Suited For Love

by Coleman, Lynn A.

  “Yes, are you Greg Steadman?”

  “Ayup!”

  Krispin wanted to groan. Greg seemed to be your stereotypical Maine fisherman. “Come on in. The AC is on.”

  “Feels like it. Whatcha working on?”

  “I’m trying to make an ocean kayak using strips of wood.”

  “A strip-built kayak—awesome. Got some plans?”

  “Yes, over there.”

  Greg walked over to the makeshift table of a couple of sawhorses and a sheet of marine plywood. “Sweet. Ever build one before?”

  “Nope, have you?”

  “Nope, but I’ve wanted to. Mind if I lend you a hand?”

  “That would be wonderful. I’m still learning how to use these tools.”

  Greg scanned the workbench. “Nice tools. All new?”

  “Afraid so.”

  “Hey, don’t apologize. So what would you like to ask me?”

  “I don’t know. I guess the first question is how does this mentor thing work?”

  Greg sat down and brushed his beard with his hand. “I’ve found that the best way to approach this is to start by being friends, and through the friendship, you’ll have the freedom to ask me questions. I’ll challenge you from time to time on your prayer life, scripture reading, and attendance in church, if necessary, but the key is honesty between us. If I can’t make a meeting, I’ll be frank with you. I have six children, a wife, and things come up. Not to mention work. My summers aren’t as busy. I want you to be totally honest with me, as well. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, I think so. Am I supposed to tell you all my sins?”

  “No. You’re welcome to tell me anything you need to discuss. But I don’t need a biography. Pastor says you’re a computer programmer who writes encryption codes. And until recently you owned a part of a company.”

  “Yes. I started writing programs when I was twelve.”

  “Man, I could never have done that. Math and me never got along real well. My daughter, Lissa, she’s a snap at it. She’s nine and my oldest.”

  “Has she been tested?”

  “Ayup. The school said she scored a ninth-grade level in the third grade. How is that possible?”

  “It’s possible. I started algebra when I was in the fourth grade.”

  “Do you think Lissa should be taking algebra next year?”

  “Only if she wants to. On the other hand, private lessons might be better. It was really hard on me in school to be an overachiever. The other kids weren’t as excited about my math as I or the teachers were.”

  “I wouldn’t want to have her picked on in school.” Greg looked back at the tools. “So tell me why you’re building a kayak. To replace the one Jess Kearns ran over?”

  Krispin let out a nervous chuckle. “Yes and no. I need something different to work on. I don’t know if woodworking will do it, but I’m burnt out with computer programming. Don’t get me wrong, I still can do it. I just don’t have the passion for it that I once did. After I achieved all that I set out to, I felt empty.”

  “Ah, I hear ya. That’s when you started searching for the answers to life and found the Lord, right?”

  “Yes, but that hasn’t totally changed how I feel about my work.”

  “Well, my daddy always said a man can’t do much better than to work with his hands. At the end of the day, he has something to show for all his hard work. I think woodworking might just be the ticket. I’m no craftsman with woodworking, but I can saw a straight line and use a router and a few of the other tools you’ve purchased. Would you like some help?”

  “That would be wonderful, yes. I do believe I could use your help.”

  “Great. I’ll come around nine tomorrow morning, and we can get started. What do you want to learn first?”

  “The table saw, then the planer.”

  “Not a problem.” Greg looked over at the wood. “Just how many kayaks do you plan on making?”

  “One.”

  Greg whistled. “Do you know you have enough wood for two, possibly three?”

  Krispin chuckled. “I figured I’d make a lot of mistakes.”

  “Ah. Makes sense. Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.” And just like that, Greg Steadman left. Krispin sat down on the stool and replayed the entire conversation. Greg was an interesting guy. There was more to him than his rough exterior would suggest.

  “I think I’m going to like working with him, Lord. He’s down to earth and a straight shooter. Something I haven’t had a lot of experience with in the business world. Thanks for sending a man who’s going to stretch me.”

