Page 108 of Share with Me

When Brinley got off the couch, Ivan hugged her as carefully as he could on his right side. Her lambs-wool sweater was soft and she smelled ethereal. He recalled the song he had written with her in mind.

Pleasant days indeed.

“If I stay on your right side, I’ll be fine?” Brinley asked.

Ivan nodded. “My ribs will heal in a few weeks.”

“Thank God they’re cracked, not broken, and only two,” Grandma Yun said from her rocker.

Ivan wrapped his right arm around Brinley’s shoulder. She looked up at his face. “When do they take those stitches out?”

“Monday, I think.”

“That soon?”

“The rest, after Christmas.”

“Do you need a ride to the doctor’s?”

“Thanks for the offer, but Matt’s taking me.” Ivan couldn’t thank Matt Garnett enough. In spite of his bluntness, his old friend was a true friend, always looking out for him.

Matt had been right. There was a better affinity between him and Brinley now that she knew the Lord as he did. Sure, Brinley still had a long way to go in terms of learning what it meant to be a Christian, but at least now they were on the same page.

Brinley touched his left arm. “I’m praying for you that God will heal your wrist. I am so sorry about it all.”

Sorry?He didn’t get it, and Brinley didn’t seem to want to explain. Oh well. “The docs said my cast can come off in about six weeks. Then we’ll see. I hope to get back to normal quickly.”

Back to normal?

Did he really believe that?

Somewhere at the back of his mind he knew that his life could never be smooth sailing. It had never been. Once upon a time he had thought he would spend a good number of years on the concert circuit. Then Grandpa Otto died, derailing his plans.

He had thought that with his Juilliard degree and world-stage experience, he could get hundreds of violin students. It had taken six years to get forty students.

He had thought that Brinley was the one for him. He wanted to play the violin for her the rest of his life. Now he couldn’t play the violin at all for at least six weeks. After that came therapy and he wasn’t even sure what that involved. His future was sort of fuzzy from here on out, but he wanted to get back to violin.For sure.

“I have news,” Brinley said.

“Good, I hope?” Ivan teased.

“It could be bad, depending on how you look at it.”

“Go on.” Ivan had to know now.

Brinley looked at Ivan, then at Yun and then back to Ivan. “It’s finalized. I’m quitting my sales job at Dad’s company, and I’m moving to St. Simon’s permanently.”

Ivan wondered about the implications of that decision.

“Say something,” Brinley said.

“I think that’s great news.” Ivan wasn’t sure what to think, really. Brinley in town every day? What was he going to do with her? He had nothing to offer her. No money to take her out to dinner. No money to buy her a ring—

What ring?

“We can be together more than once a month.” Her eyes looked hopeful.

“I’d like that, Brin.” Ivan leaned down and kissed her forehead.

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