Faith Unseen Read online

  Jeremy started to answer but Leah stopped him. “Nathan, after the next time you see her at church, then come to our house. If you show up on our doorstep the day after she gets home, she will know I told you. Please don’t put me in the middle.”

  “I apologize. It can wait until I see her again, but I will be stopping by for a visit at the first opportunity.”

  “Anytime. Now where do you want the shelves and then can it wait until after Christmas?”

  “It can wait as long as it needs too.” He said showing them where he thought he’d like the shelves. After they left he sat down and prayed again. Dear Lord God. Did I figure out the mystery? If I need to ask questions, please help me to ask sensitive questions and not make Faith more uncomfortable around me. She is a kind, caring sister in Christ and I suspect a wonderful friend. In Jesus Name. Amen.”

  The next Sunday morning, Nathan noticed Faith sitting on the back row next to her brother Jeremy. She was laughing at something he said and she glowed. Wherever she had been on her vacation, she must have spent lots of time in the sun. Nathan had a hard time turning away to focus on the other church members. His Monday schedule was just changed though, he had some questions for Miss Faith Newham.

  Nathan caught Leah’s eye as he faced her from the front pew. He turned and looked at her sister and then back at her. She had a hard time not laughing but gave him a slight nod. Nathan had to look down at his Bible before he started to laugh also. After a short prayer, he lifted his head again but didn’t look at either Leah or Faith.

  Monday morning, Leah helped Faith get her clothes matched up as she usually did. Faith could do it by herself but always wanted Leah’s confirmation that she looked okay. Today she knew Faith was going to want to look her best. She didn’t feel it was necessary to warn her sister that Nathan would be stopping by. She just wanted her to look good in case he did. Leah didn’t know if Nathan’s schedule today would allow him to stop by but she anticipated him showing up.

  Faith was working at reading dozens of emails when the doorbell rang. She ignored it thinking that Leah would get it. After a minute, it rang again.

  “Hello. Who’s there?”

  “Nathan Lindstrom”

  “Leah is back in her workshop. She won’t mind if you go back there.”

  “Okay thanks.” He agreed. He needed to talk to Leah anyway. Nathan walked around and knocked on the door of the workshop. Leah was laughing as she opened the door. “Hi Nathan, amazing coincidence that you showed up today.”

  “Stop laughing at me.” he grumbled and laughed at the same time. “She’s beginning to give me an inferiority complex. As soon as I announced my name, she told me you were back here. Not “Hi. How are you?” Just “go see Leah in her workshop”. So here I am. Do I go ask her now?”

  “If you want answers, you are going to have to. I won’t do it for you.” Leah said. “I’ll announce that you are coming in, but that’s it. So, do you want me to call her?” she said walking to the intercom. Nathan nodded and Leah told him to head for the door and she’d announce him.

  Nathan got to the top of the stairs for Faith’s office and stopped. Help me be sensitive Lord. He walked cautiously down the stairs since it was dark down there. “Hi Faith.”

  “Hello” she said quietly “Did you need something?” she asked hoping he would be quick. She was so nervous in his company and she didn’t like that feeling.

  “Do you have a light down here?” he asked. He wanted to see her as he asked his questions.

  “Yes, I’m sorry. It’s at the top of the stairs though. We can go talk upstairs.”

  Nathan walked cautiously back up the stairs and waited for her to join him. Faith walked to the living room and sat down in the chair. She invited Nathan to have a seat. “Did you need something?”

  “If I asked for a flower garden at the church, it is going to be waiting for me when I return?”

  Faith’s mouth dropped open in surprise then she caught herself and sat silently. She was really nervous now and didn’t realize she was fidgeting in her chair. She had been caught.

  “Will you tell me why?” he asked gently as he knew he had been right

  “You’ll have to ask a different question for me to answer why?” she said evading his question

  Nathan burst out laughing. “I knew it. You are sneaky.”

