Pursued (7 page)

With the car safely situated in my parents’ driveway, I turned off the ignition and unstrapped a giggling and bouncing Javan, who immediately rushed into his grandpa’s arms. Delighted, he laughed loudly as my father swung him around. Chase made impatient noises as I unbuckled him from the car seat and pulled him out. He tried to squirm out of my hands, but I didn’t want him crawling on the asphalt. I held him tightly till I reached my mom, who had also come out of the house and was waiting with open arms.

“Baby!” She crooned as she snuggled into the soft skin around his neck and cheek. After a moment she reached out and pulled me into a side hug and kissed the top of my head.

“I’m so glad you’re here! Who’s hungry?”

“Me!” Javan threw both fists into the air.

“Good. Let’s all get inside before the food gets cold!”

After Javan stuffed himself full of waffles and sausage, he snuggled with his papa on the couch to watch a cartoon.
Chase finished his oatmeal, and I wiped his face clean.

“I’m going to put him down for a nap, Mom. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Shortly after, I glanced at the hall clock, fifteen minutes after ten. The anxious rhythm of my heart kicked up a notch, and my fingers got cold

“It’s almost time dear, are you ready?” My mom placed her arm around my shoulders and I leaned into her, thankful for the comfort to my anxious nerves.

“No.” I answered in a weak voice.

“You can always tell him the truth, that you’re scared witless and just want to be friends at first.” My mom offered gently.

The idea had merit. Why not? Who said I had to commit to a relationship?

“Okay, that’s actually a good idea mom. Thanks.”

A huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I offered my mom a slight grin.

“Well, I’ve been around a little while longer than you.”

“True.”

A knock on the window caused me to turn and see Levi standing at the door, offering a small wave to my dad, who had risen to let him in.

“Hello sir.” Levi nodded to my father and held out his hand. “I’m Levi Jensen. It’s nice to meet you.”

My father took Levi’s hand and gave it an enthusiastic shake before thumping him on the shoulder. “Nice to meet you too! I’ve heard a lot about you—“

I closed my eyes in mortification. Leave it to my dad. Levi glanced over at me and gave me a small grin, which I returned with a red face to boot.

“I’m Darin Forrester, and this is my wife Caroline.”

My mom stepped forward and extended her hand. Levi shook it.

“Ma’am. Thank you for opening up your lovely home.”

“Oh, not a problem. We’re thrilled to have you.”

“Yes, thank you for coming.” I spoke, kicking myself for not having anything original to say.

“Are you hungry?” my mom asked.

“No ma’am, but thank you.”

“Levi, would you like to walk now, or did you want to sit and have a cup of coffee first?” Finally, my brain kicked in, and I had something intelligent to contribute to the conversation.

“Thank you, Abby. “ He spoke my name like a caress, and I broke out in goose bumps. Was I the only one who noticed? I glanced at my parents, and they were smirking. No, it had been apparent to them too. Levi glanced down for a moment and his tanned face looked a little pink. Nothing he could have done would have endeared him more.

“I, uh, I already had coffee this morning, and if I drink any more, I’ll be shaking from the caffeine. If it’s all right with you, the weather’s beautiful, and we could take a walk?”

“Sure, let me grab my coat.”

Levi and I headed out the door into the spring air. Without thinking, I placed my hand on my belly. Whenever he cast his piercing blue gaze my way, butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly.

“Your parents seem very kind.”

“Yes, they are. I’m truly blessed. I had a great childhood, and my parents love me to a fault.”

“It’s very clear they adore you and their grandchildren.” The white of his smile was accented by the tan of his skin from spending so much of his day out of doors. The effect was enticing and attractive, and I turned my head before I stared overlong at his nice teeth.

“The seasons are beautiful around here. I love that each one has its own identity leading into the next.” He spoke in his rich baritone.

“I hadn’t really thought about it, probably because this is where I grew up, but you’re right.” I glanced around and noticed the little sprouts here and there braving the still chilly weather. A few birds flew overhead, flapping their wings furiously in the cold thin air. I shivered.

“Are you cold?”

He caught my shiver and was already shrugging out of his coat. The gesture made me smile and feel like I was in an old movie. I held up my hand to stop his progress and smiled, thanking him. It had been a long time since a man, someone other than my dad, had done something like that. He paused halfway out of his coat.

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be chilled.” His blue eyes bore into mine, questioning me.

“I’m fine. I was just sympathizing with the birds.”
No, I did not just say that out loud…

“Birds?” He looked at me skeptically.

I gave him a sheepish grin.

“Yeah, after you spoke about the changing seasons, I glanced around and noticed them flying frantically through the cold air, and I thought they would be pretty chilly. I shivered thinking about it. I’m pretty warm, no worries.”

I was an idiot. Talking about birds and shivering. Poor Levi. At least I could tell Javan later about the birds, and he’d enjoy my story.

“I see.” He nodded and continued walking as if my explanation wasn’t at all strange.

After a bit of small talk, I decided to take the plunge and see what was in Levi’s heart. The idea scared me almost as much as the fact that I was really attracted to him. But before I could begin with the deep questions, he asked one of his own, amazing me.

“So, at the risk of sending you running for the hills…” He paused and regarded me.

How many times had I thought the same about him? He glanced over at me and then down at the dirt path.

“Though I’ve only met you once before this, you need to understand something about me.”

Immediately I was curious and concerned. Okay, what could possibly be wrong with him? My mind flew through a million possibilities.

“Yes?” I encouraged carefully.

“I’m not into the casual dating thing. I was raised with the belief that when a man asked a woman out, it was with the permission of that lady’s father and under the impression that he was looking ahead to marriage.”

