This Is Now: A Contemporary Christian Romance (Always Faithful Book 2)

by Leah Atwood

  “Um, will that be obvious on the package?”

  His unsureness made her laugh from the depths of her stomach. “Yes. Usually, in the bottom corner, it will tell you. If you don’t see it, snap a picture and send it to me. I’ll tell you if it’s right.”

  “All right. Give me about forty-five minutes.”

  She cringed. “Any way you can be here sooner than that? We, uh, kind of have an emergency diaper situation going on.”

  “I’ll stop at the dollar store on the corner. I think I’ve seen diapers there.”

  “Thank you.” She hung up and returned her gaze to Ava. “You’re going bottomless for a few minutes. I’m not letting you sit in that mess.”

  After she cleaned Ava, she tied a piece of soft cotton fabric around Ava’s bottom. “It’s not much, but at least you’re not naked.”

  When the doorbell rang twenty minutes later, she rushed to the door, relieved to see Evan. “You’re my hero.”

  He handed her the pack of diapers and laughed. “Doesn’t take much to please you.”

  Janie opened the back and removed one. “Not tonight it doesn’t.”

  “I picked up burgers.” He set two brown bags and sodas on the table. “Nothing special, but I didn’t want to take longer than necessary.”

  “Burgers are good. Thanks.” She knelt on the floor and put the clean diaper on Ava. “Do you mind waiting to eat until after I give her a bottle? Her mom said it should put her to sleep.”

  “Fine with me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Do you mind if I use your charger?”

  “Go ahead.” She nodded toward the counter where she’d moved it to earlier. “You can take my tablet off.”

  “Thanks.”

  She scooped Ava off the floor and kissed her nose. “Want to hold her while I make the bottle?”

  Evan eyed the baby with uncertainty. “I don’t have much experience with babies.”

  “You don’t need any to hold her.”

  “Okay.” His pupils dilated with fear as he cradled Ava in his arms.

  She grinned at him from the sink where she heated water for the bottle. “You can relax. She won’t bite.”

  “I know that.”

  “Wait until you have your own kid.” She dumped the scoops of formula into the water and shook it hard until it mixed together. “You’ll be an old pro by then.”

  A startled expression flashed across his eyes. He jumped from the chair and brought Ava to her. “Here. I think she wants you again.”

  “A grown man scared of a little baby.” She winked at Evan, then cooed at Ava. She carried her and the bottle to the living room and sat in the recliner. “Could you turn the TV on to one of the local stations? It sounds like the winds picking up.”

  “Sure.” Evan leaned forward from his spot on the sofa and picked up the remotes from the coffee table.

  The regular programming played, but a tornado watch and severe thunderstorm alert scrolled along the bottom of the screen.

  “Lovely.” She clutched Ava closer to her.

  The baby happily sucked on the bottle, oblivious to the potential of severe weather.

  “I wouldn’t worry.” He switched to another local station that gave the same warnings. “We get tornado watches all the time and nothing ever comes of them.”

  “Still, I’d feel better not having someone else’s baby under my care if one came through.” She brushed a finger along Ava’s downy hairline. “Not that I mind watching you one bit. You’re a sweet pea.”

  Evan frowned at her, but she didn’t know why. He focused his attention on the television, and wouldn’t look at her. Strange.

  True to her mom’s word, Ava fell asleep three-quarters of the way through her bottle.

  Janie spent several extra minutes with her, enjoying the feel of a baby in her arms. She stole a glance at Evan. Would she have her own baby in the near future? She stood as gracefully as possible and laid Ava in the portable playpen.

  When she turned around, Evan stood directly in front of her.

  He breathed in and let the air out slowly. “I can’t do this.”

  She raised her brows, felt her forehead wrinkle. “Can’t do what?”

  “Us.”

  All the air drained from her lungs and her stomach knotted, stunned at the out-of-blue confession. “I don’t understand.”

