Page 40 of To the Moon and Back
Ashley grinned. “A few times.” The rock sat along the stream at the edge of their property.
Now Ashley used it as a place to talk to God.
“I still love that spot.” She looked at her sisters. “We used to hang out there all the time when we were little.”
“Whenever life got hard.” Brooke paused. “Remember?”
Ashley had taken her own children to the area years ago, but she wanted to show them again. Ashley sighed. “We definitely need to bring all the kids there. Maybe next time.”
As they were sitting down to dinner, everyone complimented Amy on her work as Wendy. If anyone else noticed the similarities between Amy’s character and her real life without actual parents, they didn’t say so. There was also much praise for Janessa and Annie, both of whom were Tiger Lily’s sidekicks.
The cousins sat at the kids’ table a few feet away, and halfway through dinner Dayne and Katy updated everyone on their new movie. They were both starring in it, and though the film was slated for a limited theatrical release, Dayne still thought it would do well at the box office. “We’re making it for under a million.”
“The message is powerful.” Katy glanced at Luke. “Right to life . . . and then it looks like our next movie will deal with religious freedom.”
“Speaking of which.” Ashley looked at her younger brother. “What’s happening with Wendell Quinn, the principal of Hamilton High?”
It was a case Luke had taken on, one that thrust him into the national spotlight for a time. Luke set his napkin on the table. “Wendell is engaged to Alicia—remember her?”
“I do.” Ashley grinned at Luke and then at Landon. “We figured that was going to happen. And he’s still leading the voluntary Bible study for the students?”
“He is.” Satisfaction shone in Luke’s eyes. “God won that case, for sure.”
“Yes.” Reagan smiled at the others. “And Luke’s home more. Only forty hours a week at the office.” She put her arm around Luke’s shoulders and kissed his cheek. “So life is good.”
“Definitely.” Luke kissed her on the lips and looked around the table.
Ashley was grateful for the things Luke and Reagan had figured out. Luke had let his dedication to law get the best of him last year. Too much time at work. Ashley could tell from her younger brother’s eyes that he was doing much better.
The one thing Luke and Reagan didn’t talk about was the fact that they’d run into Andi at the performance. Some time ago, during one of Andi’s rough seasons, she had given birth to little Johnny. The father wasn’t in the picture at all, and Andi knew she couldn’t raise her son alone. Through a series of miracles, Luke and Reagan had adopted him.
Little Johnny knew he was adopted, but not necessarily that Andi was his birth mother. Apparently, all of them had agreed that Andi would only be a close friend whenever they all met up. Andi wanted it that way.
Less confusing for Johnny.
Before the show, Ashley had watched Andi drop down to Johnny’s level to talk to him. After that, Andi and Reagan had spoken. Ashley could see they were smiling, but the moment didn’t last long. Ashley would have to ask Reagan about it later.
During dessert Kari and Ryan updated everyone on Jessie’s search for the right university. She and Cole were both looking at Liberty in Virginia. Ashley thought about how soon those changes were coming.
For now, though, there was just tonight and their time together.
When everyone was gone, Landon and the boys moved to the garage to clean the canoe and the fishing gear. Janessa and Amy were already asleep and Ashley was dying to talk to Landon. But in the meantime, she wanted to work on her sketch. She found her book and sat down at the kitchen table.
Ashley was lost in the drawing when Amy tiptoed downstairs in her nightgown. Her niece held a hand-painted picture. “I couldn’t sleep.” She set the picture down in front of Ashley. “I drew this. I thought you’d like it.” She looped her arm around Ashley’s neck and stared at her own artwork. “I think maybe I draw like you.”
“Wow. That’s beautiful, Amy.” Ashley stared at the girl’s drawing. She could hardly believe it. “Look what I was working on.” She slid her sketchbook over so it was side by side with Amy’s artwork. “When were you working on this?”
“The last few days.” She looked at Ashley’s illustration and then her own. “After we came back from spring break.”
They’d been working on the exact same thing: the Survivor Tree.
Amy looked at her. “Are you going to paint yours?”
“I think so. People here don’t really know about the tree. I think God let it live to symbolize what’s possible. With Him.”
“That’s what I think, too.” Amy gazed at her picture. “I’m glad you like it.”
Amy was talented, for sure. What a privilege to help her niece discover gifts like this one. Ashley could only hope that somewhere in heaven, Erin and Sam were watching. “We’ll have to frame it. Then you can hang it on the wall in your room.”
