by Danni Roan
It only took minutes to get to the old ice cream parlor, complete with a soda fountain and twisted cone in neon light shining above the shop.
“I haven’t been here in a long time,” Rainy admitted as they grabbed their extra thick shakes and headed for a table.
“We’ll have to bring Lucas one day.”
Nathan’s comment was so matter-of-fact, Rainy looked up meeting his eyes. “You’d like to bring Lucas?”
“If it’s alright with you. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. You know that, right?”
Rainy felt her shoulders relax and she reached across the table for Nathan’s hand. “I think I do.”
Nathan’s bright smile reached straight to her heart. “How are you so different?” she asked. “You’re Nathan, but changed.”
“I found the truth Rainy, and it set me free. God is real, and He loves us. He wants to be a part of our lives. When I realized that and surrendered all of my will, all of my ambitions, and desires to God, everything else fell into place. Sure, there is still pain, sorrow, trials, but with God, I’m never alone. I know I can turn to Him for anything and that he hears me. Even when I mess up, He loves and forgives me.”
Rainy swallowed hard feeling the deep conviction in Nathan’s voice. She was at once drawn to it and repelled. The Nathan she had known was driven, ambitious, determined to leave little town Iowa behind.
“What does that mean for us?”
“I don’t know.” Nathan’s comment was raw. “I’ve been praying about you for a long time. I know God brought you and Lucas to the ranch to force me to find the strength to meet you again. I needed to apologize and step up.”
“But you don’t have to take responsibility for Lucas. You gave up that right when you walked away.”
“I know I did, but I want to do what’s right. No matter what.”
Rainy felt all of her doubts beginning to dissolve under Nathan’s words. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him.
***
“Mom!” Rainy came pounding down the stairs of her lifetime home and rushed into the kitchen. “Mom, can you watch Lucas? I got a call back for that one job, and they want me to come in for another interview in an hour.”
“I’m sorry honey, I can’t. Your father has that eye appointment, and I have to drive. What about Anne?”
“She’s working today.” Rainy scowled. What was she supposed to do? She couldn’t take her son along on an important interview, and if her mother wasn’t able to watch Lucas, she had nowhere else for him to go.
Dana Smythe turned, looking at her daughter, a snide smile on her lips. “Why don’t you call Nathan?” she asked. “If he’s so changed, I’m sure he’ll be glad to come over here and watch Lucas.” Sarcasm dripped from the older woman’s lips.
Rainy met her mother’s gaze, seeing the doubt in her eyes, but the idea was sound. Nathan had told her repeatedly that if she needed anything from him to just ask. “I’ll call him.”
Rainy pulled her phone out of her back pocket, surprised when Nathan answered on the first ring.
“What’s up? Is everything okay?”
“Hi Nathan,” Rainy shot her mother a smug look. “I was wondering if it would be possible for you to come over and watch Lucas for a couple of hours today? I got a call back on an interview, and they want to see me in an hour.”
Silence hung on the line for several long seconds, and Rainy felt her heart start to fail.
“Sure,” Nathan’s voice echoed over the line making her breath again. “What time do you need me?”
“Can you be here in an hour?”
“I’ll see you then.” The phone clicked and Rainy turned to see her mother’s disgruntled face.
“Well, it’s about time he takes some responsibility.”
Rainy was putting her earrings’ on as the doorbell rang and she rushed to the door pulling it open with one hand.
“Right on time,” she grinned. “I hope this hasn’t messed up your day.”
“Nah, I switched shifts with one of the other guys at the feed store. No problem.” His smile was bright and understanding as he reached out and squeezed Rainy’s hand. “Is this your dream job?”
“I don’t know,” Rainy admitted, feeling the butterflies begin to move in her stomach. “It’s a good job, and the offer sounded strong but,” she looked toward Lucas who was pushing himself off of the floor to run to Nathan.
“Hi Nat’an,” the boy yelled racing their way. “What are you doin’ here?”
“I’ve come to watch you while your mommy goes to see about that new job.”
“Oh,” Lucas dropped his eyes. “If Mommy gets the job, will I still see you?”
“Of course you will, Lucas.” Rainy dropped to her knees disregarding the smart crease in her dress pants. “Nathan is your friend.”
“But you said if you get the job I have to go to daycare. When will I see Nathan then?”
“We’ll work out something, little man,” Nathan offered with a grin. “In the meantime, you have me all to yourself for the day.”
“I have to run,” Rainy said. “You have my number if you need anything. There are snacks in the fridge, and he’s already had his nap.”
“Go,” Nathan’s smile was encouraging, “and good luck.”
Rainy slipped out the door as Lucas reached up and took his father’s hand. She was losing her battle against loving Nathan and at this moment she was wondering why she was fighting at all.
“So what should we do while your mom’s away?” Nathan asked, letting Lucas lead him into the quiet house as Rainy closed the door behind her.
