But before Tess could begin to think of pursuing a relationship with him again, there were a lot of things they needed to say to one another. She tossed the bag of wet clothes over her arm and yanked the bathroom door open, intent on finding her family, but instead she found herself face-to-face with Harrison Flynn.
He stepped back, meeting her eyes with an expression that was a departure from his usual scowl.
With a firm resolve to do exactly as she’d promised, Tess smiled and nodded at him. “Hello, Mr. Flynn.”
Harrison nodded curtly. “Ms. Carson.”
Tess kept staring at him, unsure what she should say.
He exhaled slowly. “I didn’t think you were sincere until now. But your testimony tells me different. My apologies. I do intend to keep you in my prayers.” He cleared his throat. “Well, I’d say your family is interested in finding you. Have a good night.” And with that he was gone.
Tess was sure it took no small amount of courage and pain for him to approach her after the many times he’d condemned her.
Miracles were beginning to happen.
Tess leaned against the wall for support as a weight lifted from her shoulders. Already she was sure she was forgiven and new, but this was more than she could have prayed for. Harrison Flynn had been everything a good villain could be—mean, unforgiving, and angry at everything Tess did to try to make things right. That he could finally forgive her meant a lot. But before she could think too long, her mother and Marlene rounded the corner and squealed.
“You did great!” her mom said, reaching out to give her daughter a hug.
“Sorry I made you wait. I was soaked.”
Marlene hugged her next. “We’re all so proud of you.”
“Someone is waiting for you,” her Mom said, leaning toward Tess conspiratorially. “Why don’t you catch up with him? Bring him over for dessert and coffee?”
Tess swallowed nervously. “Oh. I’m not so sure, Mom.”
Marlene put one arm around Tess’s shoulder as she guided her toward the large area outside the sanctuary. “And you never will be unless you talk to him.”
Her mom fussed with Tess’s hair for a moment.
Brody came over and playfully messed it up again. “Nicely done, sis,” he said, pulling her into a hug.
Stell was waiting to hug her next followed by her dad.
Uncle Stu held onto her a long time and whispered, “That’s the girl I remember,” he said. “I’m glad she finally decided it was time to show up.” He grunted. “You always were late for everything.”
Tess stepped back and smiled. “Yeah, but it might be perfect timing this time.”
“So, do I get a turn?” Josh’s deep voice made Tess’s stomach dance and she turned to him, wondering what would be appropriate. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and hold on for dear life. But there was still too much that needed to be said, so she smiled shyly.
He stepped forward and hugged her. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered.
Tess swallowed hard against the years of emotions such a statement brought.
Her mom patted Tess lightly on the back as she said, “We’re picking up Gram and will head over to the house for some pie. If you’d like to join us in an hour or so…”
Tess could barely pull her gaze away from Josh long enough to acknowledge her mother with a smile. She held out her bag of wet clothes. “Could you take these?”
Karen nodded as she took the clothes.
Before the family walked away, Stu gave Josh a look of warning that only a fool could have missed.
Tess stifled a chuckle as Josh nodded, looking petrified of the smaller man.
The Carson family exited the church.
Tess glanced at Josh. He smiled at her so goofily she couldn’t stop herself from hitting his left arm in an effort to wake him up. “Knock it off, Jed,” she muttered. “Or you’ll…”
Josh laughed as he rubbed his arm. “I’ll what?” he asked, gesturing toward the sanctuary. “I was stopped by about ten of the little old ladies who asked when I’ll get it together and ask that ‘fine young woman’ to marry me.” He laughed and leaned close to whisper. “I’m having a hard time convincing myself that right now isn’t the perfect time.”
Tess’s toes tingled.
Josh unleashed his deep dimples. But then he shook his head. “Don’t worry, I won’t.” He sobered and folded his arms over his chest. “You deserve better. Besides, it’s too obvious.”
“Jed…” Tess glanced around, trying to ignore that there were still a few members of the congregation milling about. “I think we need to talk.”
“Yes. We do.” He nodded toward Dave who jogged over quickly.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Josh smiled. “I need to…”
Dave smiled at Tess and gave her a quick one-armed hug. “Go on. I can handle whatever’s left here.”
Josh released a deep breath and gave his friend a quick hug before smiling back down at Tess. “All right, Tornado. Let’s go for a ride.”
~*~
A few minutes later Tess was hanging on behind Josh as he drove over the streets. She wondered for only a moment where he was going, but then smiled.
They were on their way to one of the most precious spots from their childhood. The tree house.
Josh parked at the edge of the trees that led to the deeper woods and hopped off the bike, helping Tess do the same. They took off their helmets and he said, “I didn’t bring you here because I wanted to hide you. I just hoped we could be alone for a few minutes. I have a lot to say.”
Tess nodded. “It’s OK. I do too.”
Josh shyly reached for her hand and she gave it to him, the warmth of his palm reassuring her that he was really there beside her and that, despite the privacy of their setting, they no longer needed to hide. She could hardly suppress the smile that kept coming to her lips as they walked to their tree and stopped at the bottom.