  “I am not.” She exclaimed “I don’t know exactly what you are talking about.”

  “Okay, I’ll ask how then?”

  “Again, how isn’t very informative.” She hedged again

  “Let’s go for a walk.” He said gently chuckling at her

  “A walk? Why?”

  “Yes or No?” he asked gently

  “I’m sure this is a bad idea but okay. You are acting very strange today.” She said rising to her feet. “We have to go by Leah’s shop to tell her.” She said turning towards the back of the house. Nathan followed her to the back door and down to Leah’s shop. She just opened the door and yelled in that they were going for a walk. “Okay” Leah called back. “Have fun.” She whispered to herself.

  Faith turned to where she thought Nathan was standing. “This is your idea, where are we going?”

  “Do you want me to direct you or guide you?”

  “If you want me to go with you, you’ll have to take my hand and guide me.”

  Nathan reached for her hand and wrapped it around his arm so he could guide her. He instantly felt less nervous as she touched him. Faith on the other hand was more nervous. She liked his gentle manner but she was not used to anyone guiding her but family members.

  “So how was your vacation? Where did you go?” Nathan asked as they headed away from her house towards the park.

  “We went to San Diego. We had a great time. I love the beach.”

  “Me too. I used to live in Panama City, Florida. I loved going surfing in my spare time.”

  “And you moved to New Mexico?”

  “Sure, I like it here. The church members are wonderful. They seem to know when I need something and just show up to do it.” He had her now. She had to admit she was behind it.

  “That’s nice. I have gone to that church all my life; I knew we had good people there that would help you out. I’m glad you are finding them helpful.”

  She got around him again so he decided to be a little more direct. “But what I can’t figure out is how you knew to send them my way and the shelves in my office? No one knew that but me.”

  Faith was silent as they walked along. She knew he knew but she wasn’t going to admit it right away. “Faith, thank you. But I’d still like to know how and why?”

  “Why are you thanking me? You think I did something?”

  “Faith, please answer the question.”

  “Can’t you just accept it happened and move on?”

  Nathan helped her sit down at a picnic table in the park. He moved around to the other side and sat down facing her. He sat silently thinking about her question. She had mostly admitted he was right but not how. “I suppose I could but I get to make two conditions.”

  “Maybe. What is the first one?”

  He laughed “Someday, I get to know why. Even if it is the last day I am the pastor at this church.”

  “Planning to leave already? That may be a record for shortest time at one church.”

  “Stop trying to sidetrack me.” He laughed “do you agree?”

  “No. What’s your second condition?”

  “You go out to dinner with me.” he said

  “No! No No. No to that condition definitely. No to the first condition and no as to how and why. I’ll walk myself home. Goodbye Pastor Lindstrom.”

  “Faith, wait. I’ll walk you home.” He said taking her hand. Faith didn’t have much choice but to go with him. She couldn’t walk home by herself; she wasn’t exactly sure where she was.

  Nathan didn’t really know what to say as they walked along. She had made her feelings pretty clear about him. He knew he wouldn�
��t find out any answers to his questions today. Leah was coming out of her shop as they walked up the drive way. He was shaking his head as he approached her. She looked at the stiff posture of her sister and knew something had gone wrong.

  “I know you’re there. Stop the silent messages.”

  “He deserves to know Faith. I do too since I was part of it.”

  “It just was.” She admitted “That is all I’m telling either of you.”

  “And if we don’t like that answer?” Leah argued

  “It’s okay Leah. I’ve upset Faith enough today. Goodbye.” He said handing Faith off to Leah.

  “Wait, Nathan.” Leah stated “Stop being so stubborn and tell him.”

  “Just point me towards the house.”

  “Just walk straight and you will find the back door.”

