“We’d like to take you all to dinner,” Darin said. “I don’t expect you to fall in love with the idea, but I hope you’ll get more comfortable with our decision, and get to know one another.”
Emily’s mother shook her head. “I’m not going to get comfortable with the decision because it’s not going to happen.”
Mel Jensen clenched his teeth. “It is going to happen all right. Get over it, or I’m done.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” he whispered. “I don’t want to make a scene, but I’m not sitting for this. Mrs. Black, this goes for you as well. No one is going to ruin my baby girl’s happiness. She loves this man, and that’s good enough for me.”
Guilt welled up in Emily’s chest. She felt so torn by the conflict all around her. But then she embraced the most comforting thought. Kyle would want her to stand up for her rights. This was not just for Darin and herself. This choice was for Kyle.
“Thank you, Daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek then kissed her mother. The elder woman went stone cold, her face rigid with anger. Emily squeezed Darin’s hand for strength.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Grandma Jensen put the baby boy down in his crib and offered a light kiss. “You are the most beautiful baby ever born. God shined His grace upon you, little one.”
Emily nearly cried at the sight of her mother bent over the bassinet. Who would have imagined that such hard women as her mother and mother-in-law would melt at the warmth of a single, precious baby boy. She looked up when she heard Emily.
“I hope you and Darin will consider moving up by us, Emily. It’s not fair for you to keep our grandchild from us. And to raise him in this neighborhood. It’s unthinkable.”
Emily laughed. “Are you kidding? With all the free baby-sitting I get in this neighborhood with Darin’s Bible study kids? I’m not going anywhere. Besides, Grandma Black would wrestle you to the floor if you took her favorite little man.”
Darin walked into the tiny house, and Emily met him in the hallway. “Hi, Love. How was another day in paradise?” he asked.
“Perfect, as usual. Andrew started to roll over today. It won’t be long now.”
Darin sighed. “Did you get it on videotape?”
“Of course.”
“It’s a wonder anything in that child’s life will ever happen without being caught on video,” Grandma Jensen said. “Poor little thing. He needs his grandma just so his mother can carry the camera.”
Darin laughed out loud. “He does need his grandma. You know, Mom, the house up the street is for sale.”
Emily giggled. “Right, Darin. My mother is going to move to the ghetto, as she calls it.”
Nancy Jensen pursed her lips. “I’ll move anywhere for my grandchild, Emily. Don’t be smart.”
The doorbell broke their conversation, which Emily could only hope was a joke. She opened the door to see the most handsome face she’d ever seen besides her husband’s. She couldn’t breathe and had to find a chair when oxygen failed to creep into her nose.
“Can I help you?” Darin said threateningly.
“I heard I was an uncle.”
Emily buried her face in her hands and soon felt her brother’s arms wrap around her. “Is it really you?”
“I’ve been in South America. I got word from my supporters that my sister had a baby. I couldn’t take a chance he’d grow up uncool. So I came to teach him.”
She clutched her brother in her arms and held on for as long as he’d let her. When Kyle pulled away she noticed he’d grown a beard, but other than that and a few wrinkles around the eyes, he was the same brother she’d last seen ten years before.
She looked to her mother, who blinked steadily to force her tears away. Then Nancy Jensen ran to the son who had left so long ago. “I’m sorry, Kyle. I’m so very sorry,” she sobbed.
Emily looked into her husband’s eyes. “I will become even more undignified than this,” she said, quoting Darin’s life Scripture. And she would. Because fear had rendered her useless, but jumping off of life’s precipice provided her with daily, unending joy.
About the Author
KRISTIN BILLERBECK lives in California’s beautiful Gold Country with her husband and four small children. Besides writing, Kristin loves reading, outings with her family, and eating out! Visit her on the web at: www.kristinbillerbeck.com
Or email her at: [email protected]
Dedication
To Aunt Mary
You are such an inspiration to everyone around you. I love you more than I can say and appreciate all the love you have shared with me and my children. Now, fight for all it’s worth! God is with you.
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Kristin Billerbeck
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
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