CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Rori hurried across the sidewalk to where Lee waited next to his car, a smile on his handsome face. He’d let her know he was on his way, and when he’d pulled up in front of her building, she’d come outside.
Lee wore a pair of black slacks with a light green short-sleeved button-down shirt tucked into his trim waist. His dark hair shone in the sunlight that reached him through the leaves of the towering shade tree on the boulevard. He was so handsome, which made her wonder again why he was interested in her.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile as she approached him. “You look beautiful.”
Rori felt her cheeks heat as she glanced down at herself, smoothing her hands over her hips. The light purple dress she’d chosen to wear had small white flowers all over it. The sleeves were puffy, and the neckline was square. It had a thick gathered waistband that ended just below her breasts, and the skirt flared out to end mid-calf.
The sandals that she’d found on sale at the store on her last grocery trip and paired with the dress gave her a couple of inches in height, but Lee still was noticeably taller.
“Thank you. I found several dresses at the thrift store, and I really liked this one.”
“Well, it looks lovely on you,” Lee assured her. “But then, you always look beautiful.”
Rori didn’t know how to respond to that. Compliments weren’t something she was used to, so she had no idea how to act when he gave her one.
“You look very handsome, too,” she said, because he did. “That color looks amazing with your hair and eyes.”
Lee grinned. “Thank you.”
Rori wanted to give him a hug, but instead, she slid into the front seat of his car, then waited as he jogged around the hood to join her.
“It looks like we’ll be going to the park again later,” Lee said as he gestured to the sky. “Plenty of sunshine today.”
“Maybe I should have brought my car so I could come home and change.” As soon as she said it, Rori realized maybe she was being presumptuous. “I mean, if you want me to be there.”
“Of course I want you there,” Lee said. He reached over to take her hand and lifted it to brush a light kiss across the back of it. “Always assume that if I’m going somewhere, I’m going to want you with me. And today, I’m happy to drive you back home and wait while you change.”
He released her hand to guide the car away from the curb. “The more time I get to spend with you, the better, as far as I’m concerned. Which makes it great that we work together.”
“We have to be professional, though,” Rori reminded him.
“Yep. But my siblings have made it work, so I know that we can, too.”
When they got to the church, Lee pulled the car into a parking spot, and they both got out. Rori slipped her purse strap onto her shoulder, then turned to find Lee had his hand held out to her. She didn’t even hesitate to take it, wrapping her fingers around his.
Even though Lee could probably break her fingers with just a squeeze, his grip was firm but gentle. He released her hand as they reached the door of the church so that he could open it for her, but as soon as they stepped into the foyer, he took it again.
“Rori!”
Turning, Rori saw Carisa coming toward them, Jackson trailing after her. Had the pair grown closer, or was Jackson just more persistent with Carisa than he’d been with Rori?
“I knew it,” Carisa exclaimed as she smiled at them.
“What did you know?” Jackson asked.
She gestured to Rori and Lee’s hands. “That these two had something going on. I could tell the first time we met.”
“You could?” Lee asked after a glance at Rori.
“Sure. The way you’d stare at each other when the other wasn’t looking made it pretty obvious.”
“Well, we got to this point in our time and way.”
Rori considered Carisa’s words. She’d assumed that Lee would be interested in this beautiful woman, but here Carisa was saying Lee only had eyes for her.
“Are you going to sit with us?” Lee asked as they walked toward the doors that led into the sanctuary.
“If that’s okay,” Carisa said. “My folks aren’t here today. Mom’s had a rough couple of days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Lee told her. “We’ll certainly be praying for her.”
Rori wondered if the we included her. She wasn’t sure that God would hear any prayers from her. But she’d still pray. Just in case he did.
Once inside the sanctuary, Lee led Rori down the aisle to where members of his family were gathered. As she glanced around, she realized that walking hand in hand with Lee had garnered them some attention. Were people wondering what he was doing with her?
“I’m impressed with how little we had to maneuver to get the two of you together,” Janessa said with a grin when she spotted them.
“You didn’t have to maneuver at all,” Lee replied. He scooted into the pew behind where Janessa stood with her husband. “I did just fine on my own.”
“I don’t know,” Janessa mused. “You spent more time talking to your ex the first time Rori joined us at the park than you did with her.”
Lee grimaced. “Yeah. That wasn’t my finest moment, but I wised up quick after that.”
Rori really didn’t know what Lee was talking about. Had he been interested in her for awhile before asking her for a date? She must have been really clueless if that was the case.
