by Gail Sattler
Chapter 10
Gwen yawned as they drove into the church parking lot. She had no idea pastors got up so early on Sunday. She vividly remembered watching the sunset not all that long ago, and now, barely after sunrise, she was back at the church again.
Pastor John tried the front door of the church, but it was locked solid. A knock received no reply, and a check inside the windows showed that all inside was dark. Gwen walked across the parking lot to Lionel’s truck, which was also dark and quiet inside.
She rapped lightly on the door. “Lionel? It’s me. Are you sleeping?”
Nothing happened.
She knocked a little louder. “Lionel? Can you hear me?”
Still nothing moved. She stepped up onto the running board and peeked in the window. The curtain was drawn across the bunk area, and all was still.
Gwen knocked louder. “Lionel! Wake up! We need the church key!”
Finally the curtain moved. Gwen hopped down and waited beside the door until it opened.
Lionel leaned over the seat, one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other straight and supporting his weight as he leaned on the seat. His hair hung in his face, his eyes barely squinted open, and she’d never seen a more sour expression. “What time is it?” he mumbled.
“It’s 6:42 A.M.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Pastor John wants to get ready for the Sunday service, and he needs the key for the church.”
He grumbled something under his breath and backed up very slowly. As he bent to retrieve the keys from the compartment in the dash, he flinched and pressed his left fist into the small of his back as he slowly straightened.
“Lionel? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Here’s the keys.” Instead of bending over and handing them to her, he tossed them from where he stood.
Gwen felt a little stiff herself after all that hard work yesterday. Knowing Lionel did most of the heavy lifting, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what was wrong. She also knew where he stowed his clothing and overnight bag for his first trip out of the truck when waking up, and he’d have to bend and stretch to get at it.
“Do you want some help?”
“No. Just let me wake up a bit.”
“Okay. See you in a few minutes.” Not that she thought he’d be any better once he switched his brain into gear.
She pushed the door closed to save him the agony of reaching for it. Before she took her first step, she heard him groan from inside the cab. She hurt inside knowing he was suffering, but she wouldn’t invade his privacy to get his overnight bag for him.
Pastor John opened the door, punched in the alarm code, and continued inside. Gwen stood inside the doorway, watching the truck and waiting.
The passenger door opened and Lionel emerged, very slowly. He held himself poker-straight as he walked, without his usual speed or bounce, first trip of the morning or otherwise.
She held the door open for him as he entered. She noticed he was wearing the same clothes as when he left Pastor John’s house the evening before, and he was very wrinkled.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
He didn’t speak. But if looks could kill, she would have been six feet under.
She stayed in the foyer, not wanting to make it too obvious she was waiting for him. When he finally made his appearance, she followed him back outside. “Freda stayed home, and I’m supposed to drive you back because she’s making you breakfast. It should be ready any minute. Are you ready to go?”
He opened his mouth like he was going to protest, and then his face sagged and his eyes closed while he spoke. “That would be great. I can’t believe how stiff I am. I’ve got muscles that hurt where I didn’t know I had muscles. This is so embarrassing.”
They walked together to the car. “Don’t be embarrassed. That was hard work, and for a lot of years you’ve had a job where you sit all day.”
He winced as he used the roof of the car to support himself as he lowered his aching body into the car. “Rub it in, why don’t you?”
She grinned. “Today you can pamper yourself. Freda’s making you a wonderful bacon and egg breakfast, just the way you like it, and then we can relax and enjoy the service. After the services, she’s invited us back as their guests for lunch. I thought it would be nice to go for an afternoon walk, which isn’t a bad idea, because then you won’t seize up completely. Then, after supper, we can go to the evening service. When was the last time you’ve been to church twice in one day?”
“Never.”
“See? Today will be a real treat for you.”
“Right.”
“They’re so grateful for the roof, it’s almost embarrassing. They’ve invited us to stay with them tonight too, but I don’t want to impose on their hospitality.”
“Me neither. But our only other choice is to have you hole up in a motel because we won’t have a load out until Monday evening, and then only after we take the empty trailer back to the terminal in Topeka.”
Gwen parked the car in front of the house. “Oh, and one more thing. About the service. I didn’t bring anything to wear except jeans and casual tops. What about you?”
“Same.”
She frowned. “I hope we don’t stick out too badly. I have no idea what everyone will be wearing, although the building itself is less than formal.”
“I’ve never thought about what to wear. I’ve only ever worn jeans to church.”
She stared at him. “Really?”
“Well, I’ve got this pair of khaki pants, but they’re not much different than jeans, they’re just a different color. But I didn’t bring them, they’re still at home.”
Gwen remembered the family routine of going to church on Sunday as she grew up. As a girl, her mother made her wear pretty dresses to church, which annoyed her because she wasn’t allowed to run outside and play with the boys when the service was over. As a teen she’d gone through a rebellious stage where she’d worn only jeans and T-shirts to the service, but it hadn’t taken long to grow out of that. Looking back, she realized her parents had it easy if that was the worst thing she’d done in her growing up years. Now, as an adult, she usually wore the same comfortable but suitably nice outfits she wore to school.
