Coming Home (16 page)

She often wondered what would have happened if she had
listened to His voice all those years ago when Craig had tried to tell her
about Him. Or even during the intervening years if she had become a Christian
would she and Craig be together now?  She knew all of this “what if” thinking
was futile in the extreme. But sometimes she couldn't help wondering. She felt
revived after her stroll and headed back to her office ready to get some work
done. She opened her office door and stopped in her tracks.

"Hi, Susan." Craig said with a smile.

"Hi." She looked at the picture he had been
looking at then entered the room the rest of the way and shut the door then
looked back at him, “You got your cast off."

He looked down at his arm that had been in the cast,
"Yep, good as new."

She stood there just looking at a moment then shook her
head, “What are you doing here?"

"I could just say, I miss you, which would be the
truth."

She walked around her desk because the electricity buzzing
around in the room was a little unnerving. She nodded her head for him to have
a seat as she sat in her chair. "But?"

"But it is more than that." He said as he also
took a seat.

She cleared her throat, "What is it?"

"I think you and your dad were talking about something
incredibly important that last night we saw each other."

She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure I know what
you're talking about."

Craig tipped his head and looked at her thoughtfully,
"When you were talking about miracles and communication. He was telling
you to tell me something."

Susan laughed nervously, "What was he telling me to
tell you?"

He glanced around the room. "That's an interesting
picture you have on your wall," he said referring to the picture he had
been looking at when she had come in. "I don't recall seeing that when I
was here before."

Susan looked up at it, "It wasn't there when you were
here before."

He nodded his head and looked intensely at her, "Is it
special to you?"

Susan looked back at the picture; it was of an empty tomb.
Not just any empty tomb, Jesus' empty tomb.  She looked back at him and
swallowed, "I believe the tomb is empty, if that is what you are asking
me."

He searched her face for a long moment. So long that Susan
wondered what he was thinking.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She looked down at her empty mug and wondered how she
should answer that question. She scratched her eyebrow then looked at him,
"I thought you had a girlfriend and I didn't want you to think that I had
done it just so we could be together," she felt her face flush, saying it
out loud to him made her feel as foolish as Nana had said it actually was.

He leaned his elbows on the desk and clasped his hands
together looking at the picture for a long time.

Susan sat there watching him wondering yet again what he
was thinking.

He brought his gaze back to her and the electric current
between them was so strong that Susan couldn't breathe.

"I know you better than that," he said simply but
with so much meaning that Susan felt humbled and elated at the same time.

She nodded her head.

"Why didn't you say something when you knew I didn't
have a girlfriend?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. Pride?"

He nodded his head.

She gave him an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry."

He smiled at her, "I forgive you."

Susan felt stupid as tears filled her eyes. This man
sitting across from her was what she desired. He had always been the one she
dreamed of. Before she realized what was happening he was gently pulling her up
from her chair and wrapping his arms around her in a tender embrace.

"Don’t cry, Susie. It's okay."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head
against his chest so she could hear the sound of his strong steady heart beat
against her ear. "I'm just so sorry," she said as a few tears
continued to trickle from her eyes.

Craig smoothed her hair down, "I'm sorry, too."

She looked up at him, "For what?"

He gently wiped her tears away with his thumbs, "I'm
sorry for being such a knuckle-head."

She gave a watery chuckle, "How were you a
knuckle-head?"

"Well, Nana and your parents tried to give me hints
and I just sat there not understanding what they were trying to tell me."

She laid her head back against his chest just relishing
being near to this wonderful man of God. The steady thump-thump of his heart
and his arms wrapped around her making her feel as though she had finally found
where she belonged. Thank You, God, for bringing him here today. She pulled her
eyebrows together and she looked back up at him, "What made you come here
today?" She asked.

He looked at her in the eyes and smiled, "A little
birdie told me that this amazing woman by the name of Susan was growing by
leaps and bounds in her new found faith and then the little birdie let it slip
that this amazing woman owned a certain bakery that I have become quite fond
of."

Susan had started shaking her head halfway through his
little story, "This little birdie wouldn't happen to go by the name 'Amy'
would she?"

"I'll never tell."

She gave him a look through narrowed eyes.

"But you can thank your accountability partner the
next time you see her."

"I just may do that," she said as she laid her
head back on his chest, "After I give her a bit of a hard time." She
could hear a chuckle rumble in his chest and she snuggled a little closer to
him. After a moment she felt him loosen his hold on her and she reluctantly
moved back a step. She looked up at him and he placed a hand on either side of
her face. The look on his face took her breath away.

