A Future and a Hope

by David Mathews

  “Well, I lived with my mother until she died. I was only seven. After that, I spent the rest of my childhood and adolescent years with different foster families. I remember everything up to the end of my junior year in high school, but not much after that. My father wasn’t a part of my life at all until my senior year. That’s when he says he decided to finally step up and take responsibility for me. I can’t recall the details, but I think he must have felt guilty for not being there for me when I was growing up. Anyway, he says I have him to thank for rescuing me from a bad foster family. And for helping me through college, and taking care of me after the accident.”

  Caleb felt his face flush with anger. The nerve of the man. Telling Ellie he’d rescued her. Kidnapped her was more like it.

  If Ellie ever had a rescuer, it was him. He’d been the one who’d stood up for her, who’d given up a job for her, who’d found a safe place for her to live. And now her father, Mr. John Come Lately, had the audacity to claim that title for himself.

  He was nothing but a fraud. A liar and a crook. A charlatan and a scammer.

  It was beginning to make sense now. Why her father had spirited her away. He was a no good bum who’d seen an opportunity to cash in on the situation. Pretending to be the remorseful, absentee father who wanted to make up for lost time, he’d convinced his vulnerable daughter that she was a lonely damsel in distress and he was her knight in shining armor. He’d come riding in on a white horse, slain the dragon, and rescued her from all her perils, and now she was fortunate to have him as her magnanimous protector and gracious caregiver.

  During their first lunchtime meeting, Ellie had mentioned that her father had pushed her to take the Beeson job because of the money. He recalled seeing her father’s new silver SUV parked outside the apartment on Cannondale Avenue—no doubt purchased with Ellie’s money. The man didn’t care about her well-being at all. Only the income she was capable of bringing into the household.

  Ellie had not been rescued. She was still a damsel in distress. And he was going to rescue her!

  Caleb suddenly realized that Ellie was staring at him with a strange look on her face.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, tilting her head to one side and looking at him quizzically. “You look like you kind of . . . zoned out there for a minute.”

  Caleb masked his anger with a grin. “Sorry about that. I do that sometimes when I’m thinking. I was just processing what you’re telling me. It sounds like there have been some pretty rough times in your life.”

  Ellie blushed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for a simple lunchtime conversation to turn into True Confessions.”

  Caleb quickly replied. “No need to apologize. In fact, I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to share a bit of your life with me.”

  Ellie put her elbows on the table, clasped her hands under her chin, and studied him for a moment. The corners of her mouth upturned slightly. “You know something? I do feel comfortable talking with you. And that’s a strange thing for me to say, because I’m not one who usually finds that easy to do. Especially having just met a person. But, and I don’t know how to explain this, but I feel like . . . like I know you already.” She let out a little nervous laugh.

  Caleb smiled and shrugged. “I guess some people just happen to communicate on the same wavelength, that’s all.”

  Ellie arched her eyebrows. “You call this one sided conversation communicating? Here I am rambling on about my life, and I still don’t know much about you.” She grinned. “Well, Mr. Sawyer, now it’s your turn.”

  In the few minutes they had left, Caleb told Ellie what it was like growing up in Baxter, hoping that some of their shared experiences there might trigger her memory. He was disappointed when that didn’t happen.

  “Thanks for suggesting this place,” he said as they returned their trays. “I see why it’s one of your favorites.”

  “Not a problem. I enjoyed the conversation.”

  “Me too. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again sometime,” he hinted.

  Ellie flashed a shy grin. “Maybe.”

  Early the next week, he just happened to run into her again, this time while waiting in line at a Mexican taco stand in the food court.

  “Hi, Ellie,” he called out as she passed by.

  She recognized him and smiled. “Oh, hi Caleb.”

  “Care to join me for lunch?” he asked casually.

  Ellie looked around and hesitated. “Well . . . alright, I guess.”

  He made a mental note of her reluctance as they searched for an empty table. Was he pushing too hard? Should he back off a bit?

  Gotta keep things light and easy. Slow and steady. And have patience. Lots of patience, he reminded himself.

  His concerns vanished once they found a table and began eating. Their conversation was as easy and free-flowing as it had been the previous week. By the end of lunch, he’d forgotten all about her reservations.

  “Ellie, I really enjoy having lunch with you,” he began, as they left the food court. “I was wondering, would you like to go out with me some weekend? Maybe to a ball game, or a play? Or the Museum of Art?” He grinned. “Although you’ve probably been there a zillion times already.”

  Ellie laughed. “Let’s just say I’ve been there more than once.”

  A look of uncertainty clouded her face.

  He got the sudden feeling that he’d moved in on her a little too fast.

  “Caleb,” she began, “I’ve enjoyed our lunches too, and I think you’re a really nice guy. But . . . ” she hesitated. Caleb steeled himself for the shoot down.

  “Boyfriend?” he offered, remembering the young man he’d seen her with at lunch earlier.

  “Boyfriend? No, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. It’s just that . . . well, how do I explain this? You see, I’m a Christian, and I made a vow to God that I would only go out with other believers. You know, only guys who’ve put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.”

  Caleb caught himself staring at her in stunned silence. That certainly wasn’t what he’d expected. He felt his spirits rise and his face flush with excitement.

