Page 59 of When Forever Stays

Millie answers on the fifth ring. “Emma?” The disbelief in her soft voice is clear.

“Yeah, it’s me. I-I...” Emma stutters. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for being so ugly toward you. It was wrong of me. Even though you shouldn’t?—”

I nudge Emma and give her a stern look. “It’s not about that,” I mouth.

She takes a deep breath. “You apologized, and instead of forgiving you, I’ve held it over you.” A tear slips down her cheek. “And I’m sorry for that.”

“Oh, I forgive you!” Millie cries over the phone. “I’m so sorry I went behind your back. I didn’t do it to hurt you, I was just trying to?—”

“I know,” Emma says. “You were trying to be a good friend and do what I didn’t have the nerve to.”

“Exactly…” Millie trails off, then says, “Aren’t you at the retreat this weekend?”

“Yeah,” Emma answers. “I’m there right now.”

“Oh.” Millie sounds disappointed. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it.”

I grab Emma’s phone. “Would you want to come? It’s not too late. We still have the sleepover, and in the morning, we’ll dig into a new passage.”

“Really?” Millie asks enthusiastically.

“Sure!” Olivia says. “As long as it’s okay with your parents, I’ll come pick you up now.”

Millie shouts, “Mom! Can I go to the retreat at church?”

There’s shuffling on the other end as if her mom is coming into the room with her. “Isn’t that happening right now?” Millie’s mom asks.

“Yeah, but Miss Olivia said she can come get me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll drive you. I told you that you’d regret not going,” her mom says.

“Mom,” Millie whines exasperatedly. “They can hear everything you’re saying.”

We all laugh.

It doesn’t take long for Millie to arrive but when she does, her smile is broad and I can tell she’s excited to be here.

Emma greets Millie with a bear hug.

“I’m so sorry. I never should have held onto that grudge for so long.”

Tears stream down both girls’ cheeks.

“And I’m sorry for what I did too.”

They both give each other another hug and we pray again, asking for God’s continued guidance through our studies.

The rest of the weekend is a blur of Bible study, activity, bonding, and worship. As I share my passion with these students, I find myself feeling renewed and rejuvenated like never before. It’s as if God is refilling me as I pour into these girls.

It’s taken a lot of pain, struggle, and heartache to get here. I was spiritually dryer than dry and terrified I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise of leading this weekend. But in God’s perfect timing,through His unwavering goodness, the lessons came together. By God’s amazing grace, we had an incredible weekend.

TWENTY FOUR

DANA

I’m putting the final touches on my hair for church when I hear an unexpected knock. I check my appearance one last time before opening the door.

Rhett stands there in all his black button-down dress shirt glory and wearing jeans that fit him just right. There he is, my literal teenage dream, looking at me with the same adoration I know is reflected in my eyes.

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