His Plan: Book 2 in the Crossing Midian Series - A Small-Town Christian Romance

Chapter 15

Over the next few weeks, Lenore divided her time between helping at the bookstore in the mornings and being with the youth group and Beau in the afternoons as they prepared for the summer camp.

Surprisingly, when she and Beau weren't at each other's throats, they actually got along pretty well. Lenore would even go as far as to say that they were quickly becoming friends.

The first week after getting the O.K. for the camp, Lenore asked anyone who wanted to help redecorate the classroom to meet her there the next day. Most of the girls and even a few of the boys showed up. Including T.J.'s friend, Ryan. She'd remembered him drawing during the youth group meeting that first night and so she asked if anyone there had any experience with art. Lenore had nearly jumped for joy when Ryan shyly raised his hand, then offered to show her some drawings he had done. It wasn't long before the two of them were tossing around ideas for a mural on the back wall.

Lenore taught her first Sunday School class the week before, though she had been incredibly nervous to speak in front of the teens. She might have given up all together if it hadn't been for Beau, who gave her the encouragement to try anyway, even offering to pray with her before the class started. Lenore had felt a wave of peace settle over them as they stood in the hallway that morning and afterwards, she held her head high and faced the room full of teens with confidence.

She taught on how, even when David was being pursued by the enemy, he never ceased praising God. And that even in your darkest storm, there was always something to be thankful for. Even as she spoke the words, her eyes settling on Beau as he stood watching in the back, Lenore sent up a silent prayer of thankfulness of her own.

It was now the night before the camp was due to start and Lenore sat in her pajamas, alone in her kitchen with a cup of tea on the table which had long since gone cold. Both the excitement and nervousness about the next day were keeping her awake, and she absently ran her hand through her mess of red curls, wincing when her fingers caught in a tangle, before blowing out a breath and leaning back in her chair.

Lenore knew she ought to try to get some sleep, but before she could get up, she heard the door open to her grandmother's room down the hall. A moment later, Stella came into the kitchen, cane in hand. Her hair hung in a braid over her shoulder.

"Honey, what are you doing up?" she asked as she moved to the teapot.

"I could ask you the same thing," Lenore replied with a smile. "Are you feeling okay?"

Stella waved away her concern as she took a mug from the cabinet and placed it on the counter. She tapped the side of the teapot, humming appreciatively when she found it still hot, then poured the water over a lavender tea bag. "I'm fine. I've just been talking to the Lord and didn't even realize how late it was. Now, what's your excuse?"

Stella pulled out a chair and sat next to her granddaughter.

Lenore sighed. "I can't sleep. We've put so much time and effort into this camp and I know it will be great, but now that it's time for it to start, I can't help feeling nervous."

Stella nodded and took Lenore's hand in her own. "Of course you are. You want everything to go smoothly, but worrying about what happens if it doesn't won't help you or anybody else. You would be better off finishing your tea and trying to get some sleep."

"I know you're right, but I can't get my brain to shut off," she replied with a laugh.

"Lenore, you, Beau and those kids put everything you have into this camp, yes? You've given it your best?" she asked, looking her straight in the eye.

"We did." Lenore bit her bottom lip. "We worked so hard."

"Then quit with this self doubt and give it to God. Did he call you worry? To doubt His plan? Or did he call you to have faith in His plan?"