An Unexpected Treat - Part 3

Sunday morning Lance walked into the First Baptist Church with his dad and Sallie, excited to worship and learn. Church members greeted him warmly, and he reconnected with his old friends from the youth group, many of whom were married with kids. The prelude began as the choir filed into the choir loft behind the pastor. Lance used that time to bow his head, thanking the Lord for His goodness. When Pastor Jenkins began his opening remarks, he looked up and was startled to see Melissa’s lovely smile.

Well, Lord, he thought, I guess I have the answer to my first question.

Melissa loved Sundays because she loved everything about church, but she especially loved singing in the choir. She often thought that it was like a little taste of Heaven. She felt like it was good practice for the eternity she planned to spend in God’s presence worshipping Him. This Sunday Melissa was excited because the choir director had chosen her to sing the solo part. The piano began playing, and Melissa lifted her lovely alto voice, “In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song.”

Lance closed his eyes, drinking in the rich words, “What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.” A thrill of joy - combined with the deepest gratitude he’d ever felt - washed over him.

Then Pastor Jenkins stood up, “Everyone needs hope,” he began, “but many of us are looking to money, relationships, work, recreation…. anything but Christ alone for our hope. But Romans 15:14 makes it clear that real hope is a result of the power of the Holy Spirit and it comes from the God of all hope.” Lance followed along in his Bible, absorbed in the preacher’s message of hope amid life’s storms.

After church, Lance thanked Pastor Jenkins for his message and assured him that he’d be back next Sunday. Just then he spotted Melissa standing with a group of friends. As he walked up he overhead a man say, “Missy, that was absolutely gorgeous! You put such feeling into that song.”

Missy? Thought Lance. No way….this couldn’t be little Missy Capshaw! She’d been a gangly, awkward 13-year-old just entering the youth group his senior year of high school. He’d been friends with her older brother Seth who was a year younger than Lance. But of course, it made sense. Sure enough, that little girl had grown up into this beautiful woman!

Seeing Lance approach, one of his old friends greeted him warmly, “Hey Lance, several of us are going out for lunch. Come with us!”

Lance replied, “I’d love that!” Smiling at Melissa he said, “I love the song you sang, and the expression on your face as you were singing was amazing – you glowed with love for Jesus.”

“Thank you, Lance,” she blushed. “I was surprised to see you here. It’s been a really long time since you’ve been back. But this morning when I saw you sitting with your dad and Sallie, I realized who you are. And I’m awfully embarrassed about what I said the other day about your factory. I’m so sorry.”

“Please don’t be,” He quickly responded. “Hey, would you like to ride with me to lunch?” Melissa hesitated for a minute as she looked at her friends. Lance quickly interjected, “You don’t have to, I was just hoping we could catch up a bit.”

“Sure,” she replied. Let me grab my things.” Together, they walked to his bright blue Jeep Rubicon, where he opened the passenger door for her and helped her into the seat.

Lance grinned at her, “So I guess now you know that I’m the – what was it you said – oh yes, ‘big shot from the city’ who’s responsible for the factory going up north of town.”

“I’m so embarrassed I said that” Melissa replied turning a deep red. “I never should have opened my big mouth. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you that first day you entered the bakery. You don’t look anything like you did in high school.”

“Well, I could say the same thing about you, Missy Capshaw! The last time I remember seeing you, you certainly didn’t look anything like you do now. You have grown into an absolutely beautiful woman” He caught Melissa’s surprised smile out of the corner of his eye. “And please don’t be upset about the other day. It wasn’t my idea to bring the factory here, you know. When my grandfather died, he left me a lot of land and money with the stipulation that I move my entire operation here. That day I stopped by your bakery, I was headed to a meeting with the lawyer to tell him I couldn’t do that. But then I saw you, Missy, I know this sounds crazy, but all I could think about in that meeting was your lovely smile. I surprised myself by agreeing to the conditions of the will.” Lance smiled as they pulled into Papa Joe’s Restaurant. “Here we are. Thank you for giving me the chance to explain myself.”

Melissa couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She remembered the huge crush she used to have on Lance Miller when she was 13. She had known he was way too old for her and would never see her as anything more than Seth’s little sister. However, she had dreamed about this moment, about Lance noticing her, all those years ago. He parked the Rubicon and quickly came around to open her door, gently offering his hand to help her down. As their fingers touched they both smiled at the electric connection between them.

The fellowship and laughter that filled their table at Joe’s made the time fly. After a couple of hours, it was time to pay the bill. “I’d be so honored if you guys would let me get this,” said Lance. “I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve enjoyed a meal this much,” he added as he pulled out his American Express card.

He and Melissa returned to his car as everyone went their separate ways. On the way back to church he looked at Melissa and said, “Would you consider letting me take you on a date one day this week?”

Her heart pounded in her chest as the old feelings she used to have for him surged through her body. Trying to control her excitement, she smiled, “Yes, I’d like that very much.”