Mrs. Markle was as much a surprise as her husband. She was slender with short blonde hair, average looking, and fairly well-dressed. “Pleased to meet you, Caleb,” she said, with a surprisingly pleasant voice.
It sounded as though she really meant the words.
“Ellie’s told us so much about you.” She offered her hand, and he shook it obligingly.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” The words almost stuck in his throat. He hoped they didn’t betray the feelings he was experiencing at the moment.
Had he not known the truth about the pair, their friendly manner would have been totally believable. There was nothing in the way they presented themselves that would suggest that they were lazy, ill-tempered, mean-spirited abusers of alcohol, drugs, and the foster care system. Maybe they were unaware of what he knew. More likely, they didn’t care.
This meticulous facade was no doubt why they had been able to hide their vices, and why they had been able to convince the authorities of their worthiness as foster parents, while maintaining Ellie’s worthlessness as a foster child.
The old saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover” came to mind. How many times had he passed people on the street or at the mall whose appearances suggested they were upright, moral, hard-working decent citizens, when in truth they could have been dishonest, violent thieves, or child abusers?
Ellie appeared from the hallway, and rescued him from the awkwardness of any further dialog. “Oh, hi, Caleb.” She looked back and forth between the three already in the room. “I see you’ve already met my foster parents.”
“Yes, we were just getting acquainted with this nice young man,” Mrs. Markle cheerfully interjected before he could reply.
Ellie shot her foster mother a barely disguised look of contempt, and motioned for him to follow her. “Can you help me carry some boxes to the front porch?”
“Sure. That’s why I’m here.” He grinned, and then turned to the Markles. “Nice to meet you both.”
He followed her down the dingy hall to her tiny room.
Ellie shut the door and turned to him with a look of total disgust on her face. “Oh boy, they’re really laying it on thick today,” she spoke in a half whisper, as if afraid of being overheard. “Do you see how charming they can be? If you could only see how they are when nobody else is around. They make me sick to my stomach!”
Caleb was taken back by the vitriol in her voice. No doubt they were very different people when not trying to impress someone, and no doubt very cruel and hard on Ellie. But for someone who had been taught to treat all authority with respect, whether deserved or undeserved, he wished she could find it in her heart to forgive them. Unchecked bitterness would only hurt her, and he didn’t want that to happen.
If she only knew You, Lord, he thought, then she would know what forgiveness is all about.
He tried his best to alleviate her anger. “Ellie, I know they’re putting on their best behavior just for me. But don’t let it get to you. By tonight, they’ll be out of your hair for good, won’t they?”
His words seemed to refresh her like a splash of cool water. She smiled at him. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like an angry—” she caught herself. “Well, you get the idea.”
“I understand how you feel,” he acknowledged. “But that’s all behind us now. Anyway, we’ve got to get you moved in with Miss Cora.”
The brown-eyed beauty straightened up from the box she was sealing and looked at him with renewed appreciation. “You’re such a good influence on me, Caleb.”
As he stared self-consciously at the box in his arms, she added, “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”
“No, Ellie, I’m the lucky one, remember?”
They looked into each other’s eyes and timed their responses. “Well aren’t we the lucky ones!”
Laughing, they carried the boxes through the living room and out onto the stoop. Tony and Beverly sat on their living room sofa, smoking cigarettes and watching them silently. Neither lifted a finger to help. Once the others arrived in the pickup, it took the moving crew all of twenty minutes to clear out Ellie’s things, including the desk and trunk.
“What about the bed and dresser?” Caleb asked. “Do those go or stay?”
“They stay. Tony insists they have to remain in order to maintain my legal residence here.”
“I think I’d question the logic behind that reason,” Caleb smirked.
“I don’t believe it for a minute, either.” She looked disgusted. “They just want to make sure they get my money as long as they possibly can.”
Caleb couldn’t believe how anyone could be so selfish and cruel. “Aren’t you even going to challenge that?”
“No. At this stage of the game, I just want out, that’s all.”
When the pickup and sedan rolled up in front of the big white house on Pine Street, Miss Cora came out and stood on the front steps to welcome them.
It didn’t take long to move everything upstairs into the large blue bedroom that was now Ellie’s new home. As they were making the last trip up the wide staircase, the smell of banana bread wafted up from the kitchen.
“You all might as well get ready for a snack,” Caleb prepared his friends. “I’ve never been inside this house without being offered something good to eat.” His words proved to be prophetic. Upon their return to the first floor, they were met with a tray of warm banana nut bread, and coffee and tea.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A NEW CREATION
THE CHANGE IN ELLIE THOMPSON was dramatic. Now free from the daily stress of her former home life, she grew more relaxed and personable. Her friendship with Kelli and Allison began to bloom, and it wasn’t long before she felt at ease with the kids at the round table in the school cafeteria. It was as if she’d grown up with them.
