A Journey by Chance (14 page)

“That He's got something better planned for you.”

“Why would He bother with me?”

“Because He loves you.”

“But I'm just a regular person.”

“Gina, we all are. We can't earn His love; that's why He sent Jesus.”

“Your book is wonderful. I never thought of Jesus being a real person before.”

A tiny smile lit up his entire face, softening the masculine angles.

She grinned. “You look like a happy little boy right now.”

“What you just said. It's exactly what I hope readers will get, you know?”

“The point being that He showed us what God is like?”

Brady leaned forward in the chair, propping his elbows on his knees, and nodded. “That, and to tell us that the only way to be in a right relationship with God the Father is to believe that Jesus is who He said He is, the Son.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Well, there's a logical explanation for it all.”

Gina smiled. “Logical is good.”

“Thought you'd like that. God created us, and so of course He loves us, but He gave us a free will. We get to choose whether or not we want to let Him be Lord in our lives. Okay so far?”

“Okay.”

“Being imperfect humans, we're always going to do things our own way. Trouble is, God demands perfection, and He demands payment for doing things our own way.”

“So what chance do we have?”

“Jesus. He paid the penalty. All we have to do is accept that fact.”

“And then we'll live happily ever after?”

“Eventually, but not during this lifetime. We still are imperfect humans. The difference is we know we're forgiven. There's great comfort and freedom in that.”

She frowned.

“Illogical?”

“Too simple.”

He smiled. “I know.”

“So what does He want from me?”

“Just tell Him you believe in Jesus and that you want Him to be Lord of your life. He'll do the rest.”

She remembered her morning thoughts and her jaw dropped. “This is weird, Brady. I was wondering about Jesus earlier today, and I told Him I wanted to get to know Him better. And here we are having this conversation.”

“That's not weird. It's logical. You asked Him for something and He answered.”

She stared at him. “I suppose I should tell Him I believe in Him now. Should I close my eyes or kneel?”

“You don't have to.”

“How about outside?”

Brady stood and reached for her hand. “Under the stars is my favorite place to talk to Him.”

She placed her hand in his, and they walked out the screen door, across the deck and down a short distance to the pond's edge. The smooth water mirrored the navy blue sky. Both sparkled with the silver glitter of a zillion stars.

Brady dropped her hand and backed away. “She's all yours, Father.”

Gina smiled and turned back toward the pond. In a shy whisper she began to address the unseen that she had always sensed was expressed in nature and the animal world. “Okay, God. Father. I believe what Brady said, that Jesus is Your Son. Please forgive me for not doing things right. Please live in me now. Be Lord of my life.” She paused. “Do I say amen now? Okay, amen. Oh. And thank You.”

She gazed at the sky. There was no thunderous answer, no zapping in her heart…just a single, unbidden tear that slipped from her eye.

“Brady,” she called out. “I don't feel any different.”

He strode to her side. “He didn't promise feelings.”

She grinned up at him. “Of course not. They're illogical and irrational.”

With a loud laugh, he wrapped his arms around her.

Gina looked through Aunt Lottie's screen door. “Uh-oh, Mother, here comes Lauren, and she's not dressed for church.”

Maggie peered over her daughter's shoulder. “Her face looks ready for an argument. I think she's still mad at you, honey.”

“Can you and Aunt Lottie go without me? I'd better get this straightened out.” Her tone was resigned. For the first time ever she had anticipated going to church without thinking of it as a duty and now this.

Lauren stomped up the front porch steps. “Gina Philips! Where have you been?”

“Oh, Lauren, Aunt Lottie told you I was at Brady's last night.” She held open the screen door. “Come on in.”

“I know. She told me the seven times I called. Didn't you come home?”

“It was after eleven o'clock. I thought it was too late to call. Why didn't you just come out to Brady's? I know you're good enough friends.”

“Because then it would be three against one. The two guys and you, my traitor female cousin.” Lauren's petite face scrunched in a pout.

Gina rolled her eyes. “Aaron wasn't there and besides—Oh, let's go upstairs and we'll talk, okay? I want to get out of this dress. It's hotter again today, isn't it?” She led the way up the staircase.

In the bedroom, Lauren plopped on the bed. “Didn't you see Aaron?”

“You two haven't talked yet?”

“No!”

