The Tender Flame (5 page)

Grant and Lydia joined the others as Marjorie placed the cake on the table, and Scott led the group in singing “Happy Birthday.”

When the song ended, Grant leaned over the cake, then glanced at Lydia before he blew out all the candles with one gust of wind.

“What did you wish for, Grant?” Theresa asked as everyone applauded.

“If I tell you it won’t come true.”

Everyone ate their fill of cake, then the ladies and girls cleared away the dessert dishes and carried them inside the house. In the kitchen, they all offered to help with cleanup, but Marjorie gently shooed them outside into the cool of the evening.

They all continued to visit for a while over iced tea and lemonade; then gradually the guests began to say their good-byes.

Grant quietly thanked Lydia again for his new Bible, and when everyone was gone, he expressed his appreciation to his family for making his birthday such a wonderful day.

The following Sunday morning at church, Veronica Lannon sat next to a young man named Luke Denton. Luke was well liked in the community, and Lydia was glad to see them sitting together. Grant talked to Lydia both before and after the service and continued to do so in the weeks that followed. Although Lydia didn’t understand why she was getting the added attention, she was glad for it.

School started on Monday, September 6. The following Friday was Lydia’s birthday. Beverly had a party planned, which would be preceded by a hearty meal. In accordance with her daughter’s wishes, Beverly invited the Smith family along with two families whose teenage daughters were Lydia’s closest friends.

Lydia awakened on her fifteenth birthday with an excited flutter in her stomach. “Good morning, Lord. Thank You for fifteen years in this world and for another day to walk with You.”

She quickly threw off the covers and began to get ready for school. She must get her morning chores done, even on her birthday!

The day dragged by, but the last bell finally rang. After chatting a few minutes with Grant, Lydia and Billy hurried home to help her mother with preparations for the dinner and the party.

When all was ready, Lydia rushed upstairs to splash cold water on her face and redo her hair, pulling it up on both sides and securing it with a silver barrette. She fluffed her bangs with her fingers. She went to her closet and took out the dark blue dress with the wide white lace collar her mother had made for her in August. It was her very first “grown-up” dress.

She gave herself one last look in the mirror and thought,
Maybe Grant will notice that I really am growing up
. She gave herself an impish grin, then hurried from her room and fairly skipped down the stairs.

In the kitchen, she went to her mother and kissed her on the cheek, thanking her for this most important dinner and party.

Lydia’s girlfriends and their families arrived first, and she met them at the door, welcoming them warmly. Moments later there was
another knock, and Lydia rushed to greet her guests. In chorus, the Smiths wished her happy birthday. Grant complimented her on the beautiful dress, which brought a thank-you and a wide smile.

After dinner, when Lydia opened Grant’s present, she found a beautiful Bible bound in expensive leather, with a dainty, feminine look to it. A thrill shot through her when she found but three words on the flyleaf:
With love, Grant
. She thanked him and let those three words echo in her mind. Then she scolded herself for actually thinking he meant anything by them.

Later, as the guests were leaving, Lydia thanked them for coming and for their gifts. The last person to leave was Grant.

“Thank you so very much for the Bible, Grant. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it, Lydia. And I meant what I said when I signed it.”

“I appreciate that. True friends do have a love for each other, don’t they?”

That night, Grant Smith lay awake in the darkness of his bedroom as Lydia’s words echoed through his mind:
True friends do have a love for each other
. All the next day he tried to think of some way to stop by the Reynolds house to see her, but he couldn’t think of a way to just happen by.

Sunday morning came. Grant was standing in front of the church building talking to some of his friends when he saw the Reynolds buggy pull into the parking lot. Lydia and Billy preceded their parents across the lot, and Grant noticed that Lydia was carrying the Bible he had given her.

During the preaching service, Grant and Lydia sat with their families in their usual pews, directly across the aisle from each other. From time to time Lydia’s eyes strayed to Grant, and she found him looking at her. Each time she held his gaze briefly, then looked away.

After church, Lydia stood outside with her parents and Billy as they chatted with people. She saw the Smiths come out the door, and
Grant walked toward her, smiling.

“Lydia, could I talk to you for a minute?” Grant said. “In private?”

“Of course.”

They walked toward the parking lot, and Grant waited till there was no one else close by before he said, “Lydia, I’ve been thinking about what you said the other night at the party when I told you I meant what I had signed in your Bible.”

“What I said?”

“Yes. Do you remember?”

“You mean about true friends having a love for each other?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ve been thinking about that?”

“Yes, and I want you to understand that the love I had in mind when I wrote, ‘With love, Grant,’ is more than friendship.” Grant took a deep breath. “Lydia … I’ve been in love with you for a long time. Do you remember at my birthday party that I looked at you when Theresa asked me what I wished for, and I said if I told her, it wouldn’t come true?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t really make a wish. I asked the Lord to put a love in your heart for me like I have for you.”

Tears misted Lydia’s eyes and her pulse raced. “Grant … that prayer was answered long ago. I have been in love with you for two years, but I’ve kept it from you because I was so young. Oh, I’ve prayed so hard that—”

Lydia’s words were cut off by the approach of both their families.

Grant touched her arm and whispered, “It’s just too hard to try to talk here at church. I’ll see you here this evening, but we’ll talk at school tomorrow.”

