Page 85 of To the Moon and Back
“What?” She eased back and searched his face. “You believe?”
“In God.” His eyes were damp. “It’s a long story. God spoke to me in a dream.” He smiled and she could see he was absolutely telling her the truth. “I’ll tell you everything later, but God changed my heart. My mind. I’ve given my life to Him.”
His life? Brady was a believer now? Jenna couldn’t stop her tears. “You’re serious?” She reached for his hands. Her knees were shaking, her hands trembling. The feeling of his fingers between hers was too real for this to be a dream. “Is that . . . why you’re here? To tell me?”
The smile started in his eyes. “It’s part of it.” He released one of her hands and motioned toward the grassy yard in front of the school. “I have something to ask you.”
Only then, as Jenna turned, did she see what he was looking at. She gasped and stared at the scene.
Half the school was gathered on the lawn, watching them. The only bare spot was a small circle of grass. And at the center . . . a small potted sapling. “Brady?” Her voice was part cry, part whisper. How could this be happening? When had he made a plan with her school? Jenna could barely breathe. Was he going to . . .
She couldn’t finish the thought.
It was all too good to be true.
“Jenna . . . come on.” This time he led her toward the crowd. With a hundred teachers and students watching, Brady stopped at the center of the open patch of grass and picked up the little tree. He held it out to her. “It’s a sapling.”
She took the gift as tears fell down her cheeks. “From the Survivor Tree.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I thought it would look good in our backyard.”
She was laughing and crying at the same time. Their backyard? This was really happening. Dear God, I can’t believe it . . . Her heart was bursting inside her.
Brady was still looking at her, taking his time. “I talked to the fire department in Columbus. They’re ready to hire me . . . and I’m ready to move here. Depending . . .” He took the sapling from her and set it on the ground. Then he took a ring from his jeans pocket and dropped to one knee.
A buzz ran through the crowd standing nearby, but Jenna couldn’t hear a single word, couldn’t focus on anything but Brady.
He held the ring up to her. “Jenna, I’ll never love anyone but you. To the moon and back.” Tears fell onto his face, but they didn’t dim his smile. “Will you marry me?”
Her hands flew to her mouth and she nodded. Then she took the ring as he stood. “Yes, Brady.” She had kept her promise to God, and now she would pledge Brady her life, her heart. “A million times yes.”
The teachers and students burst into applause; several of them had their cell phones out, capturing the moment. Brady slipped the ring on her finger. Then he took tender hold of her face and kissed her. “I have a long way to go. A lot to learn and understand.” He kissed her again. “Together, Jenna,” he whispered. “We’ll grow closer to God. Every day of our lives.”
“We will.” Her tears and laughter mixed. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Their lips met again, and around them the crowd cheered.
Jenna would remember this moment forever. She was certain. Everything she had prayed about was happening in a single instant. Brady was here and he was hers. But so much more than that, he believed now. She couldn’t wait to hear what had happened, how the old couple had helped him.
She looked at the ring and then back at Brady.
They were both survivors now. And the sapling would grow up in their backyard, somewhere here in Columbus. They didn’t need the memorial any longer. They were whole and alive and the future was theirs.
Brady kissed her once more. “I can’t wait to be your husband. God has great things ahead for us, Jenna. I know it.”
Chills ran through her as she nodded. “He does.” And suddenly she felt like a princess again. Princess Jenna. Not just because she was going to marry Brady Bradshaw after all these years.
But because she was going to spend eternity with him.
• • •
AMY’S HEART WAS full. The family had gathered that Saturday to celebrate her birthday. And for another reason. Amy walked into the backyard where her cousins and aunts and uncles, and Papa and Grandma Elaine were already gathered. Papa and Uncle Landon had the shovel ready.
Today they were going to plant her little survivor tree.
Amy had chosen the spot, not far from her grandma Elizabeth’s rose garden. Aunt Ashley had agreed it was the best place. The tree would give shade to anyone who wanted to smell the roses.
That sounded like a nice idea to Amy. Plus it was close to the house. So Amy could always do her homework out there or sit against the trunk when the tree got bigger. Just to think about God and life.
