Sarah's Prayer: A Sunset Single (Sunset Series 1.1) (7 page)

Sarah thought for a moment. "Thank you. That really means a lot coming from someone as beautiful as you..." Sarah hesitated. "Jen, there is one thing I
kinda need your advice on while we're talking about... men."

"Sure, sweetie.
Fire away... not that I'm an expert or anything, but I'll try to help."

"I guess it's been so long since I've been on a real date with a guy I really liked that I don't know how quickly you're supposed to start talking about serious and personal stuff."

"Give me an example."

"Well, yesterday, it wasn't but a few minutes before I told him how nervous I was about getting ready for our coffee date. He told me that he was divorced and I could tell that he was sad, but not devastated. I assured him I understood because I had been through a difficult relationship but came through it and..."

"Whoa. Stop right there." Jen sat up straight. "You mean to tell me you guys covered that much personal stuff on the first date... over coffee?"

Sarah felt very self-conscious, like she had done something wrong. "Well, yeah. Do you think I messed up?"

"Oh, heavens no, hun. I think that's great. You two felt completely comfortable sharing your hearts from the very first. That's a great sign as far as I'm concerned."

"You think?"

"Heck, yeah. Now, let's talk about your dinner plans..."

The two new "sisters" plotted the overthrow of a young man's heart over the remainder of their lunch break.

Chapter 8

Wednesday evening Sarah emailed Michael about their planned dinner this Friday. Her mind already raced about the menu and what it would be like to have a man over to her apartment for dinner. The more she thought about it the more nervous she became.
I haven't done this since.... What do I do? How do I act? I... I need to talk to Jen.

Dialing her number, Sarah felt foolish for calling someone like Jen to ask such a juvenile question, but she was out of her league on this one.
Just do it, Sarah.

"
Howdy, Jen speaking.
"

"Hey, Jen.
This is Sarah. I have a question about Friday night that we didn't cover earlier and... well... it may sound a little ridiculous, but..."

"
You want to know how to keep him from making a move on you, don't you?
"

Sarah felt so relieved, not only that she didn't have to ask it, but that Jen understood what she needed to know.
"Right. This is new to me, Jen. The last time I had a guy over for dinner was when I was in school... and that didn't end well for me." Sarah felt nervous about this conversation.

"
I gotcha covered on this one. Just do what I did with Jake. Take the initiative and tell Michael what you're going to do to him. That way, you're the one in control and you're telling him where the boundaries are.
"

Sarah liked what she heard. "Okay, like what?"

"
Well, on our first date, I told Jake that I would hold his hand, but it would never be in his lap and that I would give him a long, lingering hug and probably make him kiss me on the cheek before he left, but I wouldn't force him to do anything else beyond that.
"

"Oh, you are a smooth talker. So, Michael gave me a sweet and wonderful hug when he walked me to my car last time. What if I told him ...
"

The plan to overthrow Michael's heart was nearing completion.

Sarah sent an email with the touches and flourishes Jen suggested. When she clicked "Send" a wave of excitement and nervousness filled her body.
I really did it. I invited Michael to dinner. Yeah!

She calmed herself down and focused on the other mundane things she had to do that evening, including a grocery list for Friday's big event. She wanted it to be perfect. Sarah wasn't a great cook, but church members raved about the dishes she brought to fellowship meals. She hoped dinner would impress Michael.

Sarah had difficulty focusing on work Friday. The most important event of the day for her came at 6:30 when Michael would arrive at her apartment. There were, of course, people to see, calls to make, papers to turn in, but everything revolved around dinner in her mind.

As the workday ended, Sarah flew home as quickly as the speed limit allowed. The smell of simmering spaghetti squash and meatballs in the crockpot met her at the door.
Good to know that came on in time.
She flitted around the apartment, changed clothes, arranged and rearranged the table, checked the raspberry sorbet in the freezer, prepared the salad and set out the sun tea. By ten after six, everything was perfect.

With a contented sigh, Sarah sat down to contemplate the evening. She hadn't really had time to be nervous about what might... or might not take place. She was simply too busy, but never too busy for an important rendezvous.

Father, I dedicate this evening to you. Let this be for Michael and me an enjoyable evening together as friends, free of nervousness or expectation. Help me to be as gracious and beautiful to Michael as I am in your sight. I thank you for sending Jen to me as a friend and sister to remind me that I am a woman of worth. Let me reflect that in my words and actions this evening.

Sarah rarely ended her silent prayers in "Amen" because she never considered her prayers finished.

She heard the distinctive crunch of Michael's truck tires on the gravel drive. A smile came to her face and a warm feeling of peace and happiness emanated from deep within her, surprising her because situations like this usually brought anxiety and doubt. She waited until she heard Michael knock on the door before she rose from the couch.

Opening the door, she found Michael with a sheepish grin holding two roses, one pink the other red.
"Oh, how sweet. You brought flowers."

"Yeah, well. In all of Sunset, Texas I couldn't find one
blushing rose. Not even one I could steal off of a rose bush. So, I got a pink one that reminded me of you, and a red one to remind you of how I've looked to you most of the time."

