by JoAnn Durgin
“Someplace where we can be by ourselves for ten minutes. They’re like a bunch of watchdogs around here.” Stopping behind the dining hall, Felipe pulled her around to face him. She appreciated that he was gentle, never rough. In the back of her mind, she knew this wasn’t a good idea. She should have been strong enough to resist him. Other than a dim light mounted on the outside wall, the only illumination was the moon. A light, chilly breeze softly rustled the leaves of the nearby trees.
When he released her hand, Angelina lowered her gaze. She didn’t want Felipe to think that he made her nervous. Not that she was afraid of him. She wasn’t. Intrigued best described how she felt about him. Catching a whiff of strong men’s cologne, she wrinkled her nose. She’d noticed it at the prayer circle. What had he done? Run back to the men’s dorm after dinner and sprayed it all over his body? That would have been a foolish thing to do considering all the bugs out here in the boonies.
Felipe planted one hand on the wall beside Angelina and leaned in close. With his breath warm on her cheek, he lifted her chin with his other hand. “Look at me, pretty girl,” he coaxed, his voice low and a little husky. “You’ve never kissed a boy, have you? Never done anything?”
“What do you mean?” Angelina stammered, putting her hands behind her back and leaning against the wall. Thinking better of it, she crossed her arms in front of her. “I talk to boys all the time. I never even used to do that very much.” Boys were generally annoying, bothersome, and sometimes downright stupid. She was dying to ask Felipe how many girls he’d kissed, but she didn’t dare. He’d probably give her a rundown of his love life and that wasn’t something she wanted to hear.
“I like you. A lot. You do look like an angel, you know.” Lifting a section of her long dark hair, Felipe twirled it around one finger. “You’re probably the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks, I think,” she mumbled, trying to keep her voice calm and not doing a very good job of it. He’d probably said that to a lot of girls. And probably the prettiest girl? She wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or offended. Feeling a tickle, Angelina scrunched her nose but couldn’t stop her sneeze. And then a second sneeze.
Felipe frowned. “You got allergies or something?”
“No,” she said after sneezing a third time. Mama taught her to pick her battles, and insulting the way he smelled wouldn’t be good. Besides, she kind of liked the scent of his cologne. He just needed to learn moderation.
“You’re not afraid of me, are you?” Assuming a deep pout, Felipe crossed his arms, mirroring her, and leaned against the building. “I haven’t tried anything. Not that I didn’t want to. You have to give me some credit, Angel. I’ve been very respectful.”
“I have no reason to be afraid of you, Felipe. And yeah, thanks for not…trying anything.”
“Like I said earlier, you’re different from the other girls. In a good way.”
She swallowed hard and met his gaze again. “How?”
Felipe’s eyes softened. “You don’t do things the way other girls do. Say things.”
Angelina wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he meant by that statement but felt it couldn’t be flattering to any of the other girls. She stared at him, her eyes wide. “What kinds of girls do you know, anyway?”
“Some of them aren’t so nice, if you know what I mean. They try to tempt me by wearing tight skirts or shorts, and their tops are cut down low in the front. They try to show me things and they want me to do stuff. With them. To—”
“Stop it already. That’s enough out of you.” When Felipe started to run his finger down her arm, Angelina swatted him away. Drawing in a quick breath, her heart pounded. “Please don’t say things like that to me. I’m not like those other girls. Get that through your thick skull right now.”
What Felipe said was shocking and unlike anything any boy had ever said to her. Part of her wanted to run away, but she couldn’t move even if she wanted. If only Felipe weren’t so good looking, it would be much easier to resist him. What he said was exciting and stirred feelings in her, giving her that all-over warm feeling. This couldn’t be good.
“Hey, I’m just telling the truth. I thought chicks liked it when a guy tells them how gorgeous they are.”
Time to try a different tact. “Felipe, tell me something.”
“Sure. Anything you want. As long as you promise me a kiss.”
“Nope. Can’t do that.” Angelina turned her head to avoid the intensity of his dark eyes.
“Ah, come on, Angel. Never?”
