by Tricia Goyer
“Well, he did leave this.” Pastor Evans pulled out a DVD from the front cover of his Bible.
“Oh good, it’s the music video …” Charlotte let her voice trail off. “Thank you, Pastor.”
They found their normal seats, and Charlotte was thankful to see Pete with Dana at the far end of the row. She wasn’t sure what they had planned for their future, but for the present Charlotte liked the effect that girl was having on her son.
“Please turn to page 217 in your hymnals,” Barb Gardner, today’s song leader, guided the congregation. “And let us join together to sing ‘Amazing Grace.’”
Charlotte had barely finished the first line when she recognized a voice. It wasn’t overpowering; rather it was soft and sweet. Charlotte knew she’d recognize that voice anywhere. She resisted the urged to turn around and wave at Shae Lynne. Instead, she just said a silent prayer for the singer’s journey—for today’s trip and for her path to growing closer to God.
They sang another hymn after that, and when the service ended Charlotte turned to discover Shae Lynne was already gone. She had slipped out of the service, but Charlotte knew the young woman would never be far from her heart.
THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT they’d all watch the music video together and then have lunch. Charlotte’s stomach growled as Pete put the DVD into the player, and then the room grew silent as they all waited for it to begin.
It started with Shae Lynne singing in front of the barn, looking out into the fields as she sang. Then there was the briefest glimpse of Pete on the tractor.
“Is that all?” Pete complained. “I think I drove back and forth out there for an hour.”
“Shhh,” Dana swatted his hand. “I’m trying to watch.”
Next there was a close-up of Shae Lynne singing on the porch and of her walking through the sunflowers in the garden. Then there was a brief glimpse of the barn and Shae Lynne leading Trudy out to pasture.
“Our cow is famous!” Christopher exclaimed.
Then there was a shot of Toby sitting at Shae Lynne’s feet.
“I told her to sit,” Christopher said. “Do you see that? See her ears? Toby is waiting for me to call her to come to me.”
A burst of laughter escaped from Charlotte’s lips. “Well, in my book that’s worthy of a best of show right there!”
And then, at the end of the video, there was the briefest scene of Pete pulling Shae Lynne off the porch and dancing with her. As the song faded, the video ended with Pete and Dana’s kiss. Given the lighting and the way the video faded away, it was hard to see that it wasn’t Shae Lynne he was kissing with such tender passion.
“Ooh, Uncle Pete.” Emily waved her hand in front of her face. “Who knew you were such a stud?”
Pete’s face was red as he bragged, “Oh, please. That was nothing.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dana asked.
“Just that I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve,” Pete answered.
“Yeah, Uncle Pete?” Emily butted in. “Don’t you have a surprise for Dana—I mean, Miss Simons?”
“A surprise? Really?” Dana leaned forward in anticipation.
“Well, uh, actually …” Pete eyed Emily. “It’s not ready yet, but there’s something coming soon. Uh, yeah, thanks a lot, Emily.”
Emily covered her mouth.
Pete glanced back at Dana. “I’m sorry. I do have something, but it’s not ready yet.”
Charlotte thought she saw the slightest hint of disappointment in the young woman’s gaze. Then, as everyone watched, she threw her arms around Pete and gave him a huge hug. Charlotte saw Dana whisper something in his ear. She didn’t know what it was, but Pete smiled big.
Dana leaned back. “Hey, that was a good video.” She motioned to Sam. “Can you play it again?”
Sam pressed PLAY on the DVD, and Charlotte smiled as she watched Pete and Dana settle further into the couch. Then she reached out and motioned for Bob’s hand. When he took her small hands into his large rough ones, Charlotte let out a contented sigh.
“Hey, do you think I can get a copy of this to take back to San Diego?” Jordan stood up. “I totally have to show my friends.”
“Why, so you can make fun of us Nebraskans?” Sam smirked.
“Are you kidding? Why would I do that?”
Sam cocked one eyebrow, but he kept his lips sealed.
“Yeah, yeah. I know I made fun of stuff when I first got here, but I didn’t realize how things were. People are different here, but …” Jordan looked around and then sat back down as if he had just realized he was the center of attention.
“I’d like a video to show people, because I don’t think I can explain it all,” Jordan finally said. “I mean, I never realized before how much work goes into growing the food I eat. Or how much there is to do in such a small community.” He laughed. “I think I’ll go home and sleep for a week.”
“I don’t like the idea of you having to leave,” Sam admitted. “I mean, who can I tease about leeches in Heather Creek?”
“There are leeches in Heather Creek?” Emily blurted out.
“He’s kidding, right?” Dana commented.
The room filled with laughter, and Jordan laughed the hardest. “Yeah, but I’m not scared of them. After lunch I’ll race you down to the creek.”
“You’re on,” Sam grinned. “After all, we have to make your last day here a good one.”
“Are you kidding? Every day’s been good.” Jordan punched Sam’s arm.
“I agree,” Charlotte echoed. “Even if it doesn’t start out that way, just being together, knowing God is taking care of us, makes it so.”
Even as she said the words, she realized the truth of them. It was the simple things in life, the unexpected things, that meant the most after all.
Just like Shae Lynne sang.
About the Author
Tricia Goyer is the author of eight novels, six nonfiction books, and one children’s book. She was named Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference Writer of the Year in 2003. In 2005, her book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion and her novel Night Song won American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year for Long Historical Romance. In 2006, her novel Dawn of a Thousand Nights also won Book of the Year for Long Historical. Tricia has written more than three hundred articles for national publications and hundreds of Bible study notes for the Women of Faith Study Bible. Tricia lives with her husband and three kids in Montana, where she homeschools, leads children’s church, and mentors teenage mothers.
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