Page 222 of Share with Me

“Yes. Luke 12:34.” Brinley closed the gap between them. “You know that our focus should be God, not money. Regardless of what our incomes are, you are the spiritual leader in our family or else our marriage is doomed before it begins.”

“I guess I’d better step up. Thank you for the vote of confidence. I’ll do my best not to let you down.” He turned serious. “Brin?”

“What?”

“I can’t get over what you’ve done for me.”

“No big deal.”

“No? You salvaged Grandma’s house. Kept her piano. Kept McMillan memories alive.”

Brinley decided to save the warehouse news for later. He’d find out soon enough.

“Most of all, you waited for me to come around.”

“Yun said to be patient with you.” Yun had said so much more that Brinley could never thank her for now that she was gone.

“I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.” Ivan wept into her hair. “I thank God for you, Brin.”

They held each other for a while until Brinley pointed to her wristwatch. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work at noon?”

“There’s time.” Ivan seemed to study her. “Want to grab an early lunch and walk on the pier a bit?”

“With the smell of fish bait wafting in the air?”

“Oh, I forgot. Saturday. Lots of people fishing there today.”

“I’m just teasing.” Brinley still remembered that Saturday at the pier. “I don’t care, Ivan, as long as I’m with you.”

“I’m glad you’re easy to please. Lunch is on me.” Ivan slung his messenger bag over his shoulder. “We’ll have to take two vehicles. I’ll be working late tonight. Stocking and all that.”

“Don’t forget church tomorrow morning.” Brinley fished for her car keys.

“I’ll pick you up at eight. Just have a big old pot of coffee ready and I’ll be good to go to Sunday School.”

Brinley thanked God that they were going to the same Sunday School class and the same church. That way they could be on the same page about their beliefs and be of equal yoke as Olivia Gonzalez said in the Women’s Bible Study. Her only regret was that Yun couldn’t see this development in Brinley’s life with Ivan, their engagement and upcoming wedding, and the return of her Victorian Steinway to the McMillan family home.

Someday they would all be in heaven together again and they could then reminisce about this life and all these times.

For now, life had to go on here on earth without those who had gone on ahead of them, and Brinley was thankful to God that she could share it with Ivan.

* * *

“Aprenup?” Dad took Brinley’s pawn. “What kind of prenup?”

“It’s a vow of poverty.” Brinley frowned, trying to anticipate Dad’s next move on his Napoleon chessboard which was now back in the family room at the Brooks cottage on Sea Island. Dad was in town for a few weeks, but then he’d be off again to join Mom in Europe.

“No kidding.” Dad laughed.

“Not funny, Dad. He wants me to agree not to bail him out at any time in our marriage. He wants us to have equal shares of stuff. Like if we bought a TV, we each pay half. I can’t surprise him with a whole TV.”

“Even if you could buy its manufacturer and parent company.”

“Uh-huh. I’ve already sent it over to Annette.”

“Her law firm will laugh this all the way into the blooper reels.”

“Be serious, Dad. This is the rest of my life we’re talking about.” She took his queen. “Your future grandchildren hang in the balance.”

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