“Um, no. Not anytime soon,” she stammered.
“I bet I can change your mind. What’s your question?”
Angelina returned her gaze to his. Was his cockiness an act? Mama told her that people boasted when they were insecure about themselves. She’d also told her that if a boy got too close, she could deflect his attention with conversation. Questions worked as a deterrent to other things. Hopefully, that would work now. “Until today, have you ever been on a plane before?”
Felipe’s eyes widened and he appeared momentarily stunned. “Why does that matter? Have you?”
“I asked you first. But no, I haven’t.” Why was he acting so defensive?
“So I’ve never been on a plane. Big deal.” He turned to face her, still leaning against the wall.
“Take roller coasters,” she said. “When you’re up in the air on a roller coaster, you don’t have anything between you and the open air. At least in a plane you have a thick steel casing or whatever around you.”
“Yeah, true,” he said. “Like a metal cocoon. I guess it’s the idea that you’re up thousands of feet in the air. And all the stuff you hear on the news about planes crashing—”
“It’s okay to admit you were scared, Felipe.”
“I wasn’t scared, okay?” His tone sounded testy, and Angelina hid her smile.
“Fine. You weren’t scared. Concerned. Is that better?”
Felipe frowned. “Do you have a point?”
Angelina lifted her chin. “I’m scared of some things, too. Being on an airplane didn’t scare me, but being around boys....well, that kind of scares me. And I’m not saying I’m going to do anything with you. Because I’m not. For a whole bunch of reasons.” That came out all wrong and wasn’t at all what she’d intended to say.
“Ah, Angel.” Felipe moved one hand over his chest, above his heart. “No fair saying something all sweet and sexy like that. You don’t have to be scared. I’ll show you.”
“That’s not what I meant!” She pushed against his chest when he drew close with a look in his eyes she knew couldn’t be good. “Did you not hear what I just said? I’m not trying to be sexy, you big old ball of hormones! What’s up with guys, anyway? I’m only 14 years old!”
He raised a brow. “Almost 15.”
She sighed. “I don’t even know what I want to be when I grow up. My favorite foods are still chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese, and I’ve only worn a bra for two years. Give me a break.”
Okay, that last comment wasn’t appropriate and she should have thought it through before spouting such a thing. Felipe had her emotions all mixed up and she was approaching this situation all wrong. What did she know of these things?
Great job telling Felipe about Jesus, Angelina. Had she learned nothing from her TeamWork friends? No way could she tell Mama about this conversation without her blowing a gasket and making them leave the camp. Mama didn’t like Felipe, but more than anything, Angelina didn’t want to leave. But she’d never admit the reasons out loud. Never in a million years.
Felipe stared at her for a few seconds before a grin creased his face. “I like macaroni and cheese, too. It’s my favorite food and always has been, even when I ate it practically every day. Getting all the food groups wasn’t exactly high on my parents’ list of priorities. I’m not even sure what they are—the food groups.”
“Fruits, vegetables, grains…” Angelina’s words faded when Felipe placed two
fingers over her lips.
“Stop now or I will kiss you. That’s a promise.” Trailing his fingers across her lower lip, his eyes never left hers. That must be one of the moves Felipe used on girls. She could see why a lot of girls would like this boy. Up until now, she’d wondered if he was all talk. Maybe not. Another reason she needed to be very careful around him.
“I don’t need a lesson,” he said. “You want the honest truth? I need a friend. Do you think you can be my friend?”
Drawing oxygen into her lungs, Angelina nodded. “Yes, Felipe. I can be your friend.”
Moistening his lower lip with his tongue, Felipe gave her a small smile. “Wanna know why I want you as my friend? I mean, more than some girl I could meet at school or in a mall or something?”
What a random question, and sort of insulting. She figured he must meet girls wherever he went. They probably threw themselves at him. “Why’s that?”
