by T. K. Chapin
“I agree. Everyone is out of their houses and away from all the digital junk in the world. Riding their bikes, going to playgrounds, and playing sports.” Recalling his work life being the dominant force for so long, Jonathan’s shoulders sagged. “Honestly, before the two of you came around, I didn’t spend much time in the sunshine, even when it was warm.”
Kylie lowered her chin and opened her eyes as she peered his way. “Well, you have us now, and you’re walking to the park.”
“That’s very true.”
As the four of them entered the entrance to the park, Kylie grabbed hold of both children’s hands and they sprinted toward the playground. Jonathan laughed seeing Peter and Rose giggling excitedly as they ran with her.
The children were happy. He was happy.
Taking a seat on a picnic table beneath a shelter a few feet from the playground equipment, Jonathan took in the scene as the children, along with Kylie, climbed through tubes, crossed over bridges, and rang a bell before going down the slide. He appreciated the fact that the playground didn’t cost a dime, and it brought such joy to each one of their lives. He also loved seeing the other kids showing up intermittently through the hour and a half they were there.
Kylie, too worn out, walked through the bark off the jungle gym and over to the water fountain attached to the building that housed the restrooms. After getting a drink, she joined Jonathan at the picnic table, plopping down right beside him.
“Rose has a kind heart. Did you know that?” Kylie looked over at him, waiting for an answer as she caught her breath.
He immediately thought of not Shawna, but Marie. “It runs in the family.”
Kylie pointed out Peter. “That boy is going to be an athlete. He sprints non-stop and has a competitive spirit like none other.”
Jonathan snickered. “Boys, scratch that, all men tend to be competitive by nature. I remember this one kid in third grade. His name was Robby Calten. Anyway, Robby and I would race to the doors after recess every day.”
“Every day, huh? Who won?”
Jonathan’s expression turned smug as a grin sneaked in the corner of his mouth. “Who do you think?”
Kylie laughed, falling slightly against him, her hand brushing his arm.
#
Jonathan stood up from the picnic table and helped Peter into a swing designed for smaller kids. Once he was buckled into the seat, he pulled the swing back and gave him a good push, sending him whooshing through the air. As Kylie saw this all unfold, her heart warmed with a warmth she hadn’t felt before. There was something beautiful about a man who took the time to play with children.
Feeling her affections grow, she prayed. Dear, God. He’s my boss. Please don’t let me feel this way about Jonathan. Please help me in this time of need. I need You more than ever.
As they left the park and started down the sidewalk a little while later, the sun was starting to go down across the tops of the neighborhood trees. A beautiful mixture of oranges, reds, and even a few out-of-place blues filled the sky, topping off what was considered by Kylie to be the perfect way to spend an evening.
“This was fun.” Her smile radiated the warmth she felt in her cheeks as she glanced over at Jonathan.
He raked a hand through his hair as he nodded. “It was a great way to spend some free time. The kids weren’t even naughty the whole time!”
“Every perfect gift comes from above.”
He smiled and tossed a thumb her way. “Bible-verse lady over here.”
She laughed. “I prefer ‘Jesus Freak.’ Honestly, though, I do believe the Scriptures, and it says every good and perfect gift is a gift from God. How can you look at that sky, Jonathan, and not feel it is a gift from God Himself? You know God did it.”
“I’ll concede that. The art that naturally occurs is quite breathtaking.”
“All right. Good.” Smiling, Kylie felt a sense of victory over the matter.
Chapter 21
IT TOOK THREE WEEKS FOR Jonathan to work up the courage to ask Kylie to join him on the business trip to Ocean Shores. He had plans of leaving tomorrow, and his time to ask her was running thin. It would be barely enough time for her to make plans for Peter, in the event she were to accept. Part of him felt she’d decline, but he couldn’t get asking her out of his mind. He knew he’d regret it if he didn’t at least try. So before she had arrived for her day of work that Thursday morning, he stopped early on the treadmill and took a shower in preparation for speaking with her.