Gina hid her look of disbelief by turning toward the closet and kicking off her flats. “I was on my way to deliver your message—and mine—when I ran into Brady. He was just coming out of Aaron's office.”

“Oh, swell,” she whined. “I can just see it. The three of you plotting—”

“Lauren! Brady agrees with you! He thinks Aaron hasn't made you feel secure enough.” She slipped out of the summer dress. “Trust me, your message was delivered to him, but not by me.”

“Really?”

“Really. The whole thing and then some.” She found a hanger for the dress. “Evidently Aaron's as stubborn as you are since he hasn't called by now. I didn't even get to tell him
not
to call you. Why don't you call him?”

“Gina, do those hurt?”

“What?”

Her cousin nodded toward her leg.

“Looks awful, doesn't it?” She glanced down at the raised, reddish-purple, rope-like scars that ran down her thigh and over the knee. “No, they don't hurt. I can have plastic surgery done, but at the moment I have no desire to go back into a hospital for the sole purpose of enduring pain and agony just to look presentable in a pair of shorts.”

“Gina.” Lauren's voice was quiet. “I don't know if I want to marry him.”

She sank onto a stuffed armchair. “Oh, Lauren.”

“He's not going to change.”

“No, he's not. It's good for you to accept that fact. He is a doctor. His patients will often come before you
in his
schedule
.” She sighed. “But not in his heart, Laur. That's another fact you can just accept.”

Her cousin's lower lip protruded. “I don't want facts. I want unbridled passion.”

Gina burst into laughter. “Then go after Brady. He seems to have it wired. He told Aaron he should have kissed you in front of everyone the other night as if no one else were there.”

“He should have.”

“That is totally irrational. Aaron doesn't think that way. But if that's all you need, he'll just learn a few things that he can do to help you feel better. He's a good, solid man who has probably bought you a pair of diamond earrings or something to make up for missing half the shower. Isn't that irrational enough?”

“He missed three-fourths. The gifts were already opened.”

Gina groaned. “You know you both need to apologize. Who broke the ice the last time this happened?”

“He did.”

“Well?” She sprang up and went to the closet. “I'd bring you a phone, girl, but it's down the hall attached to a wall jack. What are we doing today? I have jeans or jeans to wear. Are jeans all right? Oh, I have these.” She pulled out a pair of khaki capri pants. “If they still fit. I've been eating like a horse.”

“Gina, how can you be so chipper? I'm calling off my wedding, and you're yapping on and on.” She bolted upright. “Oh my goodness! What happened between you and Brady last night anyway? You two were together for an awfully long time.”

Gina found a khaki-and-white striped shirt. “We really had an enjoyable time. Do you believe it? The guy can be all-right company.” She pulled the shirt on over her head and tucked it into the pants. “He took me all over his property.
Amazing place. He cooked dinner for us, great steaks and this luscious black raspberry crisp. And we had the most interesting conversation. He told me about Jesus and how if we accept Him, we're right with God. So I asked Jesus to be my Lord because I never have. Then we found constellations, and then he brought me home.” She held out her hands, palms up. “There you have it. I think we're friends. Maybe. For the duration anyway. So you've got to go through with the wedding. That's why we're being nice to each other, you know.”

“Gina! You're a Christian? I mean, like what I've been preaching at you for years?”

“I guess so. It just didn't make sense when you told me.”

Lauren rushed to her side and gave her a hug. “This is great! I've been praying for you.”

“I know. Thanks.”

“You're not as uptight as when you first got here.”

“It's my understanding that God has things under control. Do you want some lunch?”

“I think I just had breakfast.”

They headed down to the kitchen where Gina rummaged in the refrigerator. “So, what are we doing today?”

“Well, I had planned on going to Brady's brother's college graduation party at the farm. With Aaron. Now, I don't know.”

“Lauren, just call him. It's not that big a deal.” She set out fixings for a ham sandwich on the counter. “You know you want to marry him.”

“Maybe I'll just go and run into him there. See how it goes.”

Gina sighed. “How old are you?”

“You can come with me.”

“I wasn't invited. And I'm not dropping in on my mother's first husband's private wingding. Which reminds me. Did the whole family swear to secrecy about that or
what? Why didn't you ever tell me my mother was married before and had a baby?”