  ❧

  Jess flew through the house, looking for her binoculars. Krispin Black was holed up in one of the old warehouses on the other side of the harbor. She hadn’t been sure she’d seen him going in and out of the old building a couple times, but today she could see his Mustang outside and knew he was there. What he was doing? She didn’t have a clue, but she wanted to find out.

  It made no sense, him wanting to live in Squabbin Bay. And while he’d been right, it wasn’t her business to know what he was doing here, she certainly couldn’t just sit by and wait. What was her obsession with this man? The fact that she nearly killed him made her feel like she had a certain responsibility toward him, which was foolish, or so she told herself over and over again.

  She had no business spying on him. She stopped looking for the binoculars and sat down in the easy chair in the living room. Her Bible was on the side table. She pulled it into her lap and started to read.

  Father God, why is Krispin Black living in Squabbin Bay? She paused long enough to wait for an answer, hoping she’d hear God’s voice on this. Instead she looked down at her open Bible and found a verse she read many times before. Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

  Father, have I not given You all of my heart? Is this why I’m so bothered by Krispin’s presence in town?

  Lord, what is in my heart that I haven’t given over to You? I’ve confessed my attraction to Krispin. I know he’s not saved, and I won’t get involved with him. Are my feelings for Krispin keeping me from giving You all my heart? Lord, I’m afraid of him. I’m afraid of my reactions to him. He seems so different. Is it my fault? Did the accident cause this change in him?

  “Oh, Lord, forgive me for not trusting You with Krispin. Help me get over my obsession with him.”

  “Jess?”

  Jess turned to see Randi standing at her back door with her hand on her protruding stomach. “Jess, help me, please.”

  Jess jumped up. “What’s the matter?”

  “I think I’m in labor.”

  “Oh no!” Jess ran to the back door and helped her best friend in. “What happened?”

  Randi chuckled. “What do you mean, what happened?”

  “I’m sorry. Why do you think you’re in labor?”

  Randi’s body convulsed.

  “Oh dear, don’t worry. I’ll call Jordan. Where is he?”

  “In Boston.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding!”

  Randi shook her head. Jess rolled her eyes heavenward, grabbed the phone, and called the fire department. Then she left a message on Jordan’s cell phone and called Randi’s parents. Jordan’s return call came in at the same time Randi’s parents and the ambulance arrived. Randi held on to Jess. “Jess, you’ve got to come with me. I need a coach.”

  “Randi, I’m no coach.”

  “You’re the closest thing I’ve got. Stay with me, please.”

  “Okay, but only until Jordan gets back.” Lord, help Jordan get back in time.

  Randi’s water broke, and Jess nearly fainted. O Lord, help me. There’s no way I’ll make it through this. Randi squeezed Jess’s arm. “Help me breathe, Jess.”

  “Breathe? Oh, you mean like those prenatal breathing exercises.”

  Randi nodded. Jess held on to Randi’s hand. Together they breathed the first level of Lamaze breathing technique. She remem
bered the second level, but the third and fourth totally escaped her memory. Frankly, she hadn’t paid that much attention when Randi had showed them to her when she and Jordan were taking the prenatal classes.

  Josie Smith took Randi’s pulse and other vitals. “When is your due date, Randi?”

  “End of August.”

  “Guess this little one doesn’t want to wait.” Josie smiled. “You’re doing fine. I need to check the dilation.”

  Randi nodded. Jess’s eyes widened, then she turned to the gathering crowd. “Everyone out, now!” Jess demanded.

  Josie and Randi chuckled. Josie added, “It’s her first. Trust me, I’ve delivered quite a few little ones over the years. You’re doing fine, Randi.”

  “Thanks, Josie.”

  “Where’s Jordan?” Josie asked while doing the examination. “Three centimeters. You’ve got some time.”

  Randi let out a pent-up breath. “Thanks. He’s in Boston. We thought we had enough time.”

  “Apparently the little one wants to see her or his mommy and daddy now.” Josie covered Randi, then removed her plastic gloves.