  Breaking into a knowing smile, he blurted out, “The unequal yoke principle, right? Second Corinthians six.”

  It was Ellie’s turn to stare. “You . . . you know about that?”

  “Of course I do. I took that pledge at a church youth meeting when I was fifteen.”

  Ellie’s eyes grew wide. “Then, you’re a Christian, too?”

  “Yes I am!” he replied excitedly. “I accepted Christ when I was in the eighth grade.”

  She gave him what appeared to be a relieved smile. “That’s wonderful, Caleb. I’m happy for you.” She paused, bewildered. “But if you took that pledge, how come you asked me out without knowing whether or not I was a Christian?”

  In his exuberance Caleb responded without hesitation. Or thinking. “Because I knew you were a Christian when I met you.”

  Her frown made him painfully aware that he’d put his foot in his mouth again. “How could you have known that? I don’t think I mentioned it in any of our conversations.”

  Oh, how he wanted to tell her how he knew. How he knew all about her surrender to the Lord that Sunday night in Baxter up in her bedroom in Miss Cora’s house on Pine Street. Instead, he fumbled for a believable, yet truthful reply. “Well, you know how sometimes you run into a person, and you have this . . . this unspoken connection with them? Like you just somehow know that they’re different? Well that’s how I felt about you. Maybe it’s the Holy Spirit living in us that gives us that discernment. I don’t know how else to explain it.”

  Ellie considered his explanation and to his relief, agreed. “That makes sense. But I’ve got to tell you, I feel like it’s more than that. There are things about you that feel so . . . familiar. Remember last Friday when I told you I felt like I’ve known you a long time? It’s more than two people recognizing each other as a child of God. I get that. But this go
es deeper than that. Only, I can’t explain it. Does that sound crazy or what?”

  Caleb’s heart was singing. “Not at all, Ellie. Truth is, I feel it, too. But I’m not sure just what to make of it at the moment.”

  Ellie stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, put her hands on her hips, and grinned playfully at him. “Then let’s not make anything of it for the time being. Let’s just accept it for what it is and enjoy it. What do you say?”

  He fought the urge to gather her in his arms and kiss those smiling lips. Practicing incredible self-control, he replied, “I say ‘Amen’ to that!”

  He raised one eyebrow flirtatiously at her. “So then, does this mean you’ll go out with me?”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  THE FRUIT OF FORGIVENESS

  CALEB HAD ALWAYS LOVED WEEKENDS for a variety of reasons. Two days with no school, Bulldog football games in Sanford Stadium, hanging with friends, church, and a well-deserved day of rest. But this week, he was impatient for the weekend to roll around. On Saturday, he was going to go out with his long-time girlfriend and fiancée for the very first time. More or less.

  He decided to keep things casual for their first date. A nice meal at a trendy restaurant before catching a Hawks game at Philips Arena. Not the most original of evenings, but a simple and safe one to be sure. The only thing he’d been concerned about was the prospect of running into Ellie’s father.

  But she’d solved that problem for him by suggesting they meet at the restaurant instead of her home. They agreed to meet at five-thirty. Caleb was there fifteen minutes early to make sure she didn’t have to wait for him. Ellie pulled into the parking lot right on time.

  She was driving the silver SUV her father had been using the day Caleb confronted him at their apartment. He wondered what her father thought about her going out on a date. Would he try to discourage any serious relationship from developing since that might eventually take her away from him? Had she told him who she was going out with? If so, what had his reaction been when he learned it was with the young man he’d stolen her away from and punched in the face?

  Surprisingly, he felt no hatred for the man. Only pity. After being seated, the pair put in their order, and started in on the appetizer.

  “I’ve never been here before,” Ellie began, glancing around the room. “How did you hear about this place?”

  Caleb grinned. “Online reviews. It sounded like a sure bet. Nothing like a bad dining experience to ruin a first date.”

  Ellie laughed. “Well you’re safe with me. I’m not particular when it comes to food. I enjoy most anything.”

  “Do you have a favorite?”

  She thought for a minute. “Well, not really. I do like Italian food, though, or a good steak. And sometimes I get a real craving for a big tenderloin sandwich and a side of onion rings. Isn’t that funny? I don’t even remember the last time I had one.”

  Caleb felt a chill go down his spine. Could she be thinking about Edwards?

  “There’s this little 50s diner in Baxter that serves the best tenderloins you’ll ever find,” he hinted. “The meat hangs over the bun so far you’re almost full before you reach the bread. And they serve killer onion rings and genuine draft root beer.”

  “Sounds like my kind of place. If I’m ever down that way, I’ll have to try it out.”

  “It was our favorite hangout in high school. That and the Dairy Shack. There aren’t too many other places in town.”

  “It must have been wonderful, growing up in a small town where everyone knows everyone else.” She looked wistfully at him. “Unfortunately, I can’t lay claim to such an idyllic childhood myself.”

  “I’m not sure I’d call my childhood idyllic. In a small town, you can’t get away with anything.” He chuckled. “You get into any kind of trouble and the news gets back to your parents before you do.”