Lauren studied her nails. “We did swear to secrecy. My mother said it was up to your mother to tell you. Anyway, give me a piece of that ham. This is not a private wingding. All friends and relatives are invited. You just said you were friends.”

“Not
friends
friends.” The phone rang and she went to it. “More like acquaintances who are spending an inordinate amount of time together. Hello?”

“Hi.” It was Brady's soft voice.

“Hi.” Her intimate tone betrayed herself. He was rapidly turning into someone beyond acquaintance.

“Why aren't you here at church? Need a ride?”

“No.” She turned her back to her cousin's curious face. “I'm too busy trying to talk Lauren into meeting Aaron. Halfway, at least.”

“Ah, good girl. He's not here, so I can't work on him. I'm calling to invite you out to the farm this afternoon. My parents are having an open house for Ryan, my brother you almost met the other day. He just graduated from college.”

She tried to imagine it…Maggie Lindstrom's daughter surrounded by disapproving Olafssons. “Uh, sounds like a family thing. It's natural that your parents would mind. But thank—”

“Gina.” He paused. She heard him inhale a deep breath. “My grandmother is dead. I'm the only other one who minded.”

She smiled. Absolutely no trace of a chip. “You more than made up for things last night, Brady. Why are you being so friendly?”

“Because of your Miss America smile. I'd rather see it than your scowl.”

“Now you're skating on thin ice, mister.”

“If you need a ride, I'll come by for you about two o'clock.”

Lauren was actually jumping and twirling in front of her. Gina turned her back to the spectacle, wrapping herself in the long cord. “How about if I come with Lauren?”

“That'll work. I'll make sure the groom is there. It'd be a shame for them to cancel. I was just beginning to look forward to being your escort.”

“Uh-huh. Well, I still don't need one,” she teased, smiling to herself. “See you, Brady.”

“Bye.”

Ignoring her cousin's pointed stare, she unwrapped herself from the cord and hung up the phone, then resumed fixing her sandwich.

“Well?” Lauren squealed.

“Well what?” She pulled two more slices of bread from the bag. Two sandwiches sounded appealing, especially with the whole wheat bread she had managed to find at the local grocery store.

“Gina!”

“What? Oh, I'm invited to the graduation party, and Brady's going to make sure Aaron is there so that you two can make up.”

“I gathered all that. I mean, you were flirting with him and smiling—”

“Flirting? I was not flirting.”

“Call it what you want, but you don't sound like
just
acquaintances. What was he saying?”

Gina shrugged. “Some nonsense about a Miss America smile and being my escort. Do you want a sandwich?”

“I think he likes you.”

“And I like him. When you and Aaron celebrate your twenty-fifth, I'll come back for the open house and be nice to him because I'll want to. Now back off, Cupid, and let's eat.”

In spite of Brady's reassurance on the phone, Gina was apprehensive as she and Lauren drove to his parents' farm. Besides helping her cousin deal with her dilemma, she'd have to deal with being scrutinized by the entire Olafsson clan.

She had asked her mother about it.

“Gina, it's history. Whenever I return to Valley Oaks, the memories overwhelm me at first because they hit all at once, lots of happiness and lots of pain and not all related to the Olafssons. I've met Neil's wife Barb a few times over the years. She's a very nice woman who doesn't seem threatened by the past. Stop worrying. Just go and enjoy yourself.” She winked. “And tell me all about their house and furnishings when you get back.”

Gina glanced at Lauren now. She drove with one hand, while chewing the nails of her other. “Did you pray about this?”

“What?” Lauren stared at her.

“Pray. Watch the road. Brady told me God is concerned about every little thing, so you should probably pray about this.”

“I have.”

“Then it will work out for the best. Relax.” Silently she told herself the same.

The beauty of the Olafsson farm struck her again as they turned onto their lane. It was picture-perfect on a slightly warm, sunny afternoon. An iridescent blue sky shone above
the pure greens of the fields and whites of the fences, barns, and house.

Lauren parked her car behind a long line of others. A woman waited for them to get out, then hurried over to Gina. She was short and more plump than slender. Her light brown wavy hair was brushed off of her face, and she wore a denim jumper.

“You must be Gina Philips.” She smiled and shook her hand warmly. “I'm Barb, Brady's mother. Welcome to our home.”

Relief flooded Gina. “Thank you.” She smiled.

