An unlikely alliance, p.19
An Unlikely Alliance, page 19
Her head bobbed up and down instinctively while her heart warred. “Why me, Lord? Why did you make my heart melt for a firefighter?”
But the Lord was quiet, and Flo apparently didn’t think Jalissa was having a real crisis, as she barely glanced up from her dog bed. Jalissa had to think of the shelter. Of SAFE.
Jalissa: If you want to, I guess not.
Rider: That’s not what I meant, and you know it.
Way for him to call her out. But she was firm in her resolve. Rider deserved better than someone afraid of everything.
Jalissa: You don’t have a reason not to be bachelor #10.
She winced as the words blinked on the screen, sent and already read by him.
Rider: Then I’ll see you tonight to collect my bachelor sign.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she imagined him wearing a sign pinned on his back. One of the teens had thought it would be neat for the bachelors to have them on their suits. The women would wear sashes Miss America–style with their bachelorette numbers.
Jalissa: Thank you.
He replied with a thumbs-up. A thumbs-up!
She blew out a breath and got up, pacing back and forth as the implications hit her. Rider was going to be put up for auction. He’d go out on a date with someone who wasn’t her.
If he wasn’t a firefighter, would you admit the feelings you’ve been secretly harboring?
She squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn’t that simple. The risks of having her heart torn in two and the added involvement of Jay in her past made her feelings all the more complicated.
A knock on her door stopped her pacing. Trinity had said she’d do Jalissa’s hair and makeup for tonight, but her friend was meeting her at the community center. So who could be at her door?
She twisted the knob and gasped.
“Sorry. I didn’t have your number to call. Your mom told me where you live.” Jay Rider looked sheepish. “Hope that’s okay.”
“Uh, sure.” But completely unnerving. Why was he here? “Would you like to come in?”
“Yes, please.”
Jalissa pulled the door open wider for him to enter, then closed it behind him and said a quick prayer for guidance. “Um, can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I just came over to talk for a moment.”
“Okay. We can sit in the living room.” She motioned for him to follow her.
Her thoughts swam in the vicinity of why as they sat.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m here.”
Yep! “That may be front and center.”
He chuckled then rubbed his beard. “We didn’t have a chance to talk one-on-one when you and your mom came over. I know you had questions, so I was surprised when you left.”
“You looked a little worn from talking with Mamí. I didn’t want to pile more on you.” She shrugged. “And maybe I didn’t think my questions would be beneficial to either one of us.”
“I appreciate the grace you’ve given me.”
Had she done something gracious? “Maybe it wasn’t grace so much as me trying to prevent anger from overtaking me.”
“Well, now that you’ve had a few days to assess how you feel, what would you like to ask me?”
A question immediately popped into her mind. “Do you regret not obeying the order to stay together?”
“Yes.”
“That’s it? No elaboration?” What did she want him to do? Get on his knees and beg her for forgiveness?
“I want to be sure I don’t make any excuses for my action. Which means, yes, I have regrets. Yes, if given another opportunity, I’d obey. But having fallen so short, that incident showed me the power of God’s forgiveness.”
And they were back to that. Forgiveness isn’t for the wrongdoer. It’s for the wronged. To free them from the oppression of unforgiveness and ensure their heart stays in a state of humility with God. Jalissa’s mom’s words washed over her.
They had talked about forgiveness after leaving Jay’s house. At the time, Jalissa hadn’t understood what her mother meant, but now it all made sense.
“Did you really only come over here to make sure I had my questions answered?” She eyed him skeptically.
“That and I felt like you needed more from me.” He paused, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “I’m not exactly sure what, but it was a nudge from God I couldn’t disregard.”
She sighed. “Thank you.” Because God was giving her an opportunity she couldn’t ignore. An answer to her prayers. “I think I simply needed to look you in the face and say I forgive you,” she said slowly.
Shock flashed in his gray eyes, then his bottom lip trembled. As tears welled in his eyes, matching ones found Jalissa’s, and soon they were both silently crying.
“Thank you,” they said simultaneously.
Jalissa chuckled, wiping at her face. “Thank you for freeing me from my anger. I’m sorry it took me so long to forgive.” And glad God gave her an opportunity to say the words. She needed to say them out loud to really have them sink in.
“I’m not. You blessed me by forgiving me face-to-face.”
He stood and offered his hand. Jalissa shook it and smiled, thankful for the lightness in her heart.
“Mind if I say one more thing?” Jay asked.
“Please.”
“Living in fear is one of the toughest things to do. I never knew how Mara would react, so I never told her about your father. By God’s grace and her faith, she’s forgiven me for my secrets. But if I had just trusted God and been up-front, I would have saved myself a world of hurt.”
Jalissa bit her lip. “What does that have to do with me?” Shouldn’t he be telling this to his wife?
“Don’t shut my nephew out because of fear of the what-ifs. Trust in God to see you through anything you need Him to.”
Her mouth parted, but words escaped her. Instead, she nodded. All this time she’d thought she was protecting her heart from the pain of loss. But in reality, she’d placed limits on God’s goodness and how He wanted her to live.