Although still possessing a hint of shyness, a quality Caleb found quite attractive, she was quicker to smile now, and seemed to have more self-confidence. Other students apparently noticed the change as well, and soon it was not uncommon for her to emerge from a classroom conversing with someone as they walked down the hallway between classes.
Still a bit reserved, she wasn’t usually the one to initiate a conversation. But she didn’t shy away from one, either, as she once had. This newer, friendlier version of Ellie caught the attention and inspired the hopes of a number of male students, much to Caleb’s chagrin. While he knew he had no claims on her romantically, he still felt a twinge of jealousy whenever he saw her walking down the corridor talking to another guy.
He was glad to see her emerging from her self-imposed shell, and was happy for her sake that she was becoming more sociable. Still, he couldn’t help feeling a sense of relief whenever she told him that she’d declined another guy’s advances. In fact, she seemed to take particular delight in informing Caleb of another potential suitor whom she had, as kindly as possible, turned away.
He wondered if her comments were meant to be subtle hints to get his attention. But the fact that she confided in him was a great source of comfort and encouragement to the young man with the big heart. Another source of encouragement was the fact that Ellie had begun to attend church regularly. Each Sunday morning, she rode with Miss Cora in the big old, well-maintained Buick across town to the red brick building on the hillside overlooking Baxter. The little white-haired lady believed in being punctual, which to anyone else would have been called early. That usually gave Caleb and Ellie a few minutes to talk before the other kids arrived in the youth room.
“Caleb, I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it is living in that big old house with Miss Cora,” she exclaimed. “It’s like night and day compared to what my life was like before. No drama or conflict of any sort. Just peace and quiet.” She paused. “That lady has got to be the kindest soul on earth.”
“You’re right about that. And I’m glad it’s working out for you,” he responded. “Isn’t it amazing how everything just kind of fell into place? I mea
n, the timing of it all and everything. You’ve got to admit, it’s a God thing.”
“Yes, I can see that,” she acknowledged with a smile. “But then, you had a lot to do with it too, Caleb. I mean, if you hadn’t been so persistent with me, I never would have gotten this far. Thank you for sticking by me.”
He grinned sheepishly and shrugged. “What’s a friend for?”
She batted her eyes at him in a playful manner. “Just a friend?”
Her question sent an electric charge throughout his body.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought we were becoming more than just ‘friends’.”
Caleb’s heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment he was afraid she could hear it as well. “I know what you’re saying. I feel it, too. I think we both do.” He fought for the right words. “Ellie, I’d like nothing more than to pursue that kind of relationship with you. Believe me, I really want to! But . . . ” his voice trailed off. He just couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought.
Ellie finished it for him. “I know. It’s that promise you made to God, isn’t it?”
He nodded silently, unable to speak.
She placed her hand over his and smiled. “Well, Caleb Sawyer, I wouldn’t want you to break your promise.”
He looked at her in amazement. “You wouldn’t?”
“Of course not. Especially to God! One of the things I really like about you is that you keep your word. That’s very important to me. And attractive, by the way. Don’t ever change that about yourself, okay?”
Her openness gave him a surge of encouragement.
“I’ll try not to.” He grinned slyly. “But you sure make it hard, sometimes.”
Ellie blushed. “Then I’ll try not to.”
They both laughed.
Tony came into the youth room, followed by Kelli and Aaron and several other kids. When Ellie got up to talk to Kelli, Caleb exhaled slowly. The room had gotten pretty warm there for a minute.
That afternoon, Caleb stopped by Miss Cora’s before going to play basketball at B.J.’s. He wanted to finish the conversation they’d started at church that morning.
Sitting on the porch swing with Ellie, he thought back to one particular statement of hers. “Ellie, this morning in the youth room you said something about being where you are because of my persistence, remember?”
She nodded. “If you hadn’t kept after me none of this would have happened. And I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“Well, what I wanted to say is, I don’t really want you to stay where you are.”
Ellie looked puzzled. “What do you mean? You don’t want me to stay with Miss Cora?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” He laughed off his awkward statement. “What I’m trying to say is, I hope you don’t stay where you are spiritually.”
She stared at him. “Oh. You’re talking about me becoming a Christian, right?”
“Yes.” He turned to look her squarely in the face. “Ellie, there’s nothing I want more than for you to give your life to Christ. You see, it’s really not my persistence that’s gotten you this far. It’s His. Jesus has been pursuing you all this time.” He caught his breath. “You see that, don’t you?”
Ellie was silent for a moment. When she spoke, he could tell the words came straight from her heart. “Yes, I do see that. In fact, sometimes I think I can actually feel His love.” She smiled shyly. “Just like I can feel yours.”
Caleb’s face flushed and his pulse quickened. His fingers traced the heart carved in the arm of the porch swing as he formulated his response. “Ellie, as much as I’d like to tell you how I feel about you right now, I can’t. It’s not the right time. I’ve been trying to let God’s love show through me. But sometimes I’m afraid my feelings have gotten in the way.”