  “You’re a natural mother, and you deserve that opportunity.” He spun on a heel and stormed out the door, leaving her confused and hurt.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Evan sat in his car and slammed a fist against the steering wheel. He should have told Janie the truth before they ever started dating. But he’d done what was right. He couldn’t give her the baby she wanted.

  She didn’t have to tell him—her eyes said everything. Janie was born to be a mother. Contentment exuded from her as she fed Ava and rocked her to sleep. She probably didn’t even realize the happy sighs she’d let out.

  However, he could have handled the situation better. His emotions had taken over. Only a fool—or a real jerk—would think it didn’t matter.

  Frustrated with himself and the impossibility of a long-term relationship with Janie, he backed out of her driveway. He braked at the stop sign on her cul-de-sac and reached for his phone. The least he could do was send her a text and say he was sorry and they’d talk later. Too late, he realized he hadn’t grabbed his phone off the charger. Neither had he eaten yet, but that didn’t matter.

  Unable to face her yet, he decided to go home and swing by in the morning to collect his phone. By that time, he’d prepare a speech, confessing that what the doctors had told him and explain why they couldn’t be together. He’d tell her it was him, not her. In this case, it wasn’t a lame break-up excuse but a legitimate reason why they should go their separate ways.

  Pressing his foot on the accelerator, he drove away from her house. Before he left the subdivision, a tornado warning blared over the radio waves. His chest tightened when he heard the direction of the spotted rotation. Unless it changed its path, the funnel would come straight for this neighborhood.

  He made a split-second decision and jerked his car into the nearest driveway. He turned around and sped back to her house, his gaze constantly shifting to the pitch-black sky to the west, behind an eerie green he’d never seen.

  Leaves swirled in the air, and he swerved to miss a trashcan blown in his path. Dime-sized hail pelted his car as he pulled back into Janie’s cul-de-sac. He’d think about potential damage later. His only concern right now was for Janie’s safety.

  He shifted into park, and the wind caught his car door when he first opened it. Using both hands, he slammed it closed. Ran to Janie’s front door and knocked hard with his fists. He didn’t want to wake the baby, but what if Janie hadn’t heard the warning?

  She didn’t answer. Maybe she hadn’t locked the door behind him. He twisted the knob, relieved when it turned and opened the door.

  “Janie?” His shout echoed through the house. He spotted the empty playpen and moved further into the house. “Where are you?”

  He grabbed his phone from the charger, only a priority for access to further alerts. An empty flower pot flying over the deck distracted for him a second. He ran to the office, frenetic in his search. She had to be in the house—he’d only been gone for a few minutes.

  More than ever, he wished the houses along the coast had basements. Who cared if they flooded if they could save a life during a tornado. “Janie?”

  “In the utility room,” she shouted.

  Relief flooded him when he opened the door and saw her huddled in the corner with Ava clutched tightly to her chest. Her eyes showed fear, but her body language demonstrated a collected strength. He shut the door behind him and rushed to embrace her.

  She wrapped an arm around him while one still held the baby. “You came back.”

  “I heard the warning and had to.” Nothing could make him move away from her. In those moments of ne
eding to reach her, he knew unequivocally that he loved her.

  “Did you mean what you said?” Her voice trembled.

  “I…I don’t know.” He didn’t want to mean it. “We have to talk, but not now. Let’s get through this.”

  His cell phone beeped loudly, alerting him to the tornado warning, at the same time a voice spoke on a radio. Good, she has a weather radio and brought it in. He swallowed the fear which arose when he heard the tornado’s path was only two miles from River Mills subdivision.

  Janie’s nails dug into his skin. “I’m afraid.”

  “We’ll be safe. I didn’t survive enemy attacks just to die in a tornado.” A chill ran through his body.

  A loud rumbling sounded from outside the house.

  “It’s here.” Janie huddled in the corner closest to the center of the home. “I’ve always heard it sounds like a train.”

  He knelt in front of her, hovering his body over her and the baby as added protection for them if the tornado struck the house. “Protect us, Lord, shield us with Your strength and might. Please lift this tornado from its path of destruction. In Your name, amen.”

