Rich in Faith (Richness in Faith, Book 3) (22 page)

MARRIED

AUGUST IS HOT in Georgia, and it’s even hotter on the steps of the porch of the trailer that Mama and Daddy live in.

Oh, and I’m living here with them for another couple of weeks until my apartment is available again. Daddy still hasn’t gotten over the fact that he’ll never get that introduction to Cal Treyhune that Court promised him over the Fourth of July weekend.

Mama knew right away this was a matter of the heart and not a matter of a job.

She’s always been cool like that. Mama hasn’t been nosy, but she let me know if I ever needed to talk she’d be there to listen.

I haven’t wanted to talk yet.

Barb also has no less than three jobs lined up for me that are available whenever I’m ready to work.

I haven’t been ready to do that either.

It’s a shame to admit I’ve been hashing out this Court thing over and over in my mind. Jared called me once, but I didn’t take the call. He didn’t leave a message and that was fine by me.

Court?

He hasn’t called once. And it’s been over three weeks.

Three weeks of misery for me.

But I think the worst of it is over.

I’m on the upswing now and am feeling okay.

Not fine or good, mind you, but just okay.

It’s a step up from miserable and melancholy.

Some of the kids from the trailer park are running around playing tag. I like watching them. They remind me of the crazy days with Team Twin. I can finally think about them without tearing up. I’m going to Skype them soon, but I haven’t had the guts to do so yet.

I also never finished that homeschooling project Court had me working on. I’m sure he’s got all that figured out now.

At least Jared doesn’t have to worry about me taking his job.

The kids start running again, but they are all running in the same direction. Toward the road.

Oh, there’s a car coming.

Probably somebody they don’t know. They’re kind of scary when a stranger invades their space.

I should know. They surrounded my car the first few times I came in here. Now they’re used to me.

Sometimes the younger ones wave.

Sometimes the older ones give me the finger.

Either way I smile and drive slowly to my parents’ driveway.

This car is driving really slow and the kids are pointing excitedly. Must be a nice car.

As the car comes fully into view I realize it’s not just a nice car, it’s a limo. A big, black, sleek limo.

And it stops in front of my parents’ trailer.

My heart starts to beat faster.

The driver gets out, walks to the door and opens it. A lady steps out, then a man.

I put my hand over my chest as I realize it’s Court’s parents.

His parents?

Cal and Vera Treyhune are here?

They walk up the short walkway to where I’m sitting. I run my hand down my plain pink T-shirt and push my hand through hair that I haven’t washed in two days.

Or brushed for that matter. “Hi,” I say.

“Hello there, young lady with the darn good name. Shelby. It’s good to see you.”

Cal looks good. He looks like the guy I have seen on the television screen. Strong, commanding. A far cry from the man I saw in North Carolina on Father’s Day.

I want to scream “why are you here?” But I don’t. I try to stay calm and keep it cool. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world for them to show up at my parents’ trailer on any given day. “It’s good to see you, too.”

“Hi, honey,” Vera says.

“Hi.” I wave at her, now becoming nervous at their visit. Is something wrong? Are the twins okay?

Cal clears his throat. “Vera and I have come for two reasons. First, Court told me he promised your papa that we’d meet someday. Well, today’s the day. Is he home?”

“Yes, sir, he is. Let me get him.” I start up the stairs, then hit my forehead with my hand. I turn back and face Cal and Vera. “I’m sorry. How rude. Would you like to come in?”

Cal smiles. “That will be fine.”

My hand shakes slightly as I pull the screen door open. “Daddy, there’s somebody here to see you.”

I don’t even know how we made it through the next hour. I thought Mama was going to shoot me for inviting strangers in, and then Dad about fell out, literally back into his chair, when he realized it was Cal Treyhune that had interrupted his episode of Dr. Phil.

Dr. Phil was forgotten immediately and replaced with conversation that didn’t stop until Mama asked anyone if they wanted a drink. After glasses of sweet tea were poured and given out, the conversation resumed again like everyone was old friends.

Finally there is a lull in the conversation and Cal looks at me. “Shelby, girl. I told you earlier we came here for two reasons. Do you want to know what the second reason is?”

“That would be nice. You’ve had me on the edge of my seat for the past hour,” I joke.

Half joke.

I’ve been sitting here for the last hour trying to figure out the other reason he and Vera showed up here in a limo at my parents’ trailer.

A trailer much like the one they started out in, they told my parents.

Cal waves his hand toward the door. “Go on out to the limo and look in the back seat.”

“Right now?”

“No, tomorrow. Of course right now. Scoot. We’ll wait here.”

I set my glass of tea down and walk out the door, still barefoot, still wearing my cutoffs and my plain tee.

The closer I get to the limo, the more nervous I become.

Is it a present from the girls?

From Court?

As I approach the big, black, shiny limo, the driver steps out. His expression doesn’t give anything away. He simply walks to the door and places his hand on the handle, like he’s waiting for me to approach before he opens it.

The limo is so quiet I barely notice it’s still running. When the driver opens the door, a blast of cool air hits me.

“You can get in, miss. I think someone is expecting you.”

More confused than ever, and grateful for the cool air, I climb into the limo. At first I don’t see anything, but I do smell Court’s clean scent.

And then I see him.

