CHAPTER TWENTY
Lee slowed to a stop and waited as Elsa sniffed all around the base of a large shade tree. Rori’s hand on his arm felt right, and he hoped it did for her too.
Their earlier conversation had cemented his plan to ask her out. As long as she was being honest about it, his unknown past wasn’t an issue for her.
And when he’d realized that, he hadn’t wanted their time together that evening to end. Lee knew it was time to let her know how he felt. Normally, he wouldn’t walk Elsa for too long in the evening, but that night, he planned to take her all around the neighborhood.
“Is this an older neighborhood?” Rori asked as they waited for Elsa to start off again.
“Not really. The oldest homes in this area were probably built back in the eighties. There are definitely older areas of town.”
“It’s so pretty with all these trees. They’re big and leafy.”
“Yep. And as you’ll see in a couple of months, they’re even prettier when autumn arrives.”
“I look forward to taking some pictures then.”
Throughout their walk, Lee answered all the questions she had about life in Serenity, including his years spent growing up there. He would have liked to ask about her life, but he got the feeling she wasn’t ready to share beyond what she already had.
He was glad she’d shared at least that much with him because it had given him a bit of insight into her. It had helped him to understand why she was so hesitant to immediately accept invitations. She’d probably never been made to feel wanted in her life, which meant that she had a hard time believing that she would be wanted somewhere.
It was his hope and prayer that soon she would come to understand that she had value to him and to his family.
They slowly made their way down a few blocks, then Lee guided them a couple of streets over before heading back in the direction of the house. Elsa guaranteed that they didn’t move too quickly, but eventually, they approached the house.
As they walked up the sidewalk to the front porch, Lee slowed to a stop, and Elsa took advantage of that to sniff the plants in the yard.
When Lee shifted to face Rori, her hand slipped from his arm. She looked up at him with a curious expression.
“I don’t know if you’ve been able to tell,” Lee began, feeling a bit like he was back in high school, trying to ask his crush out. “But I like you.” He hesitated. “I mean, like, really like you.”
In the light cast from the lamp post that was in the landscaped area next to where they stood, Lee could see Rori’s eyes widen as her mouth dropped open. Was that a good surprise or a bad surprise?
“You like me?” she asked, her voice soft. Her tone was incredulous.
“I do.” He wasn’t going to back down now. It felt like an all-or-nothing sort of moment, and he was going to dive right in. “And I’d like to spend more time with you.”
Lee thought she might like to do that too. She’d seemed to enjoy the time they spent together, and she had accepted his invitation for the pizza night readily enough.
Still, his heart banged against his ribs as he waited for her to respond, praying that she felt as he did and would want to move things beyond just friendship.
“So like… you want to go on a…?” Her voice trailed off, as if she was afraid to say the word.
“Date,” he filled in for her. “Yes. I would like to go on a date with you.”
“Oooh.” The word escaped her as she continued to stare at him.
Lee smiled, understanding in that moment that while she might like him, she hadn’t thought it would actually go anywhere.
“Is that a yes?”
Finally, she seemed to snap out of her shock. “You really want to go on a date with me?”
“Of course,” Lee assured her.
“But…” Her brow furrowed. “Why?”
That simple question hurt Lee’s heart since it revealed that she did not understand how amazing she was. No one had ever let her know that she was worth something to them. That she was worth loving.
Lee looped Elsa’s leash handle around his wrist, then reached out and took her hands in his. Her fingers grasped his tightly as she clung to him.
If she’d been a different kind of woman, he might have thought she was fishing for compliments. However, he was fairly certain that Rori really didn’t understand why he wanted to be with her. So, if she needed to hear the words, then he’d happily say them.
“You are amazing. I love your caring heart and how you treat the people around you. I love it when we talk, and hanging out with you has become one of my favorite things to do. You’re special to me.” Letting go of her hand, he reached up and brushed his fingers across her cheek. “And to top it all off, I think you’re beautiful.”
She blinked rapidly, her hand tightening around his. “I can’t believe that.”
“Why not?” Lee asked. “It’s all true.”
“I’ve just never…” Again, her words trailed off, leaving Lee to fill in the blanks.
“You’ve never dated?”
She tilted her head. “No. I have. But it’s never been like this.”
“What do you mean?”
Her gaze dropped to their clasped hands for a moment, then her gaze met his again. “This just feels more… important.”
