ANA Reborn by Carl Facciponte - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
Chapter 41
lexi sat with Paul and Martha at a small A window table at Pizone’s Pizza at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. It was Wednesday, two hours before Pastor Paul’s seven o’clock service.
The waiter delivered their pizza, sitting it carefully down between their plastic soda glasses, and warned, “Let it sit for a minute. It’s hot out of the oven. We don’t need a pizza-burn emergency tonight, especially to a regular customer.” Then, with a smile birthed in the knowledge that Martha was a big tipper, he thanked them for their order and was off to serve other customers.
Martha reached out and put her hand on Alexi’s when the little girl, not heeding the warning, reached out to grab a slice. “Honey, don’t touch it quite yet. I don’t want you to burn yourself. That sauce is piping hot.”
“But I’m hungry,” Alexi said.
317
“Let me help then,” said Paul as he picked up a piece with his silverware and moved it to her plate. “Be sure to blow on it first to cool it down.”
The seven-year-old agreed with vigorous nodding of her head, sending her blond curls dancing slightly above her head.
He looked at Martha and said, “The plate is cool and has a thermal mass that can cool the pizza down quickly.”
Martha chuckled. “Always the Holy Engineer.
Never change, okay?”
Martha reached across the small table and put her hand on his. “I wanted to thank you for being so supportive to me since I lost Ralph. It’s been a pretty rough eight months, but you and Alexi have been with me every step of the way. I don’t know anyone else who would have done that for me. Thank you from deep within my heart.”
His cheeks grew red above his neatly trimmed brown beard. “Martha, supporting you and seeing the healing process begin has been a pleasure and a privilege for me.” He put his other hand over the one holding his.
Alexi looked up from her pizza. Her gaze went from Martha’s eyes to Paul’s and back 318
Carl Facciponte
again. She didn’t know quite what it was, but she understood something good was going on.
Martha looked silently at Paul for several seconds.
“Your eyes tell me there is something wrong, Martha,” Paul said. “It looks like more than missing Ralph. What’s up?”
“I’m afraid, Paul.” He held her hand more tightly. She continued, “There was a boy at Berkley that I liked a lot. He left me and got a job across the country. Then, I fell hard for Ralph. He left me to go to Afghanistan and was killed. It seems like everyone I fall for eventually leaves me. It’s like God takes away everyone I care for.”
Paul stared at her but did not release his grip.
“Martha, God doesn’t do things like that. Do you think I would do something like that to Alexi?”
Martha started, her eyes widening. “No,” she said emphatically. “You love her. Why would you ever do that to her?”
“Exactly! And the same is true of God. He loves you so outrageously. There is no way He would take people you love away. Having said that, everyone passes away, but aside from that, 319
God showers us with love. We’ve talked about the source of all pain before, though.”
“I understand all that, Paul, but relationships frighten me. I’m afraid if I get involved with another man, he might leave me, too. I don’t know if I could stand it again.”
Paul rubbed her hands. “Martha, sometimes the people who support you the most are the same folks who would never leave you.” His eyes pleaded unspoken words.
She looked intently at her slice of pizza, and without looking up, said, “I’m missing something. Fear has pushed hope away. I’m so afraid if I say my dreams aloud, they’ll be jinxed.
I’m afraid I’ll lose what I love again.”
“No, that won’t happen,” Paul said with tenderness.
“Probably not,” she said, raising her eyes to look at him. “But I’m still not ready to do anything right now. Does that make any sense at all?”
“Listen, Martha, take as long as you need. Any man worth his salt will know you are more than worth waiting for.”
320
Carl Facciponte
Alexi watched the exchange. “Are you and daddy going to get married?” she blurted.
Both adults jumped in their chairs. “What?!
What are you talking about, Alexi?” they said in unison.
“I don’t know,” she said innocently. “I love both of you. And you love each other, don’t you?
What’s the problem?”
“Just eat your pizza.” a shaken Paul said, “We need to get to the service tonight.”
Martha lowered her gaze to her pepperoni.
321
Carl Facciponte