Dreaming of His Pen Pal's Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,21

going? That’s actually how Coach Samuels and I started talking about you. He’d heard about our program and thought you would be a good candidate.”

“Something else Coach was right about, I guess. I feel like I’ve learned a lot and had my eyes opened a lot of ways. At first, the restrictions on not being allowed to share any personal details felt restrictive and maybe even overkill, but it almost forced us to talk about ideas rather than things in a way, and that actually has been really helpful to me. I hope that the person I’m corresponding with feels the same.” Dante fingered the menu the waitress had set down with a smile after taking their drink orders and walking away.

Christmas music played softly in the background, which didn’t totally shock him, as the Christmas tree in the corner decorated with little American flags didn’t either.

There was another tree in the opposite corner that was decorated like an actual Christmas tree at Christmastime, and Dante wondered idly if that was because of the festival coming up, or if that’s the way it always was around here.

He had a feeling it was the latter.

“In almost every instance. The program has been very popular,” Pastor Race said with a little smile, maybe a bit of humble pride if there was such a thing.

“Glad to hear it.”

They didn’t say anything while the waitress set their drinks down and took their orders. Dante ordered a burger and fries, although as he ordered he was kind of thinking to himself about vegetables and wondered if it would be too weird if he asked about the best gardens in town.

If this was her town—the odds were high that it was not—that would probably be obvious. He wasn’t supposed to be finding out who The Healing Pen was, and while he really did want to know, he felt like he needed to respect the parameters that Pastor Race had set up.

So far, they’d been working. In a little over half a year, he could ask personal questions. That wouldn’t be too long to wait, and it would actually be a good idea since he would be consumed with football during football season and wouldn’t really have time to give The Healing Pen the attention she deserved if she was even as interested in him as he was in her.

“I wanted to thank you for the advice you’d given when I was in the hospital before I started on the pen pal program. I was, as Coach suspected, falling into the trap of questioning why God would allow an accident like that happen and why was it me that had to go through the extra rehabilitation and pain and all the work required in recovering. It seems like with my childhood and background, God had already given me enough.”

“I’m glad you found my advice helpful. Sometimes, we just close ourselves off to the possibilities that God might be opening in front of us.”

“That’s exactly what was happening. I’m still not sure that I want to give up football, but it doesn’t look like I have to. It just looks like it was another trial to go through.”

“Sometimes, God opens doors through these trials.” Maybe Pastor Race was hinting at something, although as Dante squirted ketchup on his plate, he wasn’t sure exactly what that was.

“I know.” Maybe the door that was opening had to do with The Healing Pen. He could only hope so. Maybe the accident would be worth it, if he found a woman who liked him for more than what he did on the field.

Thinking of that, maybe he didn’t want to meet The Healing Pen at all, and he hoped this actually wasn’t her town. Because if he did, she’d find out who he was. He definitely didn’t want that. Not until he knew her better.

They talked a little more about some of the things Race had given him advice about—God’s plan and trials. He sounded so much like The Healing Pen it was almost uncanny.

He just had a couple bites of his sandwich hamburger and a few odd fries left when Race steepled his hands and set his chin on his fingers.

“You know we’re going to have a Christmas festival here in Mistletoe, and you’re staying for it, correct?”

“For a few days. Yes.”

“Good. I think you’ll enjoy it, and it will be fun and relaxing.” Race paused. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in participating. I have a few contests that