Sitting across from Anna was the most attractive man she had ever met. Cleaned up in a nice, dark suit, his black hair nicely shaped, blue eyes showing that sparkle, and a smile that could knock your socks off, this was certainly not the same David Condello in the picture. There was that fluttery feeling again. She quickly looked to her right were Joe sat with his wife. They had accompanied her, just in case. David didn’t seem to mind.

“Anna?”

Anna realized she was staring. She couldn’t help herself. Those eyes, that smile.

“Hello?”

“Oh, gosh. I’m sorry. I, uh, what did you say again?” He was resting his chin on his hand as he stared into Anna’s eyes. Oh, why did he have to do that?

“I asked you what your hobbies are? I know the singer Anna Silvers, but I want to know the Anna Silvers that puts her pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us.” That smile again. Would she ever get through this night, or did she even want it to end?

She tried to control her fidgeting hands underneath the table. Would the food ever arrive so at least she could occupy them with a fork? “Well, I love to read. I’ve always had such a passion for reading. Mostly fiction. I love those fairy talel, romance stories. You know, the Cinderella ones, where they meet and...it’s, uh, love.... at first sight.” Did she really just say that to this man? Their eyes seemed locked in an endless stare.

“I, uh, like writing.” She changed the subject, “Even though I use other people’s music sometimes, I write a lot of my own lyrics. I’ve always loved writing.”

“So, you’re a very creative person, I see.”

“Well, I suppose.”

“Have any obsessive collectives? Things you particularly like to collect?” The food finally arrived, and Anna grabbed her fork.

“Yes, actually!” She laughed, suddenly feeling at ease. This was one of her favorite topics, believe it or not, “Cows. See it all started years ago. In fact, Joe was involved.” When she finished the story, they had a good laugh.

“That’s quite an interesting story. Cows. Hmmmm. Well, to each his own.”

“How about you, Mr. David Condello?” She said, taking a bite of chicken francaise. She found out it was David’s favorite food too.

“Me? Well, restaurants.”

Anna ‘s fork stopped halfway to her mouth, “You...like to collect...restaurants?” She was puzzled.

“Well, not exactly collect, but I own a few restaurants. I work for my father. It’s a family business. Ever hear of ‘Condello’s’?”

“Are you kidding??” Her fork clanked against her plate, but neither noticed, “That’s you? We always order pizza from there! We only went there once to eat. Wow, that’s so interesting. We had heard the Condello’s were Christians. We know people who go there all the time. In fact, do you know Diane and Lary Webster?” She loved Condello’s pizza and was thrilled, for some reason, this man has something to do with it.

“Yes! My father’s great friends with Lary. What a small world.”

“Sure is.” A few moments of silence passed.

“Wow, I must have been blind.” David finally broke it.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t understand how I didn’t notice someone so beautiful in my restaurant.” His hand was on his cheek again, his fingers almost tracing his angular jaw.

A rosy hue came to Anna’s cheeks.

She was a little embarrassed for one, “Well, actually...um, I never went there to pick it up. I mean, you do have free delivery. The one time we went there to eat was maybe three years ago and it was the one a few towns over. We were visiting a friend. I don’t remember seeing you there. In fact, I’m sure I didn’t.” Was it getting hot in here?

“No, actually, I’m quite cool.”

“What?”

“You just asked if it was hot in here.”

“Oh...”

“Well, three years ago I was in Chicago helping out with the fourth restaurant that opened.”

So, that’s what he was doing in the picture he sent, “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy to see it’s doing well. I really love that place. Well, even though I don’t go there that often.”

“Anna, can we see each other again?”

For the next few days, David Condello asked the same question and got the same answer, “I’d like that.”

Over the next few months, between concerts, and every spare moment Anna could get, they got to know each other. Anna loved it how David wanted to know her, the real Anna, the one people didn’t ooh and ahh over. She loved every one of her supporters, but there were the ones who almost idolized her, and she knew that could be dangerous. She was just as imperfect as the next person, and wanted people to look to God not to her. She loved the compliments and encouragement she got, and was always gracious about each one, but she made sure people knew that no matter where they were, that was the ‘ministry’ God had them in. God could use them anywhere. They just had to be willing. Of course, if they felt the Lord leading them to pursue a career in music, she encouraged them to pray about it. She told them to never give up hope, that God would open a door in His timing and would work out His will in their lives. Again, they just had to be willing. She emphasized that just because she was famous in the world’s eyes, she was still only human. She wanted them to see the God inside of her. Sure David loved her voice and loved hearing about her pursuits and her career, but it was the real Anna he loved the most. The one God loved too. The one who fidgeted with her hands when she was nervous, who loved barbecue sauce on her French fries from McDonalds, who loved to collect cows, and the Anna Silvers who couldn’t read music.

“You can’t read music? I find that hard to believe.” David said to her. She found out, about David, that sailing was his passion. He took her out quite a few times on his sailboat, and not only did Anna have a wonderful time, she got a terrible sunburn. They talked to each other above the noise of the wind and waves, as the boat sailed through the water. It was a crisp autumn day. The sun shone strong as Anna’s brown hair blew in the wind.

“Well, just because I’m in the music industry, doesn’t mean I can do everything musical. Joe’s really good at that. He’s the one who looks over the songs people send me. He’ll play them out so I can hear them. It looks like Greek to me. Just a bunch of notes on a page.”

“Yeah, same here. My mother loves to sing. She never pursued it professionally, due to the family business, but she would sing us to sleep at night, and boy could she sing.”

“I’d love to hear her.”

He turned to face her, “Well, she sure loves you, so I’m sure she’d be honored. When you come over for dinner next week we’ll work something out. A duet.” He smiled.

Anna was exhausted as she slipped into bed, but sleep didn’t come right away. In fact, five minutes later, she headed over to her computer. There laying on the desk was her list. She had forgotten all about it until tonight.

“A list of qualities. Hmmm. How do you match up, Mr. Condello?”

Taking a pen out of the drawer, she sat down and looked over the list, “Yep, you’ve got that one. That one too. Oh, yes, wonderful sense of humor, that’s for sure.” She remembered the time, only a few weeks ago, how David had dressed up as a complete bum, and, including Anna, fooled everyone. He walked into his family’s restaurant and begged for a bite to eat. They sat him down and fed him. After eating, David took off his hat and fake beard and they all had a good laugh, but they learned the lesson he was trying to get across. The Lord always taught about feeding the poor and destitute. You never know when you are entertaining angels.

“Hmmm.” She looked again at her list, “You’re definitely a great example of Christ’s love....a great listener. Yeah, you’ve got that one too.” By the time she was done, she had a check next to each thing on her list.

“Well, David, you seem to be Mr. Right, but are you?” She sighed, said a prayer and headed to bed. Her dreams were filled with David’s face, a white wedding gown, and a beautiful reception hall.

Dinner was over at David’s parents house, and the two walked down the lamplit street together. A full moon was shining brightly overhead.

“Oh, David. I love your family. They’ve made me feel so welcome every time I come here.”

“Like I’ve said before, they’re crazy about you.”

“Your hair...” David said, after a moment of silence, “It...you look almost angelic...the way the moon is reflecting off it.”

Both stopped to face each other. Even in the dark, she could still see that sparkle in his eyes. Of course, the moon and the streetlights helped, but she knew it was more then just a reflection. Anna pressed her cheek into David’s hand that had reached up to touch her so lovingly. She closed her eyes, wanting this moment to last forever.