Page 36 of When We Were Young
Emily put the car in gear.
What was happening? “Emily!” Noah jogged a few steps toward the car. “Wait!” He hadn’t hugged his wife, hadn’t kissed her lips. And right now—with his head still killing him—that was all he wanted. All he needed. “Emily, hold on!” Noah ached to have her in his arms.
But she pulled the car away from the curb and started to go. “Emily!” he yelled after her, but she didn’t stop. He raised his voice. “When will you be back?” The car was leaving with all his family inside it. “I love you!” He took a few more steps and stopped. “Hurry home!”
Noah watched the car disappear. As if Emily was no longer his wife, but the image of someone he used to know.
In a single uneven heartbeat the fear was back, breathing hot against his neck and face. Threatening to suffocate him. He shook it off. Everything would be fine. Emily just didn’t hear him. That was it. She was probably in a hurry. The party at the park and all. They’d be home before dinnertime and everything would be okay.
Suddenly Noah’s headache was worse. Every movement killed him. He walked back to their bedroom, changed out of his clothes and climbed into bed. At least that much was familiar. The bed. Same one he and Emily had shared since they got married.
Noah closed his eyes and let sleep come. Maybe a nap would eliminate the headache or bring back his memory. He still hadn’t taken any Advil, which was probably a good thing. If he could shake it on his own, his memory might return. All three years of it. Yes, that was what would happen. A good nap and everything would make sense. It would all line up.
In a few hours everything would be back to normal.
He rolled over and fell asleep before he could give it another thought.
12
Emily was still on the back porch, still wide awake when her phone buzzed. Was this Noah asking her to come back inside, wanting to make things right? Ready to give their marriage another chance?
She grabbed her phone and looked at it. Kari Taylor. Emily sighed and opened up the message.
Are you awake? I can’t sleep. Just keep thinking of you and Noah.
Emily’s heart warmed at the thought. It was good to have a friend in the middle of the heartbreak.Yes, I’m awake. I’m thinking of us, too.She thought for a moment.Maybe if we’d paid more attention at your Bible study. Back when the two of us attended.
After a few seconds, Kari responded.It’s not too late.
Yes, it is.Emily had to be honest. Her fingers flew across her phone’s keyboard.But back then... wow, I mean the lessons were so powerful. Week after week all those couples talked about how after God, marriage had to come first. Over careers or hobbies or even a person’s own interests.
Emily waited. It was true. Kari and her husband had done an amazing job bringing up topics from the Bible and applying them to the art of marriage. But she and Noah never seemed to notice the lessons. They were too busy pretending to be fine.
Kari texted her again.Putting each other first, that’s a decision. The two of you could still do that now. Think of others better than yourselves.
Frustration worked through Emily’s heart. Kari didn’t understand. She read her friend’s text again:Think of others better than yourselves.The admonition ran through Emily’s heart. Ryan and Kari had said those six words more times than Emily could count.
But that wasn’t what Noah and she had done. Not at all.
She texted her response.I wish we would’ve listened the first time we heard you say that. It’s too late now. He’s leaving in the morning.
Other teachings from the couple came to life again. Keep short accounts. Don’t go to bed angry. Expect the best of each other. All things that were easy for the Taylors. But for Emily and Noah? They had failed each of those nice-sounding teachings, one after another. Over and over and over again. Until now it really was too late.
Another text appeared.I’ll let you go. But please, Emily, you have to believe. Even now God can work a miracle.
There was nothing Emily could say to that.Thanks, Kari.She hesitated and finished her text.Good night.
Emily closed down her phone and set it on the table beside her. Enough talk about what was and wasn’t possible. Kari didn’t understand. Anyway, it was easier to think of the past. She closed her eyes and let the memories come again until there was nothing she could do to stop them.
And suddenly she could smell the hint of a distant bonfire, feel the crisp fall air on her face. She was there in the stadium seats with Clara and she was actually having fun. At a football game. The first time she had ever watched Noah play. She could hear the band and see the cheerleaders. The fight song filled the air around her and she was watching Noah run the ball into the end zone for the Hoosiers.
Clara had struggled to her feet, her face the picture of pure exuberance. So it went with every play, every first down all four quarters of the game. She didn’t understand all the rules, but Emily loved every minute. More than that, she had learned something about Clara that day.
Clara understood football. Like she’d been a lifelong fan.
Which maybe she had been.
Then Emily realized the reason. When her mom was still alive, she would watch football with Clara on Saturdays in the fall. While Emily took dance lessons. Not until that game of Noah’s did Emily connect the dots. Of course Clara loved football. It was a connection to their mama.
