Page 208 of Share with Me

“I’m glad I got through to you.”

“You didn’t. Jesus got through to me. All I know is that He has forgiven me for my sins, so it would be wrong of me to withhold forgiveness from you.”

“Sounds like something Grandma would say.”

Brinley placed her head on Ivan’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. “I miss Yun very much.”

“I miss her too.”

“Now will you forgive me?” Brinley asked.

“Of course, but for what?”

“Fixing your commode. Giving you a Strad. General interfering.” She then realized there were more things she’d spent money on that she wasn’t prepared to tell him about at this time. Too much for her to explain, too little time to do it properly.

“Don’t worry about it. I should’ve saidthank youinstead of making a big stink out of everything you were trying to do for me, everything God was trying to bless Grandma and me with.”

“We’re all learning,” Brinley said. “How is your wrist, if I may ask?”

“You may. I’m still in pain about every day, but I’m handling it. My fingers can slide down the strings now, but I still can’t do the vibrato. I can’t play the—uh, any Bach, really.”

“Sounds like you need to give it time.”

“It’s not happening.”

“Patience, Ivan. Want me to kiss it and make it all better?” Brinley teased.

“Maybe.” He seemed serious. “I still have the coupon you gave me at Christmas for free hugs and kisses for a year. I must confess that when I got mad at you I tore up the bookmark, but I repaired it. Does it still count if it’s taped together with packing tape?”

“Well, considering your behavior the last two months, I’m not sure if you’re hug-worthy.”

“Point taken. I’m sorry I handled things poorly.”

“I did too. Not just you.” Brinley shrugged. “Are you back in town for good?”

“I’ll try to stay out of your way, but I do like going to our church.”

Our church?

“No need to find a new church, Ivan. Seaside Chapel is big enough for the both of us.”

“I’ll go to a different Sunday School class so we don’t have to run into each other.”

Brinley thought about it. “That could work.”

They sat in silence, watching the night, listening to the ocean. In the distance, the singing around the fire-pit was dying down.

“I may never play violin again,” Ivan finally said.

“It’s not the end of the world.”

“I tried teaching voice, but my vocal cords are wretched.”

Why is he so negative?“You can always teach piano.”

“I now work in Matt’s thrift shop.”

“At least you have a job.”

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