Page 78 of Another June with You

“There’s a lot more to it. There are obstacles.”

“Pfft! What obstacles can’t be overcome when you love each other as much as the two of you?”

“Well, a big one is the fact that I live in Virginia and she lives in Michigan.”

“Ask her to move here?”

“I tried that. She said no.”

“Then move to Michigan. What else ya got?”

Micah laughed again. This didn’t seem like the Jacqueline he’d come to know, the girl who’d practically stalked him for the past year. “Why are you being so great about this?”

“Because I know love when I see it. Everyone wants the kind of love you two have. And no matter what happened between us, I care about you and want you to be happy, Micah.”

“Thank you, Jacquie. Truly.” The urge to hug her overcame him, and he did just that.

She squeezed him tightly and wiped away tears when they parted.

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” he told her.

“I know you are. And I’m sorry for how I’ve acted all these months.” She gave him a little smile, then moved around him and down the porch steps to a car that had stopped in front of his house. She opened the door and looked back at him. “You should go get her, Micah.”

And with that, she climbed in and the car disappeared down the street.

Micah sat down on the top step of his porch and shook his head. Part of him was unsure if that conversation had actually happened. But he couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d said. There was no obstacle he wouldn’t overcome for Shannon. He’d break down every wall in their way if he had to.

The first wall was location. That one was easy enough to remedy. He’d contact a realtor about selling his house. He’d go online and put some feelers out, see what kinds of computer engineering jobs were available in the Grand Rapids area. He loved his job at NASA, but he’d give it up in a minute to be with Shannon.

He thought about their other problem—her diagnosis. This one gave him pause. Not as easy to jump this gigantic hurdle, but there were options. He wished they could make a baby together. But if that couldn’t happen, she would be enough for him. He smiled to himself as he came to that realization. Babies would be amazing, but Shannon would be his family, even without them.

But how could he make her believe he was okay with that?

His mind cycled through idea after idea until he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed. “Chase, I need a favor.”

Chapter 25

Sitting at her computer on Tuesday morning, an unfamiliar number came up on her phone. Most of the time this meant telemarketers, but this being both her personal and business number, she had to answer anyway.

“Shannon McGregor Photography.”

“Hi there, Shannon, it’s Vernon Howard.”

This was unexpected.

“Hello, Vernon. What can I do for you today?” She wondered if he’d heard of another space for their business and if that might be the purpose of his call.

“Are you still interested in the studio space?” he asked.

She was confused. “I thought you sold it.”

“The sale fell through.”

A lump abruptly formed in her throat.

“I actually have another buyer interested, and they would like to make that studio space available to you.”

Shannon gasped. “Are you serious?”

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