Felipe’s gaze settled on her. “I watched you with Chloe and Gracie tonight. You’re like a role model to them and that’s kind of awesome. I’ve never met a girl our age who’s so…” He lifted his shoulders. “I don’t know. So good. So pure. And I’m not just talking physically. I’m talking about in your soul. In here.” Fisting his hand over his chest, he thumped it a couple of times. “You care about people and you tell the truth. You don’t lie even when you get on me about stuff.” The light in his eyes dimmed. “I didn’t have parents or anybody to tell me what to do or not do. Dad was in jail a lot, and Mom always went off to do her own thing, and she left me alone half the time.”
Angelina snapped her gaze to his. “Even when you were little?”
“Pretty much. Getting their next hit or being with their friends was more important, I guess.”
“What about your grandparents?”
“Dead on my dad’s side and my mom’s parents disowned her or something. All I know is that they live someplace in Ohio and must not care about me.”
“Maybe they don’t even know about you.” Not that she had any grandparents to speak of, either.
“My mom told me that I wasn’t planned. And, uh”—he scrubbed his hand over his face—“she didn’t know what to do with me.” A deep frown furrowed Felipe’s brow. “Sometimes I’m surprised she had me in the first place. And that I’m still here. I used to have this dream about hitching a ride to go find my grandparents. I’d show up on their doorstep and say, ‘Surprise! You have a grandson. Here I am!’”
Angelina swallowed, touched by his words. At least she’d always known she was wanted and Mama took very good care of her. “I’m sorry you’ve had to endure all that.” She’d tell him about Papa sometime but not now.
“Have you been a Christian a long time?”
That question surprised her, coming from Felipe. Startled, Angelina lifted her gaze to his.
“Of course, you have. Probably since you were a baby, huh?” At least he didn’t sound mocking.
“My mom started taking me to church and Sunday school when I was five. It’s not a bad thing to be a Christian, Felipe. If you want the honest truth, making the decision to accept Christ into my heart was the bravest, best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I was only six, but I still remember how it gave me such a sense of comfort. I trust God’s promises for my life.”
With his arms still crossed, Felipe shook his head. “Yeah. Dean’s been working on me, but I haven’t given in yet. I never really paid a lot of attention to God talk before. I mean, Dean’s a good guy and all, but he’s a grown-up. Until I met you, I’ve never met anyone our age who believes in all that cr—”
“It’s not about giving into anything,” she said. “It’s about admitting that you do wrong things and that you need help from someone else. From God. And you accept that Jesus died for you.”
“Huh? I mean, sure I’ve seen all those pictures of Jesus on a cross. My mom used to wear a crucifix, if that counts. It’s not that she really believed in any of that stuff or thought that it made her a better person. She never told me about any of it, though.” He shrugged. “Religion was never a big thing in my family.”
“The point is that Jesus didn’t stay on the cross, Felipe. God sent Jesus to the earth, and He knew that He’d be put to death. But Jesus died for me, for you, for Mama and Dean, and for anybody who accepts what He did. Then the Holy Spirit—”
“Information overload.” Felipe held up one hand. “I can only take so much at a time of this religious talk.”
An inner urging kept her going. She wasn’t done yet. “You don’t know Christ because you’ve never had anyone tell you about Him before.”
“Is it your job to tell me?”
“Yeah. It kind of is.”
He studied her for another long moment as if pondering her words. “I like what I see in you, Angel. It’s in your eyes and everything about you. Are you saying you care about me enough to tell me about Jesus?”
Hope shot through her. “Yes, I care about you, Felipe. Beneath all your big talk, you’re okay.” Partly from nerves, she couldn’t help teasing him. “When you’re not full of yourself or trying to flirt, I see the real you. The real you isn’t so bad, and I want you to go to Heaven when you die.”
“Well, I’m hoping that’s not gonna be anytime soon.” Tilting his head, Felipe studied her as if she were a curiosity. More than when he was blatantly trying to shock her, this boy captured her interest. This quieter, more considerate, and caring Felipe was a guy she’d like to get to know better. He moved closer, almost nose-to-nose with her. If he moved his head one way and she the opposite way, and they scooted closer together, their lips would meet. Angelina held her breath, hardly daring to breathe.
