Unconditional

by Connie Keenan

Josh almost hadn’t known what to come up with for their mini celebration. He had prayed for it, asking the Lord to touch his imagination. Valerie would either love it or hate it, but her response alone to the limo question had said it all.

  This was no ordinary woman in his life. This was her. It was crazy, wildly romantic, but it was as if she’d fallen right out of his dreams and landed right in front of him. Like the dream girl that actually exists, and finding that out had been almost too wonderful for him to even put into words.

  This will be the perfect prom date.

  The exit from the roller coaster was narrow. He allowed Valerie to walk ahead of him, which gave him a view of her long hair bouncing behind her as she maintained a lively gait. Near the end she slowed down and glanced at him over her shoulder.

  “One more time?” she suggested. “Or would you rather go ride something else?”

  “You want to go one more time? I’m in, if you are.”

  “Cool! Let’s do it, then!”

  There were women, like some men, who were afraid of roller coasters and other heart-stopping rides. Then there were some who became motion sick, even on something as tame as the flying swings.

  Valerie had none of those problems. She wasn’t afraid of heights or speed, and she was relaxed, not the least bit dizzy or nauseous, on the spinning rides, most of which never left the ground or didn’t get very far up into the sky. If anything, she led the way back to the line for the roller coaster, her hand in his.

  “It looks beautiful, doesn’t it?” she commented dreamily. “I love it at night, especially.”

  They were in the front of that car, which was treading slowly and cantankerously up its first peak. Josh looked out to his right, where from that height the Wildwood boardwalk appeared as one long strip of multi-colored lights, rides and people leisurely out for a late evening walk. To the left of that was the beach and the Atlantic, so darkly mysterious at that hour.

  “I don’t think there are too many places on earth as beautiful as a seaside town at night. But then…” Pausing, Josh laughed. “I’ve never been to that many places. I’d like to, someday. Just haven’t—”

  She looked as if she were about to say something but was cut off instantly by the car tipping over the peak and thundering down the track. Valerie cried out, the shout a sound of pleasure rather than a scream laced with fear. He saw her hand on the safety railing in front of them and covered it with his own.

  “I’ve been to Florida. To Disneyworld, with my mom.” Her laughter was such a sweet sound to his ears. “Another amusement park. Oh—and we drove all the way to Niagara Falls once.”

  “All my life living up here, never once went up there.”

  “They’re awesome. The falls are beautiful.”

  “Go with me to see them again someday?”

  “Yes. I’ll go with you. It would be like—”

  Seeing them for the first time. Had she said that? The roller coaster had taken some easygoing turns, then ascended up another peak. Whatever Valerie had said was lost in the fast-as-lightning descent down the second peak.

  “We have to go for dinner,” he told her as he helped her out of the car at the end of the ride. “And dancing. It wouldn’t be a prom without those two things. I don’t dance all that good, but tonight I’ll do my best.”

  “I’m not much of a dancer, either. I can manage if it’s a slow dance.” She stood off to the side with him, out of the way of the adults, teens and children hurrying to the exit and on their way to the next ride. “Slow dances, I like.”

  “I like them, too. Especially…if I get to hold you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, and hers curled around his neck. “I know where there’s a live band. They’re not as good as your band, I’m sure. They play nineties music.”

  “Ah. Just what they would have played for our prom, too.” He noticed she’d swallowed hard. Her gaze lingered on his lips but then met his eyes. “I wish you had been there at that time. Things would have been so much different.”

  “Much different. If you were there then.” Josh noted the catch in his voice. “Things would’ve been different…and better. But you’re here now.”

  “Feels like you’ve always been here. Like I’ve always known you.”

  “Don’t ever leave, Valerie.”

  Why was he being so emotional? That wasn’t like him. He pressed her against him, kissing her hair.

  “Sorry, kids. You can’t stay here,” a female voice said behind them.

  They had been blocking the walkway on the way off the ride. He smiled at the color rising in Valerie’s cheeks and turned to face the motherly woman operating the roller coaster, who grinned knowingly at them.

  “Sorry. We’re going,” he promised.

  They were making their way back down the exit ramp. He walked on ahead this time, with her hand firmly in his. He heard her as they were coming back onto the boardwalk.

  “Don’t you ever leave, either, Josh.” She stood gazing at him as he hugged her waist again. In his arms, she felt so diminutive, making him feel even more protective of her. “And don’t…don’t be this way with me now and then walk away from me or tell me things you think I want to hear. But they’re not true.”

  He understood where she was coming from, yet he wavered slightly.

  Tell me things you think I want to hear. Like…you’ve always been this clean-cut, squeaky-clean Christian, instead of this guy who got himself in some major trouble.

  “I wouldn’t do that to you. That’s not me, Val. And I would never want to leave you. I’m in love with you. Just want to love you every day of my life.”

  Had he really expressed those words? They were the truth. He just hadn’t meant to express them so soon. He’d intended to keep his feelings to himself, a little closer to his vest.

  “I’m in love with you, too. My life hasn’t been the same since I met you. Ever since I went fishing…and you caught me.”

  Chuckling, he cupped her face in his hands. That kiss was his to take. He knew he had kissed her before, but this kiss was different. More charged with emotion, more passionate and possessive.

  There was no hurtful past contained in that kiss. Only a thrill more potent than any roller coaster ride, more colorful than a seaside boardwalk on an otherwise dark summer night. Reluctantly, he released her after the kiss.

  “Little surprise for you,” he announced. “But first we have dinner and music…”

  ****