'It seems longer than that to me. Zach and I have discussed things at work and spent time together.' I stopped. Mention of the motorcycle ride to Tybee Island at this point would kill all prospects. 'We talked this morning. He came by the house, and we sat on the back porch with Mrs. Fairmont and had a great time.'
Slightly breathless, I stopped and waited.
Mama spoke calmly yet firmly. 'I'm sure your father and I would want to meet this young man before agreeing to anything. If he's as spiritually mature as you say, he shouldn't have any problem with that approach.'
It was a predictable response. But as I'd presented my brief case, I'd realized how badly I wanted Mama to give me the okay. Parental approval of a budding romance was a safeguard against the anguish and heartache caused by aborted attempts to find the right soul mate. Mama said the serial dating practiced by most girls was often nothing more than preparation for multiple divorces.
'Yes ma'am. Talk to Daddy, and I'll keep my interaction with Zach strictly business.'
'And remember that our home is open if you want to bring him here for a visit. You're mature enough to get married. It's just a question of letting God find your mate.'
I raised my eyebrows. 'You really think I'm ready for marriage?'
'Yes, but the timing should be in the Lord's hands. How many times have we prayed for your husband without knowing his name?'
'Hundreds, ever since I was a little girl.'
'We want you to have your own home and family. I'm not the perfect wife and mother, but I hope I've given you a good example.'
'Yes ma'am.'
'I miss you most as a daughter, but also as a worker.' Mama chuckled. 'You'd think I would get twice the help from Emma and Ellie, but I think, with them, the help is divided rather than multiplied.'
Mama's lighthearted comments encouraged me.
'Tell me about your week,' I said.
Listening to Mama felt good and bad. It was good to hear about home, bad to face again the ache of separation from my family.
'Tammy Lynn,' she said when the conversation was coming to an end, 'thanks so much for telling me about your conversation with Zach.'
Hearing Mama speak his name startled me.
'We trust you,' she continued. 'Which is one of the greatest gifts a child can give to a parent.'
I felt a stab of guilt because I'd not told the whole truth. I quickly searched my heart for a way to provide additional information.
'We love you,' Mama said. 'Bye.'
The call ended. I stared for a few seconds at the phone receiver in my hand. Even if I didn't tell Mama the whole truth, I could still honor her wishes.
MONDAY MORNING, I arrived early at the office and went directly to the library. I already felt more comfortable in my surroundings. A few minutes later, Julie and Vince, their faces reflecting the red of a glorious sunset, came in together.
'I don't have as much Middle Eastern blood in my veins as I thought,' Julie said. 'And Vinny is a pure Caucasian.'
'Did you go to Tybee Island?' I asked.
'No,' Vince replied. 'Ned Danforth invited Julie to spend the day on his boat, and she brought me along.'
'As my bodyguard,' Julie added. 'I could tell Ned was miffed when we drove up to the marina together, but I pointed out that it was an opportunity to get to know both of us at the same time. Ned and Vinny ended up spending a lot of the time fiddling with the navigation system while I served as a hood ornament.'
'I think you were a bow ornament,' Vince corrected. 'We were on a boat.'
Julie looked at Vince in surprise. 'Did the sun shining on your head give you a sense of humor? Either way, you ignored me by asking question after question about Tami.'
Vince's expression changed, but he was so sunburned that I couldn't tell if Julie's comment embarrassed him or not. She continued. 'Summer clerks have to stick together, and you two should go to lunch today and satisfy your mutual curiosity.'
Before I could deny curiosity, Vince gave me a hopeful look that stopped my words in their tracks.
'I'd like that,' he said. 'Are you available?'
'I'm not sure,' I answered. 'I haven't checked with Mr. Carpenter.'
'Be here at noon,' Julie said to Vince.
After Vince left, Julie sat across the table from me. 'I owe you an apology,' she said.
'Why?'
'For giving you such a hard time about not putting on a bathing suit so you could meet men. Friday night I get a predatory call from Ned Danforth. At least, I could tell what he had in mind and convinced Vinny to ruin the party. You might not have been savvy enough to see it coming. Anyway, after we spent four pleasant hours sailing along the coastline, I thought I might have been paranoid. But then while Vinny was below deck with his nose stuck in an onboard software program, Ned came up to the bow and made a comment I couldn't ignore. I had to put him in his place like a ninth grader. It was awkward for both of us. He immediately turned the boat around. The sail back to port seemed twice as long as the ride out. Ned spent the rest of the trip hanging out with Vinny, and I got cooked because I didn't want to join them. Fraternization between associates and summer clerks is so unprofessional.' Julie looked down at the paperwork in front of her. 'What did you do this weekend besides read the Bible and pray?'
'Fraternized with one of the male associates.'
Julie's mouth dropped open. 'Get out.'
'Yeah, one of the attorneys and I went to Tybee Island.'
'Who?'
'Zach Mays, but don't get the wrong idea,' I added. 'It was nothing like your boat cruise with Ned. He had me back to Mrs. Fairmont's house before noon so he could come to the office and work.'
'I didn't peg you as a pathological liar, but that makes no sense. Tell me straight what happened.'
I pointed to the books open on the table in front of me. 'Don't you think we should get to work?'
'No!'
Julie sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. It took twice as long as it should have to tell her about the motorcycle ride because she constantly interrupted.
'I'm just trying to make sure you're not holding back. So when did he talk to you about the homeschooling thing?'
'Weeks ago.'
'How is that possible if you didn't interview in person for a summer job?'
'Let me finish telling you about Saturday before you drag up another example of fraternization.'
Julie shook her head. 'Maybe you're not as uptight as I thought.'
'No, I'm more uptight than you can imagine, but it feels right to me.' I finished as quickly as I could. I left out the entire discussion about asking my parents' permission to get to know Zach on a personal level.
'I had no idea the two of you had something brewing so fast,' Julie said thoughtfully. 'He doesn't look religious, and the motorcycle deal doesn't fit the stereotype. I just hope he didn't come up with a strategy to seduce you after the first meeting.'
It was such a brusque comment that it shocked me.
'He's not a Ned Danforth. I would be able to see through that in a second.'
'Maybe.' Julie paused. 'But where does this leave poor Vinny? I had him all psyched up about what a great girl you are.'
'I thought he asked you question after question.'
'Maybe one, but I felt so rotten about the way I talked to you on Friday that I tried to make it up by praising you to him. Now, he's going to find out that he's a lap down before the race even starts.'
I studied Julie carefully for a moment. 'Did you make him think I was interested in him?'
'Uh, no. Except that like a good Christian you love all people equally, no matter their age, race, gender, or hair color.'
