Page 77 of Echoes of Eternity

She laughed. “I don’t know about that . . .”

Immediately thinking of Linda and her being at least part of why his wife ended up leaving, he knew there was no time to waste in being transparent and honest. “I have to tell you something about Linda.”

“What?” She looked intrigued for him to continue.

“That’s new. You look interested, not irritated.”

“I am.”

“Okay. Anyway, I gave Jason her number yesterday. He’s trying to figure some way to help her out in more of a long-term way. He thinks he might get her a job or something here in Cedarwood Creek. I don’t know about it. Kind of a long shot, but I want to be clear with you, totally honest. And I haven’t given her any more money. I can show you the bank statements right now.” He pulled his cellphone out from his pocket, but she stopped him with a hand on his hand.

“Ryan . . .”

Lifting his gaze to her, he lifted his eyebrows, waiting for her to continue.

“You don’t have to do all this for me. I want you to help her. I think it’s good.”

Blinking rapidly, he shook his head. “But I don’t understand. You left?—”

“Yes, I didn’t like your helping her, but like I said all along, it was your dishonesty that bothered me most about it. Along with the excessive work hours.” She let out a sigh and placed a hand on her hip. “But truthfully, I shouldn’t have ever stopped you from helping in the first place. You wouldn’t have felt like you had to lie. You were trying to do what was right. Regardless, I do forgive you for lying to me.”

Excitement stirred in his soul as he grabbed her and hugged her tightly, kissing her deeply.

They released and he looked into her eyes. “I love you, Emily. I shouldn’t have lied and hidden things from you. I’m sorry.”

“I love you too and I’m sorry for leaving. I’m sorry that it took leaving for me to figure things out.”

Ryan tilted his head, smiling at her. “What changed, Em? Did something unique spark this decision?”

“I kept thinking you were changing because of what happened to your dad, but I realized you hadn’t changed in the one way that mattered most. You were still the crazy guy who would do what was right no matter who told you no. You have this incredible faith and trust in God that if you do what’s right, it’ll work out. It’s why I married you.”

Shaking his head, he rubbed his neck. “I sure don’t feel like that a lot of times.”

She leaned in and kissed him.

“Listen.” They released, and as they did, he grabbed her hands and smoothed his thumbs across the tops of her hands as he spoke. “I told the town I was going back to California. So, if you still want to do that, I’m okay with it. I have Steven and Jason set to take over the grill and everything. We can go back.”

Tilting her head, she crinkled her nose. “I was kind of hoping we could stay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. The kids want to stay too.”

Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her as he cheered all the way back to his house. Upon his arrival, his three kids were waiting in the front yard. They tackled him. As he fell into the grass and wrestled with them, he hugged and kissed each of them, feeling as if he hadn’t seen them in a million years, because to his heart, it had been that long.

As the day came to a close, Emily brewed a pot of tea for her and Ryan. Taking their steaming cups of tea out onto the patio, they sat down together on a blanket in the grass beneath the starry summer sky.

A shiver ran the length of Emily’s spine.

Lifting the red and black plaid blanket from beside him, Ryan wrapped it around her shoulders.

His warmth and love brought her a comfort she had missed. “You’re perfect for me, Ryan. Did you know that?”

“And you are for me. I’m glad you’re back.” He took a drink of his tea and set the mug down in the grass beside the blanket. “So, tell me about California. Tell me the good, because I can already guess the bad.”

She laughed knowing he was referring to her overbearing parents. “I think the Lord used this girl I met at a women’s Bible study. Her name was Brittany. Four kids and one on the way. Husband in jail and living in a homeless shelter.”

“What?” He leaned toward her. “What a messy situation!”