Page 76 of Echoes of Eternity

“So, what’s your plan moving forward?”

Ryan sighed as he raked a hand through his hair. “That’s just it. She told me she needs time to think and I’m trying to give her that. She was so patient with me after Dad died and she put up with a lot.”

“Okay. So, if you go back, what about the grill?”

“I know you don’t want the grill.” Ryan held his hands up. “But hear me out. I’m handing the reins over to you if I go. Steven will run it, and you can just help where you can just like you have been doing all along. I should’ve done that in the first place.”

He shook his head. “No way. I wouldn’t have handled Linda like you did, Bro. Speaking of, I had an idea about the situation with her and Tiffany.”

“Yeah? Let’s hear it.”

Jason started to explain how he knows of an administrative assistant at City Hall who was leaving at the end of the month.

“Do you even know if she has experience, or any interest in that kind of work? Or even wants to live here in Cedarwood Creek?”

“Uh . . .” Rubbing his chin, Jason smiled. “I guess I’m not sure of any of that.”

“Give her a call.” Pulling his cellphone out, he gave Jason the phone number for Linda.

As Jason and Chloe were walking out the door a little while later, Ryan stopped him. “No matter what happens with me and Emily, I just want to say thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

“Being my brother and being there for me. You’ve helped me a lot and I’m thankful for having you in my life. Don’t ever forget that.”

“And you don’t forget you’ve helped me too, Brother.”

CHAPTER 21

Sunshine filled the entirety of the grill the following morning as Ryan took chairs down off each of the tables. Though his sisters hadn’t responded the way he had hoped, Ryan felt peace over the matter. He had tried, and there was nothing more he could do other than continue praying for them.

“What’s good?” Steven asked as he came out from the kitchen with the cash register in his hands.

“The Lord.” Ryan smiled over at him as he set another chair down. He walked over to the counter as Steven slid the till into its slot in the register. “How are you, Steven?”

“Pretty good.” Stopping as he signed into the register, he looked up at Ryan and asked, “Could you go out back?”

“What? Why?”

Peering over, he looked at a sack of garbage by the kitchen door. “I need that trash taken out.”

“Sure.” Ryan shook his head as confusion swirled in his mind. It seemed odd for Steven to ask him to do it when he was completely capable and usually did it himself.

Trash in tow, Ryan pushed open the dingy metal door that led out into the alley.

Upon stepping out, he was surprised to see Emily standing there in the gravel wearing his favorite outfit of hers. A sunflower skirt, a white blouse, and a denim jacket.

He dropped the trash bag as his eyes welled with tears and joy filled him. “Emily?”

“Ryan . . .”

Closing the gap between them, he lifted her up into his arms and twirled her. An ecstasy of rightness, love, and joy surged through his veins. He set her back down on her feet.

“What are you doing? I thought you were in a hotel.”

“I was . . .” Tilting her head, she shook her head as tears trickled onto her cheeks. Her ocean-blue eyes were glassy as she looked into his soul. He could feel her love. “I couldn’t be without you any longer, Ryan. I don’t care if it’s in California, Washington, or even Waco, Texas. I just want to be with you.”

Grabbing both of her hands, he smiled as he nodded. “You could put us in a dumpster for all I care, and I’d be happy if it meant it was with you.”