The day they buried Uncle BJ’s remains in the military cemetery in Pt. Loma, Jenna attended the memorial service by herself. As much progress as her strong husband had made in five weeks, the long day and rough terrain would have been too much for Kevin.
Except for Skylar, he had caught up with the family. Erik took Rosie to meet him; Lexi took Nathan; Papa and Indio took Tuyen. He’d always loved the Beaumonts and thought the new additions perfect. He seemed more than ever able to receive the love they poured onto him. His first visit from the hospital would be the hacienda. Her mother already promised to cook his favorite meal.
A clear, blue December sky and a tangible sense of release mitigated the sadness of the occasion. The Navy did their whole bit with the missing man flyover for a fallen pilot.
Tuyen stood proudly and received the flag that had draped the coffin. Papa had one arm around his Vietnamese granddaughter and one around Nana. Max and Claire cried through it all. Beth Russell was there with her husband, who seemed like a really nice guy. Danny was still in Australia. Lexi and Erik were there with Nathan and Rosie, both all but members of the Beaumont family. Skylar, of course, couldn’t come, but Lexi had been to see her, and she’d sent her prayers.
Everyone was talking about prayers.
After the ceremony people lingered. It was a beautiful setting overlooking San Diego Bay and the downtown area. Jenna had driven herself in order to return to Kevin as soon as possible, but she needed a private moment with Beth Russell, the enigma who had tried to tell her how to make it.
They walked along the narrow road.
“Jenna, dear heart.” Like before, the petite woman oozed compassion. “Tell me how you’re doing.”
“Better than the last time we talked.”
Beth’s eyebrows rose. “Despite all that’s happened.” It was a statement, not a question. “Then God has been drawing you to Himself.”
“He has.” Jenna shut her eyes briefly. Publicly recognizing God’s hand in her life felt less and less awkward the more she did it. Still, though, she had to fight down brief attacks of embarrassment. “I have a friend, Amber, who helps me see how God works in my life. Kevin and I have a counselor who is a believer. Kevin, like me, was always more on the independent side.”
“You had a nodding acquaintance with faith?”
“Exactly. Interesting how a trauma can kick-start you in a whole different direction.”
“I believe God lets us walk paths that are best suited to our own personalities. He knows what will sharpen our hearing to better hear Him.”
“He’s given us hearing aids, too, then.” Thank You, Lord, for that. “We’ve been through . . . Beth, I didn’t do it your way. I failed miserably. I-I cheated on Kevin.”
Wordlessly, Beth took her hand and held it as they continued strolling.
“I confessed it to Kevin.” The horror and pain of that moment haunted her.
“How is he?”
“Okay. The counselor wasn’t sure of the timing. How much more could my poor husband take after losing a limb? But our marriage is a major part of our learning to live in Kevin’s new reality. It had to come out. He cried. He’s angry. That’s lessening slowly. He’s struggling to understand forgiveness. He has moments of wanting to beat up the guy. He’s had extra sessions with the counselor. But he loves me. I don’t know why, but he does. He refuses to quit on us.”
Beth squeezed her hand. “He won’t quit. You won’t quit. And God won’t quit. You’ll get through it.”
Jenna nodded.
“Have you forgiven him?”
“For-for what?”
“For leaving you vulnerable. For getting injured.”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“You will now. Trust God to give you the strength to let it all go. Do you remember the sycamore tree in your grandparents’ courtyard? The one with the black streak and the new growth?”
“Yes.”
“You have been scorched, but the new growth has already sprouted. May I come meet your Kevin before I leave town?”
“Really? I would love for him to meet you.”
Beth smiled. “I like to meet people I’ve been praying for.”
Prayers again.
Jenna didn’t want to consider where she’d be without them.