Frank nods his head. “I remember that big window from when we did the little ones up front. That one’s going to be a bear.”
My heart sinks at his discouraging words.
“Can you help us dismantle it or give us the name of someone who can?” Noah asks.
Frank looks thoughtful for a few seconds. He rests his stubble-covered chin in his hands as he thinks. “Mary would want me to help out. Being it’s the Christian thing to do.”
Noah and I exchange puzzled looks.
Frank laughs. “I wasn’t referring to the Mother Mary.” He laughs for a few more seconds, then says, “Mary was my wife. Married forty-two years. I lost her in December, two years ago.”
I blink back tears. “I’m sorry for your loss.” Noah echoes the sentiment.
Frank waves his hand, dismissing our condolences. “I know I’ll see her again when it’s my turn to go,” he says matter-of-factly. He repositions the recliner to a more upright position. “Now, when can I help remove those sections?”
After a lengthy discussion about removing each section, restoring it, and putting it back, we work out a skeleton schedule. Noah smirks at me as I enter the dates on my cell phone calendar and if Frank weren’t here, I’d stick my tongue out at Noah’s teasing. We agree to tackle the first section next Saturday afternoon. That gives Noah and me enough time to get the supplies for the actual restoring.
We all shake hands and Frank even waves to us as we drive out of sight. Once we’re back on the smooth pavement, Noah asks, “What did you think of Frank?”
“I like him. He’s a little crusty on the outside, but good-hearted on the inside.”
Noah laughs. “I guess that pretty much describes him.”
“At least he’s going to help us for no charge.”
Noah nods. “True. The one thing I’ll say about a church project is you find that most people are willing to help for free.”
The truth in his words hit me. When I was twelve, my dad passed away. The church ladies were the first ones to bring food to our house. We had enough food to last a month. Mom was so grateful, since she was drowning in grief at the time and didn’t feel like doing anything, much less cook. The meals were a godsend.
“Would you like to stop for a bite to eat on the way home?” Noah’s question breaks through my thoughts.
At the mention of food, my stomach does an inelegant growl that reverberates inside the car.
“I guess that’s a yes?” He chuckles.
An embarrassed laugh escapes my lips. “Sure, where do you want to go?”
“Jose’s Tacos makes a mean quesadilla,” Noah says.
“I love that place!”
Noah smiles. “Tacos it is.”
~*~
Jose’s is packed when we arrive. The place is always popular, but especially on a Saturday night. We place our order up front and find a small table in the corner. Conversations buzz around us, and a waiter brings two ice waters, a diet Pepsi for me, and Noah’s beer.
“How long have you lived in Paradise Springs?” Noah asks as he sips his beer.
“I moved here a month before school started when a full-time teaching position suddenly opened up.” The ice-cold soda looks refreshing, so I take a long sip enjoying the way that it tickles my taste buds. My nose wrinkles from the carbonated bubbles.
Noah chuckles. “You look just like Sofie when she drinks soda.”
Not sure whether that’s a compliment or not, I smile and nod.
“Where did you move here from?”
Noah’s doing all the heavy lifting in this conversation, so I need to keep my end of it up a little better. “I moved from Denver. The teaching position I had there was a substitute one. I really wanted my own class where I can get to know the students and parents better.”
“Do you like it so far?”
I nod my head vigorously. “Yes, I love it so much. All the kids are terrific, and the parents are very supportive, unlike my previous school.”
Noah grins at the irony of my words considering my first impression of him. “You mean most aren’t like me?” he teases. I blush, and thankfully he changes the topic. “How about Paradise Springs. Do you like living in a small town?”
I brighten at this topic. “The small-town feel is great. No traffic. Lots of interesting shops. But I’ve had a little trouble meeting people. Aside from my fellow teachers, and my students and their parents, I haven’t built up a large circle of friends yet. That’s why I joined the church.”
A thoughtful expression crosses his handsome face. “You know my sister Ellie from her dropping off and picking up Sofie, right?”