“Okay.” I was waiting for the punch line. Everything he was saying I agreed with, wholeheartedly.

“Okay…” He eyed me for a moment before continuing. “And if you’re only interested in being my friend, I’m all right with that. But you deserve to know where I stand.”

“Okay.”
Was there an echo?

“And… I’d like to pursue you as my potential wife, if you’re all right with that.”

Rather than freaking me out, which his expression told me he was expecting, I was immediately relieved. He had very articulately stated everything I was concerned about and allayed my fears.

“Thank you,” I whispered, looking at the ground for a moment before gazing back at him.

“But…” He added as if expecting more.

“But nothing, I agree with you. Completely. In fact…” I glanced shyly down at my shoe. “You just said everything I was about to ask you about. I appreciate your honesty and really respect you for being brave enough to ask.” I risked a glance up and saw his face break into a grin.

“All right.” He nodded, still grinning.

“All right.” I echoed, feeling myself grin back.

“So, since we’re in the deep questions, is there anything else you were wondering?” He continued walking, slow at first till I caught up.

I glanced at the sky again, thinking. “Well, um. Why aren’t you married?”

“I haven’t asked anyone yet.” He smirked at me.

“Funny, ha ha.” I gave him a wry grin.

“No, honestly. I don’t take marriage lightly. I’d rather live out my days as a bachelor than marry someone simply because I’m lonely or desperate.”

Before my brain could filter my mouth, I spoke. “Then why in creation are you interested in me?”

I wanted to melt into the ground. But at the same time, I wanted an answer. I was confused. Why would he even look twice at me? I was a divorced woman with a ready-made family to boot. What possible allure did I hold?

“Well, why not?” He stopped and gave me a pensive expression, as if not understanding why I would ask that kind of question.

Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.

“Levi, I’m not blind. You’re handsome, funny, and a gentleman. I doubt you have issues attracting half the female population of Springville. And me, well…”

I couldn’t even hold on to my own husband, so why would you look twice at me?

I glanced at him and he was watching me.

“Why would you want a woman who is divorced, probably more emotionally damaged than I want to admit, with two little children to boot? I’m no prize, and the responsibility of being a father isn’t for the fainthearted. It’s a huge responsibility…” My words trailed off. Okay, now came the part where he retracted everything he said earlier and ran for the hills. If I hadn’t scared him with my brutal honesty, then the fact that I was already throwing fatherhood into the mix certainly would.

The wind tossed the leaves on the path into a circular motion and I stared, not wanting to meet his eyes, though I knew by the prickling sensation on my skin that he watched me.

“Why do you think being a father is such a burden? Why would you think of that aspect of a relationship being a deal-breaker rather than a blessing?” His blue eyes searched mine as he waited for an answer.

The question settled, and I fought the urge to argue. No, my boys
were
a blessing! But didn’t I just imply the opposite? I hadn’t meant to, but as I thought over my words I had unknowingly equated fatherhood with burden, not blessing. Just another departing gift from Jack in the messed up world that was my life.

The intense gaze he directed toward me held my attention as he continued.

“I’m sure being a father isn’t easy. Lord knows, my own father’s grey hair was hard earned.” He chuckled. “But never once while praying about you, for you and your little boys, did I ever think of you as a burden. Families are a blessing Abby. They are a gift. If God honors me with one, I’ll be grateful, not resentful.”

Will you marry me?

Be still my beating heart. I wanted to pinch myself. Who
was
this guy, and could I have him wrapped up with a pretty bow for my birthday? Yet, my heart was sad because I had lost that vision he had clearly expressed concerning fatherhood. Over the years I had taken more and more responsibility for the boys because Jack had rejected it and resented it.

“Thank you. For praying for us. And thank you for all those other things you said. I…” I swallowed a lump in my throat. “I needed to hear them.”

And I can’t wait to see them in action, should we ever get there.

“You’re welcome, Abby, but they’re not just words. That’s who I am. I know this is pretty deep stuff for only meeting me once before, but I’m not one to beat around a bush. Sometimes that’s to my benefit, others my intense detriment.”

I laughed as he grimaced in response to his own words.

“So, you’re sure about this?” I asked, hesitant. Yes, I really was that insecure.

“Absolutely.”

We walked on for about an hour longer. The conversation took off into a million different tangents as we learned about each other. Levi was allergic to eggs and dairy. At first, I thought he was joking. He worked on a dairy farm! Wasn’t that a little ironic? But he assured me it was accurate, and I laughed hard. The sensation was amazing; it had been a long time. He asked about my likes, dislikes, and fears. He laughed about my paranoia of spiders and aversion to anything with rye flour. By the time we headed back I was remarkably comfortable with his presence. Not only did we have a lot in common, but also the areas we didn’t share common ground were complimentary. He was a perfect fit, so far. What scared me most was that time would tell, nothing else.

When he left, my mom pounced on me, her eyes begging for details.

“Spill, missy. You’re glowing, and I want to know everything!”

Chase tried to crawl off my lap, and I placed him gently on the floor. With lightning speed, he attacked his bucket of toys. Javan handed him a truck, and I watched with silent amazement at the blessing of my children.

“Hey!” My mom snapped her fingers in front of my face, startling me.

“Sorry, yes?” I shook my head and focused on my mom once again.

“So, it’s clear you had a great time. What I want to know is why?”

“Why? Well, Mom, he leveled with me. Although I didn’t want to freak him out, I was dangerously honest with him, and in turn, he was with me. It wasn’t a ‘look at the daisies’ type walk. It was a ‘let me bare my soul and see if you’re still interested’ type walk.”