Page 36 of Whisk Me Away

Every leaf, every blade of grass seemed to testify to the boundless creativity of our Creator. The vibrant hues of wildflowers and the delicate patterns adorning butterfly wings, each detail was a testament to God's handiwork. It was humbling to think that all these different plants and animals coexisted harmoniously, each played a vital role in the delicate balance of nature.

As I watched a bird take flight overhead and listened to the soothing sound of the waterfalls, I was reminded of the verse from Psalms that said, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Being immersed in nature was like experiencing a living, breathing canvas of God's majesty, a constant source of inspiration and reverence.

In moments like these, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to witness God's creation up close. It was a reminder to cherish and protect nature and to be good stewards of the earth entrusted to us.

"I can hear you thinking from over here," Brant chuckles. "What are you thinking about?"

I turned slightly so my body was facing his. "Just thinking how thankful I am that God created such a beautiful world for us to live in."

Brant's eyes never left mine as he nodded. He looked so relaxed out here like he had no worries in the world. I liked seeing him like this. So often, I saw him in uniform. While I wouldn’t ever complain about seeing that man in his uniform, I also really liked seeing him in his casual clothes. He was wearing navy joggers, a black tee, and a plain, black baseball hat turned backward.

If he caught me staring, he didn’t acknowledge it. "We are definitely blessed,” he gave me a little smirk.

After a few beats of silence, both of us listening to the waterfalls, he asked, "You ready for the next part of our date?"

My eyes widened in surprise. "There's more?"

Brant just laughed as he dug through the backpack he brought with him. After a minute, he pulled out a brown paper bag that smelled delicious. I knew exactly what the next part of this surprise date was.

"How did you know?" I asked excitedly.

"I didn't become the Sheriff without having stellar observation skills,” he joked.

I playfully pushed his shoulder, not expecting the shock of electricity to dance up my arm. The way he was looking at me made me believe he felt it, too. He slowly shook his head as if trying to get his mind right.

"Remember when you came into Sunny's right after you moved home?" He asked, giving me a knowing smile.

My cheeks heated as I remembered the incident he was recalling. But before I could respond, he continued.

"When you were talking to Sunny, I overheard him say he would make you your favorite."

"Monte Cristo," I whispered.

Brant reached into the brown paper bag, pulled out my all-time favorite sandwich, and placed it in my outstretched palms. I slowly wrapped my fingers around the sandwich and brought it close to my chest.

"Thank you,” it was impossible to keep the smile from overtaking my face. This man was so thoughtful. He was always observing even when I didn't realize he was paying attention. Maybe Brant is over what happened with his ex. Maybe he was in a place to open up and share his heart and life with me.

I unwrapped my sandwich while he did the same. We spent the next hour eating. There were moments when we talked about everything and nothing and other moments when we sat in complete silence. I loved that he was comfortable just sitting still and taking in the world around us without feeling the need to fill the void with words.

As I laid on the blanket next to Brant, the warmth of the sun kissing my skin, I felt the sudden buzz of my phone in my pocket. Instinctively, I reach for it, seeing my dad's name flash across the screen. Brant noticed my movement and sat up with me.

"Who is it?" His brows furrowed as he looked at me.

I briefly showed him the screen before swiping to answer, my heart raced with a sense of unease.

"Dad?" I say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the knot forming in my stomach. My dad knew I was on a date with Brant so if he was calling something must be wrong.

"Karis, it's your mom," his voice came through the line tinged with worry. "She's not doing well. You need to get to the hospital right away."

My breath caught in my throat as I absorbed his words. The world around me seems to blur. "I'll be there," I promised, my voice trembling slightly. Without hesitation, I scrambled to my feet, my mind already raced with thoughts of the worst-case scenarios. Brant's concerned gaze followed me as I gathered my things, ready to rush to my mother's side.

He stood up and began packing up the trash and blanket we’d been lying on.

"Karis, is everything okay?" Brant asked, his tone laced with worry.

My mind was racing, and my chest felt tight. My heart felt like it was pounding against my ribcage trying to burst out of my chest. I couldn’t seem to bring in enough oxygen. My breaths were shallow and erratic.

“Hey…Peach. Look at me."