Chapter 13
Two weeks. How could so much change in two short weeks? Nathan lifted the grocery bags in his hand and headed up the stairs of his grandmother’s apartment.
He had been shocked to see the changes in the woman who had raised him. She seemed to have aged drastically in the months since his grandfather had passed.
“Gram, I’m back,” he called poking his head into the living area, pleased when her face lit up at the sight of him.
“Did you get everything on the list?” The little old woman called, her dark eyes sparkling.
“I did. How about I make us some lunch?”
“It’s already made,” Gram Draper called pushing herself from her chair and following him to the kitchen.
“Gram, you don’t need to cook for me,” Nathan grumbled. “I didn’t come here for you to take care of me.”
“I know why you came here,” Miriam Draper met his gaze. “I like cooking for you. You don’t know how hard it is to cook for just one person all the time.”
Nathan placed the grocery bags on the table and leaned over to kiss his grandmother’s weathered cheek. “I’m glad I’m back,” he said.
“How did the job hunting go?” Gram asked moving to the refrigerator and pulling out a bowl of chicken salad.
“Both interviews went well,” Nathan admitted. “I don’t know what comes next, but for now the feed store is happy to have me work for them on a temporary basis.”
“It will all come together,” Gram smiled as she sliced two croissants and piled them with the chicken mixture. “Grab me a soda,” she continued.
Nathan put the refrigerated items into the tall white fridge and grabbed two sodas. He had been surprised at how easy it had been to slip back into life with his grandmother, but he felt, keenly, the absence of his steady, faith-filled grandfather. It would take time to adjust to this new life, but his heart was full of hope.
“Have you seen Rainy since you got back?” Gram asked innocently as they sat down at the small, round, wooden table.
Nathan shook his head. “No, but I’m planning on going over this weekend. I know she had a lot of things to do when she got home.”
“I’m glad you came home,” Gram said again. “I believe God has brought you here for a very special reason, and that He will guide you.”
“I never understood your faith before,” Nathan sighed as his grandmother fumbled for his hand. “All these years I spent holding on to my own wisdom, and the answers were right there in front of me.”
“God works all things out in his own time.” Miriam smiled.
***
Saturday night found Nathan standing in front of the Smythe’s home, a bundle of flowers in one hand and a stuffed pony under his arm.
“I’m already sweatin’ Lord and I haven’t even knocked yet. I could use some courage.” Part of him wanted to run away, and the other wanted to bust through the door claiming the family that he never should have left behind.
Closing his eyes and sucking in a deep breath, Nathan lifted his hand and rapped soundly on the door.
“Oh, it’s you,” Anne snapped as she pulled the door wide. “I guess you can come in.”
“Nice to see you too, Anne,” Nathan growled, pushing his annoyance deep inside. He knew that whatever abuse Anne and the Smythes dished out he had earned. Making up for past mistakes would take time.
“Mr. Nat’an!” Lucas rushed over a wide grin on his little face. “Is that for me?” A pudgy hand pointed at the brown and white toy under Nathan’s arm.
“It sure is buckaroo,” Nate said, handing the stuffed pony to the boy. “Do you like it?”
“It’s not a real pony, but I like it.” He hugged the plush animal tight then raced toward the back of the house. “Mommy, Mr. Na’tan is here!”
“Hello,” Rainy appeared a few moments later, a dishtowel over one shoulder of her faded blue tee.
“These are for you.” Nathan shoved the flowers toward her feeling like every kind of a fool. He had known it would be difficult stepping through this door, but he hadn’t expected to feel like a complete dolt. He had been in this house hundreds of times, but this time everything was different.
“Come on in,” Rainy offered. “We were just cleaning up dinner.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s fine.” Rainy looked up meeting Nathan’s dark eyes. “You really came.”
“I’m all settled with Gram.” Nathan followed her into the familiar living room, taking the seat she offered as she placed the flowers on the coffee table. “She’s glad to have me home.”
Rainy studied Nathan’s face for several moments then nodded. “This year has been hard on her.”
Nathan felt his face flush. “I should have come home earlier.” His eyes begged Rainy to understand all those few words meant.
“So what will you do now that you’re back in town?” Rainy pulled the dishtowel from her shoulder, wringing it between nervous hands.
“I’m working at the feed store at the moment, but I had two interviews today.”
“You really plan on staying?”
Nathan swallowed hard shifting to look Rainy fully in the face. “I do,” he said. “I don’t expect anything from you Rainy, just the chance to make up for my poor choices and to get to know Lucas.”
Rainy bit her lip letting the words wash over her. She knew she shouldn’t trust Nathan, she should doubt every word that fell from his lips, and yet she didn’t. She wanted to believe him. “I’ll do my best.”
Nathan’s smile zipped straight to Rainy’s heart, and she returned it believing something good had just happened.
“Mommy, can I have more pie?” Lucas arrived in the living room his new pony grasped in his arms.
“No, you had enough.”
“But…”
“No,” Rainy repeated.
“Do you want some pie?” Lucas looked up at Nathan expectantly. “We could share.”
“No thank you,” Nathan said. “I already ate.”
Rainy felt her lips twitch as the boy’s