Lee’s chest swelled with the emotion her words brought forth. It felt important to him, too.
In the past, he’d had a vague sense of the future with the women he’d dated. With Rori, however, he already had a pretty clear picture of what their future could look like. What he wanted it to look like.
He felt so at ease with Rori, and he hoped she felt the same way with him. She fit so well into his life, and his family liking her was a definite bonus.
Given the ups and downs of his previous relationship, he really wanted one that brought him peace and happiness. He’d experienced that whenever he was with Rori, and he wanted more of it.
She just had to agree to go out on this first date with him, and he was confident that there would be many more in their future.
“Though I’m a little scared, I still want to say yes.”
“Are you worried about what people at work might think?” Lee asked, wanting to know what was making her feel scared. “Or what might happen if the date doesn’t go well?”
Her gaze dropped, and she didn’t reply right away. Lee waited, not wanting to rush her, though he was anxious to hear what she had to say.
“All the above, I guess. Plus, the friendships I’ve made with people in your family. It would be hard to lose all that.”
Lee could understand why she felt that way, and he wanted to make sure she understood that it wouldn’t happen the way she feared. However, he doubted she’d just take him at his word.
“It is a risk,” he agreed. “But I don’t like to start something by thinking about it ending. I’ve gotten to know you a little over the past few weeks, and I wouldn’t have asked you out if I didn’t think there was a good chance of things working out.”
“Working out?” she asked. “Working out how?”
Did he dare mention that he was looking for something long-term? That he wasn’t after just a few casual dates or someone to pass some time with?
“I’m not asking for just one date,” he said. “I want to see if we could have something long-lasting.”
Rori’s eyes widened as she stared up at him. “Long lasting?”
“Did you think I was just talking about one date?”
She shrugged as she rubbed her fingertips against her lips. Her gaze lowered as she said, “I assumed it was just one. That’s all it usually is.”
Lee could hear the edge of hurt in her words, and it made him want to wrap his arms around her. “Well, I want more. I want all the dates you’ll give me.”
Her gaze lifted to his, and once again, she didn’t reply right away. She just stared at him, as if she could read his true intentions in his expression. He hoped she could.
“Okay,” she finally said. “One date. I’ll give you one date.”
“Just one?” Lee asked, uncertain of what was in her mind.
“For starters.” Rori tilted her head. “If it doesn’t go well, we can just pretend it never happened.”
“That’s a lot of pressure on a first date,” Lee said.
“If you’d rather rescind your invitation, I’ll understand.”
“Nope.”
Lee didn’t know why she felt she had to make it a challenge for him, but he was up for it. He got the idea that she liked him enough to go on that date, but something was making her wary. So he’d respect that.
And since he already had a plan in mind for their first date that he thought might make her happy, Lee saw no reason to put it off.
“So… how about tomorrow afternoon?”
“What time?”
If her quick response was any indication, she wasn’t reluctant to have it happen so soon.
“Noon?”
“Okay.” She hesitated. “What should I wear?”
“Whatever you’re comfortable in. We’re not going anywhere fancy,” he said. “Unless you’d like a fancy dinner.”
Rori waved her hands in the air. “Oh no. Please. Nothing fancy.”
Lee chuckled. “Maybe we can do that some other day.”
“You’re very confident.”
“I am. Confident and hopeful.”
A smile bloomed on her face. “I’m… I’m looking forward to it.”
Lee was too. After they said goodnight, he watched her walk away and lingered with Elsa to watch her drive away.
Charli peered into the picnic basket on the counter. “You got everything?”
“I think so.” Lee brought up the list he’d made on his phone and checked it over one last time. “Yep. Looks like I have it all.”
“Take pictures.” She beamed at him. “I think this is so wonderful.”
“Me too.”
He closed the lid of the basket, then picked it up. Charli trailed him to the front door, where she gave him a hug.
“I’ll be praying it goes well.”
“Thank you.” Given that he only had one shot at this first date, he really appreciated his sister’s support.
Picking up the bag he’d left by the door earlier, Lee stepped through the door Charli held open for him and walked down the stairs to the driveway. He put the picnic items in the back of his car, then slid behind the wheel, eager to get the afternoon underway.
Actually, he really just wanted to get Rori into the car because then he’d know she wasn’t going to back out on their plans for the afternoon. She’d mentioned having to change plans she had with Essie for their date, so he hoped that since she was willing to do that, she wouldn’t back out.
