Right Where I Belong
Page 22
“That was nice.”
“Not really.” She squeezed the pillow. “He wanted to tell me that he and my mother have decided I will take over the family business.”
“Wow.”
Natalia waited. ‘Wow’? That’s it? I call for words of wisdom, and I get ‘wow’?”
“Hang on. Let me go downstairs and get some Mountain Dew.” Natalia could hear Brian’s door open and his footsteps along the wooden floor. He came back on the line. “That should help in the wisdom department.”
“You’ll never get back to sleep.”
“Natalia, this is Brian.” His laugh was deep and comforting. “I can sleep anywhere, anytime.”
“Ah yes. Well then, drink your Mountain Dew.”
Brian did just that, narrating Natalia through the routine of opening the cabinet, pulling out a glass, getting ice, and pouring his drink. “Hear it fizzing? It’s a beautiful sound.”
“And I’m sure your family will appreciate the residue on the phone tomorrow morning.”
“You mean this morning.”
“Yes, sorry.” She imagined Brian sitting at his kitchen table, drinking his soda and smiling into the phone.
“I’m ready now. Dr. Brian at your service. So your dad wants you to take over his business?”
In bantering with Brian, Natalia had almost forgotten the reason she called. “He has a whole plan mapped out and everything. He and Mamá even talked about it—and they don’t talk about anything.”
“But you don’t want to take over his business?”
“I don’t know.” Natalia lay on her stomach and turned on the speaker on her phone. “I never considered that Papa would ask me this. It is an honor. And the money . . . as a Christian businesswoman, I could help so many ministries. Maybe that’s what God wants. Maybe the desire I’ve been feeling to teach and work overseas is a desire to help, not actually go.”
“You want to teach overseas?” Brian coughed up some Mountain Dew.
“Yes. I guess we haven’t really talked since we got back from Costa Rica.” The memory of Brian standing on the bridge came back, and Natalia remembered why.
Brian must have been thinking the same thing because their easy conversation suddenly stalled. “Okay, back up some and fill me in.”
Natalia explained how her time in Costa Rica had shown her how much she loved teaching. “But not just that, teaching those kids. I understand being in a new country, adjusting. I’d love to be able to help children who are in that situation. To be a small part in helping missionaries go where they’re called. How exciting would that be?”
Brian was silent, and Natalia checked her phone, concerned that the connection had been lost. “Brian?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry. So teaching in Costa Rica or running your father’s company in Spain.”
“But it’s more than that.” Natalia flipped over onto her back. “My parents want me to do this, to take over Papa’s company. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It isn’t a sin to be in business. It would be a whole mission field of its own. I could do good in either career.”
“That’s true. But this isn’t about choosing the job that is the ‘greatest good.’ You need to ask God what he wants you to do. Being a missionary teacher isn’t any better than being a Christian businesswoman. But doing what God wants you to do is better than doing what your parents want you to do.”
“But what if what my parents want is what God wants?” Natalia thought of Spencer—his dad wanted him to be a lawyer, and Spencer was happy to go into that profession.
“Only God can tell you that. I’m just a lowly pastor’s kid hopped up on Mountain Dew.”
“Brian, you are much more than that,” Natalia said softly, then she sat up in bed. “I should let you go. Papa is taking me with him on his meetings tomorrow, so I can get a feel for the business. It would probably look bad if I fell asleep during those meetings.”
“It might make him rethink his offer.” Brian laughed.
Natalia ended the call and fell back into bed, thoughts about her decision crowded out by thoughts of Brian.
Chapter 48
You sure you’re up for this?” Brian was still shocked to have gotten a phone call from Spencer—much less a phone call telling him Spencer wanted to help renovate the ESL classroom.
“I asked my dad, and he said it was fine.” Spencer lifted an old desk and carried it out of the classroom. “He’s having new tables and chairs delivered in a couple of hours, so we need to get these out of here. I brought some paint too. These walls are looking rough.”
Brian lifted a desk and followed Spencer. “I owe you an apology, man. I know I’ve been rude to you.”
Spencer held the door for Brian. “If awards for rudeness are being handed out, I win. Hands down.”
Brian couldn’t argue with that. “So a new start, huh?”
“That would be awesome.” Spencer bit his lip. “I need another favor from you, though.”
“What’s that?” Brian hoped it wasn’t help with Natalia. He could handle being friends with Spencer. But a matchmaker? No way.
“I want to show my friends I’m different. But it’s going to be hard.” Spencer put a desk down and wiped his forehead. “I need someone to hold me accountable to the decision I made on the trip. Will you do that for me?”
Brian looked down at the former bully. God, you really are amazing. “You’re giving me permission to call you out?”
“Yes, I am.” Spencer grinned.
“And you won’t come back with a smart-aleck remark? Or make fun of me when I walk away?”
Spencer lowered his head. “I’ve done that, haven’t I?”
“A few times.” Brian raised an eyebrow.