  “What’s wrong with Jess?” Jess heard a winded male voice call out.

  “Ain’t Jess; it’s Randi. She’s having a baby,” someone from the crowd called out.

  “Oh,” he mumbled. At that point Jess recognized the voice of Krispin Black. “Where’s Jordan?”

  “Boston,” said another.

  “Where are they taking Randi?” Krispin asked again.

  “Blue Hill Hospital in Ellsworth, most likely.” Jess couldn’t help but notice Krispin’s curiosity in this entire event.

  “Jessss!” Randi cried out.

  “I’m here, Randi. I’m here.” Jess held on to Randi’s hand and followed the EMTs out the door and into the ambulance. Krispin was on his cell phone as she got in. That’s odd. Who would he be telling?

  Seven

  Krispin walked away from Jess’s house as they wheeled Randi into the ambulance. “Jordan, it’s me, Krispin Black. I imagine you’re trying to get home for Randi right away.”

  “Yeah, how’d you know? Never mind. It’s Squabbin Bay.”

  “Right. Look, I have a friend who owns a chopper and lives in Boston. Would you like me to call him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you right back.” Krispin clicked through the address book on his phone, found Michael James’s private phone number, and dialed. A few minutes later Krispin had the location and directions finalized with Michael. Krispin called Jordan and passed on the information.

  “Thanks, Krispin. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem. I’ll take care of the fuel expense, unless you barter with Michael for some photos. He’s always needing some promotional shots.”

  “All right, thanks again.”

  “As a favor to me, I doubt Michael will even bother charging you, but I’ve always offered.”

  “Gotcha. I’ll see you later. Thanks again, Krispin.”

  “You’re welcome.” Krispin headed back to his shop. He wanted to go to the hospital and wait to hear how Randi was doing but knew it wasn’t his place. He’d have to wait in town like most of the folks around here.

  Greg was leaning against the doorframe. “So what happened?”

  “I’m sorry I’m late. Randi Lamont went into labor.”

  Greg chuckled. “I know that. You forget we live in a very small town. I also heard you called out wondering what happened to Jess. What’s going on with you two?”

  “Nothing. I’m not worthy of her.”

  “Worthy?”

  “Yeah. You know some of my past. Well, when it comes to women, I’ve had more than my share. According to God, a lot more. Anyway, I don’t think I have the right to consider marriage when I’ve messed up so badly and hurt so many.”

  “Hmm, so how do you see Jess?”

  “She’s pure, untouched by the world. She deserves better than me.”

  Greg chuckled. “Well that’s probably true, but you’re missing a point.”

  “What?”

  “You’re redeemed. As in you’ve been forgiven of all the wrong things you’ve done. You stand before God as one free from the past because you’ve repented and given your past to God.”

  “I know, but—”

  “Ain’t no buts about it. You’re redeemed, same as she. So tell me again why you can’t have a relationship with Jess?”“You mean besides the fact that she nearly killed me the first time we met?”

  Greg roared with laughter. “Yeah, besides that. Oh, and the fact that she saved your life.”

  Krispin laughed. “That, too.” He walked over to his table saw. “You said you’d teach me how to use this today.”

  “Fair enough, but you and Jess is not a closed subject.”

  “It is if I’m not ready to talk about it.”

  “I’ll give ya that.” Greg joined him at the table saw. “You see this plate?” He pointed to the small plate that had a long, narrow slit where the blade came through. “If we remove it, like this, we have access to remove and tighten a blade.”

  Greg continued the demonstration, and by the end of the day, Krispin was cutting, raising, and lowering the blade and knew just about every piece of the saw. He found Greg to be a good teacher—patient, never belittling him for what he didn’t know. Which was quite a lot. He only knew which tools to buy because of the various articles he’d read online and from the kayak-building forum where folks listed the tools they used for their projects.

  “Tomorrow we’ll work on the planer. All this wood needs to be planed to the same size.”