His hair still wet, he went downstairs wearing a pair of dark jeans and a button-up blue and black flannel shirt. Entering the kitchen as she was putting on a pot of coffee, she jumped a little when he accidentally bumped over a coffee cup sitting on the counter as he walked toward her. He grabbed at it as it tumbled, luckily catching the cup mid-air. He placed it back in its position on the counter and turned to her.
“Hey, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Okay . . .” Her eyes darted back and forth. She appeared nervous.
“You know how I’m going to Ocean Shores this weekend for business?” He hoped the mention of it being a business trip might settle her resistance that he sensed she would have in the conversation. “I was wondering if you could possibly come with me? It’d be nice to have an extra set of eyes on the beach.”
“I’m not an architect, so no, I’m sorry.” She walked past him and to the sink to fill the coffee pot with water. He studied her, trying to read her body language, but she wasn’t giving anything away easily.
He tried again. “You have an eye for detail. I think it’d be helpful. Plus, you could watch Rose so I don’t have to leave her.”
She shut off the water, paused, and then turned to him. She peered into his eyes, as if she was trying to read him now. “I have Peter to think about, not just myself here. I was promised weekends off, Jonathan, and I’ve been more than generous with my time as it is, staying late when you have to go meet a client or to see your brother.”
“Tyler, my brother and partner. But yes, I know what you mean. I just thought . . .”
She stopped him with a raised hand. “If I can decline, I’d prefer that. Plus, Cory and I are going over to Coeur d'Alene this weekend to go boating.”
Jonathan’s wind was knocked out from his lungs by the mention of another man. He didn’t want to force her to go on the trip. He merely wanted to test the waters. “Cory? I haven’t heard of him.”
“He’s a guy I met a few weeks ago at a singles’ thing at church. He’s a great guy. Really great man of God.”
Did she have a boyfriend this whole time? Jonathan’s heart took a huge jump backward and his defenses shot up. It was apparent to him now that this attraction and desire were one-sided. “I’d love to meet the lucky guy sometime. You should bring him by.”
“Really?” She seemed apprehensive for a moment, then it shifted to excited. “That’s a great idea!”
Becoming uncomfortable, he excused himself to his studio to work. Opening his drawer in his desk, he looked at the tattoo sketch he had made and then took it to his bedroom. Lifting the mattress, he retrieved his notebook and slipped it inside. It was time to distance himself from her. If she was seeing someone else, he felt this attraction he had toward her had to be only one-sided.
#
Kylie was flustered over her choice of words with Jonathan earlier that day. She had been dumb and tried to flaunt her not-even-a-boyfriend in front of him. Why’d I do that? Am I trying to push him away? Then she reminded herself of his lack of interest in God. Yes, you are trying to push Jonathan away. She had been with Cory on several dates now, and things were going okay, yet when she was honest, she knew there was still no attraction. In fact, she actually had plans to break up after their trip to Coeur d'Alene to go boating. She didn’t want to lead the poor man on knowing she hadn’t the faintest attraction to him physically. Jonathan, on the other hand, was nothing but attraction and tension and heat. It was an unseen force between them s
he had to constantly ignore and push out of her mind. Part of her worried whether breaking things off with Cory would make her do something wrong with Jonathan.
That evening, when she was about ready to leave for home, she walked into the kitchen to grab her purse when she saw his suitcase sitting in the doorway leading toward the foyer. Jonathan walked in a moment later.
“I thought you were leaving tomorrow morning.”
“I was, but I decided to do some night driving and get a head start. I’m going to drop Rose off at Tyler’s and head out of town. I offered him my house to watch her, but he insisted on his place. I think he really enjoys being an uncle.”
“That’s great about Tyler. Why do you like night driving?”
“I don’t. I want to see the sunrise while my toes are buried in the sand.” He smiled. “It’s something I haven’t done in a while, and I want to do it again.”
