by Sally John
Everyone groaned. Behind the woman holding up a spotlight, Rosie chuckled.
“Sorry, sorry,” Lexi said. “I’m ready now.”
Forcing herself to pay attention, she clamped a smile into place and got through it.
It was time to join the party already in progress. As a group they entered the hotel and moved through the hallways. Lexi followed Erik and Rosie. Their heads were close together as they conversed.
Her brother had come home from rehab subdued and reflective, fragile around the edges, even. When he greeted her with a hug, he whispered that a leopard could change his spots with some help. She adored him. She adored Rosie. She hoped they adored each other.
Max sidestepped over to her and matched his stride with hers. “What are you giggling at?”
She nodded forward. “Curious couple.”
“Indeed.”
“I was just thinking I hope they adore each other.”
He laughed. “I was just thinking, would you like me to hang out with you until we see if this Nathan character shows up?”
Lexi stopped and faced him. “Dad, this is your party.”
“And you’re my daughter.”
With that simple sentence, Lexi’s world stilled again. Her daddy loved her. Her heavenly Father loved her even better. Peace and joy chased away the hovering dread.
She smiled. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay.”
And to think she wanted to skip the whole re-wedding business.
Nathan was there. He stood inside, not far from the entrance, right in the center of an otherwise open path from the doors to the tables. He was the first person Lexi saw as she entered the ballroom.
She paused. Sights and sounds bombarded her. There were zillions, not hundreds, of people milling around. There were balloons and streamers and flowers. There was music from a string quartet. There was loud laughter and bubbling conversation.
Nathan smiled and walked over to her. The boy-next-door had morphed into something else. A tuxedo replaced the rumpled clothes, shiny black shoes the sandals, stylishly moussed copper sprigs the unkempt hair.
She liked the other look.
But she liked this one too. A lot.
“Hi, pretty lady.”
The phrase swirled in her mind. Pretty lady. It was what Kevin always called Jenna. Secondhand, it turned her to slush. Firsthand, backed up with a gaze from the warmest eyes imaginable, it might melt her into a puddle right then and there.
Earlier that afternoon she had talked with her grandmother and poured out her confusion surrounding this guy. Nana prayed for her what she requested—that she would not be stupid and gullible. Then, like always, Nana added more. She asked God to give Lexi a trusting heart and the wisdom to know the balance between the two.
She probably shouldn’t fall in love with him after the first three words out of his mouth. “I thought you were short on pickup lines.”
“That wasn’t a pickup line. I meant it.” He smiled again. “And if you give me a second chance, I’ll prove it to you.”
“How will you do that?”
“I will escort you through this maze of people who are most likely scaring the bejeebers out of you. I will meet your parents and win your dad’s approval. I will dance every dance with you. Then I will ask you out for tomorrow. Maybe a walk on the beach and dinner.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Any or all of it will be an honor.”
Okay, so maybe dreading the reception had been a colossal waste of energy too. Maybe the fumble queen of relationships had exited along with what’s-his-name, the fireman. Maybe Erik was right—leopards could change their spots.
With some help.
Lexi smiled at Nathan and placed her hand in his.
Seventy-Three
Sunday afternoon Claire stood beside Max on the deck outside their cabin, on the cruise ship bound for Mexico. Leaning against the rail, they watched the California coastline shrink from view. Brilliant flecks of sunlight danced on the ocean’s surface. Soft breezes carried a salty scent with promises of adventure.
Max kissed her. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you.”
“They will be fine.”
She laughed. “How did you know?”
“That you were thinking about the kids?” He grinned. “Probably the phone calls first thing this morning gave it away. I can’t believe you invited them and my parents to breakfast. Our honeymoon breakfast, I might add.”
She wrinkled her nose at him.
Part of the reception had been to treat the young people and Ben and Indio to a night at the Hotel Del before everyone went their separate ways. The plans called for Max and Claire to depart for the ship while the others enjoyed a leisurely morning however they chose. There was no talk of a group breakfast.
Still, Claire had harbored hopes. Their twenty-four hours of togetherness had been too sweet. Why not stretch it just a bit longer, savor the presence of everyone together? Her heart overflowed with the joy of being with all four of her children, her brand-new precious niece Tuyen, and her dear in-laws.
She phoned their rooms bright and early. Evidently the previous evening had been enough togetherness for the others because she received groggy “no thanks and good-bye already” from the girls, the guys, and even Indio.