“I really do want to change. Will you help me?”
Brian slapped Spencer’s back. “You bet I will.”
The boys spent the morning cleaning and painting. And talking. Brian was impressed with the questions Spencer was asking, and he did his best to answer them.
“Do you think we can have a men’s Bible study, like the girls have theirs?”
“At school?”
“We can meet on a different day than the girls.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Brian said. “You could even invite your friends.”
“You think they’d come?”
“I think they’d lick the floor if you asked them to.”
Spencer’s phone rang, and he walked outside to greet the men bringing the new furniture. They were careful to place everything in the center of the room to avoid the wet paint.
“You guys need a couch in here so you can sit and talk after class.” Spencer looked at the back wall. “I’ll work on that.”
Brian sat in one of the new chairs. “The gang will be so excited when they walk in here on Thursday. They may even bring some more friends just to show off.”
“Do you think I could come?” Spencer sounded almost apologetic.
“Of course. Anytime.” Brian hoped he sounded sincere. The reality was that he hated the thought of Spencer intruding on the one thing that was just his and Natalia’s. But if this is what you want for her, God, I need to get out of the way and let it happen.
“Natalia works with you too, right?”
Brian tried not to cringe. “She translates. But I think she’d like to start a children’s class, so the ministry is expanding. We’ll definitely need extra help.”
“So you and Natalia . . . ?”
Brian heard the unspoken question. Spencer was asking permission to pursue Natalia. And given this new change in Spencer’s life, Brian guessed Spencer would back off if Brian asked him to.
She’s the girl of my dreams. You can’t have her. That’s what he wanted to say. But she wasn’t his to claim. And if her actions were any indication, her affections were leaning toward Spencer anyway. “We’re just friends.”
“You sure?”
Brian nodded, not trusting himself to say anything.
“That’s great.” Brian thought of his work on that mansion, tearing everything down so it could be made into something magnificent for other people to enjoy.
Kind of like my relationship with Natalia.
Chapter 49
Natalia laid her head back in the rental car and closed her eyes.
Business meetings were not fun.
She and her father had spent the morning in a conference room with people from several companies and at least three countries. English was the trade language, but when people became very worked up, their native tongues were let loose. Natalia could understand Portuguese fairly well, but she had no clue what the man from Japan was saying. Her father, however, responded to everyone in English, whatever language they spoke in.
“How many languages do you know, Papa?” Natalia forced her eyes open.
“I’m not sure.” He shrugged. “I speak three—English, Spanish, and German. But I understand several. The basics, anyway.”
“When did you learn them?”
“Along the way.” Papa said this as if learning several languages was a normal part of life. “You know I’ve spent a lot of time in different countries. I always made a point to immerse myself in their languages and cultures. It helps in business.”
That part of business life did sound exciting. “So you just sat and talked with people?”
“And went to their theaters and concerts, their nightclubs and bars. You learn a lot by listening.”
Why had her father never applied that to his role as father? She would have loved to have him try to learn “Natalia” as she was growing up.
Papa pulled into a parking space in the airport’s parking garage. “So what do you think?”
“I think that’s amazing. You are a wonderful businessman.”
He turned to face her. “What do you think about the business? Ready to begin preparations to take over?”
Natalia had been dreading this conversation. She prayed all night that God would show her what she was supposed to do. Sitting through the meetings that day confirmed that this life was not one she was designed for. “Papa . . .”
His phone rang and he held a finger up to Natalia. For ten minutes, he spoke in German. Natalia didn’t understand most of what was being said. That language did have some similarities to English, so she caught some of the exchange.
I don’t want to spend my life in conference rooms and airplanes and traveling from one country to another. I want roots. I want a family.
Where did that thought come from? A family? She couldn’t have that. Looking at her father, Natalia wondered. Maybe she could. Was she living in fear instead of in truth? Was God not powerful enough to allow her to succeed where her parents had failed? Marriage and family were established by God. Why should she be afraid of it?
Natalia blinked as the reality of that truth began to sink into her soul, thawing what she had kept frozen for so long. She thought of the Youngers, of Jack and Carol. Marriages could last. They could be healthy. God gives good gifts.
“My man in Berlin.” Papa ended his call. “Always a crisis with him. Patience and confidence—that’s what helps men like Gustav. That’s something you don’t learn in college.”
“Papa.” Natalia took a deep breath. “I’m not sure I am the best choice to take over the business. Have you considered Ari? She is very smart.”
Papa wrinkled his brow. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Natalia.”
“It’s not that.” She closed her eyes. “I just don’t think business is for me. I don’t think I’d enjoy it.”
“Of course you’ll enjoy it. Travel, money, power. What is not to enjoy?”
Natalia wondered if he was treating her like his German client. “But what if I want a family?”
“Then have a family.” Papa unbuckled. “And give them everything they want. Just like I did.”
Natalia wanted to tell him what she wanted most from him was something he never had—time. “I have found, Papa, that I really enjoy teaching.”