***
Rainy let herself into the house through the front door, tossing her jacket on a chair with a sigh. The interview had gone much longer than she expected, and she was exhausted. Job-hunting was grueling, and she was ready for a rest.
“Hello,” she called walking down the hall toward the kitchen and wondering where everyone was.
“Nathan?” Lucas’s voice echoed down the hall as Rainy approached, bringing a smile to her face. “Could you be my daddy?”
The boy’s words froze Rainy to the spot. She knew that Lucas felt the absence of a father, especially with all of his new church friends, but to hear the question hurt. Holding her breath she waited to see what Nathan would say. He had given her his word that he wouldn’t tell Lucas who he was without her permission.
“I would love that,” Nathan replied, “but you have your mama, and she loves you. One day, if God wills, you’ll have a man who loves you with all of his heart to call Daddy.”
The sound of the fridge door opening and closing and the clink of glasses made Rainy creep closer peeking into the kitchen to see Nathan pouring milk to go with a snack of home-baked cookies.
“Can I say da blessing?” Lucas’s voice was so serious that Rainy felt her heart stutter.
“You bet, little man,” Nathan replied taking his seat and reaching for the boy’s hand. “Go right ahead.”
“Dear Jesus, p’ease bless dis snack so I can grow up big and strong like Nathan, and give me the right Daddy. Amen.”
Tears poured down Rainy’s face at her son’s prayer and something seemed to shatter inside her. She felt as if a curtain that had been separating her from the truth had been torn aside, and she could see the light pouring into her heart.
“Nathan,” she sniffled, stumbling into the kitchen.
“Rainy,” Nathan sprang to his feet rushing to pull the weeping woman close. “What’s wrong?”
Rainy shook her head collapsing into Nathan’s warm familiar embrace.
“Mommy, don’t cry.” Lucas stood abandoning his cookies and milk and wrapping himself around Rainy’s legs. “We love you.”
Rainy sniffed looking up into Nathan’s eyes as the words pounded into her heart. Did Nathan love her?
“We do love you,” the handsome man spoke, his words a breathy whisper against her lips. “Always.”
“Nathan, I
want what you have,” Rainy managed through hiccups. “I want to know that peace, joy, and love that you radiate. Show me what to do.”
Nathan felt his heart leap for joy as he helped Rainy into a seat, nodding for Lucas to do the same. “All you have to do is ask,” he breathed still clinging to her hand. “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it will be opened unto you.”
“It’s easy, Mommy.” Lucas took her other hand. “Just say what I say.”
Rainy looked up in confusion as Nathan turned his full attention to his son.
“Dear Jesus, come into my heart today. Take away all of the old and bad things and make me new in you. Amen.”
The boy’s angelic face seemed to shine in the late afternoon sun and Rainy turned to look at Nathan who had tears shimmering in his eyes.
“How?” she managed to whisper, but Nathan only shook his head.
“Now you say it, Mommy. That’s all you have to do.”
Rainy felt her heart beating against her chest, striving to reach a heaven she had never pondered before. “Alright,” she said this time repeating the words with her son as a sense of freedom, peace, and wonder washed over her.
Lucas looked up at his mother and smiled. “Wanna cookie?”
Rainy’s short bark of laughter was echoed by Nathan’s and she squeezed his hand as a new hope filled her soul. She never would have thought, even a month ago, that she would be sitting at this table, holding hands with Nathan and contemplating a future together. Perhaps it would take time, but she knew that their futures were knit together in God’s love.
“You’re still here.” Mrs. Smythe grumbled as she walked into the kitchen a large bag of groceries in her hand. “Well, you might as well stay for supper then.” She looked down at Nathan and Rainy’s joined hands.
“Pizza!” Owen yelled strolling into the kitchen with two large pizza boxes in his hands.
“Are there more groceries?” Nathan stood slipping his fingers from Rainy’s.
“Thanks, Nate,” Owen grinned. “I’d appreciate the help.”
“I’ll come too,” Rainy looked up meeting Nathan’s eyes with an unasked question.
“What about my cookies?” Lucas asked, his little voice disgruntled as Rainy and Nathan headed for the door.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nathan paused at the front door, brushing a strand of dark hair behind Rainy’s ear. “You look tired.” His heart was still racing as he tried to pull together everything that had just happened.
“I’m fine,” Rainy replied. “I see it now, what you’ve been talking about. I understand how one man who gave His life on a cross has the power to change another.” Rainy tipped up on her toes, her lips meeting Nathan’s in a warm kiss.
Nathan engulfed Rainy in his arms, pulling her deeper into his heart. He had prayed for so long that God would make him strong enough, and now he was finding that God was making Rainy strong enough to forgive him. Tears poured down his face as he drank in Rainy’s surrender, acceptance, and love.
“Where’s the soda?” a booming voice echoed from the kitchen, making the couple spring apart.
