Page 16 of Sean
“You know that thing about respecting your feelings?”
“Yeah.”Defensiveness colored the word.
“I want you to know that I’m praying for you.God gave you to me, and I gave you right back to Him when you were a month old.It’s been my greatest joy to watch both my boys grow into Christian men, husbands, and fathers.I know you feel like your ministry is over, but God isn’t finished with you.Make me a promise?”
He didn’t want to make any promises to anyone, but this was his mother.“What?”
“That you’ll listen for His voice, and that you’ll come talk to me before you make any major decisions.”
A whimper sounded from down the hall, and Sean looked that way, glad for a legitimate excuse to end the conversation.
His mom was moving before he had time to leave the doorway.“Let me by.”
“I can get him.”
“So can I.”
Sean stepped out of her way.“Sorry.”
“For what?”
“The interruption.Your quiet time won’t be the same with us in the house.”
She patted his cheek.“My babies have never been an interruption, they’re a blessing.Now, get out of here and have a good run.I’ll have him good and spoiled by the time you get back.”
Sean grabbed the gym bag he’d left by the front door the night before and let himself out of the house.It’d been months since he’d taken his morning run without his son.He’d miss the little guy this morning, but not enough to argue with his mom when she was determined to babysit.Besides, Jace needed a woman’s touch in his life.If it couldn’t be Brittany, then Grandma was a logical choice.
He pulled into the lot of the city park, turned off the car, and surveyed the activity.There were probably twenty people milling around.Most wore sweat suits similar to his.Even though the sky was a spotless blue and the sun was rising higher by the minute, the mid-November mornings could be chilly in this part of the country.Some people stretched, others ran in place while working their arms and shoulders, and a few squatted on the ground, digging through gym bags.
The park had been here for as long as Sean could remember.The playground equipment had seen a number of upgrades through the years but what caught Sean’s attention this morning was the gleaming surface of the new walking track.It looked wide enough to accommodate four people abreast.He knew from his conversation with Benjamin that the track was a two-mile loop that circled the neighboring school.
He climbed out of the car.At least they wouldn’t be running over each other.Sean turned to close the car door, then took a quick step back.
Benjamin leaned carelessly against the back fender, scrolling through his phone.Where had he come from?
“’Bout time you decided to get out.What were you doing in there, taking a snooze?”
“Just getting my bearings.How can any place change this much and still be the same?”He motioned to a red-and-white structure several feet away.“I can’t believe that old rocket ship slide is still here.I remember racing you to the top when we couldn’t have been more than four.”
Benjamin put his phone away and threw his arm around Sean’s shoulders.“A race you lost, as I remember.Just like you’re going to come in behind me in the marathon.”
“You think whatever makes you comfortable.”
“I don’t think, I know.”Benjamin steered Sean toward the activity.“I’ll tell you another thing I know.”
“What’s that?”
He wiggled his eyebrows.“You still got it.”
“It?”
“I saw you chatting it up with Monica last night, sharing food off your plate.You two looked plenty cozy.All I can say is, you go, bro.”
Sean stopped and faced his brother.“What are you, twelve?We were having a conversation.Nothing more.”
“You were having a conversation with the prettiest unattached girl in the room.”
Sean narrowed his eyes, wishing they contained laser beams like one of his childhood heroes.He’d singe his lunatic brother where he stood.
