Page 69 of Muskoka Miracle

“Sounds like you need a sleep.”

“A sleep,” she warned. “Nothing else.”

“Nothing else.” Yet, his eyes seemed to dance, as he leaned forward and swept her into another kiss.

She closed her eyes and tugged him closer. Okay, maybe sleep was something to reconsider.

CHAPTER15

The sunset dipped into Lake Muskoka, drawing a sigh from their host, Lincoln Cash. “I don’t think that view ever gets old.”

“God’s country,” Dan agreed.

Linc—he’d asked them to call him that—peered at Dan. “How long did you say you’ve been coming here?”

“For twenty-something years.”

“I don’t blame you.” Linc yawned. “Sorry, it’s been a big few weeks.”

Dan glanced across the table to where Sarah was smothering a yawn too. She smiled at him, then glanced apologetically at Jackie. “I agree.”

“Well, with the way that last podcast of yours went viral, I don’t blame you for feeling tired,” Jackie said. “How many comments did you get?”

Sarah’s smile held shyness. “Over a thousand.”

“And counting,” Dan added. “And she’s replied to them all.”

“No wonder you’re tired,” Linc said, to her nod.

Sarah’s exhaustion had set in almost as soon as they returned from Toronto a week ago. She kept telling him not to be concerned, but if she was this tired before the tour, how on earth was she going to cope when it actually started? Whenever he tried to say that she dismissed it, claiming it was simply because she felt so relaxed that she was enjoying feeling tired, rather than feeling exhausted like she normally did. Which didn’t quite make sense to him. Her claims of regular exhaustion worried him, but she wouldn’t listen to his pleas to rethink the tour, or take time out from socializing.

Which was why they were here, with Jackie looking a little bit guilty. Dan suspected he knew why.

“And uh, yes, about that podcast.” Jackie glanced at Sarah. “I listened to it, then made Linc listen to it too. It was such a powerful testimony.”

“Really powerful,” Linc nodded.

“And I wanted to thank you for being courageous enough to be real and raw and still testify of God’s goodness and grace in the midst of pain and disappointment.” Jackie’s eyes sparkled with tears. “And I’m sorry. I realize now how hard things must’ve been for you, when we”—she winced—“well, you know, had little Charlie. Anyway, we—I—wanted you to know I never meant to cause you further pain. Especially when it’s been such a hard road for you. Anyway, I’m sorry.”

Sarah shook her head. “You can’t be responsible for how others may be feeling. Especially when you didn’t even know the situation.”

Jackie bit her lip. “It’s a tricky balance, isn’t it, trying to figure out what should be shared before somebody else feels like they need to share it on your behalf.”

Sarah glanced at Dan. “That’s why we didn’t say anything to anyone for a long time. It’s hard enough to find the words, especially when you’re going through grief yourself, let alone figure out how to share things with others. But then not saying anything also has consequences. Like this.” She gestured between herself and Jackie, then shrugged. “I don’t know if everyone needs to share like we did, but I have to admit that having now said it, I do feel a lot lighter.”

“I do too,” Dan admitted. His friends and teammates had been so supportive. It wasn’t just him and Sarah as part of Team Walton anymore. Now his whole team were on his side, their partners supporting Sarah, just as his Bible study buddies and their wives checked in with them often. Knowing this was just part of his life instead of something that he thought he needed to hide, made him feel more comfortable. He didn’t have to apologize for turning down birthday invitations for one-year-olds who wouldn’t remember his presence. On the days when they weren’t doing as okay, it was easier to simply decline, and he trusted that their real friends would understand.

His parents had—as expected—been shocked that Sarah would dare to confess something so private in such a public manner. Her parents had—as expected—understood.

“When you have a public ministry,” James had said, “then you can’t hide things, because secrets always have a way of coming out. And because you’ve been open about this, it means you can be open about the other times when things aren’t so easy. People won’t see you as super Christians, but real people who don’t always have it all together, and the fact you have to depend on God encourages others to do so, too.”

“It’s hard to live in the spotlight, but still keep things real,” Linc mused now.

Dan glanced at him. The movie star possessed more fans than his whole team had combined. “I can’t imagine how you try and balance that.”

Linc shrugged. “That’s why I have an agent and a publicist. They screen most of that for me, and Jackie screens the rest.” He smiled at his wife, who smiled back.

“I’ve been wondering if I should get somebody to work as my VA,” Sarah said. “I just can’t keep up with all the comments, not when I’m trying to focus on my music.”

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