“My girl loves me. What can I say?” Evan shrugged his shoulders while his eyes shined bright with happiness.
“You think she could hook me up with a deck like this?”
“Sure, although I may ask her not to since I wanted to buy the place.”
Guy shook his head and forced a chuckle out. He’d forgotten he beat Evan to the punch, so to speak. Evan had put an offer on his home to the former owner, Mrs. Nelson. Only it was too late. She had accepted Guy’s offer before his boy even had a chance. The house was big and a bit much to take care of, but his girls loved it.
It would be nice to have a space like this for himself. He loved the outdoors, but his backyard left much to be desired. “Yeah, ask her if she would be willing.”
“Sure.”
They sat around, eating and talking sports. As time passed, he began to engage in the conversation, picking up the rhythm and camaraderie of the past. He had missed these men. Since Charlene’s death, he had often wanted to return to Freedom Lake to live, but his mother loved Virginia. She hadn’t wanted to return to the place where she’d lost her husband.
Guy barely managed to keep a snort of derision from escaping. His father hadn’t died, simply walked out on them. He wanted something better and Guy and his mother were not a part of that plan. The old man probably lived somewhere in Indiana or maybe he’d moved. Guy hadn’t seen him in thirteen years.
Like Michelle.
“So, G, you thinking of becoming a regular Bible study attendee?”
Guy stared at Darryl trying to replay the words in his mind so he could answer him. Darryl’s words finally sunk through his thick skull. Now he wished he could fake ignorance. “I’m thinking about it. I can’t deny the power of Chloe’s lesson.”
Darryl’s face transformed, a goofy looking grin taking up residence.
Guy let out a laugh, half rusty from lack of use. “Ah, you still have it bad for her, man?” He laughed harder as his friend’s face turned red. “I take that as a ‘yes.’”
“I’ll ask her out one day. When I feel good enough.”
“What do you mean?”
Darryl looked at him and then at Evan. “You ever feel like you’re not worthy to be with someone? That you know they could do better than you. Find someone more put together without a crazy load of skeletons. Do you know what I mean?”
“Definitely,” Evan replied.
“Wi, man.” He clapped a hand on Darryl’s shoulder. “No one ever deserves the other, but that’s where the power of love comes in. They love you so much, they accept you, skeletons and all.” Charlene had loved him like that. He didn’t know if he had the strength to love another woman like that again besides his girls.
“God loves like that, doesn’t He?” Darryl asked, looking back and forth between them.
Guy’s stomach tensed. He had hoped to escape the God talk, but he knew what it was like to be on the precipice and need confirmation that you were loved despite your mistakes. But what could prevent Darryl from feeling loved? There was no way he could have the same mistakes in his past that Guy did.
“He does, D, you just have to accept it.” Evan gave Guy a pointed glare.
Guy sighed.
Darryl nodded then stretched. “It’s getting a little stuffy in here. Almost smells like emotions and we can’t have that.”
Guy barked out a laugh. He was glad he came. They were all going to be okay. Even though life was tough, they had each other and would light the way to prevent the darkness from swallowing them whole.
Chapter Twelve
Michelle lifted Rebekah off her lap and laid her down on the couch. The girls had finally fallen into a stupor, giving in to the exhaustion of the day. She had made sure to keep them active. They played dress up after their tea party and then they had asked for her to do their hair. Babysitting the twins had put her emotions through the ringer. Michelle needed a moment of quiet to sort through them.
She couldn’t believe how much fun she had. Had she been too hasty in thinking she wasn’t fit to be a mom? After all, it’s not like she knew what all it entailed. As much as Michelle loved her mother, her mother had been married to her job, and she’d been okay with that. Her mother still put forth the effort to let her know she was loved. Yet, there were times she often felt alone growing up. Always having to play by herself. Instead of telling her parents, she kept herself occupied. Intent to be the perfect daughter. And for some reason, she still couldn’t let people know how she really felt. Not about the deep stuff. The soul hurts.
The quiet knock on the door, pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced at the girls, thankful they remained asleep. Judging by the time, it was probably Guy. He must have received her text about not ringing the doorbell.
“Hey,” she whispered as she moved aside for Guy to come in.
“They asleep?”
The low sound of his voice brought back memories. She closed her eyes for a second, hoping to erase the images. Stuffing the memories back down, Michelle opened her eyes and nodded. “Yeah, they’re on the couch. Right this way.”
Walking through the foyer and into the living room, she couldn’t help but be conscious of Guy’s presence as he followed. His scent wrapped around her. They were alone in her house. She let out a sigh. No, the twins and Jo were in the house. And there were no romantic intentions.
She spared him a glance and froze at the tender look on his face. He’s looking at the girls, not you. Still, her pulse picked up speed. Don’t remember, Michelle.
“They were good, and as you can see, I wore them out.”
“Thanks again.” He peered down at his daughters,
