Love Lifted Me

by Sara Evans

  Jade raised her hand. “See you, Lillabeth.” She would be the belle of the ball tonight in a vintage and oh-so-chic Chanel little black dress—accented by her sleek blond locks and porcelain skin.

  She watched Aaron drive off. Jade stood alone in the Blue Umbrella. Max would be there soon.

  When Jade had moved to Whisper Hollow, she came seeking peace. To find her place in the world, to discover her dreams. Had she known it would require charging through the gauntlet of life, unearthing shameful secrets and her painful past, she’d have never driven up the side of the mountain.

  But, oh, she was so glad she did. Look what God had done. Gave her beauty for ashes. Exchanged her sorrows for joy, her fears for love.

  For five years, she’d hovered under the protection of the Blue Umbrella. But now it was time to fold it up and move on. The rain had finally stopped.

  One last time, Jade inhaled the warm, woodsy scent of the shop, the lingering wooly scent of vintage clothes, the tinge of fresh paint touch-up, the aroma of pine cleaner, and she listened for the final and last chords of her memories.

  “I’ll never forget you, Blue.”

  The hinges of the shop’s back door moaned and a drop of light hit the floor.

  Max rounded the corner, dashing in his tailored, black wool coat and soft weave trousers. Snow dusted his dark hair.

  “You ready, Jade-o?”

  “I do believe I am.”

  “Asa’s in the car with Mom.” Max scouted out the shop, then regarded her.

  “Is it hard?”

  “If it wasn’t, then my years here wouldn’t have meant anything, would they?”

  Max paced farther inside, the clip-clap of his shoes skirting over the hardwood. He looked like lawyer Max tonight. “I suppose not.”

  “But better days are ahead. Is the judge ready?” Jade picked up her bag from the sales counter.

  “He is. Are you?”

  She grinned, nodding. “As I’ll ever be.”

  Once they’d decided to stay in Colby, she’d put both shops on the market and spread the word across her vintage network that she was liquidating inventory. Within a week, both shops sold. A week later, all her inventory was gone. Except for the choice pieces she shipped to Brenda and the things she needed to keep.

  Mama’s show prints from her hippie days. Her picture with George Harrison. Her jade engagement ring. In her desk drawer, Jade found Pap’s praying hands medallion. She cupped them in her palm, realizing she didn’t need them around her neck anymore because they lived inside her heart.

  “Did you give Lillabeth the dress?” Max said.

  “She’s going to be so surprised. I gave her the check too.” Proceeds from the sale of the shop and the inventory. If anyone deserved a cut of the profits, it was Lilla.

  “I’m so proud you’re my wife.” Max kissed Jade’s forehead, then started for the door. “She’ll have a nice down payment for a California house. But we’d better get going. Don’t know how this snow will impact traffic.”

  “Okay, one more second.” Jade took a final spin around the room. She flipped the Open sign to Closed. On the storeroom wall, she’d tacked this year’s calendar. Every day was circled. Every single day.

  Especially today. Three years ago at Christmas she’d told Max she was pregnant with their honeymoon baby. But he didn’t live. Today they were driving down to the city for a judge to pronounce Asa as hers. Forever.

  Max waited outside the door. When Jade came out, his eyes greeted her with love and compassion. She shut the door and turned the key.

  It was like Max said the time they rode the Ferris wheel. It’s the circle of life. Jade would embrace it all, enjoy the journey, and get a little bit stronger every day.

  Joy! A Child Is Born

  Emily June Benson, five pounds seven ounces eighteen inches Elaine Beryl Benson, five pounds two ounces, eighteen inches Born April 21st at 4:16 p.m. & 4:18 p.m.

  We’re tickled pink!

  Celebrate with us, pray for us, drop by and change a diaper.

  With love, Max, Jade, and Asa Benson

  Epilogue

  August

  Warrior Stadium

  The summer heat hung over the stadium as Max glared across the field watching Hines, in the first Red v. Gold game in ten years.

  “Bring it, Hines. Show me what you got.”

  Hines crouched down, his hard gaze aimed for Max. He’s thinking the same thing. “Bring it, Max . . .”

  The up-and-coming Warrior fall football team was on the field, duking it out.

  Hines whispered to new assistant Carmen Maas, a friend of Haley’s, and yes, a woman. She was a mirror of the defensive coordinator, only on offense.

  Beside Max, Haley bent over, hands on her thighs. “He’s going right, Max.”

  “You bet he is.”

  Max peeked over his shoulder. Jade juked in the bleachers with the new athletic director’s wife, Ilene Maher, a Western Tech professor and mother of two.

  Greg Maher was Max’s age. Aggressive, eager to return to Colby’s football tradition. He was the one who resurrected the red and gold game.

  Chevy walked the sidelines, proud, a whole new man once he got rid of Bobby.

  The pep band drums rolled, rocking and ticking. Hines’s offense executed but ran into Max’s defense.

  As the boys ran off the field, Max gazed back at Jade. She was strangely unencumbered. The girls were . . . Max scanned down the row. With Brenda and Bit. They already had more grandparents than any pink, beautiful, melt-their-daddy’s-heart twins should have.

  But Max loved that they were loved.

  Asa stepped into being a big brother with his usual forthrightness and bravery. Came out the other day trying to carry one of them. Jade moved so fast he considered getting her to sign up for the team.

