Eyes on the Unseen Prize

  ***

  Piper decided to cook a nice meal for Nick. Knowing that one of his favorite dishes was grilled steak, she drove to the store and gathered all of the items needed to make him an extraordinary steak dinner. It would be a surprise for him when he returned from work.

  “Wow! I smell something delicious,” he said as he strolled into the house.

  “Steak, your favorite. Once you change, I want you to relax in the family room. You’re not allowed in the kitchen. I’m going to cook you an amazing meal.”

  “Geez. Thanks. I sure didn’t expect that.”

  A short while later, while eating dinner at the kitchen table, Piper looked Nick in the eyes and said, “I’ll get past this. I will. I talked to Cherie today and it helped me.”

  “She and Chase have certainly been through a lot.”

  “Yes. They have. You know, maybe we were meant to adopt kids. Maybe that’s why both of us feel called to work at the Collins Foster Home. And maybe God has chosen a few kids for us to adopt. He’ll comfort those we don’t choose. We shouldn’t worry about that.”

  “I’d love to adopt kids.”

  Piper took a bite of her steak and the conversation paused for a short while.

  “Nick, I’m sorry for the way I’ve been taking this lately. I’ve been selfish towards you as if it’s all about me and not about you too. You also lost your son. And you’ve been an absolute champ in helping me get through this. That speaks to your character. You’re a better man than I could have even imagined when I married you. I am so blessed to have you by my side. I love you, Nick O’Brien. Please forgive me for failing to think of your needs these past couple of weeks.”

  “Of course I forgive you! And I love you too, Piper. More than ever.” He put his arm around her and kissed her gently on the cheek. “But I need your forgiveness too. I blew it over the weekend. Blew my promise and drank too much. I didn’t mean to do that. The beers just tasted so good. I wish I would have stopped. Just couldn’t.”

  “It’s alright, Nick. Neither of us is perfect.”

  Piper stood up. “Let me hug you.”

  Nick stood up and Piper wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, thinking she would do whatever she could to support his needs. It was time to stop mourning for herself and to start focusing on her love for Nick.

  Closing her eyes as she looked downward, she said a silent prayer, thanking the Lord for bringing Nick into her life and for the many other blessings she had been given. A vision of Jesus’ crucifixion presented itself within her mind, which saddened her and called her attention to all that He had done for the salvation of His children. Feeling humbled and insignificant, she prayed.

  Please forgive me for lashing out. I know you have a plan for me that will help turn my fine little cottage into a castle. I know I shouldn’t be asking you why these things happen, but what plan you have in mind to make me stronger. From now on, I will trust you. I promise.

  Faith made herself noticeable as she squeezed her little body in between them. It was at that moment Piper once again observed the gold-colored locket on Faith’s collar with Faith’s name sketched on the outside. This time she thought to pry the locket open. She detached Faith’s collar to ensure she didn’t tug too hard on Faith’s neck, and clasped the locket with both hands. The little dog watched her intently, as if well aware of the locket’s contents.

  “Wow!” She said. “The locket holds a key.”

  “How interesting,” Nick said. “A golden key. I wonder what the key opens.”

  “Strange that a little dog is carrying around a golden key,” Piper said.

  “Or is it? Remember the other golden key?”

  Both smiled.