Josh gestured for her to go first. He followed behind, lifting himself inside and leaning against the wall with a sigh. He simply looked at her for a long moment.
Tess squirmed.
“You scared me, Tornado,” he said softly. “I was afraid I’d lost you.”
Tess nodded, regretting her fears and lack of trust. So much had gotten in the way of her happiness, much of it her own fault. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I felt so terrible for what happened that I couldn’t…I guess I couldn’t stay.”
Josh met her eyes. “I get it. And I didn’t mean to hurt you when I said you were a coward. I wanted to rattle you enough that you’d fight. I should have seen you were too tired to keep going anymore for me or anyone else. I should have been there to help and support you. I’m so sorry,” he said sincerely. “I should have believed that things were as you said. I didn’t want to think people could be like that. And I wanted to fix it.”
Tess shrugged. “I wasn’t upset with you.” She let her gaze again meet Josh’s, the warm blush of his complete attention making her nervous and silly, as if she was still only a kid looking at a boy she’d convinced herself she’d one day marry instead of the man who actually intended to date her.
“The worst of this whole thing though is that I was scared, Tess. I think a little part of me did worry what everyone thought.” He shook his head vehemently and pushed away from the wall where he paced the small space like a caged animal.
Tess waited as he worked out his emotions, saying nothing but understanding his frustration.
Josh finally stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes. “I said it didn’t matter—and it didn’t—but that’s not what I showed you by my actions. I’m sorry that I didn’t come after you. I was wrong.”
Tess shook her head. “No. I needed that time, Jed. I needed to figure things out on my own. I knew you were thinking about me. I knew you were praying. That was enough.”
Josh nodded but he didn’t appear to be convinced.
Tess drew a deep br
eath. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, that I wasn’t confident in us.”
Josh reached out a hand to her.
Tess took it, grateful when he squeezed tightly.
“I don’t want to play games, Tornado.” He held her gaze for a long moment.
“I don’t either, Jed.”
Josh laughed awkwardly and pulled away, his eyebrows knitting together as he stuffed his hands deep into his pockets. “So how weird does this sound? Will you…? I mean, could we…?” His blue eyes met hers again as he tried to form his question.
Much to her chagrin, Tess couldn’t fight the laughter that bubbled up inside her, even though Josh was standing before her, serious and vulnerable.
He shifted his weight and turned away. “Geez, like this isn’t hard enough,” he muttered as he ran his hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry,” Tess managed as she stepped closer to him. “It’s funny that you’re in my place now, asking me…” she paused and touched his arm, hoping to reassure him. “You don’t need to ask. Nothing’s changed. Not since we were kids.”
Josh turned back to her. He fidgeted as Tess smiled and reached for his hand. He rewarded her with his dimples as the tension melted and he laced their fingers together. “So, you will be my girlfriend? I mean that still sounds weird.” He laughed and shook his head. “You’ll let me take you out? In public? And you’ll tell people we’re together? For real?”
Tess laughed. “Yes. I will. And I will be so proud.”
Josh squeezed Tess’s hand tightly. “I’m the one who’s proud. What you did today, Tess, it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. You’re such an amazing woman. Are you sure you’d want to be with a weakling like me?”
Tess laughed as she relished the warmth of their hands together. She met Josh’s eyes. “I guess…I mean, I don’t have anything better to do. But if the softball team stinks I may be tempted to put a stop to this.”
Josh’s eyes widened in surprise. “You joined the softball team?”
Tess shrugged, trying to look bored. “I still need to watch the shoulder but I figured, why not? You in? Or are you too scared the congregation will find out you always go after the high ones?”
Josh laughed and reached out to take her other hand. He leaned forward and kissed her.
Without the reservations and fear between them, Tess finally understood what it meant to, for the first time, be kissed with a love that she’d never believed was possible.
When Josh straightened to his full height and gazed down into her eyes, he smiled.
Tess smiled too. “If you kiss me like that again I may propose to you first, Jed,” she said weakly.
He laughed and rested his forehead against hers. “No one said we needed to date for a long time.”
“That works for me.”
“Me, too.” Josh nodded toward the ladder. “We better go for that pie or your family will wonder what I did with you.”
Tess nodded.
They descended to the ground.
“Jed?” she asked softly as he stepped off the last rung of the ladder.
“Hmm?” he handed her a helmet and turned to grab his own.
“Are you sure?”
Josh tucked his helmet under his arm as he turned so that he was completely facing her. He looked into Tess’s eyes and reached up to cradle the back of her head with his hand. “From the minute I first saw you in Florida I knew this day was coming for us.” He paused as he closed his eyes for a long moment. “I might not have known how we would get here, but I knew we’d do it.”
When he opened his eyes all of Tess’s fears were gone. He loved her. Completely, truly, straight-to-his-soul, loved her.
Tess gulped. Wishing for it her whole life was nothing compared to finally having Josh’s love. He was once all she wanted, but now he was everything she needed.