“Oh, yes. She’s genuinely nice. But I don’t know her well since she’s always just popping in and out.” I bite my tongue realizing those words could be interpreted as criticism. Noah doesn’t seem to notice.
“You two would get along well. I’ll introduce you outside school drop-offs.”
I smile, relieved that I didn’t unintentionally offend him. “That would be great.”
The waiter interrupts our conversation by delivering the entrees. Once he leaves, Noah continues. “I hate to admit it, but I was so busy working and trying to climb the corporate ladder, I haven’t made many friends here either.”
My brows draw together. “How long have you lived here?”
An embarrassed look crosses Noah’s face. “Eight years.”
Wow. That takes me by surprise, and I don’t hide my puzzlement very well.
“I know that sounds like a long time. But one thing led to another. When Sofie’s mom left, it was a difficult time—adjusting to raising a newborn by myself. When Sofie got older, there was daycare to worry about, although my sister eventually moved in to help me out. Then my job responsibilities increased . . .” His voice trails off and he shrugs apologetically.
I want to delve into why Sofie’s mom left, but I don’t feel like I know Noah well enough yet to do so. Maybe he’ll tell me in his own time. “That’s a lot to handle,” I say with a sympathetic look.
An awkward silence falls between us. After a few bites, I point to my Mama Rosa’s Quesadilla Plate and say, “These are delicious. They really hit the spot.”
Noah nods. “The sopaipillas are also delicious, if you want to get a couple at the end of the meal.”
I grin. “I’m in. Sugar’s always popular with me.”
We end up talking about our favorite Mexican foods and the best Mexican restaurants in Denver. Noah takes me home and I thank him for dinner. After he’s gone, I realize that this is the first “date” I’ve gone on since I moved to Paradise Springs. My heart sinks, knowing that despite my attraction to the handsome single dad, I can’t start a relationship with Noah because he’s the parent of one of my students. Sadly, we can only be friends.
Chapter Seven
Noah
I’M STILL ADJUSTING TO MONDAYS. When I first wake up, I think I need to immediately tumble out of bed, put on a suit, and get ready to go to work. Then it hits me—I have no job to go to. For some reason, my unemployed status impacts me hardest on Mondays.
As strange as it sounds, I miss those early mornings in the office sipping on too-strong coffee and working on a challenging spreadsheet until all the numbers balance perfectly. I quickly steer my thoughts in another direction, knowing that the one time the numbers didn’t balance caused me to lose my job. Anger, frustration, and worry over that debacle still rankle, but I’m trying to put it behind me.
As I’m leisurely sipping coffee after dropping Sofie off and waving to a busy, distracted Rae, the ringtone of my real estate agent peals through my cell phone.
“Charlie, you’re calling early.”
He chuckles. “I have great news! We received an offer on your house. Do you have time to review it this morning?”
My heart stops. An offer so soon? Where are we going to live? Mentally calming myself, I say, “Yes, I have time this morning. When should we meet?”
“I’ll stop
by around ten so we can talk in person. I can go over all the details of the contract.” I hear papers shuffling, and he continues, “It’s a strong offer, Noah.”
He signs off and my mind spins. Selling the house is what needs to happen, but am I ready to give up the only home Sofie’s ever known?
Not more than five minutes later, a yawning Ellie waltzes in, needing caffeine as much as I do. She pours a mug of coffee and joins me at the table.
“I have a business idea for you,” she says before I have a chance to tell her about the offer on the house.
“Oh? What is it?” Ellie’s ideas usually range from crazy to crazier.
“Margaret mentioned to me how stressed out she is with the Twice Again finances. She tried using QuickBooks on her own but didn’t have time to keep up with it. She asked me if she could hire you to keep her books, make sure invoices go out on time, do her taxes—stuff like that. Sounds like she’ll pay whatever price you want because she’s desperate for help.”
I sip my coffee mulling over Ellie’s suggestion. Start my own business. . . That’s the second time this idea has come up, and it’s growing on me. My expertise could help many small businesses with their finances. I don’t know why I didn’t seriously consider this sooner.
