Waiting For Rachel: A Christian Romance (Those Karlsson Boys)

by Jordan, Kimberly Rae

  An upbeat worship song had come on the small stereo she had on corner of her desk, and Serena couldn’t help but do a little dance to the rhythm of the music. She picked up the paper Reverend Anderson had left her a few minutes earlier on his way out the door. Still bobbing her head and tapping her foot in time to the song, Serena skimmed the notes scrawled on the paper. Some last minute announcements for the bulletin on Sunday.

  Serena dropped down into her chair. As she laid the paper on the desk, a movement in the doorway caught her attention. She glanced up and found herself being observed by a tall, dark haired man with piercing blue eyes and a five o’clock shadow. He leaned against the doorjamb, one dark eyebrow lifted and his lips curved into a half smile. The way his eyes sparkled with laughter ignited a flicker of warmth in the pit of her stomach. Serena sucked in a quick breath. It had been a long, long time since she’d experienced anything like that.

  Trying to compose herself, Serena straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin and smiled. “Can I help you?”

  The man moved from the doorjamb and walked towards her desk. “It’s nice to see someone who enjoys their job.”

  “Not hard to enjoy work in a place like this.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Still smiling, he sat on the corner of her desk, bracing his tanned hands on his thighs. “Is Damian Karlsson in?”

  Serena tilted her head. “Do you have an appointment?”

  “Nope. Do I need one?”

  “Pastor Karlsson is pretty busy these days…” Serena began.

  “And you’re standing guard at the door?” A familiar smile played at the corners of his mouth.

  Serena tried to place where she’d seen it before. When comprehension finally dawned she nearly smiled herself. “I keep out all troublesome men who show up with no appointments.”

  Another lift of his dark brow. “I think he’ll see me,” the man informed her.

  “What makes you say that?” Serena leaned back in her seat. She knew she shouldn’t, but she was enjoying the light banter with the handsome man. His jet black hair was cut fairly short, though its waves kept it from looking too severe. He was tall, probably a little over six feet as best she could judge from her seat, and had broad shoulders. He looked like he spent some time working out or at least doing physical labor. But it had been his smile and blue eyes that had given away who he was.

  “I’m the best man.”

  “Well, you’re rather full of yourself now, aren’t you?”

  He braced a hand on the desk and leaned towards her. “Hey, they gave me the title. I didn’t make it up for myself.”

  Serena cocked her head. “Yes, you do seem much more humble than that statement would have a person believe.”

  The man seemed momentarily at a loss for words, then shook his head. “Where on earth did Damian find you? This office must be a pretty lively place with you around.”

  “You can only imagine.” Serena smiled at him, then stood and held out her hand. “I’m Serena Menard, and you must be Alex Karlsson.”

  “You knew,” he said, accusation lacing his tone as he gave her hand a firm shake.

  “I figured it out pretty quick. Damian has a picture of you on his desk.” She compared him to the image in her head of the photograph. “Though your hair was a tad longer when it was taken.”

  “Yeah, that was probably from several years ago. And here I thought it was the remarkable resemblance Damian and I have.”

  Serena laughed. “About the only things you two have in common are your height and eye color. And maybe a sense of humor.”

  “I got him beat in that department.” Alex winked at her. “I’m the standout. The other two are like pieces of bread.”

  “Pieces of bread?” Serena asked.

  “Sure. That’s what I like to call them since they’re blond, like two pieces of white bread. We’re like a sandwich. Damian is the top piece of bread, Jace is the bottom, and I’m the meat in the middle. You know…the part of the sandwich with substance that everyone likes.”

  “Ah, trust a man to relate to food. Why aren’t you the net between two tennis players? Or the football between two goal posts?”

  His smile widened causing a dimple to appear in his right cheek. “A girl who knows her sports. I like that.”

  It had been forever since anyone had called Serena a girl. She started to call him on it but then decided not to. “Don’t let my comments fool you. I’m no sports fanatic, but with Damian and Reverend Anderson around I’ve had to learn at least the basics of most sports.”

