Page 38 of Below the Far Horizon
But Don ended the letter by saying that yes, yes, he thought he could. Because he learned from the first time that God was in control. Even when it didn’t feel like it. And that doing the right thing always made a person feel better in the end. He didn’t exactly castigate his wife for leaving, but he mentioned that he had never regretted keeping his vows. And he wouldn’t regret finding someone else. Someone to share his life with, someone to make their lives better.
He also thanked her for showing him areas where he could become better. Not that he was taking the blame for the fact that his wife had left him, but he realized that he could have been a better husband. He could have been more responsive and attentive. He could have spent less time in front of the television and more time doing something with his wife.
He thanked her for those lessons. Thanked her for making him realize that while it wasn’t up to him to make anyone stay with him, it was up to him to be the kind of human being that a woman wanted to be with. Who she was happy to be with, and if there was something that he could do to make his marriage better, then by all means, he would do it. Whereas before, he had not thought like that at all.
Trevor ran his hand down over the letter. This one was signed, “Love, Don.”
They had been divorced for a while by that point in time, and there was no hope of getting her back. He didn’t even suggest it.
The five years had made a big difference in his dad’s life. But only because his dad had chosen to see the trial that he’d gone through as something he could learn from and become better through.
He supposed he could have seen it as ruining his life, as tearing his life apart at the seams, and seeing that he would never have everything he wanted.
Instead, he’d made the decisions to learn the lessons that God had for him to learn, then to put them in practice.
There had been a definite change in his dad over the last five years, but Trevor had spent so much time with him, it wasn’t obvious until now. He was no longer bitter and angry and sad, but instead he was happy and grateful. Funny and eager to live life.
Maybe that was why he and Gita were getting along so well.
He supposed there were lessons in there for him, but he wasn’t sure exactly what they were, since he’d never had a wife divorce him or leave him for another man.
Except, Grace kind of had. She didn’t cheat on him. She’d left and wasn’t in a relationship with anyone. Still, she’d made him feel like he wasn’t enough, like he needed to figure out what he could do to impress her, instead of only thinking that whatever character and integrity he had should be enough. And if she wasn’t impressed by that, then he didn’t need to worry about it. Was that right? He felt like it was.
Carefully putting the letters back where he found them, he wondered if he should tell his dad that he had discovered them and gotten them out. But then he’d have to admit that he had read them and pried into something that maybe he shouldn’t have. Except, the lessons contained in those letters were valuable and helpful.
He decided if the opportunity ever came up, he’d tell his dad what he found and thank him for writing them since it had been a blessing. But he wasn’t going to bring the subject up himself.
His dad had gone through something hard, difficult, something that most people never had to go through, and he’d come out better.
Trevor had gone through something similar, when Grace had left, and now she was back. Had he handled it as well as he could? Were there still lessons he needed to learn? He’d have to think about that.
Nineteen
“It’s such a beautiful day,” Grace said as they lifted one of the two rented double kayaks from the back of Trevor’s truck.
There was no way to drive to the beach at Raspberry Ridge, but on up the road a short distance at Blackberry Bay, there was not just a way to get kayaks in the water but also a nice peaceful cove which was perfect for kayaking. Even if a sudden spring storm came up, which they checked the weather and there wasn’t supposed to be, there were plenty of places where they could get out of the water. Plus, the water would not be nearly as rough as the regular lake water.
Blackberry Bay was perfect for kayaking.
She needed to do this more often. It was only a few minutes away from her house.
“It’s a gorgeous day. It makes me wonder why you haven’t bought a kayak up until this point.”
She laughed. “I was wondering the same thing. They’re expensive, but as many times as I’ve rented them, I could have bought one long ago.”
“Then you have to find a place to store it and make sure you don’t lose the paddles and everything. If you rent it, all responsibility is on someone else. Sometimes that’s nice.”
She nodded, looking at him thoughtfully. There seemed to be something that had shifted in his personality since she had seen him last. “Yes. All the responsibility is on someone else. Isn’t it nice when that happens?”
She smiled at him as he looked at her. They had talked a couple of times on the phone, but not for long, and they hadn’t made any more plans. She realized now that maybe they should have. At least figured out what they could suggest for their parents to do next to keep them together.
“My goodness. I remember doing this with you girls when you were little, but I don’t think I’ve done it in twenty years.”
Gita looked like she was having the time of her life. Her yoga pants emphasized her slender legs, and she wasn’t moving like someone who had just had hip replacement less than four weeks ago.
“Trevor and I go a good bit. Although this is the first time this spring we’ve been out. This time of year, you have to watch for those sudden spring storms popping up.”
“I know. I kept checking the weather, and everything is clear, but you just never know.”
