Page 36 of One Last Storm
They’d survived. Dawson was alive. Tillie was okay. The baby was okay.
They’d made it through.
Not around the storm—through it.
That’s what Wilder had said, wasn’t it? God doesn’t promise to keep us from the storm, but He promises to bring us through it.
The doors opened. He got inside, and his gaze fell on aa Christmas poster, pasted to the wall of the elevator, a picture of a desolate countryside, darkness over the land, with light bursting from a far away stable. Isaiah 9:2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
Huh. Into our storm, God sent himself. The light. The whisper that could calm the storm.
And today was the proof. Sunshine, grace, hope.
“Thank you, Lord.”
The words came out rougher than intended. His throat tight with emotion he hadn’t expected. “Thank you for bringing us through.”
The doors opened.
He walked out into the hallway and spotted Shep standing in the waiting room, holding two coffees. Caspian sat beside him. Sometimes Moose wondered who really had done the rescuing there.
Shep spotted him, nodded. “They’ll only allow two at a time in there. Flynn and Axel took a walk. I was about to go in, but I can’t leave this guy alone.” He glanced down at Caspian. “London’s in there.”
Moose walked over to him. Eyed the coffee.
Shep handed him his. “It’s my third cup. Black, no sugar. Bracing.”
“Perfect, thanks.” He took it, and yep, it put a little of the hair back on his chest. But yeah, now he might be awake. “How is he?”
“Stable. Doc says he’ll make a full recovery, though that knee’s going to remind him of this adventure for the rest of his life.” Shep reached down to scratch behind Caspian’s ears. He sighed. “Moose.” Shep’s voice carried something heavier now. “I need to tell you something.”
Here it came.
In truth, he’d been expecting this conversation, dreading it, but understanding it all the same. Something had changed after their last overseas trip.
Something that felt permanent. “You’re leaving.”
Shep’s eyes widened. “Uh?—”
“C’mon, I know you.”
Shep smiled. “Right. Yeah. We’re leaving. After the new year, maybe. Give you time to find a replacement.”
“I understand.”
The words came easier than expected. Maybe because he did understand. Love made people do extraordinary things, rearrange their entire lives, choose hope over certainty. Shep had found something worth chasing, and Moose wouldn’t be the one to stand in his way.
“Just like that?” Shep raised an eyebrow. “No lecture about team loyalty or mission commitment?”
“Brother, if you think I’m going to talk you out of happiness, you’ve seriously misjudged my character.” Moose clasped Shep’s shoulder. “You two have always belonged to each other. And I’m not lost to London’s other job and how maybe that needs to be full time.” He’d finger quoted, ‘other job’. Mostly because yes, he’d answered Shep’s panicked call a year ago when London had been kidnapped, right after her true identity came out. So maybe nothing surprised him anymore, really.
“Yeah,” Shep said. “But leaving you short-handed doesn’t sit well with me.”
“We’ll manage. You moving to Montelena?”
“Yeah, London’s taking over as head of the Black Swans?—”
“Stop.” Moose held up his hand. “That’s all I need to know. I don’t want you to have to kill me.”
