Page 81 of Echoes of Eternity
With a gentle motion, she went back to wiping cereal up off the counter. “That all this is just . . .”
Seeing her eyes glisten with tears, he came closer and placed a hand atop her hand, stopping her from cleaning. “What?”
“Temporary. I mean, I love it. Don’t get me wrong. But I can’t help but feel it’s going to change again, Ryan. Like this is all happening because I came back and eventually, everything will just go back to like it was before.”
He came closer, placing a hand on each of her arms as he looked into her eyes. “You don’t have to worry about that happening.”
“Why? What assurance can you give me?”
Ryan smiled as he shook his head. “I can’t give you assurance of anything other than one thing. I love you. You see, Em, the way I see it is God is sovereign in and through our lives. God changed me into a man who relies on Him more fully, but only through the catalyst of all this pain and difficulty. God is good even when it hurts.”
“Okay. Thank you for sharing that.”
“By the way, Jason and I came up with a plan for Linda. Bill has some apartments in town, and he wants to help out whatever way he can.”
“Great! Does she need help moving? Like financially?”
Ryan hesitated. He didn’t want to do anything to upset the balance and fresh start with Emily. “I don’t know, but we’re not helping her.”
“Why?”
He lifted his eyebrows.
“I know in the past, I didn’t want to help like that, but I really think helping her move would be a good thing.”
“Right.” Ryan rubbed his chin as he contemplated how to help. “I can offer to rent a moving truck for her stuff. That way, it’s not just cash.”
“Great thinking.”
“I’ll run it by her.” Ryan went down the hallway and into his study to call Linda. He hadn’t told her about the job or the apartment yet, and now was the perfect time to do it.
After he got done explaining everything, he heard crying on the other end of the phone.
“What’s wrong, Linda?”
“I can’t go there, Ryan. I can’t go to Cedarwood Creek!”
Quiet filled the next moment as Ryan felt irritation creep into his heart. “Can I ask why? I mean, I set you up with a job and a place to live. We’re even renting a moving truck for you. I can’t understand this, Linda. You say you want help, but it sure doesn’t seem like that’s true. It seems to just be about getting more money.”
She became defensive. “It’s not about the money!”
“Then what is it?”
“Your family, Ryan. I don’t want everyone to hate me. I was your dad’s dirty little secret, and I just don’t think I can deal with your family and that small town drama of yours.”
He was quiet, then he let out a sigh. “I can’t promise it’ll be easy, Linda. But what I can promise is it’s a way to take care of yourself and your daughter. To give her a fresh start in a community that is good despite their flaws.”
His study’s door pushed open, pulling his attention upward. He saw Emily frowning as she came in and over to him, her eyes on the phone.
Pulling it down in front of him, he placed the call on speaker phone. “You’re on speaker phone, Linda. My wife Emily is here with me now.”
“Linda?” Emily said, her expression soft, her tone gentle.
“Yeah?”
“I will fight anyone who gives you grief in this town. I have your back.”
Linda laughed lightly through the crying and sniffled. “Why would you do that for me? You don’t even know me.”