“And Lauren,” Barb said, “I have a very unhappy nephew moping around in the upper meadow.”

Lauren's face looked stricken. “What do I do?” she asked Gina.

“Oh, go to him, Laur. Try to apologize before he can.”

Barb patted her shoulder. “You'll sort it out.”

As she walked away toward the barns, they went to the house. “Your farm is so beautiful,” Gina said.

“Thank you. The house is becoming too large with the children grown and more or less gone. The boys work with their dad, but only Ryan lives here. And I'm sure that won't be for long. We have one grandchild, though, and another on the way, so we're working on filling it again. How's your mother?”

Gina was only slightly taken aback at the direct question, probably because of Barb's genuine friendliness. “She's well, thank you. She's busy helping Aunt Marsha with the last-minute wedding details, playing the mean aunt role when necessary with caterers and florists.”

Barb smiled. “I'm sure that's a big help. Marsha always was on the quiet side.”

“You know Aunt Marsha?”
Of course she would! This is
Valley Oaks.

“We were classmates, a few years behind your mother. I was sorry I didn't get a chance to chat with Maggie last night at the reunion.”

What?

“You know,” Barb continued, “she and my husband graduated together. Now I want to say something that I hope will put you at ease. I don't know what Brady has said to you, but I want you to know that my mother-in-law was an intimidating woman. However, I never allowed her to speak ill of your mother in my presence. And Neil never spoke ill of her. Of course, he is a man of few words anyway.”

Gina felt herself relax. “Not like his son?”

Barb laughed. “Not at all like Brady.”

A large crowd was gathered in the backyard. As Brady approached, his mother excused herself.

“Hi, Gina.” His blond hair shone in the sunlight. A short-sleeved plaid shirt, tucked into blue jeans, covered the ever-present white T-shirt.

“Hi.” Suddenly self-conscious, she fought the smile that insisted on controlling her facial muscles. She wanted to scowl at his penetrating turquoise gaze rather than smile and be reminded of a—What had he called it?
Miss America smile.
“Uh, we've sent Lauren to apologize to Aaron.”

A grin softened his angular features. “Glad to hear that. Come meet my dad.”

She hesitated. She had just hurdled one obstacle, his mother, and was midair over a second, which was the startling affect Brady Olafsson was having on her heartbeat. The physical presence of this tall, good-looking man was scrambling her thoughts, and it seemed it just shouldn't be so.

“My mother's the one who can bite when she wants to. Dad's a lamb compared to her.” He crooked his elbow out toward her.

She looked at the blond hairs glistening on his tanned forearm and thought that he was too real to touch. He was practically a stranger, but touching his skin would be too intimate considering these odd emotions racing through her.

“Practice.” He pointed at his arm. “For up and down the aisle, you know.”

Gina gave herself a mental shake and hooked her wrist through the crook of his elbow. It was just Brady, friendly wedding ceremony partner, annoying teller of jokes. “Right.”

Neil Olafsson was a slightly shorter, less angular version of Brady with gray streaks throughout his thinning blond hair.
Nowhere near as handsome as Dad,
she thought.

He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Gina.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled. “I talked with your mother last night. She seems to be doing very well.”

It was a casual comment. The son's early furor was obviously not the father's. Gina smiled back at the man. “She's my favorite mom.”

“Be sure to make yourself at home. There's plenty of food.”

As he walked away, Brady leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “That wasn't too bad, was it?”

She exhaled. “No.” It really hadn't been at all. More difficult to deal with was the tickle his breath sent around her neck.

Gina met countless others, including the mayor, barber, postmaster, and a good-looking deputy sheriff named Cal Huntington.

He shook her hand. “I'm surprised we haven't met yet.”

“How's that?” She flexed her fingers, glad that his grip hadn't permanently mangled them. Her neck was going to get a crick in it. They sure grew them tall around here.

“Well, what with you being a California
freeway
driver and me patrolling our little old two-lane county roads, it seemed inevitable.” He emphasized a drawl. “Figured you don't drive under 70.”

“I don't, but have you seen Aunt Lottie's car?”

His grin softened the iron jaw and square cheekbones. Clear green eyes bore into her. His build resembled a stone fireplace. Although he seemed friendly enough, she was glad not to be breaking any laws.

Anne approached, accompanied by a female version of Brady, tall and blonde, though more athletically built than slender.

