Page 78 of Echoes of Eternity

“Right. The kids and I went over to help her move, and she was so thankful.” Pausing, Emily kept herself from crying. “I just felt like God used me in that moment. Like I was the vessel He chose for that stitch in the tapestry of this gal’s life.”

Stopping short, her eyes were full of hot tears, threatening to spill out.

Touching her back, Ryan massaged in a circular motion. “He did use you, Em.”

Nodding quickly, she turned and looked over at him. “And He has been using you with Linda and Tiffany.” She shook her head as she continued and took a breath. “I didn’t see it until Brittany, but I see it so well now, Ryan. I see it!”

Smiling, Ryan wrapped his arms around her in a hug and then kissed her.

Wiping her eyes, she inquired of him, “What about you?”

Slowly nodding, he let out a sigh. “The misery of your absence, the kids being gone . . .” He let out a breath as he shook his head and dipped his chin. “I had no idea how much I took you all for granted until I didn’t have you in my life. Coming home to an empty house every day about killed me. No. It did kill me, over and over again. Each and every day. But God used that to teach me how important you are. How important the kids are.”

Leaning her head on his shoulder, she let the warmth of his love engulf her in the moment.

Remembering that Ryan was going to follow up with Jason in the afternoon about the job situation, she inquired. “Is Linda going to take that job?”

Ryan shook his head. “She’s not interested in office work. She liked her job at the diner.”

“What about the grill? A job there?”

Ryan nodded slowly. “That’s a great idea! I’ll talk to Jason and Steven about it tomorrow. I don’t know how we didn’t even think of that . . .”

Smiling, she lifted her head off his shoulder and looked at him. “God doesn’t call us helpmates for no reason!”

“Amen to that. Now if she does take the job, it’ll be on to figuring out a place for her to live . . .”

CHAPTER 22

Waking to the sounds of life and family in his home once again filled Ryan with a deep joy in his soul. Rising to his feet, he peered up and thanked God. After getting dressed, he ventured down the hall and into the kitchen to find his wife at the coffee pot refilling her mug. Coming in gently behind her, he wrapped his arms around her in a sweet embrace and kissed her neck. She turned around in his hold, and he placed a soft peck on her lips and smiled as he looked into her eyes.

“Oh, how I have missed you, love.”

“And I you.” Looking him up and down, she lifted an eyebrow. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah. I need to go over and talk to Jason. He’s off today, and I agreed to meet with him.”

“Okay. I’m going to the park with Sarah a little while later, anyway. But I thought you’d have website stuff to do.”

“I lost another client. I don’t really have much going on with the business right now.” Seeing concern flicker in her eyes, he shook his head. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”

She smiled and turned back toward the coffee maker. She opened a cupboard and pulled down a to-go cup and filled it with coffee and a splash of water.

She handed it to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Have a great day!”

“Thank you. You as well.” Walking over to the boys, he kissed the top of each of their heads and wished them a good day.

Arriving at Jason’s a little while later, the conversation circled around Emily and her return to Cedarwood Creek as they sat on his couch in the living room.

“And where does she stand with the Linda stuff?” Jason’s eyes lit with concern. “Please tell me you’re not hiding the fact we’re trying to help her . . .”

Ryan laughed and shook his head as he raised a hand. “No worries. I do eventually learn. She knows about everything and she’s totally on board now. She even had a good idea about Linda. We could have her work at the grill.”

Jason smiled. “Why didn’t we think of that?”

“Right? Now we have to figure out a way to get her to move to Cedarwood Creek. And find her a place.”

“The only place she could afford on that wage would be an apartment.” Rubbing his chin, Jason appeared to think for a moment. “I wonder if Bill . . . No. He wouldn’t.”