14. Holy Forever
14
HOLY FOREVER
CHRIS TOMLIN
“Well don’t you look adorable today,” Chloe said as Ginny pushed through the swinging kitchen doors and into Good Start. “Ya got somethin’ going on?”
Ginny had thought about going to the record store just to make sure Melody Man hadn’t left an I changed my mind note but thought better of that self-doubt and decided to hang in the shop instead. “Just needed a change of scenery.” She gestured to the leather bag hanging off her shoulder where her laptop peeked out from the top. “Have some work to do.”
“Sounds good, Ginny, and I love your dress. It’s perfect for fall.”
“Thanks.” Ginny glanced down at the sage green dress she wore, with faux buttons down the front and a v-neck accentuated with dainty gold jewelry.
“Want your usual? An americano with a pump of pistachio, right?” Chloe smiled and flicked her braid over her shoulder, finishing the steamed milk on a drink and closing the lid before handing it over to a customer. “Have a good start to your day!”
“Um, yeah. That’d be great. Thanks so much, Chloe!”
The place had emptied. The regulars were likely saving their coffee visits for that evening, the kickoff of the Bicentennial Celebration. Chloe began making her drink and chatting with Ginny as she glided behind the counter. “So, we never really get to catch up. Tell me what you’re doing nowadays. You’re doin’ graphic design, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve been doing freelance work since college. I’ve been thinking about going back for a masters in marketing, but I’m not sure just yet. What about you?”
Chloe gave Ginny’s drink a light stir, put a lid on, and presented it to her, adding a sprinkled and perfectly decorated hedgehog cookie to the treat, just like Ginny had seen her offer Davey countless times before. “Well, I’m saving up money for my own place, actually. My own shop, that is. I’ve been workin’ here part time and also at a private company based out of Atlanta that offers personal chefs, meal plans, and catering for events. It’s basically a bunch of fancy folk who can’t cook for themselves. It’s awesome. And, ” she added, “I was so thankful when your parents gave me this gig. They know I’m short-term but offered me the job all the same. It’s gonna help me get my own place so much faster.”
“What kinda shop?”
Chloe smiled proudly. “Southern cuisine, of course.”
Ginny held up the cookie. “No sprinkled cookies?”
Her friend batted her eyes. “Oh, I’m sure there’ll be cookies.”
The bell rang over the shop and both their attention was pulled to Ryan as he stepped through the door wearing faded jeans, a baseball tee with dark purple sleeves, his glasses, and a backwards ball cap. He raised his hand slightly in greeting to them both.
Chloe sighed, loudly, and then whispered. “I’m always just a little surprised by how good lookin’ that man is. He’s like a dorky, but hot, librarian. I bet he plays Dungeons and Dragons on the weekends.”
“Actually, he prefers Catan.” Ryan had talked her into playing one time with Georgia and Lake, and Ginny had never seen him as intense as he’d been when asking questions like, “Do you have any sheep?” or “I’ll trade you one ore for three wheat. ” Goosebumps covered her arm just thinking about it.
Ginny’s smile faltered, but she turned back to Chloe. “Ryan’s awesome. You should go for it.”
Chloe rolled her eyes and leaned over the counter, propping herself up on her elbows. “Ginny, what kinda woman do you think I am?”
“I’m just sayin’ if ya—”
Chloe’s voice lowered, “I have no interest in pursuin’ a man who’s clearly hung up on another woman. Particularly if that woman is a friend of mine. A friend I’d like to keep. And a friend who is clearly crazy about that particular man.” She raised an eyebrow and lifted her chin. “Go get ‘em, Gin. I’ll bring his usual over in a few.”
Ginny’s heart warmed and her affection for Chloe grew tenfold. How she’d ever been jealous—even for a moment—of this woman who was so kind-spirited made her question how crazy Ryan had truly made her. “Thanks, Chloe. I am crazy about him,” she admitted.
“I know, girl. Don’t mention it.” She pulled a towel from her back pocket and swatted Ginny with it. “Now, shoo.”
Ginny giggled and approached Ryan at the table he always sat at. “Do you know how many times I saw you study at this very table in my youth?” she said, grinning ear to ear but feeling as if she were approaching a sleeping bear. How would Ryan react today? Stand in salute or run and hide?
Ryan turned and jumped from his seat, nearly knocking it over. Stand and salute, then. He righted the chair and gestured for her to sit at his side. “Your youth… huh?” He tapped his fingers on the back of the chair. “Was this before or after your clogging routine to Ice, Ice Baby ?”
