Here for You

by Pat Simmons

  Praise and worship exploded from Rachel and the others. The doctors waited patiently until they had composed themselves. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

  Dr. Rush nodded. “This is worthy of a celebration, and we’re glad our staff was part of your team through this difficult time. Although you’ll still be considered a cancer patient, we hope your cancer stays in remission.

  “Cancer has a greater chance of recurring within two years, so that is a critical time to maintain a healthy lifestyle, get plenty of exercise, reduce stress, and stay on top of your doctor visits. If the cancer doesn’t return in five years, your chart will be marked as cured.”

  She prayed any potential cancer cells would remain dormant for the rest of her life. Nicholas squeezed her hand and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I thank God for giving me you. Love you.”

  * * *

  Nicholas’s chest swelled with happiness as Rachel shared her praise report with the congregation and testified about God’s goodness and grace. He even spied Mother Jenkins dabbing at her eyes.

  “Thank you all for your prayers, cards, and visits. You helped give me strength in my spirit when my body was weak and my faith was tested.”

  To celebrate, Jacqui and Mother Jenkins had organized a reception in the fellowship hall in Rachel’s honor for after the service, and Nicholas didn’t leave her side. It was an emotional scene to witness the well-wishers form a line to give Rachel words of encouragement. Evangelist Darci Union shared with Rachel about her cousin who was a cancer survivor.

  As the line thinned, Nicholas spied Leah heading in their direction. Since he had confronted her about the rumors months earlier, she had kept her distance, except for her failed attempt to help Nicholas shop for Rachel. Otherwise, when they crossed paths, they were cordial.

  Leah made brief eye contact with Nicholas before speaking. “Hi, Rachel. I enjoyed hearing what you shared.”

  “Thank you.” Rachel smiled. “It wasn’t a joy going through it, but I learned more about God.”

  “I believe that.” She paused. “You might remember me from the doctor’s office, I guess when you first got the news…”

  Tilting his head, Nicholas readied himself to intervene at any moment in case Leah had any shenanigans up her sleeves.

  Rachel frowned. “I’m sorry. I don’t. That time was such a dark period in my life that everything was a blur. I was so happy Minister Adams was here to give me guidance and support, which I needed. Any other man would have run away from my drama.”

  That was when Nicholas butted in. He squeezed Rachel’s hand. “‘Love is patient, love is kind…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’” He quoted 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 as if it were a poem.

  She stared into his eyes and, without saying a word, conveyed how much she loved him as if they didn’t have an audience—until Leah cleared her throat. “Rachel, I apologize for making judgments about your situation.”

  When it appeared that Leah was about to say more, Nicholas accepted the apology for Rachel before she asked questions. The last thing he wanted was for Rachel to know the woman had spread rumors that she was pregnant instead of sick.

  He was about to walk away when Mother Jenkins requested that Leah help serve the punch. Nicholas exhaled. Mother Jenkins was always at her post.

  Chapter 38

  Rachel’s life was back on track within a few weeks. She wore a new attitude of gratefulness and humility.

  After Rachel stepped inside Gersham-Smith, she teared up with emotion from the balloons and applause that greeted her from her colleagues. Her boss presented her with flowers, and for about an hour or so, members of her team and others gave her a personal welcome back, complimented her head wrap, and said how happy they were that she appeared healthy.

  “You look good!” Jackson said as if he was amazed, shaking his head. “You look like you’ve never had a bad day.”

  Rachel chuckled. “Trust me, if it wasn’t for all those bad days, I wouldn’t know how good a good day is.”

  After all the excitement, Rachel settled in her workstation and took a few minutes to breathe in her new life. Lord, thank You.

  * * *

  They settled back into their old routine of spending as much time together as they could during the week, depending on their workloads and Nicholas’s church commitments. He was glad that Rachel felt confident enough in their relationship that she didn’t have to wear a head wrap around him to feel beautiful. However, he was in tune with her loss every time she touched her bald scalp. He saw glimpses of her sadness.

  They were playing pool in the game room in her building when Nicholas caught her hand as she was about to touch her head. They stared into each other’s eyes. Rachel offered a weak smile. Nicholas didn’t as he rested his pool stick and led her to the lounge, where they had a great view of the night skyline.

  “Hey, baby, God has counted every strand on your head, and all your hair is coming back.” he said softly.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, I’m not complaining.”

  “No, you’re not.” Nicholas paused and squeezed her hands. “But I feel your heartbeat, Rachel. You told me the doctors said it may take up to six months to see some peach fuzz.” Nicholas brushed a kiss against her scalp.

  She nodded with a sigh but didn’t look at him.

  Putting his arm around her shoulder, he gathered her closer. “I’m going to carry a measuring tape in my back pocket. I’ll nickname her ‘Baby Girl.’” He snickered. “We’ll keep track of your new growth the first of every month.”

  Rachel laughed, and this time, her amusement reached her eyes. She didn’t respond, but her spirit seemed lifted for the rest of the evening.

  Oddly enough, she looked forward to those first days of each month.

  Nicholas made sure every time they were together, it was a date night, whether they walked the dogs around the neighborhood parks or re-explored Music City together. They returned to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for an all-day adventure.

