Cynic, Surfer, Saint (Scenic Route to Paradise #1)

by Andrea Aarons

  Hugh sipped from his coffee as he eyed Rifta… one eye bruised and blackened. Setting the plate down in front of Hugh, Rifta cast Toni a challenging look before returning to the stove.

  Hugh said, “I guess you are saying that we should have let those fellows take Toni away last month because a God of love doesn’t approve of violence? Well, Rifta as far as I can tell, God expects us to do right and sometimes that means standing up against evil people.”

  Rifta sat down at the counter with his plate and Toni’s.

  Then he said, “I evil too. I g-glad to hurt those guys, no?”

  Hugh looked at Toni. She said, “That is why you need a Savior, Rifta. Inside there is a part of us that has to be changed. It’s evil. God cannot tolerate evil. Therefore, if we want to have God in our lives now and spend eternity with Him in heaven later... Absolutely, we must accept His plan to transform us into children of God.”

  Hugh blessed the food but added, “Lord, show Rifta how much You love him and also, that You don’t want him to go to hell.”

  Rifta and Hugh went to work on their breakfast but Toni looked from one to the other amazed. A new convert’s breakfast blessing, she decided. She wondered at this apparent God orchestrated mission’s trip she had participated in this summer, seeing these three men prepared for the gospel.

  Mishael was coming down now too.

  “Mishael! Good morning,” Toni said.

  “Here comes the wave rider,” Hugh said turning towards Mishael.

  Mishael smiled. “I hope you got that on video. It may be a long time before I get tubed again.”

  Rifta said, “Yes, it look crazy. I thought you dead in that wave but no. You pop out the end like a leetle fish.”

  They talked about yesterday’s amazing surfing finals; Alex winning the purse and Mishael winning an underwater camera.

  Rifta hurried to dress for church and then they left with time to spare.

  As August wound down to a close, the summer church attendees began to disperse and Hugh and Mishael along with Rifta, would be the next to go.

  Pastor O’Brien was away and a guest speaker from Wilmington preached the sermon. He was a young, energetic speaker and totally different from the regular under-shepherd of the Forecastle flock. Toni was used to a variety of styles in preaching and she adjusted easily. Hugh and Mishael were squinting and squirming trying to decipher the new man. After ten minutes or more, they settled down and tuned-in to his sermon.

  Rifta, who usually looked unmoved toward Pastor O’Brien was caught by this fisherman. He was on the hook and trying to get loose.

  At the altarcall, Toni noticed Rifta had gripped his shaking hands in his lap. She wondered what would happen if he let go? Would they shoot up into the air, surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s tug? She remembered her struggle with the gospel message years before. Once Toni recognized that it was the genuine God knocking on the door of her soul, she was relieved to let Him in.

  In fewer than 48 hours, Rifta would be boarding a plane with Mishael and Hugh. A strong desire to see him ‘born again of the Spirit’ overtook Toni. She was sure this was his time and that he was spiritually ripening for rebirth. What the future held for Rifta if he didn’t have a relationship, a genuine conversion with Christ as Savior, worried Toni. Partly the headline news, partly Biblical prophecy, but also her Hyde Park dream and it was not the first, rang an ominous warning bell. The world as they knew it, was changing rapidly. There were dark energies descending into moral vacuums created by sin and indifference and demonic subterfuge. A spiritual night was coming and the children of the light were living in its dusk.

  But Rifta fought and let the moment pass. They were on their way to the Quickerstop to pick up the ice cream only 10 minutes later.

  Toni sat next to Rifta who drove. They were both deep in thought but the backseat occupants were abuzz with the morning message and worship and also, the water baptism scheduled for the evening. Toni ran into the shop. She wasn’t taken unawares in seeing Hugh at the register before her a few minutes later. He held a limp bouquet of flowers. She handed him the ice cream too.

  Hugh said, “You were correct about Ruth having lots of flowers but I think she will appreciate these, nonetheless.” Toni nodded. Hugh was right, too. What woman didn’t enjoy getting flowers?

