Page 84 of To the Moon and Back
“Of course.”
“Follow me.” He stepped outside.
The air was warm, but clouds gathered in the distance. All of Bloomington embracing another summer day. She walked beside him to his truck, and saw it before he said anything. There in the bed of the truck.
Another sapling.
“You got one, too.” Ashley looked at Brady as he opened his door. Was he taking the little tree to Ohio? A possibility dawned in her heart and worked its way to a hesitant smile. “You’re taking it to Jenna?”
His eyes lit up with what looked like hope. “Just pray for us. For a second chance.”
Ashley nodded. “I will. Absolutely.”
Brady hugged her again and then he slid behind the wheel and closed the door. Ashley watched him go and a thought occurred to her. She wasn’t watching a frustrated, hurt young man set off to whatever was next in his life.
She was watching a miracle.
• • •
JENNA DAVIS WAS in the last half hour of the first Friday in the school year when the principal stepped into the classroom and motioned for her. The woman’s face didn’t look alarmed. But there was an urgency in her expression all the same.
The new second graders sitting at their desks noticed the interruption. Jenna smiled at the children. “One minute, boys and girls. Please stay in your seats.”
She walked to the door and moved into the hall with her principal. Ms. Brown spoke first. “You have a visitor. Waiting in the office.” She raised her brow slightly. “Please come straight there ten minutes before the bell rings.” The woman smiled. “I’ll have the vice principal take your students to the buses.”
A visitor? Who could possibly be here for her? “A man or woman?”
Ms. Brown paused. “A man.” She smiled. “A very handsome one.”
Who would be here? And why come to the school without contacting her first? Jenna had no idea. “Thank you. I’ll be there.” She returned to her class. And just like Ms. Brown had said, ten minutes before the bell rang, the vice principal arrived to take over.
Jenna thanked him and grabbed her things.
On her way to the office, she tried to imagine who could possibly be waiting for her. The dad of one of her new students, maybe? One of the little girls had told her yesterday that her daddy wasn’t married and he wanted to take Jenna on a date. Jenna hadn’t given any thought to the matter.
But now . . .
Curiosity fueled her pace, but it wasn’t until she turned the corner and could see the glass wall of the main office that she stopped short. The man was there, standing near the counter. Jenna could only see his back, but his shoulders were familiar. His dark hair, too.
What?
Could it be . . . ?
She walked to the office door, her heart racing. As she stepped inside, he turned and saw her. Jenna’s breath caught in her throat and she brought her fingers to her lips. It was him.
Brady Bradshaw. Standing three feet away.
“Jenna.” He moved toward her. No man had ever looked better. But there was something different about him. Like the hurt was gone for good. He kept a slight distance between them, but his eyes didn’t leave hers. “Can we talk? Outside?”
If the office staff was watching the moment play out, Jenna wasn’t aware. All she could see was Brady, all she could hear was his voice, soothing the hurt she still carried in her heart.
She nodded . Breathe, Jenna. You have to breathe. Was she dreaming? “I . . . I can’t believe you’re here.”
He smiled. “I’ll explain everything.” He followed her outside. Not until they reached the school’s front walk did they both stop. “I can’t believe you’re really here, Jenna.”
“Brady . . .” Tears sprang to her eyes. Again, something was different about him. She could sense it. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”
He took her in his arms and held her the way she was aching to be held. They stayed that way for a long moment and then Brady whispered, “I believe, Jenna.”