“I love you, Tornado.” He leaned down and brushed her lips with his own.
“I love you too, Jed.” She paused as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him again. “Let’s go for a ride.”
Epilogue
“Hey, Tornado! I need your help!” Tess smiled and started for the stairs, still loving the sound of Josh’s voice reverberating through their home. Even after a year of marriage, she still tingled knowing he loved her.
A little over a year and a half had passed since her baptism, and the world was entirely different. Josh was doing well in his position at the church, and Tess transferred to a nursing job with a hospital that was closer to their home, and she’d recently brought her hours down to part-time.
After Josh proposed using sidewalk chalk outside Tess’s apartment, the couple endured a very short engagement and got married in a small but beautiful ceremony conducted by Josh’s dad. It was perfect. And now they were working to make their new house the home they dreamed it would be.
Miracles could happen for Tess after all.
Tess entered the bedroom.
Josh turned to smile at her. He was trying to change the diaper of their newborn, David Stuart, but wasn’t having much luck. While he kept his hand on the baby, Tess noticed that the diaper lay open, covered in meconium—and Josh’s crisp, button-down shirt hadn’t fared any better as he was covered in it too.
“Can you help me?” he asked desperately. “I was almost done and then he…”
The scene was so hilarious and at the same time precious, that Tess could only burst into a fit of laughter. Unfortunately, since she’d only given birth two days earlier, laughing while standing hurt. She grabbed the edge of the crib and sunk to her knees while trying to compose herself.
Josh’s face dissolved in horror. “Oh, my goodness! Are you OK?” he asked, looking with concern from the baby to his wife.
Tess nodded as tears spilled down her face. “I’m fine,” she muttered, trying to gain control. “You’re hilarious…”
Josh sighed and shook his head as he went back to cleaning his son. “Well, I’m glad I could give you your laugh for the day. Do you need help getting up?”
“No…” Tess struggled to her feet and shooed Josh away. “Go change your shirt. Everyone will be here in a minute.”
Josh unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it into the hamper across the room, but he didn’t move. Instead, he watched Tess swiftly and capably diaper their son, lift him from the table and kiss him.
“You little stinker. Daddy’ll think you only take after me now when you cause all of this trouble.” The baby kicked his feet in response making Tess laugh.
Josh reached out to hug his wife. “Oh, there’s no chance of that. Not with those eyes, huh, buddy?” He grabbed David’s foot and kissed Tess on the head. “And he has my dimples…” He smiled broadly to show them off and Tess playfully hit him, wondering if their effect would ever wane.
“How much time before they’re here?” Josh asked.
The doorbell rang.
“About three seconds,” she said, giving him a nudge toward the door. “Go. Put something on.”
Josh kissed her again and sighed. “OK…want me to take him?”
Tess’s heart warmed. He’d worried and taken gentle care of her from the minute she’d announced her pregnancy—and even now that she’d given birth he continued to dote on her.
“I got him,” she said. “Remember they couldn’t give a care about us now that he’s here.”
Josh started toward their bedroom. “Careful going down the steps.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tess muttered as she went down the staircase they’d both fallen in love with the first time they’d entered the house. “Come in!” she yelled.
The door swung open and her entire family entered, including Grandma Vi, who was meeting her great-grandson for the first time.
Stu closed the door right at the same moment she reached the bottom of the steps.
“Where’s Papa Thorne?” Brody asked, holding up a big box. “We brought a present for you guys.”
Tess handed Stu the baby, as he was
already over the moon for his namesake. “David, um, wasn’t quite done going when Daddy tried to change the diaper and, well, now he’s changing his shirt.”
“What an amateur,” Brody moaned as he set the box aside.
The family laughed as Tess reached out to hug her grandmother. “Come on, Gram, let’s go in the living room and you can hold him.”
But she was already pushing Tess away so she could go to Stu. She peered over the blanket and sighed, tears in her eyes as she gazed at her great-grandson, his dark hair and blue eyes a testament to both of his parents. “He’s perfect,” Vi whispered.
“He sure is,” Karen said, taking her mother’s arm. “Come on, Mom.”
They went into the living room and got Gram to sit so she could hold David.
Tess took Brody’s little boy, Michael, and entertained him while Stell lay a blanket on the floor for him to play.
“Hello, everybody,” Josh said, entering a minute later.
Brody punched him in the arm. “You got christened, huh?”
Josh sighed. “Yep.” He smiled at Gram, who was cooing over his son, and smiled. “And I couldn’t care less.”
Brody laughed, nodding. “Yeah. Me, either,” he said, gazing fondly at his own family.
The friends, and now brothers-in-law, were closer now that Josh had been in town consistently for almost two years. And Stell and Tess were often calling one another and getting together. The family was closer than ever.
Josh went to Tess and kissed her quickly as he led her to sit on the couch nearby. “Put your feet up,” he said. “You need to rest.”
Tess playfully shoved him away. “Yeesh, Jed, I gave birth, I’m not dying.”
“Take notes,” Stell said to Brody, nodding toward the couple.
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