Page 24 of When We Were Young
He stretched a little higher. “I know You’re up there. Mommy and Daddy say so.” His balance was a little bad because the bed was soft and his covers weren’t that even. But he stayed as tall as he could. “Do You see what’s happening, God? My daddy is moving out tomorrow.”
Aiden waited in case God wanted to say something.
But there were no words from God, and Aiden’s arms were getting tired. So he finished his prayer. “Will You do something to make him stay here? At home? Because... well, because this is home. For all of us.”
He thought for a few seconds. “Amen.”
His shoulders were sore when he lowered his hands. Then he lay down in bed, pulled the covers up and closed his eyes. He felt much better now.
Aiden took a deep breath and smiled.
He could hardly wait to see what God was going to do next.
8
Kari couldn’t sleep.
After they prayed, she and Ryan had turned in and for a few minutes they’d talked about the kids, their upcoming projects and sports camps. Then Ryan had fallen asleep. That was a while ago, and now Kari lay there staring at the ceiling.
At first it was Ryan’s news that kept her awake. Did he really think she wasn’t bothered by what was about to happen? Her whole world was about to be rocked. And Ryan didn’t seem to care.
But their own troubles would have to wait. The more pressing issue tonight was Noah and Emily. She took her phone from her bedside table and opened Instagram. Without thinking she went to @When_We_Were_Young. Before she could open the account, her phone buzzed and a text message appeared. It was from Ashley.
I can’t close my eyes. You awake?
A smile started in Kari’s heart and lifted her lips. Ashley had always been a night owl. Back when they shared a room and still today. She climbed out of bed and tiptoed into the hall, down the stairs and into the sunroom off the back of the house. Once the door was shut behind her, she sat in the old rocking chair and called Ashley.
“Hi.” Ashley laughed, her voice quiet. “I had a feeling you might be awake.”
“What are you doing up?” Kari loved her sister, loved that they could have moments like this. “It’s eleven o’clock.”
“Folding laundry.” Ashley sighed. “Landon’s been asleep for three hours. Long day.”
“Got it.” Kari could picture her sister, working through a mountain of clean jeans and T-shirts, towels and socks. “I couldn’t sleep, either.”
“Laundry?” Ashley was in a good mood.
“Not tonight.” Kari didn’t want to go into detail. “One of the couples in our group is going through some hard times. Social media is involved. Just praying for them.”
Ashley didn’t know anyone in their group. The mention of social media wouldn’t tip her off to who it was. And Kari didn’t say more than that. Noah and Emily deserved their privacy. Besides, Kari hated gossip. She was intentional about avoiding it.
“Social media? Ugh... I hate that. So many couples are struggling because of that.” Ashley’s tone was genuine. “Too much time on Instagram or Facebook. Missing the person right across from you. So many reasons to struggle in a marriage. I guess we’ve all been there. One time or another.”
“Yes. Speaking of that... whatever happened to the firefighter? Brady, right?” Kari leaned over her knees and looked into their backyard. “Did he ever marry that girl?”
“They’re planning a Christmas wedding.” Ashley’s smile was evident in her voice. “Landon’s so glad I reached out to him.”
“It took him a bit to get there.” Kari remembered how upset Landon had been when Ashley started visiting the Facebook account of a stranger, trying to find a way to help the guy locate his long-lost love. She was glad her sister and her husband had worked things out.
“Like I said”—Ashley sounded at peace over the situation—“we’ve all been there. Love is hard work.”
“Yes.” Kari shifted back in the rocking chair. Before the recent news, her only struggle with Ryan hadn’t been because of social media. It had happened before they were married. When Kari felt terrible turning to him after the death of her first husband. Like there had to be more time before she could allow herself the chance to love again.
In the midst of that time, Ryan had taken a job with the New York Giants and moved to Manhattan. Not until Kari finally drove to New York and surprised Ryan at his apartment did he understand how sorry she was for shutting him out. How she was ready to try if he was.
Ashley was right. Love was never easy. Relationships were complicated. For a moment Kari thought about telling Ashley the news. The thing Ryan had sprung on her a few weeks ago and how her heart was breaking over the changes ahead. But she stopped herself. Ryan wanted her to wait until the plans were final. Telling Ashley would come later.
Kari steadied herself. “How are the kids?” Kari hadn’t talked to her sister in a few days. It was good to hear her voice, good to take her mind off the situation with Noah and Emily.
