“Where are the guys?” She tried to act casual as she reached for a coffee cup from the windowsill.
Her mother gestured out the front window. “They’ve already started loading up.”
“Ah.” She looked out of the window just in time to see Nathan hoisting a box into the back of the moving truck. Her heart twisted a bit, but she pushed the feelings down.
“I should finish packing up these last few dishes.” She opened a cupboard and pointed to a handful of things she’d deliberately held back till now.
“Let me help.” Her mother stood right away. “I hear you haven’t been feeling well this morning.”
Kellie shrugged, hoping to still her mother’s fears. “I’ll be fine.” She smiled warmly and quickly changed the subject by turning to face Julia. “So, when are you and Frankie coming to town to see us?”
“When do you want us?”
“As soon as you can get there.” Kellie reached to grab her friend’s hand and fought to keep the tears from rising.
“I’m not much of a city girl,” Julia said with a shrug. “But for you, I’ll give it a try.”
They dove back into their work, chatting like schoolgirls. An hour or so later, a handful of people from the church showed up with food in their hands. They set up card tables on the lawn then stayed to join in the fun. Shortly thereafter, others arrived with everything from sodas to homemade cookies. They added their food to the existing bounty and the tiny tables overflowed.
By the time the guys had the truck loaded, lunchtime had arrived. Kellie joined the others on the lawn as they shared sandwiches, conversation and laughter. It seemed no time at all had passed when Kellie looked at her watch and gasped. 1:25.They had planned to leave before noon.
She left the roar of the crowd for a moment to take one final look at the house. She didn’t realize Nathan had joined her until she felt his arms slip around her waist from behind.
“We’ll be back next weekend to finish up.” He spoke quietly, but she detected an edge to his voice, something she couldn’t quite define.
She nodded and turned to face him. “I know.” She leaned her head against his shoulder and tried to relax.
“Kellie?”
She looked into his eyes. For some reason, they were etched with concern.
“What, Babe?”
He sighed deeply. “There’s something I need to tell you before we go.”
“Really?” She drew in a sigh of her own. “Because there’s something I need to tell you, too.”
twenty
All morning long Nathan had argued with himself, but truth now raised its head, and he could not press it down any longer. What would be the point, when the voice of the Lord roared so loudly in his ear? Nathan dove into the conversation with Kellie, spilling everything at once.
He told her about the proposition to run for City Comptroller. He shared his feelings of ambivalence toward the partnership he’d just been offered back in Houston. He spoke honestly about his confusion over everything.
Kellie said nothing as the words tumbled out of his mouth. However, he couldn’t help but notice the tears in her eyes. At one point, he grabbed her hand.
“I feel terrible about the fact that I haven’t really asked you what you wanted till now.” He spoke passionately. “But I’ve assumed all along I knew what the Lord wanted.”
“You’ve never been the type to assume,” she assured him. “I think you’ve always acted out of practicality, common sense.”
“I know, but. . .” He glanced at the moving truck. Frankie and Julia stood beside it, deeply engaged in conversation with Kenton and Norah. “Look at them.” He gestured. “Some people would say they don’t have it as good as we do.”
Kellie’s brow wrinkled as she responded. “Financially, you mean?”
Nathan shook his head. “Not just that. We’ve got our education. We’ve also got amazing jobs with plenty of advancement opportunities. We’ve got a wonderful home in a great city and plenty of money in the bank so we don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck.”
“What are you saying, Nathan?” Kellie’s eyes remained moist.
“I’m saying that maybe, just maybe, I’ve placed my security in the wrong things. Maybe the Lord wants to free us up—to give us reason to live in faith.” His thoughts flowed from the tip of his tongue without constraint. “Maybe He wants us to let go of some of our material possessions and live a simpler life. That’s what I’m saying.”
Even as the words were spoken, Nathan felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. All of his adult life he’d had to prove himself. Jockeying for better position at the firm, investing in a better place to live, setting aside money into bigger, better types of accounts.
And for what?
He bit his lip and waited for Kellie’s response. He knew she had grown accustomed to nice things—a beautiful home and frequent gifts. He also knew she’d grown to appreciate and understand their fast-paced lifestyle with all of its perks. And yet, she seemed to thrive here, in Greenvine.
Which would she choose, if given the opportunity?
***
Kellie choked back tears and fought for words. For days, she had prayed Nathan would come to this decision, but now that the Lord had answered her prayers, she could hardly believe the words coming from her husband’s lips or the passion that seemed to drive them.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into his chest. “N. . .Nathan.”
“I can’t tell if you’re happy or sad.” He pulled back to look into her eyes.
She shook her head. “I’m happy, Baby. You don’t know how happy.”
A look of relief flooded his face. “Why didn’t you say something before now?” he asked. “You let me go on and on, setting my sites on life in the city. I must’ve sounded like an idiot.”