  “Let’s bring the twins,” Rachel had suggested.

  Karl and Ava didn’t give Rachel a chance to change her mind. That impromptu field trip made Nicholas yearn for that family with Rachel. She was nurturing and patient with Kory and Rory and, for some reason, seemed to have endless energy, and Nicholas had to call time-out twice to rest.

  “Come on, old man,” Rachel teased and laughed. The boys stood beside her, giggling to hear their uncle called old.

  Before the night ended, he had come to a decision. Thanks to his own big mouth, not once but twice, Nicholas had killed his chances of surprising Rachel with a proposal.

  Who said “the third time’s a charm”? He was going for it and planned to officially propose on Valentine’s Day. He searched the internet for proposal ideas and found one he thought was creative, with a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

  He was putting his plan in motion one Sunday evening when Karl and Ava stopped by Nicholas’s house with the boys. They were still dressed in their church clothes.

  Ava smiled when she noticed the box of chocolates on the table but questioned his intent as he opened it and popped a piece of chocolate in his mouth.

  “Ah, what are you doing, Nick? You’re not supposed to eat the candy. You’re supposed to give them to Rachel to enjoy. That’s Romance 101.” She crossed her arms and waited for an explanation. “Honey, please talk to your brother.”

  Karl was too busy picking out a piece for himself as his finger hovered over a milk chocolate square with crème inside.

  “Ugh.” Nicholas spit out one of the pieces. “That tastes horrible.”

  “Can I have a piece, Uncle Nick?” Kory asked, followed by Rory’s request.

  “Sure, anything for my favorite nephews.” Nicholas lowered the box and let them choose a piece under the watchful eye
of their parents. “I wanted the box, not the candy.”

  “I don’t even want to know what you’re masterminding.” Karl shook his head. “It reminds me of that science fair project—”

  “I should’ve gotten an A for effort, even if the battery exploded.”

  “Hmm. That’s still the story you’re sticking with.” He chuckled and slipped his hands in his pants pockets as he perused more chocolate. “Handle your business, Brother.”

  “I will.” He picked up another piece and cautiously sampled a bite before shoving it in his mouth, then bobbed his head. “Umm. Caramel and pecans. I like this one. So where are you all coming from?”

  “The Townsends invited us to dinner. Afterward, their son wanted to play with the twins. Ava and I had to drag them away. Since we were close, we decided to stop by.” Karl lowered his voice around the boys. “Rachel doing okay? It’s good seeing her back at church, happy and with you.”

  Nicholas grinned. “Yep.” He heard his nephews in his spare bedroom, rummaging through the toy chest he kept stocked for them. Evidently, playtime was still in their system. “I’m about to propose. That’s why I bought the candy—”

  “Which you’re devouring by the second,” Ava reminded him.

  “If you want to know what I’m doing, then you’ll find out after Rachel. You want some chocolate to take home? I have to empty this box tonight.”

  Ava groaned, then picked out about four pieces. “No sense in wasting good chocolate.” She kissed his cheek, then called for the boys to come on so they could go home.

  Once they were gone, Nicholas started phase two of his proposal—scissors and paper.

  Chapter 39

  This was the first time in years that Rachel had a dinner date on Valentine’s Day. The day couldn’t have started better than with her wake-up text from Nicholas.

  When a man loves a woman, he loses his mind, then his heart. I give you my whole heart for Valentine’s Day. Love you. I’ll pick you up for dinner about 6. Reservation at 6:30.

  So many memories flooded Rachel’s mind. Nicholas stated he had lost his mind over her, but it was he who had kept her sane through her illness and Aunt Tweet’s death. She texted him back. Love you more than I can tell you. Kisses.

  Rachel had eaten healthy before her cancer, and she was determined to return to it. After a kale smoothie, bagel, and an egg white, she was out the door to the office.

  A bouquet of pink roses and white baby’s breath was waiting for her at the reception desk. Throughout the day, Nicholas sent tokens of his love. While in a morning meeting, her boss reassigned her to a project close to her heart—expanding the cancer wing of a children’s hospital. She immediately thought about Emily from the airport. How was she? Had she blessed someone else? Was she still in this world? All thoughts of the little girl made Rachel smile.

  She checked her phone and discovered she had missed a message from Nicholas. As she played it back, Rachel closed her eyes and listened to the short ballad he crooned. Before he disconnected, she heard surprise laughter in the background. She snickered at the possibility that Nicholas had been caught in the act of serenading her at the plant.

  Yes, it was an incredible day of love. Rachel had to keep her mind from drifting so she could focus on the exciting design and construction of the hospital wing.

  The end of the workday couldn’t come soon enough. Back home, Rachel showered and dressed meticulously in a soft pink dress with ankle boots, then stared at her reflection in the mirror. She never considered a short hairstyle that would flatter the shape of her face, but the compliments she received at work, church, and even from random strangers made her believe Nicholas when he called her stunning in the wig she had finally decided to buy.

  A few days before, Rachel had been in tears, and she couldn’t stop bawling. They were happy tears, although Nicholas wasn’t convinced over the phone. “I have hair. I…I…I felt peach fuzz.” Her voice had cracked. She couldn’t stop thanking God for the little blessing.

