Page 58 of Love Story
Death came to call on everyone eventually. The way it had come to call on his Scarlett. The way it would come to call on him one day soon.
Wilson shouldn’t have been angry at God for taking Scarlett. He should’ve been thankful he ever had her in the first place.
Hope and light flooded Wilson’s dark heart. His head didn’t hurt so bad. Then in a voice that was hardly a whisper, he made his declaration. “I get it, God. If You’re real, then You’re real.” He smiled so he wouldn’t break down and cry. These past few years the way he’d ignored God was almost too much for him to think about.
Instead he anchored on the here and now. The boy’s message. The miracle of this single night. “You kept Your part of the bargain.” Wilson sniffed. “Now it’s my turn.”
He stood and walked with trembling legs to the table near his chair. His next beer was still sweaty and cold. Wilson didn’t care. He took it to the kitchen, popped the top, and poured it down the sink. Whatever God saw in him, whatever reason He had for giving Wilson a sign, this much was sure: God had more for Wilson to do than sit around the house getting drunk every night. “You’re there, God. I’m sorry I ever doubted You.”
Wilson made his way to the cross that hung in theTVroom. He touched the wood and studied the place where the pieces intersected. Maybe the Lord would tell Scarlett how much he missed her. “You died for me. And tonight... tonight You gave me a sign.” He felt the beginning of a smile. “You know what that means.”
No more beer. Not ever again. He’d had his last drink.
After all, a deal was a deal.
18
The Army had taught Cody to be early. It was a habit that stayed with him. But the habit had nothing to do with why he was at the park across from the animal shelter half an hour early that Friday morning.
He had no choice but to be here early. He’d been thinking about Andi all night, praying for her, begging God that somehow she would listen to what he had to say. Sometime around seven o’clock, he saw her step off the shuttle bus. She turned and faced him and Cody had to force himself to breathe.
There were two swings in the small park. Cody was already sitting in one of them. He watched her come closer. She was so pretty. Black jeans and a white T-shirt with the name of her relief organization. The attire of the volunteers in the flood zone. But even then she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.Andi... please don’t turn me away. God, please guide our words this morning.
But as she drew closer, Cody felt his heart sink. Her eyes looked distant, closed off. She stopped when she reached him, her eyes locked on his. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He nodded to the swing beside him. “I saved you a seat.”
She smiled, but it didn’t come from her heart. The way her smile usually did. “Thanks.”
“How’s your puppy?”
“Perfect.” Her eyes softened a little. “He’s still at the hotel. I’ll bring him to the shelter later. I can’t leave him in a cage all day.”
“Although I’m sure he likes having friends.”
“True.” Andi seemed like she was starting to enjoy herself. She must’ve noticed it, too, because her smile faded and she took a seat in the swing.
They held on to the chains and moved a little, swaying lightly, their feet never leaving the ground. She broke the silence first. “I prayed about it, Cody. About us.” She paused. “I’m sorry.”
She was sorry? This wasn’t how he wanted the conversation to go. “I... There’s more to tell you.”
Her phone began to ring. She glanced at it and her eyes filled with alarm. “Oh, no!” She looked up at him. “I have to go.” She started walking toward the street.
Cody kept up with her. “Wait. What is it?” Was this really how things were going to end today? “I just got here.”
“It’s an emergency. A resident just found a single mom and her kids. They’ve been stranded all this time.” Andi kept walking toward the shuttle stop. “I’m sorry, Cody. I have to go. I’m closest to the woman’s house and my agency needs someone to help her. Now.”
“Wait.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “I have a car. I’ll take you.”
His idea must’ve shocked her because she stopped and looked right at him. “You’d do that?”
“Of course.” He took her hand and led her in the opposite direction, to the spot where his rental car was parked. Whatever was ahead, his training as a soldier would help. “I handled a few rescues back in the day.”
They hurried to his car and set out toward the address her supervisor had texted her. This was exactly what Cody had wanted to do when he first arrived in Louisiana. Work with her and talk to her. Show her kindness and consideration, the way he hadn’t in far too long.
Whatever it took to remind her why she had loved him in the first place.
For that reason, as Cody navigated the debris and damaged streets, he didn’t think about the emergency situation or the work ahead. That would come. For now he could only think about one thing.