Her heart melted thinking about him being alone on that beach come sunrise. Her heart pulled toward wanting to go just like it did earlier when he asked, but she kept fighting against the current. Then, she let go and let her thoughts drift downstream. She imagined the sunrise coming up and her and Jonathan holding hands. She pictured how it could feel to be standing there with him. Her lips curled into a smile at the thought. “Sounds amazing.”
He crossed the kitchen to her and gently grabbed hold of her arms. “Then come with me, Kylie.”
She started paddling up stream, against the current. “I can’t.”
“Why? Are you worried I might try something? I’m not that kind of guy. I don’t go for taken women.”
“No.” In her heart, Kylie held a hope he would try something like a kiss if she were to go, but her heart also didn’t want any more emotions to stir for this man. She knew the heart could be deceitful and this could all be bad. After all, she was horrible at picking the right guys. Her heart started to pound, almost about to give in. Then a thought surfaced, a pure and honest thought. God is important to you, Kylie. God isn’t important to him. The fight within her settled and she was able to relax herself. She desired not only a man in her and her son’s life but a man who cared about God. Not only because she did or because he was raised in a church all his life, but because that man’s heart had truly surrendered to Jesus. Maybe it was unrealistic for her to desire such a man, but even so, she wasn’t about to choose to be put in a tempting position by traveling with Jonathan.
She forced a sad smile. “Have a safe trip, Jonathan.”
Jonathan tipped her a nod, grabbing his suitcase off the counter. “Thanks. Lock up when you leave.” Leaving the kitchen, he went into the living room and scooped up Rose and the backpack with her stuff in it and left. As the door shut, she walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. Then, she prayed.
Chapter 22
Jonathan - Age 17
IT WAS SENIOR YEAR AND the final days of school were upon the senior class of Mount Vernon High. Jonathan and his sweetheart, Marie, were looking toward the future with an eagerness and determination to not only marry next month but be happily married for decades to come. Jonathan had already been accepted into his top pick of colleges, Whitworth University over in Spokane, Washington, roughly three hours from Missoula, Montana. Marie had a job lined up with her aunt Veronica at her flower shop in downtown Spokane. He’d go to school during the day while she worked and they’d come together at home in their apartment right off campus. They had a plan for their life.
“Settle down, class. I know you’re excited, but you still have a week left.” Mr. White made his attempt to settle his Creative Writing class full of seniors. Standing in front of the class, he wrote a poem on the board. Then he offered the first person to guess who wrote it a candy bar of their choosing.
Many of the kids were still chatting with one another and barely heard what the teacher was saying up front, but Marie, who sat by her own choice in the front of the class, raised a hand. Jonathan loved her quiet demeanor and love for learning. Mr. White called on her. “Marie.”
“Whitman.”
“Very good. Come claim your prize.”
Jonathan studied her as she slipped out from her seat and walked up to the table in the front of the class. Her fingers glided over each candy bar, inspecting them individually. She’d pause, pick one up and read the back of it, and then set it back down, moving on to the next. They were simply candy bars, but to Marie, it was a decision, and she took no decision in life lightly. Jonathan loved her mind and how it was never quick to make a judgment on any one thing. It was so contrary to him. He’d make snap judgments just to hurry things along. Marie was the one of the two who kept their relationship pure, insisting on waiting for marriage and never relinquishing power over to hormones.
#
Walking home from school, Jonathan held Marie’s hand. They walked below the willow trees as they journeyed down the sidewalk. With Marie’s eyes on them, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. “I love willow trees.”
“They’re pretty neat.”
Nodding, she glanced over at Jonathan, meeting his gaze for a moment. “You going to church tonight?”
Jonathan shrugged, adjusting his books under his arm. He didn’t care for church a whole lot, but he knew it meant a lot to Marie so he went regularly. He knew God existed, believed Jesus even died on the cross, but he didn’t take his walk as seriously as Marie did and they both knew it.
