“There’s nothing premature about that baby,” Shelly said.
“No kidding,” Lauren added. “If she had gone to her due date, he would have been a bruiser! The doctor said it was a good thing he came early because Jessica was able to deliver naturally. If she had gone a few more weeks they might have had to do a cesarean since she’s such a small-boned woman. And her labor was only five hours, which they said was very fast for a first baby.”
“Do you want to come in and sit down?” Shelly asked. She had noticed that Lauren didn’t look too comfortable propped up on the crutches. “Not that it’s my place to offer.”
“Why don’t we go in the kitchen,” Kenton suggested. “Have you two eaten yet? I’ll find something for us. Kyle probably won’t be home all night. He asked us to make sure you two felt at home.”
They followed Lauren as she hobbled into the kitchen and found a chair in which she could sit and prop up her foot.
“Do you think Kyle would mind if I plugged in my laptop?” Meredith asked. “I just need to retrieve my e-mail.”
Kenton and Lauren acted as if Meredith had said something funny or magical. They caught and held each other’s gaze, keeping the connection for a long time, as if no one else existed.
“Sure,” Kenton said, slowly turning back to Meredith. “Do you know where the library is? That’s Kyle’s office. You can use that room for privacy, if you like.”
“Thanks.” Meredith left.
“Have you both moved into a guest room yet?” Lauren asked. “There are a couple to choose from. My favorite is the one downstairs at the end of the hall. I call it the geranium room.”
“Thanks,” Shelly said. “We did find it and put our stuff there. I hope it’s okay that we took ourselves on a tour. This is a beautiful home, and the nursery is adorable.”
“They just finished it last weekend,” Lauren said. “Good thing! Kyle has been working full speed on this camp he’s developing, and Jessica had to chain him to the nursery so he would paint it.”
“Chain whom to the nursery?” Kenton asked.
“Excuse me. Chain Kyle along with the man of my dreams to the nursery,” Lauren said with a smile to Kenton. “Kenton’s a champion with a paintbrush. It’s one of his many fine attributes.”
“Tell me about this camp,” Shelly said.
“Kyle and Jess own some property outside of town,” Kenton said. “It’s a great piece of land along Heather Creek. He’s developing it into a retreat center. Even has its own little waterfall.”
“Really?” Shelly said.
“It’s no Multnomah Falls,” Kenton said. He looked at Lauren, and the two of them shared another secret smile. “But it’s coming along. He hired a guy last week to develop the layout of the camp. They haven’t gotten all the permits cleared yet, so the only thing they can start working on is the ropes course; you know, a rock-climbing, rappelling, tree-to-tree kind of recreation setup. Kyle will probably offer him the position of director once the camp is up and running.”
“Is Kyle looking for any other staff positions?” Shelly wasn’t even sure why she asked. She had an ideal setup at home. Why would she want to move here and work at a camp that wasn’t even started yet? It must be the adventurer in her, she decided. If she were to start a camp from level one, she would do a lot of things differently from the way Camp Autumn Brook had been set up.
“It’s not that far along,” Kenton said. “The ground is cleared for the main lodge, but like I said, the permits haven’t passed. I don’t know when he’s going to start hiring.” He opened the refrigerator and had a look. “There’s some little frilly sandwiches here,” Kenton said, pulling out a glass plate covered with clear wrap. The sandwiches were cut in heart shapes and rested on lace doilies.
“Those were for the party,” Lauren said. “I hope Ida got here in time to catch everyone and tell them it had been canceled. I took a half-day off from school. I teach high school English. Jessica and I had this big plan to host a Valentine’s Day party for some of the women in town who don’t have sweethearts. We wanted to do something special to let them know they were loved. I feel bad we had to cancel.”
“I’m sure they all understood,” Kenton said, reaching for one of the copper-bottomed pans that hung above the island stove. “All you’ll have to do is tell them it’s a baby shower, and they’ll be back next week. You might even be able to use the same sandwiches.”