* * *
Rider slid his hands into his suit pockets while Nessa pinned a sign to his back. “Are you sure you’re not putting a kick me on back there?”
Nessa snorted. “That’s so juvenile.”
“Aren’t you in high school?”
She huffed. “I’m a senior. Believe me, I don’t go around putting signs on underclassmen. I have too much class for that.”
“You should be ashamed of that joke.”
She giggled, and her face lit into a smile. It was rare for Nessa to actually laugh with him. She was usually rolling her kohl-rimmed eyes and telling him how old he was acting.
“It was funny.”
“If you say so.” He smirked.
“I do.” She patted his back. “All done. Now I have to make sure the bachelorettes are ready to go.”
“Have you seen Jalissa?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But she texted me a few minutes ago and assured me everything was on schedule.”
Then why was his stomach in knots? Oh, yeah, because he’d agreed to be a bachelor when he didn’t have the heart to date anyone but Jalissa. He ran a hand down his face.
He couldn’t back out now. Everyone was here and ready to bid. The city needed his participation. Thus far, they’d only managed to raise five thousand from the other fund-raisers.
God, please let this go well. Please help us save all the programs. Because as it was, only one of theirs would be safe from the proverbial chopping block.
He hoped the community would show up in droves. Jalissa had even traded a favor with someone at the local radio station to get them to mention the auction. People were now arriving for the dinner portion. Hopefully the homemade meal Jalissa’s mom had overseen would satisfy them.
Rider went to the curtain sequestering the contenders from the partygoers. Everyone was dressed up in their finest. The teens walked around with serving trays, placing plates for the guests. He was really proud of the Bluebonnet teens. They’d done the majority of the work to save the town. It gave him a hope for the future.
His phone chimed, and he pulled it out of his suit pocket.
Jalissa: Ready to kick this off?
Rider: Where are you?
Jalissa: Trinity’s doing the finishing touches on my hair.
Rider: The contestants are ready, so whenever you want to start the auction, go for it.
Jalissa had decided to be the MC, but right now he wished she hadn’t so he could speak to her. Assure her this auction date meant nothing. Because even though she hadn’t chosen him, Rider finally realized it wasn’t because she didn’t want to. She had real fears, and he had to understand that and respect that if he wanted her to give him the chance he was praying for.
Jalissa: Great. Give me a couple of minutes.
Rider clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. He relayed the start time and that the women would go first. That had been Jalissa’s idea as well. He was merely along for the ride at this point.
He went back behind the curtain. Soon he heard Jalissa’s voice over the microphone, and he motioned for bachelorette number one to step up to the stage. Jalissa called her name, and the woman parted the curtains.
Rider listened as Jalissa gave a little background on Brittany and how she was a first-grade teacher at Bluebonnet Elementary. Then she laid out the rules before emphasizing how the money would benefit the city programs like the shelter and SAFE.
“Your money will go directly to the city council to ensure the programs are funded through the next fiscal year. If we make enough to cover more than one program and more than one fiscal year, all the better. The person with the highest bid will win a date with the bachelor or bachelorette, who has agreed to pay for the date. You’re simply getting the opportunity to meet some wonderful people. Now, who’s ready to start bidding on a date with Brittany?”
Rider said a quick prayer.
“I hear a bid of fifty dollars—oh, there’s hundred. Can we make it two hundred? Great, gentleman wearing the fedora, I acknowledge your two hundred.”
Jalissa continued to narrate until the bids closed at three hundred dollars. Rider smiled. If they could get three hundred for every single bachelor/ette, then they could make at least six thousand dollars. Which would bring the grand total to eleven. SAFE and the shelter would be clear, with a little extra to help another Bluebonnet program.
Belinda had found a few donors for SAFE, but last he checked, the center still needed the city’s funding in order to continue. He let out a breath. He would just pray that all the singles up for auction made as much as Brittany—at least.
The next bachelorette went for two hundred, and another for four hundred. Rider mentally tallied the money until Jalissa announced that was all the bachelorettes. He wanted to cheer. The women had brought in three thousand dollars, thanks to one of the bachelorettes who had been bidden on for a thousand dollars. They now had a total of eight grand.
“I want to take a brief moment to thank all the Bluebonnet teens who have helped us fund-raise and decorate the community center tonight,” he heard Jalissa say. “Citizens of Bluebonnet, I hope you know how good your kids are. You’ve done a wonderful job of raising them, and I know our future will be blessed with them in charge one day. Let’s give them a round of applause.”
Rider clapped from backstage, catching the eyes of a few teens who had decided to stay behind and out of the spotlight. “Thank you,” he mouthed to them.
Nessa blushed, and the others smiled sheepishly.
“All right, y’all. I hope you’re ready for the bachelors.”
Rider listened quietly as the same routine happened with the men. After four bachelors, they hit their goal of ten thousand. He wanted to raise a fist in the air. SAFE and the animal shelter were okay.
His phone chimed.