  “Right.” Krispin looked over at the rectangular frame. He’d assembled it but didn’t have a clue as to how it worked. He knew he would put the boards in one way, and it would automatically feed them out the other side, but how the blades were to be set, he didn’t know. Tonight he’d read up on the instruction manual for the planer and the router. Both needed to be learned.

  Greg left, and Krispin cleaned up the sawdust from all the cutting he’d done. He liked the feel of the wood in his hands and the various textures of the different kinds of wood.

  The door creaked open. Without turning, Krispin asked, “Did you forget something?”

  “Not exactly.” Jess’s voice resounded in his ears.

  “Jess. I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

  “I gathered. What are you doing in here?”

  “Cleaning up.” He knew it was a glib answer, but he really preferred that she stayed on her side of Squabbin Bay and not his. “How’s Randi?”

  A sweet smile rose on her lips. Krispin turned back to sweeping up the sawdust.

  “Randi is fine. Jordan arrived in time to relieve me. I’ve never been so grateful. Having babies is messy business.”

  “I wouldn’t know myself, but I’m glad I’m a man. Has the baby arrived?” Krispin dumped the full dustpan into the garbage can.

  “Not yet. The doctor said it could still take some time.” Jess walked around the room. “What are you building?”

  “A kayak, I hope.”

  She glanced over at the pile of wood. “You have enough material here for several.”

  “I figure I’m going to be making a lot of mistakes.”

  “Ah. Krispin, I need to know why you’re here. I know it probably is none of my business… .”

  Krispin put the dustpan and broom aside. “Jess, I will leave town if you’re that uncomfortable with me living here.”

  “As much as I’d love to say yes to your leaving town, it isn’t my place to do so. I’m thinking we should talk a bit, maybe get to know one another.”

  “Why are you so uncomfortable around me?”

  She leveled a gaze at him that would have tumbled a brickyard with its intensity. And he understood it had been his forward nature and rude comments. “Jess, I promise never to speak that way to you again. I was out of line, completely out of line. I’d like to say I was out of my mind.
But I wasn’t. I’d become a man who thought mostly of myself. Please forgive me.”

  She paused for a moment, then released her gaze. “All right. But it will be awhile before I can trust you.”

  “I understand.”

  “You’re letting your hair grow out?”

  Krispin shrugged his shoulders. “I guess. I’ve kept it so short for business. I figured I could skip seeing the barber for a couple months.”

  “It looks like it’s going to come in curly.”

  Krispin chuckled. “You don’t know the meaning of my name, do you?”

  “Afraid not. What is it?”

  “ ‘Curly hair.’ The way my mother tells it, she and Dad took one look at my full head of curly hair and named me Krispin. Before I was born, they were planning on naming me Walter.”

  “Krispin is much better.”

  “Thanks. I’ve been happy with it. It’s unique, and because of that, I think it’s helped give me an edge in business.”

  “Speaking of business, don’t you have a partnership in a company?”

  “Had. I sold out.”

  “Why?”

  Krispin fought the desire to tell her he’d become a Christian. Jess needed to see the change in him before he told her. Actions speak louder than words, his father always said. “Let’s just say, I wasn’t very happy with my life.”

  “Secrets?”

  “Omissions.”

  Jess pouted. She had a beautiful pout, he decided. “Well, I’m going home. I’ve got to lock up now.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Jess bolted toward the door. “Krispin, why did you come running over to my place when you saw the ambulance?”

  “I’d hate to have anything bad happen to my rescuer,” he admitted.

  “You seem different.” Jess reached for the door.

  “I am. And I think it’s for the good.”

  Jess gave a slight nod of the head. “Yeah, I like this new you much better than the one I pulled out of the harbor.”

  Krispin smiled and fought off the desire to say, I aim to please, knowing it would make him look superficial in her eyes. But he did want to please Jess. His prayers for her grew with intensity each passing day. He’d fallen in love with Jess—no longer with the vile selfishness of his past but with a healthy respect for her and a desire to see her succeed. He wanted to ask her out to dinner but knew she’d take the invitation the wrong way. Instead he simply said, “Good night, Jess.”