She thanked God for her Christian parents and her loving family, including her extended family, her uncle Chad and aunt Chelsea and her cousins.
“You told me you became a Christian as an adult. Does that mean your family never went to church when you were growing up? Not ever?”
His face hardened. “The only time my parents went near a church was for a wedding or a funeral.”
She didn’t think his brusque tone was exactly sarcasm, but if he didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t press it.
They knocked on the door, and Freda enthusiastically welcomed them back. While they ate, Gwen joked about it being a rare treat to have two breakfasts in one day. Then she excused herself to dress for the service.
The three of them arrived back at the church as the worship team was beginning to practice the songs for the morning.
“We’re sorry for making you so late in getting back,” Lionel said as he held the door open for Gwen and Freda.
Freda smiled. “I always get here at this time. I usually drive John early and go back home so he can pray in private before the service and make sure everything is okay in the building. The worship team gets here about eight o’clock, and I come back about eight-thirty to set up the table at the door and hand out bulletins until the ushers get here. I’ll introduce you to the few people who also come early, and then leave you alone.”
Gwen smiled at Lionel. If she wasn’t mistaken, he looked nervous. She grew up going to church, but she suspected he felt out of place at an organized service where he didn’t know anyone. A piece of her heart went out to him. She touched his hand, slipped her fingers between his, and held on. “Come on. Let’s go get introduced, and then we’ll visit with people until t
he service.”
Lionel smiled as Freda introduced them to one of the church’s elder couples. The couple welcomed them and asked what he thought were the usual questions when greeting a newcomer, but he only half paid attention.
Gwen was holding his hand. He suspected she could sense his nervousness and was trying to make him feel better, but whatever the reason, Lionel determined to make the most of it. For today, the people here would perceive them not as a driving team, but as a couple, and that was exactly the way he intended to behave.
He closed his hand around Gwen’s and gave her fingers a little squeeze. In response, she turned toward him and smiled. A smile meant just for him. He listened politely as she chatted with the growing group of people who surrounded them.
Word seemed to spread that they were from out of town, because soon they were joined by another couple who started asking questions about Vancouver as a vacation spot. Lionel gave them a list of the usual tourist traps around town, then confessed that he hadn’t been to most of them because even though they were right in his back yard, he spent most of his time traveling around North America, living out of his truck. Still, he thought Vancouver was one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and told them so.
He listened to Gwen tell tales of her favorite vacation activity, which was camping in the Provincial parks around British Columbia. He recalled her telling him that her brother was a forest ranger, so he supposed her love for the great outdoors was something that ran in the family. He thought that for someone who seemed to thrive in a crowd, camping seemed a rather solitary activity.
More people entered, and many approached to chat. Lionel liked the friendly atmosphere prevalent throughout the whole place.
When the worship time started, he was pleased to know a couple of the songs, and Gwen knew most of them, although none were in a style they were used to. He was used to a single guitar or taped music, and Gwen was used to a very polished and practiced worship team. This group of people was somewhere in the middle. What they lacked in skill they more than made up for in eagerness and unpolished natural talent.
Unfortunately, he had to let go of Gwen’s hand, because the congregation clapped to a couple of songs, something he wasn’t used to, but Gwen joined in with enthusiasm. Gwen also raised her hands with a number of people in the congregation and prayed openly, while Lionel kept his hands at his sides or joined in front of himself and remained quiet. Knowing her passion for Jesus in her life outside church, her behavior inside wasn’t surprising. He liked it.
As soon as they sat for the pastor’s sermon, Gwen pulled out of her purse the smallest full-version Bible he’d ever seen. As soon as they were finished with the Scripture reading, he again sought her hand. Her reaction indicated she hadn’t expected it, but she didn’t pull away.
He thoroughly enjoyed the pastor’s sermon, and the service ended with a solemn and meaningful hymn.
“You said we were invited to Pastor John and Freda’s for lunch after the service?”
Gwen nodded. “Yes. I think they’re going to invite someone else, and we also have to wait until everyone is gone so he can lock up the building.”
Lionel looked around the room. He’d always gone alone to church services, whether it was at home or on the road. This time, sitting beside Gwen, the room filled with people of all ages, was different than anything he’d ever done. It felt good. It felt right.
When they stood to talk with another couple who asked about their travels, he didn’t drop her hand. Since life on the road was new to Gwen, he let her answer all the questions. Driving had become mundane for him years ago.
She was open and honest with everyone she spoke to, whether it was a child or an adult, and she spoke as an equal to all. He could see why she loved being a teacher. Everyone paid rapt attention to her, as did he. They never had a moment alone until the church doors were locked, and even then they talked in the parking lot with more people before they finally managed to get away.
