Twilight (49 page)
“That’s okay.” He’d learned not to expect too much. He was no longer in control of things. But then, he’d never been in control anyway.
Your will, Lord
.
“You were right. I had to remember who I was to God, but even more, who God was to me.” She swiped a tear aside. “And more importantly who He wants me to be.”
Cal nodded. That was certainly the right direction.
“I could have made it so much easier. I already had everything I needed … and even what I wanted.” She reached up and touched his lips. “I was just too stubborn to accept it.”
No more stubborn than he’d been, trying to move ahead of God’s plan.
Her fingertips trailed across his cheek. “Can you forgive me?”
“It was my fault. I messed things up for us.” He pressed her palm to his face. “But we can make it right.”
She sucked in a tiny sob. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“That’s not how it works. Love’s a gift, Laurie, not earned, just given.” He’d had to learn that himself.
Lord?
He caught her neck between his palms, felt her pulse under his thumbs. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
His chest swelled. He hadn’t imagined the word; she’d actually said it. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her again. “Think you can stand it here in Montrose for the rest of your life?”
“Wherever you are.”
He kissed her eyelids. “There’s a place off Route D for sale. A few acres, a big stone farmhouse. I could do it up nicely. You’d never know it was old.”
“Does it have a woods?”
“And a creek.”
She smiled. “Luke and Maddie would like that.”
“There’s even a carriage house. You could set up your wheel, make a studio.”
She looked up then, her mouth quivering.
He drank in the coffee of her eyes, pictured her with the potter’s wheel spinning between her knees, the clay coating her hands. “Anything you want, Laurie.”
“I want you, Cal.”
How many years had he waited to hear that? How many times had he given up? But never completely. God had given him this one love, this one chance. “You’ve always had that.”
She drew a jagged breath. “I know.”
He hooked an arm over her shoulders. “Where are the kids?”
“With Cissy and Mildred. They’re beside themselves wanting to see you.”
That thought reached down inside him to a place left empty just for them. A place that could expand with a baby of his own, maybe two, maybe six. Anything was possible with Laurie as his bride. He looked up again at the milky stars, the seat of heaven.
Thank you, God
.
He curled Laurie into his arm and headed for the house. But not too quickly. He wanted to savor the moment. On the other hand, he could hardly wait to see Mildred’s face.
This book would not have come to be without our friend Steve Schopper of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Thank you, Steve, for all the technical fire fighting and medical information, for taking the time to answer questions, and for all the work you do educating children in fire safety.
Thanks also to Sergeant Rick Tudor of the Monument Police Department for, likewise, answering questions and imparting information and experience.
Thanks to Sarah Long, Barb Lilland, and the others who read and improved my work. Special thanks to Jim and Jessica for multiple readings and great feedback. I love you both. And to Charlotte and Melodie for input and encouragement, many thanks.
Thank you, Lord, for this calling, and your abundant grace to fulfill it.
