*****
Anna found herself smiling constantly as she did a thorough cleaning of her apartment. She was a relatively neat person by nature, but she wanted her place spotless for the coming influx of small children. She knew that Mary would be fine if she watched the monster squad at her house, but this way if Mary decided she wanted to take a nap, she could do that in silence. She’d looked so tired lately.
She’d just put up the vacuum cleaner when the phone rang. She didn’t check the caller ID. “Hello?”
“Anna?”
“Yes?”
“This is Dan. There’s an 8:15 showing of the movie at that place near the mall where they do dinner and a movie. Is that too late?” His voice was deep and strong over the phone. She couldn’t wait to hear one of his sermons. She’d enjoyed listening to his sermons on CD for the same reason. She felt a little tingle in her belly as she listened to his voice.
“That sounds good. I’ve been there a few times, and their food is really good.” She tried to keep the excitement out of her voice. He just thought of her as a friend, and he was so attractive that she was worried she’d start acting like a teenager with her first crush.
“Why don’t I pick you up? What’s your address?” She gave it to him along with the gate code to get into her apartments. “I’ll be there at about 7:45. Will that work?”
“Sounds great. Thanks for calling.” She pushed the end button on her phone and slipped it into her pocket. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was 6:15 now. She had time for a hot bath and then she could get ready for the movie. Why was she nervous? It was just dinner and a movie with a friend, right?
She dressed in jeans and a short sleeved button up blouse. She would have worn shorts, but found that she got too cold in movie theatres.
He was there at exactly 7:45. She opened the door for him and invited him in. He stepped inside and looked around. Everything was decorated in a soft country style. It suited her well. He purposefully left the door open to make sure that they didn’t give anyone any reason to say anything. He didn’t know if she knew any of her neighbors, but there was no reason for anyone to think badly of a Christian woman, no matter what.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Yup. Just need to grab my purse.” She picked up her purse from the counter and slid her phone into it. She followed him out the door and locked it behind them.
His car was definitely a student’s car. She didn’t comment on it. It was older, but it was clean, and seemed to run, and that was all that really mattered. Once they were driving toward the theatre, she asked, “So why did you decide to go into the ministry?”
“My dad was a pastor. It’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do,” he said. “I always thought that being a pastor was akin to being the best friend of Jesus.”
“I think that’s great. We’ve had the same pastor at this church since well before I was born. It’s going to be interesting to watch someone new give a sermon. I’m really looking forward to that.”
“I’ll be talking with Agatha first thing in the morning. She’s got to set up a nursery rotation and quit giving you all of her work. You need to have some free time, too.”
She shook her head. “I really do enjoy the work I do with the children.”
“But you have a right to be in service just as much as anyone else does. If I have to find someone to take your place myself, I will.” He sounded determined.
“Okay. I’d like to hear you speak. Other than on CD that is.”
He parked in front of the theatre and they went in. She pulled out her purse to pay for her ticket and he waved her off. “I got it.”
After they were seated at the table with their little lights to call the server, she leaned over and whispered, “Since you got the tickets, I’ll pay for the meals.”
He turned to her and shook his head. “No way. I asked you out. I’m paying.” As if it was settled he looked back at his menu to decide what to get.
“But you just asked me as a friend, so we need to split the cost,” she argued.
He shook his head. “I asked you because I wanted to get to know you better. I’m paying.” He should have been more clear, he realized. It was easier to act as if he needed a movie going buddy, but the truth was, he was interested in her as a potential wife.
She looked down at her menu in surprise. Did that mean he thought this was a date? Why would he ask her on a date? There were much prettier single women in the church to choose from.
The movie was funny and action packed. She found herself burying her face in his shoulder repeatedly throughout the movie. She couldn’t watch anything even a little bit gory or scary and his shoulder bore the brunt of it. Finally, after the fourth or fifth time, he slid an arm around her shoulders.
She blushed in the dark. She hoped he didn’t think that she was doing that to get him to put his arm around her, although she’d known girls who did. She’d always done the same to her mother and father as they’d watched movies with her, too. Even her female friends had felt her face buried in their shoulders.
As the movie let out, there was a large crowd. Anna was only about five foot, and she tended to lose people in crowds. Daniel snagged her hand as they filed out of the theatre, hoping to keep her by his side.
She expected him to drop her hand as soon as they got into the parking lot, but he didn’t. Instead, he kept it in his until they reached the car, and he’d unlocked her door for her.
Once they were settled, he asked, “Did you like the movie?”
“It was good. Sorry about the whole face in the shoulder thing. I should have warned you. I do that every time I watch an action movie. All of my friends laugh at me, and refuse to go to movies with me now. That’s why I’m stuck with my mom and she’ll only see chick-flicks.”
He laughed. “That didn’t bother me a bit. It gave me an excuse to put my arm around you. I didn’t have to do the whole yawn and stretch thing.”
She laughed even as she felt herself blush. “I really didn’t think you meant this to be a date,” she mumbled.
“I know. I should have been more honest to start with.” He pulled up in front of her apartment building and stopped the car. “I’m sorry I wasn’t.”
“It’s okay.” She wasn’t sure why he was interested in her, though. He could have any girl in the church, and he asked her out? Plain, overweight Anna?
He turned toward her in the car. “I really like you, Anna. I feel somehow that you’re the girl I’ve been looking for.”
“Me?” she asked.
He smiled. “Yeah, you.” He waited for her to say something, but when she didn’t, he smiled. “It’s okay if you don’t feel anything for me. I understand.”
She shook her head. “No, I do. I think that’s the problem. I just never expected you to be interested in me. There are so many pretty girls in our church.”
“I think you’re very pretty,” he said, and he meant it. He hadn’t when he’d first seen her, but as the day progressed, she’d gotten prettier and prettier in his eyes. “I know I’m probably rushing things, but may I see you again? Like tomorrow night?”
She stared into his eyes. “I um…yeah, that would be great.”
He leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I’m so glad you forgot your shoes today, Anna.”
She laughed. “I forgot all about that. I’m a bit scatterbrained at times.”
“Do you think we could impose on your parents tomorrow night? Maybe ask them if we can watch a movie there or play a board game or something? I want to get to know you, and that’s hard in a theatre. I’d rather we were able to sit and talk. I want to see you around other people, too.”
Anna shook her head. “My parents would love that. Mom has us married off in her mind already. I could see it in her eyes at lunch.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she was ready to kick herse
lf. Why had she mentioned marriage to him on the day they met? What was wrong with her? Way to scare the guy off, Anna.
He grinned. “We’re already married in my mind, too.” He got out of the car and walked her to her door. “I’ll call from work tomorrow to make sure that it’s okay to infringe on your parents. If not, we’ll think of something else.”
“Okay.” They were already married in his mind. Holy moly. He was moving fast. She unlocked her door and smiled at him. “G’night, Daniel. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He kissed her cheek again. “G’night, Anna. Dream of me.”
She walked into her apartment and closed the door behind her, leaning back against it. Wow. Ashley was right. Their new pastor was something else.