Kayla swallowed before her mouth opened and a small gasp escaped. “I can’t believe you said that to me now. Here.”
He smiled. “It’s my favorite place. After a great day at work. Why not here? Nothing about it scares me. It’s sacred. You and how I feel about you are both sacred to me. So why not say it here?”
She nodded and her eyes grew huge. “Okay. When you say it like that. Why not? Except…”
“Except what?”
“If we were all alone right now, I’d throw myself on you and literally wrap my arms around your neck and my legs around your waist. And then I’d kiss you.”
Jim smiled as he imagined that, feeling glad for her humor and the levity made his heart soar. “You can definitely do that when we get home.”
She slipped her other hand into his, interlacing their fingers. “I love you too.”
“I know, Kayla. You slinked out after my sermon, all quiet and docile, and unless something specifically made you act like that, you don’t have to. You can be you. Appropriately, of course. But just be you.”
She looked down at their linked hands. “I will.”
“You look so serious right now. Anyone would assume someone died and I’m counseling you in your hour of grief.”
She lifted her face and a grin split her face. “No. They saw the kiss. And their eagle eyes saw Eric not standing on duty so… there’s going to be a lot of gossip.”
He shrugged. “So?”
Her lips pressed together. “Yeah. So?”
“Now, have you tried the cake?”
“No, give me a small bite.” Looking deeply into each other’s eyes, Kayla took Jim’s fork and tasted a generous mouthful before they proceeded to share the rest of it. They both gushed over how good it was with plenty of eyes fastened on them. The only interruptions came from a few casual hellos from others. Seeing Kayla was enough for anyone to wonder what the heck was going on. Jim smiled and kept the conversation light, easy and confined to church issues. His pleasantries distracted the few rumor mongers who came to collect any tidbits of gossip they could scavenge. Turned out Jim was pretty good at it too.
All at once, a warm sensation filled his heart. He’d been honest with himself and the people around him still supported and loved him through it. The world didn’t end. So what if things changed? He’d adjust as necessary. With the help of Kayla and her family, Jim’s self-confidence and peace of mind were already well established.
Taking her hand, he could only smile at her as she asked, “What?”
Jim didn’t answer her with words at first but the look he gave her revealed the depth of his feelings and unparalleled gratitude at having her with him now.
“I’m just really glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
Epilogue
“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU were right and I was wrong. How could I be wrong about that? The Zavarians are the worst people.” Kayla stared out the windshield at the fields passing by. Flat land for as far as the eye could see with little swoops up and down like bumps in the sky with little fanfare. They were driving in the middle of North Dakota, not far from Grand Forks. Trees planted for wind breaks surrounded the fields here and there. The wild acreage was mostly flat with a few water features and fewer mountains. It was so unlike the water-logged and rumpled forest terrain of emerald trees where she came from.
Crossing her arms over her chest in disgust, she looked at Jim who kept driving. He finally gave her a gentle smile and she growled at him. “Go ahead and say it. I was dead wrong. I wasted our time. I just… honest to goodness, it never occurred to me anyone could be that horrible. That cruel. That ignorantly despicable.”
“They aren’t any of those things.”
She snorted as she twisted her torso. “They are too. Don’t you dare get all pastor-like and forgive them. Or try to tell me they were doing their best or being their best or whatever. What a pile of shit. They are mean, calculating people and I honestly can’t believe how much I hate them.”
“They aren’t horrible. They believed in something that they both thought was right. They made a judgment call and even if it’s wrong, they don’t think it is.”
She flipped around, her hair swinging onto her face. “That’s such bullshit. They blamed you for being the biological son of a pedophile. How absurd is that? You never behaved like Jimmy. They lived with you for almost two years. They should have spotted Jimmy as a liar, a cheat, and a grifting monster. You were just a kid. If you hadn’t run away—”
His hands slid down on the wheel. “I would not have become a pastor or met you. Remember: everything happens for a reason. God has a plan and all that.”
She harrumphed. “Doesn’t excuse people who legally adopted you before turning their backs on you for no reason.”
“I was nearly an adult.”
“You were just seventeen. You can forgive them if you choose to, Pastor Jim, but I will not because I cannot. Ever.”
“Never?”
She drew in a breath of annoyance at his mimicking, teasing tone, but she nodded. “Never. And I know you’re laughing at me. But I really mean it.”
He pulled into the motel they’d booked
