Although the Christian film’s message was geared toward their charges, Skye prayed that Jordan would respond to the invitation to accept Christ as his personal Savior.At the end of the film the invocation was repeated by counselors at the front of the theater.Several teens and preteens went forward.
Skye tipped her head back to watch Jordan, but his expression was closed and unreadable.Sighing, she realized that for Jordan, placing his trust in Christ would not come easily.Independence and self-reliance were so much a part of his personality, Skye wondered how long it would take him to recognize his need.From what she knew of him, Jordan would investigate Christianity thoroughly before making a commitment.Skye wanted him to know and love God as she did.There was no denying the growing attraction she felt for Jordan, and it was of primary importance that he share her faith.
Feeling her gaze touch him, Jordan turned, his eyes regarding her seriously.I must be patient,she told herself.I must learn to let the Holy Spirit do the calling.
Hot fudge sundaes waited for them back at the church.No one needed encouragement to dig in.Jordan and Skye sat opposite each other at one of the long tables.Although they sat among several teens, the numbers didn’t lessen the sense of intimacy between them.Several times she found Jordan watching her curiously, but she avoided his gaze, joking with the kids around her instead.
Jordan finished his ice cream and pushed the bowl aside.
“You’re not done, are you?”Skye asked incredulously.Jordan had eaten the vanilla ice cream but had left the chocolate syrup.Not waiting for his answer, she took his bowl and poured the chocolate over her ice cream.“I know, I know,” she joked, “once on the lips, forever on the hips.But I’m going to splurge.I have a weakness for chocolate.”
Jordan’s smile seemed to reach out and touch her.“I have a weakness, too,” he admitted, his eyes focused on her full mouth.“But my weakness lies in the area of blue-eyed blondes who sing like angels and hide cash from muggers in their shoes.”
Her thick lashes quickly veiled her reaction, but his words brought a curious sensation to her heart.
Before she could find a witty comment to trade with him, the tables and chairs began to vibrate.Bowls of ice cream shimmied across the tabletop.
Someone yelled, “Earthquake.”But no one moved, each paralyzed, their eyes filled with panic.
Skye had experienced several minor earthquakes in her lifetime, but nothing that seemed to be this strong.The crucifix suspended from the ceiling by two wires swayed as the room rocked.Several bowls had reached the end of the table and were ready to crash to the floor.Skye jerked herself upright to catch them, but in the rush lost her footing.She felt herself fall, the floor rushing up to meet her.Everything went black, although she was conscious.
Then it was over; everything was still.She remained frozen until she was roughly jerked into Jordan’s arms.
“Dear God,” he moaned into her hair, “are you all right?”Skye didn’t care that his cast was biting unmercifully into her ribs.She clung to him as the only solid thing in a reeling world.
People began to move around; some of the girls were crying, still caught in the terror.
“I’m okay.”Her first breaths came in gasps.“I must have hit my head.Everything went black for a couple of seconds, but I’m okay now.”
Jordan’s look burned her, his eyes a brilliant shade of silver.Urgently his hand pushed the hair away from her face, as if needing some reassurance she wasn’t injured.
Besides the fright, no one had been hurt, and what had seemed an eternity wasn’t any more than a few seconds—less than a minute, although it had seemed much longer.
In the aftermath everyone started to speak at once.Someone started singing a chorus of praise and thanksgiving, others joined, and soon the whole group was lifting their voices in gratitude to God.Everyone except Jordan, who remained detached.
Silently they rode home in her car.He had hardly spokensince the quake.The radio was full of the news, stating that the quake had originated miles away, as was often, fortunately, the case.
Sitting beside him, Skye could see that his mouth was tight.She parked the car and turned off the engine.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”he asked again gruffly.He didn’t look at her; his profile, bathed in the moonlight, showed his jaw to be flexing.
“I’m fine,” she insisted shakily.
Jordan expelled his breath forcefully.“Thank God.”
“Yes, I do!Thank Him, that is.”That Jordan should be so affected by what had happened brought an odd, breathless quality to her voice.She paused, unsure why she was asking him the question.“Would it have mattered to you if I’d been hurt?”Perhaps she needed assurance that this magnetic attraction was mutual.
His laugh was harsh.“Yes, it matters.”
A puzzled frown marred her expression.What was wrong?He had been acting strangely ever since the quake.“Jordan, why are you so angry?”
He was silent for so long, Skye wondered if he’d heard her.“Jordan?”she repeated.
When he did turn toward her, his eyes were as hard as forged iron.“Maybe I don’t like the way I feel about you.Maybe I wished I could put you out of my mind and find someone who lived in the real world.You Christians, you think reading the Bible and mumbling a few prayers is going to solve everything.”
His words were so unexpected, Skye drew her breath in sharply.
“Well, I think it’s time you woke up, Pollyanna.You could have been killed tonight.”
