Jordan closed his eyes. “Trust and faith.”
“Most things boil down to those two issues, don’t they?” Dena placed her hand on his shoulder. “With regard to Randi, do the same. If it is God’s will, He’ll work out the details. If it isn’t, He’ll work that out, too.”
“You’re right. It’s just that …”
“You love her—I know. I’ve seen that look before.” Dena winked. “Now let’s get to work.”
“The day is a-wasting.” Jordan stepped up to the counter and went to work on the studio’s computer. They continued through the morning.
“Can I see your candids from the festival?” Dena asked a while later. “There wasn’t time before you left.”
“Sure.” He pulled up the folder, and Dena went through his pictures.
“This girl is a cutie.”
Jordan glanced over. “Yeah, I don’t know who she is. No one picked up her picture at church after the festival.”
“Well, that shot is a keeper. Can’t sell it without a release form from the parents, but you could put a copy of it on your Web page. When is that going up?”
“Randi said we could work on it this afternoon.”
“Great. Well, look—I’m meeting Wayne for lunch, and then we’ll be out for the next couple of days. We’re going to Boston to visit the kids. Feel free to use the lab whenever you need to.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably go over there this evening.”
“No problem. Call Jess and let her know. She’s going to house-sit for us.”
They said their good-byes, and Jordan glanced back at the picture of the girl with the toothless grin he’d taken in the hippo pool. She was cute, and the shot wasn’t too bad either. He added it to his list of pictures for his Web page.
He answered the ringing telephone. “Hello?”
“Hey, Jordan, it’s Randi. Can you come to my studio today rather than my coming there? Some time-sensitive items are due in before the end of the day, and the customer wants them on his Web site yesterday.”
“That’ll be fine. Should I bring some lunch?”
“Nah, I’ve already eaten. Bring your own if you like. Otherwise, I’m good.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later.” Jordan gathered up his photographs, called in a take-out order from the Dockside Grill, and fetched his laptop and photo CDs, just in case he missed something.
“Duke, guard the fort. I’ll be back shortly.”
Duke raised his head inquiringly then settled his chin on the floor in resignation.
Jordan ran over to the grill and paid for his lunch. As he crossed the street toward the studio, he noticed a thin man peering in the studio’s front-door window. “May I help you?” Jordan asked as he approached.
The man ignored him and walked back to his car. Jordan walked faster to catch up. “Can I help you?”
“No, thanks, I was just looking for my wife.”
“Okay.” Jordan turned to see the man drive away in a silver Volkswagen bug with out-of-state plates.
Back at the studio, he turned the sign around and posted his return by 3:00 p.m. He hoped his absence wouldn’t mean any more loss of customers.
ten
Using the templates she had put together for other Web pages, Randi had the basic design of Jordan’s done later that evening. The time would be in the graphics and giving an honest representation of Jordan and his work.
Jordan’s homework for the night was to develop information on digital photography, his area of expertise. This would set his Web page apart from Dena’s.
She crawled into bed much later than planned, but that was the way it happened from time to time. She was thankful she didn’t have to go to work the following day.
Early the next morning, she went out for her five-mile run down by the point and came upon Jordan’s Jeep. She searched the area but didn’t see him. She continued running down the point to the marshy shoreline. There she found him, kneeling in muck with his camera aimed toward the sunrise. “You’re nuts.”
He turned and smiled then went back to his picture taking.
She wouldn’t disturb him again. Thoughts of their second meeting flickered back in her mind. He’d been aiming his camera on a mother duck and her ducklings, and she’d messed up his shot. She picked up her pace and headed away from Jordan and his camera. After circling around and heading back toward home, she found him standing in the middle of the road, his pants soaked with mud and his arms across his chest. Duke looked out from the front seat, perfectly clean and definitely content.
“You do have a way of distracting a man.”
“You were in the muck.”
Jordan laughed. “Yeah, but it was a clean shot between the rocks in the harbor.”
“It might be.” Randi stopped jogging in place and stretched. “It’s still nuts. You’re going to have trouble getting that smell out of your jeans.”
“They’ll wash.”
“They will, but they’ll still smell for a while unless—”
“Unless what?” He inched closer to her. “Is there some secret ingredient to cleaning your clothes from the tidal marshes?”
“Most folks don’t go mucking around in them without their hip boots. Those hose right down.”
Jordan looked down at his shoes. “I might need to get a pair of those.”
“If you’re going to be playing in the muck, you will.”
“All kidding aside, I’m wondering if you would like to have breakfast with me.”
“Sure. Where?”
“My place. I’m going to try to wow you with my culinary skills.”
“Do you have any?” Randi’s eyes immediately widened in self-recrimination. She hadn’t meant to be so flip with him.
“I can handle a few things. But I do have one ace up my sleeve over most men who don’t know how to cook.”
“What’s that?” She inched toward him.
He leaned into her. His gentle voice tickled her senses. “You’ll have to come and see.”
Gooseflesh rippled down her spine. “All right. What time?”