There’s plenty of small shops like Twice Again, and several service companies, in this town, so I should be able to make a decent salary—albeit not as much as I was making at Robertson Industries. Plus, running my own business would allow me more flexible hours and I could work from home.
“Ellie, that’s a terrific idea. Give me Margaret’s number and I’ll get in touch with her to kick around some ideas.” I grin as my heart lifts with excitement over this new venture. “I need to put together a business plan!”
My sister smiles at my enthusiasm. “You’ll blow Margaret away with your expertise. Can you call her today?”
“Sure.” My Monday calendar is suddenly filling up. God works in mysterious ways. My faith that He will guide me out of this rough patch grows by the minute.
Ellie texts over Margaret’s number as I refill my mug. “Call her right away.”
“I will. Oh, and I got an offer on the house. I’m meeting at ten with Charlie to discuss it.”
Ellie’s eyes go big as saucers. “That was fast. I guess the old saying is true. When it rains, it pours.”
We both laugh. This time it’s a most welcome rain.
~*~
Margaret insists that we meet this afternoon, so I add her to my suddenly packed schedule. When I arrive at Twice Again, Ellie’s boss greets me like she’s known me for years, although we’ve previously only been introduced in passing.
“Noah! You’ve come to save the day! Let’s go back in my office to talk.” The surprisingly spry seventy-year-old ushers me towards the back of the store while Ellie gives me a thumbs up from her place behind the sales counter.
After declining coffee and a donut, I settle into a chair beside Margaret’s desk and say in an apologetic tone, “I don’t have a formal business plan or pricing structure yet . . .”
Margaret jumps in before I can explain further. “Do you know how to use QuickBooks and do those computer sheets?”
I grin at her enthusiasm. “Yes, I know QuickBooks and spreadsheets . . .”
“Sold! When can you start?” She claps her hands as if this is the end of the discussion.
A laugh escapes. “Really? You don’t need to see my credentials or what my services cost?” My voice sounds almost disappointed that I don’t need to give her more of a sales pitch and that signing her up for my services is going to be a slam dunk.
The gray-haired lady leans forward in her chair as if she’s going to impart confidential information. “You’re the answer to my prayers, Noah. I stink at this computer stuff,” she says with a wry grin.
Trying to regroup at the speed my new business is apparently blasting off, I say, “How about I put together a contract, you review it, and then if you’re happy with it you can sign it and we’ll get started.”
She hops to her feet. “The sooner the better! Now, how about that cup of coffee? Do you take cream or sugar?”
By the time I leave the store, I’ve consumed two cups of coffee and a rather stale donut—not that I’d ever tell sweet Margaret that. While we shared coffee, Margaret rattled off several other of her business friends who need my help. Shaking my head in bemusement, I grin at how the septuagenarian bowled me over like a speeding train. There’s no stopping Margaret once she gets going, that’s for sure. Can my brand-new business take off as fast?
~*~
I sink down on the couch, exhausted after my busy day. It’s like my life went from moving at a snail’s pace to moving at warp speed. I can’t keep up. My fingers itch to text Rae and share all my news. She’s quickly becoming a special friend. When I pick up Sofie, maybe there’ll be a little time to chat with her.
The offer on the house was as good as Charlie indicated. I didn’t even submit a counter to any of their terms. The offer is signed, and if all goes well, the new buyers take possession in thirty days. I can hear a clock ticking in my head, counting down the days, and it’s a little overwhelming. Charlie assured me he’ll put me in contact with a reliable handyman to make a few repairs that the buyers asked for.
After meeting with Margret, I have leads for eight more business owners who may need my help. The kind-hearted lady said she’d call all of them and tell them to expect a call from me. With her on my side, I’m not going to need to do any marketing for my new business.
How did I go from despair to euphoria? My brain is suffering whiplash from the sudden change of fortune. I belatedly send up a quick prayer of thankfulness—my first one in a long time. Thank you, God, for watching over me and helping me through this difficult time.
