A Heart's Desire - Book 1 of the Crossing Midian Series - A Christian Romance

Chapter 14

Two days later, Anna stood in her bedroom in front of the full-length mirror and surveyed the outfit she had settled on for her date with Wesley. Deciding to play it safe since she didn't know where they were going, she chose white capris and a yellow floral shirt with a pair of sandals.

"Well, if you don't look prettier than a magnolia in May!"

Anna turned around to see Ms. Claudine standing in the doorway with a bright smile.

"Do you think this is okay? He's pretty much only ever seen me in work clothes." Anna asked self-consciously as she looked back in the mirror and worked her fingers through her dark curls, trying to get out any tangles.

"I think it's perfect, honey." She answered, coming fully into the room. "But you could go ahead and wear your work clothes and that boy wouldn't mind!"

Anna smiled and took a seat on the bed. "I just hope I'm doing the right thing."

Ms. Claudine nodded and sat down beside her. "I know you're scared. But don't let something good pass you by out of fear. God knows what He's doing, Anna. Trust him."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

Ms. Claudine laughed then. "Well then, maybe there's something to it!"

The doorbell rang, and they both looked up.

"I'll get it." Ms. Claudine said with a wink. "You come down in a few minutes. It's good to make them wait a little."

Anna nodded as the older woman stood up to leave. 

Ms. Claudine opened the front door to find Wesley standing on the porch tugging on the ends of the shirt sleeves that he had rolled up to his elbows. He dropped his hands when he saw her and gave a one-sided grin.

"Hey, Ms. Claudine. How are you today?"

Claudine pursed her lips to hide her smile and nodded inside the house.

"I'm alright, Wesley. Come on in. Anna will be out in a minute."

Wesley nodded as he followed her inside and sat stiffly on the couch, glancing down the hall towards Anna's new room.

"You're not nervous, are you, Wesley?" Ms. Claudine asked, and Wesley quickly looked over to see her smiling.

"Me? No. No, of course not."

Claudine couldn't tell if he was trying to convince her or himself.

"Relax, honey!" Claudine said with a laugh. "You and Anna are gonna have a great time today. Don't worry so much."

Wesley nodded. "You're right. We've just never hung out like this before. It's an actual date!"

She smiled fondly at the boy and replied, "Yes it is, and I can't think of a single person I would rather her be going with than you."

He looked up at her then and finally graced her with a small grin. "Thanks, Ms. Claudine."

Before either of them could say anything else, Anna walked into the living room and they both looked up at her.

Wesley's smile grew wider and he couldn't help but think about how pretty she looked. He stood up, and she smiled at him before picking up her purse from the coffee table and walking over to him.

"Are you ready to go?" She asked.

"You bet." He answered, opening the door for her and letting her go out before him.

Ms. Claudine told them to have a good time as she waved them off.

"So, where are we going?" Anna asked as Wesley pulled the truck out onto the main road.