Lakeside Romance

Nate, Melissa’s husband and Sarah’s pastor, slumped in an uncomfortable position in a chair next to the bed, eyes closed, his hand resting on his wife’s.

Eyes drowsy, Melissa managed a weak smile. “Hey.”

“When you suggested we get together this morning to talk about the program, you failed to mention the new meeting spot.” Sarah smiled to show she was joking.

“Yeah, well, you know me—Queen of the Last-Minute Changes. Pretty flowers.”

“I figured they’d cheer you up.” Sarah set the flowers on the windowsill and moved over to the bed. She squeezed Melissa’s fingers. “When you didn’t show up at the community center or answer your phone, I called Nate’s secretary, Cindy, to see if you were at the church. She told me where to find you.”

Pulling her hand out of her husband’s grasp, Melissa tried to sit up but winced and dropped back on the pillow. Lines tightened around her mouth. “I didn’t feel so hot in church yesterday, and then after lunch, I started having some nausea and stomach pains. Last night I doubled over, so Nate called the ambulance. Once we arrived, I was rushed into surgery for an emergency appendectomy.”

“I’m so sorry. How are you feeling now?”

“Tired, and a little sore. I woke up in pain a little while ago, and the nurse gave me something, but it hasn’t kicked in yet.” Melissa’s eyelids fluttered as if she were fighting sleep to talk.

“Who’s staying with Little Nate?”

“He’s with Mom and Dad.”

Sarah smoothed Melissa’s hair away from her forehead. “Is there anything I can do?”

Tears welled up in Melissa’s eyes and seeped over the curve of her face.

“Hey, it will be okay.” Sarah opened the small box of hospital tissues and handed one to Melissa.

Melissa wiped her eyes and shook her head. “All those months and months of planning, and now our summer program is coming to a halt.”

Sarah’s heart picked up speed. “What do you mean ‘coming to a halt’? Did the program lose funding?”

“Nothing like that.” Melissa shook her head, then offered a wobbly smile. “I’m pregnant, Sarah.”

“Oh, that’s great! Right?”

“Yes, of course.” She dropped her gaze to her hands and tore the tissue into small pieces. “But with the emergency surgery, my doctor wants me on bed rest for the next few weeks to ensure I don’t lose this baby.”

Nate stirred and looked around the room a little confused. Then he stretched, stifled a yawn and nodded to Sarah. “Hey, Sarah.”

“Hi. I hear congratulations are in order.”

He shot a worried glance at Melissa but couldn’t hide the smile creeping across his face. “Yeah, thanks.”

He leaned over the bed and brushed a kiss across his wife’s temple. “How are you feeling, babe?”

“Sore. Tired.”

“Close your eyes and rest.” Nate stood and stretched again. “I need to find some coffee. Sarah, care to join me?”

Sarah cast a quick look at her friend only to find her struggling to stay awake. “Sure.” She leaned over the bed and gave Melissa a gentle hug. “Don’t worry. Just focus on getting better.”

Nate grazed his fingers across Melissa’s cheek. “We’re going down to the cafeteria. We’ll be back shortly. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” Her voice slurred as she tried but failed to keep her eyes open.

Sarah headed for the door and waited in the hall for Nate. He joined her, dragging his hands through his hair. Dark circles smudged his eyes. Morning stubble darkened his jaw. His wrinkled polo shirt and shorts showed he hadn’t left his wife’s side.

“Long night, huh?”

“Yeah, you could say that. The pain meds have kicked in, so Mel’s going to be out for a while. Let’s hit the cafeteria for some coffee and food.”

“As long as you don’t mind being away from her.”

“I do, but I need to check on Little Nate and call Cindy to cancel my appointments for the rest of the day.”

“Nate, is there anything I can do?”

He stabbed the ground floor button on the elevator panel, then shoved his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts before bracing a shoulder against the wall. “Yes, but I need coffee so I can speak coherently.”

As the elevator made the trip toward the main level, Sarah wondered if she should be concerned about Melissa’s anxiety over the demise of the program. Or was she stressing because she couldn’t help? Hopefully Nate could shed some light on the situation. If they were truly thinking about canceling, maybe she could get him to reconsider. Not just for the community’s sake and for all the kids signed up, but for her sake, as well. She needed the income to hold her over for the summer. Plus, the next three months would help her figure out what she wanted to do with her life.

The scents of breakfast beckoned them toward the hot-foods station, where Nate heaped a plate with eggs and several slices of bacon. Sarah filled two foam cups with coffee. Nate paid for the food, and then they found an empty table toward the back of the hospital cafeteria.

After praying over his food, he shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth. A few more bites and a couple slurps of coffee later, he wiped his mouth and sat back in his chair. “Now I feel a little more human.”

“You’ve had a rough night.” She stirred creamer into her coffee.

He pushed the rest of the eggs around the paper plate. “Yeah, she had me pretty scared for a while.”

Sarah reached for his hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “She’ll be fine, Nate.”

“I know.” Pushing his tray aside, he leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. “So you’re getting settled in your new place?”

“Yes, it’s been an...interesting weekend. Met my landlord.” No need to tell Nate about the popcorn...she wanted to convince him to keep the program.

“Alec Seaver’s a good man. He’s been through a lot. Don’t let his gruff get to you.”

Remembering her landlord’s stony glare, she stored that bit of info away. She wanted to ask more but knew Nate wouldn’t spill what wasn’t his to share. One more thing she respected about her pastor.

“Listen, Sarah, I need to talk to you about the summer outreach program.”

Her hands tightened around her cup. “Sure, what’s up?”

“This is such a great opportunity for our church to reach beyond its doors and connect with the kids who don’t attend regularly or at all. You and Mel have done a ton of planning. It’s scheduled to begin next week with Mel teaching the bulk of the cooking portion of the program, right?”

Sarah picked up the plastic stirrer and twisted it into a knot. “Yes, very few people have Melissa’s cooking talents.”

“I wasn’t a fool to marry a woman with mad culinary skills.” A smile tugged at his mouth as he patted his trim stomach.

Sarah laughed. “Very smart move on your part, my friend.”