  There were a dozen people packed into Ruth’s place; air conditioners on overdrive. Mishael was sadly bewildered that Rick and his son, Alex missed church. He looked for them at Ruth’s but they were a no show. Even with their absence, it was a sweet final fellowship – a potluck with Ruth making an apple cobbler that was by far the best Toni had ever enjoyed. Everyone planned to be in the church service that evening, leaving the genuine goodbyes to later.

  They had turned onto Magnolia when Toni said, “Rifta, tomorrow you and I are going to be busy sorting through the luggage that must go with you and the other stuff which can be sent separately.”

  “Yes, and you? What now, you go to Merry?” asked Rifta.

  Toni refrained from glancing at Hugh in the backseat. She said quietly, “Yes, Merry goes back to Arizona next week and as for me, I need to return to my dogs, my church, my life in Santa Fe.” Rifta was making the turn into the driveway and when she saw the house Toni couldn’t stop the tear that emerged in the corner of her eye. She hated crying in front of people. She put on her sunglasses. There was no response from the backseat. She thought that Hugh and Mishael had drifted off to sleep after the huge afternoon meal and the calming 20 minute drive.

  Toni asked, “What about you Rifta? The tour is almost over and from what I understood, you were hired exclusively for Mishael’s Tour-before-Duty.”

  “These guys, they love me, yes? They keep me for D’Almata, no?” He responded as if it was a done deal making Toni think that it was so.

  Mishael piped up, “Rifta, we cannot get rid of you now! We got you broke-in with those thugs in the garage only two days ago!”

  Rifta grunted a laugh followed by a lopsided grin. Toni was sure he was reliving the beat-down.

  Hugh wasn’t asleep. He said, “Besides Bosnia is plainly a short hop away. Who knows, Rifta you might make your home on D’Almata?”

  Toni left her sunglasses on and made a beeline for the garage, circumventing the house along the driveway. Hugh was waiting for her at the kitchen door opposite the garage. He had gone through the house and opened the backdoor.

  Toni slowed when she saw him. “See you after 5?” She asked. The service started at 6:30 on Sunday night but she had learned to skip mentioning the number six.

  “Yes,” Hugh said but then he stepped forward to intercept her. “I have been meaning to talk to you about that teaching position on D’Almata. You know, we certainly need some Christian influence on the islands. We’ve been isolated but now all these crazy ideas and not-so-nice behavior has been introduced into our country. Sincerely, we need people like you to come but I don’t think this job is right for you.” As he said this Toni knew his statement rang true. She loved to teach and D’Almata needed genuine, lay-your-life-down for Christ, Christians but she had not gotten any peace in prayer about accepting the offer. The heavens were silent. Hugh tilted his head up and clasped his hands behind his back saying, “Actually, I have something else in mind that might interest you and of course you must come next week for Mishael’s birthday celebration. It is extremely important to him… and to me. Your young daughter, the happy one – she is invited too. The other pretty daughter and even your son… Your entire family, bring them all. We love to celebrate birthdays but this one is momentous, even historic as Mishael receives the right to rule and so on and so forth.”

  Toni was desperately hoping the tiny puddle of tears that was building under her sunglasses wouldn’t decide to make an appearance now. Quit blinking! She told herself.

  She told him, “Thank you Hugh. That is a wonderfully gracious invitation. I will certainly consider it.” She smiled and then turned away. The tears would wait for no one! She sa
id over her shoulder, “See you at… at 6!”

  All summer Toni had dodged the word and number six with some dexterity but there she had said it. In spite of her maudlin state of mind, Toni was curious. How would Hugh respond? Not turning to look – she couldn’t with tears running down, she heard him murmur, “All right, then.”

  Toni climbed the garage steps to her apartment, heavy of heart. She wasn’t big on birthdays but good-byes always made her sad and now these tears! It had been a fruitful summer. As Merry stated in June, it was Toni’s adventure. And thankfully, not a misadventure. Subsequently, it was closing time, so to speak. Grappling for a tissue from her bag, she sat down on the couch. The expansive view from her window was as magnificent today as it was that first day, back in June. God had done a work in her and through her, touching these foreigners. A bond had meshed between them and she realized how much she would genuinely miss them after Tuesday. Maybe she would go to Mishael’s birthday festivities, after all.

