"Hey Addie, where are you headed?" Cherise asked surprised, "I don’t think I have ever seen you in a dress before." "Oh, didn’t you know she met someone?" "I can speak for myself Raina, and yes I did meet someone. But it’s different." I tried to explain. Of course I really didn’t feel that it was different. I felt foolish and embarrassed and so much like a child who’s just had their deepest secret told to the world. "So, tell us all about him then Addie," Cherise pleaded. "Okay Cheri," I gave in. But how do you explain someone with the deepest eyes, that when you look into them you don’t even notice the color because you know that all you see is truth instead of lies? How do you tell of someone who’s made such an impact on your life with only a few words?

"Well," I braved to try. I looked to the clock to find an excuse. “I really have to go girls. I’ll explain it all when I get back.” “Are you going to see him today?” Raina asked curiously. “No,” I said firmly. “I’m headed to my friend’s wedding and I’ll be late if I don’t leave soon.” I waved good-bye. “And I’ll tell you all about him when I get back.” At least the few hours I would be away would give me some time to prepare what I was going to tell them. Perhaps I should tell them how we met. That always explains so much, and I remember that day so vividly. I woke up early that morning because I was going to spend a month in the country house sitting. I really leapt at the chance to get away from all the noise and business of my life, even though I lived in such a small town I was too busy. I remember thinking about so many things that day, but as I kept driving my thoughts seemed to fade. I sang along with the radio and was in awe of the beauty that surrounded me. I drove for over an hour, my destination: a little farm on a hill. I spend the first few hours of my time there indoors. I had some work to do before I could enjoy the beauteous landscape, and the work was well worth the wait. I think it was four in the afternoon when I checked my watch, and I was thoroughly enjoying the sites before my eyes. It was all eye-candy. I could look out and see for miles out and below. The farm was situated on a hill, and it seemed as though the whole world lay beneath. The mountains seemed to roll, as the old phrase goes. Green was everywhere. Between the trees there were large spaces canvassed in the deepest green grass, which, from a distance, looked like velvet. There was another farmhouse across the way, and beyond the trees, there was a lake. Only a small portion of the lake was visible. When the sun shone just right, the lake shimmered behind the trees and made them look as though they were glowing with some unknown source of light. This is where I found myself that day. I remember looking out and I knew that something great was about to happen. I knew that something indescribable and spectacular was about to take place; the view that I saw was only the beginning. I spent hours just looking out on that scene, just praising God for His beauty, and thoughtfulness in making such beauty.

That night I went to the beach of that shimmering lake to walk in the sand and watch the moon and gaze at the stars. And there I met him. Riley. Some would say it was fate, but I like to think of it as providence. God was leading me and then blessed me for taking delight in Him. Riley must have been gazing at the sky as well. Not when I saw him though. I saw him rise and he modestly said, “hello. my name is Riley.” I just looked into his eyes, as I always do at first, and then replied. “I’m Addeline. It’s nice to meet you,” I shook his hand. My eyes returned to the sky. I couldn’t take my eyes away. It was magnificent. “I guess I’m not the only one who enjoys all those little sparkly things up there.” His voice was defined, yet soft, almost like a whisper. On that night I don’t think either of us would have been able to speak regularly. It was the beauty of the night, the glory of God filling the air. “No,” I replied. “I love my midnight gazing.”

“That’s so romantic.” Raina had a habit of jolting me out of my reflections. “But it’s probably not even true.” Cherise said doubtfully. “Even if it isn’t it’s terribly romantic.” That’s just the way Raina is, and I love her for it. “It’s all true.” It was, the whole story. Yeah, you probably didn’t believe me just like Cherise, “it’s too good to be true.” But the truth is usually stranger than fiction. “What happened next?” Cherise said trying to sound uninterested. “Yes, do tell Addie. I didn’t hear all of this before.” Raina added. I wasn’t quite sure how to phrase it, because I am not quite certain myself. All of it happened so much like a dream, and I’ve even wondered myself from time to time if I wasn’t actually dreaming the entire night.