“Caleb, you have shown me God’s love. I’m very grateful for that. And if it makes you feel any better, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what you’ve been saying to me. About becoming a Christian, I mean.”
“That’s wonderful! But Ellie, you can’t make that decision to please me, or anyone else. It has to be because you see your need for Him. You have to want Him for yourself.”
“I know. When I get to that point, I’ll make the decision for the right reason. I promise.” She gazed off into the side yard with all its wonderful shade trees. “But I’m not quite ready yet.”
Her last statement drove a stake through his heart.
Sensing his disappointment, she turned to him. “I just need a little more time, that’s all.”
“Well, I guess you’re the only one who would know when you’re ready,” he conceded. “But just remember this: the Bible says that today is the day of salvation. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. Ellie, the decision is too important for you to keep putting it off. Your eternal destiny is on the line.”
“I know, I know. I’ll think about it some more tonight, okay? I promise.” Then she squeezed his hand and flashed a smile. “Please don’t give up on me, okay?”
Caleb responded with conviction. “I’ll never give up on you, Ellie. Never!”
It was a pleasant early December Sunday evening in Baxter, Georgia. The skies were a cloudless brilliant azure, and a slight southwesterly breeze provided cool comfort for the two figures on the wide veranda porch of the old Victorian house on Pine Street.
Ellie sat on the porch swing, enjoying a gingersnap with Miss Cora, who was seated in the wooden rocking chair set at an angle to the swing.
The elderly woman was reading to herself from the large, black Bible which sat open on her lap. Ellie watched her silently, enjoying the tranquility of the moment.
Miss Cora looked up from her reading and smiled. “Lovely evening, isn’t it?”
Ellie returned her smile. “Yes, it’s beautiful. I love late fall in the South.” She eyed the frayed book in her landlady’s lap. “You spend a lot of time reading the Bible, don’t you?”
Miss Cora looked down at the dog-eared copy of God’s Word in her slightly arthritic hands. The pages, once white and clean, were worn and well-marked. Faint vestiges of gold leaf was all that remained on the edges.
“Oh my, yes!” The wrinkles around her eyes increased and her eyes lit up. “It’s my favorite book.”
Ellie stopped the gentle motion of the porch swing with her foot and leaned forward. “Why is it your favorite book?”
“Why?” The old woman pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side as she contemplated her response. “Well, my dear, I’d have to say it’s my favorite book because it’s God’s love letter to me. He chose to reveal Himself to all mankind through this book. And within these pages are the answers to all of life’s mysteries. The beginning, the fall, the certainty of death, suffering, redemption, the ending, eternity. Everything.”
Ellie scrunched her brow. “But how can you understand what it says? I’ve tried reading it from time to time, but I can’t seem to make any sense of it.”
Miss Cora looked over at her with a kind expression. “I have an idea. Didn’t you say you have the Bible your mother gave you as a little girl?”
“Yes, it’s up in my room.”
“Why don’t you go get it and bring it out here? I’d like you to read a few verses for yourself. That would be better than just hearing them from me.”
“Okay.” Ellie got off the swing and disappeared into the house. A few moments later, she reappeared in the doorway in time to hear the widow finishing a prayer.
“ . . . and Lord, give me Your words to share with this precious young soul. May they not return to You void.”
Ellie paused, and then cleared her throat and stepped around the corner with a little white Bible in her hand. “Here it is,” she held up the small children’s version of the Scriptures.
“That’s a very pretty Bible. Did your mother ever read it to you?”
Ellie settled back on the swing. “Yes. I was about five or six when she gave it to me. I remember sitting on the
porch swing listening to her read aloud from it. I can still recall some of the stories. Noah and the ark. Daniel and the lions. David and the giant.”
“What a wonderful memory that is. That’s something you must cherish very much.”
Ellie smiled and nodded silently before Miss Cora continued. “Now, to answer your question about how to understand this book. Can you find First Corinthians?”
“I think so.” Ellie began leafing through the pages.
“You can use the table of contents if you like,” Miss Cora suggested gently. “First Corinthians is in the New Testament. Toward the end.”
Ellie located the book. “I found it.”
“Good. Now go to chapter two and verse fourteen.” She paused. “Do you see it?”
“Yes. Here it is.”
“Would you mind reading it to me?”
“Okay.” Ellie hunched over her Bible and traced the words with her finger as she read. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
“Thank you, dear. Now, the natural person here refers to anyone who has not been born again by God’s Spirit. By that, I mean they haven’t put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save them from their natural condition as a sinner estranged from God. We all come into this world as natural-born sinners. This book tells us that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Do you know what that means?”
“Yes. Caleb’s talked to me about it several times.”
“Good for him. Now then, this verse says that the natural person isn’t even capable of understanding the spiritual truths of God. In fact, they seem like foolishness to him. That’s because they are spiritual in nature—supernatural if you will—while he is only natural.” She paused. “Do you understand that?”
“Yes, I think so. The natural person would have to be supernatural in order to understand it.”
A Future and a Hope Page 14