her. “Don’t you see?”
She did, and there was nothing more she could say. Instead she reached out and took his hand. Because as long as he was there beside her, as long as his fingers were woven between hers, she had proof that they were still together.
Even if good-bye was feeling closer every day.
Something was wrong with her parents.
Emily said good-night to Justin earlier than usual and stood at the window of her room, tears in her eyes. God … they’re not getting along. I can feel it. Show me what to do.
She pressed her forehead against the cool glass and remembered the conversation at the pizza parlor. Her parents’ politics were still coming between them. Which was crazy because they were supposed to have all that stuff worked out. A small circle of fog built up on the window, and she rubbed it with her fist.
Her mother needed to be more careful with what she said, that’s for sure. But her dad too. The couple of glances he gave Mom must’ve hurt her feelings. Emily turned away from the window and plopped down on her bed. Pam was out, probably studying with a few of their teammates down the hall. The solitude felt good; she needed to think.
If her parents didn’t start trying to understand each other a little more, then something tragic could happen. She let herself fall back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. All this time … all this time she’d been thinking everything was okay, that they’d agreed to disagree on the war, and that they’d found a peaceful way to handle their differences.
But if what she’d seen today was any indication, things between them were far from worked out. In fact, as they all left the pizza parlor, she could feel the tension between her parents. Emily let out a slow, painful breath. God, they can’t fall apart now, not when they’re supposed to be planning a wedding. Please, God … whatever it takes, please help them work through their differences.
The war was a complicated issue. Emily might work at an army base and understand her father’s opinions, but she understood her mother’s too. Her mother had seen the harsh reality of war firsthand. Of course she hated war. Anyone who’d been through what she had would hate it.
Emily sat up and hunched over her knees. Her body ached from the soccer games that day, and there were more to come tomorrow. She needed to get to sleep so she’d be ready to play. But after she washed her face and climbed into bed, it was still another half hour before she fell asleep. When she did, it was with images of her parents filling her heart and mind.
And the certain belief that somehow God would close the gap between them.
For the next three days, Lauren alternated between cheering for Emily — whose team made it to the final game — and studying Shane and his friends. Gary and Carol were some of the nicest people she’d met. Much nicer than anyone she’d connected with in Fallon.
Even so, their views and hers were worlds apart.
The night before the tournament championship, Emily pulled Lauren aside at the soccer field and searched her eyes.“Are you okay? You and Dad?”
A few seconds passed while Lauren caught her breath. “The two of us?” She made a silly face. “Of course, honey.”
Doubt remained in Emily’s eyes. “I’ve been watching you. It’s not like it was at Grandma and Papa’s house. Something … I don’t know, something’s different.”
Lauren thought for a moment and then decided. She needed to be at least partially honest with her daughter. Otherwise, if things didn’t work out, the girl would be blindsided. Lauren took hold of her hands and looked to the worried places in Emily’s soul.“We have a lot of differences, your father and I. Things we’re still trying to work out.”
Fear threw itself into the mix of emotions playing out in Emily’s expression. “But you love him, right?”
“Of course.” She soothed her thumbs over the tops of her daughter’s hands. Her tone
She did, and there was nothing more she could say. Instead she reached out and took his hand. Because as long as he was there beside her, as long as his fingers were woven between hers, she had proof that they were still together.
Even if good-bye was feeling closer every day.
Something was wrong with her parents.
Emily said good-night to Justin earlier than usual and stood at the window of her room, tears in her eyes. God … they’re not getting along. I can feel it. Show me what to do.
She pressed her forehead against the cool glass and remembered the conversation at the pizza parlor. Her parents’ politics were still coming between them. Which was crazy because they were supposed to have all that stuff worked out. A small circle of fog built up on the window, and she rubbed it with her fist.
Her mother needed to be more careful with what she said, that’s for sure. But her dad too. The couple of glances he gave Mom must’ve hurt her feelings. Emily turned away from the window and plopped down on her bed. Pam was out, probably studying with a few of their teammates down the hall. The solitude felt good; she needed to think.
If her parents didn’t start trying to understand each other a little more, then something tragic could happen. She let herself fall back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. All this time … all this time she’d been thinking everything was okay, that they’d agreed to disagree on the war, and that they’d found a peaceful way to handle their differences.
But if what she’d seen today was any indication, things between them were far from worked out. In fact, as they all left the pizza parlor, she could feel the tension between her parents. Emily let out a slow, painful breath. God, they can’t fall apart now, not when they’re supposed to be planning a wedding. Please, God … whatever it takes, please help them work through their differences.
The war was a complicated issue. Emily might work at an army base and understand her father’s opinions, but she understood her mother’s too. Her mother had seen the harsh reality of war firsthand. Of course she hated war. Anyone who’d been through what she had would hate it.
Emily sat up and hunched over her knees. Her body ached from the soccer games that day, and there were more to come tomorrow. She needed to get to sleep so she’d be ready to play. But after she washed her face and climbed into bed, it was still another half hour before she fell asleep. When she did, it was with images of her parents filling her heart and mind.
And the certain belief that somehow God would close the gap between them.
For the next three days, Lauren alternated between cheering for Emily — whose team made it to the final game — and studying Shane and his friends. Gary and Carol were some of the nicest people she’d met. Much nicer than anyone she’d connected with in Fallon.
Even so, their views and hers were worlds apart.
The night before the tournament championship, Emily pulled Lauren aside at the soccer field and searched her eyes.“Are you okay? You and Dad?”
A few seconds passed while Lauren caught her breath. “The two of us?” She made a silly face. “Of course, honey.”
Doubt remained in Emily’s eyes. “I’ve been watching you. It’s not like it was at Grandma and Papa’s house. Something … I don’t know, something’s different.”
Lauren thought for a moment and then decided. She needed to be at least partially honest with her daughter. Otherwise, if things didn’t work out, the girl would be blindsided. Lauren took hold of her hands and looked to the worried places in Emily’s soul.“We have a lot of differences, your father and I. Things we’re still trying to work out.”
Fear threw itself into the mix of emotions playing out in Emily’s expression. “But you love him, right?”
“Of course.” She soothed her thumbs over the tops of her daughter’s hands. Her tone
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