Lydia lay in her bed that night too excited to sleep. “Dear Lord,” she whispered, “thank You for what is happening between Grant and me.

I just knew You wouldn’t let me love him like I do unless he was the one You had chosen for me. Please, oh, please … let me one day be his wife.”

At the Smith home, sleep was just as elusive for Grant. “Lord,” he said, “I don’t care if people do tease me about robbing the cradle. I love Lydia, and I’m going to ask her to be my girl. Thank You that You have worked in her heart as well as mine.”

L
YDIA
R
EYNOLDS AWAKENED REFRESHED
the next morning, though she had not fallen asleep until three hours before sunrise. After spending time with her Lord in prayer and praising Him for all His blessings, she left the bed and padded to the dresser, where the mirror showed her a happy face.

“Good morning, Lydia,” she said to her reflection. “Know what? The most wonderful young man in all the world loves you! What do you think of that?”

She ran her fingers through her thick hair and let it fall partially over her face. Peeking through the locks, she answered the girl in the mirror, “I think it’s marvelous! The Lord is good, isn’t He?”

“Yes,” said her reflection, “He is so good! He answers prayer. His way is perfect. That’s what His Book says, and I believe it!”

She dressed for school and all but floated down the stairs and into the kitchen. “Good morning, sweetest mother in all the world!” she said, kissing Beverly’s cheek.

“Well, good morning, Miss Sunshine! My, aren’t you chipper today. May I ask why?”

“It’s a wonderful day, that’s why!”

Duane and Billy were just coming through the kitchen door.

“Of course it’s a wonderful day!” said Duane, moving up behind Beverly and putting his arms around her. “I’m married to the most beautiful and wonderful woman in all the world, and God has given me a precious daughter and a precious son.” Then to Lydia he said, “And what makes this a wonderful day for you?”

“Why, Daddy, Psalm 118:24 says, ‘This is the day that the L
ORD
hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ I’m just being scriptural.”

Duane tilted his head and gave her a skeptical look from the tops of his eyes. “Well, then, tell me why you weren’t so scriptural yesterday morning, or the day before.”

Lydia sighed, looked to her mother, and said, “Can’t we females have any little secrets?”

Beverly laughed. “Sure, honey. Keep your little secret. Daddy ought to be glad that his daughter is so happy this morning.”

“Oh, I am. She’s just got my curiosity up.”

“Well, maybe I’ll satisfy your curiosity a little later.”

“Let’s get up to the table,” Beverly said. “Breakfast is ready.”

As they sat down at their places, Billy eyed his sister suspiciously. “Has it anything to do with Grant, big sister?”

“Billy!” Beverly said. “If your sister wants you to know what she’s so happy about, she’ll tell you. Don’t pry.”

“Mom’s right, son,” Duane said. “Don’t pry.”

“Girls!” Billy said, rolling his eyes.

All the way to school, Billy wanted to press his sister about her secret, but he refrained.

Lydia’s heart warmed when she saw Grant standing outside her classroom, smiling broadly.

“Good morning, Grant,” she said.

“Good morning to you. Did you have a good night’s rest?”

Lydia sighed. “Do you want the truth?”

“Of course.”

“No, I didn’t. And do you want to know why?”

“Sure.”

“I had a very difficult time getting to sleep because of what you told me yesterday morning.”

“You mean—?”

Lydia smiled. “Yes. You know what I mean.”

Leaning close, he said, “I was awake for a long time last night, too. For the same reason.”

“I’m glad.”

“I’ve got to get to class, Lydia. How about we meet outside by the children’s playground during lunch hour? We’ll be where everybody can see us—including the teachers—but we can talk without anyone hearing us. Okay?”

“All right.”

Grant turned to head down the hall to the next classroom. He paused and turned back, mouthing silently,
I love you
.

Her lips formed the same words.

Noon came, and at lunch Grant met Lydia at the edge of the playground under a large oak tree amid the laughter of children.

“I’ve been praising the Lord in a special way ever since yesterday morning, Lydia,” Grant said. “I’ve prayed for so long that the Lord would cause you to love me.”

“And I’ve prayed for so long in the same way about you,” she said. “I had a hard time, though. I figured by the time I was old enough that the difference in our ages didn’t matter, you would already have a steady girl … maybe even be engaged or married.”

“Lydia, will you be my steady girl? May I be your beau?”

Tears misted Lydia’s eyes. “Oh, Grant, nothing would make me happier. But are you sure? Lots of girls have a crush on you.”

Grant shook his head. “I don’t know about that, but I’m not interested in lots of girls. There’s only one I want, and I’m looking at her.” Grant was quiet a moment, then said, “Lydia, I want to do right by your parents in this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think I should talk to your father and ask his permission to be your beau.”

Lydia looked at him with admiring eyes. “I think it’s wonderful that you would ask my father. Especially because of my age.”

“I would do it even if you were my age. I just think it’s the proper thing to do.”

“Daddy and Mother already think a lot of you, Grant, but this will raise their estimation of you even higher.”

“I just want to do what’s right.”

“That’s one of the reasons I love you.”

He grinned. “I’m planning on giving you lots of reasons to love me.”

“I really don’t need any more. I already have plenty.”