Page 117 of Share with Me

By the time they got inside, Brinley thought her ears were going to pop.

How could such a handsome dude have such a lousy voice?

God sure has a sense of humor.

“Look what arrived yesterday.” Yun pointed to the motorized wheelchair. She hugged Brinley. “You shouldn’t have.”

Brinley realized that maybe she shouldn’t have. With Ivan’s left wrist out of commission, who was going to help Yun carry the wheelchair to and from places in their truck? Perhaps people from church could help. But when they got home? Then what?

“Thinking too much again?” Ivan whispered in her ear as he ran his good arm around her waist. “I talked to Matt. Sundays and whenever we go to church, he’s picking us up with his van. It has plenty of room for the wheelchair. It’s taken care of.”

Brinley nodded.

God provides for His own.

“Look what Ivan got me.” Brinley pointed to her violin brooch that Ivan had dropped into her palm after dinner the night before. “Charleston. 1812. You know I love old things.”

Yun gave Ivan two thumbs up. “I have something for you too, Brinley.”

Brinley looked to where Yun pointed. She stepped over to the tree to pick up a gift bag. She pulled out the red and green tissues to find another box inside. It was a Bible. She opened it to read the inscription from Yun. “Thank you. This is sweet.”

“Sorry it’s large print,” Yun said. “Only way I could see the verses I underlined for you.”

“You took the trouble?” Brinley flipped through the pages. Here and there, Yun had carefully underlined with a straight ruler some key verses. “This is too much, Yun.”

“Not too much to get you a jumpstart on your Christian walk with the Lord.”

“I will read these.”

“I hope so, Brinley.”

Brinley put the Bible back into the gift bag and placed it by the door so she didn’t forget to take it with her on her way out. “Oh, and in the merriment, I forgot to give Ivan his Christmas present.”

“No more, Brin. No more. You’ve given me too much.”

“Just one more thing.”

“Let it be under five dollars.” Ivan shook his head.

“Could be.” Brinley whipped out an envelope from her goose-down jacket pocket. “Merry Christmas, Ivan.”

She watched Ivan open the envelope. She was happy to see that Ivan could move his left fingers extending out of his cast. She waited as Ivan read the Christmas card and the tear-off bookmark.

“Trust God. I like that.”

“Proverbs 3:5-6. It’s the verse that Dad told me about. Said it’s pretty common, but that I should memorize it.”

“That’s good, Brin.” He turned the bookmark over. Brinley watched his reaction. “Free hugs and kisses for a year.”

“Does that qualify as ‘under five dollars’ for you?”

“No, Brin. This is priceless.” He stepped toward Brinley. “May I claim one now?”

Brinley wrapped her arms around Ivan’s neck, pulled him toward her, and kissed him gently. Once.

Then she whispered in his ear. “Feel free to claim a kiss for every scar.”

Ivan looked stunned.

“I smell gingerbread cookies.” Brinley turned to Yun. “May I have some?”

“All you can eat, dear.”

Brinley left Ivan standing there in the family room as she headed for the kitchen with a chuckling Yun in her motorized scooter.

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