“Give me forty minutes to clean up.”
Randi stepped back and started back down the road. “I’ll see you there. Remember—I eat well.”
“That’s one of the things I love about you.”
She lost her footing momentarily but regained it. Love—he said love, Lord.
Jordan made it back to his place in record time. He added a cup of vinegar to the washing machine. He didn’t know what secret washing ingredient Miranda had in mind, but vinegar cut a lot of smells. Of course, he would have to rewash or else smell like a dill pickle for a few days. He took the fastest shower he’d ever taken and returned to the kitchen. He whipped up a batch of crepes then ran back to his room and finished dressing. He buttoned the last button on his shirt by the time she knocked on the back door.
“Wow! You clean up well.”
He brushed the back of his teeth with his tongue for one final check. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
Miranda came in and walked to the kitchen area. “So what’s the big surprise? Hey, Duke, how you doing, boy?”
Duke ambled over to her and nuzzled in for his free loving. Jordan wished he were in Duke’s shoes. Jordan pulled back his hair and wrapped it behind his head. “Patience. It involves blueberries, but I still have to wash them.”
“Blueberries are always good.”
“And whipped cream.”
“Even better.” She sat down at the table. “I finished a basic layout for your Web page last night.”
“Wonderful. I’ll take a look at it after breakfast. Oh, I forgot to tell you—Dena loaded a picture I took of a little girl at the festival to her Web site.”
“Really? How come?”
“She loved it. There’s a copy of the print I blew up for the parents on display in the studio. No one claimed it, so I can only assume they don’t attend the church.”
“More than likely. Did Dena recognize
her?”
“Nope. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”
“I might, but I’m getting old enough that I don’t know all the grammar school–age kids.”
Jordan pulled out his crepe pan.
“Crepes? You know how to make crepes?”
“Oui. It was one of the things I learned in French class. I think it might have been the only day I paid attention actually.”
“You—I can’t believe it.” She leaned on her elbows. “Were you a good student in school?”
“Fair. I didn’t care much for school. I liked art and some of my other classes, but I just did what was required to get through. In college, I discovered I had to buckle down and study if I was going to graduate.” He removed the plastic film he’d placed over the batter earlier. “Are you a big crepe-eater?”
“If they’re stuffed, four, please.”
“Yes, they’ll be filled with whipped cream and blueberries.”
Randi licked her lips and closed her eyes. “Sounds heavenly.”
Jordan turned back to the stove. “So what are your plans for the day?”
“Work. What about you?”
“Same. I have some film developing I need to do at Dena’s. I’d hoped to do it last night; but I called Jess too late, and she’d already retired for the evening. I hope she’s not working too hard.”
“With regard to Jess, she’ll be okay once the co-op is launched. Are the pictures of the Sudan?”
“Yeah, I shot a few rolls of film.”
Jordan dipped the pan into the batter then flipped it over and placed it on the warm burner. Moments later, the crepe was ready to be turned over. He repeated the process.
“You’re really good at this.”
“It’s the pan. It is amazing what happens with the right equipment.”
A brisk knock on the front door of the studio rapped in his ears. Jordan glanced up at the clock. “Miranda, would you keep making the crepes while I take care of the customer?”
“Sure.”
Jordan went to the front door and opened it. “May I help you?”
“I’m sorry to barge in like this, but that picture in the window … That’s—that’s my daughter. Where did you get it?”
Jordan glanced over at the little girl sitting in the hippo’s mouth. He had it displayed with several other shots of the children from the festival. “I took it at the festival. Would you like it?”
“Yes, please.” The woman’s red hair overflowed her decorative scarf.
“No problem. It’s on a mat but not framed yet.”
“It’s fine just the way it is.”
Jordan reached over and pulled the picture from the window. “Here you go.”
“How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. Consider it a gift from Community Church.”
“Thank you.”
“Have a nice day.”
As he watched the woman scurry off, Jordan remembered her as the same woman who had come in during the festival for one-hour film developing.
“What was that all about?” Randi asked as he entered the kitchen.
“Remember the collage of photos I put together of the festival and hung in the studio window?”
Miranda nodded.
“A mother saw her daughter and wanted it.”
“She couldn’t wait until you were open?”
“She’s always on the run. She might be hyper—who knows? Now how are you doing?”
“Just about finished cooking up all the batter.”
“Great. I’ll make some blintzes for later.”
“Blintzes?”
“Rolled-up crepes stuffed with cream cheese and other things. You make them ahead of time and freeze them.”
“Hmm. Just how many French classes did you take?”
“Actually, blintzes are Yiddish.”
“Hebrew class?”
“Nope, a neighbor.” Jordan smiled. He relieved Miranda of her duties and finished making the crepes, filling them with whipped cream and blueberries and then sprinkling some powdered sugar over the tops.
Jordan set the plates on the table and joined her. He grasped her hand. “Father, direct us in our relationship and lead us in Your design for our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Amen.” Miranda took her fork and cut off a large piece. She sighed with pleasure. “These are excellent. You can cook breakfast for me anytime.”