Belinda: I just spoke to someone at the auction. We’re set. We don’t need the city’s funding anymore. Make sure some other programs get the benefit of tonight. Y’all are doing a great thing.
Rider breathed out a thank-you to the Lord.
Rider: Who was it?
Belinda: We’ll talk more later. But thank you for all you’ve done.
Rider: Of course. Anytime.
“And now it’s time for bachelor number ten.”
His heartbeat sped up at the pronouncement. They were done with the other guys? Rider adjusted his tie, then stepped through the curtains. He blinked. Why was Trinity at the podium? Had something happened to Jalissa?
He wanted to pull out his cell and text Jalissa to make sure she was okay, but Trinity started the bidding. He stared out into the audience, trying not to squint at the bright stage lights.
“One hundred,” called out a woman he’d seen at the Beanery.
“I hear your one hundred. Is there a two hundred?”
Another woman raised her hand. Soon the bids were inching toward the four-digit mark.
“Don’t forget that Rider has been instrumental in raising money for Bluebonnet,” Trinity remarked. “I think that deserves higher bidding, don’t you?”
“Two thousand dollars!”
Rider’s jaw dropped as Jalissa strode forward, her hand in the air.
“Do I hear two thousand and one? Anyone? No? Gone for two thousand dollars!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jalissa closed the doors to the community center and locked them, since the mayor was allowing her to return the keys tomorrow. Now to get out of these heels and relax. But first, a certain conversation needed to happen with a certain someone. One she’d been able to put off since she’d yelled out a sum of two thousand dollars.
Jalissa turned and stared at the man who had just taken a portion of her Hawaii savings. Suddenly she felt unsure that he would be pleased with her little attempt at a grand gesture.
“So, two thousand dollars, huh?” Rider strolled up to her, hands in his suit pockets.
Her pulse raced and she bit her lip. “Too low?”
Rider’s brow rose. “More like too much. You could have saved yourself two grand if you’d said yes a couple of days ago.”
“True.” She bit back a smile. “But a couple of days ago, I was pretty sure that you and I were a bad idea.”
Talking with Jay had allowed her to admit her feelings, despite all the time she’d spent ignoring them—suppressing them, even. Once Jay had left and the peace of forgiveness had flooded her heart, Jalissa had asked herself whether or not being with Rider and accepting his job was worth any potential anxiety or panic attack.
Rider stepped onto the sidewalk, and her breath caught at the look in his eyes. Why did he have to look so good in a navy blue suit?
“What happened to change your mind?” he murmured.
“Well, I’ve been praying, for one.”
“Do tell.”
She grinned. “Apparently God does care about the little details.” And wasn’t that a blessing? “He found me a bachelor number ten, helped me forgive Jay and showed me a way to say I’m sorry to the man who captured my heart.”
“I have so many questions.”
“I may have that many answers.”
Rider looked contemplative. “Since when did you start praying to God about the little things? When did you forgive Jay? And two thousand dollars is a big I’m sorry. But more importantly, who is this man that’s captured your heart?”
Jalissa laughed and stepped forward, reaching for Rider’s hand. “His family calls him Jeremy, while I used to call him the bane of my existence.”
“Ouch, but understandable.” He smirked.
“Is it, though?” She sighed. “I had so much bitterness stored up, I didn’t even realize how bad it was until I spoke to Jay this morning and told him I forgave him.”
“You drove to his house?” His brows rose.
She shook her head. “He came to mine.”
“Looks like I have him to thank for a date with the prettiest woman in Bluebonnet.”
“Just Bluebonnet?”
Rider laughed.
“Before we go on a date, I just have to ask you something,” Jalissa said.
“Ask me anything.”
“Are you sure you can handle my anxiety?”
“Definitely.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “But I’m more worried about you handling my job. Do you still hate firefighters?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m so sorry for the grief I’ve given you regarding that. I know you. I know you’re not arrogant or cocky or half the terms I came up with when I was running from my feelings.”
Rider’s lips curved. “From now on, we’ll run together. Every day. Wow, that came out cheesier than I intended.”
She grinned. “So cheesy, but I’m charmed regardless.”
“I hope so,” he murmured. “But we need to find out what kind of story we’re going to tell our grandkids one day. I can’t let them think their grandma paid two thousand dollars for a date.” He cocked his head. “Then again, that’ll help them realize how devastatingly handsome I was in my youth. Hard to believe when a man’s been hit hard by Father Time.”
“Oh, you.” She pushed his shoulder, and he wrapped her in his arms. “Oh, that was smooth.”
“I have to make sure you’re always charmed.”
“Hmm, I’m too busy wondering how you think we’ll have grandkids to talk to one day.”
“Sometimes God lets you see a bit into the future. I’m one hundred percent confident we’ll go the distance.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’m not going anywhere.”
A breath of air escaped her lips as she looped her arms around his neck, leaning into his strength. “Neither am I.”
Rider tightened his hold, and they stood there quietly. Slowly, Rider started swaying side to side as if he heard a sweet melody she wasn’t privy to. She laid her head against his chest as he began maneuvering them around the parking lot, singing softly in the stillness.
