He walked up the steps of the church jauntily and scanned the small sanctuary for Jenny. He stood in the back vestibule for a moment, searching for her amidst the bustling congregation seated in the pews, parishioners visiting with one another before the service started. It didn’t take long for him to find her. It would have been impossible to miss the five blond heads lined up near the front of the church. Lindstrom, party of five? He made his way up the aisle to the second pew.
Jenny had saved him the aisle seat and turned to catch his eye as he was about halfway down the aisle. Looking for me, huh?
“Bet you thought I’d be late,” he whispered, taking the seat beside her.
She smiled at him. “You don’t have the most punctual track record.”
“Morning, Pretty Girl,” he murmured. “I missed you.”
She shook her head lightly and looked down at her folded hands, but he could tell she was pleased.
He glanced beyond her to their left and saw her brothers and Mr. Lindstrom in a straight line, all four heads craning for a look at Sam. He offered them a reserved smile and a small wave. The boys smiled and waved back in greeting. Mr. Lindstrom’s blue eyes held Sam’s unwaveringly for a moment then he nodded curtly before turning his attention ahead.
The pastor entered from a side door, wearing his robe and vestments, and the congregation chit-chat hushed to a murmur as he lit the Advent wreath candles and welcomed everyone to the service. They opened their hymnals to a Christmas carol and Sam smiled, glad to be sitting next to Jenny in church at Christmastime.
***
After the service, Jenny guided Sam to the fellowship hour where she poured them each a cup of coffee, waiting for her family to join them. Her father and brothers had gotten tied up in a conversation about ice fishing with the folks in the pew behind them, and she had gestured to them to come find her at the coffee social when they were finished.
“Jenny,” Sam whispered, catching her eyes over the rim of the paper cup he held. “What do you want to do today?”
She smiled at him, delighted. “I don’t know. What do you have in mind?”
He raised his eyebrows, teasing her, making her remember his knee-buckling kisses from last night. “We can figure it out after.”
“Sam!” Nils was suddenly at Sam’s shoulder, slapping his back in hello. Lars, Erik and her father approached together, and Jenny breathed deeply. It was one thing for Sam to meet the boys; meeting her father was another. They formed an awkward semi-circle around Jenny and Sam, and Jenny introduced Sam to her father.
“Sam, I didn’t get to properly introduce you before. This is our father, Carl. Pappa, this is Sam. He’s kin of Kristian, who’s marrying Ingrid.”
Sam put out his hand and shook her Pappa’s hand, offering him an open smile. “Mr. Lindstrom. It’s a pleasure, sir.”
“Jenny-girl.” He was looking at Sam, but his words were for Jenny. Her father was tall and blond like the boys, but his hair had a fair sprinkling of white now. He dropped Sam’s hand and turned to Jenny, blue eyes to blue eyes. “Heard about a fella you were keeping company with at the Stroll.”
“Oh, Pappa. We’re not…keeping company. Sam’s just visiting until Monday.” She studied her toes, embarrassed. Who said things like “keeping company” anymore? Her father was hopelessly old-fashioned. “The boys met him yesterday.”
Her father nodded sternly and turned back to Sam. “Ingrid’s your cousin, Sam?”
“No sir,” he replied, holding her father’s eyes directly. “Ingrid’s fiancé Kristian is my cousin.”
“Uh-huh. One over in Afghanistan, eh?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did military time myself. You, Sam?”
“No, sir.”
Her father nodded again, then cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes, putting his hands on his hips and leaning toward Sam with purpose. “Your intentions pure, Sam?”
“Pappa!” Jenny exclaimed in a shocked gasp. Where, oh, where were those caverns of the universe when you needed one to open at your father’s feet? “Sam is a friend—”
“Yes.”
She turned her glance from her father and looked at Sam, as if in slow motion, as if seeing him for the first time. Sam stood planted on the ground firmly, holding her father’s eyes without excuse or explanation, without pause or any trace of intimidation. He was sure-footed, tall and proud, and a smile spread across her face as her heart burst with pleasure. She was sure Sam didn’t realize the nuances of this exchange but she was touched beyond words that he would stand up for her with such a confident declaration.