For the first time, she wished a boy would kiss her. This boy. But no. That would be wrong. They barely knew one another and Felipe didn’t know Jesus.
“Talk to me, Angel,” Felipe whispered. “Tell me about your Jesus.”
Moving over a couple of inches, putting more distance between them, Angelina turned to face him.
Jesus, please give me your words.
~~♥~~
Tiptoeing around the dining hall toward the back wall, Dean put a finger over his lips when he heard Felipe’s voice. After listening long enough to know what the teenagers were discussing, he gave Sheila a thumbs-up. Taking her by the elbow, Dean gently guided her back to the front of the dining hall.
“Wh-why are w-we h-here?” Sheila whispered. “W-w-we n-need”—after closing her eyes tight for a few seconds, she opened them again—“t-t-to st-st-op th-them.”
“No, we don’t.” Dean kept his voice low, not wanting to risk Felipe or Angelina hearing him. “Angelina is witnessing to Felipe. I’d stake my reputation on it. Sheila, your daughter is telling that boy about Jesus.”
“R-r-really?” Sheila moved one hand over her mouth and her eyes glistened in the moonlight.
“You’ve raised a wonderful daughter. There’s no doubt in my mind that Felipe wanted to get her alone and kiss her, but she might be accomplishing what I haven’t been able to do. Maybe she’ll reach that boy on some level I can’t.”
Dean moved one arm around Sheila’s shoulders, drawing her close in a hug of comfort. It felt so natural. He hadn’t thought about it, hadn’t planned it, and he was pleasantly surprised but gratified when Sheila laid her head on his shoulder. Her dark hair was soft and smelled better than nice. Felipe wasn’t the only one thinking of stealing a kiss tonight. The idea had merit but it was much too soon and Sheila was skittish. Besides, he’d never been the kind of guy to take advantage of the situation.
Dainty and petite, Sheila appeared almost fragile, but he’d glimpsed how strong she could be beneath her demure demeanor. He’d known of her through TeamWork functions, but Dean had never met her until Lexa connected them and suggested they travel together to Albuquerque. They’d talked a few times to make plans for the trip, enough to know she didn’t like speaking on the phone, perhaps because of her stutter. After only one day with Sheila
, he was already growing accustomed to it. It didn’t bother him, didn’t annoy him, and he didn’t feel sorry for her although he felt empathy for how others might react. The way she spoke was part of her and made her special.
He knew the basics about her husband—the kidnapping incident and that he’d been killed in a botched bank robbery—but he found it difficult to comprehend that this quiet, shy woman had been married to a hardened man with a criminal past. She seemed too sweet and untouched by what must have been a bad situation.
“M-maybe we sh-sh-shouldn’t b-be st-standing h-here wh-when th-they c-come b-back out.” Sheila moved away from him as if suddenly remembering she didn’t know him well and shouldn’t be caught in his arms if Angelina and Felipe came around the corner. She was right. They’d never live that one down.
“Sheila, do you want to work together at the church tomorrow?”
“I-It d-depends on wh-what I’m ex-ex-pect-ed t-t-to d-do.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll see if I can get us assigned to the same area. What do you like to do?”
“I-I c-c-can p-paint or l-l-lay c-c-arpet.”
“I know some of the Sunday school rooms need to be painted. How about that?” He tried not to get his hopes up too high, but this was suddenly something he wanted.
“I-I’d re-re-ally l-l-ike th-that, Dean.” Sheila’s smile made her even prettier. While she wasn’t classically beautiful, her features had character. She’d earned the few worry lines between her brows and on the sides of her eyes, but her smile erased those lines. Her big, dark brown eyes—gorgeous and expressive—were one of her best features. She didn’t look much older than thirty, so she must have been a teenager when she gave birth to Angelina.
He’d been told by a few ladies other than his mother that he was handsome. In this moment, Dean only cared whether or not Sheila found him attractive. At 37, he was a few years older than Sheila, but what did age really matter? They’d determined they lived within twenty minutes of one another—on a good day, traffic permitting. All the more reason to see if a relationship might be something worth pursuing.