Page 232 of Sing with Me

He was grinning sheepishly when she waved to him. She seemed to be aware that his phone was pointing at her. She smiled without a word, as if to say, “I want you to remember me this way.”

Diehl nearly wept as his hands shook. He stopped recording.

He steeled himself.

“Caught in a moment.” He could barely speak.

“What moment?” Skye asked.

“This.” He pulled her gently toward his chest. Her hair smelled of fresh flowers and rain. Her dress was the softest silk. He closed his eyes and tried to remember everything about her, as if this was the last time he would see her in a long while. “I wish we could be here forever.”

“You know, only Heaven is forever,” Skye said.

Diehl chuckled. “Reality check from my Sensible Skye.”

“Is that your name for me?” Skye smiled. “What should I call you? Determined Diehl?”

More like Desperate Diehl.

“I don’t want to lose you,” Diehl said quietly.

“Is that what your fear is?” Skye’s eyes seemed to be searching his.

Diehl couldn’t speak.

“You haven’t lost me,” Skye whispered in his ear.

“Not yet?”

“Not ever.” Skye’s lips found his.

Diehl was enjoying her affection for him until a bird squawked overhead, and Skye pulled away.

“I don’t want to be under a flying bird,” Skye said. “You know what happened to my brother once, standing under a tree with a bird in it?”

“I don’t want to know.” Diehl chuckled. “Let’s walk.”

He led her along the shoreline. His feet were where the waves ended. Hers were on dry sand—most of the time.

“I was going to tell you something last night, but I had to go home because Ethan called,” Diehl said. “I thought that maybe we could continue our conversation.”

Skye nodded. “We were talking about fears. I wanted to tell you that I’m afraid too.”

“What are you afraid of?” Diehl prayed he could handle what he would hear.

“You told me last night that you fear the past—at least that was the summary of what I heard.”

“That’s true. I look at my past and wonder how I could ever love you in the present and the future,” Diehl said. “But my dad reminded me that I’m a Christian now. You reminded me that the past is gone. Pastor Fizz is helping me deal with all that. God makes all things new.”

“And remember what you texted me that night in Athens?” Skye produced her phone. She scrolled up and read it. “Here it is, verbatim. ‘With God’s love, I can love you. I may be imperfect, but Christ is perfect. His love is what I give to you. Together we can help each other through the journey of life.’ Do you recall?”

“Wow. I need to take my own advice.” Diehl chuckled.

“Same here. I fear the future,” Skye said.

“The future? It’s not here yet.”

“Isn’t it irrational?”

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