Ruth was rolling her way back to the living room, a couple of books in the basket of the scooter, when she heard voices from the front porch through an open window.
“I had a wonderful time,” Samantha said.
“Me too.” That was Nick of course.
“It was fun getting to know your family.”
“They’re a good bunch. Wish you could have met Peter too. Another time.”
Ruth smiled, hearing something more than politeness in those words about the future.
“Yes, another time.”
Silence followed. More than a few moments for someone to think of something else to say. But perhaps less than Ruth would expect if a kiss was involved.
“I’d better go.” Nick’s voice barely carried through the open window this time. “See you at church tomorrow?”
“Yes. Gran and I will see you there.”
Spurred into action, Ruth rolled the scooter backward down the hall, listening for the sound of the opening door. Only when she heard it did she push the scooter forward again.
“Gran?”
“I’m here, dear.” She rolled into view, hoping she didn’t look guilty for eavesdropping.
Samantha stood in the entry hall, her sweater over one arm, her clutch in the opposite hand.
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes. The wedding was absolutely perfect. How they put it together in such a short time amazes me.”
“I hope I’ll get to see pictures.”
Samantha set her clutch and sweater on the entry table. “I took some photos with my phone. I’ll put them on my laptop so you can see the larger versions.”
“I’d like that.” She pushed on to the recliner. Before settling into the chair, she removed the books from the basket and set them on the end table within easy reach.
“Did you manage all right while I was gone?”
“I managed fine. Mostly I read and napped. But Camila had lunch with me. By the time I am rid of this boot and scooter, I am going to be spoiled so rotten I won’t be able to do a thing for myself.”
Samantha laughed. “As if.” She walked to the sofa and sat down. “What are you reading?”
“A couple of old favorites by Catherine Marshall.”
“I’ll bet Christy is one of them.”
Ruth smiled. “Yes.”
“And the other?” Samantha leaned over and pulled off the boots she wore.
“Adventures in Prayer.”
Her granddaughter straightened. “I’ve never read that one.”
“It’s a classic, in my opinion. Would you like to read it now? I can wait.” She lifted the book from the table and held it toward Samantha.
“Thanks.” Her granddaughter took the slender paperback. “There’s lots I need to pray about.”
“Anything you want to tell me?”
“Oh, Gran. I don’t know.” Samantha leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes.
Ruth said nothing more, knowing it was time to wait.
Samantha felt something give inside of her. She sat up straight again. “Gran, you already guessed how I used to feel about Nick.”
“Mmm.”
“Well, it seems like seeing him has stirred up a lot of old memories.” She thought of the way he’d held her on the dance floor, and her pulse quickened. As if to deny the reaction, she added, “I’m not even sure what I’m feeling.”
Gran watched her with a tender gaze that said she knew the truth.
“No. You’re right. I do know what I feel. I’m attracted to him, and I’m afraid.” She took a breath and released it on a sigh. “I’m afraid I’ll get hurt again.”
“By Nick.”
She nodded slowly. “But I shouldn’t be afraid of that. After all, I’ll be going home in a couple more months.”
“Hmm.”
Samantha lowered her gaze to her hands, folded in her lap. “He was different in lots of ways when I knew him before. He loved to teach, especially the more adventurous aspects of it. Like taking his students out on the ocean to fish for sharks. Crazy, huh?”
Gran made a soft sound, acknowledging that she was listening.
“We broke up over the trip he had planned for spring break. We were both angry that night, and it ended badly. I tried to apologize not long after, but he never replied to either my e-mails or phone messages.” She met Gran’s gaze. “I thought he didn’t want to hear from me, and that made the pain even worse. But the real reason he didn’t reply was because he was in the hospital. He never knew I had tried to contact him.”
“Oh. I see.”
Samantha rubbed her eyelids with her fingertips, wondering how things might have been different if Nick had known of her attempts to apologize. Then with a sigh, she lowered her hands. “But I was right about that trip. He was reckless. He did get hurt.”
“Is it important to you that you were right?”
