“Are you sure your brother got the message?” Kellie peered out the window of her office. The lines of yellow buses had long since pulled away from the school’s curb.
“He’ll be here. He had band practice.” Destiny, one of her sixth graders, tossed her shoulder-length blond hair while her fingers tapped away on her cell phone.
“Our mom called you, right?” Her brother Kevin was a couple of years older and a serious kid. He questioned every rule, and tested them.
Even so, Kellie had to resist the urge to ruffle the boy’s hair every time she saw him. “Yes. She asked if you both could wait with me until Kenneth picked you up.”
Kellie made an attempt to clean off her desk while the kids waited. Too many papers and files had stacked up this week, and she was behind schedule. But then she was still learning the ropes, probably would be for the next couple of years.
“Are you going to the dance tomorrow night?” Kevin asked.
“I’m chaperoning.”
“Ooohh good,” Destiny piped up from her texting. “Kenneth’s band is playing and they’re really good.”
“Ah yes, the Mealy Peaches.” Kellie suppressed a laugh. “I’ve heard that, too.”
Their oldest brother played bass in a high school band, and tomorrow night’s dance was their shining debut. Kellie had no idea what style of music was their specialty, but with a name like Mealy Peaches, their sound had to be a little quirky.
“You got a date?” Kevin asked.
“I’ll know tonight.” Kellie smiled as she filed folders in her credenza.
Tonight, Dorrie was hosting a Christmas Open House in her new home. All the Church Hammer volunteers had been invited, and no doubt Ryan would be there, too. Her heart flipped thinking about it.
“You kids ready?” Kenneth poked his head through the open door of her office. “Thanks, Miss Cavanaugh, for watching them.”
“You’re welcome.”
Both younger siblings gave him a dirty look like they didn’t need a babysitter, only a place to wait for him.
“If you’re going to the dance tomorrow, save one for me.” Kenneth winked at her.
The kid had too much charm for his own good, and Kellie laughed. “I’m pretty sure my date wouldn’t approve.”
“Who are you going to ask, Miss Cavanaugh? Mr. Smith?” Destiny shouldered her backpack and pocketed her cell phone.
Mr. Smith was the math teacher and also single. “No. I’m hoping a friend of mine will go with me.”
“Well, I think he’ll say yes if he knows what’s good for him.” Destiny gave her a big sweet smile. The girl meant what she said.
Kellie smiled back. “Thank you. I hope so.”
She waved goodbye to the kids who’d become her favorite students. She hoped Ryan would accept her invitation. She also hoped he’d understand what the asking meant. She wanted another shot at building a relationship with him. She wanted a second chance, and she prayed he’d want that, too.
* * *
Ryan mingled with people he’d spent the last couple of months working with to get Dorrie’s house finished. The place looked nice decorated for Christmas and smelled even better with the balsam scent of a freshly cut tree. Instrumental Christmas music played softly in the background while snow fell outside. Her house felt like a real home complete with the sounds of kids laughing while they played a board game in the bedroom.
That hollow feeling struck quick and sharp. His house didn’t feel like a home, only a place to live. And this holiday season felt more lonesome than ever. He grabbed a cup of citrus punch and glanced at the doorway. Would Kellie stay away tonight because of him? He hoped not.
She’d stopped coming to work on the house after that night. Not that there was that much left to do. And he’d only exchanged a few words with her since then—an awkward hello at church and then some silly moving jokes while packing up Dorrie and her girls a couple of weeks ago. He missed her.
Sinclair slapped him on the back. “She’ll show.”
“I hope so.” He wanted to talk to her. Needed to, in fact.
After eating a couple of the small fancy sandwiches laid out on decorative plates, Ryan looked up exactly when Kellie entered the kitchen through the laundry room. He swallowed the last of his punch pretty hard.
He’d never before seen her look so pretty. She wore a plaid wool skirt over tights and a navy turtleneck sweater that hugged her slender form. She’d left her hair loose in a riot of curls. He openly stared. Probably drooled, too.
Her cheeks were rosy pink, but then she’d just come in from the cold. Without hesitation, she walked straight for him and smiled. She didn’t look inclined to avoid him this time.
His heart rate picked up speed.
“Hi, Ryan.” Her voice sounded rich as silk.
“You look beautiful,” he blurted.
“Thanks.” She gave him a quick once-over. Bold as can be. “So do you.”
What was she doing to him? He quickly changed the subject to keep from pulling her into his arms. “How’s school counseling?”
Her eyes brightened. They looked steely blue tonight, almost gray. “I love it.”
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his khakis to keep from touching her. “That’s good. I’m glad.”
“How are you?” Her eyes narrowed. “I mean really.”
“I finished group. John signed off on my master treatment plan. Everything’s been sent to the court to drop the charges.”
“That’s good. I’m glad,” she echoed his words.