“I don’t think so, honey,” Lauren said.
Shelly couldn’t help but think she would have qualified for an invitation to Jessica’s valentine luncheon since she didn’t have a sweetheart. She also thought it would be fun to come here for a baby shower for Jessica.
“I’m sure eager to see the little guy,” Shelly said. She felt connected with him even though she had just met Jessica.
“He’s beautiful,” Lauren said.
“Handsome,” Kenton corrected.
“Okay, Uncle K.C., he’s handsome. He looks like his daddy and his uncle,” Lauren said. “The doctor was saying that Jessica could come home tomorrow, if she wanted to. I’m sure Jess and Kyle would want you and Meredith to stay.”
“I don’t know what Meredith’s plans are now,” Shelly said. “I’m just along for the ride. We both felt a little awkward, dropping by at such an inopportune time.”
“Are you kidding?” Lauren said. “Jessica thought you were angels from heaven who came down to minister to her. You were amazing, Shelly, the way you knew what to do and got her to calm down. The scene would have been a disaster on wheels if it had been up to me.” Lauren laughed. “I mean, look! I couldn’t even get to the phone to call Kyle without disaster finding me.”
“You do keep your guardian angels busy,” Kenton said in a gentle, teasing voice.
Lauren didn’t seem to take offense at his words. She beamed at him, and he looked as if he caught the warmth and held it.
“You know, you two don’t have to stay here and entertain us,” Shelly said. “We can manage fine. You probably had plans for tonight, didn’t you?”
“We were going dancing,” Kenton said with a half-grin. “But Wren suddenly changed her mind, for some reason.”
Wren, what a sweet nickname. Shelly let out a tiny sigh. God, I’m delighted that you have called me by name and that I’m yours. But what about this feeling? It’s Valentine’s Day. I have no sweetheart to call me by a tender nickname, and that makes me want to cry.
“Omelets sound good?” Kenton asked, extracting ingredients from the refrigerator.
“It’s his specialty,” Lauren told Shelly from her chair. “Kenton is good at many things. Omelets are at the top of the list.”
Kenton straightened up and looked at Lauren over the top of the refrigerator door. “Why, thank you, my love.”
Lauren smiled and caught his gaze once more. Still smiling she quipped, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee for every room you paint and every omelet you make.”
As they looked at each other, Shelly thought she could almost see the sparks, like tiny, heart-shaped bursts of love, coursing through the air between them.
“I’m going to check on Meredith,” Shelly said, suddenly feeling as if she were interrupting something between Kenton and Lauren. She backed up and went down the hall to the office.
The door was closed. Shelly tapped on it lightly and then opened it and went in. Meredith was on the phone. When she saw Shelly, she covered the mouthpiece with her hand and said, “I’ll just be a minute.”
Shelly knew that was her sister’s way of saying she wanted privacy. Closing the door behind her, Shelly headed back to the kitchen. She quietly pushed open the swinging door that separated the kitchen from the entryway and noticed that Kenton wasn’t at the stove whipping up omelets. He was standing in front of Lauren, who sat in her immobile position with upturned chin and a face that glowed, making her much more beautiful than Shelly originally had thought she was.
Kenton took Lauren’s face in h
is hands, leaned over, and placed a kiss on her lips as if he were sealing some promise. Shelly knew that kiss. It was the kiss she had rehearsed a hundred times in her mind, the kiss she had planned to give Jonathan last October, the kiss that said, “I’m my beloved’s, and he is mine.” Shelly’s kiss remained within her, unspent. Kenton had just broken the bank.
Feeling like an intruder, Shelly slowly backed up and let the door silently close. Part of her wanted to linger, to vicariously enjoy this couple’s love that was in full bloom. It was too beautiful to turn away from. She stood for just a moment behind the closed door.