  “Never can go wrong knowing about sports,” Alex informed her. “And speaking of Damian…are you going to let me through?”

  “I suppose I should.” Serena pushed a button on her phone.

  “What’s up?” Damian’s voice came through the speaker.

  “Someone here to see you.”

  “Can you ask them to wait for a bit? Rachel will kill me if I don’t get these vows written. Who was the person that suggested writing our own?” Damian muttered something that Serena couldn’t quite make out through the speaker.

  “I believe it was you, actually.”

  “Don’t remind me. Just give me ten minutes.”

  “I don’t know. This man seems most insistent.” Serena grinned at Alex.

  More muttering. “Okay, send him in.”

  Serena disconnected the line and pointed down the hallway past the filing cabinet. “His office is the first door on your right. Maybe you can give him a hand with the vows.”

  Alex held up both hands in a hands-off pose. “Hey, his wedding, his vows.”

  Before Serena could reply, Alex headed down the hall and disappeared through the door into Damian’s office. She stared at the empty hallway for a few seconds, replaying their conversation in her head. Her cheeks burned as it dawned on her how flirtatious she may have sounded. That had not been her intention. Once she’d realized he was Damian’s brother, she had slipped into the banter mode she often used with Damian. She loved Damian like a brother and treated him like one, too.

  Alex, however, was a whole different story. Her reaction to him was anything but brotherly.

  Trying not to focus on the attractiveness of Damian’s younger sibling, Serena turned her attention to the handwritten list of announcements she’d been studying before she’d seen Alex standing in the doorway. Reverend Anderson’s handwriting had gotten progressively worse over the three years she’d had the job of his secretary. He preferred to not use the computer which meant deciphering his notes each time he left them for her. Just when she thought she had it figured out, it became an even worse illegible scrawl. He should’ve been a doctor.

  “Serena?” A voice interrupted her concentration.

  She looked up, mentally shaking herself for being so out of it that she wasn’t hearing people come into the office. “Hi, Rachel!”

  Serena quickly stood and walked around the desk to embrace her friend. “You’re looking wonderful.”

  “Thanks,” Rachel said with a blush. “I can’t believe it’s only three days until the wedding.”

  “How’s everything going? Do you need me to do anything?” Serena was sharing the role of maid of honor with Rachel’s daughter, Mari. Since Mari was still recovering from the car accident she had been in, Serena had taken over most of the responsibilities of the position. And it was her pleasure to do it for both Mari and Rachel. They were among the two sweetest women she’d ever known.

  “It’s going fine. Lots of people must be praying for us because so far it’s all gone smoothly.” Rachel’s brow furrowed. “Of course, we’re not married yet.”

  “It will all be fine and what isn’t, doesn’t matter. All that does matter is that you are marrying the man you love.” Serena gave her grin. “And it’s about time.”

  Rachel plopped into the chair beside Serena’s desk, so Serena went back to her own seat.

  “How’s Mari doing today?” Serena asked.

  Rachel’
s eyebrows drew together, her eyes clouded with concern. “She’s okay, I guess. It seems more of her memory is coming back, but she doesn’t remember Jace or the accident. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”

  “For now it’s probably for the best, Rach. She doesn’t need to have to deal with the emotional baggage while she’s still healing from all the physical stuff.”

  Rachel nodded. “You’re right. It just hurts to see her in pain and know there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

  “Is she going to be okay for the wedding?”

  “I think so. She’ll be in a wheelchair. At first I thought it might bother her, but when I mentioned postponing the wedding until she was walking, she just about had a fit.”

  “Mari wouldn’t want you to put off your happiness with Damian because of the accident. Like me, she knows how much you deserve this.”

  “You guys are so sweet.” Rachel smiled and the tension eased from her face. “Hey, did I tell you that my dad and I finally made contact?”