Sitting on the side seat, smiling.

I slink into the back seat not believing he’s been sitting out here for over an hour.

“Hi.”

With one word he has my heart missing him all over again.

“Hi.” I swallow hard wondering how his heart feels.

“I’ve missed you.”

His words fall on me like they can change things. But they can’t. Simply missing someone isn’t enough to make a life together. Do I dare admit that I’ve missed him? Just like his words can’t change anything, mine can’t either. “I’ve missed you, too.”

I watch his reaction to my words but am unprepared for the magnitude of his smile. His smile makes my heart flip at the possibilities of why he is here.

Why he seems so happy and carefree.

Carefree?

Set free?

I refuse to think he’s here for any other reason than chaperoning his parents. Because if I do, my slightly put-back-together heart might break into more tiny pieces. Pieces so tiny they can never possibly be reconstructed.

“You were right, you know.”

His voice is smooth. Unassuming. Confident. “I was?”

He sits straighter in the seat, his head almost touching the top of the limo. His fingertips steeple together, tapping each other. “You were. I was hanging onto something that I had envisioned for so long that I couldn’t believe not only that it was over, but that it had never really existed to begin with.”

“Court, I’m sorry—”

He holds his hand up. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m sorry it took me so long to see what I had right in front of me. I couldn’t see past that tangled mess the girls’ hair had become, just like my life, and then when it was gone, I was scared.”

“Scared?”

“Everything had changed. For the better, I know, but I was still afraid to take a chance on you and me. Still afraid to believe in someone, not something.”

Was still afraid.
Was? In the past? “And now?”

“Now I see what I let walk out of my door. I should have known that morning when you were gone and I was devastated that I needed to call you, see you, explain. But no. I was going to let you leave if that’s what you wanted.”

A heaviness settles on my heart as I hear his confession. His explanation at letting me go. I guess he came to ease his conscious. “I’m glad you’ve figured some things out. Maybe you can move forward now. With life.”

I want to say with love, but since that won’t be with me I’m not encouraging that direction. There’s only so much a girl can take.

“Have you fallen out of love with me?”

My face flushes while I try to keep my breathing at a steady pace. Would he ask if he didn’t care? Would he ask if he didn’t want to know the truth?

He’s lived for a while avoiding the truth.

He can’t avoid it forever.

Only the truth is good enough for a moment like this. “There’s not enough depth in the world for me to fall that far.”

His Adam apple swallows like he’s fighting emotion.

Within moments he’s next to me. His gaze locks onto mine, and I can’t look away.

I don’t want to look away.

My fingers brush the soft, dark hair at his temple, the need to make sure he’s real overwhelming me.

I wonder at the absurdity of it all. The slow torture I’m putting myself through. Seeing him again is like nothing I expected. Aloof and simply friendship can never be in our picture.

It’s either all or nothing for me.

I pray he knows this.

“Shelby, I love you. I have no idea of what lies ahead, but I can promise you one thing. For the first time I have faith that this is right. Faith that you’ll be mine forever. Come back to Florida. Will you?”

My eyes moisten, and I don’t care if he sees my tears. “Yes. And I am yours forever.”

His arms wrap around me and his lips descend on mine, reminding me of one of the reasons I love him so.

His kiss also brings me to a place that’s so much like home. Where I know I belong.

And that place has nothing to do with limos and luxury.

It has everything to do with faith and the heart.

My heart, his heart.

Together forever.

“I love you so much,” I say between kisses.

The door to the limo opens, bringing in a blast of hot, Georgia air.

Court and I can’t untangle ourselves quickly enough to keep Team Twin from witnessing our kissing festival.

“Shelby!” Bristol climbs into the limo, Darling right behind her, and they scramble to the seat Court vacated.

A circle of completeness surrounds the atmosphere. Court’s arm is still touching mine, and two beautiful girls with amazingly cute hair are staring at me.

“Where did you come from?” I ask, hoping to deter any questions about why I am sitting so close to their father.

“When it became apparent you were going to be awhile, I let them go and play with the kids.” He turns his attention to the girls. “Did you guys have fun?”

“We did.” Bristol now eyes him with suspicion. “Why were you kissing Shelby?”

“Why do you think?” Court asks.

“Because you’re getting married?” Darling asks.

“Wow,” I say. “I think that’s jumping the gun a little.”

“I think it’s a perfect idea.” Court grabs my left hand. “Yes, a nice shiny diamond will look great right there.” He points to my ring finger.

I look at the man I love, then turn my attention to the girls that have given me a lot of grief, but also a lot of joy. The joy is worth it.

Turning back to Court I ask, “Have I just become engaged?”

He rubs my ring finger with his thumb. “You have. Ring to follow. Big ring.”

Sitting in a limo in the trailer park of my parents’ home is the last place I ever pictured becoming engaged. Yes, I am on the outskirts of nowhere important, but somebody important has my heart in his. “I don’t need a big ring. I need you.”

He brushes a kiss across my ring finger. “You have me. Forever, remember?”

“I remember.” I hug Court, my head resting on his shoulder, my gaze drifting out of the door Team Twin left open. My parents’ home is in full view.

Yes, home.

With Court’s help I finally see how rich my parents have always been.

And now I can be just as rich in my own life.

Standing in faith.

With the man I love.

The End!