All morning, every time his phone had chimed with a message, he’d braced himself to read that Rori had changed her mind. But there was still no cancellation text, so he was proceeding with the agreed-upon plan.
When he reached her building, Lee got out and headed for the door. The lack of security still worried him, but he pushed it aside as he jogged down the stairs to the below ground floor where Rori’s apartment was situated.
In the dim hallway outside her door, Lee paused for a moment and prayed that God would guide their time together that afternoon. Then he rapped on the door and waited for Rori to open it.
When she did, she had a smile on her face, and the knot Lee had been trying to ignore in his stomach loosened.
“Hi,” Rori said, her smile going soft.
“Hi.” Lee took in her appearance. She was wearing a pair of denim shorts that ended just above her knees, and she’d paired them with a sage green T-shirt. “You look beautiful.”
“Oh.” She glanced down at herself, then back up at him, her cheeks pink. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned sideways and held out his elbow. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yep. Just let me grab my bag.”
She walked to the counter in the kitchen to pick up her camera bag. When Lee had told her to bring it along, her curiosity had definitely been piqued. But all he’d told her was that she might want to take some pictures.
When she stepped into the hallway, Lee took the camera bag from her, then waited as she locked her door. Together, they climbed the stairs, then headed out of the building to his car.
“Have you explored outside of Serenity much since moving here?” Lee asked as he pulled away from the curb.
“Not really.” She shifted in her seat, and Lee glanced over to see her angled to face him. “Aside from when I was here to cat-sit. That place was out of town. I usually spent some time each day walking around that property.”
“Well, we’re not going anywhere near as fancy as the grounds of a mansion,” Lee said. “But I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Her confidence in his ability to plan a date she’d like made him smile. More than anything, he wanted her to enjoy this time so they could do it again and again.
He drove past the outskirts of the town and headed toward the road that circled the lake that wasn’t far from Serenity. They drove around to a gravel road that led away from the lake. About a mile down the road, he pulled the car into a small area with a packed dirt section.
“This is a remote wooded area,” Rori said. The words might have been wary from someone else, but he didn’t hear any concern in her voice.
Lee chuckled. “Well, it is wooded, but not so remote. We’ll probably have company at some point.”
They got out of the car, then Lee grabbed the stuff from the back. “Let’s go this way.”
Together they walked on a dirt path, following alongside the creek that ran through the area until they came to a spot where there was a wide stretch of grass under towering shade trees. There were a couple of picnic tables in the area, but he didn’t choose one of them.
“Now,” Lee began. “I want you to wait right here.”
Rori looked around. “Okay?”
Leaving Rori on the path, Lee walked across the grass, looking for the best spot to lay the blanket. Once he’d found it beneath the cathedral-like canopy of trees, Lee laid out all the picnic items with the meticulous care of a stage director setting the scene for the opening night.
The warm summer afternoon air was fragrant with the scent of wildflowers and fresh earthiness. Sunlight cascaded through the leaves of the towering trees like ribbons of gold. Water bubbled softly in the creek, joining in concert with the rustle of the leaves in the light breeze that stirred them.
It all wove together to create a dreamy, romantic atmosphere that was way beyond anything Lee could have planned himself. He had chosen this spot not only for its natural beauty but also for the way the light danced through the leaves, casting ever-changing patterns on the grass, hoping Rori would find the scenes irresistible to photograph.
He had wanted Rori to be comfortable and to enjoy herself for this first date, which was why he’d catered to the hobby she seemed to love. And though it was all quite simple, he hoped the food would also be to her liking.
Once everything was placed to his satisfaction, Lee walked over to where Rori stood. “Sorry to make you wait.”
“No need to apologize,” she told him. “It’s so beautiful here.”
He took the camera bag from her, then offered his arm. They walked across the grass to the blanket. It was set back from the path, near the tree line, so if anyone came along, they wouldn’t interrupt their picnic.
”Wow, Lee, this... this is breathtaking,” Rori breathed out as they reached the blanket. Her eyes sparkled with unspoken words, a mixture of admiration and something more.
”I thought you might like it.” Lee couldn’t keep the hopeful anticipation from his voice. ”There”s so much beauty here. I knew it would be perfect for you to take pictures if you wanted.”