  Ava awoke when something crashed loudly against the house, and she started crying. Janie prayed under her breath, intermittently whispering soft, soothing sounds to her.

  The barreling noise continued, and the power flickered several times before cutting off completely.

  Fear stronger than he’d ever known—even more than those days stranded after the crash—attacked him. For Janie and Ava, not himself. If he succeeded in anything in life, it would be protecting these two from the devastating force of nature outside.

  He wished for a window so he could see the enemy and know what he was up against. Then again, sometimes it was better not to see, and simply to know of its presence. When the rumbling increased in volume, he shifted his body to better shelter the girls. Ava’s cries had transitioned to full wails. He glanced down and saw silent tears of terror in Janie’s eyes. Please let this end soon, Lord. Protect everyone in the tornado’s path.

  Eventually, the noise faded away. What felt like hours had only been minutes. With legs like gelatin, he stood upright and stepped backward. “Are you okay?”

  Janie nodded. “Is it over?”

  He helped her up. “I think so.”

  Holding the quieted baby on her hip, she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I never want to go through that again.”

  “Me either.” He opened the flashlight app on his phone to give them light. “Stay here, and I’ll go check things out.”

  “Be safe.” Her hand stayed on his arm until he walked out of reach.

  He left the utility room and inspected the house’s interior. So far, so good. Not so much when he reached the kitchen. An unknown object had broken the window above her sink. He looked out the back door, saw her deck was ripped to shreds, and portions of the siding were gone. It was a miracle her house still stood. A tree had fallen in her backyard and another across the street.

  The houses he could see hadn’t fared as well. Three within view were destroyed, torn into mere splinters. He prayed for the safety of the occupants. Sick to his stomach, he forced himself to look out the front door. A lawn chair from somewhere had crashed through his windshield. Janie’s car appeared untouched, but debris littered the front yard and cul-de-sac.

  Night encroached, and would soon cover the damage. Small blessing to delay seeing the vast damage in full light.

  His phone rang in his pocket. He took it out and answered the call from Jared whom he hadn’t talked to in weeks.

  “Have you heard from Janie?” Jared’s question rushed out in a torrent of words and short breath. “I just heard a twister touched down in River Mills, and I can’t get in touch with her.”

  “She’s fine. I’m here with her.”

  A loud whoosh echoed through the line. “Good. How are you guys? Is it bad?”

  “Shaken up. Damage is pretty bad from what I can see, but her home is intact. Others weren’t so lucky.” He rubbed a hand on his neck, still trying to process what had happened.

  “What can I do?”

  “Can you come pick us up? I don’t think Janie should stay here tonight, and the streets are blocked with debris—besides the fact that my car has a lawn chair in the front seat and is blocking in Janie’s. We’ll have to walk up and meet you. Hopefully, there’s nothing else in the way of you getting here.” He forgot about the baby. Ava’s mom must be worried sick. “Don’t head out yet. Janie’s babysitting her neighbor’s kid. Let me see what’s going on with her.”

  “Give me a call when you’re ready, and I’ll be there.” Jared paused. “Where’s Janie going to stay?”

  He hadn’t thought that far. “My place I guess, and I’ll crash somewhere else.”

  “I have a spare room with a futon.” Jared’s deep breath sent a whistle over the connection. “I owe you and Janie an apology, and I’m sorry for walking out at Easter.”

  “Let bygones be bygones.” Life was too short for grudges, and he was just glad to have his friend back and them all safe. “We can talk more later.”

  “I’ll see you soon.”

  Evan walked inside after the call ended and found Janie still in the utility room. “Your house has damage, but it fared better than others.”

  “What did it do?”

  He relayed the damage to her. “Jared called while I was out front. I figured you wouldn’t want to stay here tonight, so he’ll pick us up, and you can stay at my place tonight. He offered to let me crash at his place.”

