seeing where this was going. “But he
would have started crying for the cake.”
“Perhaps,”
Pastor John agreed. “But cake seems like a better goal than Smarties to me.”
“So
… Scott is a package of Smarties?”
“Not him , but maybe the lifestyle he represents. What if God has something
better in store for you, if you’ll look for it … and maybe wait for it.”
“Spending
the rest of my life tied to a farm is supposed to be cake?”
“Well,
only you can decide that. But remember, weak things can become strong.”
She
was silent and Pastor John seemed to sense she needed time to think. He got to
his feet. “Will you excuse me for a minute? I’d better make sure no one’s running
off with my donkey … again.”
April
laughed through her tears. “That’s still going on?” Stealing the plastic donkey
from the church’s outdoor nativity scene was a long running prank among Snow
Valley’s teenagers.
“They’re
actually getting quite creative. Last year they left the poor thing suspended
from a crane at the lumber yard.” His eyes twinkled. “I seem to remember you being involved not too many years ago.”
She
gave him a guilty smile. “Is it okay if I stay here a bit longer?”
“Of
course. Take all the time you need.” He patted her shoulder and left her in the
empty chapel.
April
took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the quiet calm of the church
wash over her, clearing her head and filling her heart with peace.
Scott
was right. The April she was at school was different from the April she was at
home. But he was different too. At school he had been charming,
considerate, and in control. But out of his comfort zone … she thought about the
harsh words, the tension, his disregard for things that were important to her.
When had it started to go wrong?
The
goat. She’d given in when he didn’t like the restaurant in Rexburg, climbed
down from the top of the barn when he’d asked, and backed off talking about his
childhood. But rescuing the goat was different. She hadn’t done what he wanted
– and it was the beginning of the end.
What
about Wade? She smiled faintly. Wade would have been right there with her banging
out Johnny Cash songs on the cab of the truck. He would have grabbed her and
tumbled them both into a snowbank. He would have sat all night by the fire
making sure the goat stayed warm.
Scott
didn’t like who she really was – Wade had made her who she really
was.
She
had not deliberately misled Scott about Wade; she had been misleading herself. Wherever
she looked, whatever she remembered, Wade was there – her past, present,
and future. What had made her think she could let him go?
And
… if loving Wade meant living on a farm … well, she would come to terms with it.
There were more important things than geography.
She
jumped up, feeling lighter than she had in days, and met Pastor John again on
her way out. “Did they get the donkey?” April asked.
“Not
this time. But they’ll try again.” The grin on his face confirmed he looked
forward to the battle. “Everything okay?” he asked.
“More
than okay,” April beamed. “Thank you.” She threw her arms around him, hugging him
so hard the breath whooshed out of his lungs.
“Any
time,” he wheezed and she loosened her hold. “Did anyone ever tell you how
strong you are?” he asked.
“Farm
girl,” April smiled. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“I’m
counting on it,” he replied.
She
got his phone number from the bulletin board. Her hands were shaking as she typed
the text.
Hi
Wade. Can you meet me tonight? We need to talk.
She
hit send, then wondered if he had her number. Probably not. She sent a
follow-up.
This
is April, BTW.
The
reply came back immediately.
Sure.
Where?
She
panicked. Where? She thought for a minute and then smiled.
Christmas
Fireworks tonight. 9:00 @ the hill?
What
about the fiancé?
That’s
what we need to talk about.
OK,
see you
would have started crying for the cake.”
“Perhaps,”
Pastor John agreed. “But cake seems like a better goal than Smarties to me.”
“So
… Scott is a package of Smarties?”
“Not him , but maybe the lifestyle he represents. What if God has something
better in store for you, if you’ll look for it … and maybe wait for it.”
“Spending
the rest of my life tied to a farm is supposed to be cake?”
“Well,
only you can decide that. But remember, weak things can become strong.”
She
was silent and Pastor John seemed to sense she needed time to think. He got to
his feet. “Will you excuse me for a minute? I’d better make sure no one’s running
off with my donkey … again.”
April
laughed through her tears. “That’s still going on?” Stealing the plastic donkey
from the church’s outdoor nativity scene was a long running prank among Snow
Valley’s teenagers.
“They’re
actually getting quite creative. Last year they left the poor thing suspended
from a crane at the lumber yard.” His eyes twinkled. “I seem to remember you being involved not too many years ago.”
She
gave him a guilty smile. “Is it okay if I stay here a bit longer?”
“Of
course. Take all the time you need.” He patted her shoulder and left her in the
empty chapel.
April
took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the quiet calm of the church
wash over her, clearing her head and filling her heart with peace.
Scott
was right. The April she was at school was different from the April she was at
home. But he was different too. At school he had been charming,
considerate, and in control. But out of his comfort zone … she thought about the
harsh words, the tension, his disregard for things that were important to her.
When had it started to go wrong?
The
goat. She’d given in when he didn’t like the restaurant in Rexburg, climbed
down from the top of the barn when he’d asked, and backed off talking about his
childhood. But rescuing the goat was different. She hadn’t done what he wanted
– and it was the beginning of the end.
What
about Wade? She smiled faintly. Wade would have been right there with her banging
out Johnny Cash songs on the cab of the truck. He would have grabbed her and
tumbled them both into a snowbank. He would have sat all night by the fire
making sure the goat stayed warm.
Scott
didn’t like who she really was – Wade had made her who she really
was.
She
had not deliberately misled Scott about Wade; she had been misleading herself. Wherever
she looked, whatever she remembered, Wade was there – her past, present,
and future. What had made her think she could let him go?
And
… if loving Wade meant living on a farm … well, she would come to terms with it.
There were more important things than geography.
She
jumped up, feeling lighter than she had in days, and met Pastor John again on
her way out. “Did they get the donkey?” April asked.
“Not
this time. But they’ll try again.” The grin on his face confirmed he looked
forward to the battle. “Everything okay?” he asked.
“More
than okay,” April beamed. “Thank you.” She threw her arms around him, hugging him
so hard the breath whooshed out of his lungs.
“Any
time,” he wheezed and she loosened her hold. “Did anyone ever tell you how
strong you are?” he asked.
“Farm
girl,” April smiled. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“I’m
counting on it,” he replied.
She
got his phone number from the bulletin board. Her hands were shaking as she typed
the text.
Hi
Wade. Can you meet me tonight? We need to talk.
She
hit send, then wondered if he had her number. Probably not. She sent a
follow-up.
This
is April, BTW.
The
reply came back immediately.
Sure.
Where?
She
panicked. Where? She thought for a minute and then smiled.
Christmas
Fireworks tonight. 9:00 @ the hill?
What
about the fiancé?
That’s
what we need to talk about.
OK,
see you
Similar Books
