“We’ll bring you something special,” Nathan agreed. “It will be a surprise.”
Rainy leaned over kissing Lucas on the cheek, as a bright tear trickled from her eye. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Lucas nestled his head on his grandfather’s shoulder. He would be asleep before they reached the car.
Another round of kisses and goodbyes ushered the newlyweds out, and soon they were in Nathan’s old truck trundling toward the main road.
“I don’t even know where we’re going.” Rainy said, her stomach turning over with nerves. She was married to Nathan. After all of these years without him, they were now joined in the eyes of man and God.
Nathan reached over feeling the nervous energy pouring from his beautiful new bride. “I booked a bed and breakfast for us near the river,” he said squeezing her hand. “I didn’t want us to be too far from Lucas.”
Rainy turned shining eyes on her husband. “Thank you.”
“That’s our boy honey,” Nathan said, his fingers clasped in hers. “He’s the most important thing in this world, and we’ll do all we can to grow him up right.”
“I love you, Nathan Draper,” Rainy sighed.
“And I love you, Rainy Draper,” Nathan chuckled back. “It hasn’t been an easy path, but I’m thankful that in God, all things are made new.”
For several moments they drove on in silence, a sense of peace surrounding them as they drove through the last rays of the sunset.
“Nathan?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure you’re alright with me not taking a job this year?”
“Honey, I already told you that I think that is a wonderful decision. You can stay home with Lucas for one more year then decide what you want to do.”
“But I don’t want you to feel like you have to take care of me.”
Nathan’s warm chuckle surprised her, and Rainy turned to study his profile in the golden glow at the end of the day.
“Honey, I want to take care of you. I want to give you everything you ever want. You and Lucas mean the world to me, and by God’s grace and provision, I’ll do everything I can to make you happy. Besides, I start my new job in two weeks, and it’s more than I could have ever wanted. If later you want to work, that’s great, but if you don’t, you don’t have to. The choice is yours.”
Rainy felt her heart swell, filling with more love than she knew was possible. “I’m so thankful that God brought us back together.”
Nathan lifted the hand he held in his, raising it to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on each knuckle.
“God knew what was best for us, and he’ll keep giving us the best if we just trust in Him.”
Epilogue
Six months of wedded bliss passed in the blink of an eye, and Rainy had never been happier.
Nathan’s new job was everything he had hoped for, and though there were still stresses and the occasional late night at work, he liked what he was doing. He also liked the fact that Rainy had the choice to stay home with Lucas.
They had moved to a small apartment soon after the wedding, but now they were looking at a little house not far from his grandmother and Rainy’s parents. Lucas seemed thrilled to have his mother home with him during the day, and the small family relished their time together on weekends and holidays, filling them with little adventures and new experiences to be remembered.
“Can we go to the park today?” Lucas asked as his mother packed a bag full of snacks. “Maybe Kaylee will be there.”
Rainy chuckled, Lucas had tried to kiss Kaylee in church this past week, and she knew that he had a little boy crush on his friend.
“The park sounds nice,” Nathan walked in carrying the large picnic hamper and kissing Rainy on the cheek. “The weather’s warm for this time of year. How about a picnic?”
“The park it is then,” Rainy agreed. “Lucas go get your coat and mittens.”
The boy raced off headed for the coat rack at the front door.
“You look tired,” Nathan said, pulling Rainy into his arms. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine, I’ve just been thinking about the future. I’d love it if we can land that house.”
“Me too,” Nathan admitted. “It would be nice to have some extra space for our son.”
Rainy smiled, her eyes twinkling with a knowing light.
“Ready!” Lucas raced back into the kitchen his coat buttoned crooked and his mittens on the wrong hands.
A brisk breeze blew through the park as Rainy walked hand and hand with her two best guys. Tiny buds, the first pink of spring coloring the branches of the once dormant trees.
“There’s a picnic table,” Rainy said pointing toward a table under a large maple tree. “Picnic time.”
Soon the young family was seated at the table, a bright table cloth covering its leaf-strewn top as the food was set out.
“Can I go play on the swings?” Lucas looked longingly toward the tall swing sets.
“After lunch,” Rainy insisted. She had risen early that morning to make the perfect meal for her guys and intended to enjoy every moment of this very special day.
Nathan’s phone pinged as they were starting on dessert and he looked up in surprise at Rainy.
“Go ahead, answer it,” she smiled.
“Rainy,” Nathan’s voice was hushed as he looked up from the glowing screen of his phone.
“What?”
“We got it. We got the house.” Nathan’s smile lit up the day and Rainy’s grew brighter.
“That’s the best news,” she sighed. “We’ll need the extra room.”
Nathan looked between Rainy and Lucas, not sure what she was saying. They had discussed the need for Lucas to have more room extensively already.
“Lucas,” Rainy looked at her son, a devilish glint in her eyes. “How would you like to be a big brother?”
“Really?”
Rainy looked up meeting Nathan’s startled eyes, as memories of another age pounded in her head. She had been here before and that time Nathan had walked away.
Nathan stood,
