Laura sat in the passenger side of the Jeep thinking about circles. Circles and cycles and circumstances that seemed random but had to have been preordained.
“What are you thinking about so hard, pretty girl?”
Seth’s voice was teasing and warm and happy. Laura loved that he sounded so incredibly joyful. He reached out and held Laura’s hand, keeping his other on the steering wheel of the SUV he was driving. He ran his thumb over a wedding ring. Her wedding ring. The one he had placed on her finger two days ago.
“I was thinking about the first time you drove up this mountain.”
Seth squeezed her hand. “If I ever needed proof that God exists, I have it. He surely sent me to find you.”
Laura snorted. He could be such a sap at times.
“That’s one way to look at it, I suppose. The other way would be that you drove up a mountain, found a crazy recluse and almost died.” She was teasing. Mostly. Though she had found peace and happiness since their ordeal on the mountain, she would never be able to entirely joke about the terror of those days.
“Laura.” Seth’s voice was loving and almost chiding. “I drove up a mountain alone and ashamed and came back down complete and free.”
Laura was silent for a moment. “You know, for a park ranger, you sure can say the sweetest things.”
“They’re true.” He looked at her face briefly, then returned his gaze to the road. “I miss Abby. Maybe we should have brought her with us.”
Laura laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Abby had Seth wrapped around her little kindergartner finger. Like Laura, Abby had been blessed with a biological father who loved her. Like Laura, Abby had lost that biological father. And, like Laura, God had sent Abby a man—a new father—one who would love her with every bit of his being. Laura frequently gave Seth a hard time about his mushiness where Abby was concerned, but he would just smile and shrug his shoulders.
Of course, Seth wasn’t the only one. Abby was staying with Seth’s parents while he and Laura had their honeymoon at the cabin. They spoiled Abby about as much as Seth did. Actually, all of Seth’s family spoiled Abby. And Laura. From the second Laura and Abby had come to Carter City, they had been surrounded by grandparents and parents and brothers and sisters and cousins and nieces and nephews. It was unfamiliar and overwhelming and often exhausting. It was also wonderful. Laura delighted in the fact that Abby was growing up in the middle of such a large, loving family.
The terrain got slightly rougher and Seth let go of Laura’s hand so he could use both hands to drive. “Hey,” he said with a grin, “you wanna reenact our first meeting?”
Laura crossed her arms in mock irritation. “Very funny, Ranger.” She rolled her eyes at his satisfied smile. Feeling like her heart was almost too full of joy, Laura closed her eyes and said a prayer that had almost become instinctual.
Oh, God, I can’t believe You gave us this man. Thank You.