“My Wren,” Shelly heard Kenton say, “I cannot, I will not wait another day, another hour. You are the other half of my heart. I’ve waited patiently, as you asked. Please say that my wait has come to an end. Take me as your husband. I want you for my wife.”
Shelly bit her lower lip and closed her eyes. She silently called out, Lauren, don’t be coy. Gather those rosebuds he just tossed at your feet, or you’ll be sorry forever!
“Hi,” Meredith said, coming into the entryway from the study.
Shelly jumped.
“Sorry to startle you. What’s happening?”
Shelly put a silencing finger to her lips and directed Meredith into the parlor. “Well,” Shelly said, folding her arms across her middle and trying to play it cool. “Let’s see. Jessica had a baby. You knew that. Lauren broke her foot. You knew that.” She tapped her index finger on her chin and said, “Oh, I know. Kenton is in there, proposing to Lauren. You probably didn’t know that.”
“Are you kidding?” Meredith’s eyes grew wide. “How romantic. On Valentine’s Day! Did he give her a ring?”
“I wasn’t watching!”
“Well, you better sit down because I have news for you.”
“What?”
“Sit down.”
“No, just tell me.”
Meredith shrugged and said, “Okay. I received an e-mail from Jana.”
“Oh, good. Did she send you Jonathan and Elena’s address?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because there is no address for Jonathan and Elena. Jonathan and Elena broke up.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Shelly stumbled back and plopped down on the pink-flowered couch in Kyle and Jessica’s living room.
“I told you to sit down,” Meredith said. She went over and sat next to her sister. “Jana said a guy named Tony from Akron came to see Elena at Christmastime.”
“Tony?”
Meri nodded.
“Tony the mechanic. She was trying to fix me up with him.”
“Well, he’s no longer available,” Meredith stated flatly. “Two days after Tony arrived, Elena broke up with poor ‘Johnny’ and went back to Akron with Tony.”
“You’re making this up.”
“No,” Meredith said, holding up her hand like she was taking a pledge. “It’s all on the e-mail.”
“I just can’t believe this. Jonathan must have been shattered.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Meredith said flippantly.
Instantly, the tears sprang to Shelly’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Meredith said. “That was cruel. I shouldn’t have said that.” She slipped her arm around Shelly and apologized again.
“No, it’s true. I deserved that. Jonathan is the most tenderhearted, loving man I know. He didn’t deserve to have his heart broken even one time. How will he ever trust another woman again?”
“I think I know how he can learn to trust again. I think you should write him,” Meri said.
“I thought you didn’t have his address.”
“You asked for Jonathan and Elena’s address. That one doesn’t exist. Jana did send me an e-mail address for Jonathan. You want to write him? I left my computer on.”
Shelly numbly followed her sister into the large study and compliantly sat in the leather chair behind the great mahogany desk. The screen of the laptop computer glowed like a night-light before her.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Open up your heart to him,” Meredith said. “Let him know what you think and feel. Let him know he is welcome back anytime. That’s your gift, Shelly. You have a welcoming heart. You can put complete strangers at ease. Look how you were with Jessica this afternoon. Jonathan is no stranger. He is your very best friend. Tell him you still love him.”
Shelly’s stomach muscles felt tight as she absorbed her sister’s words. She knew Meredith was referring to Jonathan, but so much of what she said corresponded to the way Shelly felt about the Lord and how she had responded that night at camp by opening her heart and surrendering to him.
Her fingers began to tap out the message that was on her heart.
Jonathan,
I heard from Jana today that you and Elena are no longer together. I’m sorry, my friend. I don’t know what else to say.
Looking up at her sister, Shelly said, “I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
“It’s a very good idea. Keep writing.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Tell him how you feel.”
Shelly gazed at the rows of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that lined the softly lit room. She stared at the computer screen. The only thing that came to her mind was the crazy memory of when they had baked cookies at his house that one rainy afternoon when they were so young.
