I turn to greet his life and spot the new woman next to her and Gabby.
“Hello! I don’t believe we’ve met before.” I reach toward her to shake her hand.
“Hi, Pastor John, I’m Lizzie.” She smiles at me very warmly.
“Lizzie! I’ve heard a lot about you!” I say. “You’ve been in Belgium the last couple of years, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I have. I’m actually leaving to go back in three weeks now.” She looks over at Gabby.
“Oh wow, what an adventure,” I say.
“Ugh, pastor, don’t encourage her. Who else will I constantly embarrass and harass when she’s not here?” Gabby sighs.
Lizzie chuckles. “Oh I don’t know, I’m sure you’ve got a whole house full of them. Maybe Mom’s parrot.”
“Oh yes, Pimenta. What has he learned now?” I ask.
“It seems he learned what pizza is the other day.” Lizzie narrows her eyes at her mom.
“What? It was an accident!” Gleide, their mom, blushes.
“Somehow pizza ‘accidentally’ fell into his cage. It’s a good thing it was only the crust and not the other parts that could cause harm,” Gabby says.
Gleide rolls her eyes. “Pastor, don’t listen to them. It was only a little bit of bread. Pimenta was fine!”
I laugh. We talk a bit more, and as worship begins, I head toward the front and begin to pray about the message. After worship, I step onto the stage and begin the message.
At the very end, as I’m about to pray, I spot Nate at the front.
I see Lizzie at the back.
And it’s like those moments in cartoons, when a lightbulb goes off above the character’s head.
Lizzie was so warm earlier in conversation. She was witty, attentive, and I could already sense her deep love for family in such a short time. She’s just one of those people who radiates warmth in everything she says and does. Her humor shone through too. I had heard a lot about her from her family before but had never met her. To meet her in real life and now having just seen Nate?
Maybe Nate and Lizzie could hit it off.
It’s been a while since his divorce now. I know the kids are more used to the rhythm of their new routines. And mostly, I know Nate just doesn’t want to be alone for the rest of his life. It’s not what he signed up for. He never even wanted a divorce. I know he truly longs for a wife. Could Lizzie be a good candidate for him?
I wonder if I could introduce them somehow...
I’ll have to think about it. I may have only met and spoken to her for a few minutes, but sometimes you can tell a lot about a person in just a few minutes.
And she was great. Maybe, just maybe…. they could hit it off.
After the service finishes, I go straight to Nate. I just see him this morning, so it must be Iris’s weekend to have the kids.
“Hey, Nate!”
He turns around. “John, how are you?” He moves to hug me and claps my back.
“I’m good. Maria and I are looking forward to dinner on Friday night.”
“Yeah, me too. I hear their pizza is actually great there, too. Though I can guarantee you it won’t beat Sao Paulo’s pizza,” he says with a sly grin.
“I wouldn’t take it out of the race just yet, Nate!” I laugh. He will die on a hill defending São Paulo’s pizza—he’s convinced it’s the best in the world.
“Is it cool if Maria and I bring someone, too?” I ask nonchalantly.