“But I’m not done, Kel.” He took a deep breath and held it, waiting for her reaction. This is what he’d wanted to tell her, hoping she’d come tonight.
Her eyebrow lifted.
He stepped closer. “I’m going to AA meetings once a week.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened in surprise.
He caught his brother’s eye from across the room and Sinclair gave him a nod. His brother had come through for him when he’d needed him most. Sinclair had made him see that there was no shame in seeking help. No shame in admitting what he’d become.
Ryan came clean. “They say once an alcoholic always, an alcoholic but we can live sober. I plan on living sober.”
He watched her eyes fill with tears and panicked. Not the reaction he’d hoped for. “It’s a good thing, Kel. Really.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you crying?”
She sniffed and then laughed. “I guess I’m not made of stone, after all.”
“I never thought you were.” Ryan caught one of her tears with his thumb. No way. She was warm and caring and kissed with fire. “I never thought you were.”
Kellie’s eyes softened even more. “Karl said that you’d been to see him.”
“I had to see him. And we’re keeping in touch.” He’d made his peace with her brother, too.
“I really appreciate that. Karl does, too.” She gave him another watery smile and he feared she might start crying again.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
“And I missed you.” Her voice sounded raw.
“So, what should we do about it?”
Kellie pulled out a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose into it. “Sorry.”
He chuckled. “No problem. Want to get a plate of food and sit down somewhere?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. I wonder if you’d consider...”
He watched her rally her courage and waited for her to continue.
“Would you be willing to go with me to a middle school dance tomorrow night?”
He laughed. “Are you a chaperone?”
She straightened her shoulders. “Yes, I am.”
He leaned a little closer. “I’d love to go.”
“Then it’s a date. Pick me up at six-thirty?” She crinkled her nose.
Ryan smiled. He would not have envisioned a middle school dance as their first date, but he’d take it. It was a start of many dates. “You’ll dance with me?”
Her cheeks colored. “Uh yeah, it’s a dance.”
He suddenly couldn’t wait for tomorrow night to hold her. He lowered his voice and asked, “Why don’t we go somewhere for hot chocolate and talk about it.”
Kellie’s eyes widened again. “But I haven’t said hello to anyone. Not even Dorrie.”
“Meet me at my truck in thirty minutes.”
She opened her mouth and then closed it and nodded.
Ryan couldn’t believe she didn’t argue, and that made him smile. He imagined that they’d argue over many things, but that meant they’d make up, too. After she walked away to mingle, he checked his watch. This was going to be the longest half hour of his life.
* * *
Kellie made a dash for Ryan’s truck. Her heart skittered and clanged against her ribs while she waited. Was she too early? She hadn’t kept track of time. And then she saw him and her insides flipped.
Ryan jogged toward her, his breath blowing white in front him. “Sorry,” he said. “Were you waiting long?
She looked up at his dear face with those bittersweet chocolate eyes. Snowflakes clung to his dark hair and she fluffed them away with her fingertips. He was the gallant knight of her girlish dreams and he’d slayed a couple of dragons belonging to him and her. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for you.”
“That’s good to hear.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I won’t fail you, Kellie. I’m in this for the long haul. God’s got my back and I’m not afraid.”
“I’m not either.” She really meant it, too. “And Ryan?”
“Yeah?”
She licked her lips. “I love you, and I believe in you. I believe in us.”
“I need your love, Kel. Trust can come later after I’ve earned it. I will, too. By God’s grace, I’ll earn it.”
She didn’t bother reminding him that trust was something she needed to give. She’d prove it to him with time and the life they’d build together. “You can start by sealing that promise with a kiss.”
“Gladly.” He dipped his head and captured her mouth with his.
She returned his kiss with a promise of her own running through her mind and soul. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health...
No matter what their future held, God would be with them.
When they finally broke apart, Ryan cupped her face. “I love you, Kellie Cavanaugh.”
She gave him a cheeky grin. “I know.”
He laughed and shook his head while he opened the door for her. “Now, get in the truck.”
She climbed in and scooted close to Ryan, breathing in the frosty air and luscious scent of him. “This is where it all started, huh? The night my car broke down and you picked me up.”
He reached across her for the middle seat belt and buckled her in place right next to him. “I think it started the moment you shook my hand. I knew there was something special about you.”
Kellie nodded. “I remember feeling the same way about you, and it scared me to pieces.”
“Thank you.” He cupped her cheek and gave her a smile that made her toes curl inside her boots.
She tipped her head. “For what?”
“For making a difference.”
Kellie felt her eyes sting again and her throat clog with emotion. She pulled Ryan’s head toward hers and showed him the difference he’d made with a kiss.
Trust in God was the real difference, though. Maybe the Hound of Heaven had tracked them both down and thrown them together to help each other heal. To help each other grow and find redemptive love that would last forever.