Stephanie didn’t know what was going on. Her father had come home with surprising news that Kevin needed to go back home and had just left without a moment’s notice. He hadn’t explained anything. Not that he needed to. Even though she had become very close to Kevin, she still respected his privacy. It wasn’t like they were married for Pete’s sake. He was free to do whatever he wanted, and she didn’t expect him to always report back to her. But this time she had a nagging feeling something was different. It wasn’t like him to just disappear. She feared for his well-being and wondered if he was okay. After all, she had feelings for him. Stephanie wasn’t sure if they were feelings of love, but she knew he had a special place in her heart. But when her father had told her that he had spoken to a woman named Jen on the phone, her faith in their committed friendship began to crumble. She knew his sister’s name was Crystal, but who was this woman named Jen? Was she his girlfriend from the past? Was she his wife? A sea of doubt began to flood over her. Kevin never wore a ring, and his faith wouldn’t allow him to abandon or cheat on his wife, not if he were the respectful man she knew him to be. Or did he have feelings for her? A cloud of confusion filled her mind as she waited anxiously for his call.
When several days had passed without a call, she went to her mother for advice.
“Do you think Jen is someone close to him, Mom?”
“Whether Kevin left for her or someone else, they must have been very important for him to leave without saying goodbye to you.”
“Well, we aren’t an item or anything, Mom.” She could feel the blush creep into her cheeks, reminding her of her teenage years when she talked to her mom about boys.
“You may not be. At least not yet. But I see the way you two secretly look at each other. I’m no fool, young lady.”
“I know, Momma. But it’s confusing. I don’t’ know what to think of the two of us anymore.”
“Do you like him?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s all that matters. The rest will fall into place. If it’s God’s will for something to blossom from your relationship, it’ll happen. I might not be the smartest cookie out there, but I do know true love when I see it.”
Stephanie looked at her mother and realized she was right. She did care about Kevin. Later that night she tried calling him several times, but each time the call went to his voicemail. She decided there was no point in worrying over something she had no control over. There was only one person in the world who knew the worry imprisoned within her heart and had the power to release it. She knew what she needed to do. Stephanie went to her room and knelt by her bed to pray, asking God for peace, to keep Kevin safe and to show her what the future held for their friendship.
***
Kevin was sitting next to his Aunt Deloris with the attorney across from him and couldn’t believe his ears. It was his. Everything. Everything his uncle had worked so hard for was left to him. He drew a blank look at his aunt, his mind still reeling from the fact he now owned one of the most desirable medical practices in Los Angeles. He struggled to find the right words to say. Half of him reveled at the wonderful opportunity that had fallen into his lap, but the other half struggled with the thought of leaving Mendocino. Its small town charm had grown on him during the last several months, and Los Angeles paled in comparison to its relaxed lifestyle and scenic landscape. But most of all, he would miss Stephanie. Her gentle spirit, strength during adversity, and beautiful laughter had etched a special place in his heart. Stephanie had become more than a good friend to him, and many times he struggled with the thought he might be deeply in love with her. Kevin was still in shock after the meeting and told his aunt he needed to go back to Mendocino, to pray and think things over. In his mind, there was one other thing he needed to do besides wait upon God for an answer. That was to go home and see what Stephanie thought about the whole matter. He had faith in her intuition and knew she would help him make the best decision. She had become his rock.
Kevin climbed into his car and began the long journey back to Stephanie and the small town he had grown to love. Miles of scenery slipped past him as he drove in silence, lost in deep concentration. What was he going to do now? It would be unthinkable and insensitive for him to reject his uncle’s gift and let his aunt figure out what to do with the practice on her own. She had been the devoted housewife who had enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle socializing at the country club and charity events and knew nothing about how to run a fast-paced office. He knew the practice value would suffer quickly in her hands, and he couldn’t bear the thought of letting all the equity his Uncle Thad had taken years to establish go down the drain in a heartbeat. There was only one logical choice he could make, and that was to temporarily help his Aunt Deloris run the practice until God showed him what path to take.
Kevin slowly pulled the compact sedan into the driveway of the Knight residence just as Stephanie’s dad stepped out the front door. He was happy returning to Mendocino with its uncongested streets, clean ocean air, and friendly people. But most of all, he was anxious to see the one woman who had faith in him and given him a new lease on life. The days had blurred together at his Aunt Deloris’s house, and it seemed like he had been gone for weeks. There was a part of him that couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for not being considerate enough to give Stephanie a call. But it was too late for regrets, and Kevin could only hope she would be as understanding of his circumstance as she was with his act of desperation. He flipped her father a wave as he climbed out the car and greeted him at the entrance.
“How’s your uncle doing?” Howard Knight said as he ushered Kevin inside the house.
A sigh escaped Kevin’s lips as he shook his head. “He didn’t make it.”
“Son, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Mr. Knight rested his hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “It happened so suddenly. You must still be in shock. Please, have a seat.” His hand gestured to the beige sofa in the living room. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m okay for now. Is Stephanie home?”
“Yes, she’s in the kitchen cooking.” He stole a glance toward the kitchen and lowered his voice. “Don’t tell her I told you, but she’s been worried sick about you, especially since she never got a phone call from you.”