Sarah was overwhelmed by the gesture. That last man to buy her flowers was her father when she graduated with her masters in social work. "Thank you, Michael. That was very thoughtful of you. Come on in and make yourself comfortable. I'll find a vase to put these in." Fortunately, she remembered having a bud vase in the top of the pantry.

"Thanks. Anything I can help with?"

"No. Everything is about ready." Sarah retrieved the vase, added water, trimmed the roses and arranged them just right. Putting them on the table she looked at them admiringly. "There. How does that look?"

"They look great together." Then he realized what he'd said and turned, as usual, red.

Sarah laughed. "That's okay, Michael. They do."

Michael smiled.

"Well, let's eat." Sarah motioned to his place setting. Michael walked around behind her chair and pulled it out waiting for her to sit. "Oh, thank you." She sat down, not wanting to spoil the gesture. "Always the gentleman, aren't you."

"I just can't avoid it. It's part of my upbringing and it was pounded into me in the Corps."

"Oh, an Aggie, huh?"

"Yup. A&M Corps of Cadets. Boots and all." Michael sat down in his chair.

"Wow. That takes a lot of commitment."

"It did, but it was worth every minute of it for me."

"Well, Michael. I know you are the consummate gentleman, but since I'm going to be serving this evening, I don't want you to jump up every time I get a plate. Let's just say that you've fulfilled your chair duties for the evening, shall we?"

Michael smiled. "Deal."

"Good.
Then, one more gentlemanly duty at the dinner table. Would you mind saying the prayer before we eat?" For Sarah, this was a test. If Michael felt uncomfortable praying it would tell her a lot about him and his spiritual life. What she didn't plan on was instinctually extending her hand to him. Her family always held hands when they prayed at dinner.

"I would be happy to Sarah." Michael reached up and held Sarah's hand with only a slight hesitation, not wanting to do anything to violate his boundaries with her. He bowed his head. "Our Lord and our God, thank you for giving us this time together and thank you for your amazing care and grace that you show us in so many ways. Thank you for the food that you have given to us and especially for this beautiful lady who lovingly prepared it tonight. Let this be a wonderful time for us this evening that honors you. We pray these things in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."

"Thank you, Michael. That was lovely."
Especially the 'beautiful lady' part.
"Well, let's eat. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."

"Me too."

The next hour filled Sarah's life with the joy seeing Michael's first taste of fresh fennel in a salad and his amazement as she raked strands of spaghetti squash onto a plate. He was like a little boy experiencing exotic candy for the first time. Their conversation picked up from the coffee shop, focusing on where they grew up, college, Michael's experience as a cadet. Sarah got the impression that Michael had a lot more to talk about, but didn't want to let it out over dinner.

"That was absolutely amazing, Sarah. I never knew a vegetable could make spaghetti. The meatballs and sauce were way better than Antonio's."

"Thank you. I actually learned the secret from Antonio himself. A teaspoon of balsamic vinegar in the sauce."

"Well, I couldn't do anything close to it."

"I'm glad you liked it. I'll clear the table and get the dessert ready..."

"Not so fast,
m'lady. The gentlemanly urge is kicking in again. I insist on helping with the dishes and I promise not to break anything."

"Well, I won't argue with help." Not that Sarah had anything on the table of real value.

After cleaning and straightening, they settled on the couch each with a bowl of sorbet and whipped cream. Michael's mood seemed to change the second he sat down. He became very quiet.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. This is so amazing. Being with you and having such a great time talking and laughing about things. I haven't had this kind of an experience with someone in a long time, Sarah. It's wonderful."

I hear a 'but' coming.
"But there's something bothering you?"
I might as well take the offensive.

"That's what I like about you. You're easy to talk to and we're on the same wavelength. I need to be honest with you about some things Sarah."

I knew it. He doesn't want to be with me.
"Okay, Michael. I hope you can be honest with me."

"I would like to think that you and I can see each other again. Not to put any pressure on you or ask for any commitments this soon, but I like being with you and, well, I'm not used to starting a relationship with a woman that I like. This is sort of new for me, but I have to tell you some things about me before we get too far down that road, so you'll know what you're getting into."

Breathe, Sarah. He's not dumping you.
"Alright, Michael. I’m listening. I'm glad you feel comfortable talking to me."

"I feel like I could share anything with you, Sarah. That's why I need to tell you this." Michael shifted to turn so he could face Sarah. "After A&M, I went into the Army as a Lieutenant. Because of my degree in computer science and aptitude scores as well as being a Rudder Ranger in the Corps, I got a shot at Ranger school early on. I ended up doing a lot of stuff overseas that I'll never be able to talk about. On my last tour my convoy got hit with an IED to lead off an ambush." Michael grew quiet. "Everything was a dusty blur. All I remember was my leg going numb. I pulled
some of my guys behind a vehicle to get them out harm's way and returned fire before I passed out.

Sarah listened intently with a growing sadness because she knew this story would only grow more painful.