  The hardest part of becoming a head coach was saying good-bye to Benson Law. Dad’s face had reddened and he choked on the emotion of his words, but he was Reb Benson, strong and decisive to the end.

  “You have to do what you have to do, son. Your grandfathers never intended for the firm to be a prison.”

  But Max still retained his partnership and one day, if Asa chose the law, the firm would go to him. Or, even better, Elaine or Emily.

  Four months old, Em already showed signs of being a good litigator. Elaine displayed more of Jade’s refined, tender qualities. And love for clothes.

  Max’s parents were coming to Colby for the first game of the season, along with the McClures.

  Brenda caught his eye and waved.

  Wasn’t she a blessing. Opened a vintage shop and handed it over to Mariah. Belief was a powerful tool.

  “Coach . . . Max!” Haley waved her hand in front of him. “Did I lose you?”

  “No, no.” Max turned around, pressing his hand to his chest, almost expecting to feel the plump of the love filling his heart. “What’s up?”

  “Fourth down. We’re on the fifteen.”

  No-brainer. “Send in Tucker.”

  “My thoughts exactly. Tuck.” Haley ran down the line, but the kicker was already on the field.

  His talent would get him to a major college.

  When the whistle blew the end of the game, Max’s Red team had bested the Gold by three. Everyone gathered on the fifty, talking at once. Jade squeezed through to stand by Max.

  “Bonfire at our place. Everyone bring something to eat and to share.”

  The team scattered. Brenda shoved the twins’ stroller toward them. Bit came along holding Asa’s hand.

  “We’d better go or we’ll never get our car up the driveway,” Jade said. “The kids will beat us there.” She grabbed onto the stroller, talking food strategies with Bit and Brenda.

  Max swung Asa up on his shoulders as the Channel 13 reporter Chip Mack approached.

  “Got a second, Coach?”

  Max stopped and faced the camera. Chip held up his microphone.

  “They’re already calling you the next grea
t Warrior coach. How’d you rebuild this team, Coach? So fast?”

  “We have a saying at my house. We’ve seen what man can do. Let’s see what God can do.” He gave Chip a second for it to sink in but it didn’t, so he headed off. “See you on the sidelines, Chip.”

  Max carried Asa to the truck, talking, listening. He buckled him in, then walked around to the driver’s side, tapping his hip pocket with his hand. It was empty.

  His hip-pocket dream came true. All it took was complete surrender.

  Acknowledgments

  Ami McConnell for your insight and courage to say, “Write it again.” You definitely made this a better book.

  Rachelle Gardner for your fine eye in the small details. Thank your for your work and encouragement.

  Kevin Mays, Defensive Coordinator at Bayside High School, Palm Bay, Florida, for taking time out of your day to talk high school football.

  David Cisar at winningyouthfootball.com for the phone chat on how to coach young men.

  Tony Hauck for the details of play-calling and enduring a lot of questions.

  Ellen Tarver for reading and editing this story in its original draft.

  Reading Group Guide

  1. In chapter one, Jade discovers Asa is not Max’s son. How did you feel about this? Did you suspect such foul play from Rice?

  2. If you were in Jade’s situation, how would you handle the news of your husband’s son not being his?

  3. Max came to a greater understanding of his life before God while at the Outpost Ranch. Was there a time in your life when the Lord revealed Himself in the midst of your pain?

  4. Max takes on a huge challenge to become a high-school football coach. It’s life changing. Have you faced a life-changing challenge?

  5. Moving to Texas uproots Jade and Max and all they know. It’s hard to move away from family. Discuss how this bold move impacted Max and Jade. Was it for the good? For the bad? Would you do the same if God opened the door?

  6. Jade’s first get-together with a friend in Colby quickly turns sour. Discuss how we can be better friends to one another even in adversity.

  7. Max shows integrity by staying with the coaching job even though he was deceived about the condition of the football program. How important is it to have honor in your job, relationships, actions? Even when you’ve been wronged. Discuss.

  8. Jade is surprised by her pregnancy. What does this event symbolize in her and Max’s life, and in the story? Discuss a time in your life when the Lord brought good from a difficult situation.

  9. Tucker is a sweet character in the story. What was your reaction when he finally scored the field goal? Is there something going on in your life that mirrors Tucker’s desire to make a goal?

  10. Sports often reflect life, especially in our spiritual journeys. Pressing in against the defense, against the odds. Playing hard even when we are losing. Playing to the end without giving up. Is there a situation in your life where you need a team to help you press in? Are you utilizing your team? Are you on the verge of giving up? Don’t! Press on. Discuss ways to press on in a hard situation.

  11. Max shows love to his enemy, Bobby Molnar. How about you? Can you love someone who’s determined to take you down?

  12. Joy! Jade and Max have twin girls. Discuss an area of joy in your life!

  Author Bios

  Multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans has been honored with numerous accolades, among them the 2006 Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year for “Born to Fly.” Evans has been named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and won the hearts of television viewers as the first-ever country star to compete in ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Sara is a Cabinet Member of the American Red Cross.

  Best-selling and award-winning author Rachel Hauck lives in Florida with her husband, Tony, a pastor. A graduate of Ohio State University, she left the corporate software marketplace in ’04 to write full time.