“We’d better bring in the rest of the groceries,” Nathan laughed, grabbing Rainy’s hand and racing for the car.
Chapter 16
Fall fell crisp and cool in Northern Iowa bringing with it the nip of frost and the dazzle of autumn colors to the trees. Vast fields of wheat, corn, and hay had been harvested and the golden fields lay in expectation of the coming snow.
“Are you warm enough?” Rainy asked, looking up at Lucas on his father’s shoulders.
“Yes,” the boy said, rolling his eyes.
“It’s a nice day for a walk in the park,” Nathan’s comment was quiet. He had been quiet throughout the day, and the silence was making Rainy edgy. They had come so far in rebuilding a broken relationship. She knew she loved Nathan with all of her heart and believed him when he said he loved her and Lucas right back.
She still hadn’t told the boy that Nathan was, in fact, his real daddy, but the time hadn’t seemed right. Lucas wasn’t even five yet, and all of this twisted love was more than he needed to understand yet.
“Can we have a seat?” Nathan nodded toward a bench near the stream. “I’d like to talk to the two of you about something.”
Rainy’s heart kicked up a beat. Was he going to leave again? After all that they had begun to build, was he going to take a job in some far distant state? Closing her eyes she let him guide her to the bench. Even if Nathan left, for whatever reason, Rainy knew that she belonged to another who stuck closer than a brother. God would never leave her or forsake her.
“Can I go to the water?” Lucas asked as Nathan swung him down onto the bench beside his mother.
“Can you wait a minute?” Nate asked. “I’d like to talk to both of you first.”
“Did I do something bad?” Lucas asked, his brows pinching. “I’m trying to be good.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong?” Nathan grinned. “I just have something I’d like to ask the two of you. Rainy, Lucas, you know that you mean the world to me. I love you. Both of you with all of my heart. I know it hasn’t been that long since I came back here, but in that time so much has changed. I know that I’m a better man with the two of you in my life, and by the grace of God, I want to be the best husband and father a man can be. Will you marry me?”
Nathan pulled the tiny blue box from his pocket flipping it open before Rainy’s astonished eyes.
“Yes!” Lucas yelled launching himself at Nathan and knocking him to the ground. “Say yes, Mommy! Say yes!” the boy cried as Nathan twisted to meet Rainy’s soft eyes.
“Yes,” Rainy smiled. “A thousand times yes.”
Nathan grasped Lucas, pulling him along as he managed to get on his knees before Rainy. “I love you,” he said leaning in and sealing the commitment with a kiss.
Lucas giggled as Nathan and his mother kissed. “Now I can call you Daddy,” the boy enthused. “I been prayin’ to God every night that he would let you be my dad.”
Nathan felt the tears sting his face as the boy hugged his neck, and he pushed himself up pulling Rainy into his side. Together they would be one, a family, created by God who had overcome the past.
***
“I still think you’re crazy,” Mrs. Smythe said as she and Anne smoothed the lacy train of Rainy’s wedding dress. “What if he leaves again?”
“Dana,” Owen’s voice was firm. “It’s time to let it go,” he said more softly. “You can see as well as I can that Nathan has changed.” The older man gazed around the church room where his daughter was preparing to walk down the aisle. “It seems that God really can change a man’s heart.”
Dana looked up at her husband, surprised by his words. “You really think so?” she asked looking back at Rainy. “I don’t want to see my little girl hurt again.”
Owen pulled Dana into his arms. “Honey, life always brings hurt, but maybe with faith, we can get past those painful things and get a fresh start, just like Nathan and Rainy.”
Dana sniffed turning and hugging her daughter tight. “Maybe when you come back home, your father and I will start coming to church with you.”
“I’d like that, Mom.” Rainy leaned in kissing her mother’s cheek. “I can never repay you for all that you have done for me.”
Anne sighed dreamily as she lifted Rainy’s veil into place. “I can’t believe this. It’s like a fairytale.”
Rainy laughed. “When did you get so romantic?”
Anne’s face flushed bright red, clashing with her short autumn gold dress. “I’m not.”
“Maybe that young man you invited to the wedding has something to do with it,” Owen chuckled.
“Nathan and Rainy invited everyone from the church,” Anne protested turning back to check her lipstick.
A soft knock fell on the door and Owen hurried to open it.
“We’re ready,” one of the ushers said. “Mrs. Smythe
if you’re ready?”
Dana dabbed at wet eyes with a tissue then smiled. “Of course,” she said stepping outside and taking the young man’s arm. “I’ll see you down there.”
“Oh, I’m next!” Anne grabbed her small bouquet of sunflowers and peach roses and hurried out the door, racing toward the foyer. “Don’t be late!”
Rainy chuckled, joy spilling from her like a fountain.
“Are you ready honey,” Owen looked down at his daughter his dark eyes full of love.