All through lunch and the rest of the day, he participated little in the many conversations going on around him. He usually didn’t feel comfortable in a crowd, but being with Gwen was different. Whether it was a small private group or the entire church congregation, he had Gwen at his side, and things that used to bother him were no longer important. Any time he was hesitant about saying anything or felt the push of too many people around him, she seemed to sense his hesitation and jumped into whatever topic was current until he could regain his bearings.
They were two halves of a whole.
If he was unsure before, he was sure now. He was deeply and fully in love with Gwen Lamont, his temporary driving partner.
Chapter 11
Good-bye! Thanks again for everything!”
Gwen waved at Pastor John and Freda as they drove out of the church parking lot, beginning the trip back to Topeka and, ultimately, home.
She turned to Lionel. “They were such a nice couple. I’ll have to write to them when I get home.”
Lionel patted his pocket. “Yes, and I can’t believe all the food they gave us. I got their E-mail address. I can’t remember the last time I actually wrote a letter to someone. I don’t like typing, but I like writing even less. Guess it’s a guy thing.”
“Or a lazy thing. Or maybe you’re just too cheap to buy a stamp.”
“You wound me.”
Gwen didn’t answer. She doubted anything she said could wound him, although she was starting to feel a wound opening in her own heart.
They were on their way home. Lionel had a program in his computer designed for truckers which calculated that in only thirty-two hours, they would be home. She wasn’t sure she was ready to get home. The last week had been one unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
For all they’d been through and all they’d done, the week had gone fast, yet in other ways, it seemed like forever.
“I figure we’ll be in Topeka in a couple of hours, and then we’re going home, and you’ll be back with Chad.”
His words hurt her. They shouldn’t have, but they did.
After a heavy silence, Lionel was the first to start talking. Gwen could only listen. Thankfully, he avoided any topics to do with home, and she didn’t say anything to change that. Instead, she tried to convince herself that thirty-two hours of driving was really a long time, and when those hours had passed, she would be grateful to be separated.
“Here we are. This terminal is a lot bigger than the one in Evansville, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
She followed him inside, dragging her feet every step of the way.
The dispatcher was a huge, balding man with an enormous potbelly and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, which Gwen thought was no longer allowed in most workplaces.
“Your load’s been delayed,” he mumbled around the cigarette. “Won’t be ready ‘til late, likely after ten at night.”
Gwen turned to Lionel. “It’s barely past noon. What are we going to do?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing we can do. We’ve got to find some way to kill time.”
Gwen checked her watch, but it hadn’t changed. “What are we going to do for over ten hours?”
He shrugged his shoulders again. “Usually I either nap or sit around and read. Sometimes I take in a show. Do some grocery shopping. Laundry. Stuff like that.”
All those things made sense, but she couldn’t see killing ten hours that way. “We don’t need to go grocery shopping for days.”
His little grin quickened her heart. “I should have guessed you’d think of food first.”
Rather than respond in front of the dispatcher, she walked outside, and Lionel followed close behind, snickering all the way. “I have an idea. Women usually like shopping, and we both like eating. Let’s combine the two activities. Since both of us only brought jeans and T-shirts, we can go buy ourselves some nice clothes and go somewhere nice for supper, since this is the last of our leisure time. From here, it’s straight hom
e. Let’s make it a special night together.”
Gwen’s heart skipped a beat. She’d been thinking so much about this being near the end of their time together, it was almost obsessive. To hear that he also had been contemplating the same thing was strange. She wished she knew how he felt about the matter but was too afraid to ask. She swallowed hard. “I’d like that.”
She waited while he went back inside to ask the dispatcher for directions. They ended up at a nearby mall where they could park the truck without its being in anyone’s way. After enjoying the Funks’ hospitality and Freda’s good cooking, thinking of the greasy truck stop food over the next couple of days heightened Gwen’s anticipation for a fine restaurant meal tonight.
“I’ve never been shopping for clothes with a woman before. I hope you don’t take forever to decide on something and then try on everything in the store three times.”
Gwen laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not especially fond of shopping for clothes, so I make my choices quickly. I think part of that comes from shopping with my brother. I can help you pick something nice too.”
“Great. A woman picking my clothes. Isn’t this every man’s worst nightmare?”
“Depends on your perspective, I guess. Garrett appreciated me picking his clothes. I think part of the reason he likes his job so much is because they provide a uniform, so there’s nothing for him to buy except his boots.”
It didn’t take long to pick a nice shirt and matching slacks for Lionel. She couldn’t put her finger on why, but the whole procedure of picking clothes for him was different from picking clothes for her brother. She decided it was because Lionel actually fit the normal, off-the-rack clothes.
For herself, Gwen selected a functional mix-and-match skirt and top that wouldn’t crease too badly when she stuffed the outfit into the bottom of her duffel bag. Lionel waited behind her as a clerk opened the fitting room.