  Paying off all her bills was accomplished, except for the college loan. Toni had uncertain plans about her financial future but she did have the bonus for getting Mishael up on his surfboard. Celina Nelson text her clarifying that the bonus was in her bag, “the bag” from Silver Studios. Okay... The bonus was the $5000. emergency funds which were hidden in the lining. Toni suspected that was the case, although it hadn’t been written into her contract, specifically. It would take every penny of her bonus to finance her trip to D’Almata which was illogical and “ludicrous” as Mishael was fond of saying. Resting on the couch with her heeled sandals still on, sleep overcame Toni as she meditated on the trip.

  In her dream, a split second before her cell phone buzzed waking her up, Toni was taking three thick towels from the linen closet at the beach house. Zzzzzzip! It was the third time her phone buzzed. Toni sat up. She fell asleep on the couch! Looking at her phone she saw that it was 5:30. Merry had text a congratulations for Mishael’s surfing victory from the day before, but also “Call, Mom when you can! Luv ya, M.”

  Toni didn’t have time to respond to Merry right then! She kicked off her sandals and raced into the bathroom for a brief shower in preparation for the evening church service. Coming through the kitchen door at 6pm, she saw that the men were ready to go.

  “Yes, here is Toni,” Rifta commented.

  Hugh put down his reading glasses and book while Mishael picked up his extra clothes for the baptism.

  They headed for the door when Toni blurted, “The towels! Mishael did you bring towels to dry off with?” No, they hadn’t remembered towels for their baptism. As a result, as they headed to the car, Toni ran to the back closet where beach towels were stored. She grabbed two. Stopping in mid stride, she returned to the closet and picked up a third towel… Her dream; she picked out three beach towels in her dream. She was smiling as she hopped into the car next to Rifta. Well, now... she thought.

  Pastor O’Brien was back as they knew he would be. Rick and Alex were in the parking lot when the beige Mercedes pulled in. As the others went into the building, Mishael lingered with Alex. Mishael told him that he had missed “an awesome sermon” given by the visiting pastor that morning. Alex responded that Mishael had missed the last of the great surf that had pushed in over the weekend.

  “You won’t see waves like we had this morning – glassy and huge with a fantastic offshore… unless you go up to Hatteras,” Alex told Mishael.

  Mishael slapped Alex on the back, saying, “Even if I could have been barreled again like yesterday, I wouldn’t have missed that sermon this morning. No my friend, the creation is wonderful but the Creator is even better.” Both were thoughtful as they entered the sanctuary to find their seats.

  The message was abbreviated and then the baptism was to follow. There was a teenage girl getting water baptized too.

  The sermon was closing with an altarcall as was the practice of the Forecastle Church on the Rock, when Toni sensed a significant shift in the atmosphere.

  The pastor was saying, “Preceding Jesus arrival we were guided by the 10 Commandments, until we could believe in the coming Savior. Let me put it another way… The Jewish laws were our teacher and guide until Christ came to make us right with God through our faith. But now that Jesus Christ has come, we don't need those laws any longer to guard us and lead us to Him. You see now because of your faith you have a direct relationship with Jesus becoming God’s children. Your baptism in Christ is not simply washing you up for a fresh start but you become one with Him and He overshadows you. You are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same. We are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus… and all of God's promises to His people of old belong to us.”

  Toni recognized this conclusion coming from Galatians chapter three. It was a reference point for those getting baptized tonight. God’s Presence was tangible and Toni with eyes squeezed tight, silently prayed for the conversion of the lost – especially, for Rifta’s decision. The folded towels continued in her lap from when she sat down twenty minutes ago. That third towel acted as a contact point for her faith; she knew that she knew tonight heaven would party over Rifta’s eternal choice.

  It seemed like a moment later, a snapshot in the photo album of heaven when Rifta stood with the others next to the baptismal tub, his eyes red from tears of repentance, relief and joy.

  He had marveled at Toni when she handed him the towel upon his return from the altar.

  “You knew, yes?” he asked.

  Toni shrugged and said, “God knew – yes.” They hugged and then he went after the others to get water baptized.