  “You did? That’s terrific!” Serena was so happy that things were coming together for her friend. “I’ll bet you’re relieved.”

  “Yeah, that first conversation was difficult. Just reconnecting again…telling him that Mom had passed away.” Sadness clouded Rachel’s eyes. “He seemed genuinely sorry to hear about that. It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year…”

  “I’m sure you’re missing her more than ever right now.”

  Rachel blinked rapidly. “Yes, for a lot of reasons. I wish she could have met Mari. She never forgot her birthday and each year would give me one single rose on that day. And I wish she could have heard my dad’s apologies. I think she would have forgiven him—I think she had forgiven him—but to be able to tell him that would have been good for her. And I just need her here now. I want to ask her how to be a mom to a teenager. I need her here to help me plan this wedding.” Serena saw her swallow hard and when Rachel looked up her eyes were moist with unshed tears. “I just miss her, you know?”

  Serena got up and went around to where her friend sat to give her a hug. “Yes, I know.”

  For a few minutes Serena held her friend close to let her grieve, knowing that sadness was going to be a part of an otherwise joyful occasion. And not just for Rachel. Those not in attendance would be missed by many.

  “I’m sorry, Serena,” Rachel said as she drew back from her embrace. “Didn’t mean to fall apart on you.”

  Not bothering to go back to her own chair, Serena settled into the one next to Rachel. “I’m guessing you haven’t allowed yourself to feel these feelings much the past little while.”

  Rachel shrugged. “I feel like I have so much to be thankful for, I shouldn’t be dwelling on what I don’t have.”

  “Grieving doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful. I think it would be strange if you weren’t missing your mother during all of this. Sadness can have a small piece of your heart, just so long as it doesn’t take over everything.”

  Rachel smiled as she rubbed the tears from her cheeks. “It won’t. Too much of my heart is filled with love and gratitude for Mari’s life and Damian’s love. And my dad. And you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You’d do just fine,” Serena assured her. “I’m just glad to be able to help out where I can. Is your dad going to be able to make it to the wedding?”

  “Yes! I was kind of hesitant to ask him, but when I mentioned I was getting married, he asked if he could come.”

  “Is he remarried? I thought I heard you mention that he was.”

  “Yes, he is and has two other daughters.”

  “Will they come with him?”

  Rachel shook her head. “He said that he’d love for us all to meet at some point, but that for now he figured it was best if it was just him and me.”

  “I’m sure that’s a good thing.”

  “Yeah, I was a bit nervous about seeing him again to begin with. I didn’t relish the thought of having to deal with a step-family right away too.”

  “It sounds like he was sensitive to that.”

  Rachel pressed a hand to her stomach. “Doesn’t mean I’m not still nervous about seeing him again. I get butterflies just thinking about it.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine. I’m glad you were able to put aside your feelings toward him and work it out. Not sure I’d feel the same about my father.”

  “You don’t have a relationship with your dad?”

  Serena shook her head. “Haven’t for many, many years. He left my mom and me when I was about ten years old. Turns out he had another family on the side. Or maybe we were the family on the side. I don’t know. He was a travelling salesman and had one family in New York and another in Chicago. Haven’t seen him since he walked out the door.”

  “What would you do if he contacted you out of the blue like my dad did?”

  Serena paused. Should she be honest or should she respond in the correct way? “I’d probably agree to meet him just so I could slug him.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened with surprise. “Slug him? You?”

  “Oh yes. I was quite the fighter in my younger years. I got into plenty of scraps. I have no doubt I’d come out on top in a fight with him.”

  Serena could see her friend processing what she’d said. “Wow. Hmm. Definitely not what I expected you to say.”

  Serena laughed. “No doubt. Truth be told, that’s my first response. Would that really be how I’d react? I don’t know. Clearly I still have some forgiveness to work on when it comes to my dad. And my mom too, most likely.”

