Heart pumping blood into his veins, a little-known worship song blared in Max’s ear as he pushed himself through the final third of his three-mile run. I’m taking back what the enemy’s stolen from me, the song blasted out. The words sank into his soul and awakened his spirit. He had already fought for and triumphed over a lot of situations in his life, yet the war was far from over.
The pressure on his muscles as he sped up a hill failed to deter him from conquering the mountain ahead of him. As he ran, he prayed for his loved ones. He asked for comfort, healing, and direction upon Nolan and Serene, for God’s wisdom and protection upon Jeremy as he prepared to return to Thailand, for the salvation of his mom and her family. One by one, he ticked off each item on his mind’s prayer list. With every sprint he made, he claimed divine acceleration in the plans and purposes God had for each one.
He reached the top of the hill, and his run was over. He could sense God’s assurance that victory awaited him. Max just had to keep the faith. Perhaps, one day, the power of his past over him would be completely broken. To wind down, he ambled toward a bench that allowed him a brilliant view of the city. He took a seat and stretched his arms and legs as he caught his breath. Max continued his conversation with God.
Father, I sense You calling me to greater things. I’m not sure why you chose me. I don’t know what to do in the face of people’s brokenness. How can I help them heal when I’m not sure I’m fully healed myself? God, I made a huge mistake with Rachel and ended up hurting her. You promised me I wouldn’t have to shepherd Your flock alone. You would give me a help meet. Whoever she is, I have faith You will bring me to her in Your perfect time, but right now, heal me first. Whoever it is You have in mind for me, do not unveil her until I’m at a point where I can treasure her the way your daughter deserves to be treasured. I do not want to make a mistake again, nor do I want to hurt any other woman You have placed on my watch.
As Max finished the prayer with an amen in the name of his Savior, a supernatural peace came over him. Max smiled, because it was as if he had this inner assurance he had made God smile.
His wristwatch beeped. He checked the time. He still had over an hour before he would have to prepare for Jeremy’s farewell party at Pastor Sam’s house. As he relished a leisurely stroll back down the hill, Max reveled in the assurance that everything would be okay. Upon arriving at the spot where he had parked his car, an odd sight grabbed hold of him. About a hundred or so meters away from him, a young woman sat cross-legged in front of Paolo Marquez’s house with a large, colorful suitcase next to her. She whistled as she stared blankly at the Victorian mansion.
Max squinted his eyes and took several strides forward to see who it was. He cocked his head to the side when a closer look confirmed his suspicions. “Jenna?”
A sheepish smile spread on her face, and her cheeks flushed red. Her smile morphed into a wide grin as she scratched her head. “Well, if it isn’t Pastor Max. What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? Why are you sitting on the sidewalk in front of your father’s house? Why don’t you go in?”
“I don’t think he’s inside.” She hopped to her feet and brushed dirt off her jeans. “Would you know where he is?”
Max was about to say no, but he recalled Pastor Sam mentioning he was going to the hospital with Paolo before Jeremy’s send-off. “I think he has a check-up right now. Pastor Sam went with him. Didn’t you tell him you were coming?”
“I wanted to surprise him.” Jenna shrugged, threw her arms in the air, and twirled on the toes of her right foot. A giggle came out of her like a bubbling brook flowing where it needed to go. After steadying herself on her feet, she slapped him on the arm.
“Hey! What? Why? What was that for?”
“You broke Rachel’s heart, and I haven’t quite forgiven you for it.” Jenna’s attempt to look serious amused him.
“Welcome to the club. Most of the women in church have been giving me the cold shoulder since the breakup. It’s almost like I broke up with all the single women — and even some married ones — in church when I broke up with Rachel.”
“Well, we look out for one another, and Rachel has been a good friend to a lot of us.” Jenna stomped her foot on the ground. “And all of us were expecting you to last! You ruined it.”
“Sorry?”
“You don’t get off that easy.” She shook her head. “What was with that phone call? You were so judgmental.”
“What phone call?”
“The one you made about a week ago in the middle of my finals. You asked me to come here and called me a horrible daughter. Ring a bell?”
“Horrible daughter?” Max grimaced. “When did I say that?”
“You implied it. Don’t deny it.”
“No, I did not. And how was I judgmental? I just said what needed saying. Brought you here, didn’t it?”
Her dark brow quirked up. “You are not the reason I came. Shouldn’t you be humble or something?”
Max chuckled. Her animated facial expressions made it difficult for him to take her seriously. “Meh. I’m humble enough. Right now though, I have to go.” He then remembered her predicament. “So is your plan to just stay here and wait for Paolo? What if Pastor Sam takes him to the party?”
Jenna deadpanned. “What party?”
“Jeremy is going back to Thailand, so we’re having a send-off dinner for him at Pastor Sam’s.” Max’s brows furrowed. “Maybe you should come.”
