Jennie Sue wondered if Rick would ever say that about her. Would the time come when they were both old and gray and he’d still get a look of love in his eyes? Or was this just a passing fancy for both of them?
A sudden pang of jealousy shot through her at the idea of him having a wife and children that she’d have to see every day when she drove home from work. Maybe this big notion of buying land joining his property wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Rick was glad that Cricket had finally gotten a walking boot, but he was even happier to hear that she could go back to work part-time if her job did not require her to stand. Unlike him, she’d never liked staying at home all day. She needed to be around people and was cranky when she was cooped up even over a weekend.
“I like this new Rick,” Cricket said while they waited for their food order. “He reminds me a lot of the Rick I knew before the military got ahold of him.”
“Oh, yeah?” He picked up the sack of food and carried it out to the truck. “Well, this new Rick feels more like he did then.”
“Think we could shoot the other one if he shows his sorry face again?”
“Probably not. You could wind up killin’ the wrong one. You’ve never been very good with guns. Seriously, sis, I’m happy right now. It proves that I don’t have to fear happiness and that even with my scars, I’m not repulsive. For that I will always appreciate Jennie Sue.”
Cricket reached over and patted him on the arm. “You are not repulsive, but I had no idea that you’d had that on your mind. Can you live with her having more money than God?”
“God doesn’t have money. Why would He need dollars and dimes when He has streets of gold?” Rick asked. “I might always struggle with that. I can’t think of a better world than a wife who owns a bookstore, and the rest I just won’t think about.”
“Wife? So things have gotten that serious?” Cricket asked with wide eyes.
“It could be going in that direction,” he answered.
“Promise me one thing,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“You won’t name your first child after me.”
“If that ever did happen, it’s a long way down the road. I wouldn’t worry about it.” He drove into Bloom and parked in front of the bookstore.
“Come and see what I got,” Cricket called out when the little bell at the top of the door announced their arrival.
Jennie Sue appeared from the end of the children’s books. “Well, would you look at that? A walkin’ boot that you can kick your brother with if he gets in another pissy mood.”
“Come on now. Don’t give the man grief that brought the food.”
She looked over Cricket’s shoulder into Rick’s eyes. The world shifted in that moment back into the rightness it had contained before he got hurt.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jennie Sue and her parents had seldom gone to church when she was growing up. Dill called them CEO Christians—Christmas and Easter Only. That was when her mother dressed her up in fancy clothes and took her to Sweetwater, where the Belles all met at the same big church for the holidays. Afterward, someone would host a fancy dinner—which meant sitting up straight and not spilling anything on her dress.
She had a whole different spirit that Sunday morning, sitting on the pew with Lettie, Nadine, Amos, and Rick lined up on her right and Cricket on her left. She wore a sundress that she’d found at the house when she and Cricket had cleaned out her closet.
“Good morning,” the preacher said. “Welcome to everyone. Let’s all open our hymnals to page 204 and sing, ‘I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.’” The lyrics spoke to Jennie Sue’s heart so much that tears formed in her eyes. She fished in her purse for a tissue and dabbed her eyes. It had been a tough two weeks since the plane crash. The tombstones would be delivered the next day.
Rick’s arm circled around her shoulders and pulled her close as he sang in a rich baritone voice that every step was getting brighter and every cloud was silver lined. It had been a bittersweet time for Jennie Sue—losing her parents had been devastating, but gaining all the new relationships had been sweet. She truly knew what it was to see the silver lining in a dark cloud. She slipped her hand in his and whispered, “I’m glad that you are holding my hand.”
She didn’t care that the whole congregation and even God saw him kiss her on the cheek. If they knew what went on out at the farm every night, they’d be grateful that he didn’t kiss her on the lips.
When the song ended, the preacher took the lectern. “Be glad that you can sing that song with conviction and that you know who holds your hand in times of trouble.”
Jennie Sue squeezed Rick’s hand. “Yes, sir,” she whispered.
“Shh,” Cricket scolded, and then winked at Jennie Sue.
The preacher went on to read scripture and then deliver a sermon. Jennie Sue caught an occasional word, but nothing that she’d be able to discuss later, because she was too busy counting her blessings. Rick Lawson was at the top of the list.
Amos was called on to deliver the benediction, and everyone said a hearty amen when he finished praying.
“Dinner is at my place today, and we’ve invited the preacher.” Nadine stood up and wiggled her head to get the kinks out. “I’m sure it was a good sermon, but I kept dozing off. Didn’t sleep worth a dang last night.”
Jennie Sue raised an eyebrow. “Dang?”
“Can’t say damn in the church, especially on Sunday. God is pretty serious about his day,” Nadine whispered.
“Rick and I won’t be at the dinner today. We’re going out to my five acres to see the land the tree cutters have cleared out. It’ll be a while before the construction crew can start the new house, but they assure me I’ll be in it by Christmas,” Jennie Sue told her.
“Won’t that be wonderful? You can have your first Christmas in your own house,” Nadine sighed. “But we get you for Thanksgiving. No excuses.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rick said. “We’ll be there, and I’ll even bring the pumpkin pies.”
“Nadine is meddling,” Lettie whispered in Jennie Sue’s ear. “She thinks Cricket and the new preacher, Tom Davis, would make a good couple.”
“Oh. My. Goodness,” Jennie Sue gasped. “I can’t see Cricket as a preacher’s wife.”
“Did I hear my name?” Cricket whipped around from the aisle line.
“Yes, you did. I said that Nadine should call me when you are ready to come home this evening and I’ll drive in and get you,” Rick jumped in.
“I could take you home,” the new preacher said when Cricket put her hand in his. “And if you need a ride to Nadine’s, I could give you a lift there, too.”
“Well, thank you. That will save my sister a trip,” Cricket said.
“Sister?” Jennie Sue asked when they’d gotten outside the church.
“Hey, you said it first, not me, so now you have to live with it,” Cricket laughed. “Isn’t this new preacher just the dreamiest man ever?”
“Nope, your brother is,” Jennie Sue said.
“You’re wearin’ rose-colored glasses, and so is he. I’m going back inside to wait for the preacher,” Cricket said.
“When you get home, I’ll expect details,” Jennie Sue said.
“I’ll give you as many as you give me.” Cricket waved over her shoulder.
“What happened back there?” Rick asked as he opened the truck door for Jennie Sue.
“Nothing except that Cricket thinks the new preacher is sexy. I was thinking that the talk of the town tomorrow won’t be about us, but how unsuited Cricket and Tom are,” she answered. “Can you see your sister as a preacher’s girlfriend or wife eventually?”
He shook his head from side to side. “What’d be even worse is that he’d be my brother-in-law and I’d have to learn how to talk without cussin’. But let’s talk about us instead of them.”
“I like that subject much better. I’m so glad we’re taking a picnic to the creek. It’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” she said.
“I couldn’t agree more.” He nodded.