Jordan’s mind sprinted to the future, to a vision of the two of them married, living happily with one another, and him making breakfast for them and their children. Jordan opened his mouth and filled it to avoid sharing his heart and dreams with Miranda at this time. He didn’t want to scare her again.
eleven
“Randi!”
Randi spun around at the sound of her name. Her spine stiffened. The subject of many sleepless nights and far too many hours on her knees appeared in all her blond, blue-eyed beauty. Randi nodded in acknowledgment then turned back in the direction she had been going.
“Randi, please,” Brenda pleaded.
It had been well over a year since she and Cal had been married. Randi even told Jess she’d forgiven Brenda, but …
Randi came to a halt. She decided to face the backstabbing …
Forgive me, Lord. Help me. “What do you want, Brenda?”
“I want”—Brenda’s eyes started to water. She hoisted the six-month-old child higher on her hip—“I want to apologize. It was wrong for me to date Cal while you two were still engaged. I knew it, but I ignored the truth and walked right into a horrible situation.”
Randi shut her eyes for a moment then opened them, counting, One, two, three. “I forgave you a long time ago.”
“Yeah, right. Look—I admit I was wrong. I didn’t mean to hurt ya. It just happened. And look where it got me. At least you can be thankful you’re not the one with a child and no husband.”
“Brenda, I’m sorry Cal ran off on you, but what does that have to do with me?”
“Nothing. Everything … I don’t know. Cal always blamed me for breaking you two up.”
Randi shook her head. “Cal likes to blame others for his actions. That isn’t to say you didn’t play a part in his affair, but he shouldn’t be blaming you. He was the one engaged.” It felt good to say those words out loud.
“Yeah, my mother says if he walked out on you, he was more than likely going to walk out on me, too. I didn’t believe her, but she was right.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We hired a lawyer to track him down for child support, but the lawyer said not to hold out for much. He said even if they find him and require him to pay the child support, he still might not pay. Knowing Cal, he won’t.”
Randi’s heart went out to Brenda. “How are you going to support yourself and the baby?”
“Mom’s going to watch Tyler.”
Randi’s heart cinched. That was the name she and Cal had picked out for their first son.
“I’m going to work part-time and finish my college degree. Dad’s going to help me with tuition and stuff. After a couple of years, I should be able to provide for Tyler and myself.”
“Your folks live near Portland now, right?”
“Yeah, Daddy’s working for the hospital there.” She shifted Tyler. He had Cal’s eyes. “I’m sorry, but life has bitten me—”
“Brenda, the Lord will help you,” Randi said, cutting her off. She’d felt many times as if Brenda had gotten what she deserved, but the child didn’t deserve a father who had abandoned him. Admittedly, at this very moment, Randi realized her “forgiveness” of Brenda and Cal was not complete. Lord, forgive me.
Brenda snickered. “God helps those who help themselves. And so help me, if I ever get my hands on Cal, I’ll—”
“I’ll be praying for you.”
“You know, that’s the problem Cal had with you, all that high and mighty stuff. I’m no saint, but at least I don’t believe I can’t do anything in life, that I l
ive at the whim of God.”
“It isn’t at God’s whim. It is a matter of submission, giving everything back to the Lord and trusting Him.”
“Where was your God when Cal was cheating on you?”
Randi wondered why all this anger was coming at her when Brenda had started out with an apology. “Cal cheating on me was not God’s doing. God got me through, and I’m a stronger person now. Bad things happen in this world, Brenda. It’s how we choose to live with those bad experiences that make or break us as human beings.”
“You really believe all that stuff we learned in youth group with Mr. Kearns, huh?”
“Yup. And, trust me, it’s helped me deal with you and Cal going behind my back.”
“I wasn’t the only one.”
“I know.” Stick the knife in deeper. Lord, I don’t understand why I’m going through this conversation with Brenda. She isn’t even repentant. Not really.
“You do? Cal said you didn’t have a clue.”
“As I look back now, I can see all the lies. But Cal was right—I didn’t know then, or how many other women there were. I chose to overlook his lies and believe him in spite of what was happening around me.” No wonder I have trouble trusting Jordan.
The baby started to cry.
Randi looked down at him. “Is something wrong?”
“He’s hungry. I need to feed him.” She glanced at her son. “Randi, I know I’ve been saying this all wrong. I am sorry for what happened between me and Cal and what it did to you. But I love my son. How could it have been so wrong?”
Randi took in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Come on inside and you can feed Tyler.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, come on in.” Randi let the one person in the world she despised most into her cottage, allowing the Lord to crumble the wall she’d built up for so long. She felt sorry for the woman and her child and knew they needed to get acquainted with Jesus. “Iced tea?”
“Sure, thanks.” Brenda’s knees shook as she sat down on the sofa.
Randi went to the kitchen then returned in time to see the baby nursing hungrily. “Here you go.”
Trespassed Hearts Page 8