Helsinki Sunrise (7 page)

“I had no choice but to jump in…the mosquitoes were eating me alive.”

Eveliina threw her head backward. Her laughter filled the air. Finally she caught her breath and focused her gaze on him. “You could have pretended to be the brave hero. I would never have known.”

Adam cocked his eyebrows. “I told you I don't lie.”

“I'm beginning to see.” She pulled herself closer and tightened her arms around his neck. She could sense his arms and legs treading water, keeping them both afloat. “So tell me then, Adam, how attractive do you find me…really.”

His eyes earnest, his breath warm on her face, Adam whispered a single word. “Very.”

How she longed for more than his gaze. She ached for him to wrap his arms around her, to return her embrace, to feel his lips on hers as she had in her daydream. She waited, expectant. Any moment now, for this was no longer a dream, this was reality.

When Adam took her hands and released her grip on him, Eveliina realized reality was not going quite the way she'd intended. Holding her hands at arm's-length, Adam placed a little distance between them. “But it's complicated.”

Was it ever? She doubted Adam had the slightest inkling of how complicated this had become for her. In her attempts to drive him away, she'd pushed herself closer to Adam, fully intending all the time not to fall in love.

In twenty-four hours, she had failed.

 

****

 

“That was fun. Let's do it again.” Eveliina stood at the edge of the lake, shivering, as Adam strode out of the water toward her. The only time she shivered after a sauna and swim was when she'd done this same feat in winter and jumped into the
avanto
. Would Adam be brave enough to face the hole in the ice come winter?

Adam raised his brows. “Again?”

Eveliina jumped up and down. “Yes. We normally do this a few times in a sauna session.”

“Tempting as that is, I think we should call it a night. I'm pretty beat from my time on the lake, and I need to give my room a chance to cool down, otherwise I'll never get to sleep.” Adam gestured for Eveliina to lead the way back to the cottage. “Can't leave the sauna door open, the mosquitoes would carry me away alive.”

“You can sleep inside, Adam.”

Adam made no attempt to hide his sigh. “Not a good idea. I wouldn't want to disappoint you by compromising my integrity.”

She should have felt rebuffed by Adam's stance—instead a renewed admiration filled her, softening her heart.

Eveliina turned to Adam as she reached the deck. “Would you mind if I bathed in the sauna first, while the water's still hot?”

“As long as you don't expect me to join you.”

Would she ever tire of his smile, his laugh?

“No. I wouldn't.” She opened the cottage door and stepped inside. “I'll just get my clothes. I won't be long. Please, make yourself at home. It'll be some time before your room's ready for sleeping.”

“Now that's one offer I will take you up on. I wouldn't survive long if I waited outside—my mosquito repellant's almost done.”

“I have three bottles. Help yourself. You'll find one on the kitchen windowsill.” Eveliina climbed the ladder to her room, and was back down a few minutes later, clothes in tow.

Adam had already stretched out on the daybed, pillow propped in the corner, Bible open in his hands.

“Good story?” She smiled.

He looked up at her over the top of the pages. “The best.”

Two small words, but they penetrated deep. Once upon a time, she'd thought so, too. Could she believe that way again?

Stopping at the door, she turned. “I won't be long. I'd say help yourself to whatever you want, but I know all you'll opt for is water. You know where the tap is.”

“Sure do. Enjoy your bath. Shower? Wash? Whatever…”

She closed the cottage door, leaving Adam to figure out the bathing rituals of the Finns.

Eveliina tapped hot water out of the side of the sauna furnace into a large plastic container, and balanced the temperature with cold water from the ladling bucket. She started by washing her hair, working her way down to her feet. Ten painted toenails stared blankly back, bare. She must have lost the bandage in the lake.

Yearning for Adam's company, she didn't take long to bathe. But even though she'd been quick, she hadn't been quick enough. Adam slept on the daybed, Bible open face down on his chest. His fingers barely held on to the cover.