  The next day when Nicholas showed up, as promised, he had pulled out his measuring tape to verify that indeed something had sprouted on the top of her head. His eyes had misted up. “Congratulations, baby.”

  Now, courtesy of Nicholas’s measuring tape, Rachel knew she had three-fourths of an inch in new growth. She had a long way to go, but she had come so far. The new grade was silky fine like baby hair.

  She heard the doorbell and hurried to open it. Nicholas was on one knee with a rose in his hand. The way he looked at her made her want to faint from the overpowering of his love.

  “Hi. You look gorgeous.” His voice was filled with awe.

  “Thank you.” She lowered her lashes—yes, she had lashes again—to soak in the moment. “Are you proposing?”

  Nicholas stood. “I’m working on it.”

  She tilted her head and rested a fist on her hips, then squinted. “Excellent, because I’m ready to say yes.” She beamed.

  “After months of telling me to wait? Nope.” He shook his head as he encircled her waist with his arm. “You have all evening to let me work on it.”

  She turned into his arms and hugged him—it was brief, but their hearts touched. After she locked her door, Rachel slipped her fingers through his. In sync, they strolled to the elevator. Once in the car, she snuggled as close to him as her seat belt allowed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Where are we going?”

  “Not far. We have reservations at Prima.”

  “Ooh.” The restaurant was on the short list for romantic dining. So he was proposing. Rachel grinned to herself. The day couldn’t get any more perfect. She should have snuck a peek at her ring when she had a chance.

  * * *

  Can Rachel hear my heart pounding? Nicholas wondered as he drove the short distance to their destination. The best eating establishments and entertainment venues were within a few miles of Rachel’s home.

  Nicholas had no doubt that she would say yes this time, but he wanted it to be memorable so they could share the story with their children one day. He parked not far from Twelfth Avenue, grabbed the heart-shaped candy box from the back seat, then hurried around to the passenger side to help her out.

  With a strong hold on her hand, he twirled her around under his arm before pulling her into a quick hug. He wanted the moment to linger; he wished it could be in slow motion. Once they were married, he could freely give her all his affections. With his hand still intertwined with hers, he escorted her to the restaurant. “You know the first thing I did this morning?”

  “Of course.” She glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling, and smiled. “You prayed.”

  “Good point.” Nicholas nodded and grinned. “Okay, the second.” Before she could guess, he told her. “I prayed for you.”

  “Aww. That’s sweet,” she whispered and wrapped one hand around his arm and squeezed. He flexed his muscle in response.

  When they walked inside Prima, Nicholas scanned the decor. He hoped it was romantic enough for her. The place was crowded with other couples in booths or at white-linen-draped tables for two. They were seated within moments of their arrival.

  Nicholas laid his decorated heart box on the table, then helped Rachel out of her coat and waited while she slid into their booth. He sat across from her after slipping out of his coat.

  He smirked in amusement as Rachel eyed the box. He imagined she was itching to open it. Finally, she pointed. “Is that for me?”

  Tilting his head, Nicholas squinted. “Hmm. Maybe.” He reached across the table for her hands. Her nails were manicured and pretty in pink. He was glad that her old personality had resurfaced, and she desired pampering. His baby was back! “You have to wait until you eat all your food.”

  “Really?” Rachel craned her neck, searching for their waiter.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m ready to eat
. Aren’t you starving?” she asked at the moment their server appeared, introduced himself, and handed them their menus, explaining the Valentine’s dinner special.

  “Roasted chicken, roasted baby potatoes, steamed vegetable medley, and buttery rolls made with Tartine bread,” the waiter explained.

  “Sounds yummy.” Rachel smiled and rested her chin on folded hands.

  They ordered that along with salads and sparkling grape juice. Nicholas was amused, laughing at her impatience. “I’ve never seen you so eager to eat.” He winked. “But I love it!”

  “It’s not funny.” Rachel pouted.

  “It is.” He snickered. “But I’m sorry anyway.” He tugged on her hands and brought them to his lips. “I love you.”

  “I love you so much for so many reasons,” she said with such awe in her voice it made Nicholas emotional.

  “So, Miss Knicely, how was your day?” That one question unlocked her passion for an upcoming project. He listened, thankful for her energy and enthusiasm that were both results of God’s restoration.

  Rachel paused when their beverages and then their salads arrived. After moving the box out of the way, Nicholas was about to say grace when she stopped him. “Can I have the honor?”

  “How can I say no when I look into your beautiful brown eyes?” With a firm but soft grip on her hands, Nicholas bowed his head and waited.

  “Father,” she said softly, “I thank You for so much—my journey, my health, and this incredible man who You’ve placed in my life. I don’t need an annual day to know how much You and Nicholas love me, so I’m blessed to be the recipient of both affections. Thank You for the food we are about to receive for our enjoyment and nourishment of our bodies. Bless it, sanctify it, and help us to feed those we see are hungry. In Jesus’s name. Amen.”

  Nicholas choked back tears at her heartfelt prayer. He opened his eyes to see Rachel watching and waiting for him to look at her. “I love you.”