  Chapter 25

  Monday. Early, Toni had gone down to the waters edge doing “dawn patrol.” She had no intention of getting in the water but out of habit she wanted to see the conditions. The morning star hung above the horizon in the gloom. Its reflection glistened on the ocean face. The weekend swell was gone. The expanse was smooth with mere ankle-high and rounded waves moving toward shore. The air was damp and quiet; no seagulls or sandpipers up yet. Far away she heard a door close. Looking back she squinted at a shadowy figure coming down in the dark from the house… Mishael wanting to get wet with the Plastic Fantastic one more time before leaving tomorrow, she decided. Maybe he would take a walk with her. It was going to be a busy day, organizing and packing. Toni decided she would make it a quick walk.

  “I see you too want a morning stroll before breakfast.” It was Hugh, not Mishael.

  “You’re up early,” Toni temporized as she regained her composure.

  Hugh gave a grunt. “I couldn’t sleep. And then I saw your kitchen light on… Let’s walk, shall we?” He took her elbow and pointed her down the beach.

  Hugh was not normally up this early. Toni began thinking of Hugh’s early morning ride in mid-June beside the river and into the Santa Fe forest. “You will be seeing your horses soon… Do you ride every morning?” she asked.

  He replied, “Almost every morning in D’Almata or I walk. Our islands are handsome and still somewhat wild… but how did you know I liked to ride in the morning?” Toni looked sideways at him but she didn’t respond as they walked on.

  “Yes, that is right. You remember my rude behavior when you were bathing in the creek next to the Nelson’s ranch,” Hugh said dropping her elbow.

  “I wasn’t bathing,” Toni corrected him, but she was glad he finally made the connection. “I was fully clothed and simply cooling my feet after two or three hours of hiking up the mountain and back.”

  “No, of course you were not bathing, per se. I saw you sitting with your barefeet in the water as I rode past and then as I rode on, I saw your shoes. I thought ‘oh, I’ll take these back to her and perhaps I may have another look.’ You seemed like a postcard in the shade of the overhanging trees and the dappled sunlight. But as I drew near, I saw I had alarmed you and I became rude. I am sorry for that,” Hugh told her.

  Oh, so that is how it was!

  Hugh conti
nued, “Later, when I realized you were Mishael’s surfing instructor I felt I must compel you to remain with us when you threatened to renege on your contract.”

  “Well, now…” Toni began. “So, you actually knew I was the one and same woman from the river that morning? But I don’t understand.”

  In his usual forthright manner, Hugh answered. “We D’Almatans are proud. It is offensive to be discourteous. We go to great lengths to correct a wrong.”

  “Wow,” Toni said but she was thinking of what great lengths God went to see souls setup for salvation.

  “It certainly seems like you took great pains to absolve yourself,” she added after a moment.

  Hugh said nothing. He sighed, “Yes, I suppose that is what I was doing but I was compelled as I noticed something in you.” Looking down at her with a grin, his eyes sparkled. “Peace. Yes, it was peace that you emitted like a candle flame on a black night. At the time I decided, I want that… I want what this American surf instructor has. So you see, now I have it! I wasn’t sure how you obtained that peace but then I found out…”

  A lone early gull glided parallel to the surf. Neither spoke for a minute. Toni wondered at his words.

  I have peace?

  No God, no peace.

  Know God, know peace…

  Yes, I have it!

  Toni’s heart sang with comprehension. Peace! Wasn’t that a main ingredient to a well-lived life?

  Hugh continued, “Perhaps, you understand? When I first met you, I sincerely thought that it was you… You, Toni Merriweather that I was attracted to but then that morning at church, God showed me it was Him. I saw God, the true God emanating from you and I was like a moth about the candle.”

  She liked Hugh.

  Toni said, “Ah, I see now.” And she perfectly understood.

  They walked in silence as the morning dawned and the surf shooshed rhythmically. More birds were moving about. The morning star retired for the day at some undefined moment. As they turned around, Hugh said, “Mishael’s birthday celebration. It’s a national affair and seriously celebratory and formal for the royals. You’ve spent a great deal of time one-on-one with Mishael; more than all but two or three of his educational instructors over the years. We expect you to honor him in your attendance.” He threw his hands behind his back and straightened himself beyond his casual military posture. Tension reverberated between them as he looked over and down at Toni. Her feet tread in the water as she dangled her flip-flops in her left hand.