“There is a great deal of teaching in our business. We explain the market to our clients . . . we train those coming up.”
“But I want to teach children.” Natalia spoke quickly, telling her father about Costa Rica, her girls, and her desire to return there after college.
“Natalia.” He lowered his head. “You have returned from an exciting trip. I understand. The first time I visited this city, I was sure I wanted to live here, be a hippie in Greenwich Village. It all seemed very romantic. But then reality set in. As it will for you.”
Papa was treating her like a child. Anger would have been better than condescension. He wasn’t even taking her seriously.
“I believe this is what God has designed me to do. To help children who are moving to another country. It is much like what you have done—learning other cultures to make better relationships. I’ll be helping children do that.”
“And how much do teachers in Costa Rica make?”
“I don’t care. It isn’t about money, Papa. It’s about a calling.”
“That is easy to say when you have money.”
Natalia sighed.
“Your flight leaves soon. We need to go inside.” He opened the car door.
“Papa, I don’t want to be a businesswoman.” They stepped into the elevator.
He took Natalia’s hand. “I want you to be happy. Being a teacher in a third-world country will not make you happy. Trust me.”
“But what if it will? Will you allow me to try?”
“Try?” Papa’s voice grew louder. “To try means studying education instead of business. When you discover I am right, you will be years behind our ten-year plan.”
“Your ten-year plan.”
“What if you try my plan, and if you really don’t like it, I will consider letting you go back to school to be a teacher?”
Natalia groaned. “I know after two days following you that I don’t like this.”
“That is just because you don’t understand what is going on.”
“I understand that you spent six years in school here in America so you could spend twenty years traveling the world building a company that requires all your time and energy. And I know that is not what I want.”
Papa stepped off the elevator. “What you want, instead, is to be a teacher? To spend almost as many years in school as I did to make very little pay and have no control over what you do and where you go?”
“Yes, Papa. That is what I want more than anything.”
“More than anything?”
“Yes.”
Papa sighed deeply as he pulled Natalia’s luggage to the security checkpoint. “I am a young man. I suppose I have time for you to sow these wild oats, come to your senses, and still train you to take over the business.”
Natalia hugged her father. This was as close to a concession as she could hope for. Her own small miracle from God. “Thank you, Papa.”
“You will see I’m right. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”
I’m praying the same thing for you, Papa.
Chapter 50
This was best class yet.” Victor kissed Natalia’s cheek. “Latin America is easy to love, yes?”
Natalia, Spencer, and Brian had shown the group their pictures from the trip to Costa Rica. Although the topic for the evening had been travel vocabulary, it ended being more about a group of friends sharing in a story of God’s work.
“It certainly is, Victor.”
“And I tell my friends about children’s class.” Victor opened the door to leave. “We will fill this room.”
“I hope so.” Natalia announced her plans to teach children while Brian and Spencer taught the adults. “Thanks for joining us, Spencer. I would not have been able to offer this children’s class if it weren’t for you.”
“I wish I had come here earlier.” Spencer grabbed an empty container and threw it in the trash. “This is great. We need a better projector in here, though. That one must be a hundred years old.”
Brian laughed. “You sure are spending a lot of your dad’s money in this room, man.”
“I can’t think of a better use for it.” Spencer smiled. “Can I give you a ride home, Natalia?”
“Thanks, Spencer, but I need to talk with Brian about something.”
“Okay.” He looked from Natalia to Brian. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
Brian watched Spencer leave. “Everything okay?”
Natalia sat on the new couch Spencer had purchased for the classroom. “Better than okay.”
Pastor Mike poked his head into the room. “Hey, guys, I’ve got to run. The wife is asking for a tuna-salad sub.”
Pastor Mike’s wife was five months pregnant. He had joked about her cravings at church the night before. “Better than the anchovy salad, right?”
“Definitely.” Pastor Mike laughed. “This kid is going to be a seafood lover, that’s for sure. You guys done in here?”
“We are,” Brian answered. “We’re heading out in a few minutes.”
“Excellent.” Pastor Mike checked his phone. “She says to hurry. The janitor is here, so no need to lock up or turn off the lights. See you guys later.”
Brian sat next to Natalia on the couch. He stretched out his long legs. “So what’s up?”
Natalia’s stomach clenched. She had spoken to Maureen the night before, admitted her feelings for Brian. Maureen, surprisingly, had encouraged Natalia to tell Brian how she felt.
“He’s waiting for you,” Maureen said. “Even I can see that. You need to let him know you’re interested.”
“Isn’t that a bit forward?”
“Not at all,” Maureen assured Natalia. “Men don’t read minds well. You have to let him know what you’re thinking and then he can decide what to do about it.”
“And you really think it’s all right?”
“I do, Natalia.” Maureen’s smile had been genuine. “You both are mature and have your focus where it needs to be—on Jesus first. And I can’t think of a better young man for you than little Brian Younger.”