She sighed. “I guess not.” She got up from the sofa and moved to the front window. A car went down the street. A couple holding hands strolled on the sidewalk, headed toward Main Street. “I guess I’m afraid that I’ll care too much and then something else will happen to him. I’m afraid that he’ll put himself at risk again. I’m afraid because I don’t know what my own future looks like, let alone his.” And I’m afraid that I’ll love him and he won’t love me in return.
“Sam.”
She turned to face her grandmother.
“None of us knows what the future holds. Much of what happens in life will never make sense to our mortal minds. But nothing is random or by accident. Our God still reigns, and He still has a plan for every one of us. All things still work together for good for those who love Him.”
Samantha struggled against Gran’s words. “Are you saying that your broken ankle was part of God’s plan?”
“Perhaps it happened so that you would come to stay with me and discover how not to be afraid. Or so that you could see Nick again.”
“Couldn’t God have arranged that some other way than dumping you off a horse?”
Gran’s smile was gentle even as she answered a question with a question. “Will the pot argue with the Potter?”
“And Nick’s accident?” Samantha challenged, not ready to give in. “Was that part of God’s plans too? He almost died.”
Her grandmother’s smile disappeared. “I don’t have all the answers, Sam. If I did, I wouldn’t need faith. And if you had all the answers, you wouldn’t need it either.”
The urge to argue drained out of Samantha, leaving her spent and frustrated. She wanted those answers from God. She wanted to understand the things that happened to her and to have a good plan for her future. She hated the unknown. She wanted her path to be well defined and as smooth as possible.
She returned to the sofa and picked up the boots she’d left on the floor. “I’m going to change.” She took a couple of steps away, then added, “Thanks for the talk, Gran.”
Nick had just enough time to change his clothes and feed Boomer before his parents arrived at his house. Like Nick, his dad now wore a dark-colored T-shirt with his Levi’s. His mom had on a pair of denim capris with a yellow blouse and light sweater.
“Mom. Dad. This is Boomer.” He stroked the dog’s head, keeping him at a sit.
His mom smiled. “Hello, Boomer.”
Nick released the dog, and Boomer trotted over to meet her.
“What a good boy you are.” She ruffled his ears.
His dad’s gaze swept the area—the small house, the few outbuildings, the farmland surrounding them. “Lots smaller from the house you owned in Corvallis.”
“You think?” Nick laughed at the understatement.
His dad grinned. “This seems to suit you.”
“It does. Come on. I’ll give you the grand tour. It should take about five minutes, max. Then I’ll drive you into Thunder Creek.”
It wasn’t much longer than those promised five minutes before the Chastain family was on the road into town, Nick’s mom in the front seat beside him, his dad in the backseat, and Boomer riding in the truck bed near the cab’s rear window.
Nick slowed the truck to twenty miles per hour as they entered Thunder Creek from the east side. As if he’d been a resident for years, he pointed out places he thought might interest his folks, including the church he attended and Ruth Johnson’s shop. “I wish I could buy you a coffee or pastry, but they close early on Saturdays.”
He drove them out the other side of town and on toward the Snake River. He pointed out the winery where he and his crew had started work earlier in the week. On the return route, he took them past Derek’s organic farm. He shared a little of the concept for the new irrigation system his company had installed, and that made his dad, usually the silent type, perk up and ask a few questions.
Back in Thunder Creek, Nick drove to the diner and parked in the lot. Seeing the curious look on his mom’s face, he said, “It doesn’t look like much, but the food’s great. I promise.” They got out of the truck and went inside, where the waitress greeted him by name.
“These are my parents, Lucca,” he replied. “I’m showing them the sights.”
She laughed. “That doesn’t take long.” Motioning with the menus in her hand, she led the way to an open booth.
Once all three of them were settled, Nick’s mom said, “You really have made this town your home, haven’t you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know the waitress by name, for one.”
“This is the only restaurant in town.” Nick shrugged. “Besides, Lucca goes to the same church I do.”
His mom reached across the table to take his hand. “I was worried when you agreed to this move to Idaho, but I can see that it’s been good for you.”
Nick thought about her words for a few moments. “Yeah, it has been good for me. In more ways than one.”
“Is Sam one of those ways?”
He didn’t hesitate this time. “Maybe.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Okay. Yeah. I’m sure she is one of those ways. But we’re just friends.”
For now.