I remember that once we met we watched the stars for an hour or more. When finally his voice pierced the silence. I suppose I must have yawned, for he asked me if I was tired. “Yes, I am a little,” I admitted. He glanced at his watch and then ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh. “It’s after two,” he said regretfully. I knew just as well as he did that neither of us wanted our time gazing to end. After I yawned for a second time, he suggested going for coffee. Of course I was curious as to where we would find a place open at such an odd hour of the day. He assured me that he knew of a place, and so I agreed. There was, oddly enough, a little coffee shop open not all that far from the lake. The shop itself was a remnant of days gone by. The paint was flaking off and, as a whole, had a weathered look that drew me in. I knew that this old building had seen its share of storms and it had withstood them all. The evidence of a fire was visible, but I felt safe inside. The place was decorated with old coffee mugs collected from around the world. The theme was definitely about the brew. Old coffee advertisements dating back to the early ‘20s hung on the little wall space. There was a large window stretching from the floor to ceiling on the south facing the lake. We sat at a small wooden table next to that window.

“How do you know of this little place?” My curiosity was aroused, a conversation starter also seemed to be needed. “Aside from my love of coffee,” he smiled. “My parents used to tell me about this place. They’d come up here every summer to get away from my sister and me. When I decided to move up here I knew I just had to come to this place. They haven’t been able to get rid of me since.” “Isn’t that the truth,” the waitress commented after hearing the last bit of his speech.

“This is Addeline,” he said introducing me. “It’s nice to meet you dear. I’m Lucy.” She seemed like the kind of woman whom everyone called by name. No ‘Miss—’ or ‘Mrs.— ’ just ‘Lucy.’ Her eyes were very kind. “It’s nice to meet you Lucy,” I couldn’t help but smile. “What can I get for you two?” she asked. I remember vividly. He had a double shot espresso with cream and I had a double shot huckleberry latte. We didn’t talk much, but somehow it was as if our souls spoke for us. Our meeting ended with the light of the sun ushering in a new day.

“Somehow we just ended up meeting every night that month to gaze at the stars together and then have a cup of coffee.” “How romantic,” Raina sighed again. I can’t help but laugh at her sometimes. “So you’re just casual friends who like to gaze at the stars together and then drink coffee? Or is there more?” Cherise gave me a reality check.

What were we? A lot of other things happened aside from our gazing at the stars. Riley and I spent many other occasions taking walks and having long talks, and all our time spent together was in awe of God and His creation. “Riley and I are friends.” I know my voice held an incomplete question. It really did cause me to think. “But,” I began again after some doubt on both Raina and Cherise’ parts, “I think I can best describe it this way.

“You know that verse that says ‘love your neighbor as yourself?’ Well, I do my best to live that out by not leading him on in any way, not by what I say, not by what I do. And I expect the same of him. We talk about deep things, things of God. And I think that while our conversation is pure and our thoughts are put into what we say, there leaves no room for something impure to slip in.” I can’t believe that came out of me. “And I know God has been showing me a lot in my friendship with Riley. I can completely see that God has had His hand in all of this. And we’re friends, truly, and not thing more.” Raina and Cherise both sat silently. I couldn’t help the silence myself. It seemed to complete the thought. Even now silence seems to beckon, it must be.

After a while things quieted down; Raina and Cherise stopped asking about Riley and Riley and I met occasionally to talk. The truth was I never saw a lie from him, not in the entire time I’ve known him. There was not a lie in his words, nor in his actions. I am thankful for that. And he treated me with the utmost respect. I know that he truly valued me. Those eyes that spoke volumes had a way of seeing into my soul. Since the beginning we were able to communicate without words. Our meetings have become less frequent, but we still try and keep in touch. From the first moment we met, I had a feeling deep within, this tug at my heart as if God was telling me that Riley is the one I will one day marry. And I know that I am not ready right now, and I imagine that there are things he must accomplish before he is ready. But I do believe that one day we will marry, and it will be all the more beautiful because we will have waited for the right time. While he has never said a word on the subject, I know he feels the same way. I know that he has wanted to express his feelings many times, but I know that he too is waiting for God’s timing. That makes me love him all the more. And one day I’ll tell the complete story of Riley and Addeline.