Her hand tightened around his arm where she held onto him. “I do want to do that.”
“But first, let’s eat.”
Rori slipped off her sandals before she stepped onto the blanket and sank down to sit cross-legged. “I tried to imagine what you might have planned, but I didn’t come close. This is amazing.”
Lee couldn’t help but smile as he settled across from her. It was exactly the response he’d hoped for. Not because he wanted to feel good, but because it meant that she was happy.
“Let’s pray, and then we can dig in,” Lee said, holding his hands out.
Rori hesitated for just a moment before taking them, then she bowed her head.
“Heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty of this moment. The beauty of the nature you created, but also of Rori. Please bless our conversation, and may this time we spend together be honoring to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Rori also murmured an amen before lifting her head. Their gazes locked for a moment, and Lee was loath to let go of Rori’s hands. But they couldn’t eat with their hands clasped, nor could Rori take pictures, so he gave her fingers a squeeze, then released them.
“We have potato salad, chips, and all the fixings for sandwiches.” There were also fresh strawberries and some whipped cream that Charli had insisted he bring for dessert, even though he’d just been planning on brownies.
“You’ve done such a great job with this.” She took the paper plate he held out to her. “Thank you for all your efforts to make this date special.”
“I have to be honest and say that I didn’t do it all by myself. Charli helped me a lot.”
“So she was okay with us going on a date?” Rori asked, her gaze sliding from his to focus on the sandwich she was assembling.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t she be?” Lee sensed that Rori had assumed there would be some objections to their dating. Why, he didn’t know. “And even if she wasn’t, that wouldn’t have stopped me from asking you out.”
Her blue eyes widened. “You would have still set all this up, even if your family didn’t like me?”
Lee had no idea why she thought people might not like her. From everything he’d seen of her, she got along well with everyone. If she’d been a highly divisive person, he didn’t think he would have been attracted to her.
In all honesty, he’d dated a couple of women his family probably wouldn’t have liked had they had the chance to get to know them. But that definitely wasn’t the case with Rori.
If there was one thing he’d like to change about Rori, it was for her to be more aware of her value to people. Of her value to God.
He suspected the reason she was so self-abasing had to do with her family. If they were all as distant as her mother was, Rori probably hadn’t had anyone to let her know she was worth having in their lives. Worth loving.
Before Rori began to eat, she opened her bag and pulled out her camera. Lee watched as she checked the lens, then lifted the camera to her eye as she aimed it at her lunch.
After she’d taken a couple of shots, Rori turned the camera to where the picnic basket sat on the blanket.
“You couldn’t just take pictures with your phone?” Lee teased.
She grinned at him. “Nope. If I’ve got my camera with me, I’m going to use it over my phone. Plus, my phone doesn’t have the best camera on it. Certainly not as good as this.”
After taking a few more pictures, she set aside her camera and picked up her fork to take a bite of the potato salad. “This is delicious. Maybe the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“Misha’s mom actually made that. Denise is a terrific cook.”
“Have I met her?”
“Maybe not, though you might have seen her at church.”
“This really was a joint effort,” Rori said.
“Pretty much every special event within our family turns into a joint effort, with everyone pitching in. The only way someone would have to do everything all on their own was if they kept it secret, so no one knew what was going on.”
There was no way that his family wouldn’t try to help with or at least have some input in any event that was being planned, whether it was a wedding or a picnic in a small glade by a creek.
As they ate their lunch, Lee found himself drawn completely into the moment. His focus was on nothing but Rori, as he longed to learn even more about her. The parts of herself that she didn’t share with the people at work.
Lee noticed that while Rori wanted to hear stories about his growing up years in Serenity, she wasn’t as inclined to share about her own childhood.
As they talked, their conversation flowed as naturally as the nearby brook. They talked of places they wanted to visit, and it came as no surprise that the places Rori named all had beautiful vistas.
The one place they both wanted to visit was New Zealand. Lee wanted to see it because of Lord of the Rings, while Rori wanted to go there to take pictures of the scenery.
Was it too soon to think that maybe a trip there could be in their future?
Maybe.
It was early on, but the connection he felt building between them brought with it a lot of hope. More hope than he’d had about anything recently. And along with the hope, he felt a strong sense of peace. Like he was finally on the path God had designed for him.
Which was good enough for him to want to continue pursuing Rori.