"I love you, Susie. You are the only woman I have ever
loved and the only woman I ever want to love for the rest of my life. These two
months have been torture without you. I would rather have you in my life as a
friend than not have you in it at all. But I would rather have you in my life
as so much more than a friend."

Susan could no more stop the tears falling from her eyes
than she could stop her heart from beating. "Are you asking me to be your
girlfriend?"

He chuckled, "For starters."

"I think I would like that."

"It will be so much better than before, Susie."

Susan nodded her head in agreement. "I love you, Craig.
I think I have always loved you, I can't help myself."

He gave her a crooked grin and brushed a thumb gently
across her lips where a tear had settled. He looked into her eyes then kissed
her. Slowly, reverently. Like she was the most precious thing to him on the
earth. It was the sweetest kiss she had ever received and at the same time the
most moving. She felt her entire being zinging with awareness for this man. He
pulled away and they looked at each other in joy and love.

"Welcome home, Susie." He said with a soft smile
and kissed her again.

Susie took a deep breath then let it out slowly. Two months
had passed since Craig had come to her office to ask her about her becoming a
Christian. Two months filled with wonderful memories. Memories that she would
cherish for a life time. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and looked
in the mirror. The image reflected back was of a woman in love. A woman ready
to move into the next chapter of her life. A woman who with God's never-ending
grace and mercy was marrying the man of her dreams. She gently smoothed down
the front of her satin wedding gown. She saw a movement in the mirror and
looked up. Amy was coming into the room. "Oh, Susan, you look
stunning."

Susan smiled at her through the mirror, "Thank
you." Susan looked back at her reflection, "I wouldn't be standing
here today in this stunning gown if you hadn't told him, you know."

Amy smiled as she rearranged the back of Susan's gown,
"You don't know that for sure."

Susan shook her head, "Maybe not for sure. But I want
to thank you again for telling him."

Amy just smiled.

"I never did ask you, how did you know he was the man
I had talked about? I don't recall every telling you who the man was."

"You didn't, but I remembered Abby calling you his
girlfriend and even though you tried to deny it, I could tell you had feelings
for him. And then the way Craig was acting, I just put two and two
together."

Susan looked at her quizzically, "How was he acting?"

Amy shrugged her shoulders. "Like a man in love."
She smiled at Susan.

"Oh," Susan said then a slow smile spread across
her face. She was going to be marrying that man in a matter of minutes. "I
can't believe we are finally getting married," she said looking at herself
in the mirror again.

The door opened again and Susan's parents and Nana entered
with smiles wreathing their faces.

"Oh, Susan. You look absolutely beautiful," her
mom said with a tear in her eye. She kissed Susan's cheek, "I'm so glad you
two worked out your differences."

Susan blushed at the reference.

Nana walked over and kissed her other cheek, "I will
continue to pray every day for you two. Marriage is not easy, child. It is hard
work, but it is so worth the effort. Always keep God at the center and after
you have children remember that your marriage comes first. That is the best
gift you can give to your children."

Susan’s cheeks turned rosy at the mention of children, but
she smiled at this precious woman, "I will Nana. I have some great role
models." She said looking from her to her parents and back again.

Nana nodded her head, "Yes, but Christ is the best
role-model."

Susan silently agreed as the wedding coordinator came in
and told them that they were ready to walk Nana and Candy down to their seats.

Amy left the room to take her place as the matron-of-honor.
Susan looked at her dad, "Thanks for being here, Dad."

Her dad smiled at her and sniffed, "There is nowhere
else I would rather be right now. You know the things you shared with your
mother and I took root."

Susan looked at him quizzically, "What do you
mean?"

"We believe in Jesus now, too."

Susan waved a hand in front of her face to keep the tears
at bay, "Oh, Dad. I can't tell you how happy that makes me!"

He grabbed a Kleenex and handed it to her, "Now, don't
start crying on me, your mother will scold me."

Susan gave a watery chuckle and hugged her dad, "I
love you, Dad."

"Oh, I love you too my little Poppet."

Susan leaned back and looked at him, "You haven't
called me that in almost twenty years."

He shrugged, "You grew up."

Susan smiled and looked up at the ceiling in an effort to
keep the tears from falling.

"Oh, dear, I think I need to tell a joke or something
to stop all these tears," her dad said in mock horror.

Susan laughed and wiped away the last of her tears,
"It’s okay. I'm fine."

Craig adjusted the bow on his Tux as he walked out into the
front of the sanctuary with his older brother, Dennis. His brother, who was a
confirmed bachelor, had been having a great time at Craig's expense in the
ante-room.  Craig looked over at his brother and almost started laughing again.