Letting go of her hand, Lee shifted to settle his arm around her waist as they stood chatting with his family. Carisa and Jackson had followed them into the pew, and while they didn’t share a physical connection like she and Lee, Rori thought maybe it was just a matter of time until they would.
As they sat down, Lee settled his arm on the pew behind her, which Rori took as an invitation to sit a little closer to him.
It was all a bit surreal. This was the first time that a crush had turned so serious, and for her feelings to be reciprocated. So far, everything seemed to indicate that Lee was open to falling in love with her.
She just had to make sure that she didn’t do anything that would make him change his mind.
When the service got underway, Rori shifted her attention from Lee to the people on the stage. It was easier than previous Sundays because he was right there with her. He’d chosen to be next to her, sitting with his arm around her. She didn’t need to sneak looks at him across the sanctuary.
Even when they stood to sing, he kept his arm around her waist. For the first time in her life, Rori felt like someone genuinely cared about her and wanted to be with her beyond just a casual acquaintance. She was grateful beyond words, but also scared that she was going to mess things up somehow.
After the offering and another time of singing, the pastor took his place behind the pulpit. Rori was curious to hear what he would preach about that day. Each sermon she’d heard so far had left her with some questions, but as of yet, she hadn’t posed them to anyone.
She’d planned to ask them when she’d met with Essie the previous day, but after Lee had asked her for a date, she’d texted Essie to postpone her visit. Rori hoped she could reschedule soon.
Next to her, Carisa had opened her Bible to the verse the pastor gave them. Rori only had an app on her phone, so she used that to find the passage. Lee also used his phone, so she didn’t feel too conspicuous.
Rori didn’t think she’d do too well with a physical Bible—at least not yet—since she wouldn’t have a clue where to find things.
After giving them time to find the verse in Philippians chapter four, the pastor read it out loud, and Rori followed along on her phone.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
The pastor went on to talk about the struggles facing everyone in a world where lies, injustices, and so much more stood in direct opposition to what God wanted His children to be focused on.
He talked about social media and how it could often turn one’s focus from God to worry, panic, or fear. Or, in other cases, tempt them with images that would bring about impure thoughts.
Rori hadn’t really thought much about the effects of social media. But that was probably because she’d worked hard to cultivate her feeds so that she rarely saw anything she didn’t want to. Much of what she’d done her best to remove was political or what seemed fake to her. Like the women who looked perfect and lived perfect lives.
Comparison was the thief of joy, and she hadn’t wanted it to take over her life, which she knew it would, if she constantly compared herself to the women of social media who seemed to have it all.
Rori noticed that as the pastor spoke, Carisa made notes in a notebook. Even her Bible had highlighted passages in it. Clearly, she took her faith seriously.
Glancing over at Lee, Rori wondered how seriously he took his belief in God. She knew that he prayed and attended church, but was there more? Maybe she’d find out as they spent more time together.
But if he was also looking to discover more about her faith in God, he wouldn’t find much. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in God. It was more that she just didn’t think God cared one way or another about her and her insignificant life.
The words to that song she’d liked so much from the first time she’d attended the church drifted through her mind. She absolutely wanted to believe God was interested in the insignificant life of a young woman like her.
Apparently sensing Rori’s gaze on him, Lee looked down at her and lifted a brow before smiling at her. Though Rori managed to smile back, she couldn’t help but wonder if her not embracing God the way Lee and the others did would mean he wouldn’t want to be with her anymore.
“As we sing this last song, let us be sincere in our request for God to open our eyes and ears to see and hear His truth, not the lies of the world. And to open our mouths to share that truth with others who are mired in fears and lies.”
The worship team, including Gareth on the drums, took their positions on the stage as the words appeared on the screens at the front. It was another song that Rori didn’t know, but the words were still meaningful as she listened to the congregation around her—including Lee and Carisa—sing them worshipfully.
Open my eyes that I may seeglimpses of truth thou hast for me.Place in my hands the wonderful keythat shall unclasp and set me free.Silently now I wait for thee,ready, my God, thy will to see.Open my eyes, illumine me,Spirit divine!
Open my ears that I may hearvoices of truth thou sendest clear,and while the wave notes fall on my ear,ev’rything false will disappear.Silently now I wait for thee,ready, my God, thy will to see.Open my ears, illumine me,Spirit divine!
Open my mouth and let me beargladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.Open my heart and let me preparelove with thy children thus to share.Silently now I wait for thee,ready, my God, thy will to see.Open my mouth, illumine me,Spirit divine!
