21. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Nick
Nick went straight to the shower upon returning from his jog. With a towel around his waist, he entered the bedroom. Beth wasn’t there. Good. She’d probably have a fit if she saw him like this. But his clothes were in the wardrobe. What was a guy to do? At every corner, she resisted him on some level. Keeping her distance. Not connecting with him. Did she truly care for the homeless at Harbor of Hope or was it to please her dad?
He put on his jeans and a Nike sweater and scuffed his hair with the towel. Beth had freaked out about him giving money away. What if she knew about the other people he had given money to? It would come back to him somehow. But Beth wouldn’t believe that. He felt compelled to help people. He had the means to do something and make a difference.
Time to face her judgement again. He went out to talk with Beth, barefooted.
“Hey.” He leaned on the wall at the entrance of the living room, arms crossed.
“Hi. Feel better after your run and shower?” Beth tucked her legs under her thighs on the sofa.
He wouldn’t fall for that seductive look she was giving him. Using her sexuality to influence him. A distraction from his focus on his vision.
She patted the space next to her. “Wanna sit down and chat?”
His eyes narrowed. “No, I’m good here, standing.” He flicked his head back. “What’s up?”
Beth moved her feet to the ground and placed her hands in her lap. “Is everything okay between us?”
“You tell me.”
Beth took a deep breath. “Nick, I think it’d be a good idea to take the pastor’s offer for counseling. It seems we aren’t on the same page with some things.”
With his shoulder, he pushed off the wall. “Is that so?”
She frowned. “Are you in a bad mood? Did I do something wrong?”
He forced a laugh but didn’t answer.
“I’ve been adjusting to the new time zone and sleep pattern. Today will be much better. I should’ve gone for a jog with you.” She fiddled with her necklace. “How much sleep did you get last night?”
His arms dropped to his side. “Maybe two hours. I haven’t slept much this last week. Lots on my mind. I haven’t stopped since I got off the ship. It’s hard to stay still, wanting to get on with making things happen.” He stared into space, unfocused. “I must go to Jerusalem soon. I feel an urgency in my soul.” He turned to face her.
“I can see you’re passionate about helping others. That’s admirable.” Beth tucked some hair behind her ear. “It would be good, while we’re here in the U.S. to drum up some financial support.”
“Maybe.”
“Um. I need to get some milk and eggs from the corner store. Do you want to come for a walk?”
“No. I’m making a quick call to Malachi. I need to share with him another dream I had.”
Beth blinked. “Oh. Okay. I’ll make you some breakfast when I get back.”
He nodded, although he didn’t want her to cook for him. Not now.
BETH
Beth entered the brightly lit convenience store. Neat rows of colorful fruit in crates somehow lifted her mood. She could do with some healthy treats. She lifted a pineapple and read the sticker. The store must’ve imported all these tropical fruits. Nick would love the variety. She grabbed a blue shopping basket and put in the pineapple, then added figs, apricots, and strawberries.
A lady moved through the narrow aisle, wearing a polo shirt with the store’s logo above the pocket. “Good mornin’, ma’am. How are you today?”
“I’m well, thank you. You?”
The woman’s brown eyes widened. “You from Australia?”
“That I am.” Beth smiled.
“I don’t meet many Australians around these parts, but I’d know that accent anywhere. Just like Nicole Kidman.”
Beth couldn’t help laughing. “I’m not as well-spoken as Nicole, but thank you for the compliment.”
The stocky lady bent down and adjusted the cartons of juice, bringing the back ones to the space at the front of the lower shelf. “How long are you staying in California?”
“A few weeks.” She added two apples to her basket. “I haven’t met anyone yet. Not a proper conversation with any of the locals. I’ve only been here for a few days, and I’m feeling homesick already. Never been out of Australia. I’m from a close-knit community. Small population.”
“People keep to themselves here. But, if you get involved in the activities, you’d meet lots of friendly folks. We have a notice board in the window. You should check it out. Yoga classes, Zumba, mother’s groups, there’s something for everyone.”
“Thank you.” She hesitated. “I’m Beth, and your name is?”
“Sally.” The African American woman stood, her hip leaning to one side. “You look like a homey-type-a-gal. Would you be interested in a craft group at the library? I go on Tuesday mornings, my day off.”
“Really? That’s nice of you to invite me. What crafts do they do?”
“People bring their projects and morning tea to share. I crochet. Some paint, scrapbook, dress jewelry, art, anything you like.”
Beth swapped the basket to her other arm as it weighed heavy. “That sounds wonderful. I’ll talk to my fiancé about it.”
Sally raised a brow. “You need permission to visit the library?”
Beth let out a small laugh. “No. He may have other plans for us that day. That’s all.”
“Well, I hope he can rearrange any plans so you can have some time with the ladies. It’ll do you good.”
“I’m sure it will.” She felt better already. “Which building and what time?”
“Library Connection. Ten o’clock.”