  “Thank you.” Faith said leaving them alone. Fortunately she found the door without much fumbling around. She wasn’t sure if Nathan was still there or if he had left, Leah was talking at the same time she tried to listen for his footsteps to be receding. Faith went into the house and moved to sit down at the kitchen table. She was sorry she had overreacted to Nathan’s invitation to dinner but it would be better if she didn’t go with him.

  Out on the driveway, Leah waited until the door shut behind Faith before turning to Nathan. “What happened?”

  “It doesn’t really matter. She was behind it. I’ll just wonder why.”

  “Something else happened? She is upset about more than that.”

  “She asked me if I could just let the subject go and I said I would on two conditions. One, that someday she would tell me why and two if she would go out to dinner with me. That one bothered her more than the first one.”

  Leah pointed to the street where his car was parked and started walking that way. She wanted to tell him something and didn’t want Faith to hear it. As they reached his car, she turned to him “I’m officially interfering now. She is uncomfortable around people when she eats. She thinks she is going to make a big mess. Dinner would be extremely nerve wracking for her. If you still want to ask her out, try coffee or a concert or another walk. Patience is your best bet.”

  “She won’t talk to me again Leah; let alone go on a date.”

  “I think you are wrong. How patient are you?” she asked walking away

  Not that patient but maybe I’ll learn he thought to himself. He had some praying to do. Nathan arrived back at the church office and wrote Faith a quick email.

  “I’m sorry to have upset you.

  Nathan”

  Leah walked in and found Faith sitting dejectedly at the kitchen table. Faith had tears running down her face. “Faith, what’s wrong?”

  “How did something good go so wrong?” she asked quietly

  “It didn’t. They were really nice things to do. He isn’t mad at you.”

  “He is now.”

  “No, sister, he isn’t. He said he asked you out on a date. Are you going to go?”

  “I might have if he hadn’t said dinner.”

  “Then you should have made a different suggestion. Coffee or a concert or a walk.”

  “If I had been thinking clearly I might have, now he won’t ask again.”

  “Then you ask him and explain about why you won’t have dinner with him and in time explain about the things you did for him.”

  “How did he find out I did those things?”

  “He came looking for you while you were gone, then Jeremy and I went to see him about the shelves and he had suspicions that it was you. Then I confirmed that it was possible, but you confirmed it by your actions today.”

  “If I call him at the church and he can meet with me, will you drive me down there?”

  “Absolutely.” Leah stated happily. “I’ll even hand you the phone and leave you alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Calvary Christian Church. This is Amanda, how may I help you?”

  “Hi Amanda, this is Faith Newham. Is Pastor Lindstrom available to speak to me?”

  “I believe so, I’ll transfer you to him.”

  “Nathan Lindstrom” he said answering the phone

  “It’s Faith.”

  “Hi” he said amazed to be hearing from her

  “Are you available to meet with me? I’ll have Leah drive me down there.” Nathan stared at the phone in amazement.

  “How about I drive over there and pick you up and take you for coffee?”

  “That will be fine. Anytime you are available.”

  “Give me an hour.”

  “Okay. Bye”

  Nathan was dumbfounded as he hung up the phone. She actually called me. She is amazing. Lord, please help me to do this the right way. Friendship or something more, we need you to lead us. Amen.

  Chapter 4

  Faith was in the living room praying when she heard a car door close. Please help me Lord to say the right things and to apologize. Where it goes from there, I’ll trust in your leading. In Jesus Name, Amen.

  The front doorbell rang a few seconds later. Faith walked to the intercom and asked who it was. “Nathan Lindstrom” the voice answered. Faith opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. “Hi”

  “Hello Faith. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.” She answered shyly as she held out her hand. Nathan took her hand and escorted her down the stairs. “Bye Leah”

  “Bye Rach, Bye Nathan” Leah laughed from the side of the house

  “How did you know she was there?” he asked incredulously

  “She would have heard you through the intercom. I knew she would come to investigate.”

  Nathan laughed and helped her to settle in the car. He drove them to a local coffee shop then led her to the counter to order. She handed the clerk the money before Nathan could after placing her order.