When they’d finished, the pastor prayed, asking God to fill them with the desire for the things that honored and glorified Him. Rori knew that once again, she’d been given lots to think about. And as she and Lee got to their feet, she resolved to have a conversation with Essie and Al about everything that was in her heart.
A short time later, Lee pulled his car to a stop in front of Rori’s building, then put it into park. “I’ll wait out here while you get changed, but there’s no rush. Take as much time as you need.”
“Okay. I shouldn’t be too long.” She hurried toward the door to the building and then down to her apartment.
After a moment’s consideration, she settled on a pair of black shorts and a pink[l1] T-shirt. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, then slipped her feet into a pair of sandals that were more appropriate for the park.
Once again, she was going empty-handed. She needed to remedy that soon. She wanted them to see that she was contributing and not just taking.
“That was fast,” Lee said when she rejoined him in the car.
“I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
“I’ll always wait for you, so don’t ever rush on my account.”
Warmth flowed through Rori at his words, and she decided not to hold back what she wanted to say. To indulge in a little flirting herself.
“Maybe I just wanted to get back to you,” she said, giving him a shy smile.
Lee’s smile was definitely not shy in response. “Maybe?”
“Definitely.”
Still smiling, Lee started up the car. “I like the sound of that.”
It was then Rori realized that perhaps Lee enjoyed her flirting with him as much as she liked it when he flirted with her. The words he said made her feel like she was special to him. That out of all the women in the world, he’d decided that she was the one he wanted to be with.
That was how she felt about him, so maybe it was time to let him know that. They might not be at the point of confessing their love, but this was the next best thing.
“After I get changed, we have to stop to pick up more ice,” Lee said as he drove down her street. “Charli said she thought she had more than she actually did.”
The others were still at the house when they arrived, so Rori hung out in the kitchen talking to Charli and Janessa as they packed the food they were taking. After Lee had changed into a pair of cargo shorts and T-shirt with a faded school emblem on the front, they left to pick up the ice Charli had requested.
By the time they made it to the park, most of the others were there already, including Carisa and Jackson.
“Are Carisa and Jackson dating?” Rori kept her voice low as she and Lee joined the others at the picnic table where the food was laid out.
He glanced over at the pair, watching them for a moment. “It’s possible. You should just ask. I’m pretty sure they’d tell us. Neither of them strikes me as being reluctant to share about themselves.”
That was true. From the moment Rori had met each of them, they’d been open and friendly.
“So are you giving our boy a chance, Carisa?” Gareth asked, and when chuckles sounded around the table, Rori realized that she wasn’t the only one wondering.
Carisa tilted her head to look at Jackson, a smile on her face. “I think I just might.”
As Lee took Rori’s hand, he murmured, “I hope this doesn’t lead to heartache for them.”
“I suppose that it’s as likely for them as it is for us.”
Lee looked down at her, his expression serious. “I really don’t want that ending for us.”
Rori pressed her cheek to his arm as she tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “I don’t want that either.”
“I guess I don’t need to ask if Rori is giving Lee a chance,” Gareth said with humor in his voice. “It’s pretty obvious she is.”
And yet, in Rori’s mind, it felt more like Lee was giving her a chance. Any woman would be lucky to have Lee.
“Yep,” Lee said. “And I’m very grateful.”
Charli smiled at them from where she stood, slowly bouncing Shiloh. “You’re both just so sweet.”
After Gareth said a prayer for the food, they began to fill their plates and then found seats on the blanket or the chairs set out around the picnic table.
Rori and Lee ended up on the blanket, and Rori quietly ate while conversation swirled around her. There was a part of her that tried to convince her that things were moving too fast. But in her heart, Rori felt like she’d been waiting her whole life for a man like Lee.
No. Not a man like Lee.
Lee.
Now that they were building something between them, she couldn’t imagine being with anyone but Lee.
The realization came with a wash of love for the man and took her breath away. In that moment, she understood just how much she had to lose if things didn’t work out for them.
And so, as she bent her head over her plate of food, Rori prayed like she’d never prayed before, pleading with God to make her worthy of Lee. She needed to know that God heard her prayers. She had to become someone that God would listen to.
It was time to learn how she could do that. How she could become a Christian.
Unfortunately, the easiest path to that information—Lee—was one that she wasn’t prepared to take yet. She didn’t want him to know that she wasn’t a Christian until she had the chance to understand what that even meant for her.