~*~
Dropping off and picking up Sofie has become the highlight of my day. Does a sweet teacher play a role in that?
I dawdle in the back of the room, waiting for the other parents to clear out. After several minutes, it’s finally just Sofie, me, and Rae.
“How did your day go?” I ask, even though I can see the tiredness in Rae’s eyes and her usually tidy bun is drooping at the back of her neck.
A grin lights her pretty face. “I had too much fun over the weekend, so I’m having trouble getting back into the groove.”
I laugh.
“Could you go out to dinner with Sofie and me? I have some good news to share with you.”
An uncomfortable expression crosses Rae’s face as she shifts nervously back and forth. “Noah, I’m sorry if I led you on by going out to dinner with you on Saturday. Principal Marshfield has a strict policy of no fraternization between teachers and parents. I told her this morning about working with you on the stained-glass project. While she agreed I could continue working on the project, she firmly re-iterated the ‘no dating’ policy.” Her eyes plead with me for understanding.
Wow. This principal is strict to a fault. “I don’t want to jeopardize your job, Rae. But can’t we go out just as friends? Sofie will be there, so what would be the harm?”
She nervously clears her throat and speaks in such a low voice that I tilt my head towards her to hear her. “Noah, you’re too much of a temptation.” Rae bites her bottom lip and blinks furiously.
I grimace. Well, isn’t this a kick in the pants? While I’m pleased at her admission to being attracted to me, my previous euphoria is tempered by this new news about the “no dating” rule. Still, that isn’t the end of the world. “Sofie isn’t going to be your student forever. I’m a patient man. I’ll wait,” I blurt out, then grin at my own knee-jerk admission.
A pink blush crawls up her neck and across her cheeks. A small smile tips up her lips at my declaration. “After speaking with Principal Marshfield, I called Pastor Tim and asked him if he could recruit another volunteer for the stained-glass work. I didn’t tell him why, but I think it would be best if we had a buffer.”
My g
rimace instantly reappears. Or a third wheel. I cut off my disparaging thoughts. “Oh, does he know of another volunteer?”
Rae nods. “June Clemson is going to join the team.”
I scowl. “She tried to take over the stained-glass project last time. Her know-it-all attitude was a little much for me.”
Rae’s eyes widen at my unfavorable review of our new project member.
Smoothing my face into a neutral expression, I reply, “Maybe she’s changed. I’ll give her a second chance. See you on Saturday.” With that, I turn and leave, biting my tongue to cut off any further grumpy remarks.
“What’s your good news?” Rae asks before I can get out the door.
I pause, wishing I could talk to her privately rather than in this classroom, but that probably breaks the rules, too. “Oh, it’s nothing,” I say in a brusque voice.
She frowns, disappointment at my abrupt reply showing in her pretty eyes.
I feel terrible that I unintentionally hurt her feelings. “Is there any rule that we can’t talk on the phone or FaceTime?” The suggestion spills out my mouth.
Rae’s face noticeably brightens. “I guess not.”
I give her an encouraging smile. “Okay, then. I’ll call you tonight and tell you my good news.” After I get to my vehicle, I help Sofie into her safety seat and give myself a pep talk. There’s only six more months of school, and then I can pursue the lovely Miss Dailey as much as I want. It strikes me that her name fits her perfectly. Rae. A ray of sunshine in my otherwise dull life.
“Daddy, can we get a kiddie meal?” Sofie asks once I’ve pulled out of the school parking lot.
“That’s a great idea! Let’s go get Aunt Ellie so she can join us.”
Sofie claps and starts singing one of the Frozen songs.
Despite the “no dating” rule, today’s been a fantastic day and it deserves a celebration. The call with Rae tonight is the next best thing to dating her. I’ll eventually convince myself that’s true. Humming along to the song, I sound like a devoted father who’s seen the movie far too many times. Yep. That’s me.
A Time for Faith Page 4