Page 11 of Love Story
“I’m the blessed one.” Her eyes shone. “Life with Elizabeth... life with me. They are different. She’s your past. I’m your future. There’s room for both of us.”
For a long minute he wasn’t sure what to say. “Thank you.” He searched her eyes. “For understanding.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll tell Cole.”
John found his phone and called his grandson. “Hey... looks like I’m wide open.”
“That was fast.” Cole laughed. “I was just praying you’d have time.”
They decided the interviews would happen each Thursday. Cole’s lightest homework day. “Next Thursday it is!” John kept his tone enthusiastic.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Cole’s voice grew more serious. “I need pictures. Lots of them. I know you have that scrapbook, but I need pictures for my display.”
“Okay.” John tried to imagine the hours ahead, poring over photographs of Elizabeth and him. “How many would you say?”
“A lot. Maybe twenty-five. Thirty.” Cole seemed to think for a minute. “Even a copy of a letter or two would be amazing. Anything you think might make the project more interesting.”
John agreed to do his best and for another five minutes they talked about Cole’s classes. He loved history, but math was giving him fits. “You’ll get through it. You’re a hard worker, Cole.” He paused. “Just like your grandmother.”
“Really?”
“Definitely.”
“There you go. My first detail for my report.” Cole sounded like he couldn’t wait for next week. “This is going to be great, Papa.”
John agreed, but after the call ended, and after Elaine left for Bible study, John still wasn’t sure. The house was quiet as he walked to their bedroom and flipped on the light in his closet. It wasn’t a large space, but at the back, on the highest shelf, was an old cardboard box.
A box that held every letter Elizabeth had ever written.
Love letters for him, and letters of encouragement for the kids. Poems and a few journals she had kept through the years. A while ago, John had made copies of many of the letters and put together a scrapbook for each of their six adult kids. It was a time of deep reflection and remembering, a month when he almost felt like he had Elizabeth back beside him again.
Of course, there were a few letters the kids had never seen. Even now. Letters that spoke of a time between Elizabeth and him that their children knew little about.
John stared at the box. The last time he’d gone through it was before Elaine.
Spending time with the letters again meant letting Elizabeth’s words wash over him and settle into the places of his heart that belonged only to her. It would open him all over again to a grief so great he hadn’t known it was possible. The experience would be like ripping open a scar with the knowledge that this time around the hurt might never heal.
All so he could find a few letters that might work on Cole’s project. He steadied himself against the doorframe of his closet and made up his mind.The letters can wait,he told himself. Plenty of time between now and next Thursday.
The photographs. That’s what he could work on now. John walked to the bookcase and removed the album, the one that contained so many photographs of Elizabeth. He carried it to the same chair where he’d sat earlier.Father, I’m going to need Your help on this.
This is for My glory, son.
Chills ran down John’s arms. The voice was familiar. Often when John was alone, talking to God, he heard a response. Words that appeared at the center of his heart, deep in his soul. But this time John wondered if he’d heard correctly. Cole’s project was for God’s glory? How could that be?
You’ll have to show me, Lord. But until then I just need Your strength to get through these next four weeks.
The truth was this: Many years had passed since John had gone back to the beginning. Since he’d allowed himself the luxury of reliving those days when he and Elizabeth met and fell in love. Telling their story would take him there again.
And once there, John wasn’t sure he’d ever want to leave.
4
It was all Baylor’s fault. Or maybe it was his own. Whatever the case, Cody couldn’t stop thinking about Andi Ellison. Not so much where she was or what she was doing. But how he had lost her, how he’d let her get away. And why he hadn’t done something to stop her from leaving.
Ever since the talk with his player, Baylor’s words stayed with him.Maybe it’s not too late with Andi. Maybe it’s not too late.The statement stayed with him even now, as he wrapped up the fifth day of spring training. Practice was going well. They were a week into it and already it was clear that next football season held promise.
But Cody wasn’t consumed with thoughts of rushing yards and passing percentages as he left the Oaks Christian field that Wednesday afternoon. It was Baylor’s words that filled his head.Maybe it’s not too late... maybe it’s not.Cody grabbed his bag from his office and flung it over his shoulder. He wore his sunglasses through the athletic building toward the parking lot.
He didn’t feel like talking today. Get home, get Riley, and take another run. That’s all he wanted. Time alone where he could talk to God and reckon with his wayward feelings. He walked with a purpose, and the glasses worked. Kids waved to him, but he got all the way to his car without a single conversation.