She tapped her finger on her lip like she couldn’t quite remember. “I think it was right around the time you wore those Batman footie pajamas with the cape for halloween and then for every movie night for months.”
“Doesn’t sound familiar. Though, I bet I looked cool.” He waved her off. “We should probably forget it ever happened… Wanna study with me today? For old times’ sake?”
“Definitely.” She broke her cookie in half, offering him some. “Want half a hedgehog?”
“Irresistible.” He smirked, took a bite of the cookie before taking his seat, and pulled out his well-worn Bible. “I was just gonna do some Bible study and then maybe write out some plays for the game.”
Ginny had to bite down on her smile. This man… “Sounds good. Reeeal good .”
Ryan glanced up, that tilted smile on his lips “ Nacho Libre?”
“Yup. What kinda socks ya wearin’, Hood?”
“ Nacho Libre.”
She smiled wide. “You are not! Show me.”
“My socks are not for entertainment purposes, Ginny Remillard. I’m a respectable man. An educator…”
She pulled his pant leg up and earned what could only be described as a squeal. “What are you doin’—”
“Your socks are taco triceratops.”
“Yes they are,” he said proudly.
“Way better than Nacho Libre .” Ginny pulled out her own Bible and began to read quietly at Ryan’s side but quickly realized that reading scripture with him was a whole new form of torture. Especially for someone trying earnestly to love the man like a brother in Christ rather than someone she’d like to kiss into oblivion.
But Ryan was an exceedingly appealing man who educated young minds for a living, could play guitar, studied the Bible on his own on a Saturday morning, and wore novelty socks with triceratops on them. He was like Christian girl catnip.
Is this how Gus felt every time Lakeland Lovett walked into his space? The cat would permanently attach himself to Lake’s lap if Ginny’s mama didn’t insist on holding the vile creature ninety-eight percent of the time. But suddenly Ginny could commiserate with that giant orange monster. She pictured herself crawling onto Ryan’s lap and nuzzling his neck just a little bit—maybe purring once or twice to really sell it—and then snorted out loud at the image.
Ryan glanced up, eyebrows raised.
“Just thinkin’ about Gus,” she said, totally unabashed, but felt heat rise in her cheeks.
He chuckled and shook his head. “Like I said the other night, Gin. You’re anything but ordinary.” Ryan looked her over with speculative eyes and his jaw set tight before he returned to his study.
“You…” She held her hands together on the table, clenching her fingers. “You make me kinda nervous,” she admitted. “I don’t really get nervous around anyone but you, and then, I dunno why, but the weirdest stuff comes outta my mouth.”
Ryan didn’t look up from his Bible, but she knew he’d stopped reading. His eyes no longer tracked along the page but had instead focused on where her fingers anxiously twisted around each other. “I’ve always been kinda introverted when it comes to people. I get nervous, too.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
He shook his head, still refusing to look up at her, like she didn’t understand at all. “But… I always feel comfortable when I’m with you. A little confused, obviously,” he smiled and finally let his eyes flick up to hers, “but comfortable… Homey. Like…”
“Oatmeal raisin cookies?”
He smiled, and his green eyes looked like a field of grass Ginny would like to lie down in and make snow angels. “Chocolate chip.”
“Hmmm,” Ginny hummed, feeling immensely proud of the fact that she didn’t jump out of her seat and take a victory lap around the coffee shop shouting, “ I’m his chocolate chip cookies!!!! " Instead, she said, “That may be the very best thing you’ve ever said to me, Coach.”
Ginny peered over Ryan’s shoulder and found him in Matthew 6, where she’d been studying since recommending it to Melody Man.
Melody Man, whom she’d be meeting in a few short hours. Suddenly, Ginny was prickled with more nerves and her own confusion. How could she reconcile the way she felt just sitting next to Ryan with the way she craved Melody Man’s advice and friendship?
As if sensing the change in her countenance, Ryan cleared his throat and quietly read about how the Lord clothes the lilies and grass of the field, and how they grow because He makes it so. How much more would that same God clothe and take care of his people. Of Virginia Remillard, a woman following after him.
Ginny closed her eyes and soaked up the words, letting them resound in her spirit.
Wait. Show him. Seek Me first.
Ginny prayed, as she had for weeks, for the desires of her heart to match those of Christ’s.