Page 69 of Sean
The colorful car had distracted Jace from his pounding.He reached for it, and his grandfather handed it over.He looked at Santa/Benjamin.“You’re sure that had my name on it?”
“Maybe you should see if there’s something else in the box.”
Dad made a show of pulling wads of tissue paper from the otherwise empty box.When he reached the bottom, he found an envelope taped inside.He pulled it free and held it up to the light.“Not thick enough to be the wad of cash I asked for.Not plastic enough to be a gift card.”
“Open it up already,” Mom demanded.
He lifted the flap of the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper.His mouth moved as he read, but before he got halfway to the bottom, a smile split his face.“Boys, you bought me a race car?”
Sean laughed, “Not exactly.It’s a racing experience at the Texas Motor Speedway.The day will include a racing class, all the gear you need, and four laps around the track behind the wheel of a Lamborghini.”
Benjamin took up the explanation.“You’ve always said that you wanted a Lamborghini.This is as close as we could get.Merry Christmas.”
Dad scrambled to his feet and held out his arms.Sean joined his brother, and they stepped into his embrace.He thumped their backs.“I think that’s gonna win best gift for the evening.”
Sean took a step back and took up a position next to the tree.“You might wanna hold your thought on that.I have something for the whole family.”His gaze skimmed them, then landed on Monica.“That includes you, by the way.I tried to find a way to wrap it but...”He shrugged.“I’m just going to tell you.”He slid his hands into his jeans pockets, rocked back on his heels, and took a deep breath.“Last night I rededicated my life to the Lord.”
His statement was met with shocked silence.He’d expectedsomething.He continued.
“I know I’ve been a bit of a jerk about attending church and defensive about giving up my ministry.I want to apologize to everyone.I still intend to start my new job in January, but I’ll be looking for ministry opportunities as well.I want God’s will for this next season in my life.For every season.”
While Jace raced the toy Lamborghini around the room his parents reclaimed their seats, and Benjamin perched on the edge of the chair where Kinsley sat.
Sean pulled an envelope out of his pocket and held out a hand to Monica.She started to take it, but he pulled it back, taking her hand to keep her with him.
He faced her.“When I told you that I couldn’t face Matthew, you let it go.”He felt the rest of his family’s inquisitive stares but didn’t explain.Monica knew what he meant, and right now, that was all that mattered.“You let it go, but God wouldn’t.You remember I told you that I was busy with something until late last night?”
She nodded, confusion in her eyes.
“I went to Phoenix yesterday.”
She covered her lips with her fingertips.“Sean.”The word was barely more than a breath.
He handed her the envelope.“Go ahead and open it up.”
Her hands shook as she peeled back the flap.It took three tries before she could get her fingers to close around the single sheet of paper.She pulled it free, unfolded it, and gasped.
It was an invoice with Matthew Wright’s logo in the upper right corner.It listed the January event and at the bottom...PAID IN FULL.
Monica raised her eyes to Sean’s.“I don’t understand.”
Sean took the paper and passed it to his mom.“You guys look while I tell you a story.”Starting with the canceled photo session, he detailed the circumstances surrounding his trip.By the time he came to the part of actually standing in Matthew’s office, Monica was in tears.
He took her hands in his.What he saw shining in her eyes went beyond tears or gratitude.“I went there to ask him to give you a little more time to gather your funds.Instead, he’s speaking at the vet center next month at no cost.He told me to tell you to put the money you’ve raised toward another cause.And also, he said, ‘Merry Christmas.’”
Monica took a whole second to digest Sean’s news.“You said you couldn’t.So why...?”
“Because I love you.”As the words came out of him, the truth of them engulfed him.
He didn’t care that his whole family was watching.His heart shifted, his love for Brittany settling into a place that would be there forever.He didn’t have to choose one to have the other.“I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say those words to a woman again, but you showed me how.”
Monica threw herself into his arms.“I love you too!”She plastered her lips to his, and making his prediction to Matthew a reality.
If this was the reward for making her happy, he’d be looking for ways to do that every day for the rest of his life.