Gina returned Anne's hug. It was good to see a familiar face at last. “Gina, this is Brady's sister, Britte Olafsson. She's my boss.”

“Hi, Gina.” A smile lit up her face. “Welcome to the farm. It's about time we met. My brother keeps talking about you.”

Gina glanced at Brady deep in discussion with Cal. The tips of his ears turned pink. “I'm nothing like whatever he said.”

Britte laughed. “He does write fiction.”

“Exactly. How are you Anne's boss?”

“Only on paper. She's my assistant girls' basketball coach at the high school, but she leads me more than I lead her.”

Isabel greeted them, then turned to Britte. “Can we meet at your house on Thursday? My bathroom is still under construction.”

“No problem.”

Anne said, “Gina, has Lauren invited you to our book club? She's been too busy to come lately, but you're welcome
to join us any time. You don't need to read the book. We're rather informal.”

Isabel laughed. “Informal is right. We could call it ‘ladies night out slash counseling session slash what can I pray about for you slash let's all paint your living room slash book discussion if there's time' club.”

Britte nudged Isabel. “Scare her away, why don't you? I don't think
I'm
coming next week.”

“You just said we could meet at your house.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Gina joined in their laughter.

Brady touched her elbow. “Hungry?”

When wasn't she hungry these days? Definitely not a good sign.

After eating a plateful of fried chicken and the best homemade potato salad she had ever tasted, she and Brady strolled out to a pasture to see Ruby.

“Brady, I just can't imagine living with all this wide open space. Tell me you never get tired of waking up to this glut of nature.”

“I never tire of waking up to this glut of nature. Unless it's the fifteenth straight day of subzero temperatures with a 35 mile-per-hour wind out of the north.”

“Oh.” She giggled. “Now that's impossible to imagine living with.”

“Well, it doesn't happen too often.” They walked behind a barn through scrubby grass. To their left an endless cornfield disappeared on the horizon. “Speaking of your imagination,” he said, “I think that's what must make it easy for you to see God. Your imagination and your keen awareness of nature.”

“Could be. I never
didn't
believe in God's existence. Nature and life are just too complex to not be designed by a higher being. I remember feeling close to Him the day we watched the condor hatch. Here we all were, looking through the glass, holding our collective breath. I mean this magnificent bird is almost extinct, and we witnessed the first birth of one in captivity. It was incredible. Absolutely incredible. What?”

He was looking at her, an indecipherable expression on his face. He shook his head and turned away. “Nothing. That does sound incredible.”

“It's true!”

“Gina, I didn't mean not credible. You must think of Valley Oaks as quite the backward place.”

She bit her lip at the truth of his statement.

“It's an everyday occurrence for you. Maybe not the birth of a condor, but births of all kinds of exotic animals we've never even heard of here. Not to mention caring for wild animals like elephants, making it possible for thousands of visitors to enjoy such grand creatures. Sounds pretty special to me.”

“Yeah, but I got fired.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “You'll find another place. There's Ruby.”

They stopped at a fence and watched the chestnut horse grazing nearby. Brady whistled and she cantered over to them.

“Feeling all right now?” Gina cooed. She stood on the fence and leaned over to pet her. “Oh, I like you much better this way.”

There was a peace about the farm that Gina embraced, letting it soak through to the very marrow of her bones. She spent much of the afternoon with Brady as tour guide. They roamed around the silo and through barns, one of which contained a full-size basketball court. She climbed on
tractors and a combine. He took her through the house, indicated family photos mounted on the walls, and talked of his great-grandparents, who had built the original portion.

She protested that he spent too much time with her, ignoring the other guests. He shrugged and murmured something about all of them knowing what a combine was. They lingered in the backyard at the picnic table full of desserts and munched on gooey chocolate brownies.

Lauren, all smiles after her reunion with Aaron, found them. “Gina, ready to leave?”

Before she could reply, her cousin's words tumbled over Brady's, both offering her options so that she could stay longer.

“Take my car,” Lauren said. “The keys are in it. I'll go with Aaron.”

“I'll take you home.” Brady's words piggybacked hers.

“If you want.” Lauren raised her brows.

“If you want.” Brady smiled.

She didn't know if it was his smile or the soft earthscented breeze that lifted his blond hair or the peaceful rhythms of the family gathering, but she chose to stay.