  “I’ve never really asked you much about your past. I guess I figured if I wasn’t willing to dish on mine it wasn’t fair to ask others about theirs.” Rachel grinned. “But now that I’m basically an open book, perhaps I should ask a few more questions.”

  “Don’t worry yourself about it for now,” Serena suggested with a smile. “There will be plenty of time when all this wedding stuff is over and done with.

  “True enough,” Rachel agreed. “And speaking of which, is my husband-to-be around?”

  Serena nodded. “He’s got the best man in there with him.”

  Rachel straightened in her seat. “Alex is here?”

  “Yep, walked in about fifteen minutes ago and caught me singing and dancing…well, not dancing more like swaying, to the worship music.” She waved her hand in the direction of the stereo.

  A grin spread across Rachel’s face. “Now that would have been a sight to see. And hear.”

  “Well, I made an impression, that’s for sure.”

  Rachel stood. “I think I’m going to see that long-lost brother-in-law-to-be.”

  “I’ll be so glad when you’re married and you can finally leave off the ‘to-be’ you keep tacking on to every relation in Damian’s family.”

  “Too much, huh?” Rachel asked, her head cocked to the side.

  “Let’s just say it will be nice when Damian is finally just your husband, and his family are the in-laws, not the in-laws-to-be.”

  “I can hardly wait, too.” Rachel said and then giggled. “Only three more days.”

  “Get on in there. I think Damian could use some help with his vows.”

  Smiling, Rachel followed the path Alex had taken earlier and disappeared into Damian’s office.

  Serena settled back down at her desk and forced herself to concentrate as she typed the announcements into the computer and began to set up the bulletin for Sunday. All the while she tried to ignore the small part of her heart that longed to be in the room with Damian, Alex and Rachel. Family. It would be so nice to belong to a family. Serena wasn’t sure she ever really had…at least not like what Alex and Damian had and what Rachel would be a part of soon. But maybe someday there’d be something like that for her.

  * * * * *

  Alex watched with curiosity and a pang of jealousy as his brother and Rachel hugged. He’d been quite surprised when Damian had told him of their engagement. Of course, h
e’d been out of close touch with his family for far too long and hadn’t been up on all the latest happenings. That was about to end though. If things went as well as he hoped, Fridley, Minnesota would soon be his home once again.

  “So you got past the dragon lady unscathed?” Alex asked Rachel.

  “Dragon lady?” Rachel quirked a brow. “Ah, you mean Serena.”

  “The one and only. I was beginning to think I’d never see my brother with her standing guard. At the very least I’d have to make an appointment.”

  “Hey, if she gave you a rough time, it’s only because you deserve it. She’s never been anything but sweet and loving to me.”

  Damian held a hand towards his brother. “Don’t bother arguing with her. I hear the same thing every time I mention Serena.”

  “You guys need someone to keep you in line. Now that you’re out of reach of your mom, someone has to do it.”

  Alex laughed and Damian joined him. “Yeah, Mom and Serena get along pretty good.”

  “Speaking of your mother.” Rachel turned to look at Damian. “She’s got some concerns about the rehearsal dinner. You need to give her a call.”

  Alex almost laughed as he saw the weary look on his brother’s face.

  “I’ll call her later. Why don’t we go for lunch?” Damian looked at him. “Want to join us?”

  “Never turn down food,” Alex replied. “That’s my motto.”

  “I hear ya,” Damian said as he leaned across his desk to push a button on his phone. “Serena, we’re going out for lunch. Want to come?”

  “Yes, please come,” Rachel said in the direction of the phone.

  “I’ve got quite a bit of stuff to do here,” Serena replied.

  “Nothing that can’t wait an hour,” Damian told her. “As your boss, I’m telling you to go for lunch.”

  “Well, I’d never argue with the boss,” Serena said, laughter lacing her tone.

  Alex grinned. He liked a woman with a sense of humor. It had been a while since he’d been around one whose humor caught him off guard and actually made him laugh.