  “Ava’s mom is on her way. She called and was frantic when she heard. I assured her Ava is fine.” She edged toward the door. “How is her house?”

  “I only saw the front, but it looked fine other than debris in the yard.” He reached for the baby. “Want me to hold her while you pack a bag?”

  “That would be great. Thanks.” She stopped at the door. “About earlier…”

  “We’ll talk tomorrow. We’ve both been through the wringer tonight.” He pressed a hand to her cheek. “For now, know that I love you.”

  She furrowed her brows, and he couldn’t blame her for her confusion. “I love you, too.”

  One day he’d probably look back and regret telling her he loved her for the first time in such a way, but he had to tell her then. After what they’d experienced moments before, he couldn’t wait another minute.

  Chapter Seventeen

  An unfamiliar beeping woke Janie. She opened her eyes and didn’t recognize her surroundings. It took her a few seconds to remember she’d spent the night in Evan’s apartment. She sat up and rubbed the knots from her neck. His sofa was comfortable, but not for sleeping. Although he’d offered his bed in his absence, it seemed too intimate, so she’d opted for the couch.

  Last night’s events rushed to her memory. As long as she lived, she’d never forget the sheer terror that had gripped her as she listened to the tornado pass. She wasn’t sure she’d ever hear a train again and not associate it with a tornado.

  By God’s grace alone, there had been no fatalities that she’d heard of. She’d checked in with the neighbors whom she personally knew. Mr. Ford had suffered a broken leg, but his was the only injury. The Gadbys, whose home had been leveled, had been at a sports banquet when the twister hit. The Laughlins, whose house had also been destroyed as well, had sheltered in place at their church after choir practice when they’d heard the warnings.

  One good thing had come from the disaster—reconciliation with Jared. After Ava’s mom had picked up her daughter, Jared had driven them to Evan’s apartment where the three friends had a long conversation. He’d apologized and admitted his words and actions had been driven by his own guilt regarding Mike’s death.

  Today she had to face Evan and discuss whatever had prompted his breakup yesterday evening. She hadn’t had time to absorb what he’d said before the warnings blared, and then he’d come back. He’d shielded her and li
ttle Ava with his body, and later he’d said he loved her—not the actions of a man who wanted to end a relationship.

  But what did he mean by blurting out that she was a natural mother and deserved that opportunity?

  Nothing in her life ever came simply. Instead of lamenting that fact, she’d decided to embrace it and accept it as an opportunity to build her character.

  Her phone vibrated, and she read the text message from Evan.

  —Are you awake?

  —Yes. Barely, but I am.

  —Jared’s taking me to get a rental, and then I’ll be over.

  —I’ll be here. She added a winking emoji followed by a laughing one. Even if she’d wanted to leave, she had no vehicle here to take her anywhere.

  —See you in a bit. Help yourself to anything in the fridge. The coffee pot is pretty standard to operate.

  —Thanks.

  She dragged herself to her feet, unconvinced she hadn’t been hit by a train. Nope. Just listened to one roar by. Whether a result of the tension or sleeping on the sofa, she didn’t know. A hot shower sounded incredible. She carried her overnight bag to the bathroom.

  While she waited for the water to turn hot, she set out her outfit and brushed her teeth. Steam formed on the windows, and she stepped into the shower stall, sighing happily at the hot droplets easing the strain from her body.

  She stayed in until the water ran cold, then stepped out a new person. The aching muscles disappeared and the fog lifted from her brain. Ready to face the day, she dressed and headed for the kitchen.

  Rummaging in the kitchen, she found the coffee, a brand he had shipped in from home, and a half-eaten box of cereal. While the coffee brewed, she poured the honey-flavored oats into a bowl and added milk.

  By the time she’d eaten and cleaned the dishes, Evan still hadn’t shown up. Knowing car rentals could be a hassle, she didn’t worry. She turned on her tablet and scanned the news and social media for stories on the tornado. The headlines read National Weather Service confirms an EF-3 tornado touched down in Jacksonville.