in the conference room pretending nothing was happening, while inside everything was crumbling to pieces.
Dr. Jenson, the president of the university, stood and called the meeting to order. âI called this meeting to tell those of you with tenure about our plans to open a satellite school in Dothan which will offer courses for military personnel at the local Air Force base. There will be openings for several full-time instructors, as well as a position for an administrator. We would like to hire local people for the main teaching positions, but we want the administrator to be someone from this school who is willing to move. It will be a promotion and a significant pay raise.â Randy barely heard the rest of the information. It was like a lifeline being thrown to a drowning man. Surely this was God at work, giving him a way out of his suffering. He latched onto the idea like a lifejacket.
As soon as the meeting was over, Randy singled out Dr. Jenson about the job. When he left thirty minutes later, he felt confident that he had a good chance of getting the job. Of course, he would have to apply like anyone else, but he had all the qualifications and was young and unattached, which made moving that much easier. He would know for sure in a couple of weeks.
Driving home, Randy found himself going through Rachelâs neighborhood. On impulse he stopped in front of her house. He turned off the engine and looked up at her apartment. He could see her silhouette in the window. He needed to talk to her one more time, make sure before he made his final decision. With a slap to the steering wheel, he got out of the car and started up to her door.
â§
Rachel paced around the room, looking at her watch every thirty seconds. She tried a few deep breaths to control her nerves, but nothing seemed to help. She just had to face it. She did not like confrontations of any kind. Yet, she just couldnât go on this way with Kyle.
Something had to give or change. She wanted a deeper, more intimate relationship than what they had, or she wanted out. Rachel stopped midpace at the reali-zation that had just hit her. All this time she had wanted nothing more than for Kyle to notice her, and now that he had, she wasnât happy. Why?
The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. She opened it without looking in the peephole. âHi, Kyle. . .â Kyleâs name died on her lips as she looked into Randyâs eyes. She stood there for a moment, mouth open. Gathering herself together, she clamped her mouth shut. âWhat are you doing here?â
âIâm not sure.â They stood looking at each other in the doorway for several minutes.
âMay I come in?â Randy asked.
âNo. Yes. I mean, Iâm expecting someone.â
âI know, but this wonât take long.â
âOkay.â She stepped back for him to enter. She glanced down the street before she closed the door. No sign of Kyle.
She watched Randy pace around the room. Something was obviously on his mind. âRandy, is something wrong? You look upset.â
âNothingâs wrong. I just needed to talk to you about a decision I need to make. I wanted your input.â He raked his fingers through his hair. A part of her wanted to repeat the gesture.
âWhat is it?â
âI just found out about a job opportunity in Dothan. It would be an administrative position, more money. I have a good chance at getting the job, but Iâm not sure if itâs a good idea or not. What do you think?â He gave her one of his piercing looks.
âIâm not sure. It sounds like a great opportunity.â Rachel turned so that he couldnât see her face. She knew it probably reflected the sudden pain she felt in her chest. She didnât want to lose him. A good friend was hard to find. She ignored the little voice that questioned, Just a friend?
âCan you think of any reason why I shouldnât take the job? Anything
Dr. Jenson, the president of the university, stood and called the meeting to order. âI called this meeting to tell those of you with tenure about our plans to open a satellite school in Dothan which will offer courses for military personnel at the local Air Force base. There will be openings for several full-time instructors, as well as a position for an administrator. We would like to hire local people for the main teaching positions, but we want the administrator to be someone from this school who is willing to move. It will be a promotion and a significant pay raise.â Randy barely heard the rest of the information. It was like a lifeline being thrown to a drowning man. Surely this was God at work, giving him a way out of his suffering. He latched onto the idea like a lifejacket.
As soon as the meeting was over, Randy singled out Dr. Jenson about the job. When he left thirty minutes later, he felt confident that he had a good chance of getting the job. Of course, he would have to apply like anyone else, but he had all the qualifications and was young and unattached, which made moving that much easier. He would know for sure in a couple of weeks.
Driving home, Randy found himself going through Rachelâs neighborhood. On impulse he stopped in front of her house. He turned off the engine and looked up at her apartment. He could see her silhouette in the window. He needed to talk to her one more time, make sure before he made his final decision. With a slap to the steering wheel, he got out of the car and started up to her door.
â§
Rachel paced around the room, looking at her watch every thirty seconds. She tried a few deep breaths to control her nerves, but nothing seemed to help. She just had to face it. She did not like confrontations of any kind. Yet, she just couldnât go on this way with Kyle.
Something had to give or change. She wanted a deeper, more intimate relationship than what they had, or she wanted out. Rachel stopped midpace at the reali-zation that had just hit her. All this time she had wanted nothing more than for Kyle to notice her, and now that he had, she wasnât happy. Why?
The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. She opened it without looking in the peephole. âHi, Kyle. . .â Kyleâs name died on her lips as she looked into Randyâs eyes. She stood there for a moment, mouth open. Gathering herself together, she clamped her mouth shut. âWhat are you doing here?â
âIâm not sure.â They stood looking at each other in the doorway for several minutes.
âMay I come in?â Randy asked.
âNo. Yes. I mean, Iâm expecting someone.â
âI know, but this wonât take long.â
âOkay.â She stepped back for him to enter. She glanced down the street before she closed the door. No sign of Kyle.
She watched Randy pace around the room. Something was obviously on his mind. âRandy, is something wrong? You look upset.â
âNothingâs wrong. I just needed to talk to you about a decision I need to make. I wanted your input.â He raked his fingers through his hair. A part of her wanted to repeat the gesture.
âWhat is it?â
âI just found out about a job opportunity in Dothan. It would be an administrative position, more money. I have a good chance at getting the job, but Iâm not sure if itâs a good idea or not. What do you think?â He gave her one of his piercing looks.
âIâm not sure. It sounds like a great opportunity.â Rachel turned so that he couldnât see her face. She knew it probably reflected the sudden pain she felt in her chest. She didnât want to lose him. A good friend was hard to find. She ignored the little voice that questioned, Just a friend?
âCan you think of any reason why I shouldnât take the job? Anything
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