Until Then (Cornerstone Book 2) (37 page)

With all the chaos, Michelle had forgotten that it was Father’s Day. Of all possible days,
this
was the one God chose for her and her father to start the healing process. She was amazed at how God cared about the little details like that.

As they walked along the sidewalk toward Millennium Park on their way to visit Cloud Gate — or The Bean, as it had been nicknamed — Sean took her hand and slowed his step so they were behind the group.

“I’m proud of you.” He kissed the back of her hand. “That wasn’t an easy conversation to have with your dad, but you held it together.”

“My mouth just kind of took off, and I couldn’t stop it.”

He laughed. “You sounded very confident to me, not at all out of control.”

“Well, thanks.”

“And you were honest with him about your life. He needed to hear it.”

She nodded. This was the second time in as many days that someone had brought up honesty. She was beginning to think God was trying to tell her something, and that terrified her. Because if she told the truth — the whole truth — Sean might not be so quick to shell out the compliments, and he might not offer her the forgiveness she needed him to.

“You’re quiet.” Sean squeezed her hand. “Is everything OK? Are you OK with your dad being here?”

“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad he’s here. It’s been a good day.”

The kids ran ahead as The Bean came into sight. The sculpture looked like a giant silver bean, which was obviously where it got its nickname. It was fun to look at the city skyline reflected and distorted in its surface. The girls immediately began taking photos of their reflections and crawling under it for more pictures. The adults observed from a distance.

Robert walked over and stood next to Michelle and Sean. “Ava seems to have found a friend in your daughter there, Sean.”

“I think you’re right,” Sean replied.

“She could use some friends.”

“Why do you say that?” Michelle asked.

“She doesn’t have any.”

Michelle found this strange. “I’m sure she has friends, Dad. Just because you don’t know them, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. She doesn’t talk about anyone from school?”

“She’s home schooled,” he admitted.

“Oh.”

Robert shook his head in dismay. “I think because of how you were at Ava’s age, I overcompensated with her. I wanted to protect her from the same kind of bad friends, so we kept her home. She hasn’t had a lot of social interaction with other kids.”

“Well, I’m happy she and Ashley found each other then,” Michelle replied.

Robert nodded. “And I think it will be very good for her to have you in her life.”

“Thank you for saying that, Dad.”

He nodded and looked toward The Bean. “Your mom seems happy.”

Michelle glanced over at Louise and Marv, who had joined the kids for some selfie-taking in front of the sculpture. “She is.” Her attention turned back to her dad. “How about you? Are you happy with Betsy?”

“I’m not an easy man to live with, Michelle.”

“Don’t I know it.” The sarcastic comment slipped out of her mouth before she caught it. “I’m sorry I said that.”

“At least I’m man enough to admit it now. Betsy puts up with a lot, and she loves me in spite of everything. She’s a good woman, and I’m lucky to have her.”

“But are you happy?”

He looked at her seriously for a few moments. “I don’t think I am.”

The creases between her eyebrows revealed her concern.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with Betsy and Ava, but I don’t think I’ve found the kind of joy in life that you have. Not yet anyway.”

“Jesus is the reason, Dad. He changed my life. You can have that kind of joy, too. It’s there for the taking, all you have to do is believe and accept salvation through Him.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She smiled at her father, and he smiled back. She wanted nothing more in that moment than for him to come to know Christ.

“Michelle!” Ava’s cry interrupted her thoughts.

“Dad!” Ashley and Aaron yelled simultaneously.

The kids motioned for them to come take some pictures.

Michelle looked over at her dad.

“Go on,” he told them.

She grinned and walked with Sean to join the kids.

“I want one of just the two of us in front of The Bean,” Ava told her.

Ashley took the phone from Ava, who positioned Michelle in just the right spot, wrapped her arms around her, and smiled for the camera.

Michelle hugged her and smiled for the dozen pictures that Ashley took of them together.

“I’ll send you the best one,” Ava said as she took her phone back from Ashley.

Michelle put her arm around her little sister. “I’d love one.”

Robert walked over to them then.

Ava glanced at their dad. “Is it time to go already?”

He nodded.

Ava’s shoulders dropped. “No, it’s too early. Can’t we just stay a couple more hours?”

He gave her a stern look. “We need to get home, Ava. Your mom will worry.”

“Just an hour then?”

Michelle turned to her. “Don’t worry. We’ll see each other again soon.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Can I text you?”

“Whenever you need to.” Michelle hugged her tightly. “I’m here for you whenever you need me.”

25

After the successful Chicago trip, the strains of a long distance relationship began to wear on Michelle. Sean’s schedule grew busy with the kids’ summer activities, church camp, and a vacation with his in-laws. Over the course of the next two months, their communication consisted of a series of phone calls and many hours on Skype, which he finally figured out with a little help from Aaron. Even on nights when they weren’t able to talk until midnight, they still made time. It was not ideal, but they did their best.

In late August, the day after Michelle’s birthday, Sean and the kids came to Grand Rapids with his brother’s family to move Alex into the dorm. Michelle was giddy at work that Friday waiting for Sean to call. She stared at the phone for the last twenty minutes of her work day willing it to ring.

“Excuse me, miss.”

She would know that voice anywhere. Her office chair spun around as she leapt up and ran around the desk to greet him. She wished their long-awaited reunion could have happened somewhere a little more private, but she kissed him anyway, and he returned the favor.