Taking care not to wake him, Eveliina removed the Bible, closed it and placed it on the floor beside him. She opened a cupboard on the wall in front of the daybed and removed a summer quilt. After she lowered the blinds, leaving the room darkened, she gently covered Adam. Afraid she'd wake him, Eveliina hesitated for a moment before planting a soft kiss on his lips. “Goodnight, Adam,” she whispered before stepping away and climbing up to her bedroom.

Tomorrow she'd begin painting the cottage. She'd already checked the storeroom at the back. As always, Ukki had ensured it was stocked with all the necessary maintenance items, including paint for the wooden house. Adam would certainly offer his help, and for a while, she'd capture his undivided attention.

Not the least bit sleepy, Eveliina pushed her mattress to the opening and propped her pillow at the top edge of the ladder. The lamp in her room cast a soft glow on Adam's sleeping form. She spent her waking hours gazing at him.

 

 

 

 

8

 

Adam's eyes flew open. Sunday, the Lord's day. He'd spend it alone on the other side of the island beside the big rock—the place where God first burdened his heart for Eveliina.

He checked his wristwatch. Constant and true, his internal alarm never failed to wake him at six. Comfortable beneath the quilt, Adam looked around the cottage, disoriented, fully expecting to have woken inside the sauna. He must have dozed off before Eveliina returned, and she'd covered him and left him to sleep.

It wouldn't happen again.

He looked up toward her room. Strawberry blond hair cascaded from the opening and touched the first step. Adam noticed her pillow tottering on the edge, ready to tumble. Her left arm dangled past the length of her hair. He hoped she'd never been one of those children who fell out of their bunk beds. He'd had his fair share of those falls, until his parents insisted he could no longer sleep on the top bunk.

This was far higher.

Intending to make sure she was safe, Adam quietly climbed the ladder.

He smiled. She was a messy sleeper. Cute, but messy. Her tangled hair half hid her face, and her blankets had been kicked off, exposing her long, shapely legs. He thrilled at the remembrance of them brushing against his as they treaded water in the lake. A man's sleeping shirt covered her body. The twinge of jealousy that wrapped around Adam's heart caught him off guard. Was this
his
shirt, the blond man on her laptop? He had to be someone significant in her life—why else would she have his picture splashed across her screen?

Eveliina mumbled as she rolled onto her back. Who was she dreaming about?

Adam leaned closer.

She mumbled again. This time he heard the single word that barely touched her lips.

“Adam…”

He brushed the hair from her face, tucking the wild strands behind the daintiest ear he'd seen on a woman. He hadn't always been set apart for God's service.

She pursed her lips, drawing his attention to their perfect shape. If it wasn't inappropriate, he would have sown a gentle kiss there. Unless he woke her, there wasn't much he could do about Eveliina's posture except pray. Adam climbed back down the ladder, offering a prayer for her safety with each step he took.

After a wash in the sauna, he dressed in shorts, his favorite T-shirt, and sneakers—with laces, no socks. He brushed his teeth, and then spent a few minutes giving his beard a trim, cutting the facial hair close to his skin. Adam got the distinct impression yesterday Eveliina liked it that way.

Neat and clean, he retrieved his Bible from the floor beside the daybed. He scribbled a note to Eveliina on the shopping list notepad that hung on the kitchen wall, tore off the square paper and slipped it beneath her laptop screen. When she lifted the screen later, as no doubt she would, she'd see his handiwork.

Forty-five minutes after waking, Adam made his way down to the canoe. He could easily have walked to the other side of the forest, it wasn't far, but taking the canoe would let Eveliina think he was back out on the lake. He didn't want any distractions today while he worshipped his Creator and interceded for Eveliina.

But the day wasn't destined to be easy for Adam as he prayed in the forest. Every time he closed his eyes, he'd see her before him. Eveliina with the log in her hand. Eveliina laughing in the lake, swirling her body around him. Eveliina taking a bite of blueberry pie. Eveliina wrapping her arms around his neck. Eveliina laying her hand against his chest. Eveliina sweating in the sauna. Eveliina peacefully asleep in the loft, whispering his name in her dreams. Eveliina's lips on his, kissing him goodnight.