“No,” she whispered, “I told you last night. . . I’d follow you to the ends of the earth. If you’d said we needed to move to Alaska I would have gone.” She gave him a shy smile. “At least, I’d like to think I would have. But the truth of the matter is, my heart is here.” She gestured to the worn-down little house. “I love this place. I know it doesn’t make much sense, but I do. And I can see us here, years from now, with children of our own.”
“Really?” He looked at her with some degree of curiosity. “You wouldn’t miss living in a nicer place?”
“Nathan, look around you.” She gestured to the property, their friends, her parents. “This is a nicer place. And I don’t need a fast-paced life or lots of money to enjoy myself. I’ve had the time of my life these last few months. Less is more, you know?”
He nodded as his gaze traveled from person to person. “Yes.” He sighed. “I’m just relieved to hear you say it out loud. I’ve been trying not to let myself get caught up in the lifestyle these people enjoy, but I want to. I really want what they have.”
She put her hand to her stomach and prepared to speak the words she’d been holding back for days. “Since you’ve said that, there’s something I need to tell you.” The words, “Nathan, we’re going to paint the spare bedroom pink or blue,” just seemed to flow.
“What?” His brow wrinkled. Seconds later, however, the truth registered. “Wait a minute. Are you saying you’re. . .you’re. . .” His eyes grew wide.
Kellie nodded. “Yep. I sure am.”
“W. . .what? When?”
“In about seven and a half months.” Kellie couldn’t hold back the grin. “I’ve known for a while now.”
“You’re kidding.” He shook his head and stared at her as if they were strangers. Suddenly truth registered in his eyes. “That’s why you were so sick this morning.”
Kellie nodded but said nothing.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I can’t believe you didn’t say anything.”
She shrugged. “I knew that your decision to stay or to go would be swayed by knowing. I needed you to make a decision based on your heart, not on our circumstance
s.”
He continued to shake his head, clearly unable to formulate words. “I just don’t believe it.” The edges of his lips curled up. “I’m going to be a dad.” Fear immediately registered. “Not that I have any clue how to do that.”
“You’ll learn.” Kellie gestured in Frankie’s direction. “And he’ll help you, I’m sure. He’s an awesome father.”
“He is.” Nathan looked at her with eyes filled with love. “And you’re going to be the best mother in the world.”
Kellie couldn’t help but smile. “If I’m half as good as Julia, I’ll be doing well. It’s going to be quite a change from what I’m used to, but I can’t wait.” Her heart swelled with joy and she and Nathan crossed the yard, hand in hand.
***
Nathan shook his head, clearly overcome by Kellie’s revelation. No wonder she’d acted so emotional these past few days. No wonder she didn’t want to settle back into her old life at the condo. Her perceptions had changed because her situation had changed.
Kellie interrupted his thoughts with her next question. “Speaking of not waiting. . .what should we do with the condo?”
He shrugged. “Sell it? Rent it out? Doesn’t matter. It’s not like we’ll be needing it anymore.”
She nodded. “If we sold it, we could use the money to fix up this house.” They turned to face the little wood-framed home together, hand in hand.
“Good point.” He nodded in agreement. And it looks like that trip to Europe has been postponed.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the future,” Kellie continued. “But the future is here. Now. This is what we’ve talked and prayed about. It’s happening right in front of us.”
Nathan wrapped her in his arms and gave way to the lump in his throat. The tears that followed came from a place he’d not visited in quite some time.
The future is now.
And no time like the present to enjoy it.
twenty -one
“Honey, are you ready?” Nathan popped his head in the door of the nursery to find Kellie changing their son’s diaper.
“Almost.” She finished the process, then swept baby Logan into her arms. As she cradled him against her shoulder, Nathan thought his heart would leap from his chest.
“That’s the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen.”
“What?” Kellie looked at him curiously.
“You and Logan. Together. Like that.” He felt the sting of tears. “It’s just perfect.” An idea struck him. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
He raced into the master bedroom and pulled out his new camera. Entering the nursery once again, he began snapping photos from every angle. Kellie shook her head, as always.
“We have hundreds of pictures of him already.”
“So?”
“You’re so cute.” She walked over to him and placed Logan into his arms. “Would you mind holding him for a few minutes while I put on some powder and lipstick?”
“Of course not.” The baby squirmed and Nathan responded by rocking him back and forth.
“Oh,” Kellie added, “And would you go ahead and put his jacket on? It’s a little cool out today.”
“Sure.” Nathan reached into Logan’s closet and pulled out the light blue jacket with a bumblebee on the front. They’d purchased it at a local super center. Nothing was too good for his son. He slipped the jacket on and held the baby up in the air until he squealed with delight.
“Nathan.” Kellie scolded from down the hall. How did she always know?
Nathan made his way out into the living room with Logan in his arms. Once there, he settled down onto the sofa and focused on the baby’s face. Soft blonde curls and bright blue eyes seemed only natural on his handsome son. And talk about smart! Not yet two months old, and already holding his head up and smiling. It wouldn’t be long before he’d be scooting all over the place.