He looked at the people who had come to the church to watch
him and Susan join their lives together. He smiled at his mom and dad. They had
been thrilled when he and Susan had told them the news. They remembered Susan
from when they had been dating years before. Then he glanced at his sisters and
their families. He loved his family and now on this day he and Susan were about
to start their own family. He bit his lip to keep from yelling
"Woohoo!" or something equally embarrassing.

He looked down the aisle and saw his oldest nephew walking
Nana down the aisle. He smiled at her and chuckled when she winked at him and
gave him the thumbs up sign. She had been his biggest advocate since he and
Susan had crossed paths again and he loved her like his own grandma. Then
Susan's mom came up the aisle escorted by another one of his nephews. His
sister, Dani, had three boys, and they were making mighty fine ushers today.

He looked expectantly toward the back of the church and saw
Amy coming down the aisle. He felt his pulse begin to race because he knew the
woman he loved more than life itself would be coming up this aisle at any
moment in a beautiful dress that he had only heard about. She would be coming
to join her life with his and he felt a lump form in his throat at the enormity
of the commitment they were making. A commitment that he was more than ready
for.

The music changed and everyone stood up and turned to look
at the back of the church. Craig followed their gazes and there, standing with
her father, a radiant smile on her face was the one woman in the world he would
give his life for. He watched as they walked slowly up the aisle wishing they
would hurry, yet enjoying the vision of her walking toward him at the same
time. Her dad kissed her cheek then placed her hand in his and Craig felt tears
fill his eyes. How long had he waited for this day?

He leaned toward her and whispered softly "You are
absolutely beautiful."

She smiled up at him, "You're not so bad
yourself."

He chuckled softly as they turned to face Pastor Mike, the
person who would officially be joining them together as husband and wife.

Susan could hardly keep her eyes off the man standing next
to her. She couldn't believe they were finally getting married. Couldn't
believe that after all this time, God had blessed them with a love so sweet and
pure that it almost made her cry. The ceremony went by in a blur, even though
she tried to memorize every bit of it. She cherished the way Craig squeezed her
hand or mouthed the words "I love you" at different times. She wanted
it to last forever yet at the same time wanted it to be over. Then she heard
Pastor Mike say the words she had only dreamed of hearing. "I now
pronounce you husband and wife. Craig, you may kiss your bride."

Susan nervously bit her bottom lip as she and Craig turned
to face each other. Craig gently put a hand on either side of her face and
looked into her eyes, "I will love you forever, Susie." He said
softly then leaned in to kiss her the way he always did, reverently and
sweetly, making her feel like she was the most precious and cherished woman in
the entire world. She didn't know how long they had been kissing, but the sound
of cheering filtered into her brain and she pulled back a little with a nervous
laugh. "I would like to be the first person to introduce you to Mr. and
Mrs. Craig Ryder." Pastor Mike said as a crescendo of applause filled
their ears. She and Craig looked out at the audience then at each other and
Susan gasped in surprise as Craig picked her up in a hug and swung her around.
The audience laughed and clapped harder at the display. He set her down, and looked
her in the eyes. "Forever starts right now, my beautiful wife." He
said softly and he kissed her again.

Susie held Craig's hand as they walked up to Nana's front
door. They had been married three beautiful months, but it had been a couple of
weeks since they had made it over to Nana's house for a visit. Craig knocked on
the door then placed a quick kiss on Susan's cheek.

"Well, what a nice surprise," Nana said with a
smile when she opened the door.

"Hi Nana." Craig and Susan said simultaneously as
they entered the house.

Nana led the way into the living room and sat in her chair
with an expectant look on her face. Craig and Susan sat next to each other on
the couch still holding hands. Susan bit her lip and looked at Craig he nodded
his head in encouragement. She looked back at Nana. "Craig and I have
something to tell you, Nana."

Nana looked from one to the other, "Yes?"

"You are going to be a great grandma."

Nana clasped her hands to her chest her mouth shaped in an
"O".

Craig leaned toward Susan, "I don't think I've ever
seen her speechless," he said in a stage whisper.

Susan smiled and leaned toward him, not taking her eyes off
Nana. She was thoroughly enjoying the surprise.

"Oh, my sweet children," Nana finally said.
"That is the best news I've had since you came here to tell me you were
getting married."

"We wanted you to be the first to know," Susan
said. "After all, you were instrumental in getting us back together
again."

"Oh, pish posh. God was going to get you two together
no matter how you fought it. He has a wonderful plan for you two and I can't
wait to watch it unfold."

Susan looked up at Craig and reveled in the love she still
saw shining from his eyes. God did have a wonderful plan and He was revealing
it one day at a time.