“Oh my gosh! I missed you so much.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him as tightly as she could.

He did the same.

After dinner with the whole family, the kids returned to the hotel with their aunt, uncle, and cousins to do a little swimming, while Sean and Michelle went to her apartment for some alone time.

She couldn’t get the key into the lock fast enough, and she fumbled with it even more when he brushed her hair to the side and pressed his lips to the nape of her neck. Her eyes closed, making it impossible to unlock the darn door. His hands rested on her hips, and he moved his mouth to her earlobe. She dropped her keys and turned into him, finding his lips. They kissed slowly for long minutes leaning against her apartment door, until they were both breathless.

“Oh, I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her mouth.

“I’ve missed you, too.”

“But maybe I shouldn’t come in.” He let out a slow, shaky breath.

Her look was a question.

“I mean, look at us. We can’t even get through the door.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and grinned.

“Besides, we won’t be here long.”

“Oh, really?” Her eyebrow remained raised.

“I wanna take you somewhere special for your birthday.”

That brought a smile to her face. She retrieved the keys from the ground and opened the door. “I just wanna change first. Are you really gonna stand out here?”

He smiled. “I’ll behave. I promise.”

Once inside, he kept his word. They chatted about his trip over and how excited Alex was for his freshman year. She mentioned her job, which bridged to the topic of the counselor that Sean and the kids had been seeing for the past couple months. He shared about their latest session. It was helping. They were talking, letting their feelings out about the accident, finally dealing with it all.

This pleased Michelle. She had been thinking a lot about counseling lately and about her job. She wanted to do more. Ever since the night at Sean’s when Ashley snuck off to that party and the day Ava hopped the train into the city by herself, she had an overwhelming urge to help them. It was like an instinct within her. And the possibility of helping other girls their age filled her heart with joy.

Michelle wanted to have a serious conversation with Sean about this. She really hoped that they could discuss their relationship and where things were going. She had been thinking and praying about the next step in her life, and if Sean was going to be a part of it, she needed his input.

She changed from her work clothes into something more casual, and they headed to the mystery location.

“I need to talk to you about something,” she blurted as he drove along the highway. “Something big. I’m very excited about it, but I wanted to talk to you first, before I make any plans.”

He looked sideways at her. “What is it?”

“I’ve decided to go back to school to get my masters in counseling.”

His eyes widened. “Michelle, that’s amazing. You will be so great at that.”

“I just haven’t been able to stop thinking about that first conversation I had with Ashley and how much I wanted to help her. I’ve been praying about it so much lately, and I really believe this is what God wants me to do. I feel like I’ve finally found my purpose.”

“I’m so happy for you.” He was beaming. “I’ve been praying for you.”

“You have?” This made her heart ache in a good way.

“Of course. I always do.”

Sean turned the car into the drive of Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Michelle smiled at him. “You know, I haven’t been back here since our first date.”

“Really? But it’s so close to the college.”

“I know.” She shrugged. “I just couldn’t bring myself to come back without you.”

They bought tickets and walked out along the path. There were many new sculptures that weren’t there fifteen years before, including the twenty-four-foot tall horse sculpture, built to Leonardo DaVinci’s original design.

Michelle walked over and stood beneath the giant horse. “It’s huge!” She stared up at it.

Sean laughed and joined her next to the horse’s uplifted front leg.

They walked around and under the sculpture, admiring the detail of the horse’s head, the lines of its muscles, and the curls in its mane.

“Hey, take my picture.” Sean lay down under the horse’s right hind leg, which was lifted a foot off the ground, and pretended he was being trampled.

Michelle laughed so hard, she could barely hold her phone steady to take the picture.

They walked on along the sculpture path and stopped when they reached the waterfall pond they had sat by all those years before.

“I love this spot.” She walked over and looked down into the water, watching the koi swim along under the surface.

They took a seat on the bench, and he took her hand in his, then leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

She sighed. “So, should I stay here and go to Cornerstone for my masters or should I find a school in Chicago?” Her question was abrupt and pointed, but she thought it might lead to a more serious conversation.

He looked over at her, but said nothing. He looked like he was mulling things over, but as the seconds stretched on silently, she thought it might be too soon to include him in a major life decision like this. She swallowed hard, feeling a little foolish.

Suddenly, Sean stood and got down on one knee in front of her. “Answer me one question first.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved a little velvet box from within.

The pace of her heart increased, until it was beating wildly with panic. “Sean, what are you doing?”

“I have loved you since the first moment you walked into the gym freshman year. And now that you’re back in my life, I want to make things more permanent.” He opened the box to reveal a sparkling princess-cut diamond ring.

She gasped.

“Michelle, will you—”

“Wait!” Michelle laid her hand over the ring and looked at him.

His bright blue eyes were filled with confusion and a look of dread.

“Before you finish that question, there are some things I have to tell you.” She grabbed for his hand and pulled him back to the bench beside her, pausing to look at the ring. “Oh my goodness. It’s so beautiful.” She looked into his eyes, which were now filled with uncertainty.

He bounced his knee nervously. “What things?”

She swallowed hard again and chewed on the inside of her lip, willing her heart to return to a normal rhythm.

“Michelle, please. You’re killing me here.”

“I don’t know how to tell you this.” She never wanted him to know the horrible things she had done, but a powerful force within was pushing her to confess. “If we’re going to move forward … together … I have to be honest with you about my past.”