then perched on another boulder nearby. “I’m all ears.”
Bryn took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks and letting it out slowly. Where to begin? “Dad’s in Peru. He took up with a woman twenty years younger than he is, almost my age. My roommate, in fact. Divorced my mom and retired early. They do nothing but travel. I think they’re even thinking of starting a family together.” She let out a humorless laugh. “Can you believe that? If I ever have any kids, they’ll have aunts and uncles the age of most cousins.”
Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise. He nodded sagely, his hand to chin. “As long as I’ve known your father, he’s been a seeker. Always searching for something that will make him happier. I’d always hoped he’d discover it here.” When she didn’t speak, he went on. “You’re looking for the same thing, girl. Happiness. But happiness is not something you
get
to. Those who are happy enjoy the getting-to-it-ness of life. Life itself breeds joy. If you see it in the right light. And if you see it in the light of the Father’s eyes—oh yes, my, that’s when life is sublime.”
He let her ruminate over his words for a moment. He hadn’t condemned her father or her. “You and Eli. You’re Christians. Is that whatbrings you happiness? That sense of peace I feel around you two?”
“I’d guess that’s on target. It’s the foundation, sure. But happiness is a choice mostly, Bryn. It’s a choice. Deepening my walk with Jesus makes me a better man each day. Opens my eyes to the light that the Father sees us in. But becoming a Christian doesn’t mean everything is easy, that we’re only brought joy. Take Eli, for instance.”
“Eli?” she asked warily.
“Yes. That boy has loved Jesus for years. He’s a good man, a solid man. Jedidiah and Meryl have good reason to be proud. He’s got a job he loves, lives in a place he loves. But the woman he’s been in love with for years—not saying who that is, mind you—doesn’t share his beliefs. That keeps him away from one of the things he wants most in life. Makes him miserable every time he thinks about it. He’s tried to get past her, tried with everything in him, but it’s hard.”
“There are more obstacles than faith between us, Ben.”
“Right. But God has a funny sense of humor. An interesting way of leading us down the winding path, if we’re careful to listen to him.”
“He’d speak to me?” The thought had never occurred to her before. “I mean, I know there’s a God. I’m that far anyway. But I don’t know if I’m ready to swallow that he’d send his Son to die for me. Don’t know if Jesus is really who he said he was. Maybe he was just a teacher. A good man who—”
“Listen to me, Bryn Bailey,” Ben said carefully. “Jesus Christ is either who he said he was or a complete fraud. He himself gave those around him no room to think otherwise. He is either the Son of God—our Savior—or he is a madman.” Ben stood. “Look it up. Start with Romans. Decide for yourself. You’re a reader, a scholar. Maybe you’ll find a bit of that Happy Road you’re seeking.”
“I don’t have a Bible here,” Bryn admitted.
“Yes you do. Brought Eli’s over from his cabin. Thought he might be missing it.”
“How’d you …? That’s quite a coincidence.”
Ben smiled, his gray eyes sparkling, his wrinkled face kind. “That’s one of the first lessons you learn as a believer, Dr. Bailey. There is no such thing as coincidences. Only divine appointments.”
Bryn cooked the trout as she had planned, watching them. When she flipped them, she added the fresh carrots and, at the last minute, the canned okra. She seasoned it all and covered it with a lid before taking a seat at the table.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Eli offered, sitting in a chair in the corner, his leg on an upended box.
“Had a talk with Ben today.”
“Oh.”
“What does that mean?”
“What does what
Bryn took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks and letting it out slowly. Where to begin? “Dad’s in Peru. He took up with a woman twenty years younger than he is, almost my age. My roommate, in fact. Divorced my mom and retired early. They do nothing but travel. I think they’re even thinking of starting a family together.” She let out a humorless laugh. “Can you believe that? If I ever have any kids, they’ll have aunts and uncles the age of most cousins.”
Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise. He nodded sagely, his hand to chin. “As long as I’ve known your father, he’s been a seeker. Always searching for something that will make him happier. I’d always hoped he’d discover it here.” When she didn’t speak, he went on. “You’re looking for the same thing, girl. Happiness. But happiness is not something you
get
to. Those who are happy enjoy the getting-to-it-ness of life. Life itself breeds joy. If you see it in the right light. And if you see it in the light of the Father’s eyes—oh yes, my, that’s when life is sublime.”
He let her ruminate over his words for a moment. He hadn’t condemned her father or her. “You and Eli. You’re Christians. Is that whatbrings you happiness? That sense of peace I feel around you two?”
“I’d guess that’s on target. It’s the foundation, sure. But happiness is a choice mostly, Bryn. It’s a choice. Deepening my walk with Jesus makes me a better man each day. Opens my eyes to the light that the Father sees us in. But becoming a Christian doesn’t mean everything is easy, that we’re only brought joy. Take Eli, for instance.”
“Eli?” she asked warily.
“Yes. That boy has loved Jesus for years. He’s a good man, a solid man. Jedidiah and Meryl have good reason to be proud. He’s got a job he loves, lives in a place he loves. But the woman he’s been in love with for years—not saying who that is, mind you—doesn’t share his beliefs. That keeps him away from one of the things he wants most in life. Makes him miserable every time he thinks about it. He’s tried to get past her, tried with everything in him, but it’s hard.”
“There are more obstacles than faith between us, Ben.”
“Right. But God has a funny sense of humor. An interesting way of leading us down the winding path, if we’re careful to listen to him.”
“He’d speak to me?” The thought had never occurred to her before. “I mean, I know there’s a God. I’m that far anyway. But I don’t know if I’m ready to swallow that he’d send his Son to die for me. Don’t know if Jesus is really who he said he was. Maybe he was just a teacher. A good man who—”
“Listen to me, Bryn Bailey,” Ben said carefully. “Jesus Christ is either who he said he was or a complete fraud. He himself gave those around him no room to think otherwise. He is either the Son of God—our Savior—or he is a madman.” Ben stood. “Look it up. Start with Romans. Decide for yourself. You’re a reader, a scholar. Maybe you’ll find a bit of that Happy Road you’re seeking.”
“I don’t have a Bible here,” Bryn admitted.
“Yes you do. Brought Eli’s over from his cabin. Thought he might be missing it.”
“How’d you …? That’s quite a coincidence.”
Ben smiled, his gray eyes sparkling, his wrinkled face kind. “That’s one of the first lessons you learn as a believer, Dr. Bailey. There is no such thing as coincidences. Only divine appointments.”
Bryn cooked the trout as she had planned, watching them. When she flipped them, she added the fresh carrots and, at the last minute, the canned okra. She seasoned it all and covered it with a lid before taking a seat at the table.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Eli offered, sitting in a chair in the corner, his leg on an upended box.
“Had a talk with Ben today.”
“Oh.”
“What does that mean?”
“What does what
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