Max bumped his shoulder playfully against hers. “They will be fine.”
“Jenna’s having such a hard time. She looked so sad all night. I don’t know how—”
“Shh. God knows. All we can do is be there for her and pray. The others will watch over her this week. Okay? We can take a week off from anxiety.”
“Okay.”
“Way to be, Claire. I’m going to change the subject.”
She sighed. She really had to relax and let go of the kids. “Go ahead.”
“Wasn’t last night just a great gift? And that Nathan was a surprise, huh? I like him.”
“Me too. He had an obvious calming influence on Lexi.”
“Yes. Speaking of calm, Erik is a new man.”
“What an amazing transformation.”
“Our God is an amazing God.”
“Amen.” Claire took his arm and nestled against him. “So is my husband. Thank you for giving me a wedding after all these years. It was an extraordinarily beautiful one.”
“Thank you for marrying me again after all these years.” He kissed the top of her head. “It has been a journey of sowing and reaping good and not-so-good.”
“And gathering the kids close.”
“But not for breakfast.”
“Ha-ha. Max, I know it hasn’t been easy working through the not-so-good stuff, but I’m grateful we did.”
“It’s made all the difference. We’ve learned to trust God and to trust each other.”
“And find that safe place with each other. Do you think we can really create it now for others?”
“Claire, I’d say that’s already begun within our family. The Hacienda Hideaway can only be an extension.” He chuckled. “Did I mention I called the kids last night?”
She looked at him, puzzled.
“Told them if they dared show up for breakfast, they were in big trouble.”
“You didn’t!”
He laughed.
She leaned against him, hiding a smile, and basked in his love for her.
In silent wonder they watched as the horizon swallowed the coastline. Sky met sea in a blur of silvery blues.
“Claire, what do you think? Thirty-three more years?”
She kissed his cheek. “At least.”
Author’s Note
Although San Diego County is the setting for this series, I’ve taken liberty in fictionalizing several aspects of the area. In particular, Channel 3 News, Santa Reina, the Hacienda Hideaway, and the Rolando Bluff Fire exist only in my imagination.
Acknowledgments
Many people have come alongside during the writing of this story. They enriched the characters with their expertise and real-life experi
ence. I claim responsibility for mistakes. My deep appreciation goes to:
Gary Smalley: for his definitive work in relationships, most especially in his books I Promise and Change Your Heart, Change Your Life.
Elizabeth, Tracy, and Patti John; Rhonda Cox, Trish Owens, Cheryl Paris, Janet Fyfe, and Carrie Younce: for all kinds of stuff.
Kaiya John: for helping Nonna with special words.
Karlie Garcia: for the Spanish.
Nancy Standard: for the art lessons.
Kelly Paige Standard: for technical information and an insider’s view of the artist’s life.
Katie Gesto: for her book Hunger for Freedom.
Ami McConnell, Leslie Peterson, Lee Hough, and the folks at Thomas Nelson: for being the professional “bookends” who brought it all together.
Tim: for everything else.
Reading Group Guide
1. Lexi and Erik are stuck in ruts in terms of their coping mechanisms. To a certain extent we all cope with life situations, we all need to protect ourselves from pain, we all need comfort. Can you identify ways in which you, too, might make use of coping mechanisms?
2. Why don’t Lexi and Erik want to seek help early in the story? How did that affect them?
3. Lexi and Erik eventually see ways in which their dad, Max, unintentionally hurt them when they were children. It took many years for them to realize this and take steps toward healing. How did your parents unintentionally hurt you? What steps did you take—or what steps do you need to take—in order for healing to occur?
4. If you are a parent, how have you unintentionally hurt your children? Have you, like Claire and Max, asked for their forgiveness? What was the response?
5. What things have been sown in your heart? What has been reaped? Identify the flowers and weeds.
6. What do you think about forgiveness and forgetting? Is it hard for you? Easy? Why?
7. Do you believe God wants to heal our deep wounds? How has He healed yours?
8. In the first book in this series, A Time to Mend, Claire and Max had to overcome some deep personal issues in order to heal their marriage and relationship. What progress do you see in Claire since then? In Max?
9. Like the Beaumont family members, the Hacienda Hideaway is still under construction. What would your ideal retreat center be like?
Reader comments are always welcome.
Please write in care of Thomas Nelson
or send an e-mail to [email protected].