“Oh my gosh, Carter. I’m sorry, I didn’t meant to—”
“No, it’s okay,” I grinned. “Better than okay. I—something major happened that night. I felt like I was in chains before, Lauren. But, not anymore.”
She closed her eyes, whispering, “Thank you, God.”
“I wanted you before, Lauren Derian, but I tried to have you in my own strength—and I failed because I wasn’t right with God, and I was shattered with the guilt of Megan’s death.”
I told Lauren about the vision of Megs, and my conversation with Dad, and the feeling of freedom that hit me right there on Megs’ grave.
“The morning after you sang to me, I asked God for forgiveness, and I know I’m restored now. Through God’s strength, I’m saved, forgiven, and —I’m free.” I lifted her hand to my heart and then my lips. “I want you the same as I did, but now I want you with God backing me up.”
Her perfect lips were curling into a smile, and I was dying to get those puppies on mine stat. But not before I asked her what I’d come to ask.
“Lauren Francesca Derian,” I started.
She quirked a thick brow at me and lifted her chin. “You know my middle name?”
“And your birthday, and your favorite cartoon when you were little, and that you were obsessed with boy bands in middle school.”
“Kellie’s so dead.”
“That was your dad, actually. Kellie showed me your sixth-grade picture though—”
“Oh my gosh, the perm! They’re both dead.”
Looking out at the lake, I tried to harness all the courage I’d built on my way to Bridgeport. Please, God. Don’t let her reject me after everything you showed me about us.
“Lauren,” I gripped her shoulders and looked straight into those honey eyes. “I love you. I’m ready to let you have all of me if you want it. I’m ready to start a life with you, whenever you say go. If you still want to get married—”
“Carter, I’ve been thinking about this,” she said, and set my heart straight to racing. “What I’d do if God brought you back. What He’d want us to do.” Lauren dropped her gaze to my shoulder, and she toyed with my T-shirt collar, triggering a wild set of goosebumps down my arms. “I- I don’t want to rush this. I mean. I really want to rush this, but I feel like God wants us to be patient.
“Just because I’m having a baby doesn’t mean we have to get married tomorrow. There’s still so much I don’t know about you. So much you don’t know about me. I guess I'm asking . . . can we take our time? Can we date for a minute, while we figure ourselves out? So I can get used to being a mom, and you can decide if you still really want us, then?”
My knee went weak with relief. She wasn’t rejecting me.
“I can guarantee I’ll still want both of you when you’re ready to take the next step. But if you need time, you have all the time you want.”
“Yeah?” Her eyes were glowing again and her hands were sliding up my chest. She twined her fingers together behind my neck and leaned closer, smile widening and breaths pulsing warm on my skin.
I pressed my lips to hers, lifting her off the ground, and she kissed me back, all heart and no reservations, and it felt like the best slice of Heaven on Earth a guy could ever ask for, having her in my arms again. I savored her warmth, her fervor, her touch.
“Woohoo!” Someone shouted from the shore, followed by some scattered applause.
I set Lauren down, but she stayed right there, crowding my space, and I loved it.
“One more question,” she whispered, rubbing her nose to mine.
“You can have the world if you want it,” I whispered back, pressing my lips to the tip of that cute nose.
“Good, because that guy, Lani, called up here while you were gone. June said he wants you to call him back as soon as possible, and I really think you should consider his job offer.”
“Any big reason why?”
“I’m moving to Kellie’s down in the valley next week, and I really want my boo bear around.”
I pulled her in for another kiss, but she stiffened, hands shooting to her stomach.
“You okay?”
She shook her head, focusing on something in the distance behind me. But the only thing there was the lake shore.
“Wow,” she said all breathless. “Oh my gosh.”
Lauren gently stroked her bump, looking like some kind of sun-kissed angel—all wide eyed and gleaming.
“The baby moved.”
Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER
-CARTER-
Being back at Bridgeport after everything happened these past two years was like an out-of-body experience.
Me, getting my own place in the valley and dating Lauren, working for Lani, and now pursuing a career path as a physical therapist.
Lauren, living at Kellie’s, massively pregnant and glowing, taking online classes at the Fashion Institute.
Us, dating, getting to know each other the right way. There were some disagreements sometimes, for sure—but beneath it all was love, strengthened by God.
The day Jayla was born, completely sealed the deal for me. Lauren was a warrior giving birth, and I fell head over heels in love with my daughter the instant I laid eyes on her. Lauren named her Jayla because it meant God will protect. The meaning resonated so much for both of us because of all He’d brought us through.
Pastor Gregg was standing at the podium of the Bridgeport chapel, grinning like it was the best day in history, and I stood at the altar, where Lauren had sung to me, and driven me straight into God’s arms. Above me the iron arch Dad had welded for our wedding stood guard. Lauren and her girls spent the whole morning threading