“No way. Dinner at a pastor’s house to help another pastor send off his missionary best friend to who-knows-where is not my idea of a party.”
“Neither is sitting on a sidewalk, whistling, and counting bugs or something. Come on.” Max grabbed hold of her suitcase and dragged it down the sidewalk toward his car.
“Hey! You can’t just steal my stuff!” She skipped until she was walking alongside him. “I would have you know I wasn’t counting bugs. I was spying on a wasp’s nest hanging on the second-floor balcony. You should help us remove it. Soon. I doubt my father knows it’s there. When are you available?”
“I’m not an exterminator.” Max popped open the trunk of his car and dropped her suitcase inside. “What is in this thing? Did you bring your entire dorm room?”
“You’re a pastor, Max. Pastors are supposed to serve. If serving means wasp extermination, then that’s what you have to do.”
“I’m not sure you know what pastors do.” Max shut the trunk.
“Yeah? What do pastors do? You just kidnapped my luggage, you crazy person.”
“You can stay here with your wasps.” He leaned a hand on the edge of the closed trunk and raised a brow to dare her to object.
Jenna huffed. “Fine! But I’m going with you only because there’s a possibility Nolan and Serene will be there. It is her brother who is leaving. Are they in town? Can I have a picture with them?”
Max smirked. “I can’t believe it.” He got in on the driver’s side, at the same time as she opened the door to the passenger side. He grabbed his backpack and tossed it to the back seat. “You’re a Red & Ice fan?”
“Pfft.” Jenna slid into the front seat and shut the car door. “No way. I’m a Serene Stone fan. I can stand to listen to Nolan’s music, and even dance to it sometimes, but—”
“What a compliment.” Max snickered as he started the car. “Jenna Marquez dances to the music of bona fide rock star, Nolan Stone. He’d be so flattered.”
“What I’m trying to say is I’m more of a fan of what Serene has accomplished through her business. How she has supported so many artists and allowed them to thrive. I respect that.”
“Tonight’s your lucky night then, because I’m a hundred percent sure they will be there with their daughter.”
“Lily Red, right? I have no idea what she looks like. The last photos I’ve seen of her were way back when she was born. What a weird name for a child. Lily Red.”
“They have a great reason for naming her that…”
The conversation flowed during the entire ride like they were long-lost friends, and Max found himself genuinely enjoying her company. After a quick stop at his house, so they could both get changed, they headed for the Sinclairs’ home.
Sure enough, Paolo was there. The teary-eyed reaction on his face upon seeing Jenna made Max’s entire day.
Without a single word, Paolo strode toward his daughter and just hugged her. Jenna tensed at the gesture, but after a second or two, she eased into her father’s embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” she said as she leaned her forehead on her father’s shoulder.
“I’m just glad you’re here.”
“We’ll fight this cancer together, okay?”
Jeremy snapped a photo of the father-daughter reunion. He showed Max the image of Paolo and Jenna hugging as Max stood in the sidelines, a goofy grin on his face.
“Level with me, man,” Jeremy said with an inquisitive flair in his eyes. “Did you dump Rachel, so you can be with Jenna?”
“What? No. What do you take me for? I could never do that to Rachel. Also, Jenna is not a Christian.”
“For now. That could change this summer.”
“Sure, but we both know that’s not how it works.” Max crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “I’m already getting a lot of heat for breaking up with Rachel. Can you imagine what people in church will do to me if I jump into a relationship now?”
“Fair point, but are you into her?”
Max took a moment before responding. He glanced at Jenna, who was putting on some music at the goading of Lily Red. There was no denying her attractiveness. Her long, brown hair, her big hazel eyes, her heart-shaped face, and her huge smile. Was he into her? Max shook his head. “No, man. You’re reading too much into this. Jenna is beautiful, but we are completely platonic.”
“Great, because—” Jeremy pointed at Jenna, who started head-banging with Lily Red to the tune of one of Nolan’s classics. “She’s still Crazy Jenna.”
Max smiled, affection warming his chest at Jenna being so free. “I don’t know, man. That’s my favorite thing about her. One never quite knows what to expect.”
Jeremy smirked. “Not into her, huh?”
“I’m not! I just believe there’s more to Jenna than we are aware of. Also, that she can be this way after all she’s been through, I admire that.”
“Whatever you say, Maximus.”
Max’s smile widened as he watched Jenna and Lily Red for a few more seconds. As he did, somehow, from the depths of his spirit, he got a mental picture of white lilies in the hands of Jenna wearing a white dress. For some reason, the one desire that accompanied the image was a deep yearning for Jenna to be declared saved, ransomed, and innocent.
This is an excerpt from the Christian love story, The One Who Danced Away.