening to Kellie breathe. For some time, he drank in the stillness of the moment.
Nothing could have prepared him for her sudden bolt from the bed. He watched in amazement as she sprinted toward the bathroom, hand over her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” He followed her to the bathroom door, but she closed it in his face.
Kellie never answered, but he could hear the noise from the other side.
“You’re sick?”
Still no answer. When she finally emerged from the room, her face was pale and drawn.
“Kellie?” He followed her to the bathroom sink, where she reached for a toothbrush.
She checked her appearance in the mirror and groaned. “Ugh. I look as bad as I feel.” She slathered toothpaste on the brush and stuck it in her mouth.
“I’m sorry you’re sick.” Nathan reached to pull her hair out of her eyes as she brushed her teeth. “Do you think it’s something you ate?”
She shook her head, but never looked up.
“Just some kind of stomach bug?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she continued to brush her teeth in silence. When she finished, she finally looked him in the eye. “I feel a lot better now. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Still. . .” He ran his hand along her cheek. “I want you to take it easy today. We’ve got lots of people coming to help. No need in you doing too much.”
“I’ll take it easy,” she assured him. “But don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
He nodded then headed off to the shower. As the hot water beat down on his neck, Nathan planned for the day ahead. Frankie would arrive at 9:00. With his help, they would load up the boxes and clothes. After that, he and Kellie would hit the road for home. They would return to Greenvine next weekend to tie up loose ends and prepare the house for inspection.
Nathan exited the shower, his mind in awhirl. He tried not to let his thoughts slow down much. If they did. . .
No, he wouldn’t stop to think. He must plow forward with the task at hand. There would be plenty of time to think later.
With a towel wrapped around him, Nathan entered the bedroom. Surprise filled him as he looked at the bed where Kellie lay curled up, still in her nightgown.
“Not feeling any better?” he asked.
She sat up with a start. “Oh. . .” She gave him a quizzical look. “I’m just. . .”
“It’s okay, Honey.” He walked over and kissed her lightly. “I told you to take it easy.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his hair. She pushed his hand away and rolled over.
“Are you mad at me?” Nathan asked.
She shook her head.
He wasn’t convinced. “Do you want to talk about it?”
No response.
Nathan stood up and walked to his chest of drawers to pull out jeans and a t-shirt. How could he go about reading her mind? On the other hand, maybe she didn’t want him to. Maybe she needed space.
He dressed quickly and headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. Moments later he sat at the table with a cup in his hand. A knock on the door roused him from his quiet thoughts. Nathan glanced at his watch: 8:42. Frankie’s early.
He trudged to the door and opened it, startled to find his in-laws on the other side.
“Well, good morning.” He greeted them with a hug.
“Can we come in?” Kenton asked.
“Of course.” Nathan ushered them into the kitchen and offered them a cup of coffee.
They sat together at the table and he quickly explained Kellie’s absence.
“Should I go and check on her?” Norah asked.
He nodded, and his mother-in-law slipped off into the other room.
Kenton sat in silence for a moment, then finally looked Nathan in the eye. “Norah was d. . .doing me a favor by leaving,” he explained with a twinkle in his eye. “She knows I came to speak with you. Guess she thought I needed some privacy.”
“Privacy? What’s up?” Nathan took a sip of coffee, then leaned back in his chair.
Kenton looked at him intently. “Nathan, I’ve got a problem.”
Nathan laid a hand on his father-in-law’s arm. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Kenton’s gaze shifted down, “I’m not getting any younger. And even though I’m getting around better, I’m still. . . still. . .” He paused and his eyes filled with tears. “This is what I’m trying to say, Nathan. I. . .I don’t believe I can return to my job. I’ve over. . .overstayed my welcome, as it is.”
“Sir?”
“The fine people of Greenvine have entrusted me with the position of City Comptroller for y. . .years.” Kenton spoke slowly, carefully. “But I’d be looking at retirement in another year or two anyway.” He looked up, eyes brimming over.
Nathan tried to swallow the growing lump in his throat. “What are you saying, Kenton?”
“I’m saying. . .” the older man stared directly into his eyes, “that I’m beyond the p. . .point where I can do this city any good. But you. . .you’re not.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nathan, you’re a wonderful young man. You’ve been the answer to my daughter’s prayers—and, in so many ways, an answer to our prayers, as well. We never had the privilege of having a son, but the Lord has sent a fine one our way.”
“Th. . . thank you, Sir.”
“God has blessed us in an abundance of ways, of late; I don’t really have any business asking for more.” Kenton sighed. “But I feel it would be wrong of me not to mention what’s been on my heart for the past several days, especially. . .” He paused and appeared to be collecting his thoughts. “Especially after the people took so well to your plan last night.” He looked up, determination in his eyes. “I’ll just cut to the chase and save you any questions. Elections are just around the corner, and I think you’d make a fine City Comptroller for the people of Greenvine.”
Nathan sat down the coffee cup with a thud. Surely the olde
r man jested. City Comptroller? To stay would require putting an end to everything he and Kellie had hoped and prayed for.
“I. . . I’m not sure what to say.” He didn’t dare look his father-in-law in the eye, not when his eyes would give away his feelings.
Kenton patted him on the back. “No need to say anything—at least not yet. Just promise me you’ll pray about it.”
Nathan nodded in numbed silence. Pray about it? A knock on the door brought him back to his senses. He glanced at his watch. 9:02. “That’s Frankie.”
“I’ll get myself another cup of coffee.” Kenton stood and headed toward the coffee maker while Nathan plodded to the front door.
“Mornin’ neighbor!” Frankie greeted him with a broad smile.
Nathan extended his hand. “Good morning to you, too. Thanks for coming to help.”
“No problem.” Frankie looked back toward the car. “I’ve enlisted the troops. Hope it’s okay that we brought Madison along.” He gestured toward Julia, who lifted Madison from the car seat.
“Of course.” Nathan watched with grin as the little girl squirmed in her mother’s arms. Within seconds, they joined him at the door.
“Where’s Kellie?” Julia asked.
“In the bedroom with her mom.” Nathan shrugged. “She’s sick.”
“No way.” Julia trudged off in the direction of the bedroom and Frankie and Nathan joined Kenton in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. They chatted about the weather, the construction on Highway 290—everything but the move. Finally, when he could sit still no longer, Nathan stood. The time had come.
They’d better get packing.
***
Kellie spent a few minutes chatting with her mother and Julie before they stepped into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. She slipped out of her nightgown and robe and into some clothes before heading out to join them. She still battled queasiness, but did her best to force it aside. No point in raising suspicions. Not yet, anyway. She padded into the kitchen, loaded with boxes.