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Knight. I didn’t mean to make Stephanie worried. It’s just that everything happened so quickly, I guess I got distracted.”
“Son, you don’t need to apologize to me. But I think Stephanie would feel a whole lot better if you showed her how much you appreciate her.” He gave Kevin a wink. “Women like to know how much we care for them. Trust me, my wife drilled that fact into my head during our thirty years of marriage.”
“Thanks for the advice, I’ll be sure to tell her.” Kevin pursed his lips into a smile.
“You’ll be sure to tell who what?” Stephanie said as she exited the kitchen into the front room.
“I . . .” Kevin hesitated, a look of surprise on his face. She had on a pair of blue jeans and a light blue chambray shirt, and Kevin had almost forgotten how beautiful she looked.
“Kevin was just telling me how bad he felt for not giving you a call while he was away.” Kevin saw the sparkle in her father’s eyes.
“Really?” Stephanie’s face lit up with a smile. “It sounded like you had a lot on your plate, and I really didn’t want to bother you. I tried calling once, but it went to your voicemail.”
“I’m so sorry.” Kevin clasped her hands between his. “It’s been so crazy, I haven’t even checked my voicemails. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I hope you can forgive me.”
“It’s alright, no harm done. I just wanted to know you were doing okay.”
“Do you mind if we talk?”
“Yeah, sure. Come on. We can sit outside.”
He nodded slowly, keeping everything to himself. When they were finally sitting on the porch swing outside, he began to tell her everything that had transpired since he left, how his uncle had died before he could get to the hospital, how the lawyer had said the practice was his, and how he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his aunt alone to run the practice.
“I’m sorry Stephanie, but I have to go back to Los Angeles.”
“Oh.” A solemn expression settled on Stephanie’s face.
“It’s not how I expected things to turn out, but my uncle willed his medical practice to me.”
“Wow.” There was restrained enthusiasm to her voice. “You must be excited.”
“Shocked would be more like it. I’m not sure what to do at this point. There’s a part of me that can’t turn my back on this opportunity. Do you know how many doctors would die to be in my shoes?”
“Kevin, you don’t have to justify your decision to me. I understand it’s not something you can easily walk away from. After all, this could be a blessing in disguise to help you get back into medicine. Besides, I knew I couldn’t keep you here forever.” Stephanie turned her gaze away from him.
“Really?” Hurt flashed across Kevin’s face, but he masked it quickly.
Reaching over, Stephanie grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Please don’t get me wrong, I’ll miss you terribly. I care a lot about you, Kevin, and I always will. But I don’t want to hold you back. I want you to excel and fulfill the purpose God has destined for your life. He has given you great talents, and I want you to use them for His glory. You should go back to practicing. It’s what you were meant to do. It’s what you should be doing. I mean, you were amazing with my father, Kevin. I can see medicine is in your blood.” She gazed softly into his eyes.
“But what about us, I mean, what about our relationship?” Kevin’s forehead creased with concern.
“I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be disappointed. We’ve been through so much together these last few months, and you’ve been there every step of the way for me during my darkest moments. I can’t imagine my life without you here beside me. You’ve been my rock to lean on, my pillar of strength.”
“As you have been with me.” Kevin brushed his thumb against her cheek, wiping the wetness from her eye.
A sigh escaped her lips. “But I can’t be selfish and keep you here just for myself. I couldn’t live with myself knowing God had something better for you out there.”
Kevin lifted her chin and stared deeply into her eyes. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life, and I’m so thankful God let our paths cross. I promise you Stephanie, I’ll return as soon as I get everything under control with my uncle’s practice. Right now, I need to keep it running until my Aunt Deloris sells it or whatever else she decides to do with it. I owe that much to my uncle. I don’t want to leave you either. I care a lot about you, and you’ve helped me more than any other person on this earth ever has. I can’t thank you enough for being my rock and helping me through all this, especially with everything you were going through at the same time. I’ll be back for you. No matter how long it takes, I’ll come back.”
She smiled up at him as tears streamed from her eyes. “And know that no matter how long it takes, I’ll be here waiting when you return.”
His hand reached up to gently trace the outline of her face. “You’re an amazing woman, Stephanie Knight. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I thank God every day you’re in my life.”
“As I too thank God for you every night when I pray. I’ve spent so much time praying for us that I hope God sends you back home to me. I pray for you to be happy and that He fills the void in your soul. God will always be with you, just as I am. Know that I am just a phone call away if you ever need me.”
He leaned into her, his lips brushing against hers briefly but with a purpose. Then she felt him pull her to him into a tighter embrace. His lips were now passionate, soft, pressing gently against hers. In that brief moment, it was as if the world stood still, his one action communicating more to her than any spoken word he could say. Her heart pounded fast and hard against his. They clung to each other, both afraid something would stand in between the tender love that had blossomed over time. Each afraid that they would never see the other again. Kevin silently vowed to himself it was something he would never let happen. He wouldn’t lose her for anything in the world.
He pulled back to smile down at her. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she raised a finger to caress the spot he had kissed on her lips. They smiled at each other in silence both savoring the emotional pleasure of the moment. Then without another word, she took his hand and led him back inside to talk to her parents.