“You should come. There is going to be a new series of sermons on the fruits of the Spirit. Do you know the fruits?”
“Love. Um . . .”
“Peace, patience, joy, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.” Jonathan couldn’t take his eyes off her soft pink lips. He was far more interested in her than talking about what the sermon was pertaining to tonight. He came closer and kissed her cheek, then her neck. She stumbled, giggling as he tickled her neck.
“You make that sound way more interesting than any pastor could. Let’s go to the grove and make out for a while. I don’t have to be home until four.”
She shoved his shoulder as her eyebrows furrowed. “I can’t be alone with you. You know that, Jonathan.”
“Okay, okay. Sorry.”
“I know you’re a seventeen-year-old boy, but could you not act like it for once?”
Jonathan stopped, deeply offended by her comment. “What’s that even mean, Marie?”
“Don’t call me that!” Jonathan never called her Marie but always sweet affection-filled names such as my love, babe, or honey. He only used her name when he was upset.
“Why? It’s your name.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “You’re rude, Jonathan Allen Dunken!” She darted off down the sidewalk without him and went home. Jonathan continued walking with a furrowed set of eyebrows and guilt weighing on his heart.
#
An hour later, Jonathan walked down the street to Marie’s house right around the corner from his parents’ house. Knocking on the door, he took a step back and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. Please don’t be her dad. Please don’t be her dad.
Mr. Gillshock opened the door.
“Pastor.” Jonathan tipped a polite bow of his head. “Is your daughter home?”
He crossed his arms. “What’s it to you, boy? Marie came running home this afternoon with tears in her eyes. I reckon you put them there.” Just then, Marie’s little sister Shawna walked up beside her dad and glanced out at him, glaring.
Jonathan ignored her, directing his attention to the pastor. “That’s why I’m here, sir. I want to apologize to her.”
Squinting as he studied Jonathan, as if he was trying to determine if he should allow his daughter to come out to talk to him, he finally huffed. “Fine. Just a minute.” The door latched shut and Jonathan wiped his hands on his pants again. Pastor Gillshock had a way of belittling anyone who had thoughts opposite to him and made a habit of making sure Jonathan felt like he wasn’t good enough for his daughter. He didn’t forbid
them to marry, but he had advised Marie against it.
A few moments passed, and then the door opened once more. Marie slid out from the small opening and shut the door behind her. They walked over to the porch swing and sat down. Kicking off from the porch, the two of them sat in silence as the swing swung slightly. Jonathan broke the silence after a minute.
“I’m sorry for earlier. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just love you so much and I love to kiss, and it’s really hard to wait for next month. You know what I mean? I feel myself thinking it’s only next month and then we’re married. What’s the big deal? Right? But my mind is working against me constantly.”
Wiping a tear, she nodded. “I know you think that way. Just respect my wishes. I want the blessings from waiting, Jonathan. Do you understand that?”
“Yeah, we’ll die if we do anything before marriage.”
She shook her head. “No, we wouldn’t die. We’d have to reap what we sow though.” Resting her hand on his hand, she caught his gaze. “We’re going to have the rest of our lives together. It’s better this way, and I know you know it’s true. Hey, I got you something the other day at the flea market. Wait here.”
Leaving the porch swing, she went inside for a minute and then came back out with a double-stranded gold necklace. He smoothed his thumb across the reflective gold strands. Peering up into her eyes, he felt his heart warm.
“I was going to wait until we were married to give it to you.” Coming closer to Jonathan, she sat down and leaned toward him as she pointed to each strand. “Each of the strands represent one of us in marriage. We’re getting married and we are becoming one flesh, just like the Scriptures say happens. This is a symbol of that, Jonathan.”
“That’s awesome, babe. Thank you.” Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her. He would do anything for her, even wait for marriage, if that’s what she wanted.