He hadn't imagined it.

 

****

 

She couldn't wait to start her day with Adam. Putting on her widest smile, Eveliina popped her head over the edge of her room's entrance. Like a vapor, her smile dissipated at the sight of the neat daybed—cover straightened, quilt folded and placed to one side. Had Adam woken in the night and returned to the sauna? If he had, then he was either already up, or he'd slept on one of the hard wooden benches.

She hurried down the ladder and put on a pot of coffee to brew. She briefly considered baking something, but decided against it, no longer wanting Adam to leave. All she wanted now was to savor the time she had with him. All too soon, it would be over.

From now, if Adam was to taste anything forbidden, it would be her alone. She didn't want some pastry to be on the receiving end of his lips.

Eveliina stepped outside, searching for Adam. Only one boat moored at the jetty told her what she needed to know. Her eyes scanned the lake.

Nothing.

All she could do was get on with her original plans for the day and hope Adam returned soon. The idea of painting the cottage had seemed far more appealing with him in the picture. She knew exactly what would make the chore more bearable—ice cream and blueberries.

With a full bowl of frozen dessert ready to go, Eveliina pulled out the tub of blueberries. Only a handful remained.

 

****

 

The faded wall along the kitchen was the first to change back to a deep burgundy. It had been a morning of hard work, but as Eveliina stepped back to view her handiwork, she knew every painful minute had been worth it.

Perfect.

Despite her eagerness to see the rest of the cottage transformed to this deep red glory, she resolved to wait for Adam's help.

Speaking of…where was the man?

She'd kept her eye on the lake all morning. Not a sign of him.

Panic dug its sharp nails into her heart and squeezed. What if she'd over-stepped the line last night? What if he'd decided to take off this morning and not return?

No—his backpack still stood outside on the deck.

Thinking of Adam made her hungry. Time for more ice cream and blueberries.

Drat. She forgot they were finished. Nothing to do but go pick more.

Eveliina washed the paint from her arms and hands and strolled down to the jetty. She hopped inside the boat and pulled on the cord to start the motor. Only the slightest sputter—nothing else. She'd forgotten the motor wouldn't start on Friday night. She'd have to ask Adam why.

Despite the best berry pickings, and the berry comb, being on the mainland, she had no desire to row across. Eveliina hopped out the boat. She'd search the forest on the island first.

 

****

 

Lord, I know you said to love her like you do, but I'm afraid I've overstepped the line. I love her…like Samson loved Delilah, like Solomon loved his Shulammite, like Adam loved his Eve.

It'd been a long time since Adam had felt any kind of attraction to a woman—not since he'd entered the mission field six years ago. Even so, no woman had ever made him feel this way. It excited him. It scared him.

If only Eveliina still walked with the Lord. But she'd turned her back on God a decade ago—a year after her parents died. Adam tried to imagine what he would have done in her situation. Would he have reacted the same way?

Mikko hadn't. Instead of running from God like Eveliina, he'd held on tighter to the nail-scarred hands.

Adam rose from the forest floor knowing what he had to do. He'd return to the cottage and tell Eveliina exactly how he felt, and then he'd try to lead her back to Jesus.

 

****

 

Normally, the blueberry bushes didn't thrive on their small island, yet, just across the water on the mainland, the forests were purple, ripe for the picking. Strangely, this year was different and Eveliina's berry bucket was nearly full by the time she neared the other side of the island.

Her heart thrilled when she saw the yellow canoe bobbing in the water, tied to a birch sapling.

Adam.

She'd find him and surprise him.

It didn't take long. The red shirt he wore signaled to her like a beacon.

Adam leaned against a rock, relaxed.

Eveliina tiptoed through the forest until she came up behind the rock where Adam stood.

“I got you.” She giggled as she jumped out at Adam. “So this is where you're hiding.”

“Eveliina…what are you doing here?” His shocked expression wasn't something she'd expected.