  “My apology, my treat.” She said as they sat down after their coffees were prepared

  “Are you a mind reader too? That’s how you knew I wanted more shelves in my office.” He joked

  “Should I apologize first or explain first?”

  “I’m not sure you owe me an apology so explain first. The painting at my house?”

  “I overheard you tell someone as you walked past me.”

  “My car?”

  “You were on my mind that morning so I prayed for guidance. Then I called Mason’s wife. It seemed a relief after making that call. If you didn’t need him, then no harm sending him to your house.”

  “The cleaning at the church?”

  “Sam’s wife mentioned it to me. She knew I had organized a cleaning day previously.”

  “The shelves at my house? I can figure that one out, I told your father.”

  “Yes.”

  “But you shouldn’t have paid for them.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Who did?”

  “My secret for all time.”

  “Fair enough”

  “The shelves in my office at church?”

  “Mostly a lucky guess. Jeremy and Leah mentioned you had tons of books at your house. So I assumed you would at church too. Or over time you would accumulate them. My father told me once that there weren’t many shelves in there.”

  “Now, will you tell me why?”

  “Help the Flock. My calling. Whatever, whenever, however.”

  “How did no one know it was you? Each time I asked where the phone call came from or the email and I got dozens of different answers.”

  “Help the Flock has dozens of different email addresses so I can remain anonymous. Most of the people at church know about the ministry, not that I am behind it. And I would like to keep it that way. The only reason you know is because you happened to call it, then move here. I wouldn’t lie to you about who I was. The phone calls are the same way. I ask my volunteers to call. Mostly they leave messages on behalf of the ministry and people respond.”

  “Mason said his wife called him.”

  “Mason is a great mechanic and
a fabulous friend, but when his wife tells him to help out, he doesn’t ask questions, he goes. Can I ask you a question now?”

  “How did I figure it out?” he guessed and Faith nodded. “On the day of the cleaning, I prayed that if I was supposed to figure it out that the Lord would guide me. Then you sent me an email asking a question and I remembered the prayer group on my behalf and became suspicious that it was you. Then Jeremy and Leah came to see me and she confirmed it was possible but she wouldn’t say anymore than that. If I wanted to know, I had to ask. So that brings me to today. When I asked about the flower garden, your jaw dropped and you started fidgeting in your chair. So, dear Faith, you gave yourself away.”

  “I figured I had, but if I kept distracting you then you would drop the subject.”

  “Did that work?” he laughed

  “No!” she growled

  “So which one of us is more hard headed?”

  Faith blushed and skipped answering him “Now to apologize. I’m sorry about how I reacted to your dinner invitation. Maybe something else besides dinner and I would have said yes. I prefer to not eat in front of strangers or in public. I really am sorry about earlier today.”

  “And I’m sorry I upset you.”

  “I know. I got your email, it wasn’t your fault.”

  “Anyway, I didn’t even think about you being nervous about eating in public. I guess that was insensitive of me. I apologize.”

  “You didn’t notice I escaped the dinner table as fast as possible that night at my parents?”

  “Yes, now that you mention it. Leah kept a close watch over you too, what was your signal that you had spilled?”

  “You’re good. She was to kick me under the table. It is our standard signal if I do something embarrassing.”

  Nathan laughed at her description “As for me being a stranger, I’d like to get past that too if you are willing and the Lord leads us in that direction. What is your opinion on that?”

  “I prayed about that too as I heard you drive up. I’ll follow as He leads is the best I can give you right now.”

  “Do you mind if we start now?” he asked. Faith didn’t say anything but held out her hand and Nathan grasped it and started to pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for Faith and her gifts to minister to me and to others. We ask that you guide us now in where you want us to go to be in your will. Friendship or something more, we will follow your leading. Help us to know clearly what you want from us and to put you first in any relationship we have. In Jesus Name, Amen.