Take Flight
Page 29
We laugh, just as a flash of lightening sends people piling into the kitchen. “Hi folks,” our pastor says once everyone settles inside, “I’ve checked my weather app, and although it’s starting to rain outside, the lightening should pass very soon. Once we see it clearing, we’ll head back out and immediately start with the baptisms.”
The volume in the kitchen rises as Harrison saunters off to speak with the pastor. Tom clambers through the back door, and my heart catches in my throat. He’s followed by the most handsome guy I have ever seen. Tall and muscular, this stranger runs a hand through his wet, dark hair, then moves it to his clean-shaven face as the raindrops fall onto his slightly exposed chest, easily noticed at the neckline of his button-up t-shirt. His tailored shorts bring the outfit together, right down to his soaked-through, leather flip flops. Expensive taste. As they start to move closer, my eyes narrow. This stranger looks a lot like Tom, only tidier…and prettier. The two turn in my direction, and my heart skips a beat. It’s Tom’s brother. It’s Vincent.
Tom and Vincent approach our side, and Tom leans in to kiss his wife, then moves aside so Vincent can greet her with a hug. As I stand in Vincent’s presence, the chatter from the room fades to a dull buzz. My heart pounds erratically within my chest. Is the uneven rise and fall of my breathing visible? They turn to me, standing there, trying to find my breath as a shy smile creeps into the corners of my mouth. “Hallie, this is my brother, Vincent,” Tom says. Vincent’s smile slowly spreads across his face as he reaches out to shake my hand. His gaze remains steady as our hands meet. Heat rises as I whisper a greeting, and my eyes drop ever so slightly from the penetrating stare of his chocolate brown eyes. The scar on his neck pummels my mind. But I don’t recoil…quite the opposite—I grin. It’s perfect. I release a short breath. We all have scars that tell our story, and his is beautiful.
“I already feel like I know you,” I offer themoment our hands part.
“That’s funny,” he says, his voice warm and strong, “I was going to say the same thing.” Sarah and Tom steal a guilty glance at one another, then Tom says, “Well, you two might be seeing a little more of each other on campus. Vincent’s been accepted to the U of M med school,” he says to me, then turns to Vincent and adds, “and Hallie’s just been admitted to the kinesiology department to complete her bachelor’s degree. Her classes start next week.”
“That’s amazing,” Vincent offers. His wide smile seems to grow, and his bright eyes haven’t left my face.
“Not nearly as amazing as becoming a doctor,” I reply then turn to Tom. “Although I’m so happy I got in. Honestly, I don’t think I could’ve done it without your brother’s glowing recommendation letter.”
“This guy gave you a recommendation?” Vincent asks, his high tone accusatory. He wraps an arm around Tom’s shoulder, his bicep bulging with the playful movement, “He didn’t write me a recommendation letter.”
Tom wrestles with Vincent for a second as he jabs a few benign right-hooks at Vincent’s torso. “That’s because you don’t need my recommendation. You’ve got a master’s from Harvard. You’re all set, man.”
The two guys settle after a good laugh, and Sarah drops a gentle hand on her stomach as she laughs along with them. “Nah,” Vincent eventually replies, his voice lowering, “I’m just glad that God’s given me the brains and the willpower to continue in my education. And with a friend already on campus,” he gestures at me, “I’m looking forward to the start of classes next week.”
The conversation continues with ease. My mind takes a step back to survey the three in front of me. They’re so beautiful and intelligent. And yet, I don’t feel ostracized—pushed outside of the circle. It’s almost as if I fit perfectly here, with them.
Eventually, our attention is pulled back toward the door as the pastor announces that it’s safe to venture outside for the baptism. Vincent turns with Sarah and they start edging toward the door. My heart fills with a warmth that radiates to my fingers and toes. He leads his pregnant sister-in-law through the crowd, like a body guard protecting the Queen of England. Can a man that strong really be that gentle and kind?
“I’m glad you’ve finally met my brother,” Tom says, startling me out of my reverie. He smiles, then runs a hand mischievously over his mouth as he adds, “You know, I’ve got a feeling about you two. Maybe it’s God, but now that you’re through your storm, I think Vincent could be your dove.” With a grin, he turns and looks at me as I stop, mid-stride. He raises an eyebrow, clearly remembering our conversation on our walk across town. He shrugs one shoulder and blends into the crowd heading outdoors.
Within minutes, everyone is crowded around the pool. When it’s Sarah’s turn to be baptized, Tom helps her into the pool and watches with teary eyes as she shares how she prayed through her trust issues with God and knew this was a decision she needed to make even before she got pregnant. It didn’t matter whether or not God was going to give her what she wanted most…a baby. As her testimony draws to a close, she rubs her stomach in a circular motion. She and Tom were surprised with a positive pregnancy test not long after she made the decision to get baptized. A few more people are baptized after Sarah, and when Harrison jumps in, I take my cue and wade out to him and the pastor.
Now, it’s time I share a few words about how I’ve grown over the past two years. My fight-or-flight battle has come to an end, and there is no doubt in my mind that I can trust God with my future. My testimony ends as I share Jeremiah 29:11 with the crowd, then Harrison asks, “Hallie, do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins?”
“Yes,” I say with confidence.
“Do you believe that Christ rose from the grave, and that he has redeemed you from your former life?”
“Yes.”
“Do you claim Jesus Christ as your Savior?”
“Yes.”
“Upon this profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Harrison lowers my body under the water. The moment I’m lifted up, the crowd roars with celebration along with the angels cheering in heaven. Tears fill my eyes as I lean over and hug Harrison. “I’m so proud of you, Hallie. You’ll always be my little fawn, but you’re so much stronger now, and I’m so glad you’ve placed your faith and trust completely in God.” He releases me as I nod and wipe at my face, my tears intermingling with the pool water. “Now, let’s get some grub,” Harrison yells to the crowd.
Harrison gives me another quick hug, then he and the pastor climb out of the pool, their towels waiting in a chair. I wring out my hair as I wade toward the shallow end. I pause on the top stair of the pool just as Vincent approaches my side.
“You know, I love Jeremiah twenty-nine eleven—it’s such a great verse.” I nod unable to speak just yet. As if sensing that I need to be alone, Vincent asks, “Why don’t I grab us some juice?” He turns toward the back porch, then pauses and pivots for a moment to say, “You know, I’d love to hear more about your story. I think you and I have a lot in common.”
With a brief laugh, I shake my head and say, “I think you’re reading my mind.” He smiles, a twinkle catching his eye as he lowers his gaze, then saunters off. I turn back to the pool, standing there, my feet still immerged in water, gripping the railing, and my mind wanders to my journey these past two years. After all that I endured, I did it. I finally got baptized.
As another tear slips down my smiling face, I spot a rainbow forming through the dark clouds moving off into the distance. I utter a sound somewhere between a gasp and a laugh. There’s my rainbow—a real promise I can cling to forever; that through it all, God can be trusted.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tiffany Price has completed her graduate studies in Technical and Professional Communication with a focus on Multicultural and Transnational Literatures. Tiffany is employed as an online English, Literature, and Communications instructor at various universities. Tiffany also works along-side her husband in church ministry through the
Acts29 church planting network. Tiffany was born and raised in Canada, spent her adolescent and early adulthood years in North Carolina, then transitioned to Manchester, England for a two-year missional post, which is where Tiffany penned her first novel, Love’s True Colors, published by Ark House Press in 2016. Tiffany currently lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband, Matt.