“If it’s Gott’s will, he will be back, mei maedel. If not, he wasn’t the one.”
“I know.” Evelyn had cried all morning. She didn’t have any tears left, and she was sure her eyes showed the evidence. Hermother spun her around and kissed her on the cheek.
“Lucas said you fed the chickens and collected the eggs this morning.” Her mother tipped her head to one side, her eyes questioning.
“Ya.” Evelyn took a deep breath. “I’m trying to work through some things.”
Her mother smiled. “He also said he saw you running from the chicken coop when you were done.”
“I didn’t say I’d worked through them yet.” She forced a smile for her mother’s sake. “And that red-and-white rooster is mean.”
“I’m going to go make a batch of brownies.” Evelyn’s mother kissed her on the cheek again. “I’m here if you want to talk.”
Evelyn nodded, but she turned around right away. All the vehicles were gone. He was gone. Despite her best efforts, more tears found their way down her cheeks.
* * *
Sometime over the past two and a half weeks, one of Veronica’s party buddies had taken a liking to Giovanni, and Jayce hadsnagged a ride in Veronica’s motor home so the two could ride together in the limo. He wasn’t sure why Giovanni didn’t choosethe motor home, but he didn’t care. Jayce had his own bed to sleep in during the trip. His emotions, along with hauling allthe luggage and packing everything up, had him feeling overly tired. The downside was that his father had managed to finaglehis way onboard too.
Jayce was lying on the bed in the smaller of the bedrooms, his arms tucked behind his head. He was almost asleep when hisfather walked into the room, which caused him to lift up on his elbows. His father tossed an envelope at him.
Jayce opened it and noticed right away it was filled with hundred-dollar bills, more than they’d agreed on, it appeared. “Youcould have just written me a check,” he said before yawning. “And this looks like more than we agreed on.” Which was shocking,since the agreed-upon amount had been ridiculous.
“It is more. But you earned it.” His father held his position and stared at Jayce. It was hard to read his subdued expression.“Why don’t you just stay here? It’s enough money for a down payment on a place and to get you through for a while.”
Jayce shook his head, mouth hanging open. “Wow. You really want me gone from your place. Dad, I promise, I’ll have my stuff out of your house as soon as we get back. I want out as bad as you want me out.”
His father flinched. Then he turned to face the living room where Veronica was curled up sipping something red and readinga magazine. “Sometimes it doesn’t pay to wait, and time can be the enemy. Time and a foul temper.” He turned back to Jayce.“I didn’t give her the time she deserved, and my temper has ruined most of my relationships. But I know what I want, and I’mgoing to make the necessary changes to prove to her that I can be the man she wants and deserves.”
Jayce wanted to say, “Who are you, and what have you done with my father?”
“That’s great, Dad.” He wasn’t sure how sincere the words were, or if Veronica would ever take him back, but at least hisdad had a plan and had thought things through. On Saturday when he’d said bye to Evelyn, he thought he had it all worked out,a logical plan that made sense. He began to detail his plan to his father, surprisingly.
When he’d repeated almost everything he’d said to Evelyn, his father smiled sympathetically.
“Every time I look at you, I am reminded of the man your mother left me for—someone not much older than you are now. I’ve taken a lot of my anger out on you.” He paused, sighing. “And others. But, believe it or not, I want you to be happy. If you want to go back to LA and see this very logical plan through, then of course you should do that. Or you could embrace what you feel today and go for it. There is no guarantee of a tomorrow.” His father looked over his shoulder at Veronica again before he locked eyes with Jayce. “She’s probably too young for me, and I shouldn’t fault your mother for her younger man, but . . .”
Something in the pit of Jayce’s stomach cramped, and he didn’t hear anything else his father said.
“There is no guarantee of a tomorrow.” What if he never saw Evelyn again? What if she found someone else while Jayce was off finding himself—which sounded reallystupid all of a sudden.
An unusual quietness settled in. “You always plan things out, Jayce,” his father said. “I trained you in that regard. Andit’s not always a bad thing.” He shrugged. “But sometimes it doesn’t hurt to shake things up.”
His father took a folded piece of paper from the pocket of his trousers. “This was obviously meant for you. I found it inthe limo. I guess it was written before the writer knew you’d be traveling in the motor home.” He handed the note to Jayce.“I confess. I read it.” Shrugging, he said, “Maybe I was meant to read it.” His eyes traveled to Veronica again. “You’ll makethe right decision.”
His father smiled and walked to Veronica. She made room for him to sit beside her. Jayce couldn’t hear what was being said,but the expression on Veronica’s face told him his father was making progress.
He unfolded the note written on lined white paper and read.
Life is a journey to be enjoyed as much as the destination. But there is no guarantee of a tomorrow.
Jayce paused, recalling his father saying the same thing, obviously after he’d read this note.
Each day is a gift from Gott to be cherished. Fill your heart
