Page 8 of Forgiving Paris
She made her way to the kitchen and half an hour later she had whipped up spaghetti with zucchini noodles and homemade tomato sauce. Devin was with a friend and Cole was back at college. His junior year already. Only Amy and Janessa were joining them tonight. At fifteen and nine, they were still home most evenings.
But not for long. All the kids had grown up in a blink.
Ashley set the table, the way she did every night. Dinnertime was as important now as it had been when the kids were little. She was laying out the plates when Landon came through the door. He was fire chief for the Bloomington Fire Department, a prestigious position that no longer required his wearing a uniform.
She heard him walk up behind her. “I must say…” He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. “Has anyone ever told you?” Gently he turned her in his arms and worked his fingers up along her face. “You have the most beautiful hair.”
Ashley grinned. They were the words her dear old friend Irvel had said to her many times a day, back when Ashley worked at Sunset Hills Adult Care Home after coming home from Paris. “No… No one’s told me.” Ashley grinned at him. “Not in a very long time.”
It wasn’t true. Landon said it all the time. But this was part of the game. “Well then”—he kissed her lips—“I’ll tellyou. You have the most beautiful hair, Ashley.” He smiled and his lips met hers. Their kiss lingered, the way it usually did. He stepped back and smiled. “How was your day?”
She hesitated. “It was good. Really.” Her smile didn’t feel genuine. “Kari and I shipped out the paintings. They’ll arrive in time for the show.”
“Good.” Landon wasn’t fooled. He crooked his finger and lifted Ashley’s chin. “You’re still not sure.” He searched her eyes. “I know you, Ashley. Only God knows you better.” His voice was soft, his words aimed straight to her soul. “Why so many doubts?”
“I keep thinking… maybe it’s too soon.”
“Too soon?” Landon led Ashley to the kitchen, where he leaned on the nearest counter and pulled her into his arms. “It’s been twenty-two years, my love.”
“Twenty-three.” She managed a weak smile. “But who’s counting?”
“Jessie’s there, remember. That’s another reason to go.” Landon raised his brow. “She’s got a lunch date all planned for us.”
“True.” Ashley pictured her sweet niece. Kari and Ryan’s oldest, Jessie, was doing a summer in Paris. Studying art, of all things. “Jessie is definitely counting on us.”
For a long moment, Landon didn’t say anything. Just looked into Ashley’s eyes and brushed away the loose strands of hair from her forehead. “Can I tell you a story?”
“Okay.” The girls would be home in ten minutes. But for now, they had time.
Landon drew a deep breath. “Once a long time ago, agroup of disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a great storm came up. So great, that the waves threatened to sink their boat.” He paused. “And all the while their teacher was in the hull… sleeping. His head on a pillow.”
Ashley loved when he did this, when he found some Bible story or anecdote from real life and used it to make sense of her world. She lifted her face to Landon. “I think I might know this one.”
“Ah, but there’s more.” Landon paused. “The disciples cried out to their teacher and immediately… immediately… Jesus woke up. And with two simple words He calmed the storm. Completely.” Landon spread his hands as if he could see the glassy water from that long-ago night. “?‘Be still,’ He called out. And I mean… the water was glass. Just like that.”
A quick laugh caught Ashley off guard. “I love you, do you know that?”
“I do… but wait!” He got lost in her eyes again. “Most people stop there. The water was still; Jesus and the disciples carried on and they reached the shore. Just like Jesus had promised from the beginning.”
“Thank you, Landon.” The roasted vegetables needed to come out of the oven. “You’re always a great storyteller.”
“No, no!” Landon held up his index finger. “You’re forgetting about the other boats.”
Ashley blinked. “The what?”
“Aha! I got your attention.” Landon smiled. “The other boats. On the sea that night were other boats. It says soright in the Bible. Some versions say there were otherlittleboats on the sea.”
“Really?” Ashley couldn’t tell if he was teasing or not. “Little boats?”
“Yes. Look… I’m serious!” He smiled as he held his arms out to the sides. “I mean, I imagine they were big enough to hold fishermen, but whatever. Just more boats than the one Jesus was on.”
“Okay…”
“This is the whole point, Ash. The other boats… they were caught up in the storm, too. And those boats didn’t have Jesus in them. But when He calmed the storm for His disciples, guess who also had smooth sailing?”
“The other boats.” Ashley answered at the same time Landon did.
He smiled. “Do you get it?”