I feel as if I am, and maybe always will be, what your mom said so long ago. Do you remember when she told us we were like two raindrops on the window?
I’m feeling for you for what you must have been going through these past few months. Please know that, in some inexplicable way, I’m the other raindrop racing down the window beside you. You’ll always be my best friend.
“It’s not going to win any awards,” Shelly said.
“It’s just right,” Meredith said.
Shelly hesitated before writing the salutation.
“Go ahead,” Meredith said. “Sign it ‘love.’ ”
Shelly wanted to say something more than love, because what she and Jonathan had shared for so many years was, in fact, much more than love.
Always,
Shelly Bean
“Just click on ‘send mail,’ and it’s off,” Meredith said.
“I don’t know.” Shelly reread the letter and thought it sounded sappy. “Maybe I should take my time and write something that makes more sense.”
There was a knock on the study door, and Kenton entered. “I don’t mean to disturb you,” he said, “but I’m going to get at those omelets now, in case you two want something to eat.”
“We didn’t mean to disturb you,” Meredith said with a knowing twinkle in her eye.
Kenton smiled. “You overheard?”
“Well, a little,” Shelly said.
“Just so you know, she said yes,” he stated calmly. “I had big plans, of course. Dinner, dessert, a romantic drive along the coast. Life sort of took a curve around here today. I knew if I didn’t get on my knees before the day was over, my heart would burst. I’d planned what to say over and over.”
“That’s wonderful!” Meredith said.
He smiled. “She said yes.”
“So you said,” Meredith commented.
A lump stuck in Shelly’s throat. She pictured Jonathan planning their bike ride and dinner all those years ago. He would have been just as happy and content as Kenton if only she would have said yes. But that was past. She was determined to move forward.
“Congratulations,” Shelly said. “I’m very happy for you both.”
“Are you okay?” Kenton said, looking at Shelly more closely.
“She’s trying to decide whether or not to send an e-mail to the man she loves.”
Kenton took long-legged strides over to the desk. Shelly froze when she saw his intense gaze on her. He stopped in front of the desk, reached over, and with a kindly, brotherly expression, he grasped her hand and said, “You m
ust send it.”
Shelly was almost afraid to do anything else. “Okay,” she said, clicking on the ‘send mail’ box. A few seconds later, it was gone. Now she had the excruciating pain of waiting for his reply. She couldn’t imagine how people ever did it years ago when all they had was “snail mail” to send out the pulse of their hearts.
Shutting down her laptop, Meredith followed Shelly and Kenton back into the kitchen.
“Tell me more about this camp,” Meredith said. “Can we go out there tomorrow?”
“Sure, if you would like.”
It flashed through Shelly’s mind that Meredith wasn’t in the kitchen when Kenton mentioned the camp earlier. How did she know about it? She let the thought float away when she looked at Lauren.
Happy tears glistened on her face. “Did he tell you?” she asked.
“Yes! Congratulations!” Meredith said. “This has been quite a day around here!”
“Could you hand me the phone?” Lauren asked. “I want to tell Jess.”
“She already knows,” Kenton said.
“How could she know?”
“I told Kyle at the hospital. I showed him the ring.”
“Oh, let’s see your ring,” Shelly said. She and Meredith admired the lovely diamond set in a Black Hills gold setting. “That’s beautiful. So unique. I love it,” Shelly said.
“Do you mean to tell me that you told your brother before you asked me?” Lauren said.
“Yes.”
“What if I would have said no?”
“I knew you would say yes this time.” Kenton cracked another egg into the silver mixing bowl and beat it with a wire whisk.
A new hope rose inside Shelly. She didn’t know Kenton and Lauren’s love story, but apparently he had proposed to her once before, and she had turned him down. They looked as if that delay in their relationship hadn’t adversely affected their love at all. Was it possible that she and Jonathan might be able to get together again? Would he hold out a ring in his hand to her once more?
“Then let me at least call my mom and my brother,” Lauren said.