  Ellie laughed. “Somehow I can’t picture you getting into trouble. Did you have a rebellious streak?”

  Caleb shook his head vigorously. “Oh no, not at all. Well, not much of one, anyway.” He grinned. “I was too afraid of what would happen when I got home. My dad kept a pretty tight rein on me, I guess. But looking back, that was a good thing. It kept me from making all sorts of bad decisions.” He looked at Ellie and thought about her hollow childhood. “So, how do you feel about your father, now that he’s back in the picture?”

  She paused thoughtfully. “Well, I’m grateful that he finally stepped up and took responsibility, I guess. You know what they say, ‘Better late than never’. I can’t recall the details of how he reentered my life, or how he helped me when I was at UGA, but I do appreciate how he’s taken care of me after the accident, and what he does for me now. He handles all my finances for me and takes care of all the details like paying bills and buying groceries.”

  Caleb was tempted to add, and uses you for his own selfish purposes.

  It was painful to hear her praise the man for something he’d never done. For something he wasn’t even around to do. And for what he was doing to her now.

  He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “Well you certainly have a good attitude toward him. I’m afraid I might have had a . . . a less honorable one if that had been me.”

  Ellie studied him for a moment. “I did have a lot of bitterness and resentment toward him earlier in my life. But that was before I gave my life to Christ. He’s the One who helped me put those feelings behind me. But it wasn’t easy, that’s for sure.”

  Caleb felt ashamed. “When did you make the decision to accept Christ?”

  She frowned slightly and shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t know when it was. I have no real recollection of the actual moment. It must have been within the past three or four years, though. That’s the period I have the most trouble recalling. All I know is I despised my father before then, and now I don’t . . . even though he still does things I don’t like. That has to be the Lord. I couldn’t have done that on my own. You know, even though I can’t remember the circumstances surrounding my salvation, I know that I’m a child of God. I have His love and peace in my life, and the Holy Spirit gives me that assurance.”

  “That’s the important thing, isn’t it?” Caleb concurred. “To know for sure now.” He thought of something she’d mentioned. “You said your father still does things you don’t like. I don’t mean to pry—and stop me if I am—but what exactly did you mean by that?”

  Ellie seemed to be conflicted. “Well, I don’t want to speak ill of him, and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. But I sometimes feel like he’s . . . he’s too manipulative and controlling. Like not letting me finish my degree, and pushing me to take this job because of the money, even when I didn’t really want to. Demanding to know where I am and what I’m doing all the time. Things like that. Take tonight, for example. He wasn’t at all happy that I was going out on a date with someone. Sometimes he treats me like I’m fifteen or something. And then there’s the drinking. He’s a borderline alcoholic, I think.” She gave a sad little sigh. “But, he’s not a Christian, and I’m praying he’ll see that Jesus is his only hope.” She suddenly brightened and flashed him a smile. “I guess that’s one example of the difference Jesus has made in my life.”

  The waiter came with their food, and after praying together, they began to eat their meal.

  Ellie suddenly changed the subject. “Have you ever had a reoccurring dream?”

  Caleb finished a mouthful of chicken cordon bleu before replying. “You mean, have I ever dreamed the same dream over and over again?”

  “Yes. Like that.”

  He thought back to his childhood. “Well, I remember this one dream I used to have when I was in grade school. I must have dreamed it eight or nine times before it went away. It always scared me.”

  “What was it?” Ellie leaned in eagerly.

  “All I remember is that we were living in some creepy old farmhouse out in the boonies somewhere, and I had to spend the night on an old, musty army cot in th
e middle of the kitchen. There were three doors next to each other. The one on the right led to a small bathroom, the one on the left led to the rest of the house, and the one in the middle led to a dark, damp cellar.”

  “Let me guess,” Ellie interjected. “You were afraid of the door in the middle, right?”

  “Pretty predictable, aren’t I?” he chuckled. “I remember lying on the cot in the shadowy moonlight and staring at the cellar door. Something seemed to be calling me, so I finally got up the nerve to open the door to see what was down there. I remember slowly descending the creaky wooden steps, fearful of what was waiting for me in the darkness below. But I always woke up before I reached the bottom.” He held up his hands and shrugged. “The end.”

  Ellie laughed. “That’s it? You never discovered what was down there?”

  “Nope. I never did. And I have no idea where that dream came from, either. Unless it was the time in the fourth grade when I spent the night at my best friend’s house, and we stayed up late watching Nightmare Theater. That was a local TV program that came on Friday nights around midnight. The host was made up to look like Dracula, and he rose up out of a coffin at the beginning of every show to announce the feature movie. It was usually an old black and white horror film like Creature from the Black Lagoon or Frankenstein.” He grinned. “Scary stuff for a couple of nine-year old kids staying up way past their bedtimes.”

  Ellie laughed. “I can imagine.”

  “So, why do you ask? Did you have a reoccurring dream, too?”

  “Well, not that I can remember as a child. But I have one now. I’ve had it maybe five or six times. All within the past year.”

  “A nightmare?”

  “No. Just the opposite. It’s very tranquil and serene. But I can’t figure out what it means. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t put any stock in dreams. I just wonder why I keep having the same one, that’s all.”