Kellie came back out into the living room. She paused for a glimpse in the hall mirror and fussed with her hair. “I look awful,” she said.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said, and meant it. Sure, she’d changed a little over the past year, but those changes had transitioned her into the woman of beauty who stood before him now. He wouldn’t change a thing—about her or their situation.
As they stood to leave, Nathan took a good long look around his house. No longer the run-down home it had once been, the place now stood as a testament to the wonders of transformation.
Then again, so did he.
“Ready?” Kellie lifted the baby from his arms. “We’ve got a big evening ahead of us. And I know my mother could use my help setting up.”
“I’m ready.” He helped her gather up the baby’s things, and they walked to the car together. No longer a sports car, but a practical SUV sat in the driveway. Logan’s car seat had its place of honor in the backseat.
Once situated, they pulled the car out onto the highway, chatting all the way. Kellie told Nathan all about her new part-time job at the brokerage house in nearby Brenham. She shared her joy at how well Logan seemed to have adapted to a few hours a day at Julia’s house.
Nathan shared his excitement over his work for the people of Greenvine. Then, they talked about tonight’s church choir party at her parents’ home.
In short, they talked about today.
“You want to know something funny?” Nathan asked as they pulled into the center of town.
“What’s that?”
He smiled as he reflected on what he would say. “Might sound a little cheesy, but I always thought money could buy love.”
“What?” She giggled. “Really?”
He nodded. “Well, in a manner of speaking. I thought that if we had the right combination of things, happiness would follow.” He glanced back at the sleeping child in the backseat. “But I was wrong.”
“Funny, how different we are from the people we were just a year and a half ago,” Kellie said. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. Would you?”
“Nope.” He reached to give her hand a squeeze. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
***
Kellie’s heart leaped for joy as they pulled into her parents’ driveway. Her father stood on the front porch, fussing with the screen door. He waved, then joined them at the car.
“Daddy, you shouldn’t be outside. It’s chilly out here,” Kellie scolded.
He shrugged. “That screen door is getting rusty. Just cleaning the hinges.” He gave her a wink. “It’s one of the perks of retirement. I can fuss around the house all day. Drive you mother crazy.”
Kellie couldn’t help but laugh.
Her father’s eyes sparkled as he looked into the back seat. “How’s that grandson of mine?”
“As feisty as ever.” Kellie lifted Logan from his car seat and placed him into his grandfather’s outstretched arms. “And very anxious to see his grandpa.”
“He’s a handsome fellow.” Her father ran his fingers through the baby’s curls.
“Yes, he is.” Kellie couldn’t help but agree. Logan was a dead ringer for Nathan. How could she think otherwise?
They entered the house with hearts quite full. Kellie headed straight off to the kitchen to help her mother. They still had a couple of hours before guests would arrive for tonight’s festivities, but setting up the table felt only right. They shifted back and forth from kitchen to dining room carrying food, paper plates and silverware. Kellie set up the punch bowl and checked the refrigerator to make sure she had the necessary ingredients for later.
They finished up as quickly as they could, but when all was said and done, her mother stood back and surveyed the dining room with a look of concern on her face.
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
Her mother shook her head. “I feel like I’m forgetting something. Wish I could remember what it was.” She disappeared back into the kitchen. Moments later, Kellie heard a gasp and ran to her mother’s side.
“What is it?”
“I just remembered!”
Her mother’s face lit up. “Mrs. Dennison is bringing those cookies your father loves so much - homemade peanut butter kisses—and I wanted to use that beautiful old tray my grandmother passed down to me.”
“Where is it?” Kellie asked.
Her mother bit her lip and stood in silence a moment before answering. “Oh, I remember now. I packed it away in a box with some old family heirlooms years ago. It’s at the top of the closet in your old room.” She looked at Kellie with renewed excitement. “I think it would be just perfect, and I haven’t had a chance to use it for years. It seems kind of silly to have it sitting in a closet when I could be using it. Would you mind getting it for me, Honey?”
“Of course not. I’d be happy to.”
Kellie passed through the living room, gave all three of her men a kiss on the forehead and kept going until she arrived in her old bedroom. Once inside, a flood of memories hit. Her mother had changed little in this room throughout the years. The same twin bed with ruffled floral bedspread sat underneath the window. A worn teddy bear leaned against the pillows. The chest of drawers that had once held her personal belongings stood in its place on the far left wall. Her little study desk and chair sat to her right. A colorful paint-by-numbers rendition of a horse still clung to the wall just over the desk. In short, it was every bit as charming as it had ever been.
Kellie switched on the light and entered the closet. It still had that funny closet smell she remembered so well from childhood. She looked around, trying to figure out where the box might be. “Ah ha.” There. Just above her to the left.
She pulled the chair into the closet and climbed up on it to have a closer look. The box proved to be a bit heavier than she’d remembered. She struggled with it, but finally freed it from its place.
She set the box on the bed and opened it with great care, knowing the value of the things inside. How many times had she and her mother looked through this very box during her childhood? How many times had she and her sister snuck into the closet for another peek at t