“Wonderful.”
Beth continued to meander around the store. Self-serve dried fruit, nuts, and snacks lined one wall, and she couldn’t resist her sweet tooth for chocolate-coated almonds. In the meat section, she scanned the options; salmon fillet, lamb liver—yuck, Red-Trout, Quail? In a corner store? Fancy-pansy. She picked up the salmon and placed it into her overflowing basket. Oh, she needed to get back to the apartment. Nick would’ve settled for cereal by now. She’d taken much longer than she’d intended.
Beth paid for the goods and thanked Sally once again for her friendship.
When Beth returned to the unit, the door remained slightly ajar. That suited her, with arms aching from the two shopping bags full of groceries. After using her hip to bump the door, she entered.
“Honey, I’m home.” She’d always wanted to say that. Beth grinned as she placed the food on the counter.
She called out again, “Nick, do you want to see what I bought? So many yummy options down there. Sorry, I took so long.”
He must’ve fallen asleep. He’d only had a few hours last night. She continued to unpack the groceries, humming a tune that played in her head.
Before she started on the fruit salad, she would check on Nick, in case he’d woken from her calling out and wanted to join her for breakfast.
She slowly creaked open the bedroom door. The covers were pulled aside—no Nick. Had he gone out again? Not even a text? She slid out her phone from her back pocket and checked to see if he’d called. Nothing.
Beth called his number, frustration building inside her. In their counseling session, they needed to address the topic of communication. The call rang out. Maybe he was driving. He’d call back soon.
BETH
By ten in the evening, Beth was a wreck. She sat rocking on the bed with her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Why wouldn’t he answer her calls? Had he had a car accident? No one would know to call her. Was he still angry with her because she’d questioned him about his decision to give the homeless guy two hundred dollars? If so, it was unfair to punish her like this and avoid her calls. She didn’t know anyone here. He had the only door key, and if she left the apartment, their things could get stolen.
Beth picked up her cell and checked the time for Perth.
10:15 p.m. Los Angeles, 1:15 p.m. for Perth. She dialed Cassie’s number.
“I’ve been thinking about you. How did Nick take the news?”
“He’s not here. I don’t know where he is. I walked to the corner store in the morning, came back, and he was gone. Nick won’t answer my calls.”
“How long since you last saw him?”
“Thirteen hours.” She was about to burst into tears. But she’d already cried most of the day and her emotions were spent.
“How could he do this to you? Oh, Beth. I’m so sorry this has happened.” Cassie growled. “I should’ve spoken up more. I didn’t want to come across too strong, but I worried that the engagement had happened too fast.”
“I didn’t even get to tell him that we needed to slow it down.”
“So why did he leave?”
“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of his. He’s been a bit out of character. Nick is usually caring and loving. But he was annoyed this morning. He wouldn’t even sit next to me on the sofa.”
“Let’s back up. Tell me everything you said to each other before you left for the store.”
Beth recalled word for word, which wasn’t hard as they hadn’t spoken long.
“So, who’s Malachi?”
“Nick’s contact in Israel.”
“So, he hasn’t slept much for days, and he urgently needs to get to Jerusalem. Beth, has he taken any of his clothes?”
“Do you think he’s left me for good?” Her voice shrilled.
“I don’t know. Are all his things still in the apartment?”
Beth flung herself off the bed and yanked the wardrobe door open. “Oh, my goodness! This is not happening. No.”
“Beth?”
She ran her hand over her face. Her heart pounded in her eardrums. Nick didn’t have many possessions or clothes, but nothing remained. The top shelf where he’d crammed his duffel bag was empty too. “The worst possible scenario.”
“The worst scenario would be marrying him. You’ve found out before it’s too late.”
She ran a hand through her knotty hair. “But . . . I love Nick.”
“Do you? In two months, you deeply love him?”
“I thought I did.” She swallowed. “But I don’t really know him . . . do I?” She reached out to the wall to steady herself and slid to the floor.
“Oh, Beth. I’m so sorry this has happened.” A little child’s voice spoke in the background. Johannah. Cassie whispered. “Mummy is on the phone, sweetie. Here, have a cookie.” The sound of plastic crumpling came next and a cute “tank you” from the toddler.
“Sorry.” Cassie returned. “Do you know anyone there?”
“The lady at the corner store,” she said weakly. “Maybe she’ll be there tomorrow morning on shift. She invited me to a craft group.”
“How long do you have the apartment for?”
“A month or two. But I don’t have the key. I think.” She jumped off the floor and searched the house while Cassie kept asking questions.
“I can’t find it. Nick left the door open this morning. It’s his friend’s apartment. I don’t even know who that is.”
“This is terrible.” Cassie sounded annoyed. Rightly so.
“I can’t stay here. I won’t be able to lock the door. What if I came back and a robber was in here, or my things got stolen?”
“Beth.”
“Yes?”
“You need to come back to Australia.”